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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Global primary aluminium production stood at 5.255 million tonnes in April, slightly more than that in April 2019, according to the latest data showed by the International Aluminium Institute (IAI) on Wednesday 20 May 2020. On a month-on-month comparison, the output decreased by 3.83% from 5.464 million tonnes. Total aluminium production amounted to 21.304 million tonnes in the first four months of 2020, an increase of 1.53% from 20.982 million tonnes in the first four months of 2019. In Asia ex-China, aluminium production declined by 8.26% year-on-year and 4.31% month-on-month to 333,000 tonnes in April. In January-April, output came in at 1.370 million tonnes, a decrease of 6.1% from 1.459 million tonnes in January-April 2019. In the Middle East, primary aluminium production stood at...
As aluminium enters markets that had earlier been dominated by traditional metals, especially steel, competition and comparisons on energy consumption have caught the eyes of end-use sectors across the world. In 2019, to produce one tonne of aluminium, the average total energy (AC) intensity across the world stood at about 14.2 MWh, while the average process energy intensity stood at 13.4 MWh. Globally, the aluminium industry emits around 450 MT per annum of CO2 equivalents, accounting for about 1% of the world’s total emission. At this juncture, it becomes an absolute imperative to address the issue of high energy-intensive process of aluminium smelting. AlCircle, being always at the forefront of the aluminium industry information circle, has therefore, presented a new Sector Focus...
Vedanta has increased its aluminium ingot and billets price for the second time in a row. With effect from Wednesday May 20, the prices of some aluminium ingots are in the range of INR 132,000-145,000 per tonne. This marks a growth of INR 1500 per tonne or 1.15% from INR 130,500-143,500 per tonne on May 19. With the latest hike, Vedanta’ billet now stands at INR 140,000 per tonne, an increase of INR 1500 per tonne or 1.08% from INR 138,500 per tonne on May 19. 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 more than 20% so far in 2020 due to slower global demand following the coronavirus outbreak. Vedanta’s aluminium business typically accounts for...
The US dollar slipped to its lowest in more than two weeks against a basket of its peers on Tuesday. LME aluminium retreated 0.8% and SHFE aluminium fell 0.4%. Three-month LME aluminium dropped 0.77% to end at US$1,488.5 per tonne on Tuesday. Shanghai Metals Market expects the contract to move at US$1,470-1,510 per tonne today. As of Tuesday May 19, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stands at US$ 1464 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1464 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1498 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 1498 per tonne; Dec 21 bid price stands at US$ 1623.50 per tonne, and Dec 21 offer price stands at US$ 1623.50 per tonne. The LME aluminium opening stock stood at 1436575 tonnes. Live Warrants totalled at 1205925 tonnes, and Cancelled Warrants were...
After four successive jumps ranging between RMB 12,790 per tonne on May 14 and RMB 13,500 per tonne on May 19, the A00 aluminium ingot price has recorded a dip today, on May 20, by RMB 20 per tonne to stand at RMB 13,480 per tonne, found Shanghai Metals Market. Since March 9, the primary aluminium ingot price was hovering below the RMB 13,000 per tonne level due to shrink in demand and consumption caused by the COVID-19 outbreak. After more than two months on May 11, the price rebounded above the benchmark price of RMB 13,000 per tonne, owing to the rise in demand and consumption but weak supply in contrast. Today, the average prices are expected to range between RMB 13,460 per tonne and RMB 13,500 per tonne, with spot contract to be traded at a premium price of RMB 210-250 per tonne....
On 18 th May’20, Soon Lian Holdings, the aluminium supplier made public that Tony Tan Yee Chin resigned as company Chairman and CEO following differences in an opinion he had with two executive directors regarding the execution of the group's strategic direction in the area of resource allocation and cost management. The two executive directors, Tan Yee Ho and Tan Yee Leong, have since been appointed the company's Chairman and CEO respectively. Soon Lian was responding to queries from the Securities Investors Association (Singapore), which was seeking elaboration, on the “differences in views” between the parties. The company stated that under the new leadership, the company will strengthen its partnerships with its stakeholders, scrutinise debt collection to manage cash flow, review...
