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Yunnan aluminium ramp-up to add over 500,000 T capacity, industry professionals say

Aluminium smelters in China's southwestern province of Yunnan are bringing factories back online thanks to better power availability, which is likely to restore about 500,000 metric lots of annual production, industry experts stated Monday.

Smelters in China's fourth-biggest producing area were asked in November by China Southern Power Grid to curb operations because of lower dry-season hydropower supply.

On Saturday, the grid operator notified producers that 800,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of additional power had actually been assigned to the aluminium market, a Yunnan manufacturer said, declining to be named as they are not authorised to talk with media.

Smelters are ramping up operations, the source included.

China Southern Power Grid could not immediately be grabbed discuss Monday.

The latest power benefit is likely linked to less power transfer from Yunnan to other provinces, stated Su Yanbo, an aluminium expert at Beijing Aladdiny Zhongying Organization Consulting, who expects the increased power accessibility might bring back about 530,000 tons of annual capacity in Yunnan.

Details supplier Shanghai Metals Market anticipated about 520,000 tons of capability would be included.

Yunnan typically moves some of its electrical output to Guangdong province, a southern industrial powerhouse.

Yunnan churned out 4.47 million lots of primary aluminium in 2023, 11% of China's overall, Aladdiny information revealed.

Hit by dry spell and low water levels, Yunnan in 2022 started asking aluminium manufacturers to cut output, stimulating supply jitters in the world's top manufacturer, as well as price volatility globally.

(source: Reuters)