Malaysia leads the list of top 5 unwrought aluminium alloy exporters to China during Jan-Feb 2023

According to the Shanghai Metals Market, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea, and Pakistan were the five top suppliers of unwrought aluminium alloy to China during January-February 2023. In the first two months of the year, China imported 168,900 tonnes of unwrought aluminium alloy, reflecting a year-on-year plunge of 39,500 or 18.9 per cent.

As per the SMM data, Malaysia exported the highest amount of alloy to China, supplying 73,500 tonnes, followed by Thailand providing 15,500 tonnes. Malaysia accounted for 43.5 per cent of China’s total unwrought aluminium alloy imports, while that of Thailand accounted for 9.2 per cent. Vietnam, South Kore, and Pakistan exported 13,200 tonnes, 12,100 tonnes, and 5,600 tonnes, respectively, accounting for 7.8 per cent, 7.2 per cent and 3.3 per cent, respectively.

In January, China imported 81,000 tonnes of unwrought aluminium alloy, down by 30.5 per cent year-on-year and 12.3 per cent month-on-month, according to General Administration of Customs. The annual decline extended in February as well by 4.3 per cent to 87,900 tonnes, but on a month-on-month basis, the import volume increased by 8.6 per cent.

Now, coming to the leading Chinese importers of unwrought alloy during January-February 2023, Zhejiang, Guangdong, and Fujian were the top three. Zhejiang imported 72,000 tonnes, accounting for 42.6 per cent of China’s total imports, followed by Guangdong 29,200 tonnes and Fujian 19,300 tonnes. Guangdong’s imports accounted for 17.3 per cent and Fujian’s imports 11.4 per cent. Other regions accounted for combined 30 per cent in the first two months.

According to SMM, Fujian replaced Jiangsu Province as the third largest importer of unwrought aluminium alloy from January to February.