In 2021, China's aluminum industry will continue to deepen supply-side structural reform, strictly control the new production capacity of electrolytic aluminum, strictly implement capacity replacement, and speed up the optimization and adjustment of industrial layout.
First, the output has increased steadily. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, in 2021, the output of alumina, electrolytic aluminum and aluminum materials was 77.48 million tons, 38.5 million tons and 61.05 million tons respectively, an increase of 5%, 4.8% and 7.4% over the same period last year, with an average increase of 3.4%, 4.8% and 7.8% in two years.
Second, the normal range of inventory fluctuates. According to the statistics of industry analysis institutions, the social inventory of aluminum ingots was 810000 tons at the end of December, an increase of 36% over the same period last year, fluctuating within the normal range.
Third, the price continues to run at a high level. According to the statistics of the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association, aluminum prices will remain high in 2021, with the spot price averaging 18946 yuan / ton for the whole year, up 33.5% from the same period last year.
Fourth, there has been a substantial increase in the import of unwrought aluminum. According to data from the General Administration of Customs, in 2021, imports of bauxite and alumina (physical volume) were 107.37 million tons and 3.33 million tons respectively, down 3.8% and 12.6% from the same period last year; imports of aluminum scrap were 1.03 million tons, up 24.9% from the same period last year; and unwrought aluminum imports were 2.73 million tons, up 19% from the same period last year. In 2021, aluminum exports were 5.46 million tons, an increase of 17.9 percent over the same period last year.
