China’s alumina imports record a steep rise of 1147.1% in March 2020; Exports climb 88.18%

China, in March 2020, imported 338,600 tonnes of alumina, which was 1147.10 per cent higher than the imports in the same period last year, according to China customs data. Australia was the leading supplier in the said month, accounting for 159,770 tonnes of the total alumina imports by China.

In the first three months of the year (January-March), China’s total volume of alumina imports amounted to 1.029 million tonnes, up 546.34 per cent from the corresponding period last year.

As the availability of domestic alumina narrowed on the delayed resumption of production since the Lunar New Year Holidays, followed by the outbreak of COVID19, the aluminium smelters increased the consumption of imported alumina, resulting in the boost in alumina imports to China.

As far as the export is concerned, China in March exported 8,400 tonnes of alumina, up 88.18 per cent year-on-year. Its total exports in the three months were 33,700 tonnes, 77.67 per cent higher than the same period last year.

Along with alumina, bauxite imports also grew in China. In March, the country imported 10.01 million tonnes of bauxite, which was up by 10.63 per cent year-on-year. For the entire three months, China’s imports stood at 28.41 million tonnes after recording a rise of 9.99 per cent compared to the same period last year.