DJ Rio Tinto:Confident China Consumption Will Equal Japan,Taiwan...

DJ Rio Tinto:Confident China Consumption Will Equal Japan,Taiwan

MELBOURNE (Dow Jones)--The head of Rio Tinto PLC's (RTP) pacific primary metal
division Friday said she is confident China's consumption level will eventually
equal that of Japan, Taiwan and South Korea.
Speaking at a Melbourne Mining Club lunch, Xiaoling Liu said if China reaches this
consumption level, additional requirements for aluminum will be significant.
However, in recent times China has been self sufficient in meeting demand for the
metal.
"Yes, there will be dips and troughs," Liu said. "But there's no
reason to believe that China will not reach the same consumption level achieved in Japan,
Taiwan and Korea."
Liu said Australia, which has around 25% of the world's bauxite reserves, is well
positioned to supply this increase in demand.