Global primary aluminium production experienced a sequential recovery in the third quarter of 2026, supported by the gradual restoration of disrupted smelting capacity in the GCC countries, stronger operational performance in Europe and Oceania, and incremental production gains across Asia and China. But beneath this quarterly improvement lies a contrasting reality - global output remained below the corresponding levels of both 2025 and 2024. According to data from the International Aluminium Institute (IAI), global primary aluminium production reached 18.377 million tonnes in Q3 2026, an increase of 2.1 per cent from 18.003 million tonnes in the preceding quarter. However, compared with Q3 2025, when production totalled 18.683 million tonnes, output declined by 1.64 per cent. Production...
Europe's aluminium industry is facing mounting pressure from rising carbon costs, shifting trade policies and limited willingness among buyers to pay premiums for low-carbon metal. Yet, despite a series of crises since the Covid pandemic, producers remain committed to maintaining their presence in Europe and investing in decarbonisation, said Paul Voss, Director General of European Aluminium. In an exclusive interview with Fastmarkets at Aluminium Düsseldorf, Voss described the European aluminium industry's condition as bruised but resilient. He highlighted concerns over the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), the potential inclusion of indirect (Scope 2) emissions under the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and the treatment of aluminium scrap in carbon accounting. Reflecting on...
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Even amidst the sluggish aluminium demand and low prices caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Vedanta Limited has been able to trim its aluminium Cost of Production (CoP) in the fourth quarter of FY20 by 20 per cent year-on-year to $1451 per tonne, according to a recent report. In the full financial year 2020, Vedanta’s aluminium Cost of Production was down by 14 per cent year-on-year to $ 1690 per tonne. Reducing aluminium production costs further indicates a positive sign for Vedanta amid a slide in the prices of white metal on the London Metal Exchange. The global consultancy CRU projects further downfall in aluminium prices, attributing to the estimated hike in global inventories by 5 million tonnes to 16 million tonnes, much of it in the non-LME registered warehouses by the end of the...
National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) increased its aluminium prices with effect from Saturday, June 6. With the latest hike, NALCO's prices of aluminium ingots came in at INR 136,750-140,250 per tonne, up INR 4,200 or 3 per cent from INR 132,550-136,050 per tonne on May 9. The prices of aluminium billets also grew by 3 per cent from INR 136,000 – 138,650 per tonne on May 9 to INR 140,450-142,850 per tonne on June 6. The aluminium wire rods prices, as of Saturday, June 6, stood at INR 141,250-145,050 per tonne. Indian aluminium producers generally link prices of its products to the three-month futures of aluminium on London Metal Exchange. The three-month futures of aluminium are down nearly 14% so far in 2020 due to slower global demand following the coronavirus outbreak. Aluminium...
The Trump Administration three years ago announced the 232 investigations into the national security implications of imported aluminium products. The US domestic aluminium industry was cheered up. It was presumed that finally, action would be taken on the largest threat to the domestic aluminium industry i.e. China. However, that is not what happened. On 22 nd June’17, the Administration held a Public Hearing on Section 232 Investigation of Aluminum Imports on National Security. At that hearing, nearly 50 aluminium industry professionals described how the single biggest threat to our industry was the unfettered overproduction and excessive build-up incapacity of the Chinese aluminium industry. The industry was told that a global tariff would rebuild domestic production of primary...
The US dollar continued to trade lower against all of the European currencies on Tuesday ahead of the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy announcement. Three-month LME aluminium recovered after declined, but it failed to end higher on the day as it lost 0.12 per cent on the day at US$ 1,603 per tonne. Open interest increased 1,810 lots to 862,000 lots as shorts loaded up their positions. On Tuesday, June 9, LME aluminium cash (bid) price and LME official settlement price decreased from US$ 1569.50 per tonne on June 8 to US$ 1565.50 per tonne. 3-months bid price and 3-months offer price also declined from US$ 1596 per tonne to US$ 1592.50 per tonne. Dec 21 bid price and Dec 21 offer price came in at US$ 1695 per tonne, down by US$ 5 per tonne from US$ 1700 per tonne. The LME aluminium...
Aluminerie Alouette's Chairman of the owners' committee Darren Colwell has announced that Mr Michel Huot is appointed as the Acting President and CEO, hereinafter the exit of Patrice L’Huillier. Since 2018 he has led the aluminium company. The Quebec-Canada based aluminium smelter stated that the change has been addressed post discussion with Mr L’Huillier. The owners of the business have thanked him for his work accomplishment during his tenure. Colwell said: “We are pleased to welcome Michel to our team and are confident that he will be able to support Aluminerie Alouette during this period. The organisation will benefit from his wide experience. Mr Huot will facilitate the implementation of a strategy aimed at pursuing modernisation and long-term sustainability of the company.” The new...
