GACC: China's alumina exports soar 59% YoY in Jan-Aug

China's exports of alumina, including metallurgical-grade and other types, totalled 1.75 million tonnes during January-August this year, up by 59.3% from the same period last year, according to new data released by the country's General Administration of Customs (GACC).

In August alone, China exported 180,507 tonnes of the raw material, rising by 26% on year but falling by 21.3% on month.

Russia remained China's largest export destination for the eighth straight month in August, receiving 153,021 tonnes or 84.8% of the national total. However, Chinese alumina shipments there last month declined by 24.5% from July's monthly high.

Also during August, Indonesia ranked second by taking 13,243 tonnes, followed by Taiwan with 2,861 tonnes.

Notably, the volume of alumina shipped from China to Indonesia posted strong growth in August, soaring by 5,177.6% from just 251 tonnes a year earlier and jumping by 1,620.5% from July's 770 tonnes, Mysteel Global noted.

During the same month, China imported 94,360 tonnes of alumina, marking a 1,398% on-year surge but a 25% on-month decrease, the GACC data showed. Australia, Indonesia, and Vietnam were the top three suppliers, accounting for 33.4%, 33.2%, and 27.9% of the total respectively.

As a result, China's net alumina exports reached 86,147 tonnes last month, down by 37.1% from a year ago and by 16.8% from July, Mysteel Global calculated based on the GACC data.

For the first eight months of 2025, China's total alumina imports stood at 488,433 tonnes, plunging by 61.3% from the January-August period last year.

Written by Iris Pang, pangjunyu@mysteel.com

Edited by Russ McCulloch, russ.mcculloch@mysteel.com