Chinese aluminium semis exports decline 15.7% YoY in June 2016

Aluminium semis exports from China experienced a marked decline in June 2016, showed data released by the General Administration of Customs, China, on July 21. Total shipment of aluminium semis was down 15.7 per cent year-on-year at 32,319 million tonnes (mt) in June, whereas it stood at 184,385mt from January till June 2016, down 20 per cent from the corresponding period previous year.

Chinese export of aluminium bar, rod, and profile declined 16 per cent y-o-y to reach at 4,133 mt in June. Exports of aluminium plate, sheet, and strip, aluminium tube (including accessories), and aluminium structures and components too declined y-o-y to stand at 20,770mt, 797mt, and 296mt respectively.



China shipped a total volume of 36,908mt of aluminium alloy down 7 per cent y-o-y in June 2016. The major export destinations were Malaysia, Italy, the UAE, Turkey, Austria, India and the U.S.

China's overall downstream aluminium product export experienced a slowdown as industry bodies and consortiums headed by major aluminium companies upped their vigilance across the world. First the U.S. and now the EU have expressed their concern over the excess supply of aluminium products that have flooded the international markets. Nevertheless, with aluminium smelter production showing no signs of slowing down in China, this downtrend is unlikely to persist for long. The shrinkage in domestic demand for the metal will soon boost export of aluminium semis over the long term.