Demand decline reduces aluminium import to China in April by 38% Y-o-Y

According to the government data, China’s aluminium import ratio tumbled by 37.7% in April 2022, compared with the first month of Q1 2021. The cause of this plunge is rooted in the aluminium price hike in the global market and the declining domestic consumption rate in China.

Imported products, like primary metal, unwrought aluminium and aluminium alloy, amounted to 281,139 tonnes in April 2021, whereas, this year same month imports reduced by 105,850 tonnes. The last month of Q1 2022 had witnessed an 11.1% import hike than the first month of Q2. 

The Chinese import of bauxite, the primary material for making aluminium, amounted to 11.13 million tonnes in April, indicating a plunge of 4.9% from the recorded units of March. In Q2 2022 April, the total bauxite ore import resulted in 8.74 million tonnes.

Spread along with the duration of four months, China has imported metals weighing less than 200,000 tonnes due to the unavailability of cheaper raw materials belonging to the international market.

However, the lockdown imposed due to the Covid-19 outbreak also acted as a deciding factor for demand decline in the downstream aluminium sector.

According to the General Administration of Customs, China has increased its exports of unwrought aluminium and aluminium products by 36.5% to 596,863 tonnes in April, compared with the data last year.