According to SMM statistics, as of September 17, aluminium billet inventory in major domestic consumption areas recorded 152,500 tonnes, down 500 tonnes from last Thursday (September 10) and down 5,000 tonnes from this Monday (September 14). The persistent upward trend in inventory since mid-August has shifted slightly, turning into a modest pullback from highs. On a Y-o-Y basis, inventory was approximately 17,500 tonnes higher than the same period in 2025, about 31,000 tonnes higher than 2024, and roughly 61,000 tonnes higher than 2023, with total inventory still at the highest level for the same period over the past four years. From the perspective of warehouse withdrawals, aluminium billet withdrawals during September 7–September 14 recorded 38,900 tonnes, up 2,800 tonnes W-o-W, ending...
Saudi Arabia’s aluminium consumption could climb to as much as 1.8 million tonnes a year by 2030, as the Kingdom ramps up infrastructure and industrial development ahead of the 2034 FIFA World Cup. Ahmad Al-Alshaikh, executive vice president of Maaden’s Aluminum Business Unit, said demand is expected to reach at least 1.6 million tonnes annually by 2030, up from around 1 million tonnes currently. Consumption could potentially double over the next five to seven years, he said. Speaking on the sidelines of the Fastmarkets International Aluminium Conference in Budapest, Al-Alshaikh said construction of 15 new stadiums for the football tournament is helping to support aluminium demand, Reuters reported. Major exhibitions and preparations for the World Cup are also expected to contribute to...
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The energy and carbon impact of aluminium manufacturing in North America has decreased to its lowest point in history, says a new third-party critical-reviewed life cycle assessment (LCA) study. Primary aluminium manufacturing has reduced its carbon footprint by 49% since 1991, while recycled aluminium production has reduced its carbon impact by 60%. The energy required to create primary and recycled (or secondary) aluminium has decreased by 27% and 49%, respectively, during the same time span. The carbon footprint of aluminium production (including primary and secondary) decreased by 5 to 21% between 2010 and 2016. Aluminium produced in North America, which depends mainly on renewable hydropower, is among the cleanest in the world, according to the analysis. The Environmental Footprint...
On Friday, January 7, the benchmark aluminium price for SHFE hiked by US$38 per tonne or by 1.17% to peg at US$3,278 per tonne. The most-traded SHFE 2202 aluminium closed up 1.97% or RMB 400 per tonne to RMB 20685 per tonne, with open interest up 9391 lots to 213019 lots. Overnight, the most-traded SHFE 2202 aluminium contract opened at RMB 20,805 per tonne, with the highest and lowest prices at RMB 20,920 per tonne and RMB 20,685 per tonne before closing at RMB 20,860 per tonne, up RMB 175 per tonne or 0.85%. LME aluminium price LME aluminium opened at US$2,906 per tonne on Thursday and closed at US$2,930 per tonne, an increase of US$18 per tonne or 0.62%. On Thursday, January 6, LME aluminium cash (bid) price surged by US$46.5 per tonne or by 1.62% to close at US$2,912 per tonne. LME...
National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) has significantly increased its aluminium ingot and aluminium products prices with effect from Friday, January 7, following a cut on January 1. The hike is in line with the LME aluminium benchmark price rise by US$50.50 per tonne on January 5. NALCO’s aluminium ingot price has seen a surge of INR 9,100 per tonne to stand at INR 247,450- 250,950 per tonne as of January 7. On January 1, the metal price ranged between INR 238,350–241,850 per tonne after a cut of INR 4,200 per tonne. NALCO’s aluminium wire rod price has come in at INR 249,950- 254,300 per tonne on January 7, also up by INR 9,100 per tonne from INR 240,850-245,200 per tonne on January 1. Aluminium billets price is currently hovering around INR 250,900- 253,550 per tonne, compared to...
The environment around North Korea's only aluminium smelting and alloying industry, the Bukchang Aluminum Factory, is fast degrading. Toxins are being discharged straight into the air since the factory's dust scrubbers are allegedly no longer operating as the facilities degrade. On Wednesday, December 5, a daily NK source stated that the dust from the Bukchang Aluminum Factory lead to the recent surge in respiratory sickness and dermatitis in the nearby regions. People are unable to open their windows because the ashy dust enters their houses, and dust collects inside no matter how often they clean. Apart from the surrounding region, the dust from the Bukchang Aluminum Facility also moved to the urbanised areas with multiple offices, shops, schools, and houses, affecting local...
According to the Shanghai Metals Market, A00 aluminium ingot price in China has continued to hike for the third day in a row to exceed RMB 21,000 per tonne. Data shows the price has surged by RMB 300 per tonne on Friday, January 7, to close the week at RMB 21,040 per tonne. The average prices are expected to range between RMB 21,020 per tonne and RMB 21,060 per tonne, with spot contract to be traded at a premium price of RMB 50-90 per tonne, up by RMB 30 per tonne from the previous day. In Gongyi, A00 aluminium ingot price has jumped by RMB 310 per tonne to stand at RMB 20,940 per tonne, followed by the surge of RMB 290 per tonne in Wuxi to RMB 21,030 per tonne, found SMM. In Tianjin, the primary aluminium ingot price has climbed by RMB 280 per tonne to RMB 21,020 per tonne, while the...
