Primary aluminium production in GCC marks a 1% rise Y-o-Y to 4.07 Mt during Jan-Aug’23

Aluminium has been one of the key industries in the Gulf Cooperation Council since Manama commissioned the 12,000 tonnes a year of Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) smelter with a diversification agenda. The GCC has benefitted heavily from low-priced energy, which is otherwise cost-intensive for aluminium production. Over the years, Alba has become one of the world's biggest and smartest aluminium producers, with several significant expansions and revamps. In parallel with Alba, more aluminium producers have emerged over the years and achieved important milestones as a result of robust investments by other GCC countries.

In the first eight months of 2023, the Gulf Cooperation Council has produced 4.07 million tonnes of primary aluminium, standing only behind China and Europe. The output stood 0.74 per cent higher than 4.04 million tonnes during the corresponding period of the previous year.

In August 2023, primary aluminium output in GCC registered a year-on-year hike of 0.58 per cent to 517,000 tonnes from 514,000 tonnes but fell slightly month-on-month by 0.4 per cent from 519,000 tonnes.GCC’s production in August accounted for 8.56 per cent of the world’s primary aluminium output.

In August 2023, the world’s primary aluminium production stood at 6.044 million tonnes, up by 1.58 per cent from 5.95 million tonnes but restrained compared to 6.03 million tonnes a month ago.

The average daily production of primary aluminium in GCC during August 2023 was 16,700 tonnes up from 16,600 tonnes a year ago and muted compared to the previous month.