Japan’s aluminium semi-finished exports to the US up 35% YoY in the first three quarters of 2019

Japan’s exports of aluminium semi-finished products (plates, sheets, bars, etc.) to the US totalled 36,500 tonnes in the first three quarters of 2019, indicating an increase of 35.19% from 27,000 tonnes in the first three quarters of 2018, according to the latest Mineral Industry Survey report from US Geological Survey.

In September, semi-finished exports to the US rose 39.16% compared with the same period last year. Exports increased from 2,630 tonnes in September 2018 to 3,660 tonnes in September 2019. Aluminium semi-finished exports fell 25.15% from August’s total exports of 4,890 tonnes and 29.21% from July’s total exports of 5,170 tonnes.

Japan exported 45,000 tonnes of aluminium (crude metal and alloys, semi-finished products and scrap) to the US in January-September 2019, from 27,200 tonnes exported in January-September 2018. That was up 65.44% year-on-year. Exports stood at 3,880 tonnes in September, from 2,690 tonnes in September 2018 and 5,030 tonnes in August 2019.

On the import side, Japan imported 13,900 tonnes of aluminium semi-finished products from the US in January-September 2019, an increase of 17.8% from 11,800 tonnes in January-September 2018. Imports came in at 1,700 tonnes in September, up by 2.41% year-on-year, but down 4.49% month-on-month.