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China's aluminum production reached 45.02 million tons in 2025, surpassing the government's long-standing 45-million-ton ceiling. In December alone, there was a record monthly output of 3.87 million tons, hitting a new single-month high. The 2.4% year-on-year growth in 2025 was due to heavy demand for these lightweight metals in electric vehicles, power grids, and renewable energy infrastructure.

However, China's crude steel production dropped to 961 million tons, a year-on-year decrease of 4.4% and the lowest level since 2018. This decline represented the first time in eight years that steel output fell below the one-billion-ton level.

Market participants said this divergence was owing to the struggling real estate sector dampening steel needs, while the ongoing energy transition continues to drive aluminum consumption to new heights.