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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As the focus on environment is growing urging manufacturers for using sustainably sourced materials, aluminium industry is actually heading towards an exclusive premium market for clean and green aluminium. Though lightweighting and easy recyclability make aluminium a more thoughtful choice, its energy intensive production offsets its green credentials. Globally, aluminium production contributes 4% of emissions and the major part of aluminium is produced with coal powered energy. A few aluminium producers like Rusal, Norsk Hydro and Rio Tinto operate most or all of their smelters using hydropower, dramatically reducing the impact on the environment. Rio has already signed supply deals with Nespresso and Apple Inc. for its sustainable aluminium. Commodity trader Trafigura Group has set up...
As updated by Shanghai Metals Market, social inventories of primary aluminium across eight consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrants, stood at 859,000 tonnes as of Monday October 28, down by 23,000 tonnes from Thursday, as consumption remained robust. The current status of primary aluminium inventories across China is given in the chart below: A00 aluminium ingot price on Tuesday registered a drop of RMB 60 per tonne from Monday’s price of RMB 14000 per tonne. On October 29, the price came in at RMB 13940 per tonne and expected to move within a range of RMB 13920-13960 tonne. Graph Source: Shanghai Metals Market Aluminium ingot prices in Foshan, Wuxi and Hangzhou stood at RMB 13840 per tonne, RMB 13950 per tonne, and RMB 13950 per tonne on Tuesday, October 29, down RMB 70 per...
The US dollar eased on Monday as growing hopes for a US-China trade deal improved risk sentiment and sapped demand for the safe-haven greenback. The dollar index fell 0.07% and ended at 97.74. LME base metals mostly increased with the SHFE complex trading mixed. LME aluminium rose 0.14% and SHFE aluminium increased 0.14%. LME aluminium opened the week higher on Monday. Three-month LME aluminium gained for the second straight session with a high of US$1740 per tonne, ending up 0.14% at US$1,736 per tonne on Monday night as longs added their position. Three months aluminium is likely to trade within US$1,720-1,750 per tonne today. As on October 28, Monday, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1726 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1727 per tonne; 3-months bid...
Rusal, one of the leading global aluminium producers, has signed a new five-year sustainability-linked pre-export finance facility for USD 1,085,000,000. The financed amount is increased from the initially announced USD 750 million because of Rusal’s commitment to low-carbon aluminium technologies and green aluminium production. This finance facility is the first ever sustainability-linked syndicated facility arranged by international and domestic commercial banks in Russia. The interest rate is linked to a sustainability discount or premium determined by the company’s fulfilment of the sustainability key performance indicators (KPI). Sustainability KPIs are related to the environmental impact of Rusal’s operations and its sustainable developments. It also covers the growth targets of the...
Alba has released financial results for Q3 2019 and nine months of 2019. The leading aluminium producer’s performance was impacted by lower LME price and premiums in the quarter, which was partially offset by higher sales volume. The company reported a profit and total comprehensive income of BD10.7 million (US$28.5 million) in Q3 2019 compared with BD14.3 million (US$38.1 million) for Q3 2018, down by 25% YoY. The company posted a gross profit of BD29.2 million (US$77.6 million) compared with BD19.0 million (US$50.6 million) in Q3 2018, up by 53% YoY. Alba reported revenue of BD287.1million (US$763.6 million) in Q3 2019, up by 22% YoY, compared with BD234.5 million (US$623.8 million) in Q3 2018. Alba reported a total comprehensive loss of BD8.4 million (US$22.4 million) in nine months of...
The US dollar and bond yields rose on Friday as the United States said it was close to finalizing parts of a trade deal with China. The dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of other currencies, was up 0.62% for the week with a rise of 0.17% last Friday, ending at 97.83. LME base metals closed mixed while the SHFE complex traded higher across the board. LME aluminium gained 0.99% and SHFE aluminium grew 0.25%. LME aluminium closed the day lower on last Friday but gained during night trading. Three-month LME aluminium outperformed most of the other base metals as it closed at the highest level last Friday night at US$1,734 per tonne, up 0.99% on the day. LME aluminium is likely to trade at US$1,705-1,740 per tonne. As on October 25, Friday, LME aluminium cash (bid)...
