China: Aluminium imports, exports up by y-o-y in CY’22

China’s imports of aluminium were recorded at 131.56 million tonnes (mnt) in Calendar Year (CY’22) against 114.85 mnt in CY’21, up by 15%. The export volume of China stood at 7.61 mnt in CY’22, an increase of 33% as compared to CY’21 which was around 5.74 mnt.

China’s import overview

The import volumes of aluminum in December 2022 was 10.66 mnt  from 12.37 mnt in November 2022, down by 14% m-o-m.

Out of which, ore or concentrates increased by 15% to 127.65 mnt, semi-finished products by 29% to 1.95 mnt, and finished products, down by 7% to 0.44 mnt. Aluminium scrap imports increased by 48% to 1.52 mnt in CY’22.

The overall import quantity in December 2022 was up by 14% y-o-y from 9.3 mnt in December, 2021.

China’s aluminium imports climbed y-o-y in December, 2022 as compared to the previous year. This happened after China abandoned zero-Covid policy and raising hopes for increased aluminium demand.

Country-wise imports

• Exports from Guinea increase in CY’22: Export volumes stood at 70.44 mnt in CY’22, with an increase of 29% from 54.75 mnt in CY’21. Export volumes also increased by 76% y-o-y from 3.52 mnt in December 2021.
• Exports from Australia down in CY’22: Australia’s export volumes fell to 35.31 mnt in CY’22 as against 36.39 mnt in CY’21, marginally down by 3%. Shipments also decreased in December 2022 by 10% from 3.11 mnt in December 2021.
• Exports from Indonesia increase in CY’22: Exports from Indonesia to China were up by 8% to 19.55 mnt in CY’22 from 18.02 mnt in CY’21. The y-o-y volumes fell by 54% from 2.25 mnt in December 2021.

China’s export overview

The exports of aluminium ores/concentrates from China stood at 10,07,548 tonnes (t) in CY’22, a drastic increase of 740% from 1,19,892 t in CY’21. Semi-finished products were up by 158% to 428,151 t. But finished products fell by 89% to 617,486 t followed by scrap which was up by 69% from 768 t in CY’21 to 1,297 t in CY’22.

The country’s aluminium exports were down by 7% y-o-y to 528,836 t in December 2022 as compared to the previous year.

Country-wise exports

• Imports to Mexico increase y-o-y: The export volume from China stood at 622,620 t in CY’22, an increase of 29% as against 482,813 t in CY’21. Export volumes were slightly up by 2% from 50,161 t in December 2021.
• Imports to South Korea rise y-o-y: China’s export to South Korea were at 471,945 t in CY’22, a rise of 29% from 365,594 t in CY’21. There was a decrease of 16% y-o-y from 33,485 t in December, 2021 as compared to December, 2022.
• Imports to Thailand up y-o-y: Export volumes from China to Thailand were at 383,432 t, up by 12% in CY’22 as compared to around 342,349 t in CY’21. The y-o-y volume stood at 33,243 t in December 2021, a fall of 37% compared to December 2022.