China’s imports of unwrought aluminium, aluminium products hit 11-year high in June amid coronavirus lockdown

China’s imports of unwrought aluminium and aluminium products hit to their highest in 11 years in June on lower overseas prices. China, the world’s top aluminium producer, imported 288,783 tonnes of aluminium last month, an increase of 493.1% from June 2019, the General Administration of Customs said.

Import was more than double May’s imports of 119,145 tonnes as buyers took advantage of the differences between domestic and international prices, Reuters reported.

The country shipped out 354,038 tonnes of unwrought aluminium and aluminium products in June. That was down 30% year-on-year, customs data showed.

In the first half of 2020, imports were 816,592 tonnes, up 219.2% year-on-year. Exports of aluminium products stood at 2.37 million tonnes, down 20.6% from a year earlier.

The customs data showed also showed alumina exports were 30,000 tonnes, a jump of 783.1% year-on-year.  In H1 2020, China shipped out 100,000 tonnes of alumina, down 46% year-on-year.