The proactive National Apex Chamber working at the grass-root level and with strong national and international linkages, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) has urged govt. of India to brush up on the cost structure of the Indian aluminium industry and boost competitiveness in the upcoming Union Budget 2022. However, Nirmala Sitharaman, the Finance Minister of India is scheduled to present the Budget 2022-23 by the next month. PHDCCI, the chamber that acts as a catalyst in the promotion of industry, trade and entrepreneurship has recommended in its pre-Budget memorandum to reduce 2.5% of the basic customs duty on the critical raw materials like - Calcined Petroleum Coke, Raw Petroleum Coke, Caustic Soda Lye, Aluminium Fluoride and Green Anode/ Pre-Baked Carbon Anode. The PHD...
With its joint venture partner, Alcoa Corporation, South32 (S32) plans to reactivate the Alumar aluminium smelter (Brazil Aluminium). The first production is scheduled for the June 2022 quarter, with a maximum capacity of 447,000 tonnes per annum from its three potlines projected in the March 2023 quarter. South32 forecasts its aluminium production to expand by 16% to 1.26 million tonnes per year once it is fully operational. South32 has announced that it plans to invest roughly US$70 million (A$97 million) in FY22 and FY23 to assist the resumption of Brazil Aluminium, which has been on care and maintenance since 2015. South32 has also stated that its 40% stake in Brazil Aluminium would be entirely powered by cost-effective renewable energy. CEO Grahan Kerr is looking forward to resuming...
Hindalco Industries Limited has back-to-back increased its aluminium ingot and aluminium products prices, with effect from Thursday, January 6, 2021. The company’s aluminium ingot price has come in at INR 246,000 per tonne, up by INR 1,250 per tonne from the previous day. On Wednesday, January 6, Hindalco’s aluminium ingot price stood at INR 244,750 per tonne increasing by INR 1,750 per tonne. Hindalco’s aluminium wire rod price has also seen a rise of INR 1,250 per tonne on January 6 to stand at INR 257,100 per tonne. On January 5, the company’s aluminium wire rod price stood at INR 255,850 per tonne compared to INR 254,100 per tonne on January 1. Hindalco’s aluminium billets price has totalled INR 260,100 per tonne as of January 6, compared to INR 258,850 per tonne on January 5....
According to the Shanghai Metals Market, social inventories of primary aluminium in China have decreased for the seventh week in a row by 23,000 tonnes across eight major consumption areas, including SHFE warrants. Thus, the inventories have come in at 776,000 tonnes as of Thursday, January 6. Last week on December 30, primary aluminium inventories plunged by 65,000 tonnes to stand at 799,000 tonnes. The chart below indicates the current status of primary aluminium inventories across China in more details: In Wuxi, primary aluminium inventories have plunged by 11,000 tonnes week-on-week to stand at 275,000 tonnes as of January 6, followed by the decline of 5,000 tonnes in Gongyi to stand at 75,000 tonnes. In Nanhai and Shanghai, primary aluminium inventories have decreased by 4,000 tonnes...
According to a recent report, the premium for aluminium shipments to Japanese buyers for January to March 2022 is agreed at $177 per tonne, down by 20 per cent from the previous quarter, in line with weaker domestic spot premiums and overseas prices. The news came after six sources directly involved in pricing talks reported this. In the last quarter ended December 31, 2021, the premium was set at $220 per tonne increase by 19 per cent from $185 per tonne in the September quarter. That had marked a hike in the premium for the fifth consecutive quarter and the highest since the June quarter of 2015. The decline in Q1 2022 premium has reportedly marked the first quarterly drop in six, even lower than the initial offers of $193-195 per tonne. In November-end, a major aluminium manufacturer...
LME aluminium opened at US$2,833 per tonne on Wednesday, January 5, and closed at US$2,912 per tonne, an increase of US$79.5 per tonne or 2.81 per cent. On the same day, both LME aluminium cash (bid) price and LME aluminium official settlement price soared by US$50.50 per tonne or 1.8 per cent, marking the second consecutive day of hike since the new year 2022 set in. The surge of January 5 brought both the prices to US$2,865.50 per tonne and US$2,866 per tonne, respectively. 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price climbed by US$61 per tonne and US$62 per tonne to come in at US$2,883 per tonne and US$2,885 per tonne. December 22 bid price and December 22 offer price also closed higher at US$2,655 per tonne and US$2,660 per tonne. LME aluminium opening stock decreased from 934375 tonnes...
