SHANGHAI, Feb. 22 (SMM) -- According to China Customs, China imported 3.12 million mt of bauxite during January, up 6.61% YoY. Average import prices for bauxite were USD 45.69/mt during January.

China’s bauxite imports from Indonesia were 2.41 million mt during January, up 4.77% YoY, with average import prices at USD 43.18/mt; imports from Australia were 661,300 mt, up 40.41% YoY, with average import prices at USD 54.72/mt; and imports from Malaysia were 45,300 mt, with average import prices at USD 47.22/mt.

According to SMM statistics, China’s bauxite imports in January were down by 1.46 million mt from December 2011 due mainly the Chinese New Year holiday, and bauxite imports in the month when the Chinese New Year falls are always the lowest in the year based on past three years.

Bauxite imports in January have been on an upward track over the past three years, with imports at 1.79 million in 2010, 2.97 million mt in 2011 and 3.12 million mt in 2012, indicating domestic demand for imported bauxite remains strong.