SHANGHAI, Sep 27 (SMM) – China imported 216,580 mt of cobalt raw materials from January to August in 2021, and the imports of cobalt concentrate stood at 10,662 mt or 853 mt in metal content, down 72% on the year.

Imports of cobalt hydrometallurgical intermediate products stood at 200,358 mt or 54,097 mt in metal content, a year-on-year increase of 12%. The imports of unwrought cobalt stood at 5,560 mt, up 78% year on year.

Most of the imported cobalt hydrometallurgical intermediate products in August came from Congo (DRC), which stood at 20,726 mt. The imports from Taiwan China, the Philippines, and Thailand were 798 mt, 110 mt, and 10 mt respectively.

Imports of cobalt intermediate products by Jiangxi, shanghai, Guangdong, Gansu and Zhejiang decreased month-on-month in July, while imports by Hubei, Fujian, Jiangsu, and Hunan increased.

The average monthly import price of cobalt hydrometallurgy intermediate products was $52,552/mt in metal content in August, up 7% month on month and 111% year on year.

The average import price of cobalt hydrometallurgy intermediate products stood at $46,710/mt in metal content from January to August, a year-on-year increase of 82%.

The decline in the August imports was mainly due to the port and railway suspension caused by the riots in South Africa during July 9-17.

The ports in Ningbo and Shanghai were closed after a confirmed COVID-19 case was discovered at Ningbo Zhoushan port on August 11. The Meishan port in Ningbo did not resume operation until August 24, which affected the customs clearance of the imported cobalt raw materials.

Amid the strengthened pandemic prevention and control measures at ports, the imports of the cobalt intermediate products in September are expected to stand at 7,000 mt in metal content.

The operating capacities of South African and domestic ports are expected to improve. The import volume of cobalt intermediate products are expected to be 7,500 and 8,000 mt in metal content respectively in October and November.