China's production of 10 major non-ferrous metals reached 16.36 million mt in the first four months of this year, just 0.3% higher than the same 2015 period, the country's National Development and Reform Commission said Wednesday.
The growth rate represented a reduction of eight percentage points as compared to the increase achieved a year ago, the top Chinese economic planner said in a statement posted on its website.
China produced 2.72 million mt of copper between January and April, a 11% jump from a year ago. Despite the increase, it was 0.9 percentage point less than the increase seen for January-April 2015, NDRC said.
The country also churned out 9.94 million mt of aluminum in the first four months of 2016, inching 1.7% lower from the same 2015 period. In contrast, an 8.8% increase was recorded in Chinese aluminum output in January-April 2015.
Alumina production of Chinese smelters edged 0.8% lower year on year at 19.18 million mt in January-April. The drop was 16 percentage points less than the 15.2% hike recorded in the same 2015 period, NDRC noted.
Between January and April, Chinese producers mined 1.1% less zinc at 1.95 million mt. In the same period of 2015, however, they posted a 13.7% surge in output, the state economic planner said. The slide in lead production has narrowed by 0.7 percentage point from January-April 2015 to 3.8% in the four months of this year at 1.25 million mt.
APRIL OUTPUT SLIPS 1.5% FROM MARCH
Meanwhile, the country's 10 major non-ferrous metals output rose to 4.25 million mt in April, rising 1.7% from in the same 2015 period, but was 1.5% less than March this year.
Strong performance was seen in copper production during April at 694,000 mt, a 14.9% hike from a year ago. The increase was 7.5 percentage points higher than the level recorded for April 2015.
April's lead output, at 341,000 mt, was 2.7% higher than a year earlier, but was 2% less than the previous month.
Production of aluminum slipped to 2.57 million mt in April, down 1.2% on the year and 1.9% from March 2016. The country posted a 12% yearly increase in aluminum output in April last year, NDRC noted.
Zinc output showed similar trend in April, with the country producing 504,000 mt during the month, 2.5% less than a year ago. In April 2015, the sector reported a 12.5% yearly jump in zinc production.
