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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Three-month LME aluminium rallied from a new four-year trough of US$ 1,481 per tonne touched in North American trading hours, finishing the day higher at US$ 1,504 per tonne. The build-up of long positions primarily accounted for the gains on the day. LME aluminium is expected to continue to trade at US$ 1,480 per tonne to US$ 1,530 per tonne today. As of Thursday, April 2, both LME aluminium cash (bid) price and LME official settlement price declined from US$ 1463.50 per tonne to US$ 1448.50 per tonne. 3-months bid price and 3-months offer price slipped to US$ 1482.50 per tonne from US$ 1498 per tonne, while Dec 21 bid price and Dec 21 offer price stood at US$ 1618.50 per tonne. The LME aluminium opening stock stood at 1210475 tonnes. Live Warrants totalled at 1062750 tonnes, and...
At the desert complex of Saudi Arabia’s north-eastern Gulf coast, refineries, smelters and casting machines transform dull pink rocks into silver aluminium bars, a symbol of the kingdom’s attempt to diversify its economy. After only two years in operation, the $10.8 billion aluminium project at Ras al-Khair, an industrial city 200 kilometres (125 miles) north of the oil hub of Dammam, is already the world’s largest integrated aluminium facility. Aluminium is the company’s single-largest cash generator, at 4.8 billion riyals ($1.3 billion) in revenue in 2015, and mining is a pillar of Saudi Arabia’s shift away from oil. The Kingdom’s aluminium ingot export has been showing dip, as between 2017-19 it reflected an unsteady export demand, whereas in 2020 it has been projected a decline of...
As updated by Shanghai Metals Market, social inventories of primary aluminium across eight consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrants, stood at 1.676 million tonnes in the week ended April 2. That was up 9,000 tonnes compared to a build of 20,000 tonnes in the previous week. The chart below shows the current status of the primary aluminium inventories across China in more details: Primary aluminium stocks in Shanghai and Wuxi increased by 11,000 tonnes and 9,000 tonnes from March 26 to stand at 169,000 tonnes and 661,000 tonnes on Thursday, 02 April 2020. Stocks in Hangzhou stood at 143,000 tonnes, an increase of 11,000 tonnes. But the inventories in Nanhai, Gongyi, Chongqing dropped by 10,000 tonnes, 6,000 tonnes and 4,000 tonnes from last week to stand at 431,000 tonnes,...
The US dollar advanced against a basket of major currencies on Wednesday, April 1. The US dollar index was up 0.6% at 99.52. Aluminium extended its decline to a four-year trough and shed 2% on the day. The SHFE kept its night trading session suspended. Three-month LME aluminium extended its decline and touched a four-year trough of US$1,483.5 per tonne in early North American trading hours. It closed at $1,495 per tonne. Shanghai Metals Market expects the contract to trade at US$1,480-1,530 per tonne today. As on Wednesday April 1, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stands at US$ 1463.50 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1463.50 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$ 1628.50...
Africa produced 127,000 tonnes of primary aluminium in February 2020. That was unchanged from 2019. The output reduced by 6.62 per cent from January 2020’s production of 136,000 tonnes and 8.63 per cent from December 2019’s production of 139,000 tonnes, according to the latest data showed by the International Aluminium Institute (IAI). Aluminium production came in at 263,000 tonnes in the first two months of 2020 as compared to 267,000 tonnes in the first two months of 2019. That was down 1.5 per cent year-on-year. IAI reported that primary aluminium production in Africa came in at 1.643 million tonnes in 2019 as compared to 1.668 million tonnes in 2018. That was down 1.5 per cent year-on-year.
The Argentine giant Aluar Aluminio Argentino SAIC has been slashing production at one of its aluminium plants amid close-down related to the coronavirus pandemic apart from the indication that global light metal production is slowing down. The Buenos Aires-based producer said in a statement that “it is reducing production by an additional 25% at its Puerto Madryn plant in the south, in response to country's nationwide shutdown.” As per the government’s notice companies in core businesses can continue to operate, but must take mitigation measures, including employing as few people as possible. Following a similar cut this month, Aluar said “it had now put 50% of its capacity in Puerto Madryn out of business. The plant has a total capacity of 460,000 tonnes and produced 427,000 tonnes in...
