Africa’s primary aluminium production in Nov’23 marks M-o-M fall of 5%; Y-T-D output drops 1.35%

According to the International Aluminium Institute data, primary aluminium production in Africa amounted to 132,000 tonnes during November 2023, bringing the total output to 1.46 million tonnes in eleven months. The production in November fell by 7,000 tonnes or 5.04 per cent month-on-month from 139,000 tonnes but grew by 6,000 tonnes or 4.76 per cent from 126,000 tonnes.

The month-on-month decline in November 2023 followed a hike in the previous month by 4.5 per cent from 133,000 tonnes to 139,000 tonnes. The total production from January to November 2023 also marked a drop of 1.35 per cent from 1.48 million tonnes during the corresponding period of the previous year.

Africa’s daily average production in November 2023 was 4,400 tonnes, down by 100 tonnes from the previous month and up by 200 tonnes from 4,200 tonnes a year earlier.

Africa’s primary aluminium market is dominated by five leading producers - Hillside Aluminium, Mozal Aluminium, Egyptalum, Valco, and Alucam. Hillside operates with a capacity of around 720,000 tonnes per year, being the largest producer of primary aluminium in the Southern Hemisphere. Egyptalum has 320,000 tonnes of capacity, while VALCO has 200,000 tonnes.

The primary metal that flows into the local market of Africa is considered a ‘lifeline’ for the domestic aluminium industry, as it contributes towards attaining the goals set out in the South African Aluminium Industry Roadmap (SAAIR).

Last year, Africa produced 1.62 million tonnes of primary aluminium, meaning the continent needs to produce 157,000 tonnes of the metal in December 2023 to meet the prior year’s level.