China unwrought aluminium, aluminium products exports dropped 25% YoY in January-February

SHANGHAI, Mar 9 (SMM) – China’s exports of unwrought aluminium and aluminium products in the first two months of this year dropped, as the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic shut processors and due to a high statistical base a year earlier.

China exported 669,000 mt of unwrought aluminium and aluminium products in January and February, down 25.2% from the same period last year, according to data from China customs who cancelled the release of trade data for January and combined data for January and February.

As Chinese authorities moved to contain the spread of the epidemic, aluminium processors in China delayed their resumption of production by up to 20 days, with some small plants remaining closed until early March. That slowed the recovery of exports of unwrought aluminium and aluminium products.

Aluminium processors suspended deliveries about two weeks ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, which fell in late January this year, earlier than last year.

In January 2019, China’s exports of unwrought aluminium and aluminium products hit the highest monthly level in nearly 20 years, standing at 496,700 mt, as fears of heavier US tariffs amid the bruising trade war with Washington sparked an export rush.  

Table: Proportions of China’s aluminium exports to countries hit hard by the Covid-19 to the total exports in 2019

China exported about 5.17 million mt of aluminium sheet/plate and strip, foil, extrusion, and wire and cable last year, accounting for over 90% of China’s total exports of unwrought aluminium and aluminium products.