China leads world in magnesium production

摘要

World consumption of magnesium metal in 2003 was around 660,000t, a rise of 322,000t over the 338,000t used in 1993, according to a new report from market analyst Roskill. Currently, around 75 percent of total demand is accounted for primary magnesium. However, demand for secondary magnesium is expected to rise at a higher rate given its lower cost and increasing availability. The Economics of Magnesium Metal (9th Edition, 2004) explains that the structure of the global primary magnesium industry has changed significantly in the last decade and Chinese companies are now the dominant producers.