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CORRECT (9/21): Rusal: China To Become Net Aluminum Importer

iconSep 25, 2010 10:35
Source:SMM

Manama, BAHRAIN, Sep 22, 2010 (Dow Jones Commodities News via Comtex) -- ("UPDATE: Rusal: China To Become Net Aluminum Exporter," published on Sept. 21, 2010 at 0809 GMT, misstated that China would be a net exporter in the headline, first and second paragraphs. The error also occurred in "Rusal: China To Become Net Aluminum Exporter" published at 0741 GMT. The correct version follows:)

By Andrea Hotter
   Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

Power will remain the central driver of where aluminum production capacity is located, and this will help make China switch eventually to a net importer of aluminum, the first deputy chief executive of Russian aluminum producer Rusal said Tuesday.

"I doubt Chinese aluminum production will continue to grow," Vladislav Soloviev said. "Sooner or later, it will switch to a net importer from being a net exporter," he added.

The Asian country stunned the market a few years ago when it cranked up output dramatically in just a few months, making it the world's largest aluminum producer and consumer.

However, he said that around 50% of China's primary aluminum capacity is inefficient at current prices.

"Around 80% of China's aluminum production is based on coal-fired power generation...these smelters can't produce metal for less than $2,100 a metric ton," he noted. "Eventually the Chinese will understand that it's economically unviable to produce aluminum based on coal-fired power," he added.

Environmental pressures and a desire to limit power consumption would also see output in China fall, he noted.

Around 1.2 million tons of smelting capacity has been cut in Europe due primarily to the high cost of energy, which accounts for around a third of total production costs. In the U.S., around 1.6 million tons of output has been cut, Soloviev said.

"This means capacity going forward will continue to move from locations with high power tariffs to the Middle East, Iceland and Russia, for instance," he added.

Soloviev was speaking at the Metal Bulletin aluminum conference in Bahrain.
 

Aluminum Al
Aluminum output Aluminum production
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