China's alumina, primary aluminum production capacity to increase in 2009
Shanghai. August 28. INTERFAX-CHINA - China is expected to see a rise in the annual production capacity of alumina, primary aluminum, refined copper, refined lead and refined zinc in 2009, by 3 million tons, 2 million tons, 50,000 tons, 200,000 tons and 300,000 tons respectively, according to a report from China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) on Aug. 28.
The MIIT said that recent rebounding nonferrous metals prices are attracting more investment into the sectors, which is leading to an increase in China's nonferrous metals production capacity surplus.
In July, the total output of China's 10 major nonferrous metals rose by 2 percent year-on-year to 2.22 million tons, although over the first seven months of the year, the total dropped by 4.3 percent on an annual basis to 13.92 million tons, according to the report.
The MIIT also said the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association (CNMIA) has advised the government not to approve new primary aluminum and alumina producing facilities to be built in the near future and to close more outdated refined lead and zinc smelting facilities.
-LCL