Global alumina production drops 6.1% in Q1 2026 as major markets retreat Q-o-Q, while North America moves against the trend

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Global metallurgical-grade alumina production lost momentum in Q1 2026 after several key producing regions scaled back from the exceptionally strong output levels seen at the end of 2025, with North America emerging as the only region to register quarter-on-quarter growth, albeit marginally. China underwent widespread refinery maintenance and environmental shutdowns, Asia & Africa normalised after aggressive year-end production pushes, while Europe and Oceania continued battling energy pressures, maintenance activity and operational disruptions.

These combined factors pulled global alumina production down 6.1 per cent quarter-on-quarter to 35.4 million tonnes in Q1 2026 from 37.7 million tonnes in Q4 2025. However, compared with Q1 2025, worldwide output remained broadly stable, rising marginally by 0.28 per cent from 35.3 million tonnes.

China slows, but expansion plans remain firmly in place

China once again dominated the global alumina landscape, producing an estimated 21.3 million tonnes in Q1 2026 - exactly the same level as a year earlier. The real change came when compared with Q4 2025. Output fell 7.8 per cent from 23.1 million tonnes, making China one of the largest contributors to the global quarterly decline.

The slowdown was not caused by weak demand alone. Early in January, several northern Chinese refineries entered scheduled annual maintenance. Around the same time, an alumina refinery in Henan halted operations entirely due to environmental policy requirements. Additional maintenance activity followed in Guangxi and Guizhou, where some plants temporarily lost nearly half of their operating capacity.