Customs Data Suggests Mixed Trends in Scrap Metal Imports

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The official trade statistics published by Chinese Customs Department website suggests robust metal imports by the country during the first ten months of the current year.

The strict controls placed on quality of material imports coupled with retaliatory duties imposed on scrap imports from the U.S resulted in major collapse in scrap copper imports by China. The copper scrap imports were down by 36% over the previous year. On the contrary, Chinese refined copper imports surged 20% to hit 3.1 million tonnes in Jan-Oct ’18. The imports of copper concentrates too witnessed year-on-year jump by 19%.

The Chinese imports of aluminum scrap continued to witness sharp decline, falling by almost 27% over the previous year. However, primary aluminum imports touched new record in October. Still, the cumulative imports are almost down by nearly one-third over the first ten months of the current year. The country turned into net exporter of alumina, recording notable increase in exports, Customs data said.

The net imports of refined nickel totaled 177,000 tonnes in Jan-Oct ‘18, significantly higher by 14% when compared with 2017. At the same time, imports of nickel ores and concentrates skyrocketed by 37%.

The cumulative imports of refined zinc rose 13% from last year. Also, zinc concentrates imports were up by 19%. On the other hand, Chinese imports of refined lead dropped by 35% during the initial ten months of 2018, whereas the inflows of concentrates reported 8% decline.

This story originally appeared in www.afr.com