China produced 35.8 million tonnes of aluminium in 2018, up 7.4% year on year, according to data released by China's Statistics Bureau on Monday January 21, suggesting the annual winter production cuts did little to slow output in the country.
Chinese output in December 2018 reached 3.05 million tonnes, marking an 11.3% increase from the same period of last year. Market producers said the only moderate restriction on winter production might be the result of the Chinese government's loose winter production policy for 2018. Winter aluminium production cuts were introduced in November 2017 to curb pollution at a time when coal-powered heating increases. Last year was the first time China allowed local governments decide on the level by which aluminium producers would cut their...