Australia, the largest producer of aluminium ore, exported 3.44mn mt of aluminium in April, up by 8.18pc from the prior-year period.
The rise in exports was driven by increased demand from China after aluminium smelters resumed production in April post the COVID-19 lockdowns.
China, the largest aluminium producer is the largest importer of the raw material from Australia. China’s imports of aluminium ore from Australia rose to 3.39mn mt, up by 7.96pc from 3.14mn mt in the prior-year period. South Korea and the UAE were the other two importers from Australia.
Rio Tinto, one of Australia’s biggest bauxite producer, had reported increased output in its first quarter by 8pc and shipments by 7pc as reported earlier.