China exported 373,000 mt of unwrought aluminium and aluminium semis in July

[SMM analysis: The high abroad and low domestic aluminium prices drove the export volume of domestic unwrought aluminium and aluminium semis increasing significantly YoY in March] Since August 2021, China's unwrought aluminium and aluminium semis exports have increased significantly YoY, and reached a record high in the first quarter of this year. According to the short-term forecast, aluminium prices at home and abroad will fell in April, but the pattern of high abroad aluminium prices and low domestic aluminium prices will remain, and the domestic aluminium exports will remain high. However, since March, the domestic pandemic interfered with the operation and transportation of domestic aluminium processing enterprises, and ports in Shanghai and other regions were severely blocked.

[General Administration of Customs: From January to March 2022, the import of steel decreased by 13.4% YoY and the exports decreased by 25.5% YoY] The General Administration of Customs released the Import and Export Value of Key Commodities in March on April 13. It showed that in terms of export, the exports of steel in March was 4.945 million mt, and the cumulative export volume from January to march was 13.179 million mt, a decrease of 25.5% year-on-year. The exports of unwrought aluminium and aluminium in March were 594,400 mt, and the cumulative exports from January to March was 1.6283 million mt，up 26.7% year-on-year.

China exported 5,973 mt of lithium hydroxide in November, a month-on-month decrease of 4%, but year-on-year increase of 13%. Among them, South Korea imported 3,245 mt, down 22% month-on-month, and Japan imported 2,633 mt, up 31% on the month.

China’s total exports of wrought manganese, manganese products, unwrought manganese and scrap materials and powder stood at 51,958.18 mt in June, up 70.96% month on month and 101.96% year on year, according to SMM statistics.

China's aluminium extrusion exports in March 2021 were 58,000 mt, down 2% month-on-month and 22% year-on-year, latest customs data show.

The recent coastal wind and waves at northern Chilean ports has caused an extensive delay in copper exports by Chile in January. Of several large and medium-scale ports in northern Chile that transport copper cathode and copper concentrates like Antofagasta, Mejillones, Iquique, Arica and Patache, four ports could not load copper cathode as large-scale vessels failed to call at ports, with the exception of the Antofagasta port.

The stainless steel market remained stable with scarce transactions. The basic quotations of #304 cold rolled coils were between 12,900-13,400 yuan/mt. According to the survey from traders, due to the tight spot supply from Hongwang, some agents had suspended selling coils, and they are reserving the supply for later sale of plates.

China’s rare earth exports in September stood at 2,003.3 mt, down 43.9% from a year earlier. Rare earth export value in September stood at 130 million yuan. Exports from January to September declined 27.5% year over year to 26,380.6 mt. Export value fell 25.5% year on year in January-September to 1.78 billion yuan.

China exported 426,000 mt of unwrought aluminium and aluminium semis in September, up 7.7% month on month and down 2.1% year on year, according to customs data. Exports from January to September totalled 3.56 million mt, down 18.6% from a year ago.

China imported 429,464 mt of unwrought aluminium and aluminium semis in August. Imports rose sharply 724% year on year and 9.8% month on month, the highest since April 2009, according to customs data.