After raising the benchmark for two consecutive months, Shandong Weiqiao Group, the top aluminium producer in China, has cut its benchmark purchasing price for prebaked anode. For April 2020, the company has reduced the benchmark purchasing price by RMB 170 per tonne to RMB 2,660 per tonne in cash. The decrease in price is due to a plunge in prices of petroleum coke, a raw material for anodes, according to Shanghai Metals Market. The prebaked anode price in the Central has recorded a drop of RMB 170 per tonne to RMB 2,890 per tonne on April 1, after remaining flat at RMB 3,060 per tonne since March 2. The price is likely to move within a range of RMB 2,710- 3,070 per tonne. The markets in the southwest and northwest China have also witnessed a decrease of RMB 170 per tonne each to RMB...
The US dollar fell against a basket of major currencies on Tuesday, March 31. LME aluminium closed 0.2% lower overnight. The SHFE kept its night trading session suspended. Three-month LME aluminium slipped to its lowest since April 2016 at US$1,507 per tonne in the North American trading session. According to Shanghai Metals Market, it closed the day lower at US$1,525.5 per tonne, to produce a monthly decline of 10.3%, the biggest monthly percentage decrease in almost a decade. As on Tuesday March 31, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stands at US$ 1489 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1489 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1524 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 1524 per tonne; Dec 21 bid price stands at US$ 1650 per tonne, and Dec 21 offer price stands...
Vedanta Limited has appointed Sunil Duggal as Interim Chief Executive Officer of the company. Srinivasan Venkatakrishnan will step down as CEO and Director of the Company with effect from 5th April 2020, for personal reasons. Sunil Duggal will take additional charge as Interim CEO of Vedanta Limited along with his current role as CEO & Director of Hindustan Zinc Ltd. He will report to the Chairman. Sunil brings 36 years of rich and diverse leadership experience and has been associated with the group for last 10 years. The Company’s Chairman, Navin Agarwal said: "We would like to acknowledge and express our deep appreciation and thank Venkat for his immense contribution to the company. Apart from his relentless focus to drive the company, he has been in the forefront in leading the...
The world’s second-largest metal and mining corporation Rio Tinto will close one of its aluminium production lines at Tiwai smelter, New Zealand, in line with the government directives to curb the spread of coronavirus. Such was the announcement made by Rio Tinto’s New Zealand's Aluminium Smelters (NZAS) venture on Tuesday, March 31. The New Zealand government has announced a four-week lockdown to limit the spread of the coronavirus that has infected more than 750,000 people globally. According to the report, Rio Tinto will close the potline 4 at Tiwai smelter and relocate the workers to other areas of operations. "Our focus is on supporting our employees in a time of uncertainty and running a safe and efficient operation to meet our obligations with customers and suppliers who are also...
The US dollar rebounded against major currencies and riskier emerging market units on Monday, snapping a week of declines as investors braced for prolonged uncertainty and governments tightened lockdowns and launched monetary and fiscal measures to fight the coronavirus pandemic. Three-month LME aluminium resumed its downtrend on Monday, slipping to its lowest since April 2016 at US$ 1,522 per tonne in North American trading hours before closing the day sharply lower at US$ 1,529 per tonne. It is expected to move range-bound at US$1,520-1,570/per tonne today. As of Monday, March 30, both LME aluminium cash (bid) price and LME official settlement price stood at US$ 1495 per tonne after inching down by US$ 11 per tonne from US$1506 per tonne. 3-months bid price and 3-months offer price...
After the growth of 17,000 tonnes in primary aluminium inventories on last Monday and 20,000 tonnes on Thursday, the social inventories of primary aluminium have recorded a minor decline over the weekend ended Monday, March 30. The inventories over the weekend have dipped by 3,000 tonnes to come in at 1.664 million tonnes across eight major consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrants. On Thursday, March 26, the inventories were at 1.667 million tonnes. The chart below indicates the current status of primary aluminium inventories across China in more details: In Gongyi, Nanhai, Chongqing, and Linyi, the inventories have decreased by 12,000 tonnes, 3,000 tonnes, and 1,000 tonnes respectively to stand at 185,000 tonnes, 438,000 tonnes, 15,000 tonnes, and 11,000 tonnes. In Wuxi and...
