China imports of cobalt raw materials fell 25% in January

SHANGHAI, Mar 4 (SMM) – China's imports of cobalt raw materials, including ore and intermediate products, came in at 8,000 mt in January, down 25% from December, showed the latest customs data. Imports in 2019 were 24% higher on the year, standing at 90,000 mt. 

Cobalt ore imports in January stood at 888 mt in Co content, based on a Co grade of 8%, up 323% on the month and 92% on the year. This followed a 34% year-on-year decline in cobalt ore imports in 2019, which were 7,000 mt in metal content. 

In January, China’s imports of unwrought cobalt intermediate that was produced through hydrometallurgical processes slid 33% on the month but rose 31% on the year to stand at 6,500 mt in Co content, based on a grade of 27%. 

Full-year imports of intermediate products of cobalt wet-processing metallurgy increased 34% to 81,000 mt in metal content in 2019. 

Import prices of hydrometallurgical cobalt intermediate products averaged $25,637/mt in Co content in January, up 9% on the month but down 38% on the year.

Cobalt raw materials imports in China (Source: SMM, China customs)