According to Shanghai Metals Market, the A00 aluminium ingot price has recorded a growth of RMB 10 per tonne to stand at RMB 14,000 per tonne. This marks the fourth consecutive rise, but the price still stands lower by RMB 30 per tonne, compared with RMB 14,030 per tonne during the same period last month. The average prices are expected to range between RMB 13,980 per tonne and RMB 14,020 per tonne, with spot contract to be traded at a premium price of RMB 80-120 per tonne. However, the price rise today has not touched upon all the major markets in China, such as Foshan, Chongqing, Shenyang, Linyi, and Gongyi, where the price has witnessed falls or remained restrained. For instance, in Foshan, the ingot price has slipped by RMB 20 per tonne to RMB 13,910 per tonne, while that in Chongqing...
After successful launch of its first two e-magazines -“Aluminium LeaderSpeak 2019” and “Aluminium Industry 4.0: Drivers & Change Makers” , AlCircle team is now gearing up to bring up to you a region focus theme e-magazine on the topic “Aluminium Middle East: Focus 2020 ”. Middle East aluminium industry is on a steady growth trajectory. Using an optimal combination of low cost energy, skilled manpower and technological innovations, the countries in the Gulf region have been expanding rapidly in the aluminium sector in ex-China world. Gulf countries are constantly working towards making a shift towards non-oil sector especially the aluminium industry. The region has attracted huge investments in their respective countries as part of the regional drive for industrial diversification leading...
United Company Rusal has reportedly announced its third-quarter result, which reveals only a small quarterly rise in aluminium sales, pressured by a weak metal market. Compared to the second quarter 2019, Rusal’s aluminium sales in the third quarter ended on September 30 increased by 0.8 per cent to amount to 1,091 thousand tonnes, while the production totalled at 942 thousand tonnes, up 0.4 per cent quarter-on-quarter. In Q2 2019, the sales were at 1,082 thousand tonnes and the production at 938 thousand tonnes. Rusal’s total sales of aluminium in the first nine months of the year clocked at 3,069 thousand tonnes, up 9.8 per cent from 2,794 thousand tonnes in the same period last year. But the production in the nine months remained flat at 2,809 thousand tonnes, compared with 2,810...
The US dollar rose against the British pound and the euro, on the back of better-than-expected US manufacturing sector data. The dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of other currencies, climbed 0.2% and ended at 97.66. LME base metals most increased with the SHFE complex trading higher across the board. LME aluminium lost 0.55% and SHFE aluminium rose 0.25%. While LME base metals ended mostly higher overnight, three-month LME aluminium slipped as downward pressure piled up after prices hovered rangebound for nearly two weeks. It closed down 0.55% at US$1,717 per tonne, losing all the gains from the prior session. Three months LME aluminium is likely to trade at US$1,710-1,740 per tonne. As on October 24, Thursday, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1713 per...
Followed by the rise in the last two days, the A00 aluminium ingot price today, on October 25, has decided to end the week with restraint, as found by Shanghai Metals Market. The price has continued to remain at RMB 13,990 per tonne, with average expected prices to range between RMB 13,970 per tonne and RMB 14,010 per tonne. The spot contract is likely to be traded at a premium price of RMB 80-120 per tonne, according to SMM data. However, in many cities in China, the ingot price has recorded a drop. For instance, in Wuxi, Shenyang, Foshan, and Tianjin, the ingot price has inched down by RMB 15 per tonne and RMB 10 per tonne to stand at RMB 13,985 per tonne, RMB 13,945 per tonne, RMB 13,930 per tonne, and RMB 13,960 per tonne, respectively. In Hangzhou, Chongqing, and Gongyi, the price...
Qatar Aluminium Manufacturing Company (QAMCO), a 50% shareholder in Qatalum, reported a net profit of QR 60.6 million for the ten-month period ended 30 September 2019. The earnings per share (EPS) stood at QR 0.011. QAMCO’s share of total assets in the JV stood at QR 7.8 billion, with its share of cash and bank balances amounted to QR 280.3 million. EBITDA came in QR 543.1 million in the 10-month period, despite challenging macro-economic conditions and a highly volatile environment for global aluminium prices. Mr. Abdulrahman Ahmad Al-Shaibi, Chairman of the Board of Directors, QAMCO, said: “The broader macro-economic environment remains volatile but the Company yet again demonstrated its ability to deliver continued performance. The management has been instrumental in rolling out a...
