China issues new scrap import quota for aluminium and other metals for Q4 2019

The Chinese government issued a new scrap metal import quota on 23rd September that approved a total of about 70,000 tonnes of copper, aluminium and ferrous scrap arrivals for Q4 2019. As reported by Argus Media, China Solid Waste and Chemicals Management approved a combined 66,368 tonnes of copper, aluminium and ferrous scrap for delivery to ports in south and southeast China.

The quota for aluminium scrap, with tariff code 7602000090 stood at 32,940 tonnes. The aluminium scrap quota is for delivery to the ports of Ningbo, Nanhai and Nansha.

The previous quotas were announced on 20 June, 10 July and 14 August. China issued the 11th batch of import quotas of 11,290 tonnes for newly restricted high-grade aluminium scrap on August 14 increasing the total volume of import quotas to 372,476 tonnes.

After the announcement of the latest batch, the total of all aluminium scrap import quotas approved to date (July-September 2019) now stands at 405,416 tonnes. The aluminium scrap import quota for the period is above the volume imported in third-quarter 2018. According to Customs data, China imported 349,510 tonnes of aluminium scrap in July-September 2018.

Under the new scrap policy, all scrap metal importers in China will need import licences issued under approved quarterly quotas from 1 July in order to import any material.

China imported a total of 5.32 million tonnes of scrap last year, of which aluminium accounted for 1.57 million tonnes. China's imports of aluminium scrap are likely to drop further in September because of the restricted quotas granted for the fourth quarter.