Aluminium imports into the People’s Republic of China rose by 27.1 percent on the year last month partly as a result of power supply issues plaguing aluminium smelters in the southwest of the country.
April saw the Middle Kingdom bring in 222,851 metric tons of unwrought aluminium according to customs data that was released last week. That total was up on both March’s imported aluminium total of 200,508 metric tons and April 2022’s total of 175,289 metric tons.
Through the opening four months of 2023, China brought in 797,602 metric tons of unwrought aluminium, which is better by 12.6 percent over last year.
Imports rose partly to offset from a drop in aluminium production in Yunnan, which produces around 12 percent of the country’s total.
In a report released this week, analysts at Zijin Tianfeng Futures predicted little relief in sight for Yunnan aluminium.
“Rainfall […] is still lower than levels in previous years.”
“Even if the situation improves to some degree,” the report continued, “we do not expect to see a large-scale production resumption in the region in the short run.”
Meanwhile, imported bauxite fell slightly to 12 million metric tons in April, off by 50 thousand metric tons from the previous month but increased from 11.13 million on the year. For the first four months of the year, imports rose by 8.8 percent, besting last year’s opening four months at 47.64 million metric tons.