Vedanta’s aluminium ingot and billet price fell for a fifth straight day on Friday, March 27. With effect from March 27, the prices of some ingots were in the range of INR 128,500-141,500 per tonne, down from INR 131,750-144,750 per tonne on March 24. The price of billet stood at INR 136,500 per tonne, a decrease of 2.33% from INR 139,750 per tonne on March 24. That was also down by 4.04% from INR 142,250 per tonne on March 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 in the current quarter due to slower demand following the coronavirus outbreak. Vedanta is present in the aluminium segment through its 51 per cent stake in Bharat Aluminium Company...
The US dollar fell against a basket of currencies for a fourth straight day on Friday March 27. LME aluminium rose 0.8%. The SHFE kept its night trading session suspended. Three-month LME aluminium rallied on Friday. It finished the day at US$1,552.5 per tonne, a weekly decline of 1.6%. Shanghai Metals Market expects the contract to trade at US$1,520-1,560 per tonne today. As on Friday March 27, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stands at US$ 1506 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1506 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1538.50 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 1538.50 per tonne; Dec 21 bid price stands at US$ 1656.5 per tonne, and Dec 21 offer price stands at US$ 1656.5 per tonne. <iframe width="500" height="300"...
The Indian state-owned National Aluminium Company (Nalco), has overcome the supply interruptions with sufficient coal stocks stacked up at the site of its smelting complex at Angul. Nalco’s aluminium smelter can produce 0.46 million tonnes and it is carrying out its uninterrupted operations. The appreciation for coal inventory which can last for three months. The intermittent disruptions phases of coal despatches are due to sporadic stirs at mines under the command area of Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL), a Coal India Ltd (CIL) subsidiary; coal supply position enhanced substantially post monsoons. Coal is a critical input in aluminium smelting and accounts for 40-45% of metal production costs. The all-through Q2 and Q3 of this current fiscal year, Nalco as well as other coal consuming...
ALRO Group, one of the largest vertically integrated aluminium producers in Europe, has announced its financial results of 2019, revealing a downfall in sales from RON 2.98 billion in 2018 to RON 2.78 billion in 2019, primarily as a result of unfavourable international and national market conditions. The group in the year last registered a net loss of RON 67 million compared to a net profit of RON 235 million in 2018. The significant decrease in results was a direct consequence of a continuous downward trend of the LME and tough market conditions. Marian NĂSTASE, Chairman of the Board of Directors of ALRO, said: “Facing adverse circumstances in the market, where LME showed a 15% decrease in 2019 compared to 2018, alumina market affected by excess output that led to downward selling...
Hindalco Industries Limited has cut the prices of its aluminium ingots, wire rods, and billets for the fifth time in a row. With effect from March 27, the price for Hindalco aluminium ingots now stands at INR 131,000 per tonne, a drop of 2.6% or INR 3,500 per tonne from INR 134,500 per tonne on March 24. The company is now selling its wire rods at INR 141,600 per tonne. That was down 2.41% from INR 145,100 per tonne. The price of Hindalco billets has reduced by 2.48% or INR 3,500 per tonne from March 24 to stand at INR 137,600 per tonne. The prices of these products were 141,100 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 in the current...
Chalco, China’s biggest state-run aluminium producer, produced 3.79 million tonnes of aluminium in 2019, down 9 per cent from the previous year, according to the company’s presentation to analysts reviewed by Reuters. With this production, Chalco just managed to retain its position as the world’s No. 2 listed aluminium producer ahead of Rusal’s 3.76 million tonnes of annual output. According to a report last week, the top producer China Hongqiao’s annual production dropped 11.3 per cent in 2019 totalling at 5.64 million tonnes. These lower production numbers come when Chinese aluminium firms are preparing to cope up a difficult 2020 with prices crashing to more than four to five years low RMB 11,340 per tonne amid supply concerns due to the outbreak of epidemic COVID-19. According to...
