China Primary Aluminium Imports in December Dropped 36.98% YoY

The Three-month LME nickel opened at $24,405/mt on Tuesday and gained 2.29% to close at $25,055/mt. While the most traded SHFE nickel contract opened at 180,000 yuan/mt, with an intraday increase of merely 0.87%. If US actually imposes sanctions on Russia, the NORNICKAL nickel plate that were previously exported to US may flow into China.

Imports of cobalt intermediate products were 5,166 mt in metal content in October (calculated at 27% grade), down 30% MoM.

Ferro-silico-manganese imports stood at 8,356 mt in October, up 483.52% MoM and 457.07% YoY; the exports registered 7,129.7 mt, up 11.47% MoM and 105.64% YoY. Its exports total 93,090.53 mt from January to October, and the imports stood at 21,799 mt.

SMM data showed that China's social inventories of aluminium across eight consumption areas fell 26,000 mt on the week to 732,000 mt as of August 5.

The volume of China’s alumina exports is set to decline but the downward room is limited as profits remain, SMM believes.

China’s alumina imports are likely to decrease after March volumes hit a 16-year low

China's lead import and export in February 2018

China's zinc import and export in January 2018.

China's Ministry of Commerce said China is willing to increase imports from the US.

The stainless steel imports by the country surged higher significantly during the initial five-month period of the current fisca.