AM statistics: China's alumina production down by 0.2% MOM in August

BEIJING (Asian Metal) 1 Sep 14 - According to the latest statistics from Asian Metal, China produced around 4.05 million tonnes of alumina in August, down around 0.2% month-on-month, with the total output at around 32.86 million tonnes from January to August, up 5.35% year-on-year.

During the month, most Chinese alumina refineries ran normally, while some refineries located in Shanxi province increased their monthly output to some extent. However, as Chalco Guizhou Branch’s alumina refinery was completely shut down, the overall alumina output decreased slightly during the month.

Alumina production in Shanxi increased from 1.057 million tonnes in July to around 1.107 million tonnes in August. Supported by the rising alumina prices, Chalco Shanxi Branch’s alumina refinery’s production reached 160,000t in August, around 30,000 up than that in July, while Jiaokou Feimei Aluminum completed the maintenance on some of its roasters and boosted their output from 155,000t in July to around 170,000t during the month.

Alumina production in Guizhou slipped from 220,000t in July to around 160,000t in August as Chalco Guizhou Branch’s alumina refinery, with a designed capacity of 1,200,000tpy, was fully closed for relocation during the month.

Alumina production in Shandong, Henan, Guangxi, Inner Mongolia, Chongqing and Yunnan remained relatively stable at around 1,060,000t, 956,000t, 620,000t and 57,000t, 25,000t and 70,000t, respectively. Although alumina prices had increased to some extent during the month, some Chinese alumina refineries still had no plan to resume production or drive their new projects on stream as they were still suffering from great losses under the current price levels, so the overall alumina production may remain relatively stable in the coming months.