China's nonferrous metals will see price hikes in the second
half year due to continued tight supply in the market, said a
survey by the Ministry of Commerce.
China's demand for aluminium will rise 15 percent over last year
to 9 million tons, the survey said.
Rocketing prices will slow the growth rate for the demand for
copper to 3 percent with the total demand reaching four million
tons for the year, said the survey.
According to a survey of key government departments and industry
associations show that 73 percent of respondents believe the supply
of 11 kinds of nonferrous metal products will be sufficient.
Twenty-five percent of them think nonferrous metals will be
short of supply while two percent believe the metals will be
oversupplied.
The survey covering 300 kinds of main materials was conducted by
the Ministry of Commerce at the end of June, involving local
commercial management departments, key enterprises, related
industrial associations and experts.
(Xinhua News Agency August 17, 2006)