China daily alumina production inched up 0.63% in Oct

SHANGHAI, Nov 11 (SMM) – China's output of alumina stood at 5.86 million mt in October, with metallurgical-grade materials accounting for 5.61 million mt, showed an SMM survey.

For the first 10 months of 2019, alumina output amounted to 57.6 million mt, down 0.95% from the same period a year earlier.

Daily average production of metallurgical-grade alumina inched up 0.63% from a month ago to 181,000 mt, as SPIC’s project in Shanxi recovered from technical upgrading.

The reversal of gains in alumina prices kept Xinfa’s refinery in Jiaokou, East Hope’s plants in Sanmenxia and Jinzhong from stepping up operations last month, while domestic bauxite supply shortages affected alumina production at Xiaoyi Xinghua.

China’s alumina output is expected to expand to 5.88 million mt in November, with metallurgical-grade materials taking up 5.63 million mt.

Meanwhile, daily average production of metallurgical-grade alumina is estimated to extend its increase to 188,000 mt, bolstered by a ramp-up at East Hope Sanmenxia and the potential commissioning of Jingxi Tiangui’s first stage.

As of early November, metallurgical-grade alumina capacity in operation rose to 66.09 million mt on an annualised basis.