Yantai Scrap Aluminum Recycling: Imports Decline, Leading to Domestic Supply Tightness. Previously, amidst a significant reduction in import permits for scrap aluminum in the fourth quarter of 2019, some scrap aluminum was imported in the form of unrefined aluminum alloy. The import volume of unrefined aluminum alloy in December 2019 was 62.9 thousand tons, up 102% year-on-year and 1045% month-on-month. The total imports of aluminum alloy for the whole year of 2019 reached 215.7 thousand tons. Notably, data shows that the cumulative imports of unrefined aluminum alloy in our country from January to February this year reached 118.9 thousand tons, which is already half of last year's annual total in just the first two months!
Aluminum offers excellent energy-saving effects; the energy consumption for producing recycled aluminum from scrap is only 3-5% of the energy consumed in primary aluminum production. Just taking electricity consumption as an example, it takes approximately 15,000 kWh of electricity to refine 1 ton of primary aluminum ingot, accounting for one-third of the total production cost. With the current extreme scarcity of electricity, materials, and finances, using low-energy recycled aluminum to replace high-energy primary aluminum production is undoubtedly one of the best ways to reduce costs and increase benefits. The significance of Yantai's high-price scrap aluminum recycling is substantial:
Can save resources
The current global aluminum production is achieved through the processing of recycled and再生 resources, which not only conserves precious aluminum resources but also holds significant economic value. Although our country does not face the extreme aluminum resource scarcity as Japan does, our reserves are also extremely limited. There is no reason to ignore the arbitrary waste and loss of this valuable aluminum resource. We should always maintain a sense of urgency and crisis, and establish a correct view of resource utilization. This is the responsibility and obligation of every citizen.