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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Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) announced the addition of a state-of-the-art, custom-made Fire Truck to its existing fleet of emergency vehicles. The Fire Truck, which was designed and manufactured in the US, is equipped with new fire appliances and modern technology which will help the team to carry-out emergency operations more effectively. Alba’s Acting CEO Ali Al Baqali said: “While policies and procedures are key to maintaining Safety on the job, the right Safety equipment enables us to keep our people and plant safe. An ultramodern Fire Truck is not just the need-of-the-hour but a long-term investment to meet the current and future Safety demands of a production facility as big as Alba.” The inauguration ceremony was held in Alba on 21 October 2019. It was attended Alba’s Acting Chief...
On the further fall of primary aluminium inventories by 12,000 tonnes to 858,000 tonnes over the weekend, the price of A00 aluminium ingot has recorded a rise of RMB 60 per tonne to RMB 14,060 per tonne, found Shanghai Metals Market on November 4. This marks the second consecutive growth since the month began. SMM expects the average prices to range between 14,040 per tonne and RMB 14,080 per tonne, with spot contract to be traded at a premium price of RMB 50-90 per tonne. SMM data showed the primary aluminium inventories today fell comparatively at a slower pace. On last Monday, October 28, the inventories had declined by 23,000 tonnes over the weekend to come in at 859,000 tonnes. This further illustrates that week-on-week the inventories are down by 1,000 tonnes, as of November 4. The...
A00 aluminium ingot price witnessed some swings throughout the week. The aluminium price started the week with an increase of RMB 10 per tonne to RMB 14,000 per tonne. But the ingot price dropped to RMB 13,940 per tonne on Tuesday, an RMB 60 per tonne decline. A00 aluminium ingot price ended the week higher at 14,000 per tonne, up from RMB 13,970 per tonne on Thursday. Source: Shanghai Metals Market As updated by Shanghai Metals Market, social inventories of primary aluminium across eight consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrants, declined for the third consecutive week, as arrivals remained limited and consumption stayed robust. Stocks reduced by 12,000 tonnes from a week ago to 870,000 tonnes as of Thursday October 31. The chart below indicates the current status of primary...
The US Dollar Index (DXY) remains under heavy bearish pressure this week. The US dollar eased in the beginning of the week as growing hopes for a US-China trade deal improved risk sentiment and sapped demand for the safe-haven greenback. The dollar index started the week at 97.74 and continued downward to reach 97 level. LME aluminium opened the week higher than the last week’s closing on weak dollar. LME aluminium started the week with US$ 1727 per tonne and continued higher and closed the week slightly lower at US$ 1742.5 per tonne on Friday November 1. Three-month LME aluminium also started the week at US$1,736 per tonne and continued upward to close the week at US$ 1759 per tonne after Friday’s closing. However, LME aluminium entered backwardation on Friday with the spot price getting...
North America’s primary aluminium production totalled 310,000 tonnes in September, unchanged from September 2018 production. Aluminium output decreased 3.43% from 321,000 tonnes in August and 3.73% from 322,000 tonnes in July. Primary aluminium production in the first nine months of 2019 stood 1.93% higher than the same period last year. Total output was 2.858 million tonnes, compared to 2.804 million tonnes, according to the latest data showed by the International Aluminium Institute (IAI). Aluminium production in North America came in at 3.774 million tonnes in 2018, IAI data showed. South America’s primary aluminium production amounted to 94,000 tonnes in September compared to 89,000 tonnes in the corresponding period the previous year. That was up 5.62% year-on-year. The output...
A Russian aluminium plant, owned by Russian aluminium major Rusal, which was shut down as a result of U.S. sanctions would be converted into a bitcoin mining hub. The Nadvoitsy Aluminum Plant in Russia’s northern Karelia region closed its operations last summer after it lost access to American customers after the imposition of U.S. sanctions on Rusal and En+ Group in April 2018. A part of the old production site is now being leased to the Russian Mining Company (RMC), which plans to utilize its cheap power sources and install bitcoin miners in the plant in order to expand across Russia, a local Russian business website RBC reported. International economic sanctions have propelled many countries toward cryptocurrencies or bitcoins. Now, Rusal has paved the way for a bitcoin mining...
