Chinese exporters of secondary aluminium alloy ADC12 increased domestic sales as demand from Japan’s automotive industry dropped significantly. Demand for ADC12 in China increased after industrial activities resumed post the COVID-19 lockdown.
China imported 63,878mt of unwrought aluminium alloy in April, up by 606pc from a year ago, when China did not face scrap import restrictions. In April, China majorly imported from Malaysia (16,547mt) it’s conduit after China faced scrap import restrictions from South Korea (8,510mt) and from India (5,266mt). April’s imports were, however, down by 23pc from the previous month on two accounts – supply shortage from exporting countries who were shut due to COVID-19 and also because China’s ADC12 exporters found a market among domestic consumers while demand from Japan’s automotive sector remained subdued.
The weekly Davis Index for ADC fob China port Friday settled at $1,410/mt, down by $40/mt. However, it matched the cfr China port index of ADC12 which settled at $1,408/mt, up by $5/mt, making way for competition between exporters of the alloy to China and domestic manufacturers.
India’s weekly imported aluminium scrap prices remained unchanged on subdued demand, despite a 2.6pc rise in the official three-month LME aluminium contract. The weekly index for 6063 aluminium extrusions scrap settled at $1,268/mt cfr India port, and the index for Troma settled at $1,260/mt cfr India port, both unchanged. The weekly index for aluminium-copper radiators settled at $2,490/mt cfr India port, Friday, up by $20/mt.
The official three-month LME aluminium contract settled at $1,524/mt, Thursday, up by $38/mt from a week ago, hitting a six-week high.