Africa & Asia’s (ex-China) alumina production registers a 15.8% annual hike in January 2024

According to the International Aluminium Institute, alumina production in Africa & Asia (ex-China) stood at 1.212 million tonnes in January 2024, reflecting a slight month-on-month fall of 0.57 per cent from 1.219 million tonnes. However, on a year-on-year basis, Africa & Asia’s (ex-China) alumina output registered an increase of 15.76 per cent from 1.047 million tonnes.

After an annual downfall in Africa & Asia’s alumina production in January 2023, the regions experienced a hike at the beginning of this year, signalling a positive future. Africa and Asia’s alumina production started building up in H2 2023, which seemed to have continued in January’24.

The daily average alumina production in Africa & Asia (ex-China) during January was 39,100 tonnes, slightly down by 200 tonnes from the previous month but sharply up by 5,300 tonnes or 15.7 per cent from 33,800 tonnes.

The alumina production market looks positive in Africa as a new refinery in Ghana will be a leap forward, turning Ghana’s long-envisioned, fully-integrated aluminium industry into a reality. Late January, Greece-based Mytilineos Energy and Metals reached a deal with the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) to build an alumina refinery.

In 2023, Africa & Asia’s alumina production had amounted to 13.31 million tonnes, down by 3.49 per cent from 13.792 million tonnes a year earlier.