In the first five months of this year, U.S. aluminum scrap exports were 609,148 tons, up nearly 13 percent from 540,239 tons in the same period last year, according to relatively new data from the U.S. census bureau and the U.S. international trade commission.
The overall increase in exports reflects the increase in China’s purchases of aluminum scrap from the United States, which rose 13.7 percent in the first five months of this year to 322,415 tons compared with 283,543 tons in the same period last year.
Exports of aluminum scrap from the United States to Hong Kong rose 83.8 percent to 30, 066 tons.
South Korea was another big market for scrap aluminium in the us, with demand rising 31.9 per cent year on year to 71,626 tonnes.
Mexico and India also increased their purchases, with the former increasing 12.2 per cent to 59,122 tonnes and the latter increasing 29.2 per cent to 26,546 tonnes.
In contrast, Canada’s purchases fell 5.1 per cent to 45,744 tonnes.