GACC: China's April alumina imports hit over 11-year high

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The April volume jumped by 80.3 per cent from March and surged sharply by 5,598.8 per cent from Just 10,705 tonnes recorded the same month a year earlier, the GACC data showed. Over the first four months of this year, China's total alumina imports reached 1.4 million tonnes, up 1,297.5 per cent compared with the January-April period In 2025.

By origin, Australia remained the dominant supplier last month, accounting for 481,881 tonnes or 79 per cent of China's total imports in April, according to Mysteel Global's calculations based the GACC data. Imports from Australia surged by 276.5 per cent on month and rebounded dramatically from negligible volumes a year earlier.

Indonesia and India were the second and third largest supplying countries during the month, contributing 14.9 per cent and 5 per cent of China's total imports, respectively.

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The GACC rarely provides commentary accompanying its data, but industry watchers suggest the surge in imports reflects volumes of alumina that were originally destined for the Middle East being redirected to China after hostilities erupted in the region earlier this year. The fighting has seen some aluminium smelters damaged and production suspended, as Mysteel Global reported.

Perhaps not coincidentally, China's alumina exports also strengthened last month, most likely because volumes redirected to China were subsequently rerouted to Middle Eastern counties such as Oman.

During April, China exported 516,863 tonnes of the raw material, up by 146.8 per cent from March and by 96.6 per cent on year. Over January-April, its total exports reached 1.1 million tonnes, marking an increase of just 10 per cent compared with the same period last year, suggesting that the rise in exports also coincided with the outbreak of the conflict In late February.

With imports significantly outpacing exports, China recorded net alumina imports of 329,129 tonnes during January-April, reversing from net exports of 864,841 tonnes in the corresponding period a year earlier.

In terms of export destinations, Russia remained the largest overseas buyer of Chinese alumina in April. Shipments to Russia totalled 216,077 tonnes, accounting for 41.8 per cent of total exports. This represented a 10.2 per cent Increase from March and a 53.3 per cent rise from a year earlier.

Oman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) ranked as the second and third largest destinations last month, accounting for 24.3 per cent and 23.3 per cent of total exports, respectively.

Despite disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz following the escalating tensions, the impact on Oman has been limited, as its key ports are located outside the strait, market analysts said. Meanwhile, some LIAF importers have adjusted logistics by rerouting alumina shipments through Omani ports.

Note: This news is published under a content and exchange agreement with Mysteel