Senior leaders from the aluminium associations of Canada, Europe and the United States gathered at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD) Global Trade Forum in Paris, France and urged the governments for taking concrete steps toward rules-based trade. They requested for reforms in government policies to do away with practices that distort the global aluminium market. In a joint statement, Jean Simard, President & CEO of the Aluminium Association of Canada; Gerd Götz, Director General of European Aluminium; and Ryan Olsen, Vice President, Business Information and Statistics for the Aluminum Association said: “Given the extent and duration of the harm suffered by the aluminium industry, we are calling for swift, focused and decisive action on market-distorting...
The US dollar fell against the British pound and the euro after European Union leaders delayed a decision on whether to grant Britain a three-month Brexit extension. LME base metals closed higher overnight, with the SHFE complex trading mixed. LME aluminium gained 0.44%, while SHFE aluminium rose 0.25%. Three-month LME aluminium climbed during the European trading hours, but a buildup of bearish positions prevented it from exceeding US$1,733.5 per tonne, and ended it 0.44% higher on the day at US$1,726.5 per tonne. LME aluminium is likely to trade at US$1,710-1,750 per tonne today. As on October 23, Wednesday, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1711.50 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1712 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1719.50 per tonne,...
Social inventories of primary aluminium have further extended decline this week, marking the second consecutive week-on-week fall, found Shanghai Metals Market. Data shows the stocks across eight major consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrants, decreased by 34,000 tonnes from a week ago to stand at 882,000 tonnes, as of Thursday, October 24. The below chart indicates the current status of primary aluminium inventories across China in more details: October 10 was the last day when the social inventories of primary aluminium had increased in China by 8,000 tonnes on greater cargo arrival. Post that, the inventories started recording incessant drops. On last Thursday, October 17, they declined by 61,000 tonnes to come in at 916,000 tonnes. This shows the decline was higher last...
Hydro reported an underlying EBIT of NOK 1,366 million in the third quarter of 2019, down from NOK 2,676 million in the third quarter of 2018. The decline was due to lower aluminium and alumina prices, partly offset by lower raw material costs and positive effects from higher production in Brazil. President and CEO Hilde Merete Aasheim said, “It is encouraging to see costs coming down in our upstream business, combined with forceful restructuring and optimization measures downstream. Amid challenging markets, it is more important than ever to focus our efforts on what we control ourselves. I am therefore pleased to report progress on our new and ambitious improvement programs, which is an important enabler for our profitability and sustainability agenda.” Underlying EBIT for Primary Metal...
We are glad to share the performance metrics of our second quarterly e-magazine “Aluminium Industry 4.0: Drivers & Change Makers” . Not even a month yet since the magazine launched, but we are already overwhelmed with stupendous responses arriving from every nook and corner of the world. And thanks to the power of digital media where every outcome is measurable and transparent, we are delighted to find how our magazine has created a buzz over the internet. We are extremely glad to inform you that the magazine has already reached 19,592 viewers across 92 countries and achieved 105,472 hits in total. The average time spent by a user on the magazine is 9 minutes and 16 seconds, with a direct reach of 1498. Besides, it has earmarked a notable performance on social media. While on Facebook, it...
The US dollar continued to rise against the pound and euro as uncertainty spread ahead of the British parliament’s vote on the Withdrawal Agreement Bill which will shine light on when and how Britain will exit the EU. The dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of other currencies, climb by 0.21% and ended at 97.53. LME base metals and SHFE complex mostly fell overnight. LME aluminium dropped 0.29% and SHFE aluminium grew 0.07%. A rallied US dollar index depressed aluminium prices as three-month LME aluminium extended its previous decline and ended down 0.29% at US$1,719 per tonne. There is limited upward room in LME aluminium, which may trade between US$1,705-1,730 per tonne. As on October 22, Tuesday, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1707 per tonne, LME...
