Africa’s primary aluminium production rebounds to 135,000 tonnes in Dec'20; Output in Q4 stands marginally down Q-o-Q

According to the International Aluminium Institute, primary aluminium production in Africa rebounded to 135,000 tonnes in December 2020, following a decline in the previous month. On a month-on-month calculation, Africa’s primary aluminium production grew in December by 6,000 tonnes or 4.65 per cent from 129,000 tonnes, which was down by 7,000 tonnes or 5.15 per cent from 136,000 tonnes in October 2020. On a year-on-year basis, Africa’s December output stood 2.88 per cent lower than 139,000 tonnes.

Africa’s total primary aluminium production in the fourth quarter of 2020 amounted to 400,000 tonnes, down by 1,000 tonnes from 401,000 tonnes in the third quarter of the year. On a year-on-year basis, the output stood lower by 10,000 tonnes or 2.44 per cent from 410,000 tonnes.

In the entire year of 2020, Africa’s primary aluminium output totalled 1.605 million tonnes, 2.31 per cent less than 1.643 million tonnes in 2019.

The world’s primary aluminium production increased in December 2020 by 3.02 per cent month-on-month and 4.25 per cent year-on-year to 5.670 million tonnes. Total production in the fourth quarter stood at 16.786 million tonnes, up by 2.38 per cent quarter-on-quarter from 16.396 million tonnes and 4.62 per cent year-on-year from 16.044 million tonnes.