Output by some non-ferrous metal producers in southwest China's drought-plagued Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region has plunged sharply and could stop altogether if the dry weather continues.

People carry water home from a local water supply station in Sanbao Village, Sanbao County of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on March 29, 2010.

In Nandan County, which boasts more than 11 million tonnes of verified non-ferrous metal reserves, companies had cut production by 30 percent, said Miao Zhilong, head of the county's economic and trade bureau.

"If the drought continues for another month, they are very likely to suspend production," Miao said.

The non-ferrous metal industry, despite its high power and water consumption, had long been a major contributor to the economy in Guangxi and neighboring Guizhou and Yunnan provinces, he said. "We estimate that local revenues in Nandan will drop 25 percent in April year on year."

A major manufacturer of electrolytic zinc in China, the Nanfang Non-ferrous Metal Smelting Co., Ltd., in Hechi City, has shut down two production lines at its zinc plant this year.

"We need 20 tonnes of water to electrolyze 1 tonne of zinc. Since March, our daily water supply has shrunk from 10,000 cubic meters to 3,000 cubic meters and our daily output has dropped by 40 percent from 600 tonnes to 380 tonnes," said plant director Yang Youping.

As of Thursday, the severe drought in Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Chongqing and Sichuan had caused drinking water shortages for 20.88 million people and 13.68 million head of livestock, according to the Office of State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters.

However, the drought would not cause significant fluctuations in non-ferrous metal prices at home of abroad, said Zhu Rujun, a senior investment consultant with China Merchants Securities Co., Ltd..

"The drought-stricken regions account for a small proportion of the country's total non-ferrous metal output. There is ample non-ferrous metal stock in both the domestic and global markets," Zhu said.