China: Chinese companies upgrade aluminum processing.

Storyline Chinese companies upgrade aluminum processing China's aluminum industry is witnessing steady growth on booming demand from sectors like new energy vehicles and batteries. At this aluminum processing enterprise in southwest China's Sichuan Province, aluminum round bars are processed into parts for new energy vehicles. A manager at the plant said after noticing the increase in demand for lightweight precision components from the NEV sector, they installed a new piece of equipment for the precision processing of aluminum round bars. Qin Li, general manager, aluminum processing company: "Currently, we are producing a valve body for new energy vehicles. The gross profit margin is around 20%. The product is highly technical. Production capacity has been gradually ramping up since March this year." Demand for aluminum is also coming from the country's battery makers. In a battery workshop in eastern China's Anhui Province, a batch of 8 micrometer thick double-sided aluminum foil is being packaged for delivery. The head of the plant's technology department says high performance and thinness are amongst the focus for their new products. Sun Hui, head, technology department, battery company: "Our research spending in Q1 this year increased by roughly 24.2%. We focus on producing high-performance and ultra-thin batteries." Recent data shows that China's nonferrous metals industry, to which aluminum belongs, saw profits soar to 28 billion U.S. dollars in Q1 this year, a more than 110 percent annual increase. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]