China urges using aluminum to replace steel, save copper

The China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association has proposed expanding aluminum use in place of steel and economizing copper use to save energy and cut emissions, the group said in its website late Monday.

The association proposed boosting aluminum applications to replace 3,161 stainless steel plates.

It suggested using aluminum instead of steel in the transport sector, using aluminum instead of copper in the cable sector, and using aluminum instead of wood in furniture.

"Aluminum usage in the car, aeronautical and electronic sectors is expected to keep growing in the coming years," the group said.

However, CNIA said that due to China's excess aluminum capacity, it might take a very long time to make the substitutes.

"China's economic growth in the second quarter is lacking strength, weakening demand by the downstream [aluminum processing] sector," it said.

In February, state-run Chinese nonferrous metals consultancy Antaike predicted the country's 2013 aluminum consumption would be 23.35 million mt, up 9% from 2012.

The Beijing agency predicted China's electrolytic aluminum capacity would reach 30.2 million by the end of 2013, up 13% year on year.

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