United Kingdom to see a growth in aluminium bar rods and profiles import this year; China to be the top supplier

The United Kingdom is a major aluminium product manufacturing hub in Europe. Automotive is the key end-user sector that generates maximum demand followed by the building and construction sector. The aerospace industry has also increased its operations in the UK, driving the requirements of aluminium extrusions and semi-finished products.

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The global trade data shows that the United Kingdom imports a significant amount of aluminium bar rods and profiles each year. However, the amount may slightly increase or decrease every year, like for instance, in 2017, the estimated import volume by the UK stood down compared to the previous year by 16 per cent. While in the year 2017, the UK’s estimated bar rods and profiles imports were at 125,948 tonnes, in 2016, they were at 150,776 tonnes. In 2018, however, the import amount grew to 131,666 tonnes, up 4.5 per cent from 2017 but down 14.5 per cent from 2016.

But in contrary to the UK’s aluminium bar rods and profiles imports volume, the cost has been seeing a year-on-year rise. In 2016, although the import amount was higher than the two succeeding years, the estimated cost stood the lowest at US$ 352 million, against US$ 364 million in 2017 and US$ 384 million in 2018. This shows the import cost in 2017 grew 3.4 per cent from the previous year followed by a successive rise of 5.5 per cent in 2018.

China continues to be the top supplier of aluminium bar rods and profiles to the United Kingdom, with a year-on-year rise in volume. In 2016, China’s estimated import to China was at 34,845 tonnes while in 2017 and 2018, it was at 44,007 tonnes and 46,895 tonnes respectively.