World’s largest aluminium producer, China Hongqiao Group has left the International Aluminium Institute (IAI) within four years of joining the international body of the green metal.

The progress depicts that the Chinese aluminium giant has subdued ranks with a body that represented companies producing more than 60 per cent of the metal and its raw materials bauxite and alumina worldwide, before Hongqiao’s departure.

China Hongqiao has aluminium smelting capacity to produce 6.5 million tonnes annually. The aluminium company became an IAI member in 2016 and employs Ron Knapp, former IAI Secretary-General as an advisor to the Chinese aluminium company’s Chairman, Zhang Bo.

Ron Knapp has confirmed that Hongqiao had resigned from the IAI, but refused to comment anything further.

“What Hongqiao is about is increasing its engagement internationally and we are looking at several vehicles to assist in realising that goal,” he said.

Zhang Bo, Chairman of Hongqiao, previously served as Vice Chairman of the IAI; presently it is chaired by Alcoa Corp executive Ben Kahrs.