China’s aluminium semis export drops in August, but aluminium alloy export up 14% MoM

Aluminium semi-finished product export by China was hit by reduced output in August 2017 following widespread environmental checks which mainly hit the upstream sector; but ripple effects were felt across the entire aluminium value chain. The export volume totalled 360,000 tonnes in August, down 3.2 per cent from the previous month. The cumulative export volume during January-August increased 5.2 per cent to reach 2.8 million tonnes, revealed data published by the General Administration of Customs on September 26.

China’s monthly aluminium bar, rod, and profile export was down by 29 per cent at 360,000 tonnes in August. Aluminium foil export also dropped by 4.9 per cent. In the finished product category, aluminium stranded wire and cable export declined by 34 per cent, while aluminium structure and components export rose by 6.49 per cent to reach 73,835 tonnes.

Other aluminium-semi finished product categories which registered rise in the export volume in August were aluminium wire (2,260 tonnes), aluminium plate, sheet and strip (175,010 tonnes), and aluminium tube (11,507 tonnes).

China shipped higher volume of aluminium alloy to the international destinations in August compared to July 2017. Aluminium alloy export by the country totalled 49,652 tonnes (+14 per cent MoM). During January-August, China’s total aluminium alloy export increased 11.2 per cent reaching 363,157 tonnes.

The top destinations where China exported its aluminium alloy products in August were Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, and the UAE.