According to recent data showed by Shanghai Metals Market, primary aluminium production in China increased 8 per cent year-on-year in December. Total output came in at 3.28 million tonnes last month. The daily average output stood at 105,800 tonnes in December, marking a growth of 300 tonnes month-on-month due to higher production in Yunnan Shenhuo and Inner Mongolia Chuangyuan.
The operating capacity of primary aluminium was 39.24 million tonnes among 44.2 million tonnes per year of existing aluminium capacity as of early January. The operating rates across Chinese producers came in at 90.8 per cent.
In 2020, primary aluminium production in the country climbed 4.8 per cent year on year to 37.12 million tonnes, while consumption increased 5.77 per cent to 38.19 million tonnes.
Shanghai Metals Market expects primary aluminium output to stand at 3.3 million tonnes this, while import at about 150,000 tonnes. An SMM also predicts primary aluminium inventories to expand in January.