Henan Wanji Expanding Aluminum Smelter By 210,000 Tons -Exec

LONDON, Sept. 17 -- China's Henan Wanji Aluminium Co. is expanding its capacity by 210,000 metric tons at its smelter in the Chinese province of Henan, the company's deputy general manager said Wednesday.

    "We have just commissioned additional production of 210,000 tons," Wang Jian Xia told the Metal Bulletin aluminum conference in Duesseldorf, Germany.

    Prior to the expansion, the smelter had an annual capacity of 620,000 tons.

    "Costs vary a lot," he said. "Raw materials prices have been so volatile in the last couple of years," he added.

    Wang said that the vast growth in China's aluminum sector has been driven by demand, but whether this continues at the same pace in the future will depend on how competitive the sector is.

    Government policies to stimulate the economy and tighter environmental standards will also impact this growth, he added.

    (Source: Dow Jones)