China's imports of scrap copper from the United States reduce the surge in alumina exports

SMM11, March 2: China imported less scrap metal from the United States in September, while alumina exports to India and Iceland increased, according to customs data released on Thursday.

China imported only 9642 tons of scrap copper from the US in September, down 80.1 per cent from 50243 tons in the same period last year, according to the data.

Shipments of scrap copper in the United States fell 13.8 percent from January to September to 335636 tons, according to calculations. China has been cutting back on waste imports because of environmental protection. In August, China imposed a 25% tariff on waste from the United States. The United States is also one of China's largest suppliers of scrap copper. But China's imports of scrap copper from Japan more than doubled to 46446 tons in September from 19198 tons a year earlier, partly replacing imports from the United States.

In September, Chinese imports of US waste aluminium fell 39 per cent from a year earlier to 33880 tons. At the same time, the data show that distant countries such as Iceland, India and Cameroon have been buying Chinese alumina this year as China has been exporting aluminium raw materials and taking advantage of favourable arbitrage opportunities to cash in on international markets.

From August to September, China's alumina exports more than quintupled to more than 165000 tons. The latest figures show that Iceland imported 39524 tons of alumina in September, India 36721 tons, Malaysia 29199 tons, Russia 28133 tons, Cameroon 16400 tons.

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