China’s 2024 aluminium foil trade overview: top 5 export destinations and values revealed
China wrapped up 2024 with a staggering growth of aluminium foil exports, reaching above 1.5 million tonnes. Although the export volume in December decreased significantly by about 28% month-on-month following the cancellation of export tax rebates and the looming threat of increased tariffs in some countries, China’s annual export volume saw no adverse impact.
According to the International Trade Administration, China’s aluminium foil exports at the end of 2024 amounted to 1.55 million tonnes, reflecting an impressive rise of 18.32% from 1.31 million tonnes in 2023. The historical data shows China’s aluminium foil exports have grown consistently over the past ten years since 2014 when the export volume was 867,634 tonnes. So, compared to the volume in 2014, China’s aluminium foil exports rose 79.3% at the end of 2024.
In December, China’s aluminium foil exports were 1.153 million tonnes versus 1.476 million tonnes in November, affected by weaker overseas demand coupled with export tax rebate cancellation and the potential implementation of increased taxation policies in some countries.
Of the total aluminium semis (aluminium bars, rods and profiles, pipes and tubes, plates, sheets and strips, tube or pipe fittings, and wire) exported from China in 2024, aluminium foil accounted for 24.64% of 6.3 million tonnes versus 23.72% of 3.66 million tonnes in 2014.
Top export destinations
In 2024, China’s top five aluminium foil export destinations were India, Thailand, Indonesia, Mexico, and South Korea. While India and Thailand imported 158,554 tonnes and 135,279 tonnes, Indonesia, Mexico, and South Korea secured 98,881 tonnes, 87,263 tonnes, and 78,439 tonnes, respectively.
On a year-on-year basis, exports to all these top destinations increased. While the exports to India surged by 16.88% from 135,651 tonnes, the exports to Thailand rose 34.18% from 100,810 tonnes. Indonesia, Mexico, and South Korea experienced year-on-year growth of 43, 12%, and 16% from 69,067 tonnes, 78,137 tonnes, and 67,458 tonnes, respectively.
China’s aluminium foil exports to the United States, which increased from 56,967 tonnes in 2021 to 76,818 tonnes in 2023, declined to 74,176 tonnes in the past year.
Export value
China’s aluminium foil exports in 2024 reached a total value of US$5.7 billion, reflecting a 13.32 per cent increase from US$5.03 billion in 2023, according to trade data. India accounted for 9.51 per cent of the total value with US$542 million. Exports to Thailand, Indonesia, Mexico, and South Korea were valued at US$455 million, US$289 million, US$304 million, and US$388 million, respectively. Notably, while China’s export value to South Korea surpassed that of Mexico, the volume of foil exported to Mexico was higher than that to South Korea.
