China’s alumina output depletes 6.8% in Feb’24 due to weaker operating rates in Henan, Guizhou & Guangxi

The average daily production in February 2024 was 215,900 tonnes a day, down by 0.42 per cent from 216,800 tonnes in the previous month.

As of the end of February 2024, China’s alumina production capacity was 100 million tonnes, with an operating capacity of 78.82 million tonnes.

The month-on-month downfall in China’s alumina production is attributed to weaker operating rates in a few Chinese provinces such as Henan, Guizhou, and Guangxi. In Henan, the alumina operating rate was 55 per cent in February, down by 1.7 per cent M-o-M. In Guizhou, the operating rate decreased significantly by 10.8 per cent to 75.2 per cent and that in Guangxi fell by 1.8 per cent from January to 82.3 per cent. Some alumina refineries in Guizhou suspended production around the Spring Festival in early February, which affected an annual production of 600,000 tonnes. This production is expected to resume in mid-March. Similarly, some alumina refineries in Guangxi reduced production in February due to the inadequate availability of bauxite, affecting the annual production capacity of 500,000 tonnes.