Aluminum Corporation of China, or Chalco, is a state-owned enterprise and the largest aluminum producer in China. The company ranks third globally in aluminum production and second in alumina manufacturing. It operates a vertically integrated business model, covering everything from bauxite mining and R&D to the production and sale of aluminum products.
The corporation manages 39 subsidiaries, including China Aluminum International Engineering, which has been publicly traded since 2012. In 2013, Chalco launched a copper mining project in Peru, investing over $1.3 billion and constructing a facility for 5,000 people. This site has since become a critical source of copper for the Chinese market.
Chalco operates under five-year development plans. During one recent period, the company and its subsidiaries completed over 300 R&D projects, focusing on energy-efficient production and advanced smelting technologies. The corporation maintains a dedicated innovation management system and operates the Zhengzhou Institute of Light Metals.
The company actively registers intellectual property to support its R&D efforts. By 2015, it had filed 2,137 patent applications and held 1,716 patents. While most filings are domestic, the company also pursues international protection, with Australia being its second-largest market for patents after China.
