Lower copper and aluminium prices added to the woes of mining stocks.

Commodity prices have risen, because of higher dairy and aluminium prices.

Iron, zinc and aluminium prices have picked up substantially since October.

The fresh disruption has been partly behind the recent rise in world aluminium prices.

And horticulture prices fell, while aluminium prices made solid gains.

Higher nickel and aluminium prices supported the material sector.

Apple prices also fell 11 percent, while butter, cheese, wool and aluminium prices were also down.

Forestry prices made gains, but aluminium prices declined.

The Tiwai Point smelter came within inches of closure two years ago, due to low aluminium prices.

China aluminium prices hit five-year highs on Thursday as investors bet that capacity closures would tighten supply.

Deripaska said he expected the company's share prices on the Hong Kong exchange to recover when aluminium prices rebound.

Copper steadied its slump thanks to the slightly better China import numbers but nickel and aluminium prices were weaker.

Mr Cooper did not give details of the plants' economics, but said aluminium prices had been volatile since 2013.

But it said Chalco also faces the risk of sharp drop in aluminium prices, and slower-than-expected progress in projects.

Miners were in demand after aluminium prices rose 0.7 percent and copper trimmed losses.

Although global aluminium prices have inched up this year, they were still below the level of two years ago however.