SHANGHAI, Sept. 23 (SMM) -- According to China Customs, China’s imports of scrap aluminum declined significantly during August, and China’s imports from the US continued to decrease as well. SMM believes higher prices, weaker consumption and lower supplies contributed to lower imports of scrap aluminum from the US in August.

US is the major scrap aluminum supplier to China, and according to China Customs, US exported 53, 561 mt during August, down 13.62% YoY, and down 2.35% MoM, largely due to reduced supply from US and weak domestic consumption. Goods from Europe and US arrived at Chinese ports in August were mainly ordered by processors during July, and at that time many European and US suppliers suspended operations for summer holiday, creating difficulties for domestic buyers in ordering goods. In the meantime, July and August are seasonal low-demand period for secondary aluminum in China, and operating rates at secondary aluminum enterprises were generally low, which directly restricted scrap aluminum consumption, and China’s imports of scrap aluminum from US decreased in response.