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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Hindalco Industries Limited has reduced the prices of its aluminium ingots by 1.26%. With effect from March 19, the price for Hindalco aluminium ingots now stands at INR 136,750 per tonne, from INR 138,500 per tonne on March 18. This is the third time in a row that the company has dropped the prices of its products. The prices of wire rods and billets have declined by 1.17% and 1.21% to stand at INR 147,350 per tonne and INR 143,350 per tonne on Thursday, 19 March 2020. The prices of these products were INR 149,100 per tonne and INR 145,100 per tonne on March 18. 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 10% in the current quarter due to slower...
According to Shanghai Metals Market, the social inventories of primary aluminium ingots have gained 54,000 tonnes over the week ended March 19, across eight major consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrants. The inventories are thus, now 1.647 million tonnes, in contrast to 105,000 tonnes on last Thursday, showed the SMM data. The continuous stack of primary aluminium inventories indicates muted demand for the metal among the downstream consumers, as end-use product productions are at halt across China. The chart below indicates the current status of Chinese primary aluminium inventories in more details: Wuxi this week has seen the highest growth in social primary aluminium inventories of about 34,000 tonnes, followed by Nanhai 18,000 tonnes and Shanghai and Hangzhou 7,000 tonnes....
The economy of Bangladesh is a developing market economy and it the 39 th largest in the world in nominal terms, and 29 th largest by purchasing power parity. It is classified among the Next Eleven emerging market middle income economies and a frontier market. In the first quarter of 2019, Bangladesh's was the world's seventh fastest-growing economy with a rate of 7.3% real GDP annual growth. The demand for the aluminium importation in Bangladesh is showing a recovery trend. But the domestic aluminium production is not showing a positive trend. The total import of aluminium by Bangladesh from 2017-19 stood at 282,291 tonnes, whereas the import projected for 2020 stands at 95,534 tonnes. When added with the previous 3 years the total import reflects at 377,825 tonnes. In 2017 the total...
Logan Aluminum, an aluminium rolling mill with 1300+ employees in Russellville, Logan County, Kentucky, nestled in beautiful rolling hills and surrounded by trees, nature, and wildlife. The Kentucky based aluminium company has been in full effort to deliver information from appropriate sources, assessing risks, and has implemented adjustments to their business with the specific outcome to keep their employees, families, and their community safe and healthy. As of 18 th March’20, Logan Aluminium has not been reported of any employee health and safety issues or business hampering as a result of COVID-19. The company has advised its employees for social distancing as key critical prevention. All business units are aligned in this belief and are working with employees to exercises...
The US dollar extended its gains against a broad range of currencies on Wednesday, surpassing the 100 mark for the first time since 2017, as companies and investors worried by the coronavirus outbreak rushed to the world’s most liquid currency. Three-month LME aluminium rebounded in European and North American trading hours, rising from a new 41-month low of US$ 1,613 per tonne to end at US$ 1,638.5 per tonne. It is likely to move between US$ 1,600 per tonne and US$ 1,650 per tonne today. As of Wednesday, March 18, LME official settlement price stood at US$ 1602.5 per tonne, after inching down for the third consecutive day. But Dec 21 bid price inched up to US$ 1820 per tonne from US$ 1748 per tonne on the previous day and Dec 21 offer price to US$ 1825 per tonne from US$ 1753 per tonne....
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, aluminium production in China during January-February 2020 increased 2.4 per cent year-on-year to come in at 5.85 million tonnes. The bureau has revealed no separate production figure for January and February due to the extended holiday for Coronavirus outbreak followed after a week-long Lunar New Year holiday. Reuters calculations found that the combined average production during January and February stood at 97,500 tonnes a day, down from 98,000 tonnes a day in December, the third-highest daily rate on record. “The point is that metal has continued to come out at about the same rate and probably even rose a little in February … but demand has collapsed,” said Paul Adkins, managing director of consultancy AZ China. Unlike factories that...
