China still metals demand and supply benchmark – expert

CHINA remains the benchmark for supply and cost strategy planning for the mining industry, an international expert said on Wednesday, citing that “metals demand is still highly exposed to Beijing and tied with the boom and bust of its construction industry.”

Although global consumption of key metals such as aluminum, copper, lead and zinc follows the rise and fall of the gross world product, computed as the combined gross national product of all countries, Julia Ralph noted that China is “eating up” more of the global consumption pie while contributing less to the global production mix.