Alumina refineries in North China begin to cut operation at roasting furnaces for 2020-21 heating season

According to the Shanghai Metals Market, many northern regions in China have issued output control policies for the 2020-21 heating season. In mid-November, Lvliang in Shanxi province issued the List of Heavy Pollution Weather Emergency Emission Reductions in 2020, including ten alumina refineries and one aluminium smelter. The document issued by Lvliang also includes set requirements for production and transport at these companies.

In Henan, one alumina refinery has shut down two roasting furnaces until now, leaving 450,000 tonnes per year of roasting capacity in operation. Another refinery in Henan has closed one roasting furnace, leaving 1.8 million tonnes per year of roasting capacity in operation.

In Shanxi, one alumina refinery is currently operating a roasting furnace with capacity of 1.5 million tonnes per year. However, in the future, it is likely to reduce the operating capacity to 800,000 tonnes per year. In Shandong, an alumina plant has closed 3 million tonnes per year roasting capacity in the week of November 9-15, but then resumed production in the same week.

Three aluminium smelters in Henan, which are categorised as C, have not reduced output and operating at its normal capacity.

Despite the production cut, alumina supply and demand in North China are largely stable at present.