North America’s primary production drops 2.2% in the first three quarters of 2017

The Aluminum Association, in cooperation with the Aluminium Association of Canada, reported primary aluminium production in North America (U.S. and Canada) for the month of September.

Production rate for the month of September was at an annual rate of 3,942,596 tonnes during September 2017.  Month on month, it was down 17,783 tpy (-0.4%) from the August 2017 rate of 3,960,380 tonnes. The production rate in the U.S. declined eight-tenths of one per cent m/m, while the Canadian rate fell four tenths of one per cent. This drop can be considered as remaining flat for analysis.

Compared to a year ago, the North American annual rate was down six-tenths of one per cent from the September 2016 rate of 3,968,038 tonnes. Actual aluminium production through the first three quarters of 2017 stood at 2,958,676 tonnes. Year on year it registers a drop of 2.2 percent from the same period of 2016. Looking at the production rate of the first three quarter, the total production in North America for 2017 is estimated to stand at about 3.9 to 4 million tonnes.

estimates indicate that aluminum demand in the United States and Canada (shipments by domestic producers plus imports) totaled an estimated 18,409 million pounds through the first eight months of 2017, up 3.6 per cent over the same period last year. Growing demand will keep the market balanced and profitable for the rest of the year.