Vietnam Produces First Aluminum Ingots, Marking Industrial Advancement

Vietnam has begun production of its first aluminum ingots at the Nhân Cơ Industrial Park in Lâm Đồng, marking a significant milestone for the country's industrial sector. The announcement was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense, General Phan Văn Giang, along with leaders from central and local government agencies. The Đắk Nông Aluminum Electrolysis Plant project, covering over 129 hectares, is an investment by Trần Hồng Quân Metallurgy Co., Ltd. and broke ground in 2015. This facility is Vietnam's first metal aluminum production plant, designed with a capacity of 450,000 tons per year, divided into three phases. Currently, the first phase with a capacity of 150,000 tons/year has been completed and is operational. The installation of equipment for the second phase, aiming for a capacity of 300,000 tons/year, is ongoing and expected to be operational within the fourth quarter of this year. The third phase, with a designed capacity of 450,000 tons/year, is slated for completion in the first quarter of 2027. Upon full operation, the project is expected to meet the domestic demand for metal aluminum, significantly improving the trade balance by reducing annual aluminum imports by approximately $1.5 billion. It will also play a crucial role in increasing state revenue, boosting the province's GRDP, and creating jobs for about 3,500 local workers. General Phan Văn Giang praised the successful development of aluminum ingots as a testament to the technological capabilities, management proficiency, human resource quality, and determination of Vietnamese enterprises to integrate deeper into global value chains. The Party and State have long aimed to develop a complete value chain from bauxite mining and alumina processing to aluminum electrolysis and the deep processing of high-value aluminum products, while also focusing on environmental protection. In the current development phase, securing a stable domestic supply of metal aluminum is particularly vital for reducing import reliance, mitigating supply chain disruption risks, improving the trade balance, increasing localization rates, and enhancing the economy's resilience against external fluctuations. The establishment of the metal aluminum industry will create a stable input market for related sectors such as rolling, drawing, casting, extrusion, alloy production, and aluminum product manufacturing, thereby forming a larger industrial ecosystem with greater economic value. The Deputy Prime Minister urged the investor to concentrate resources to complete all investment phases on schedule and ensure the plant operates with absolute safety, stability, and high economic efficiency. "The Nhân Cơ Industrial Park will become a leading center for aluminum and new materials industry in Vietnam, creating a ripple effect for the development of the entire Central Highlands region and the country," stated Deputy Prime Minister Phan Văn Giang.