China’s prebaked anode exports during Jan-Apr 2024 surge 48% Y-o-Y, indicating positive worldwide demand

China's prebaked anode exports in April 2024 amounted to 166,800 tonnes, indicating a month-on-month downfall of 13.45 per cent and a year-on-year dip of 1.07 per cent, showed China customs data. The estimated export unit price of the material was approximately $673.5 per tonne, which was up by 0.31 per cent M-o-M but down by 31.92 per cent Y-o-Y.

The cumulative export volume from January to May was 647,300 tonnes, which was significantly up by 48.25 per cent Y-o-Y, suggesting an overall positive trend in the industry's performance.

Prebaked anode exports in April 2024 were primarily from three Chinese provinces - Shandong, Jiangsu, and Guangdong. Among them, Shandong exported the highest volume of prebaked anodes, reaching 139,800 tonnes, accounting for 84 per cent of the total exports. Jiangsu exported 11,700 tonnes, accounting for 7 per cent, followed by Guangdong exporting 6,500 tonnes, accounting for 4 per cent of the total.

As far as export destinations are concerned, China exported prebaked anodes to fifteen countries, including Malaysia, Russia, and Norway. The three countries jointly accounted for 64 per cent of the total export volume. Malaysia, being the main importer, secured 58,700 tonnes of prebaked anode from China, accounting for 35 per cent of the total exports. On a month-on-month basis, the import volume increased by 19,600 tonnes.

Russia, the second-highest importer of prebaked anode from China, sourced 25,300 tonnes, accounting for 15 per cent of China's total exports, followed by Norway imported 23,500 tonnes, accounting for 14 per cent of the total exports.

On a monthly basis, Russia and Norway's aluminium imports of prebaked anode in April witnessed a month-on-month increase of 8,200 tonnes and 5,300 tonnes, respectively.

The export volume of prebaked anode in April 2024 decreased significantly M-o-M due to reduced orders from Canada, Iceland, Indonesia, and the United Arab Emirates, totalling 55,200 tonnes. In terms of price, the export price of prebaked anode increased marginally.

China's domestic prebaked anode market remained stable throughout April, with the price standing steady at RMB 5,159 per tonne after an increase in early April by RMB 30 per tonne. In early May, the price further rose by RMB 30 per tonne to RMB 5,189 per tonne, reassuring the industry's local standing and potential for growth.