0923 GMT - Aluminum Corp. of China seems well-positioned to benefit from tighter global supply of the base metal, given the alumina refiner's relatively stable power availability and raw material supply, says Fitch Ratings in a note. The Middle East conflict has intensified concerns over the metal's supply after Gulf smelters were struck, as the region accounts for around 8%-9% of aluminum production. Production curtailments in the region due to the Strait of Hormuz closure should keep aluminum prices elevated in 2027 even if the waterway reopens this year, it adds. Chalco is also likely to benefit from the Chinese government's support of parent company Chinalco, due to the state-owned enterprise's strategic importance to China's energy transition, power infrastructure and resource-security objectives, Fitch says.
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