Bahrain was the pioneer country in the Arab region to start an aluminium smelter. Starting as a 120,000 tonne per annum smelter in 1971, Alba today is a 1.36-plus million tonnes smelter. As the on-going global headwinds, volatile LME price and weak economic sentiment across the markets, Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) remains committed to ensuring the safety of its employees and contractors. Alba focuses to achieve its production target of more than 1.54 million tonnes by 2020 Production and continue to be a lean aluminium producer by building on the legacy of its cost-improvement Project Titan Programme. On this occasion, Alba’s Chief Executive Officer Ali Al Baqali emphasised: “Alba can only control what is intrinsic to its operations i.e. Safety, Production and Cost. In light of the...
Norway is ranked as the fourth largest aluminium exporter in the world and has occupied a 5.8% share of a worldwide export market that is worth $41.7 billion annually. Norway’s total aluminium export from 2017-19 was recorded at 4.55 million tonnes. The export forecast for 2020 has been at 1.3 million tonnes, when adding from 2017-19 it stands at 5.85 million tonnes cumulatively. In 2017 the aluminium export was recorded at 1.61 million tonnes, whereas in 2018 a fall by 4.34% export has been noticed and the total export volume stood at 1.54 million tonnes. The aluminium export volume in 2019 shows a negative trend, as there is a downfall of 9.09%. The total export volume stood at 1.40 million tonnes and the revenue earned was recorded at $2.55 billion. The projection for Norway’s...
According to Shanghai Metals Market, the A00 aluminium ingot price has continued to record a decline today, as on March 18. Registering a fall of RMB 80 per tonne, the price today is RMB 12,520 per tonne. The average prices are expected to range between RMB 12,500 per tonne and RMB 12,540 per tonne, with spot contract to be traded at a discount price of RMB 100 per tonne to RMB 60 per tonne. In Foshan and Chongqing, the ingot price has recorded a decline of RMB 80 per tonne as well to stand at RMB 12,500 per tonne and RMB 12,530 per tonne, respectively. Linyi has seen the highest downfall of RMB 200 per tonne to RMB 12,650 per tonne. In Wuxi, the price has dwindled by RMB 70 per tonne, followed by Hangzhou and Chongqing, where the price has plunged by RMB 60 per tonne. In Gongyi and...
The US dollar surged against a broad range of currencies on Tuesday as companies and investors sought out the most liquid currency as concerns about economic shutdowns from the coronavirus continued to dent risk appetite. Three-month LME aluminium rebounded somewhat in North American trading hours from sharp losses in European trading hours. It later eased again, returning to its lowest since October 2016 at US$ 1,639 per tonne and ended at US$ 1,643 per tonne. The unwinding of long positions primarily accounted for the plunge in LME aluminium on Tuesday. It is likely to move between US$ 1,640 per tonne and US$ 1,700 per tonne today. As of Tuesday, March 17, LME aluminium cash (bid) price extended decline to US$ 1627.50 per tonne and LME official settlement price to 1628 per tonne....
The Bosnian official authorities stated that a company from the town of Zvornik held talks with Iranian officials for selling aluminium oxide. This could have been used in Tehran’s nuclear programme. Fahrudin Radoncic, Bosnian Security Minister published on 16 th March’20 that a Bosnian company had discussed with officials at the Iranian embassy in Sarajevo for the possibility of selling aluminium oxide powder to Tehran in breach of US and EU sanctions. <iframe width="500" height="300" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bBbcVJJjc5U" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe> According to reports from Bosnia: “the Executive Directors of a company called Alumina spoke to the Iranians about arranging the purchase...
The US dollar fell against a broad range of currencies after Wall Street sank overnight even as the Federal Reserve embarked on a massive monetary stimulus campaign to curb slower economic growth amid the coronavirus outbreak. Three-month LME aluminium rebounded towards the US$ 1,700 per tonne mark after touching an intraday low of US$ 1,654 per tonne. It later eased to end at US$ 1,681 per tonne. LME aluminium is likely to move between US$ 1,640 per tonne and US$ 1,700 per tonne today. As of Monday, March 16, LME aluminium cash (bid) price came in at US$ 1640 per tonne and LME official settlement price stood at US$ 1640.5 per tonne after declining by US$ 36.5 per tonne from Friday, March 13. 3-months bid price slipped from US$ 1695 per tonne to US$ 1654 per tonne, while 3-months offer...
