SHANGHAI, Jul. 24 (SMM) – China imported 6.08 million mt of bauxite in June. YTD imports through June totaled 32.71 million mt, up 29.75% YoY, according to China Customs.

China’s imports of Indonesian bauxite rose 2.95% YoY to 21.395 million mt in H1, 2013. Imports of Australian bauxite jumped 56.99% YoY to 6.68 million mt, and imports of Indian bauxite hit 3.43 million mt, 3.19 million mt more than the same period last year.    

China has begun to source bauxite from Ghana, Guinea, Guyana, Fiji and Brazil to avoid possible supply shortage from one country or another. Bauxite imports from these five countries totaled 1.098 million mt during H1, 2013.

Chinese producers stepped up imports of Indonesian bauxite and began to purchase bauxite from other countries following the Indonesian government’s announcement that it will restrict raw ore exports in 2014. Similarly, bauxite suppliers in Indonesia ramped up exports. This pushed China’s bauxite imports higher.