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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The US dollar fell for the third consecutive day last Friday and the dollar index fell 0.26% and ended at 96.826. Base metals closed mostly higher. LME aluminium increased 0.4% and SHFE aluminium grew 0.3%. Both LME aluminium cash and three months contract registered a decline during Friday’s trading. As the US dollar continued to weaken, three-month LME aluminium rebounded from below all moving averages to a high of US$1,829 per tonne during Friday night, before it ended 0.38% higher at US$1,828 per tonne. Three months LME aluminium is likely to trade at US$1,800-1,850 per tonne. As on July 12, Friday, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1799 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1799.50per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1819 per tonne, 3-months offer...
Shanghai Metals Market data showed that social inventories of primary aluminium across eight consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrants, came in at 1.043 million tonnes as of Monday July 15. Primary aluminium inventories increased 1,000 tonnes from 1.042 million tonnes on Thursday July 11. On July 11, primary aluminium stocks marked the first weekly increase in about four months. The chart below indicates the current status of primary aluminium inventories across all major China markets: Primary aluminium inventories in Nanhai, Guangdong and Hangzhou, Zhejiang registered a growth of 3,000 tonnes each from Thursday July 11 to stand at 246,000 tonnes and 68,000 tonnes. Stocks of primary aluminium in Wuxi, Jiangsu stood at 328,000 tonnes on Monday, 15 July 2019, down 3,000 tonnes...
The US dollar slipped to a week-low after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s downbeat comments on the US economy bolstered expectations of an interest rate cut later this month. Base metals ended mixed. LME aluminium fell 1.57%, and aluminium fell 0.72%. Three-month LME aluminium cut gains from the previous trading day as it fell to a low of US$1,820 per tonne and ended 1.57% lower on the day at US$1,821 per tonne, with pressure from the US$1,850 per tonne level. LME aluminium is likely to trade at US$1,790-1,850 per tonne. As on July 11, Thursday, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1806.50 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1807per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1827 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 1828 per tonne; Dec 20 bid price stands at...
Prebaked anode price in Southwest market has edged lower by 2.70 per cent today. As on Friday, July 12, prebaked anode price ranged at RMB 3500-3700 per tonne; the average price stood at RMB 3600 per tonne, down by 100 RMB from its previous price of RMB 3700 per tonne on April 4. The average prices of prebaked anode in East, Central, and Northwest China markets remain unchanged at RMB 3137.5 per tonne, RMB 3197.5 per tonne, and RMB 3650 per tonne respectively. The average spot alumina price has recorded a drop of RMB24 per tonne to stand at RMB 2607 per tonne on Friday, 12 July 2019. The price was RMB 2631 per tonne on Wednesday, 10 July. All the major markets in China also registered a decline today. Alumina price in East China stands at RMB 2620 per tonne, down RMB 20 per tonne from its...
Vedanta Ltd has raised prices of aluminium ingots today registering a rise for two consecutive days in a row. Vedanta has increased the price of P1020/ EC Grade Ingot with 99.7% purity to INR 143000 per tonne effective from today, July 11 from INR 141250 per tonne on July 9. Last increase took place on July 9 from INR 139750 per tonne on July 5. The company has raised the rates of its products by more than 2.3% in last two increases. LME aluminium prices continued to stay lower through the June quarter leading to a drop in prices of aluminium products of Indian aluminium producers. Three months LME aluminium hovered around US$ 1800 per tonne throughout June. Vedanta’s prices stood 6% lower in the second quarter of FY2019. The company generally links prices of products to the three-month...
Vedanta Limited, at its 54th annual general meeting in Mumbai on July 11, announced that it would invest INR 55,000 crore across its business to increase production by about 50 per cent. The company also said that it would fund this investment from its internal cash flows. Addressing shareholders at the meeting, Vedanta’s chairman Navin Agarwal said, "Looking ahead, we are excited by the prospects in our businesses which include: ramp-up in zinc, lead and especially silver production from Hindustan Zinc and the benefit of a full year’s production from our Gamsberg Zinc mine in South Africa; increased production from our oil and gas business as the first phase of our projects comes on stream and continued structural changes to our cost structure in the aluminium business while increasing...
