Kazakhstan's January-November output of alumina and unwrought aluminum fell 8.7% year-on-year

Kazakhstan's production of refined copper and gold in January-November 2012 increased compared to the same period in 2011, while output of alumina, zinc and steel fell compared to the same period of last year.

From January to November, refined copper production was 332,620 tons, an increase of 7.9% from November 2011; refined gold production increased by 27.6% year-on-year. At present, the Central Bank of Kazakhstan has purchased all refined gold in Kazakhstan.

From January to November, refined zinc production fell by 0.2% year-on-year to 292,314 tons.

From January to November, the output of alumina and unwrought aluminum fell 8.7% year-on-year to 1.6 million tons.

The metals produced by Kazakhmys, the London-listed mining companies, the European Natural Resources Corporation (ENRC), and Kazaninc, which is controlled by Glencore, accounted for a large part of Kazakhstan’s metal production. ArcelorMittal owns the country’s only large steel plant.

The demand for iron and steel mills in Tirmilk (city of Karaganda, Kazakhstan) is facing a sudden blow this year, and Western financial sanctions against Iran have also affected the energy market, which accounts for a significant share of sales last year.

According to official data, the total crude steel production in Kazakhstan in January-November fell 21.0% year-on-year to 3.55 million tons.