Today (February 3), the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association held a press conference to brief on the industry's performance in 2025. Association officials reported that the output of China's major nonferrous metal products reached a new record high, maintaining a leading global share.
The industrial added value of nonferrous metal enterprises increased by 6.9% in 2025, surpassing the national average growth rate for industrial enterprises above designated size by 1.0 percentage points. The output of ten commonly used nonferrous metals exceeded 80 million tons for the first time, reaching 81.75 million tons, marking a 3.9% year-on-year increase and an average annual growth rate of 5.0% during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period.
According to association forecasts, the nonferrous metals industry is expected to maintain stable growth in 2026, with the first quarter continuing the positive momentum from the end of the previous year, ensuring a strong start to the "15th Five-Year Plan." Barring any "black swan" events, preliminary estimates for key industry indicators in 2026 are as follows.
In terms of production, the sector is projected to continue its stable operation, with industrial added value expected to grow by approximately 5% year-on-year. Based on production characteristics and capacity construction, the output of ten commonly used nonferrous metals is forecast to increase by about 2% in 2026.
Regarding prices, industrial silicon and lithium carbonate prices are anticipated to stabilize and rebound in 2026, while major commonly used nonferrous metals like copper and aluminum are likely to experience high-level fluctuations. Industry operating revenue is expected to grow by around 5%, with profits achieving a modest increase.
Comments