China’s imports of non-ferrous scrap varied according to metal from January-July according to Chinese Customs data, with aluminum imports decreasing while copper cargoes increased during the period under review.
Aluminum scrap
Imports of aluminum scrap in the January-July period stood at 462,594mt down from 481,001mt during the seven months of 2020. In July, the Asian nation imported 56,305mt of scrap down 39pc from 92,353mt imported in the same month last year. However, imports increased by 45pc from 38,891mt in June.
Hong Kong replaced Malaysia as the largest exporter of aluminum scrap to China in July, sending 25,235mt of the material, up 141pc from 10,475mt in the same month last year. Japan followed with 11,058mt against 6,268mt during the same annual period. Malaysia, which was the top exporter of aluminum scrap in July last year, reduced its exports to China by 48pc to 7,080mt from 13,613mt in the same annual period.
Copper scrap
In January-July, China’s copper scrap imports grew to 970,746mt from 505,731mt in the same period last year. The country’s imports of the red metal last month increased by 99pc to 149,369mt from 75,113mt in July 2020.
Malaysia was replaced by the US as the top exporter of copper scrap to China in July, with the latter shipping 22,602mt to the Asian nation up 130pc from 9,843mt exported in July last year. Japan kept its position as the second-largest exporter with a 102pc growth in copper scrap shipments to 20,279mt from 10,049mt in the same period. Malaysia’s exports also grew by 12pc annually to 17,547mt in July from 15,713mt in the same period last year.