China Aims To Speed Base-Metal Sector Consolidation - Ministry

BEIJING, Jan 31, 2012 (Dow Jones) -- China wants its 10 largest base-metal producers account for 90% of total copper and aluminum and 60% of lead and zinc output by 2015, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said in a sector-development blueprint published on its website late Monday.

In 2010, the concentration of domestic copper and lead producers was 45% each and aluminum 50%. For lead it was 45% and zinc 50%, the ministry said.

The blueprint says China aims to grow its non-ferrous metal sector output by 10% a year by 2015.

It also aims to raise to 15% from 8% the added value of base-metal products, indicating a desire to increase the number of higher-value processing facilities.

Reiterating past statements the guidelines say China will encourage more overseas base-metal development ventures.

It wants to reduce the sector's power consumption by 21% for each unit of output by 2015 from 2010 levels. Carbon emissions must fall 18% in the same period.