Aluminium exports from China grew more than 25 per cent in the first two months of 2018, but steel exports fell by almost a third. China faces scrutiny as the US was planning to impose substantial tariffs last week.
The increase in aluminium exports suggested that production cuts to reduce air pollution had not been as deep as expected, analysts said, depressing local prices and leaving producers with excess supplies to export.
In contrast, the fall in steel exports continue the steady decline of recent years, as local demand has grown and China reduces its domestic steel capacity to curb stifling smog.