According to Shanghai Metals Market, the social inventories of primary aluminium, on Thursday, October 31, declined for the third consecutive week, as arrivals remained limited and consumption stayed robust. SMM data showed the primary aluminium stocks across eight major Chinese consumption areas, include SHFE warrants, plunged by 12,000 tonnes from a week ago to stand at 870,000 tonnes. On last Thursday, October 24, the primary aluminium inventories had decreased by 34,000 tonnes week-on-week to come in at 882,000 tonnes, followed by the decline of 61,000 tonnes to 916,000 tonnes on October 17. This indicates that although the primary aluminium inventories declined over the past three consecutive weeks, but recorded a slower pace each week. The chart below indicates the current status of...
The US dollar fell against a basket of major currencies, reversing earlier gains. The dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of other currencies, fell 0.16% and ended at 97.31. LME base metals and the SHFE complex mostly fell. LME aluminium gained 0.46% and SHFE aluminium edged slightly lower. LME aluminium regained losses last night after trading lower over the day. Three-month LME aluminium recovered after dipping to a low of US$1,733 per tonne, ending slightly higher overnight at US$1,759 per tonne, while bleak global growth outlook depressed most base metals. Three months LME aluminium is likely to trade in a range of US$1,730-1,770 per tonne. As on October 31, Thursday, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1742 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands...
United States tariffs on aluminium imports had a great effect on the country’s domestic aluminium industry, said Andy Home, Senior Metals Columnist at Thomson Reuters, at the London Metal Exchange Week 2019. As the US import duties came into effect on the national security grounds in early 2018, the US Midwest premium, which overlays the LME cash price, expanded from 10 cents per pound to 22 cents per pound. The premium later eased to 18 cents per pound, though much higher than levels seen before the imposition of the tariffs. This hike in prices was primarily because of the disruption in supply chain, both primary aluminium and semi-finished, as a result of lesser imports due to tariffs. However, the above graph indicates that the steel and aluminium import tariffs in 2018 had no impact...
RUSAL is planning to install over 20 state-of-the-art dry gas cleaning systems (DGCS) at its smelters by 2025. These advanced systems developed by RUSAL own team will allow the Company to capture over 99.5 % of hydrogen fluoride and solid fluorides. The project was launched in 2016 by Rusal. Bratsk aluminium smelter installed another DGCS, developed by the design and scientific divisions of RUSAL-SibVAMI (Irkutsk) and RUSAL ITC (Krasnoyarsk) in October 2019. More DGCS’ are already in operation at the Company’s industrial sites in Shelekhov and Novokuznetsk. "This project is truly unique thanks to our patented design solutions, enabling RUSAL to complete the switch to utilising our own dry gas cleaning systems as part of our "EcoSoderberg" technology implementation. This innovative new...
According to a recent report, Southland leaders will start a campaign to save the Tiwai Point Aluminium Smelter from being closed. Campaign leader Carla Forbes said the campaign would be about getting a fair operating environment in the smelter besides highlighting on the fact that the smelter was not only good for Southland but all of New Zealand. "Aluminium is a smart metal, it's in every iPhone, in aeroplane wings ... it's the metal of the future and we make the world's best. It's a vital component in the technological landscape," said Forbes. Smelter owner Rio Tinto, however, has not made any decisions about its future. It is reviewing different options that also include closure, as low aluminium prices and high energy costs may become threats to its ongoing viability. Rio is also...
The US dollar fell against other major currencies after the US Federal Reserve lowered interest rates for the third time this year and signalled the central bank will pause from here. The dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of other currencies, fell 0.21% and ended at 97.47. LME base metals mostly fell while the SHFE complex traded higher. LME aluminium went flat and SHFE aluminium rose 0.44%. Three-month LME aluminium failed to extend rise from the prior three sessions as longs booked profits and left after prices climbed to a high of US$1,763.5 per tonne. It ended slightly lower on the day at US$1,751 per tonne. LME aluminium is likely to trade at US$1,730-1,770 per tonne today. As on October 30, Wednesday, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1746 per...
