China is considering selling about 500,000 tonnes of aluminum from state reserves.

Soaring shipping costs, booming demand and tight supplies of primary and scrap aluminium are likely to fuel further price rises for the metal.

China's aluminium smelting industry emitted more CO2 than entire countries such as Indonesia last year.

Shanghai aluminum prices have this week powered to their highest level since August 2011.

A report by Wood Mackenzie states that China needs to secure a competitive supply of raw materials to guarantee its clean growth.

The Chinese city of Baotou in Inner Mongolia ordered some shutdowns in a bid to meet its energy consumption targets for the first quarter.

About 60% of aluminum emissions are from electricity used to smelt raw materials into the lightweight metal.

The Shanghai International Energy Exchange bonded copper futures, which were launched in November, are open to international investors looking to hedge their exposure to China.