SMM Review of Aluminium Capacity Curtailment in China in H2 2022

SHANGHAI, Mar 20 (SMM) – Aluminum smelters in south-west China began to curtail their capacity from the third quarter of 2022 due to power shortages. All smelters in Sichuan were shut down in August 2022, involving a total capacity of 1 million mt.

In September 2022, smelters in Yunnan were subject to power rationing, which translated into a decline of 20% or 1.2 million mt in local operating capacity. Smelters in Guizhou began to reduce their power load in December 2022, causing local operating capacity to decline 800,000 mt.