Primary aluminium production in North America declines 5% YoY, but output in South America grows 13% in 4Q2021

In North America, primary aluminium production in December 2021 stood at 322,000 tonnes, reflecting a month-on-month increase of 14,000 tonnes or 4.55 per cent, found the International Aluminium Institute. In November, aluminium output in North America came in at 308,000 tonnes, down by 10,000 tonnes or 3.14 per cent from 318,000 tonnes in October.

However, on a year-on-year calculation, North America’s primary aluminium output in December 2021 stood 16,000 tonnes or 4.73 per cent lower than 338,000 tonnes.

In the fourth quarter of 2021 (October-December), primary aluminium production in North America amounted to 948,000 tonnes, down by 4,000 tonnes or 0.42 per cent from 952,000 tonnes in Q3 2021, and 52,000 tonnes or 5.2 per cent less than 1 million tonnes in Q4 2020.

In the entire year, North America churned out 3.88 million tonnes of primary aluminium in total, which was 2.41 per cent less than 3.976 million tonnes a year ago.

In South America, primary aluminium production in December 2021 grew by 3,000 tonnes or 3.06 per cent month-on-moth to 101,000 tonnes, according to IAI data. In November 2021, primary aluminium output stood at 98,000 tonnes, down by 2,000 tonnes from 100,000 tonnes in October.

On a year-on-year basis, primary aluminium production in South America during December 2021 stood 9,000 tonnes or 9.78 per cent up from 92,000 tonnes.

In Q4 2021, total primary aluminium output in South America came in at 299,000 tonnes, 1.36 per cent or 4,000 tonnes more than 295,000 tonnes in Q3 2021, and 12.83 per cent higher than 265,000 tonnes in Q4 2020.

From January to December 2021, primary aluminium output in South America amounted to 1.163 million tonnes, up by 15.61 per cent from 1.006 million tonnes last year.