China's Output Of Secondary Metals Surges First Nine Months

China's output of secondary metals over the first nine months of the year reached 2.6 million tons, accounting for 22 percent of the total nonferrous metal output. The scrap metal value totaled around $5.5 billion.

The output of recycled aluminum, copper and lead reached 1.2 million tons, 960,000 tons and 180,000 tons, respectively, according to statistics released by the Secondary Metals Branch of the China Non-Ferrous Metals Industry Association.

During the same period, China recycled 1.1 million tons of nonferrous metals, including 270,000 tons of scrap copper and 520,000 tons of scrap aluminum. Meanwhile China imported 3.6 million tons of scrap non-ferrous metals, including 2.764 million tons of scrap copper, 749,800 tons of scrap aluminum and 52,800 tons of scrap zinc. The scrap metals were mainly imported by Guangdong, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Tianjin.

The secondary metal enterprises grew in size during the period and made fast progress in technology development. According to the association, the scrap industry in China is better aware of environmental protection.

At present, these enterprises have extended their businesses to cover processing and re-processing. Besides, the influx of foreign investment has brought in advanced management experience, equipment, technology and operating ideas, which have gone a long way toward technical progress in China's secondary metal industry.