China’s aluminium imports grow 11% Y-o-Y to reach 1.2 million tonnes in H1 2023

China’s aluminium imports, including unwrought aluminium and products, increased 10.7 per cent from the previous year, reaching 1.2 million tonnes during the first half of 2023 ended June 30.

According to China customs data, the country imported 211,235 tonnes of aluminium in June – 10.19 per cent higher than 191,701 tonnes a month ago and 12.8 per cent more than 187,362 tonnes a year earlier.

The rise in China’s aluminium imports could be because of the limited domestic production due to the hydro-power shortage in the southwestern Yunnan province, the fourth biggest aluminium producing province in China. As per the National Bureau of Statistics, China’s primary aluminium output merely grew 3.4 per cent in H1 2023 to 20.16 million tonnes.

Production resumed in Yunnan late last month. Analysts expect the output to grow further and supply to come to the market in the near future.

Meanwhile, aluminium consumption in the transportation, construction, and packaging sectors dampened than expected this year. But there was some growth in aluminium demand in energy vehicles and solar sectors.

China customs data also showed that the country’s bauxite imports amounted to 11.56 million tonnes in June, up 22.9 per cent from the same period last year. In the first six months, China’s bauxite imports totalled 72.09 million tonnes – 10.6 per cent more than the previous year.