China's unwrought aluminium imports drop 28.8% in June amid weak demand and supply shifts

According to data from the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC), China imported approximately 55,100 tonnes of unwrought aluminium alloys in June 2026, representing a year-on-year decrease of 22,300 tonnes (down 28.81 per cent) and a month-on-month decrease of 9,400 tonnes (down 14.57 per cent). The cumulative import volume for 2026 reached approximately 433,600 tonnes, a year-on-year decline of 20.04 per cent.

In terms of source countries, the top four suppliers of unwrought aluminium alloys to China in June 2026 were Russia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand. Specifically, imports from Russia stood at approximately 14,400 tonnes, accounting for 26.05 per cent of total imports; Vietnam at approximately 10,100 tonnes (18.42 per cent); Malaysia at 7,700 tonnes (14.06 per cent); and Thailand at approximately 6,500 tonnes (11.84 per cent).

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In July, domestic ADC12 prices fluctuated within a narrow range. Imported ADC12 prices remained elevated due to high overseas procurement costs, and domestic holders showed strong sentiment to hold offers firm. As of July 21, 2026, spot Malaysian ADC12 was quoted at around RMB 22,900 per tonne in the domestic market, while off-spec Malaysian material was quoted at around RMB 22,200 per tonne.

Constrained by raw material shortages and tighter tax rebate policies, cost support for domestic ADC12 aluminium alloy ingots remained strong. However, July marks the traditional off-season for the casting industry, with downstream demand generally weak, leaving little room for ADC12 prices to rise.

Overseas ADC12 prices are generally higher than domestic quotes. Although occasional export offers from certain overseas mills appear relatively competitive, available volumes are limited. Moreover, new orders placed by intermediaries are mostly scheduled to arrive at Chinese ports in August and September. As such, imports of unwrought aluminium alloys in July are expected to remain at low levels.

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