China’s alumina production grows 4.9% Y-o-Y to 6.20 million tonnes in September 2021: SMM

According to the Shanghai Metals Market, China’s alumina production stood at 6.20 million tonnes in September 2021 (30 days), including 5.99 million tonnes of metallurgical grade alumina. On a month-on-month calculation, the production was down by 2.97 per cent from 6.39 million tonnes. But on a year-on-year basis, the output stood 4.91 per cent higher than 5.91 million tonnes.

The daily average output of metallurgical grade alumina was 199,500 tonnes, up 5.55 per cent year-on-year from 189,000 tonnes.

From January to September 2021, China’s total production of metallurgical grade alumina amounted to 53.65 million tonnes, 7.75 per cent more than 49.79 million tonnes during the same period last year.

The net imports of alumina are estimated to be around 350,000 tonnes, while surplus at 347,000 tonnes in September.

As of early October, China’s metallurgical grade alumina production capacity was 71.52 million tonnes year, with the existing capacity at 88.60 million tonnes a year.

SMM expects metallurgical grade alumina production to be around 6.08 million tonnes in October (31 days) and the surplus to be around 289,000 tonnes.