US aluminium scrap exports climb down 24% in April 2020, but exports to China trend higher by 7.7% M-o-M

According to the latest data released by the US Geological Survey for April, the United States, in the said month, exported 124,000 tonnes of aluminium scrap to various parts of the world. Month-on-month, the export declined by 39,000 tonnes or 24 per cent, following a hike in the previous month. In March, the United States exported 163,000 tonnes of aluminium scrap, up 14,000 tonnes or 8.59 per cent from 149,000 tonnes in February. In January, the export from the US was 146,000 tonnes, meaning February saw a marginal month-on-month growth of 3,000 tonnes in the US aluminium scrap exports.

On a yearly basis as well, the US aluminium scrap exports decreased, albeit slower than month-on-month. The exports dropped by 7,000 tonnes or 4.12 per cent from 170,000 tonnes in April 2019.

The total aluminium scrap exports by the US in the first four months of the year amounted to 582,000 tonnes, down 6.58 per cent or 41,000 tonnes from 623,000 tonnes during the same period last year.

In April 2020, China emerged as the leading destination for the US aluminium scrap export, unlike in March when India was the importer of the US aluminium scrap, consuming 34,100 tonnes. The USGS data shows the US aluminium scrap exports to China have been trending higher since the beginning of the year. In April, the exports stood at 26,600 tonnes, registering a hike of 8,600 tonnes or 7.77 per cent from 18,000 tonnes in March. In February, the US aluminium scrap exports to China were 11,400 tonnes, up 900 tonnes from 10,500 tonnes in January. February saw a month-on-month increase of 6,600 tonnes or 58 per cent in US scrap exports to China.

US aluminium scrap exports to China in the first four months of 2020 totalled 66,500 tonnes, up 48.44 per cent from 44,800 tonnes during the corresponding period last year.