US aluminium crude metal and alloys imports fall 17% in Q1 2020, imports from Canada up 35%

In the first quarter of 2020 (January-March), the United States imported 740,000 tonnes of aluminium crude metal and alloys, compared to 895,000 tonnes in the first quarter of the previous year, found the US Geological Survey. Hence, the import volume in Q1 2020 registered a decline of 155,000 tonnes or 17.32 per cent over the year.

In March 2020, the United States’ imports of aluminium crude metal and alloys stood at 246,000 tonnes, down by 66,000 tonnes or 21.15 per cent from 312,000 tonnes in March 2019. But on a month-on-month basis, the March imports rebounded by 38,000 tonnes or 18.27 per cent from 208,000 tonnes. In February, however, the United States aluminium crude metal and alloys imports decreased month-on-month by 139,000 tonnes or 40 per cent from 347,000 tonnes in January.

Canada was the highest exporter of aluminium crude metal and alloys to the United States in March 2020, supplying 203,000 tonnes, up 40 per cent from 145,000 tonnes in February 2020. In January, Canada exported 213,000 tonnes of aluminium crude metal and alloys to the US, meaning February saw a month-on-month decline of 32 per cent.

Year-on-year, the United States aluminium crude metal and alloys imports from Canada in March 2020 increased by 49.26 per cent from 136,000 tonnes, despite the decline in its total imports.

In Q1 2020, Canada’s total aluminium crude metal and alloys imports to the US amounted 547,000 tonnes, up 34.73 per cent from 406,000 tonnes in Q1 2019.

After Canada, the United Arab Emirates was the leading aluminium crude metal and alloys exporter to the US, followed by Australia. The former exported 20,400 tonnes in March, while the latter supplied 10,200 tonnes. Both the UAE and Australia’s exports in March were up month-on-month by 102 per cent and 6 per cent, respectively.