Alumina Import to Dalian Up YOY in Jan-May 2017

According to China Customs statistics, from January to May this year, Dalian Customs District imported 564,000 tons of alumina (aluminum oxide), up 0.5% year-on-year (YOY); valued 1.39 billion yuan, up 52.2% YOY; average import price at 2,462.1 yuan per ton, up 51.4% YOY.

Characteristics of the Alumina Import in Jan-May:

(1) Monthly import quantity reduced much, average price down.
In May alone, Dalian import alumina was 32,000 tons, down 73.4% YOY and down 59.6% from April; the average import price also dropped to 2,280 yuan/ton, down 7.3% from April, though up 24.8% YOY.

(2) Ordinary trade mode dominated the import, followed by Customs special control.
During January-May, ordinary trade imported alumina 540,000 tons, down 3.7% YOY, accounting for 95.7% of the total import; under Customs special control, the import reached 24,000 tons, accounting for 4.3% of the total.

(3) Increased import by state-owned enterprises and private enterprises while reduced by foreign-invested enterprises.
During January-May, Dalian-based state-owned enterprises imported 188,000 tons of alumina, up 105.2% YOY, accounting for 33.3% of the total import; private enterprises imported 173,000 tons, up 160.8%, accounting for 30.7%; foreign-invested enterprises imported 203,000 tons, down 49.6%, accounting for 36%.

(4) Increased import from ASEAN, while reduced from Australia.
During January-May, the alumina from Australia was 160,000 tons, down 53.7% YOY, accounting for 28.4% of the total; alumina from ASEAN was 312,000 tons, up 443.2% YOY, accounting for 55.3%.