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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Alcoa Corporation, in its first-quarter financial results on Thursday, April 23, announced that it would curtail the remaining 230,000 tonnes of uncompetitive smelting capacity at Intalco smelter in Ferndale, Washington, owing to the current downturn market conditions. The full curtailment, including 49,000 tonnes of earlier-curtailed capacity at Intalco, is likely to be completed by the end of July 2020. Post this action, Alcoa’s total smelting capacity cut will come in at 880,000 tonnes, or approximately 30 percent of its total global smelting capacity. Roy Harvey, Alcoa’s President and Chief Executive Officer, said: “While our employees have worked diligently to improve the facility, the smelter is uncompetitive, and current market conditions have exacerbated the facility’s...
According to China customs data on Thursday, April 23, aluminium imports to China grew more than triple in March 2020 from a year ago and stood the highest in the past six years or more. But bauxite imports in the same month fell due to disruptions of the incoming shipments of raw materials. China’s unwrought aluminium imports in March came in at 121,025 tonnes, up 242 per cent from 35,420 tonnes in the same period last year, showed the General Administration of Customs. This marked the highest since China imported 125,180 tonnes in December 2013. China’s exports of aluminium, on the other hand, dipped by 5 per cent in March from the year-earlier at 520,000 tonnes, according to data released at mid-month. In regards to the jump in China’s March aluminium imports, one trader reasoned out...
Alcoa Corporation, a global leader in bauxite, alumina, and aluminium products, has released its first quarter results of 2020, ending March 31. According to the report, Alcoa’s adjusted net loss improved from $57 million or $0.31 per share in the previous quarter to $42 million or $0.23 per share in Q1 2020. Net income attributable to Alcoa Corporation came in at $80 million or $0.43 per share in Q1 2020, compared with a net loss of $303 million or $1.63 per share in Q4 2019. Adjusted EBITDA excluding special items came in at $321 million in Q1 2020, down 7 per cent from $346 million in Q4 2019. The revenue of the company in the first quarter of 2020 stood at $2.4 billion, down 2 per cent from the previous quarter, attributing to lower global alumina and aluminium prices. Alcoa ended the...
A00 aluminium ingot price has increased to stand at RMB 12490 per tonne on Thursday, 23 April 2020, from its previous price of RMB 12260 per tonne. This marks a growth of RMB 230 per tonne or 1.88 per cent. The price is expected to range within RMB 12470-12510 per tonne. Spot aluminium price is likely to be traded at a premium of RMB 30-70 per tonne. Aluminium ingot price in Foshan stands at RMB 12850 per tonne, up RMB 270 per tonne. Ingot prices in Wuxi and Hangzhou have risen to stand at RMB 12475 per tonne and RMB 12490 per tonne. Aluminium ingot prices in Chongqing, Shenyang, Tianjin, Linyi, and Gongyi stand at RMB 12530 per tonne, RMB 12535 per tonne, RMB 12460 per tonne, RMB 12600 per tonne and RMB 12520 per tonne. After remaining restrained for a week at RMB 9150 per tonne, Al...
A new aluminium project is to set in motion in the southern part of Iran and this will upsurge the nation’s production size to 785,000 tonnes. Reza Rahmani, Iran’s Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade said: “The project has come with a price tag of more than $1.2 billion and will see 300,000 tonnes of aluminium ingots produced.” The project is located at Lamerd in Iran’s southern province of Fars and it has been completed. The minister also stated that cutting-edge technology has been incorporated into the project, considering that a whole variety of products will be exported as well. Rahmani also said: “When operational, the factory will employ 1,500 people directly and 5,000 others indirectly.” The minister was very much clear to announce that the majority of the workforce has been...
The US dollar declined on Wednesday, April 22, giving up some gains from the previous day, as oil prices bounced back and eased investors demand for safe havens. But the greenback remained well supported amid persisted concerns about the uncertainty around the coronavirus crisis. Three-month LME aluminium moved higher with strengthened SHFE aluminium, ending at $1,520 per tonne on Wednesday, up 2.01 per cent on the day. The K-indicator broke up the 20-day moving average. Today, LME aluminium is expected to trade between US$ 1,490-1,520 per tonne. As of Wednesday, April 22, both LME aluminium cash (bid) price and LME official settlement price recorded a rise of US$ 18 per tonne to stand at US$ 1461.50 per tonne. 3-months bid price and 3-months offer price also increased by US$ 18 per tonne...
