The latest investigation on 31 large, small and medium-sized aluminum plate/strip enterprises by Metalease shows that entering August, the operation rate of Chinese aluminum plate/strip enterprises has dwindled obviously, and the rate was only 77.87 percent in August, 10 percentage points lower than in June.

    Small enterprises reported the fastest decrease in operation rate, but still managed an operation rate of above 80 percent; only medium-sized ones reported certain recovery in terms of operation rate in August, retaining certain hope for the future market.

    Aluminum plate/strip production is a rising industry as well as one with high added value. As aluminum industry develops, some low-end aluminum plate/strip processing enterprises have sprung up like mushroom, and market competition has grown fiercer. After China abolished export rebate rate for aluminum sections and imposed export tariff on aluminum rod and alloy and ingot, more attention has been drawn to the development of the industry in the future.

    Investigation of the Metalease shows that 22.6 percent of enterprises surveyed are optimistic about the future market, and do not think aluminum plate/strip oversupplied; 29 percent are not optimistic; 12.9 percent hold that the industry is in a steady development period; and 35.5 percent hold a wait-and-see attitude.