During January-February 2025, the world's metallurgical-grade alumina production recorded an impressive increase of 4.41 per cent, reaching 23.015 million tonnes versus 22.043 million tonnes a year ago. In both January and February, the output increased Y-o-Y by 6.77 per cent and 1.89 per cent, totalling 12.149 million tonnes and 10.866 million tonnes, respectively.
As per the data shown by the International Aluminium Institute, metallurgical-grade alumina production in February 2025 grew Y-o-Y from 10.664 million tonnes, despite a fewer operational day, with the daily average output reaching 388,100 tonnes versus 367,700 tonnes in February 2024. Thanks to China's expanded alumina refining capacity that drove the growth of global output, offsetting declines across all other major alumina-producing countries or regions during the stated period.
Production overview of China
In February, China's metallurgical-grade alumina production stood at 6.512 million tonnes, up by 6.6 per cent from 6.109 million tonnes in the previous year. Month-on-month, the output decreased 9.7 per cent from 7.211 million tonnes, registering a higher decline rate than the 4.7 per cent seen in February 2024.
In the first two months of this year, China produced 13.723 million tonnes of alumina, recording a Y-o-Y rise of 9.59 per cent from 12.522 million tonnes.
According to SMM, as of February 28, 2025, China's metallurgical-grade alumina capacity was approximately 105.02 million tonnes, with operating capacity grown by 0.3 per cent and the operating rate at 86.1 per cent. Some of the previously commissioned capacity in Shandong achieved output in February, contributing substantially to the hike of the year-on-year production.
The daily average output also rose by 10.4 per cent Y-o-Y from 210,700 tonnes to 232,600 tonnes in February. However, on a monthly basis, it remained constrained, primarily due to fewer operational days, taking a toll on the overall decline in production. Additionally, some producers opted for maintenance due to profit losses from sluggish alumina prices, further leading to lower monthly output.
SMM survey finds no large-scale production cuts despite significant profit declines. More alumina capacities are coming online, easing domestic supply pressure, suggests SMM.
Production trends in other regions and contribution to global out
Alumina production in Oceania, the second-highest alumina-producing region in the world, stood at 1.347 million tonnes in February, reflecting both Y-o-Y and M-o-M decline. Compared to 1.4 million tonnes of production in February 2024, Oceania's alumina output in February 2025 slipped by 3.8 per cent, while that from the previous month dropped by 11.3 per cent from 1.519 million tonnes.
From January to February 2025, Oceania produced 2.866 million tonnes, contributing 12.45 per cent to the global output, down by 4.9 per cent from 3.014 million tonnes during the corresponding period of the previous year.
Similarly, in Asia & Africa (ex-China), alumina production in February 2025 experienced a monthly fall of 16 per cent from 1.230 million tonnes to 1.031 million tonnes and an annual drop of 9.96 per cent from 1.145 million tonnes. In South America, the third-largest alumina-producing region, the output stood at 882,000 tonnes in February, down by 0.56 per cent Y-o-Y from 887,000 tonnes and 7.06 per cent less M-o-M than 949,000 tonnes.
In the first two months, Asia & Africa's production totalled 2.261 million tonnes, accounting for 9.8 per cent of the world's output.
The Americas contributed 9.22 per cent to global production with a total output of 2.123 million tonnes, followed by the contribution of 4.16 per cent by Europe with an output of 958,000 tonnes during January-February 2025.
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