Hindalco Industries has raised the prices of its aluminium products for the third time in a row. With effect from June 9, Hindalco aluminium ingots price came in at INR 137,250 per tonne. This records an increase of 1.1% or INR 1,500 per tonne from INR 135,750 per tonne on June 6. The company is now selling its wire rods and billets at INR 148,350 per tonne and INR 144,350 per tonne with effect from Tuesday, 09 June 2020. The prices registered an increase of 1% or INR 1,500 per tonne and 1.05% or INR 1,500 per tonne from June 6. The Indian aluminium producers generally link prices of its products to the three-month futures of aluminium on London Metal Exchange. The three-month futures of aluminium are down nearly 14% so far in 2020 due to slower global demand following the coronavirus...
According to the data released by Shanghai Metals Market, China’s primary aluminium production in May grew nearly 1 per cent over the year to 3.07 million tonnes. Compared to the previous month, the output stood higher by 3.72 per cent. In April 2020, China’s primary aluminium production was 2.96 million tonnes. As of May-end, there were 36.58 million tonnes among 41.23 million tonnes per year of existing primary aluminium capacity in operation, up 700,000 tonnes from a month ago. Operating rates across the smelters increased as well by 0.2 percentage point to 88.7 per cent as new and resumed capacities in Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, and Sichuan ramped up. During the first five months of 2020, China’s primary aluminium output totalled 15.01 million tonnes, an increase of more than 3 per...
Emirates Global Aluminium launched a Vital Industry COVID-19 Task Force with members including Bee’ah, DP World and Masdar to share best practices on the management of the global pandemic. The Task Force was launched via video conference with all participating executives. The founding members are EGA Executive Vice President of EHSSQ and Business Transformation, Salman Abdulla; Bee’ah CEO of Consultancy, Research and Innovation (CRI), Mohamed Al Hosani; DP World Group HSE Vice President, Jason Pratt; and Masdar Senior Manager of Investment Lifecycle Management, Sahil Thapa. The Task Force will discuss efforts to prevent the spread of the virus, protect industrial workers and support communities across the nation. EGA founding member, Salman Abdulla, said: “At EGA, we are doing everything...
Alcoa Corporation initiated the worker's lay-off diligently at its Smelter in Ferndale, Washington post they received an offer of assistance from the state governor. This is also a nod to end the production of the plant. On 4 th June’20, Alcoa began to pass out pink slips on to many of the plant’s 700-strong workforce, giving the first five dozen by 5 th June’20. The layoffs are anticipated to pursue this week, reaching up to 400 workers over the coming two weeks. Eventually, the company is assumed to retain around 30 people in August’20, and gradually take it to 50% that number over the following year. The Governor of Washington Jay Inslee wrote an open letter to Roy Harvey, CEO of Alcoa for volunteering to support broker deal between the organization and potentially engrossed parties...
Hindalco Industries Ltd has continued to increase the price of its aluminium ingots, billets and wire rods by 2%. This marked the second consecutive hike in the price of the same products. With effect from June 6, Hindalco aluminium ingots price now stands at INR 135,750 per tonne, marking an increase of 1.88% or INR 2,500 per tonne from INR 133,250 per tonne on June 4. The company is now selling its wire rods and billets at INR 146,850 per tonne and INR 142,850 per tonne with effect from Saturday, 06 June 2020. The prices of the products are up by 1.73% or INR 2,500 per tonne and 1.78% or INR 2,500 per tonne from June 4. The Indian aluminium producers generally link prices of its products to the three-month futures of aluminium on London Metal Exchange. The three-month futures of...
The US dollar slipped on Monday. LME and SHFE base metals closed higher across the board last night. LME aluminium added 0.82% and SHFE aluminium gained 1.54%. Three-month LME aluminium traded robustly and broke up US$1,600 per tonne overnight. It ended 0.82% higher on the day at US$1,605 per tonne. As of Monday June 8, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stands at US$ 1569.50 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1569.50 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1596 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 1596 per tonne; Dec 21 bid price stands at US$ 1700 per tonne, and Dec 21 offer price stands at US$ 1700 per tonne. The LME aluminium opening stock stood at 1525650 tonnes. Live Warrants totalled 1314575 tonnes, and Cancelled Warrants were 211075 tonnes. LME aluminium...
