China's aluminium exports down 8.10% last year

China exported 1.212 million tonnes of aluminium in 2006, down 8.10% from last year, according to statistics released by the General Administration of Customs yesterday.

Alumina imports fell 1.50% to 6.91 million tonnes in 2006.

The following tables specify China's aluminium and alumina exports & imports for December and the whole of 2006.

China's aluminium and alumina exports in 2006
--------------------------------------
Item        Exports in December   Exports in     YoY
            2006 (tonnes)         2006 (tonnes) change(%)
--------------------------------------
Aluminium
(Primary      80,272               1,212,155     -8.10
aluminium
and aluminium
alloy)
--------------------------------------
Aluminium     80,272               1,212,155     -8.10
products
--------------------------------------
Alumina          0                  20,000      -13.40
--------------------------------------

Source: The General Administration of Castoms

China's aluminium and alumina imports in 2006
--------------------------------------
Item        Imports in December   Imports in     YoY
            2006 (tonnes)         2006 (tonnes) change(%)
--------------------------------------
Aluminium
(Primary      31,309               511,950     -19.60
aluminium
and aluminium
alloy)
--------------------------------------
Aluminium     61,756               686,124         6
products
--------------------------------------
Alumina       540,000             6,910,000     -1.50
--------------------------------------
Aluminium     175,268             1,765,374      4.60
scrap
--------------------------------------

Source: The General Administration of Castoms

Aluminium futures at Shanghai Futures Exchange settled down in modestly active trading on Tuesday, mainly affected by copper's prices drop of 4%, analysts said.

"The prices might drop to around RMB18,000 ($2310.65) to 18,500 ($2374.84) before and after the Spring Festival amid more sales pressure in the market," said analyst Huang. He explained that aluminium companies normally want to sell more before the Spring Festival in order to prepare bonuses for their stuff.

Commentary
Over the past year China has substantially expanded its domestic production capacity and, similar to the steel industry, now relies upon the export of value added finished products to sustain the industry. Equally, as with steel products, this will be of concern to its trading partners.

Aluminium is being squeezed on the short dated but remains weak. China import/export figures are price negative, so I wouldn't be a buye