According to the General Administration of Customs of China, in May 2024, China imported 13.549 million mt of bauxite, down 4.84% MoM, up 4.63% YoY.
By country
In May, China imported 9.4174 million mt from Guinea, down 10.27% MoM, down 3.67% YoY; 3.5755 million mt from Australia, up 14.07% MoM, up 36.55% YoY; 195,900 mt from Brazil, 126,700 mt from Ghana, 89,100 mt from Laos, 56,200 mt from Turkey, 47,700 mt from Sierra Leone, and 40,500 mt from Malaysia.
Main sources of bauxite imports
In May, the total volume of bauxite imported from Guinea to China decreased both MoM and YoY. Based on shipment times, the decrease in domestic imports of Guinean bauxite in May may have been affected by shipment disruptions in April. However, from January to May, the total volume of bauxite imported from Guinea to China still showed a slight increase, mainly due to the expansion of some bauxite projects and the shipments from some new bauxite projects. From January to May 2024, China imported a total of 46.9113 million mt of bauxite from Guinea, up 5.30% YoY, with an increase of 2.3613 million mt.
In May, China's bauxite imports from Australia showed significant growth both MoM and YoY. From January to May, the total volume of bauxite imported from Australia also showed a substantial increase, reaching 14.6773 million mt, up 23.62% YoY. Australia was the main contributor to the increase in China's bauxite imports from January to May, with a total increase of 2.8046 million mt. The main reasons may be the production expansion of bauxite projects and the relatively low import volume of Australian bauxite from January to May 2023. In January to May 2022, China imported 14.1019 million mt of bauxite from Australia, and the import volume in January to May 2024 only increased by 4.08% compared to the same period in 2022.
Non-mainstream sources of bauxite imports
In May 2024, China imported bauxite from Brazil, Ghana, Laos, Turkey, Sierra Leone, and Malaysia, with a total import volume of 556,000 mt, accounting for 4.10% of the total import volume in May, maintaining a relatively active state.
Overall, the total volume of domestic bauxite imports grew slightly. However, in terms of mainstream imported bauxite, frequent disruptions in bauxite shipments from Guinea, together with the approaching rainy season, led to lower-than-expected growth in bauxite imports from Guinea from January to May. Although the growth in Australian bauxite imports was considerable, it was partly due to the relatively low import volume from January to May 2023, and the increase was still relatively limited. In terms of non-mainstream imported bauxite, although trade activity was moderate, the total volume can hardly increase, and its role in alleviating the domestic bauxite shortage was relatively limited. In June, Guinea's bauxite imports may still be affected by the shipment disruptions in April, and the import volume may also be lower than expected. As Guinea gradually enters the rainy season, the new bauxite projects can hardly release capacity.
Overall, Guinea and Australia will continue to be the main contributors to the increase in domestic bauxite supply. From January to April 2024, China's bauxite import rose by 3.0256 million mt. Among them, the import volume from Guinea and Australia rose by 4.5678 million mt, while Indonesia’s bauxite export ban caused a certain reduction in imports, and the increment from non-mainstream source countries was less than 300,000 mt. In April, Guinea's bauxite shipments were somewhat disrupted, which may affect the port arrivals and import volume of bauxite in China in May and June. In June, the rainy season in Guinea gradually arrived, and its impact on bauxite shipments may gradually become apparent. Continuous attention is needed on the port arrivals and shipment of bauxite.
![Hausses des prix des appels d'offres de septembre mises en œuvre ; le fluorure d'aluminium poursuit sa forte tendance [Revue hebdomadaire des sels fluorés SMM]](https://imgqn.smm.cn/usercenter/qKBjc20251217171650.jpg)
