China's aluminium scrap imports fell 22.2% in August

The fall of aluminium prices stimulated processing enterprises to restock. Exports are expected to rise.

SHFE nonferrous metals broadly rose for the most part on Wednesday June 23 with investors awaiting key Purchasing Managers' Indexes from the euro zone.

SHFE nonferrous metals broadly closed higher across the board on Tuesday June 22, triggered by the Fed's updated inflation projections and a shortening of its interest rate hike schedule.

SHFE nonferrous metals broadly fell on Monday June 21, following jitters in global markets over the more hawkish tone from the US Federal Reserve last week.

LME base metals closed mixed in the overnight trading last Friday, as the expanding inflation and rising US dollar weighed on the market, but short supply still supported the prices. SHFE metals basically went down.

LME and SHFE non ferrous metals all declined in yesterday’s overnight trading as Fed officials implied to raise interest rates in advance and increased the excess reserve ratio.

LME base metals all fell in the overnight trading yesterday, as US dollar index went up slightly, and the plummeting US May retail sales brought negative sentiments to the market. Meanwhile, SHFE metals closed mixed amid the policy control.

The fluctuation band of aluminium scrap taint was 300 yuan/mt last week, while that of aluminium scrap tense was 200 yuan/mt. Poor sales at secondary aluminium producers pressured aluminium scrap prices. Import restrictions kept supply of aluminium scrap tense tight. Aluminium scrap prices will remain under downward pressure and the price difference between primary aluminium and aluminium scrap will continue to expand before the completion of the next pricing cycle of secondary aluminium in early April.

China imported 47,000 mt of aluminium scrap in October, down 40.4% on the month, and down 21.5% on the year, and imports totalled 680,000 mt in the first ten months of 2020, down 48% from the same period last year, the latest customs data showed. 

Leo Yi, senior analyst at SMM, explained the challenges posed by the new solid waste law to China’s aluminium scrap supply and operations at secondary aluminium producers