The incessant downfall in Chinese primary aluminium stocks has resulted in further significant growth in A00 aluminium ingot price by RMB 150 per tonne to stand at RMB 13,850 per tonne, as of Tuesday, June 9, found Shanghai Metals Market. The average prices are expected to range between RMB 13,830 per tonne and RMB 13,870 per tonne, with spot contract to be traded at a discount price of RMB 60 per tonne to RMB 20 per tonne. The dip in spot contract could be attributed to the two consecutive significant rises in A00 aluminium ingot spot price resulting in slower purchasing sentiment and stock the metal for the future. Today, the aluminium ingot price in Shenyang has seen the highest growth of RMB 180 per tonne to come in at RMB 13,805 per tonne, followed by an increase of RMB 155 per tonne...
Carbon Trust an expert partner for businesses, governments and organisations around the world supporting them in realising ambitious plans for a sustainable, low carbon future stated on 8 th June’20 that: “Common standards and clear labelling should be agreed for so-called green aluminium so industrial users can identify low-carbon material amid competing claims by producers.” The aluminium downstream consumers such as the auto and packaging industries are intensifying and aiming to lower their carbon footprints and buy material produced with low carbon dioxide emissions. However, they are facing a range of “green” aluminium products from producers such as Rusal, Norsk Hydro and Rio Tinto. Hugh Jones, MD of UK-based non-profit organisation Carbon Trust has proposed new labelling system...
Iran's production of aluminium stood at 60,677 tonnes during the first two months of the current Iranian year (March 20-May19), from 41,367 tonnes in the same period last year. That was up 47% year-on-year, according to the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO). Aluminium ingot output came in at 30,647 tonnes in the second Iranian month (April 20-May 19) as compared to 20,862 tonnes in the same month last year. Iran has an estimated aluminium nameplate capacity of 457,000 tonnes per year. The country now aims at increasing its annual aluminium output to more than 800,000 tonnes by March 2022 and to 1.5 million tonnes by 2025.
Japan is likely to continue to see a sluggish primary aluminium demand between July and September, owing to slow aluminium products manufacturing recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and increased imports from overseas. Discussions over the Japan aluminium premium for the September quarter started recently, with an offer made by a global producer of $85 per tonne over the LME cash price. For the current quarter, the premium is $82 per tonne, settled after extended talks over the anticipation of Japanese weak aluminium demand for the slowdown in the global and indigenous manufacturing sectors. The initial offers for the June quarter were around $100 per tonne. Major Japanese aluminium users had to lower their product output since April, attributing to the production cut at many domestic...
Echoing the lowering trend as of Thursday, June 4, the social inventories of primary aluminium again declined by 46,000 tonnes over the weekend ending Monday, June 8, across eight major Chinese consumption areas, including SHFE warrants, to stand at 801,000 tonnes, found Shanghai Metals Market. But compared to the last Monday, June 1, when the primary aluminium inventories dropped by 15,000 tonnes, the inventories over this weekend recorded a higher plunge. The chart below indicates the current status of primary aluminium inventories across China in more details: Over the weekend, the primary aluminium inventories in Wuxi and Nanhai declined by 30,000 tonnes and 17,000 tonnes to stand at 296,000 tonnes and 119,000 tonnes, found SMM. In Chongqing, the stocks dropped 2,000 tonnes to come in...
A00 aluminium ingot price registered an increase of RMB 220 per tonne or 1.63 per cent from Friday’s price of RMB 13480 per tonne. The price now stood at RMB 13700 per tonne on Monday, 08 June 2020 and is expected to move within a range of RMB 13680-13720 per tonne. Spot aluminium contract is likely to be traded at a premium of 40-80 per tonne. In Foshan and Wuxi, the price rose by RMB 240 per tonne and RMB 210 per tonne to stand at RMB 13710 per tonne and 13670 per tonne. Their average prices are expected to range within RMB 13690-13730 per tonne and RMB 13660-13680 per tonne. Aluminium prices in Hangzhou and Chongqing came in at RMB 13700 per tonne and 13710 per tonne, up RMB 210 per tonne and RMB 240 per tonne. Aluminium ingot prices in Shenyang, Tianjin, Linyi, and Gongyi increased to...
The US dollar rose slightly last Friday after data showed the US labour market unexpectedly improved in May, but the currency ended the week lower, for a third consecutive week. Uncertainties about the economic outlook and the possibilities of a second wave of the coronavirus infections capped the greenback’s gains. Three-month LME aluminium traded robustly with the support from longs, rising with the five- and 10- day moving averages during the Asian trading hours and ending at US$ 1592 per tonne on Friday, up 1.76 per cent on the day. On Friday, June 5, both LME aluminium cash (bid) price and LME official settlement price increased from US$ 1535 per tonne on June 4 to US$ 1553.50 per tonne. 3-months bid price and 3-months offer price, however, declined from US$ 1560.5 per tonne to US$...
