Power rationing hit China's primary aluminium production by 1.24% in April, dipping MoM

On May 16, the National Bureau of Statistics of China's data revealed that China's primary aluminium output in April 2023 declined by 1.2 per cent when analyzed with March 2023 due to an energy restriction policy in southwest China that restrained aluminium production.

The National Bureau of Statistics reported that China produced 3.33 million tonnes of primary aluminium in April, down from 3.37 million tonnes in March but up 0.8 per cent from the same phase of the previous year.

The National Bureau of Statistics is a deputy-cabinet-level agency under the China State Council. Established in August 1952, the bureau collects, investigates, researches and publishes statistics concerning the nation's economy, population and other aspects of society.

Yunnan, China's fourth-largest aluminium-producing province, where roughly 12 per cent of China's aluminium production capacity is based, has seen slow output growth. Due to insufficient rainfall since September 2022, Yunnan, which depends heavily on hydropower, has ordered aluminium companies to restrict production.

Moreover, the Statistics Bureau reports that China's primary aluminium production for the first four months of this year was 13.32 million tonnes, an increase of 3.9 per cent over the same period last year.