SHANGHAI, Jul. 2 (SMM) – According to China Customs, China exported 8,533 mt of artificial cryolite (trisodium hexafluoroaluminate) from January to May, up 42% YoY. The average export price was USD 905/mt, 7% over the same period last year. This is in sharp contrast with depressed artificial cryolite markets in China.

SMM survey finds that domestic cryolite producers are concentrated in Henan, Hunan, Zhejiang, Shandong and Yunnan. Cryolite is used as a supplementary material in aluminum production and glass manufacturing. Domestic demand for cryolite is stable, but the continuous commissioning of new capacity has left artificial cryolite supply in China in excess of demand from aluminum smelters by a large margin.     

SMM data indicate that traded prices of domestic artificial cryolite now average RMB 5,400-6,000/mt, 24% off RMB 7,000-8,000/mt recorded for the same period last year. Chinese producers were thus more willing to export given that export prices were higher than domestic prices.