Boost for US aluminium and copper scrap exports

Global – US exports of aluminium scrap climbed to almost 1 million tonnes in the first eight months of the year. The total of 990 395 tonnes outstripped the January-August 2016 figure by 10.8%, according to the latest statistics released by the US Census Bureau and International Trade Commission.

Aluminium scrap shipments to leading outlet China surged 13.5% to 521 277 tonnes – but this percentage gain was eclipsed by increases of 23.3% and 20.2% in US deliveries to, respectively, South Korea (111 287 tonnes) and Mexico (103 395 tonnes).

Conversely, US exports to its neighbour Canada retreated 3.1% year on year to 72 542 tonnes. The Census Bureau and International Trade Commission have also confirmed that US exports of copper and copper alloy scrap grew 9.5% to 673 302 tonnes in the first eight months of 2017.

In the customer league table, China again reigned supreme with a 10.2% boost in its requirements from 420 909 tonnes in January-August 2016 to 463 658 tonnes in the same period of the current year.

The second-largest market for America’s copper and copper alloy scrap was Canada with a year-on-year increase of 32.2% to 65 877 tonnes, with Hong Kong in third place with an even more substantial gain of 67.2% to 27 378 tonnes.

Germany was next on the list but its total of 19 591 tonnes trailed 12% behind that for January-August 2016.