China will likely become a net importer of aluminum by 2009 or 2010, said Peter Finnimore, UC Rusal's aluminum sales director.

Speaking at a press conference here, he said China's aluminum demand will increase and capacity growth will slow over the next two to three years, pushing the country to become a net importer of the metal.

China is expected to reach 36 pct of global aluminum consumption by 2010, up from 25 pct currently, according to the Russian mining firm.

UC Rusal said that China should produce 12 mln tons of aluminum this year, or about one-third of the world's total.

China's current trade balance in finished aluminum was not available.