China Aluminum Semis Exports Down in January-August

According to China Customs, China exported 8,570 mt of aluminum stranded wire in August, down 29.95% YoY. YTD exports from January through August were 87,136 mt, up 17.92% YoY, topping the seven major aluminum semis in terms of year-on-year growth.

SMM statistics show that China exported 1.89 million mt of aluminum semis during the first eight months this year, down 10% YoY. Aluminum stranded wire accounted for a mere 4.61% of China’s total aluminum semis exports. Among other aluminum semis, aluminum rod and extrusion were up 11.68% YoY, aluminum structure products and parts up 7% YoY, aluminum foil up 4.11% YoY, aluminum wire up 2.96% YoY, aluminum tube/pipe down 0.12% YoY, aluminum plate, sheet and strip down 27.06% YoY.

SMM’s survey indicates that domestic aluminum wire and cable producers have stepped up exports this year. This is largely due to the decline of the amount of grid bidding projects at national and provincial level and extended payment collection. To ease cash tightness, domestic aluminum wire and cable producers shifted attention to export market. In addition to steel-core aluminum stranded wire and aluminum overhead wire, aluminum processing enterprises notes that aluminum alloy stranded wire exports during the first eight months of 2012 have also posted significant growth.