Chinese bauxite imports up by 14.9% YOY Jan-May
2017-06-27 14:15:11 [Print]
BEIJING (Asian Metal) 27 Jun 17 - According to China Customs, China imported around 25.17 million tonnes of bauxite from January to May in total, up by 14.9% YOY. In May, the imports moved up by 1.5% MOM to around 5.67 million tonnes.
Unit: KT
Chinese bauxite imports by month
From March to May, the imports kept going up and reached the highest level in May over the past twelve months. The volume increase was mainly attributed to Guinean and Australian bauxite supply.
In May, China imported around 2.27 million tonnes of bauxite from Guinea, down by 3% MOM, followed by Australian bauxite of 1.9 million tonnes, up by 33.3% MOM. Guinea became the biggest bauxite supplier to China, with total volume of 9.44 million tonnes from January to May, followed by Australian bauxite of 9.26 million tonnes. From July, a small-sized bauxite owner in Australia will start exporting the material. Due to monsoon in Q3, Guinean bauxite supply may face difficulty in increase in spite of the loading capacity of 3 million tonnes per month.
Malaysian bauxite supply increased by 15.5% MOM to around 720,000t in May, but the volume may be less in June and July due to the Lesser Bairam holiday in Malaysia. On June 26, Malaysia declared to extend the mining ban further after the General Election.
Indian bauxite supply reached around 390,000t in May, up by 19.2% MOM, but may decline after June because of rainfall.
The supply of bauxite from Solomon Islands becomes stable and may increase in the second half of 2017, as Chinese consumers have solved the production problem. Three major consumers now use the bauxite.
In May, China imported around 42,000t of bauxite Al 48%min Si 2%max from Jamaica for the first time. The price is a bit higher than USD50/t CFR China.
Chinese bauxite imports by countries (Unit: tonne)
Unit: KT
Chinese bauxite imports by major countries by month
Unit: KT
Chinese bauxite imports by month
From March to May, the imports kept going up and reached the highest level in May over the past twelve months. The volume increase was mainly attributed to Guinean and Australian bauxite supply.
In May, China imported around 2.27 million tonnes of bauxite from Guinea, down by 3% MOM, followed by Australian bauxite of 1.9 million tonnes, up by 33.3% MOM. Guinea became the biggest bauxite supplier to China, with total volume of 9.44 million tonnes from January to May, followed by Australian bauxite of 9.26 million tonnes. From July, a small-sized bauxite owner in Australia will start exporting the material. Due to monsoon in Q3, Guinean bauxite supply may face difficulty in increase in spite of the loading capacity of 3 million tonnes per month.
Malaysian bauxite supply increased by 15.5% MOM to around 720,000t in May, but the volume may be less in June and July due to the Lesser Bairam holiday in Malaysia. On June 26, Malaysia declared to extend the mining ban further after the General Election.
Indian bauxite supply reached around 390,000t in May, up by 19.2% MOM, but may decline after June because of rainfall.
The supply of bauxite from Solomon Islands becomes stable and may increase in the second half of 2017, as Chinese consumers have solved the production problem. Three major consumers now use the bauxite.
In May, China imported around 42,000t of bauxite Al 48%min Si 2%max from Jamaica for the first time. The price is a bit higher than USD50/t CFR China.
Chinese bauxite imports by countries (Unit: tonne)
May |
MOM |
Jan-May |
YOY |
|
Total |
5,668,534 |
1.50% |
25,171,156 |
14.90% |
Guinea |
2,266,216 |
-3.00% |
9,439,751 |
163.50% |
Australia |
1,924,420 |
33.30% |
9,263,915 |
18.10% |
Malaysia |
719,614 |
15.50% |
2,476,023 |
-52.20% |
India |
390,835 |
19.20% |
1,337,926 |
-60% |
Brazil |
108,681 |
-57.80% |
1,168,740 |
2.40% |
Ghana |
41,450 |
-77.40% |
423,461 |
4% |
Montenegro |
67,959 |
-53.10% |
213,124 |
- |
Solomon Islands |
54,750 |
-48.20% |
160,469 |
- |
Fiji |
0 |
58,710 |
- |
|
Vietnam |
52,595 |
1.50% |
104,435 |
- |
Jamaica |
41,871 |
41,871 |
- |
Unit: KT
Chinese bauxite imports by major countries by month