Nonferrous Metal Mining and Dressing Industry Fixed-Asset Investment Falls Sharply in Jan.-Feb. 2017, SMM Reports

Published: Mar 16, 2017 11:19 (GMT+8)

Save

Fixed-asset investment of nonferrous metal mining and dressing industry was 5.5 billion yuan in Jan.-Feb. 2017, down 15.4% YoY, and the decline widened 5.4 percentage points from 2016’s level.

SHANGHAI, Mar. 16 (SMM) – According to China Customs, fixed-asset investment of nonferrous metal mining and dressing industry was 5.5 billion yuan in Jan.-Feb. 2017, down 15.4% YoY, and the decline widened 5.4 percentage points from whole year’s level in 2016. Nonferrous metal mining and dressing industry private fixed-asset investment was 3.5 billion yuan, down 12% YoY, and with decline widening 5.8 percentage points from whole year’s level in 2016. Nonferrous metals output was 8.92 million tonnes in the first two months of 2017, up 11.7% YoY.

Mining and dressing investment includes underground and ground excavation, mine’s operation, ancillary works, such as crushing and grinding, dressing and disposing and selling preparation. The investment excludes water harvesting, purification and distribution, geological exploration and construction.

SMM survey finds that nonferrous metal mines, satisfying with current ore prices, have high operating enthusiasm. So, nonferrous metals output increased significantly in Jan.-Feb. 2017. Large and qualified mines still have room to expand output despite of capacity reduction policy and environmental protection inspections. However, falling investment indicates that mines doubt if nonferrous metal prices will stay high in the future. Besides, there is a high risk for mines to increase investment with financial strain and stricter environmental protection inspections.

In other news, in the first two months of 2017, China’s fixed-asset investment was 4.14 trillion yuan, up 8.9% YoY, with growth up 0.8 percentage point from whole year’s level in 2016. Manufacturing investment expanded 4.3% YoY to 1.22 trillion yuan and the growth rose 0.1 percentage point. Infrastructure construction investment rose 27.3% YoY to 831.5 billion yuan with growth up 9.9 percentage points from whole year level in 2016 and 12.3 percentage points from the same period in 2016. Real estate investment grew 8.9% YoY to 985.4 billion yuan and the growth rose 2 percentage points from whole year level in 2016 and 5.9 percentage points from the same period in 2016.

SMM expects mines to increase investment in the future with rising nonferrous metal demand at those industries.

For news cooperation, please contact us by email: sallyzhang@smm.cn orservice.en@smm.cn.

nonferrous metal ore prices

Data Source Statement: Except for publicly available information, all other data are processed by SMM based on publicly available information, market communication, and relying on SMM's internal database model. They are for reference only and do not constitute decision-making recommendations.

For any inquiries or for more information, please contact: lemonzhao@smm.cn

For more information on how to access our research reports, please contact:service.en@smm.cn

Related News

Oct 02, 2026 16:31 (GMT+8)

KGHM and South32 launch US$725m Sierra Gorda expansion, lifting copper capacity 26%

KGHM and South32 have broken ground on a fourth grinding line at the Sierra Gorda copper-molybdenum mine in Chile's Atacama region. The US$725 million expansion runs for three years from January 2027, with completion by late 2029 and full output in H2 2030. Ore processing capacity rises 26%, from 131,000 tonnes per day to 165,000 tpd. Annual copper output is projected to climb from 165,000 tonnes in 2025 to 195,000 tonnes, with 6,000 tonnes of molybdenum, 58,000 ounces of gold and 1.7 million ounces of silver as by-products. The project creates over 900 direct jobs and is funded from operating cash flow and debt. Unit operating costs are expected to fall about 10%.

Oct 02, 2026 16:31 (GMT+8)

Oct 02, 2026 15:31 (GMT+8)

Emerita Extends Final Review of Iberian Belt West PFS, Release Expected in Coming Weeks

Emerita Resources has provided an update on the Preliminary Feasibility Study (PFS) for its Iberian Belt West polymetallic project in Spain, saying the study is well advanced but remains under final technical review. The company said the review process has been expanded to include additional technical and quality-assurance oversight before publication. As a result, Emerita now expects the PFS to be released in the coming weeks rather than within the previously indicated timeframe. Iberian Belt West hosts copper, zinc, lead, gold and silver mineralization and is one of Emerita’s principal development-stage assets in Spain. The PFS is expected to provide updated detail on the proposed mine plan, processing configuration, capital requirements, operating costs and project economics. Emerita said the additional review work is intended to ensure consistency and completeness across the technical disciplines contributing to the study before it is finalized. The company did not announce a revised specific publication date, and no new production, capital or economic figures were disclosed in the latest update. The extended review delays the next major technical milestone for Iberian Belt West, but the company continues to indicate that the PFS is nearing completion. For the copper market, the significance of the study will depend on the production profile and project economics ultimately disclosed, particularly the contribution of copper relative to the project’s other payable metals. Attention will therefore remain on the timing of the PFS release and whether the final study materially changes the project’s development outlook.

Oct 02, 2026 15:31 (GMT+8)

Oct 02, 2026 15:27 (GMT+8)

Cascadia Intersects 75.55 m at 1.19% Cu at Carmacks Copper-Gold Project

Cascadia Minerals has reported additional drill results from its 2026 exploration programme at the Carmacks copper-gold project in Yukon, Canada, with new step-out drilling extending mineralization at Zone 2000S beyond the boundaries of the existing Mineral Resource. Drill hole CD-26-058 returned 75.55 metres grading 1.19% copper, 0.97 g/t gold, 10.4 g/t silver and 335 ppm molybdenum, equivalent to 2.18% copper-equivalent. The interval included 48.66 metres grading 1.61% copper, 1.39 g/t gold, 15.1 g/t silver and 475 ppm molybdenum, equivalent to 3.03% CuEq. Within the same hole, a higher-grade interval of 14.50 metres returned 2.30% copper, 2.68 g/t gold, 29.5 g/t silver and 1,015 ppm molybdenum, equivalent to 5.08% CuEq. A second hole, CD-26-059, intersected 93.99 metres grading 0.96% copper, 0.70 g/t gold, 4.6 g/t silver and 919 ppm molybdenum, equivalent to 1.94% CuEq. This included 63.97 metres at 1.26% copper, 0.96 g/t gold, 6.3 g/t silver and 1,049 ppm molybdenum, equivalent to 2.52% CuEq. Cascadia said the latest results continue to expand mineralization at Zone 2000S beyond the limits of the current Mineral Resource and highlight the higher-grade nature of the extension. The reported drill intervals represent drilled thicknesses, with true widths estimated at approximately 60–70%. The latest step-out results indicate that copper-gold mineralization at Zone 2000S extends beyond the boundaries of the current Carmacks Mineral Resource. The broad intervals and higher-grade internal zones could support future resource expansion if additional drilling confirms continuity. However, the new intersections have not yet been incorporated into an updated Mineral Resource Estimate, meaning their ultimate impact on project scale and mine planning remains to be determined.

Oct 02, 2026 15:27 (GMT+8)