China's imports of bauxite fluctuate wildly

　　China imported 47% less bauxite for the year to September 2012 due to plummeting imports from Indonesia.

　　Imports rose 48% in August.

　　China's bauxite imports fell in recent months following export policy revisions in Indonesia, a major supplier. Imports from Indonesia had plummeted in June, but picked up in August and September as shipments gradually resumed.

　　Total bauxite imports for the first three quarters was 30.77 million mt, up a marginal 2% from the same period in 2011.

　　China also hiked its imports from other markets in September to cover reduced supplies from Indonesia.

　　China imported 111,943 mt of bauxite from India. There were no Indian imports recorded in September 2011 nor in August 2012.

　　There was also a rise in imports from Guyana in September, at 27,681 mt, compared with 72.4 mt imported in August. There were no imports from Guyana a year ago.

　　China also imported 54,155 mt of bauxite from Fiji in September, compared with 64,589 mt in August and 53,662 mt in July. Fiji bauxite made its debut in the China market in July as consumers turned to alternative sources for supply after Indonesian exports fell.