China Bauxite Imports Soared 144.07% in March, Driven Mainly by Malaysia

SHANGHAI, Apr. 21 (SMM) – China imported 4.44 million tonnes of bauxite in March, up 46.91% from February and 144.07% from a year ago, customs data showed.

 

Stockpiles of imported bauxite built up in 2013 are running out, which explains why March’s imports were such robust, SMM understands. 

 

Malaysia contributed the most to the growth in China’s imports, followed by India and Australia. Chinese alumina refineries reported more orders and the monsoon in Malaysia ended, boosting Malaysian bauxite shipment to China.  

  

China’s bauxite imports fell 21.74% year-on-year to 10.05 million tonnes in Q1, though, as Indonesian bauxite continued to arrive in the same period last year.