Shanghai Metal Market
Vietnam’s alumina exports to China to rise further in 2014
Edited by : AL CIRCLE
2 min read
Vietnam’s alumina exports to China were expected to rise further in 2014 as new capacity comes on stream, Shanghai Metals Market has learned.
July marked the first time that China ever imported alumina from Vietnam when inbound shipments of the raw material hit 14,944 tonnes. China imported another 54,882 tonnes from the country during the following three months, data from Chinese customs office showed.
China was expected to source more alumina from Vietnam in 2014 due to new capacity entering operation and lower prices, SMM’ aluminum analyst Jimmy Liu said.
Tan Rai alumina refinery in Vietnam’s Lam Dong province, with a capacity of 650,000 tonnes per year, was commissioned in 2013. Another alumina plant Nhan Co. – a JV between the country’s largest mining firm Vietnam National Coal & Mineral Industries Group (Vinacomin) and Alcoa Inc. – in Dak Nong province, is under construction. The 650,000-tpy facility was scheduled to come online next year.
Vietnam alumina, though inferior to Australian alumina in quality, does meet domestic standards, Chinese aluminum smelters using Vietnam raw materials told SMM.
Above all, Vietnam alumina enjoys price advantage over other imported alumina. For example, CIF prices of Vietnam alumina were a mere $ 297-310 per tonne in October, below $ 340-360 per tonne for Australian and Indian alumina. Abundant bauxite, the raw material in alumina, in Vietnam and shorter distance to China allowed alumina suppliers in the country to offer more competitive prices than their counterparts in other countries.
July marked the first time that China ever imported alumina from Vietnam when inbound shipments of the raw material hit 14,944 tonnes. China imported another 54,882 tonnes from the country during the following three months, data from Chinese customs office showed.
China was expected to source more alumina from Vietnam in 2014 due to new capacity entering operation and lower prices, SMM’ aluminum analyst Jimmy Liu said.
Tan Rai alumina refinery in Vietnam’s Lam Dong province, with a capacity of 650,000 tonnes per year, was commissioned in 2013. Another alumina plant Nhan Co. – a JV between the country’s largest mining firm Vietnam National Coal & Mineral Industries Group (Vinacomin) and Alcoa Inc. – in Dak Nong province, is under construction. The 650,000-tpy facility was scheduled to come online next year.
Vietnam alumina, though inferior to Australian alumina in quality, does meet domestic standards, Chinese aluminum smelters using Vietnam raw materials told SMM.
Above all, Vietnam alumina enjoys price advantage over other imported alumina. For example, CIF prices of Vietnam alumina were a mere $ 297-310 per tonne in October, below $ 340-360 per tonne for Australian and Indian alumina. Abundant bauxite, the raw material in alumina, in Vietnam and shorter distance to China allowed alumina suppliers in the country to offer more competitive prices than their counterparts in other countries.
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