The first aluminium smelter of the Gulf region, Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba), sets a breaking operational record of 1,561,222 metric tonnes in 2021 as it accomplished its golden jubilee of operations. Furthermore, Alba attained an outstanding Safety milestone by closing 2021 with more than 20 million safe-working hours without LTI – a first in the Company’s 50 years of commercial operations. While commenting on Alba’s achievements, Ali Al Baqali, said, “Despite all odds, we closed 2021 with an exceptional performance by hitting new highs in our production - 1,561,222 metric tonnes and besting 2020 production record of 1,548, 500 metric tonnes. What makes this milestone even more important for us is that we have nailed it without any single Lost Time Injury (LTI)." "I take the...
According to a recent report, Vedanta Aluminium Business has entered into an agreement with GEAR (Gemini Equipment and Rentals Private Limited) India to install one of the largest fleets of lithium-ion battery-powered electric forklifts. Vedanta is the first in Indian aluminium industry to undertake such an initiative to replace its diesel-fuelled forklifts. Vedanta will commission the 23 new green fleet forklifts in a phased manner over the next few months at its aluminium smelter in Jharsuguda, Odisha. Installation of these forklifts will reduce diesel consumption by more than 2.5 lakh litre annually, thereby ensuring GHG emission savings of about 690 tonnes of CO2 equivalent. Besides, the new lithium-ion forklifts will help maximise productivity of operations by enabling longer working...
The Romanian aluminium producer Alro’s trade unions and also the employees of the company and its suppliers will rally a protest on 6 th January 2022 to show a protest against the management’s decision to axe production of 60% and functionalize with 40% of production capacity due to the surge in energy prices. According to the trade union representatives, the scaling up of energy prices will in due course dent the complete Romanian industry. The workers association also claimed that 1,500 employees from Alro and other companies would record as technical unemployment for this severe decision. However, Alro's management has officially declared that it would functionalize only two of its five aluminium production units in 2022. Even though the management assured that no employee would be...
According to the data released by the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO), aluminium ingot production in Iran in the first nine months of the current calendar year (ended on December 31, 2021) rose 23 per cent year-on-year. From 325,223 tonnes a year ago, aluminium ingot production in Iran grew to 400,481 tonnes during March-December. As was previously announced by IMIDRO, aluminium ingot production in Iran had grown 61 per cent during the last Iranian calendar year 1399 (ended on March 20, 2021), compared to the preceding year. Aluminium ingot production in the year 1398 had decreased by 8 per cent Y-o-Y to 278,318 tonnes. IMIDRO data also showed that Iran’s one of the top primary aluminium producers, Iranian Aluminum Company (IRALCO), had...
The International Aluminium Institute (IAI) is celebrating its 50th anniversary and its role in guiding the global primary aluminium sector toward a more sustainable future. The IAI will highlight the industry's people, products, and key moments during the previous 50 years as part of the celebrations, while also looking ahead to the future. The IAI was founded in 1972 to promote industrial collaboration with an emphasis on collecting and releasing statistical data, and this is still one of the organization's key goals. The IAI has been a major voice for the worldwide aluminium industry for the past 50 years, offering trustworthy statistical data that is widely recognised as legitimate and robust, as well as statistical and analytical skills refined over decades. “Celebrating 50 years is...
LME aluminium opened at US$2,820 per tonne on Monday and closed at US$2,832.5 per tonne, an increase of US$19.5 per tonne or 0.69%. On Tuesday, January 4, LME aluminium cash (bid) price hiked by US$9.5 per tonne or by 0.33% to settle at US$2,815 per tonne. On the other hand, LME aluminium official settlement price also surged by US$9.5 per tonne or by 0.33% to close at US$2,815.50 per tonne. 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price for the same day was recorded at US$2,822 per tonne and US$2,823 per tonne, respectively. December 22 bid price and December 22 offer price clocked at US$2,590 per tonne and US$2,595 per tonne, for the same day. LME aluminium opening stock pegged at 934375 tonnes. Live warrants and Cancelled warrants for the same day registered at 649625 tonnes and 284750...
According to the Shanghai Metals Market, A00 aluminium ingot price in China has recorded a jump of RMB 200 per tonne on Wednesday, January 4, following a plunge of RMB 250 per tonne on the previous day. Thus, the price is currently standing at RMB 20,300 per tonne, with average prices to range between RMB 20,280-20,320 per tonne. The spot contract is estimated to be traded at a premium price of RMB 20-20 per tonne, up by RMB 40 from January 4. In Tianjin and Linyi, A00 aluminium ingot price has hiked by RMB 240 per tonne and RMB 220 per tonne to hover around RMB 20,320 per tonne and RMB 20,420 per tonne, respectively, while the price Wuxi and Shenyang has expanded by RMB 215 per tonne and RMB 210 per tonne to stand at RMB 20,315 per tonne and RMB 20,300 per tonne. In Gongyi, Hangzhou, and...