The US dollar fell 0.47%, to a three-day low of 97.03. Base metals closed mostly higher. LME aluminium advanced 1.62% and SHFE aluminium grew 1.05%. The news of closure of Aluminij Mostar smelter buoyed LME aluminium. As the US dollar weakened, three-month LME aluminium advanced 1.62% to finish at US$1,850 per tonne overnight, after climbing above all the moving averages to highs around US$1,852.5 per tonne. The three month contract is likely to hover around US$1,800-1,860 per tonne today. As on July 10, Wednesday, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1811 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1811.50 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1830 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 1832 per tonne; Dec 20 bid price stands at US$ 1933 per tonne, and Dec 20...
After recording a continued decline over the months, the social inventories of primary aluminium across eight consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrants, have gained 14,000 tonnes from a week ago to stand at 1.042 million tonnes, as of Thursday, July 11, found Shanghai Metals Market. The major markets that have witnessed the increase in aluminium inventories are Nanhai, Guangdong; Gongyi, Henan; Hangzhou, Zhejiang; Linyi, Shandong; and Tianjin. The inventories there have grown by 12,000 tonnes, 5,000 tonnes, 2,000 tonnes, and 1,000 tonnes respectively. Other markets like Wuxi, Jiangsu and Shanghai have witnessed a dip in inventories by 4,000 tonnes. The below chart indicates the current status of primary aluminium inventories in more details: Amidst the rise in primary aluminium...
Bosnia’s only operating aluminium smelter and one of the country’s biggest exporters Aluminij Mostar finally closed down its operations on Wednesday midnight after it was disconnected from the power grid. The smelter was under a huge debt of 380 million Bosnian marka (US$218 million) because of higher electricity and alumina costs. The smelter owed 280 million marka to the state power utility, EPHZHB, which stopped supplying power at a discounted price since June, agreed with the government last December. Since then, the smelter has been buying day-ahead electricity, which is more volatile than long-term power contracts. The shutdown on Wednesday followed a failed attempt to find a strategic investor for the company. London-listed miner and commodity trader Glencore backed out from a...
Ulrich Schridde, a well-known metal industry expert joins Skyadvisory as Associate Partner. Schridde would strengthen Skyadvisory as strategist in the metal industry with immediate effect. “We are enthusiastic to welcome such a renowned metal expert like Ulrich in our team. His competence and experience are pivotal for creating significant value to our clients in the metal area,” says Dr. Carsten B. Henkel, Chairman & CEO of Skyadvisory. Ulrich Schridde has more than 37 years of experience in the metals industry. Since October 2015 he has served at Aludium as Director of Metal Management and was responsible for metal procurement and metal strategy. He also worked with Rusal as Director of Sales and was responsible for the European Business. He ventured into the aluminium and metal sector...
The US dollar continued to climb against its major rivals yesterday. Base metals ended mixed. LME aluminium climbed 0.89% and SHFE aluminium went flat. LME aluminium traded flat yesterday. Three-month LME aluminium registered slight gain during the day but outperformed most other base metals as it climbed to a high of US$1,820 per tonne last night and closed 0.89% higher on the day at US$1,820.5 per tonne. However, pressure above will cap its upside room and keep it between US$1,780-1,830 per tonne today. As on July 9, Tuesday, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1782.50 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1783 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1802 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 1803 per tonne; Dec 20 bid price stands at US$ 1908 per tonne,...
The US dollar held on to gains from last Friday, hovering at a three-week high, as investors continued to reappraise the Federal Reserve interest rate outlook in the wake of last week's nonfarm payrolls report. Base metals traded mixed. LME aluminium closed flat and SHFE aluminium gained 0.11%. While aluminium cash contract gained over the day, three months aluminium fell yesterday driven by dropping confidence in longs. Over the night, three-month LME aluminium fell to a low of US$1,796 per tonne after it unsuccessfully tested pressure from US$1,810 per tonne. It ended flat overnight at US$1,804.5 per tonne, and may hover between US$1,780-1,850 per tonne with limited upward momentum today. As on July 8, Monday, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1782.50 per tonne, LME official...
Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) has won two gold awards at the 2019 Ideas Arabia competition for employees’ suggestions. The Ideas Arabia competition encourages employee engagement in continuous improvement of a company through suggestion schemes, and rewards creative and original ideas. EGA winning entry included a safety suggestion developed by EGA employees Leyson Ecuacion, Reynaldo Subong, Gereliv Magale, Jayaprakash Rajagopaland and Rolando Milloria. The suggestion eliminated a potential fire risk through equipment modifications. Another winning idea was suggested by Ravindrakumar Shinde, Rajesh Chenolil, Melchor Gella, Satish Rajput and Balakrishnan K.P. for designing and building a robotic cleaning machine for pipes, eliminating the need for removal before cleaning. Both these...
Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) reported a double digit increase in overall sales’ volume in Q2 2019 despite trade-tensions and the downward LME price graph. Alba, which is on the course to become the largest smelter in the world with the full ramp-up of Line 6 on 31 July 2019, has been steadily reporting growth in production and sales. Alba’s sales volume increased 25% YoY to stand at 311,928 tonnes from 249,595 tonnes in Q2 2018. Year-over-Year aluminium production jumped 21% YoY to 305,727 tonnes from 252,081 tonnes in Q2 2018. Value-Added (VA) Sales averaged at 52% of total shipments in comparison with 60% for the same period in 2018. Commenting on Alba Sales’ volume and Production for Q2 2019, Alba’s Chief Executive Officer, Tim Murray said: “Driven by the solid progress on the Line 6...
Shanghai Metals Market found social inventories of primary aluminium further inched down by 6,000 tonnes on Monday, July 8, across eight major consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrants. The inventories are thus standing at 1.022 million tonnes compared to 1.028 million tonnes on Thursday, July 4. Week-on-week, the inventories dropped 29,000 tonnes from 1.051 on June 27, 2019. Production cut at aluminium smelters and weaker arrivals at warehouses have been consistently dragging down the inventories. Since June 3 until now, the inventories recorded decreases by over 155,000 tonnes, found SMM data. On July 8, the inventories in Wuxi, Jiangsu; Shanghai; and Gongyi, Henan dropped 6,000 tonnes, 3,000 tonnes, and 2,000 tonnes to stand at 329,000 tonnes, 204,000 tonnes, and 105,000...
The US dollar traded sharply higher against all of the major currencies on the back of Friday's non-farm payrolls report and climbed to the highest in two-and-a-half weeks, to 97.446. Base metals ended mostly lower. LME aluminium dipped 0.28% and SHFE aluminium eased 0.07% during Friday night. Three-month LME aluminium rebounded after a higher US dollar drove it to a low of US$1,791 per tonne, but it failed to exceed US$1,807 per tonne and closed 0.28% lower on the day at US$1,804.5 per tonne on Friday night. LME aluminium is likely to trade at US$1,770-1,820 per tonne today. As on July 5, Friday, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1779 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1779.50 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1801 per tonne, 3-months offer price...
Alcoa Corporation signed a conditional share purchase agreement with private equity investment firm PARTER Capital Group AG to sell its two aluminium plants in Spain. Avilés and La Coruña aluminium plants include the casthouses at both facilities and the paste plant at La Coruña, which are currently in operation, and the two curtailed smelters. Alcoa reached an agreement with the workers’ representatives relating to a transaction with PARTER Capital Group AG, based in Switzerland. But a final acquisition is subject to a buyer-provided credit facility to support future operations. If the acquisition cannot be completed by July 31, 2019, which is extended from the original June 30, 2019 deadline, the collective dismissal and social plan are expected to go into effect on August 1, 2019....
A00 aluminium ingot price started the month of July lower at RMB13760 per tonne and continued to move in a lower range till Wednesday, July 3. The price registered a hike in the last two days of the week at RMB 13760 per tonne and RMB13810 per tonne on Thursday and Friday. Aluminium price in other major China markets saw mixed performance over the week. Shanghai Metals Market study showed that a low consumption season in July-August and falling alumina prices would continue to weigh on Shanghai aluminium prices in the short term. The average premium came in at RMB10 per tonne on Thursday, June 4. As of yesterday, spot aluminium price is likely to trade at a discount of RMB 10 per tonne to a premium of RMB 30 per tonne. On the other hand, social inventories of primary aluminium across...