According to Shanghai Metals Market, Shandong Weiqiao Group, the top aluminium producer in China continues to reduce the benchmark purchasing price for prebaked anode for the fifth consecutive month by RMB 100 per tonne. This brought the Weiqiao’s prebaked anode purchasing price for November to RMB 2,800 per tonne in cash, compared with RMB 2,900 per tonne in October. The benchmark purchasing price in October was RMB 25 per tonne lower than in September. So, the purchasing price in September was at RMB 2,925 per tonne after being reduced by RMB 75 per tonne from August. But the further fall of Weiqiao’s prebaked anode purchasing price has not yet affected the spot price of the prebaked anode in China market, found SMM. As of Thursday, October 31, the price has remained unchanged at RMB...
The World Trade Organization (WTO) has finally agreed on October 28, to establish a panel to settle an issue over India’s decision to impose retaliatory import tariffs on 28 US products. The development took place one month after India declined US request in September, to set up a panel to decide on India’s decision to impose additional duties on US products like apples, walnuts, chickpeas, lentils, boric acid and diagnostic reagents. According to a Geneva-based WTO official the Dispute Settlement Body of the organization agreed to the second request by the US for setting up a panel. The decision of the panel will influence the duties levied by other countries on US goods after the import taxes levied by Trump administration on those countries, especially the steel and aluminium tariffs....
Aluminium Corporation of China Limited, known as Chalco, reported an 83.9% drop in its third-quarter net profit due to higher costs. Chalco’s net income amounted to 102.61 million yuan ($14.52 million) in July-September, compared to a restated figure of 639.03 million yuan a year earlier, according to a Reuters reports. Operating revenues was up by 17.2% year-on-year to 50.77 billion yuan but the total cost of operations surged 20.5% to 50.35 billion yuan. The result marked Chalco’s lowest profit since the fourth quarter of 2017, excluding a net loss in October-December last year. In January- September, profits stood at 808.37 million yuan, representing a drop of 47.7% year-on-year. The company’s aluminium production totalled 950,000 tonnes in the third quarter, a 10.4% year-on-year fall,...
A00 aluminium ingot price stood at RMB 14000 per tonne on Wednesday, 30 October 2019, up RMB 60 per tonne or 0.43 per cent from Tuesday, after a drop of RMB 60 per tonne yesterday. The price is expected to move within a range of RMB 13980-14020 per tonne. Graph Source: Shanghai Metals Market Foshan witnessed the highest growth in aluminium ingot price today. The price in Foshan stood at RMB 13900 per tonne, up by RMB 60 per tonne from its previous price. The average price is likely to range at RMB 13880-13920 per tonne. In Wuxi and Hangzhou, aluminium ingot price climbed by RMB 50 per tonne and RMB 40 per tonne to stand at RMB 14000 per tonne and RMB 13990 per tonne. Their average prices are expected to range within RMB 13990-14010 per tonne and RMB 13980-14000 per tonne. Chongqing...
The US dollar weakened as expectations that the Federal Reserve will cut rates was offset by a potential delay in a US-China trade deal. LME base metals rose across the board while the SHFE complex mostly fell. LME aluminium increased 0.84%, and SHFE aluminium shed 0.29%. Three-month LME aluminium closed higher for the third straight session, as loaded-up longs drove it up 0.84% to end at US$1,751per tonne. There will be limited upside movement on the backdrop of weak overseas demand for aluminium. Three months LME aluminium is likely to trade between US$1,720-1,760 per tonne. As on October 29, Tuesday, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1737 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1737.50 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1741per tonne, 3-months offer...
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba), host of the 23rd Arab International Aluminium Conference (ARABAL 2019) being held under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain, announced today 28 October 2019 Gulf Air as the Official Airline Partner for ARABAL 2019. Commenting on this occasion, Alba’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, Ali Al Baqali said: “We are pleased to welcome Gulf Air - the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain - as the Official Airline Partner of ARABAL 2019. As two of Bahrain’s national companies, we are proud to come together to raise Bahrain higher at this international platform.” Gulf Air Chief Executive Officer, Krešimir Kučko added: “It is our pleasure to partner once again with Alba for the...
