India Unwrought Aluminium Alloy Imports Drop 33% In August 2026 Amid Higher LME Aluminium Prices
India’s imports of unwrought aluminium alloys (HS code 760120) plunged 32.7% year‑on‑year to 21,771 tonnes in August 2026, according to SMM trade analysis. Higher LME aluminium prices pushed up overseas procurement costs, prompting domestic buyers to defer import purchases.
Average LME cash‑settlement aluminium price climbed 3% month‑on‑month to $3,249.63 per tonne in August. While import volume dropped sharply, import value only edged down 6.3% year‑on‑year to $84.06 million, reflecting elevated global metal prices offsetting lower tonnage.
July saw a temporary rebound: imports rose 4.6% year‑on‑year to 32,453 tonnes before the August pull‑back. For the April‑August 2026 cumulative period, total imports fell 12.5% year‑on‑year to 122,515 tonnes, whereas cumulative import value increased 14.9%, demonstrating the price‑volume divergence in India’s aluminium alloy inbound trade.
Malaysia consolidated its position as India’s largest supplier for April‑August. Shipments from Malaysia jumped 53% year‑on‑year to 69,597 tonnes, accounting for 56.8% of total unwrought aluminium alloy imports. Traditional suppliers including the UAE, China, Bahrain and South Korea reported lower shipment volumes. Meanwhile, new supply sources such as Saudi Arabia, Oman and Indonesia emerged with notable import growth, partially offsetting declines from established trade partners.
The data illustrates how LME price movements directly influence India’s aluminium import behaviour. When international metal costs rise, end‑users tend to slow spot buying. The import landscape also keeps transforming, with India concentrating more sourcing volume on Malaysia while opening up to new regional suppliers.
Source: SMM analysis, based on official trade statistics. For reference only, not investment advice.
