September 07, 2008

China becomes net zinc importer again in September 2007

According to the latest trade figures released by the China customs department China flipped back to being a net importer of zinc metal in September 2007 by a marginal 704 tonnes.

Exports of zinc metal dropped a gear from the previous two months to 12,325 tonnes, while imports moved up a gear to 13,029 tonnes. Both import and export levels were comfortably within the monthly range seen over the first eight months of 2007.

But cumulative January to September 2007 exports were up by 43.7%YoY while cumulative imports were down by 56.1%, which is why the country has turned net exporter to the tune of 143,500 tonnes so far in 2007 from net importer of 66,300 tonnes in the same period of 2006.

August’s imports of concentrates at 208,000 tonnes were a fresh all time high. They accelerated again to another all time high of 294,400 tonnes in September.