Hydro is buying face masks made by local entrepreneurs to support communities in Paragominas and Barcarena in the state of Pará. The company will provide masks to employees and contractor employees at the Paragominas bauxite mine, Alunorte alumina refinery and Albras aluminium plant. "Suppliers are being mapped primarily in the municipalities where the units are located. In this way, besides reinforcing our value of care in the operations, protecting people, Hydro promotes the local economy," said Luana Carvalhosa, Senior Manager of Social Programs in Hydro’s Bauxite & Alumina business in Brazil. The masks are non-medical face masks to help prevent the spread of infection as recommended by the Brazilian authorities. Hydro said the selection of local suppliers follows quality and safety...
Vedanta has hiked the aluminium ingot price by nearly 1%. With effect from April 21, the prices of some ingots are in the range of INR 130,000-143,000 per tonne, from INR 128,500-141,500 per tonne. With the latest hike, the price of billet currently stands at INR 138,000 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 more than 19% so far in 2020 due to slower global demand following the coronavirus outbreak. <iframe width="500" height="300" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1mMvkaoWBlk" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe> Vedanta’s aluminium business typically...
According to Antaike’s report on Wednesday, April 22, China’s primary aluminium demand has surged by an extra 150,000 to 200,000 tonnes over the past one month, owing to aluminium scrap shortage caused by the coronavirus outbreak. Aluminium scrap supplies have weakened since the end of the Lunar New Year holidays in January. Delay in resuming recycling activity due to the holidays, together with falling imports because of the global COVID19 pandemic, has adversely affected the supplies of scrap, according to the research house. “Price spread between aluminium scrap and primary aluminium narrowed obviously, leading to increasing amount of primary aluminium as a substitute and driving its demand,” Antaike said in a note. The most active aluminium contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange...
Hindalco Industries Ltd has increased the prices of its aluminium ingots, billets and wire rods after cutting them five times in a row. With effect from April 17, the price for Hindalco aluminium ingots now stands at INR 134,500 per tonne, an increase of 2.67% or INR 3,500 per tonne from INR 131,000 per tonne on March 27. Hindalco is now selling its wire rods at INR 145,600 per tonne. The price has registered an increase of 2.82% or INR 4,000 per tonne from INR 141,600 per tonne. The price of billets has risen by 2.91% from March 27 to stand at INR 141,600 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 more than 19% so far in 2020 due to slower...
The US dollar extended its increase on Tuesday. The dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of other currencies, added 0.24% and finished at 100.19. LME base metals fell across the board overnight. LME aluminium lost 1%. Benchmark aluminium price on London Metal Exchange dropped further to close at US$1443.5 per tonne on Tuesday, April 21 down 0.55 per cent from the previous day’s close at US$1451.5 per tonne. As of Tuesday, April 21, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stands at US$ 1443.50 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1443.50 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1483.50 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 1483.50 per tonne; Dec 21 bid price stands at US$ 1611.50 per tonne, and Dec 21 offer price stands at US$ 1611.50 per tonne. The LME...
South32 Ltd reported a 1% quarter-on-quarter rise in aluminium production in the March quarter. Aluminium production came in at 245,000 tonnes in 3Q20. Output stood at 741,000 tonnes in the nine months ended March 2020, from 737,000 tonnes in the nine months ended March 2019. That was up 1% year-on-year. Hillside Aluminium saleable production increased by 1% to a record 540,000 in the nine months ended March 2020 as the smelter continued to test its maximum technical capacity, despite the impact to production from load-shedding. In 3Q20, production stood at 178,000 tonnes, down 2% quarter-on-quarter. “As previously reported, FY20 production guidance has been withdrawn due to the uncertain impact of measures or restrictions that may be required to contain the spread of COVID-19,” the...
