Chinese primary aluminum output increased on a monthly basis in May, driven by additional smelter capacity and higher prices.
China, which both produces and consumes the most aluminum in the world, produced 2.98mn mt in May, according to the country’s National Bureau of Statistics, marginally decreasing on an annual basis, but increasing by 0.4pc from 2.97mn mt one month earlier. Through the first five months of the year, China’s aluminum production increased by 2.1pc to 14.81mn mt compared to the same period in 2019.
China’s Consumer Price index (CPI) reached 102.4 in May, decreasing from 105.2, 104.3, and 103.3, in February, March, and April, respectively. The country’s CPI for construction fell marginally to 99.5 in May from 99.7 a month earlier. The CPI for transportation and communication fell to 94.9 in May from 95.1 in April.