South Korea imported 1,110 tons of pure magnesium ingots in March 2019,up 33.9 percent from 829 tons a year earlier,according to the Korea trade association.

Imports of pure magnesium ingots fell to 15,965 tonnes in 2015,14,418 tonnes in 2016,14,396 tonnes in 2017 and 12,766 tonnes in 2018.The total export volume of pure magnesium ingots was 66 tons in 2013,7 tons in 2014,95 tons in 2015,181 tons in 2016,170 tons in 2017,and 190 tons in 2018,an increase of 11.8%year-on-year.

In terms of specific categories,China imported 14,380 tons and the United States 38 tons in 2016.In 2017,it imported 14,394 tons from China and 2 tons from other regions.In 2018,it imported 12,762 tons from China,3 tons from the United States and 1 ton from other regions.It imported 829 tons from China in March 2018,879 tons from China in February 2019 and 1,110 tons from China in March 2019.In the first three months of 2018,we imported 3,021 tons from China,and in the first three months of 2019,we imported 3,251 tons from China,an increase of 7.6%year-on-year

Posco,South Korea's largest steelmaker,has been building a magnesium business since 2007,but has recently been looking into the sale of its magnesium plant in suncheon and studying options.As a leading magnesium industry cluster,posco steel company's trend deserves attention in the industry.

In the recent stagnation of the magnesium market in South Korea,especially the main source of demand for magnesium products,cell phone Bracket has begun to use aluminum instead of magnesium,so the increase in demand has begun to slow down.

At present,South Korea's magnesium ingot smelting capacity is not large,with the reduction of magnesium ingot alloy imports,coupled with the reduction of waste magnesium production volume,many enterprises in raw material supply has begun to appear shortage.

Industry insiders said that the magnesium industry in South Korea was mainly focused on supplying mobile phone manufacturers,and the research results and actual products were not effectively promoted.In order to change this situation,the next step is to urgently develop customized products for a wider range of customers.

(China nonferrous metals news)