China aluminium semis export in March rises but at a slower rate

China aluminium semis import in March 2017 rose 6.5 per cent year-on-year to reach 33,549 tonnes, showed data released by China's General Administration of Customs on April 25. Aluminium semi-finished products import during January to March summed up to an estimated 91,741 tonnes. The figures far exceed the export volumes which stood at 0.37 million tonnes for March, up 1.6 per cent year-on-year, and 0.94 million tonnes for the initial three months of the current year.

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Coming to the individual aluminium semi-finished product categories, China's aluminium tube (and accessories) exports grew at the highest YoY rate. The March volume rose by 21 per cent from the corresponding period previous year to total at 11,773 tonnes, while the initial three months' exports totalled 30,246 tonnes.

Aluminium plate, sheet, and strip exports also increased significantly (17.7 per cent YoY) to reach 0.17 million tonnes in March. During January-March, aluminium plate, sheet, and strip exports totalled 0.43 million tonnes.

Other aluminium semis that witnessed export volume increase in March are wire and foil. Aluminium wire export was estimated at 2,004 tonnes (up 7.33 per cent YoY) in March and 5,006 tonnes in January-March period. Aluminium foil export totalled 0.1 million tonnes in March (up 15.37 per cent YoY) and 0.28 million tonnes in first three months of 2017.

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Only aluminium bar, rod, and profile exports shrank in the periods under review. March export volume of the commodity totalled 66,102 tonnes, down 36 per cent from the same period previous year, while during first three months of the current year, it stood at only 0.18 million tonnes.

Aluminium finished products exports in China, such as aluminium structure and components increased 34.4 per cent YoY and stranded wire and cable increased 71.4 per cent YoY to total at 76,015 tonnes and 16,575 tonnes respectively in March 2017.