Asian Metal News
Shanxi Huaxing Aluminium (designed with 2 mtpy alumina capacity), produced 1.3 mln t of alumina in 2019 down 32.3% y-o-y from 1.92 mln t in 2018.
Huaxing has two alumina production lines of 500 ktpy each and a 1 mtpy line. At present, total alumina capacity in operation at Huaxing is 1 mtpy (two 500 ktpy lines), one on domestic bauxite and one on imported bauxite. According to an inside source, local bauxite supply can only sustain operations on one 500 ktpy production line, and they began using imported bauxite in July 2019.
With the winter heating season coming to an end by end-Q1 2020, the shortfall in local bauxite supply in Shanxi is likely to ease and Huaxing is aiming at 1.5 mln t of alumina output in 2020.
At present, mainstream alumina prices stand at RMB 2,410~2,460/t ex-works in Shanxi, and have been stable since the beginning of this week.
