JAKARTA: Indonesia’s aluminium exports in March more than doubled from the previous month to their highest since November 2023 and included a rare cargo to the United States, data from the Indonesian statistics agency and export-import data aggregator Trade Data Monitor shows.
The Southeast Asian country shipped a total of 88,554 metric tons of unwrought aluminium in March, up from 33,490 tons in February. It is expected to ramp up production significantly this year at a time when the aluminium market is reeling from shortages caused by the war in the Middle East.
March saw the first aluminium exports from Weda Bay on the Indonesian island of Halmahera, where a smelter jointly owned by Chinese duo Tsingshan Holding Group and Xinfa Group recently began production.