Vedanta has raised its aluminium ingot price by INRINR 1250 per tonne or 0.97% after cutting them two times in a row. The price is increased to INR 130,500-143,500 per tonne, with effect from May 19. The aluminium ingot price was in the range of INR 129,250-142,250 per tonne on May 17. With the latest hike, the company is selling its billet at INR 138,500 per tonne, an increase of INR 1250 per tonne from INR 137,250 per tonne on May 17. 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 more than 20% so far in 2020 due to slower global demand following the coronavirus outbreak. Vedanta’s aluminium business typically accounts for one-third of the company’s...
S.A.V. S.p.A. Società Alluminio Veneto has joined Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) as a new Production & Transformation member. This brings the total number of ASI Members to 120. S.A.V. S.p.A. is specialized in the manufacture of aluminium alloys by promoting and developing environmental, social and economic sustainability and encouraging the circular economy of aluminium. The company operates two manufacturing sites in northern Italy. “S.A.V. S.p.A. operates in an extremely competitive market in one of the socio-economic contexts where environmental and social regulations are among the most restrictive in the world. S.A.V. S.p.A. has always aimed to become a forefront organization also in the field of sustainability, promoting industrial development policies based on the...
Vedanta has cut its aluminium ingot price for the second time in a row. With effect from May 17, the prices of some ingots are in the range of INR 129,250-142,250 per tonne. This marks a decrease of INR 1250 per tonne or 0.96% from INR 130,500-143,500 per tonne on May 9. With the latest cut, Vedanta’ billet now stands at INR 137,250 per tonne, a drop of INR 1250 per tonne or 0.9% from INR 138,500 per tonne on May 9. 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 more than 20% so far in 2020 due to slower global demand following the coronavirus outbreak. Vedanta’s aluminium business typically accounts for one-third of the company’s consolidated sales....
A00 aluminium ingot price recorded a big jump on Tuesday, 19 May 2020. The price registered an increase of RMB 350 per tonne or 2.66 per cent from Monday’s price of RMB 13150 per tonne. The price now stood at RMB 13500 per tonne today and is expected to move within a range of RMB 13480-13520 per tonne. Spot aluminium contract is likely to be traded at a premium of RMB 199.98 239.98 per tonne. In Foshan and Wuxi, the price rose by RMB 380 per tonne and RMB 335 per tonne to stand at RMB 13540 per tonne and 13525 per tonne. Their average prices are expected to range within RMB 13520-13560 per tonne and RMB 13510-13540 per tonne. Aluminium prices in Hangzhou and Chongqing came in at RMB 13535 per tonne and 13520 per tonne, up RMB 345 per tonne and RMB 340 per tonne. Aluminium ingot prices in...
Bharat Aluminium Company (BALCO), a global pioneer in the aluminium & power sector recently introduced an automated and highly sophisticated Centralised Security Operations Centre (CSOC) to further strengthen the security of its people and operations. This technological augmentation of the security function is in line with BALCO’s relentless efforts towards intensifying workforce safety and asset integrity. The company is swiftly establishing state-of-the-art technology across all functions and security automation is a steady step in this direction. As one of the first manufacturing organizations in India to incorporate state-of-the-art technology in its communication methodology, BALCO believes in being a pilot of innovation. In the wake of COVID-19, smart technology innovations...
Yunnan Aluminium’s 500,000 tonnes per year smelting and hydropower project in China’s new smelting hub of Wenshan has officially started its operation, said the local government on Monday, May 19. The launch ceremony of the project, held on Friday, May 15, was attended by Yunnan province vice governor Dong Hua, according to a statement on the Wenshan prefecture website. The project uses hydropower for the energy-intensive smelting process. Wenshan in southern Yunnan near the Vietnam border is set to become a major aluminium smelting hub. Key aluminium producers like China Hongqiao Group have moved their capacity in Wenshan to take advantage of cleaner hydropower available there. In early May, the Phase I electrolytic tanks of the project came online. The Phase I capacity contained 62...
