Even amidst the downfall in China’s aluminium imports in December 2021, snapping three monthly gains, the country’s total imports throughout the year stood strong enough to mark record shipments in 2021.
China, the world’s biggest aluminium producer and consumer, imported 3.2 million tonnes of unwrought aluminium and products in 2021, a record high and up by 18.52 per cent from 2.7 million tonnes in 2020.
In December 2021, China imported 243,729 tonnes of unwrought aluminium and products, found the General Administration of Customs. The import volume was 39 per cent less than 397,915 tonnes in November and 8.2 lower than a year ago.
China, despite being a net exporter of aluminium, has been importing increasing amount of the metal as higher prices of domestic aluminium versus overseas prices through most of 2021 made it favourable for imports.
The increase in imports through the year could also be attributed to the lesser domestic production due to power curbs on energy intensive industries such as aluminium in several Chinese regions.
China’s exports of unwrought aluminium and aluminium products stood at 562,975 tonnes in December, the highest monthly level, according to China customs data.
China’s bauxite imports were at 8.73 million tonnes in December, up 13.4 per cent month-on-month.
Responses
