Aluminum giant expands, anticipating rising China demand

Atlanta-based industrial aluminum company Novelis is adding a new customer solution center in Shanghai and doubling capacity at its plant in Changzhou, Jiangsu province, as it attempts to keep up with rising demand from China, said a senior executive.

"China's demand for aluminum flat-rolled products will increase from the current level of about 10 percent of the global automotive aluminum market to 25 percent by 2025," noted Pierre Labat, vice-president of global automotive, Novelis.

To help meet the demand, the firm is investing $180 million into expanding its Changzhou plant. Due to be completed in the second half of 2020, it will boost the facility's annual production capacity of heat-treated aluminum sheet by 100,000 metric tons.