Storyline China's aluminum sector at full capacity as prices soar to 3-year high Aluminum enterprises in China are operating at full capacity at the start of the new year as prices for the metal surged to a three-year-high in late December, driven by robust demand from green energy sectors. At a plant in east China's Shandong Province, seven-ton aluminum ingots are heated and rolled into sheets for the aviation industry. A company executive says, despite higher raw material costs, production will remain strong to meet downstream demand. Lyu Zhengfeng, President, aluminum enterprise: "Our production is running at full capacity, with net output exceeding 1.2 million tons. Based on our actual 2025 results, we've outperformed our original target by at least 8 to 10 percent." China's spot aluminum ingot prices are holding firm at a current level of over 3000 U.S. dollars per ton. Experts say the high prices lie in shifts in supply and demand with upstream electrolytic aluminum capacity capped at 45 million tons, and downstream demand from emerging sectors like new energy vehicles, energy storage, and AI computing remaining robust. An aluminum processing company in central China's Henan Province says demand has outstripped supply. Chen Kai, President, aluminum enterprise: "Orders for 2025 are particularly robust. In previous years, our orders were usually scheduled for 1 to 2 months. We now see the first quarter of 2026 essentially fully booked. We have almost no inventory. Clients are eager to collect finished products as soon as they roll off the production line." As the world's largest aluminum producer and consumer, China accounts for over 60 percent of the global aluminum output. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]