Lijiang Aluminum Project Arouses Doubts, China’s Bauxite Imports Hit New High in January

 SHANGHAI, Mar. 4 (SMM) -

Lijiang Aluminum Project Rumored to Discharge 2,000 Mt of SO2 Annually
It was rumored that Yunnan Aluminum’s aluminum project in Lijiang will discharge 2,000 mt of sulfur dioxide each year after entering production. If the company’s  annual SO2 emission is confirmed to be 2,000 mt, Yunnan Aluminum will bring online not only transportation aluminum extrusion projects, but also some other aluminum related projects.  
 
China’s Bauxite Imports Hit New High in January
According to China Customs, China imported 5.14 million mt of bauxite in January, up 67.59% YoY and an 8-month high.

SMM believes four reasons were behind the rise in China’s bauxite imports in January. First, newly-built alumina capacity in Shandong gave a boost to demand for bauxite. Second, alumina producers who cut production because of Indonesia’s restrictions on bauxite exports began to resume production, increasing demand for raw materials. Third, Chinese alumina producers built up stocks in advance for fear that the Indonesian government might restrict bauxite exports again in 2014. Fourth, the Indonesian government relaxed some on its bauxite export policy, allowing some domestic traders to increase bauxite imports.    

China’s Aluminum Products Exports Likely to Rise amid Growing Inventories in Domestic Markets
Data from China Customs shows that China’s aluminum products exports grew 15.5% YoY to 230,000 mt in January 2013, though little changed MoM.

One processor in Guangdong expects aluminum prices to rise in the future given the growing output in aluminum semis. One sales manager at a large smelter believed that aluminum ingot inventories will begin to drop in late March and that aluminum processors will operate at full capacity by then. He added that many Chinese processors have received orders from the US and Japan, which will boost China’s exports.