RUSAL, the leading global aluminium producer has declared the introduction of additional preventive measures in response to the current issue of “Corona-virus” to best ensure the health and safety of all employees. Starting from 17 th March’20 employees from head office and staff who are not involved in the production process will be told to work from home. Operations will continue uninterrupted. There will be exceptions if only be made in the instance when the tasks cannot be performed without coming to the office. All staff who will be working from home has been strongly advised against attending public functions or unnecessarily going to public spaces. Everyone who is currently on a business trip is required to return as soon as possible. All new business trips have been put on pause....
Building on the success of the E-Magazine “Aluminium Industry 4.0: Drivers & Change Makers” last year, AlCircle this time has again come up with a report on “ Industry 4.0 in Aluminium ” on readers’ demand, but with more insightful information. Since the Industry 4.0 is one of the most talked about topics in the technology and industrial sector including the aluminium value chain industry and as many seasoned plant operators are still not completely aware of the full potential of such technologies, AlCircle.com perceives the importance of discussing the topic yet again and thus, the report being launched titled “ Industry 4.0 in Aluminium.” Being an exclusive aluminium industry portal, AlCircle is committed to explore and provide information on any technological innovations that are...
Shanghai Metals Market found social inventories of primary aluminium ingots increased 38,000 tonnes over the weekend ended Monday, March 16, across eight major consumption areas, including SHFE warrants. The inventories stood at 1.631 million tonnes in contrast to 1.559 million tonnes on Monday, March 9, and 1.593 million tonnes on Thursday, March 12. SMM survey revealed the eight areas, except for Henan’s Gongyi, saw the stocks gaining over the weekend. The chart below indicates the current status of primary aluminium inventories across China in more details: In Wuxi, Shanghai, and Nanhai, the inventories, as of March 16, are standing higher by 53,000 tonnes, 8,000 tonnes, and 18,000 tonnes from last Monday at 639,000 tonnes, 152,000 tonnes, and 417,000 tonnes, respectively. In Hangzhou...
The aluminium industry has moreover well performed in terms of sustainability. It’s amazing to know that 75% of all the aluminium ever produced is still in use today, but demand for the metal is growing at a rapid pace those mining projects continues to be an important source of the commodity. The global demand for aluminium is set to expand by a compound annual growth rate of 4.25% between 2019 and 2025. The global demand for aluminium cannot be satisfied by recycled aluminium alone, a great deal of environmental responsibility still resides with mining firms producing this valuable commodity. Norsk Hydro, one of the largest employs 35,000 people across 40 countries and is present across all continents. <iframe width="500" height="300" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SQVvHMowbKk"...
Hindalco Ltd has raised prices of its aluminium ingots by 1.79% from Friday. With effect from March 14, the price for Hindalco aluminium ingots now stands at INR 142,500 per tonne, from INR 140,000 per tonne on March 13. The company has hiked aluminium ingot price after cutting the price of the same product by 1.06% earlier in the week. The prices of wire rods and billets have climbed by 1.66% and 1.71% from March 13 to stand at INR 153,100 per tonne and INR 149,100 per tonne on Saturday, 14 March 2020. The prices of these products were INR 150,600 per tonne and INR 146,600 per tonne on March 13. 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 9% in...
The dollar fell against a broad range of currencies on Friday, 13 March. LME base metals rallied to close mostly higher on Friday. LME aluminium rose 1.7%. Three-month LME aluminium rose past the US$1,700 per tonne mark before erasing some gains to end at US$1,690 per tonne. Shanghai Metals Market expects the contract to trade at US$1,670-1,710 per tonne today. As on Friday March 13, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stands at US$ 1676.5 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1677 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1695 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 1696 per tonne; Dec 21 bid price stands at US$ 1798 per tonne, and Dec 21 offer price stands at US$ 1803 per tonne. The LME aluminium opening stock dropped to 987175 tonnes. Live Warrants totalled 797800 tonnes,...
