2010 April Al Imports and Exports Data Analysis

SHANGHAI, May 31 (SMM) --
Bauxite:
According to China Customs, China's bauxite imports were 2.46 million mt during April, up 142.96% YoY, but down 4.57% MoM.  Alumina producers in Shandong Province, with imported bauxite as raw materials, maintained normal operations and this was behind the stable rate of bauxite imports.  Based on SMM's survey on alumina markets, the rate of commissioning of alumina capacity using imported bauxite as the raw material will likely begin to slow, but will keep bauxite imports stable throughout 2010 if no production cuts are reported. 

Alumina:
According to China Customs, China's alumina imports were only 154 kt during April, down 76.18% YoY, and down 69.64% MoM.  Significant declines in alumina imports were due mainly to the widening gap between domestic and international alumina prices.

Aluminum:
According to China Customs, China's aluminum imports were 29 kt during April, down 92.00% YoY, but up 3.33% MoM.  China's aluminum exports increased significantly during April, with export volumes reaching 48.5 kt, up more than 410 times on a yearly basis, and significantly higher than the 2.2 kt during March.  According to SMM sources, as the widening spread between SHFE and LME aluminum prices added to losses on imported aluminum ingot, coupled with high premiums in Japan and South Korea, large amounts of aluminum ingot ready to enter China but had not undergone customs clearance has been re-exported.

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