Domestic primary aluminium production in US grows 1,000 tonnes YoY to 75,000 tonnes in November 2021

In November 2021, domestic primary aluminium production in the United States stood at 75,000 tonnes, reflecting a dip of 1,000 tonnes or 1.32 per cent month-on-month from 76,000 tonnes. On a year-on-year calculation, on the other hand, the output in November grew 1,000 tonnes from 74,000 tonnes.

The daily average production in the US in November 2021 was 2,510 tonnes, slightly more than 2,460 tonnes in October 2021 and 2,450 tonnes in November 2020.

Total aluminium recovered from scrap in November 2021 was 265,000 tonnes – 4,000 tonnes less than 269,000 tonnes a month ago and 1,000 tonnes more than 264,000 tonnes a year earlier. Of the total scrap recovered, 144,000 tonnes of aluminium was recovered from new scrap and 121,000 tonnes from old scrap.

The November 2021 average US spot market price of primary aluminium ingot was $1.48 per pound, 12% less than in October 2021 but 46% more than in November 2020. The average cash price in November 2021 of primary aluminium ingot on the London Metal Exchange (LME) was $1.20 per pound, down by 11% M-o-M but up by 37 per cent Y-o-Y.

Inventories of primary aluminium in LME-approved warehouses, including off-warrant inventories, in the United States decreased to 65,217 tonnes at the end of November 2021 from 70,971 tonnes at the end of October 2021. Inventories of secondary aluminium (North American Secondary Aluminum Alloy Contract) in LME-approved warehouses, including off-warrant inventories, in the United States plunged to 9,114 tonnes at the end of November 2021 from 9,413 tonnes at the end of October 2021 (London Metal Exchange Ltd., 2021a, b, c; 2022).