Metal Imports, Exports in China Zoomed in 2021

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The Chinese imports and exports of various metals surged during the previous year.

The country imported record amount of primary and alloy aluminum in 2021. The country’s net imports of unwrought primary aluminum reached 1.57 million tonnes, whereas those of unwrought alloy totalled 1 million tonne last year. The volumes were up by approximately 20%. The major supplier of primary aluminum was India, whereas Malaysia emerged as the largest supplier of alloy.

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The shipments of semi-manufactured aluminum products were up by 18% year-on-year. The exports during the month of December 2021 hit an all-time monthly record of 553,000 tonnes.

The refined copper imports dipped by 25% to 3.3 million tonnes, in comparison with 2020. The country’s imports of refined nickel almost doubled to 261,000 tonnes, registering notable surge during the second half of the year. The net imports of refined zinc fell by 16% to 429,000 tonnes last year, touching the lowest level since 2016. The Dec ’21 imports of 10,334 tonnes were the lowest monthly total since 2008.

Meantime, China exported 95,000 tonnes of refined lead in 2021, the highest total since 2007. The export volumes increased over the second half of the year.