The US dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of its peers, dropped below the 100 mark and suffered the biggest one-day loss in six weeks on the jump in oil prices and gains in stocks. Three-month LME aluminium advanced 2.74 per cent to a one-week peak of US$ 1,500 per tonne on Monday. It is expected to move between US$ 1,480 per tonne and US$ 1,520 per tonne today. After recording downfall each day last week, LME aluminium cash (bid) price and LME official settlement price began this week, on Monday, May 18, with a rise of US$ 9 per tonne from May 15 to stand at US$ 1441.50 per tonne. 3-months bid price and 3-months offer price also increased by US$ 9 per tonne from US$ 1467 per tonne on May 15 to US$ 1476 per tonne on May 18. Dec 21 bid price and Dec 21 offer price...
Adel, the Netherlands-based aluminium maker stated on 18 th May’20 that it has tied up for this year and next year to sell 180,000 tonnes of the metal to commodity trader Glencore. London-listed Glencore is a major player in the aluminium market outside China. Earlier in April’20, Glencore made a deal with Rusal for $16.3 billion. “Aldel has embarked on a ten-year plan to become one of Europe’s leading low cost and energy-efficient producers of aluminium,” Aldel said in a statement. The privately-owned company currently produces around 80,000 tonnes and is focusing to boost that number up significantly over the next 12 months.
Hindalco Industries Ltd has cut prices of its aluminium ingots, billets and wire rods after raising the prices of the same products by 3%, which came after five consecutive price cuts. With effect from May 16, the price for Hindalco aluminium ingots now stands at INR 129,500 per tonne, a decrease of 3.72% or INR 5,000 per tonne from INR 134,500 per tonne on April 17. Hindalco is now selling its wire rods at INR 140, 600 per tonne, a drop of 3.43% or INR 5,000 per tonne from INR 145,600 per tonne. The price of billets has reduced by 3.53% from April 17 to stand at INR 136,600 per tonne. 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 so far in 2020 due to...
As updated by Shanghai Metals Market, social inventories of primary aluminium across eight consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrants, continued to decline over the weekend. Inventories stood at 1.007 million tonnes as of Monday May 18, down 51,000 tonnes from last Thursday May 14. The chart below shows the current status of the primary aluminium inventories across China in more details: Primary aluminium stocks in Wuxi, Shanghai, and Nanhai decreased by 22,000 tonnes, 4,000 tonnes and 17,000 tonnes from May 14 to stand at 420,000 tonnes, 135,000 tonnes and 207,000 tonnes on Monday, 18 May 2020. But the inventories in Hangzhou, Tianjin and Linyi remained unchanged at 111,000 tonnes, 57,000 tonnes and 8,000 tonnes today. Stocks of primary aluminium in Gongyi and Chongqing stood at...
According to Shanghai Metals Market, the A00 aluminium ingot price has extended its rise for the third consecutive day by RMB 130 per tonne to RMB 13,150 per tonne, as of Monday, May 18. The average prices are expected to range between RMB 13,130 per tonne and RMB 13,170 per tonne, with spot contract to be traded at a future price of RMB 130-170 per tonne. The continued drop in social inventories of primary aluminium ingots to as low as 1.007 million tonnes, as of May 18, owing to the imbalance between supply to warehouses and consumptions could be attributed to the hike in A00 aluminium ingot price. In Tianjin, the primary aluminium ingot price has seen the highest growth today of RMB 180 per tonne to stand at RMB 13,020 per tonne, followed by the rise of RMB 170 per tonne in Wuxi to RMB...
The US dollar was little changed against a basket of rivals on Monday morning day, holding onto gains from last week. LME aluminium dropped 1.1% and SHFE aluminium stayed flat. Three-month LME aluminium slid 1.08% to end at its lowest since April 8 at US$1,460 per tonne on Friday. Shanghai Metals Market expects the contract to move at US$1,450-1,490 per tonne today. As of Friday May 15, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stands at US$ 1432.50 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1432.50 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1467 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 1467 per tonne; Dec 21 bid price stands at US$ 1596 per tonne, and Dec 21 offer price stands at US$ 1596 per tonne. The LME aluminium opening stock stood at 1419675 tonnes. Live Warrants totalled at...
