Confiscated ivory stockpile crushed by China in bid to stop poaching Carvings, ornaments and tusks were fed into a crushing machine Conservation groups said it was a landmark move by Chinese government Smuggling of the material is said to be increasing by 10% annually Criminals in Africa routinely slaughter elephants for the Asian ivory market By Wills Robinson The Chinese government destroyed more than six tonnes of confiscated ivory to demonstrate the country's determination to tackle the growing black market and smuggling trade. A vast collection of carvings, ornaments and tusks, were put on display before they were fed into crushing machines, in Dongguan city, southern Guangdong province, where much of China's ivory trade is focused. The destroyed goods, which were manufactured from 600 dead elephants, were seized by customs officials on shipments from Africa and were also taken from factories and shops around China. Publicity: The stockpile collected by the Chinese government in was put on display in Dongguan, southern Guangdong province, before it was destroyed Process: Customs officials fed hundreds of tusks through a crushing machine Protection: Security guards stand behind a cordon surrounding the collection of ornaments and tusks The material can fetch up to $2,000 a kilogram on the black market, earning it the nickname 'white gold.' The demand for it in China is growing and is causing poaching cases to rise, with criminal gangs in Sub-Saharan Africa routinely slaughter elephants for ivory markets in Asia, conversation groups have claimed. But activists have said the country's first large-scale ivory destruction was a landmark move in the ongoing bid to stop the illegal trade. Art: Decorated ornaments and carvings made from the material were also part of the confiscated stockpile Stacked-up: Workers sort through piles of ivory which were seized from shipments to Africa Sizing-down: Some workers cut up the ivory to make it easier to process through the crushing machines China is following other countries that have destroyed their ivory stocks in the past year. In June, the Philippines burned and crushed more than 5 tons of ivory worth an estimated $10 million confiscated since 2009, becoming the first Asian country to do so. In November, the United States destroyed six tons of ivory seized over 25 years. Gabon burned nearly five tons in 2012. The United States, which sent officials to Monday's ivory destruction, commended China. State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said such actions 'will send a powerful message to wildlife poachers and traffickers and to the consumers of illegal wildlife products.' Disposed of: The tusks are collected on a table and then thrown into the machine by workers Crushed: The items were broken into tiny pieces by the machine The International Fund for Animal Welfare said the destruction was a powerful symbolic act that shows that the Chinese government is 'concerned about the toll ivory trafficking is taking on elephant populations, as well as the other threats to regional security that arise in connection with wildlife crime.' Ivory destruction in countries along the trade chain 'clearly tells consumers everywhere that ivory buying is unethical and wrong.' It is estimated that more than 35,000 elephants were killed last year by poachers for ivory. Demand is fueled by rapid growth in the world's second biggest economy, which has created a vast middle class with the spending power to buy ivory carvings prized as status symbols. Businessmen and government officials often exchange items made from ivory when deals are struck.