SHANGHAI, Mar. 8 (SMM) – China’s appetite for bauxite is not as big as before due to production cuts in domestic alumina market, SMM understands.
According to China Customs, China imported 5.3 million tonnes of bauxite in January 2016, up 104.91% from a year ago, but down 25.4% from prior month.
The month-on-month fall was due mainly to production cuts at Chinese alumina producers amid falling alumina prices, SMM aluminum analyst Liu Xiaolei said.
Besides, Malaysia’s three-month ban on bauxite mining, which has been effective January 15, 2016, also contributed to the drop, Liu added.
China imported 2.16 million tonnes of bauxite from Malaysia, still China’s top supplier.
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