Isaac M. Tamir, Chairman of the T. T. Abraham Group, stated: “Mostar’s Aluminum Debt does not apply to the new Aluminum Industries Company, HZHB Elektroprivreda utility company stated that the payment of the electricity consumed debt is an integral part of Mostar’s restructuring plan." Elektroprivreda HZ HB reminds that Mostar’s debt to this company amounts to almost $166 million and that the last payment for this debt was received by Elektroprivreda HZ HB during the last year. <iframe width="500" height="300" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JxeeqCAN4GU" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe> Elektroprivreda HZHB stated: “Aluminum Mostar’s debt does not call into question the survival and operation of...
Global primary aluminium production came in at 5.477 million tonnes in March, representing an increase of 1.52% from 5.395 million tonnes in March 2019, according to the latest data showed by the International Aluminium Institute (IAI) on Monday 20 April 2020. On a month-on-month comparison, aluminium production rose by 6.45% from 5.145 million tonnes. Aluminium production totalled 16.072 million tonnes in the first three months of 2020, up by 2.1% from 15.742 million tonnes in the first three months of 2019. In Asia ex-China, aluminium production declined by 7.94% year-on-year but up 3.88% month-on-month to 348,000 tonnes in March. Output in January-March stood at 1.036 million tonnes, a decrease of 5.47% from 1.096 million tonnes in January-March 2019. In the Middle East, primary...
Jean-Sébastien Jacques, CEO, Rio Tinto has stated that meeting the company’s ambitious emission targets would not be possible without using its impact on the downstream customers. Jacques, while speaking in Rio Tinto’s climate and water seminar, said that achieving the targeted zero net carbon emissions by 2050 requires a synergetic effort across the company’s value chain. <iframe width="500" height="300" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xmzWxQSf9NE" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe> Rio Tinto aims by 2030 to decrease its thorough emissions by 30% to achieve the net-zero. The company plans to invest a billion dollars over the next five years on climate-related projects. Jacques said: “Our approach to...
The US dollar was slightly higher on Monday as plunged oil prices weighed on oil-linked currencies and as investors braced for a tough quarter ahead. Investors also awaited the outcome of a European Union summit this week on how to tackle economic fallout from the coronavirus crisis. The dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of other currencies, climbed 0.24 per cent and ended at 99.902. Three-month LME aluminium closed flat on the day (Monday) at US$ 1,505 per tonne, after dipping to a session low at US$ 1,487 per tonne. Weak fundamentals and chaos in oil markets will likely depress LME aluminium to US$ 1,480-1,515 per tonne today. As of Monday, April 20, both LME aluminium cash (bid) price and LME official settlement price have recorded a sharp decline of US$ 31 per...
As updated by Shanghai Metals Market, social inventories of primary aluminium across eight consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrants, continue to decline over the weekend on improved demand. Inventories came in at 1.435 million tonnes as of Monday April 20, down 60,000 tonnes from Thursday April 16. 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 16,000 tonnes, 1,000 tonnes and 35,000 tonnes from April 16 to stand at 604,000 tonnes, 171,000 tonnes and 306,000 tonnes on Monday, 20 April 2020. But inventories in Tianjin stood at 57,000 tonnes, up 1,000 tonnes. Stocks of primary aluminium in Gongyi and Hangzhou stood at 133,000 tonnes and 141,000 tonnes, a...
The US dollar edged lower last Friday, April 17. The dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of other currencies, shed 0.36% on Friday and ended at 99.71, 0.22% higher on the week. LME aluminium shed 0.53% and SHFE aluminium advanced 3.2%. Three-month LME aluminium lost gains from the Asian trading hours. It dropped from an intraday high of US$1,534 per tonne and closed at US$1,505 per tonne, down 0.53% on the day. Shanghai Metals Market expects the contract to trade at US$1,490-1,540 per tonne today. As of Friday, April 17, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stands at US$ 1482.50 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1482.50 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1520 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 1520 per tonne; Dec 21 bid price stands at US$...
