AM Insight: Chinese alumina production reaches 39.85 million tons in 2011

BEIJING (Asian Metal) 30 Dec 11 – According to statistics from Asian Metal, the alumina production reaches 39.85 million tons in 2011, with the stream efficient at around 86.5%. According to data from National Bureau of Statistics of China, the alumina production was 28.94 million tons in 2011.

Leading other provinces, Shandong produced about 14.35 million tons of alumina in 2011, with the stream efficiency at 91.4%. Henan province took the second place and produced 10.48 million tons of alumina in 2011, with stream efficiency of 93.4%.

As for the stream efficiency, from the following table, we can learn that Guizhou took the first place with the stream efficiency at 100%. Henan, Shandong and Shanxi provinces also had their alumina stream efficiency above 90% in 2011.

The average alumina price for non-Chalco alumina producers was RMB2,762/t in 2011, and all alumina producers could earn profit, so they maintained high stream efficiency.

However, in Guangxi and Chongqing, the stream efficiency for alumina plants was low at 33.8% and 88.5% respectively in 2011. Chalco Chongqing, with the alumina capacity of 800,000tpy, only produced less than 100,000t of alumina in 2011. In Guangxi, some major alumina producers also did not fulfill production aim due to bauxite and power supply shortage.

We can see the detailed alumina production by regions in 2011 by the following table:

Companies Output(10,000t) Stream efficiency Planned capacity in 2011
Shanxi 700 95.80% 1262
Shandong 1435 91.40% 0
Henan 1048 93.40% 80
Chongqing 44 33.80% 0
Guizhou 200 100% 200
Guangxi 558 88.50% 120

From the above table, we learnt that the new appearing alumina capacity will be mainly from Shanxi province in 2012. Shandong and Henan province may not see rising alumina capacity in 2012.