Inner Mongolia Xing'an Copper & Zinc Smelter Posts Lower Output in May Due to Maintenance

SHANGHAI, June 7 -- Inner Mongolia Xing'an Copper & Zinc Smelter began maintenance in May as the Inner Mongolia provincial government conducts maintenance on power transmission lines. However, the smelter failed to return to full capacity upon the completion of maintenance, leveling off at  approximately 80%, and with zinc ingot output at this smelter during May expected to be less than 2,000 mt.

Inner Mongolia Xing'an Copper & Zinc Smelter has been operational in August 2009 and has a design capacity of 100 kt/yr. The smelter ran at full capacity in early April 2010, with an intraday output as high as 360 mt.  However, the smelter will not likely run at full capacity over next few months due to the current sluggish zinc market. Other smelters will also begin unit maintenance, so zinc output growth in China will slow during 3Q. 

(Edited by SMM)