The newly opened Pinglu Canal offers southwestern China a shorter route to international shipping markets.
The 134.2-kilometre waterway links the Xijiang River system with Qinzhou Port.
Sources expect lower transport costs for steel, iron ore, manganese ore, chrome ore and bauxite.
One alloy producer estimated ore transport costs could fall from approximately CNY 70 to CNY 40–50 per tonne.
High regional electricity costs nevertheless remain a major obstacle to expanding energy-intensive production.
