China’s alumina production declines slightly M-o-M in January 2021 due to production restrictions in heating season

According to the Shanghai Metals Market, China’s alumina production started the year with a drop of 1 per cent month-on-month in January 2021. Compared to 5.96 million tonnes in December 2020, China produced 5.90 million tonnes of alumina in January 2021. This included 5.69 million tonnes of metallurgical-grade alumina, with the daily output at 183,500 tonnes.

The daily alumina output in January 2021 reflected a downfall of 2,000 tonnes or 1.08 per cent from 185,500 tonnes in December 2020. However, on a year-on-year basis, it stood up by 2.36 per cent, found SMM.

The decline in China’s alumina production in January could be attributed to the production restrictions in a heating season and limited roasting capacities at alumina refineries in Shanxi, Henan, and Shandong due to shortages of coal.

As of early February, the operating capacity of metallurgical-grade alumina stood at 70.53 million tonnes per annum. SMM sees total alumina output in February (28 days) to be at 5.41 million tonnes, with the daily output likely to hover around 192,300 tonnes, up by 4.80 per cent from January, owing to roasting capacities recovering since January in north China and several refineries plan to ramp up production.