China is leading the world in nonferrous metals output for four consecutive
years, according to a national nonferrous metals industry conference.
Wednesday's Economic Daily, citing statistics released at the industry
conference held in Beijing on Tuesday, said that China's total output of ten
nonferrous metals in 2005 increased 18.14 percent over the previous year to
16.32 million tons.
The reform of China's nonferrous metals industry is progressing effectively,
with the overheated electrolysis aluminum sector and copper smelting sector
having been under control, said Kang Yi, head of the China Nonferrous Metals
Industry Association.
Under China's macrocontrol policy, China's electrolysis aluminum companies
have been limited to only 93, with about 52 others closed or out of the market,
Kang said.
According to Kang, China is not only the world's largest nonferrous metals
producer, but also the largest consumer.
By the end of 2005, the total assets of major Chinese nonferrous metals
companies reached 688.2 billion yuan, about 2.23 times that of the year 2000;
while these companies' sales by the end of 2005 were 3.71 times that of the year
2000, according to Kang.
Kang predicts that China's nonferrous metals industry will maintain rapid
growth in 2006 under the government's strategy for sustainable development. But
he also noted the industry still faces major problems like resources shortage
this year.