----Interview with Yiran Wang
General Manager
Guizhou Xinshengneng New Materials Technology Co., Ltd.
Guizhou Xinshengneng New Materials Technology Co., Ltd. was established on September 7, 2023, and is located in Majiang County, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou Province. The plant covers an area of over 13,000 square meters and is planned to be equipped with four 7,500 kVA tilting furnaces, along with sand-making production lines, screening equipment, and storage systems. The first smelting furnace began trial operation on June 1 this year and was officially put into operation at the end of June. The current Phase I capacity stands at 15,000 tons. As product competitiveness continues to improve, a second intelligent production line is scheduled to be commissioned in the first half of next year. Upon full completion, the company’s annual capacity of white fused alumina is expected to exceed 60,000 tons.
Asian Metal: Mr. Wang, thank you for accepting this interview. Could you briefly introduce your company?
Mr. Wang: The parent company of Guizhou Xinshengneng New Materials Technology Co., Ltd. is Shandong Shengneng New Materials Co., Ltd., which has nearly 20 years of experience in the white fused alumina industry. We are currently the first white fused alumina producer in Southwest China. Our designed annual capacity for high bulk density white fused alumina aggregates is 50,000 tons, supported by a full set of automated equipment. In terms of process, we have mastered core high-temperature refining technology. The molten white fused alumina undergoes a natural cooling process of 48 hours, resulting in a bulk density exceeding 3.75 g/cm3. Our customers include leading enterprises in abrasives, lithium battery materials, and refractory materials, reflecting our strong production capabilities and stable product quality.
Asian Metal: Since the fourth quarter of last year, production in Henan and Shandong has been frequently disrupted due to environmental controls. How has your company responded?
Mr. Wang: In northern regions, especially Henan, environmental inspections from November to March each year often result in prolonged production suspensions or restrictions, significantly affecting operational stability. In comparison, we have three key advantages. First, we prioritize green production and have made substantial investments in environmental protection, with well-established environmental control systems. Second, the local government in Guizhou provides strong policy support to environmentally compliant enterprises, resulting in relatively lower compliance costs compared with producers in Henan and Shandong, and ensuring stable production continuity. Third, in addition to our Guizhou plant, our Shandong facility is also operating steadily. This north-south coordination allows us to better meet diverse customer needs and leverage geographical advantages.
Asian Metal: Since the Chinese New Year, alumina prices have risen ??????, putting significant pressure on producers. How does your company manage such volatility in raw material prices?
Mr. Wang: Since the Chinese New Year, driven by constrained bauxite supply and recovering demand, alumina prices in China have increased from around RMB2,500/t to approximately RMB2,700/t and are still on an upward trend. This persistent price fluctuation poses challenges to both production and sales. To address this, we have adopted two main strategies. On the one hand, we have diversified our supply chain by establishing long-term partnerships with leading domestic raw material suppliers, combined with price monitoring mechanisms and dynamic inventory management—stockpiling at lower prices while purchasing on demand at higher levels. On the other hand, we are continuously optimizing our production processes to reduce energy consumption and enhance product quality, thereby mitigating cost pressures.
Asian Metal: White fused alumina prices have also been rising since the Chinese Spring Festival holidays. What is your outlook for the second quarter?
Mr. Wang: Due to sustained increases in alumina prices and tight supply, white fused alumina prices have risen from around RMB4,000/t to RMB4,200/t since the Chinese New Year. Although the supply shortage of alumina has not yet been alleviated, approximately 2.4 million tons of new capacity in Guangxi is expected to come online in April. Therefore, we expect prices to peak and then gradually decline in the second quarter. We have already secured long-term contracts with several key customers to lock in volumes. At the same time, we are committed to maintaining price discipline, focusing on product quality and service to safeguard our core market share.
Asian Metal: What are your company’s key competitive advantages in the current competitive market environment?
Mr. Wang: First, Guizhou benefits from relatively low-cost hydropower, with electricity prices about RMB0.10–0.15/kWh lower than in Shandong and Henan, significantly reducing energy costs. Second, we specialize in high bulk density white fused alumina, achieving a density of 3.75 g/cm3, compared with the typical domestic range of 3.55–3.60 g/cm3. High bulk density white fused alumina offers superior wear resistance, high-temperature stability, and corrosion resistance, with performance improvements of over 30% compared to conventional products. It can even replace brown fused alumina in certain applications such as grinding wheels and refractory mixes, expanding its application scope. We believe this represents the future development direction of white fused alumina products.
Asian Metal: How is your company’s international business developing? Are there plans to expand overseas?
Mr. Wang: Currently, exports account for about 15% of our total revenue, mainly to Southeast Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, with Southeast Asia accounting for around 60%. At present, China’s exports of high bulk density white fused alumina are only about 40,000 tons, compared with total white fused alumina exports of approximately 440,000 tons in 2025, accounting for less than 10%, indicating significant growth potential. Going forward, we plan to participate in international exhibitions in Germany and Vietnam. On the one hand, we aim to consolidate our market share in Southeast Asia; on the other hand, we will actively expand into traditional European markets, move toward higher-end segments, and strengthen technical cooperation with overseas partners.
Asian Metal: In light of current market conditions, what are your company’s future development plans?
Mr. Wang: Our core strategy is to pursue high-end and differentiated development. We will continue to focus on high bulk density white fused alumina, which can partially replace brown fused alumina in applications such as refractory mixes, tap-hole clay, and grinding materials, thereby reducing production costs. Many producers in the industry have already begun upgrading their processes to produce high bulk density white fused alumina, and recognition from downstream customers is increasing. In the first half of next year, we plan to add another 7,500 kVA production line, increasing our high-end capacity by 50% to 30,000 tons.
In addition, we will introduce international quality control systems, establish full-process traceability, and develop advanced products such as nano-scale powders and low-sodium white fused alumina. Through technological barriers, we aim to move away from low-price competition and build “Xinshengneng” into a premium abrasives brand.
Asian Metal: Thank you for the interview. We wish Xinshengneng continued success.
Mr. Wang: Thank you to Asian Metal for the opportunity. We also wish the industry continued growth and prosperity.
