China Hongqiao, world’s largest aluminium producer, to expand capacity

China Hongqiao, the world’s largest producer of aluminium, aims to raise the annual capacity of the lightweight industrial metal by around 15 per cent this year if the market recovery continues.

The Shandong-based firm aims to spend up to 15 billion yuan this year on expanding its output capacity of aluminium, alumina, bauxite and electricity, besides retrofitting its coal-fired power plants to meet future carbon emission requirements.

Last year’s spending totalled 14 billion yuan.

Its debt-funded rapid capacity expansion in an industry afflicted with over-capacity has been a concern for investors, but the firm insists its expansion is rational since its production costs are much lower than its rivals because it has its own power plants and in-house upstream materials production facilities.

“This year’s actual capital expenditure will depend on market conditions,” chief executive Zhang Bo said on Monday. “If demand is good, we will stick with the plan, otherwise, we can slow down new capacity expansion or even suspend expansion.”

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Market conditions permitting, the company aims just over 6 million tonnes of annual aluminium capacity by the year-end, from 5.19 million tonnes last year. It also plans to add up to four units of power generators of 330 megawatts (MW) each. It had 9,330 MW at the end of last year.