China’s aluminium plate/sheet & strip exports reach 1.39 Mt at the end of H1 2023 after consecutive falls

China's aluminium plate/sheet and strip exports in June 2023 recorded a month-on-month drop of 3 per cent and a year-on-year plunge of 34 per cent to reach 224,500 tonnes, found the China Customs data. The total exports during the year's first half came in at 1.3932 million tonnes, registering an annual downfall of 28 per cent from a year ago.

Aluminium plate/sheet and strip exports have been declining since 2022, especially the products with tariff code 76061220 falling the most. In 2023, the global economic slowdown and aluminium production resumption in respective countries put Chinese exports before a stiff challenge, especially cans stock exports falling over 50 per cent for two consecutive months.

In June 2023, Henan, Shandong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai were the leading Chinese provinces of aluminium plate/sheet and strip exports. In H1, Henan, Shandong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Fujian were the top exporters, contributing about 70 per cent of the total exports.

The primary importing countries of China's aluminium plate/sheet and strip in H1 2023 were Mexico, South Korea, Canada, Vietnam, and the United States. However, the import volume decreased year-on-year, indicating a downturn in global demand.

SMM sees no immediate recovery in China's aluminium plate/sheet and strip exports. But the exports are estimated to record a slow decline for the rest of the year, ranging steadily between 200,000 tonnes and 250,000 tonnes. The annual export volume is expected to settle at 2.6 to 2.7 million tonnes at the end of 2023.  

Sourced from Shanghai Metals Market