
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...
Grow with
AL Circle

A major shareholder of the Portland aluminium smelter has reportedly revealed that the high cost of electricity is threatening the future viability of the plant. According to Alumina Limited managing director Mike Ferraro’s report to The Australian Financial Review , “Prices (for electricity) have fallen because of renewables coming on stream, but it still needs to continue to fall to achieve the sort of returns that we need to achieve to keep the facility operating.” Member for South West Coast Roma Britnell is of the opinion that high power prices are the biggest issue that businesses across Victoria are suffering from, especially the energy intensive industries like the Portland smelter. She said the state government should have made power more affordable for the Portland smelter so...

According to a recent report, Alcoa has bagged an award as a silver tier employer in the Australian Workplace Equity Index Awards (AWEI). Chairman and managing director Michael Parker said, “The aim was for every Alcoa employee to bring their whole selves to work and to feel included and valued for who they were and for the diversity of ideas and experiences they brought.” “Since 2013, our ally network for LGBTI employees, EAGLE, has grown from 30 members to more than 500, all banding together to champion change across the business,” Mr. Parker said further. Under the leadership of Alcoa’s Pinjarra Alumina Refinery manager Mark Hodgson, the network actively promotes a culture of inclusion and rallies support for LGBTI colleagues. Some of the activities in which the EAGLE network has taken...

The Aluminum Association announced yesterday that the Association’s President and CEO Heidi Brock is resigning from the chair later this year to become President and CEO of the American Forest and Paper Association. The Aluminum Association Board of Directors has started the search for a successor for Ms Brock. “Over nearly eight years as President and CEO, Heidi has grown the Aluminum Association’s value proposition and membership. Today, the association is speaking with a strong, united voice across the aluminium value chain and is a recognized leader on critical issues including sustainability and trade,” said Michelle O’Neill, Alcoa Senior Vice President for Global Government Affairs and Sustainability, and Chair of the Aluminum Association. Since 2011, Brock has been constantly...

The Federation of Aluminium Consumers in Europe (FACE) has reportedly launched a campaign to urge the European authorities to remove import tariffs on primary aluminium, particularly, unwrought aluminium. The import tariffs range between 3 per cent and 6 per cent. In support of this campaign, FACE has published a study commissioned to the LUISS University in Rome that shows maintaining the import tariffs on unwrought aluminium had incurred an extra-cost of up to €18 billion on the EU's downstream aluminium sector between 2000 and 2017. The downstream sector accounts for 92 per cent of the jobs and 70 per cent of the turnover of the European Union’s aluminium industry. The LUISS study also shows that the 6 per cent import tariff on unwrought aluminium for protecting EU producers could not...

The US dollar index dipped on Tuesday on higher US interest rates. Bolstered by hopes that China will pump money into building metals-intensive infrastructure, LME base metals closed higher across the board on Tuesday. LME and SHFE aluminium crept up slightly. Three-month LME aluminium climbed to an intraday high of US$1,797.5 per tonne on Tuesday before it lost most of those gains to close the trading day at US$1,778 per tonne. The unwinding of short positions \accounted for the gains on the day. LME aluminium is expected to trade between US$1,770-1,820 per tonne today. As on June 11, Tuesday, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1754 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1754.50 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1783 per tonne, 3-months offer price is...

A00 aluminium ingot price marks second consecutive increase today to RMB14080 per tonne. The average prices are expected to range between RMB14060 per tonne and RMB14100 per tonne. Spot aluminium contract is likely to be traded at a premium of RMB10-50 per tonne. Aluminium ingot price in Foshan stood 0.07 per cent higher on Wednesday, 12 June 2019, standing at RMB14180 per tonne. The average price is expected to hover at RMB14160- 14200 per tonne today. Ingot price in Wuxi, Tianjin, and Gongyi remained unchanged at RMB 14060 per tonne, RMB14070 per tonne, and RMB14010 per tonne. Ingot price in Hangzhou increased RMB 10 per tonne to stand at RMB 14090 per tonne. Aluminium ingot price in Chongqing, Shenyang, and Linyi came in at RMB14110 per tonne, RMB14100 per tonne and RMB14180 per tonne....

According to Abal, the aluminium industry association of Brazil, Brazil's primary aluminium output dropped 19.7% YoY to 48,400 tonnes in April 2019. This was the second smallest production volume recorded in 2019. Month-on-month, Brazil’s primary aluminium production dropped 3.6% from 50,200 tonnes in March. According to the association, the total primary aluminium production from January to April also dropped 23.5% to 195,400 tonnes in comparison with the same period of 2018. Brazil’s full-year aluminium output for 2018 stood at 659,000 tonnes. Brazil being the center of South America's aluminium value chain, its declining aluminium output has been impacting South American total production. Regional primary aluminium output dropped 20.4% year-on-year to 82,000 tonnes in April, according...

The US dollar recovered on Monday as the US and Mexico reached a deal to avoid tariffs. Most LME base metals closed higher on Monday and aluminium rose 0.9%. Most SHFE base metals also ticked up overnight and aluminium gained 0.3%. Three-month LME aluminium rebounded from an intraday low of US$1,752.5 per tonne to close 0.94% higher at US$1,777 per tonne on Monday night. The loading up of long positions primarily accounted for the gain over the day. LME cash contract closed lower at the day’s trading but recovered some losses overnight. Three months LME aluminium is expected to trade between US$1,760-1,820 per tonne today. As on June 10, Monday, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1720 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1720.50 per tonne; 3-months bid price...

As updated by Shanghai Metals Market, A00 aluminium ingot price in China increased from RMB 14020 per tonne on June 10 to RMB 14070 per tonne on June 11. The average prices are expected to range between RMB 14050 per tonne and RMB 14090 per tonne. Spot aluminium contract is likely to be traded at a premium of RMB 40 per tonne. Aluminium ingot price in Foshan registered an increase of RMB60 per tonne today and came in at RMB 14170 per tonne. Ingot price in Wuxi and Hangzhou increased RMB 50 per tonne and RMB 55 per tonne to stand at RMB 14060 per tonne and RMB 14080 per tonne. Aluminium ingot price in Chongqing, Shenyang, Tianjin, Linyi, and Gongyi stood at RMB 14100 per tonne, RMB 14085 per tonne, RMB 14070 per tonne, RMB 14150 per tonne and RMB 14010 per tonne. Aluminium Alloy (A356)...

Russian Economic Development Minister Maxim Oreshkin does not see Russia’s dispute with the United States on aluminium and steel duties imposed by Washington to be settled by December 2019. In June 2018, Russia filed a lawsuit with the WTO to challenge extra tariffs on steel and aluminium by the U.S. in March 2018. The country’s biggest aluminium exporter Rusal was also put under sanction in April 2018 by the U.S. treasury. Though the sanctions were lifted in January 2019, the tariffs are intact creating tension between both the countries. The minister expressed his thoughts in in Tsukuba, which is hosting the G20 ministerial meeting on trade and digital economy. "We are continuing our litigation, the procedures are not quick. It’s clear that most likely the US will oppose the decisions....

Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) announced it was a sponsor and a key participant in one of the leading events in the world aluminium industry, the 12th Harbor Aluminium Outlook Summit. The event was held from 4 – 6 June 2019 in Chicago, USA. Tim Murray, Chief Executive Officer of Alba took part in the Executive Panel on 5 June, covering the topics: Section 232 One Year After, Lifting of Sanctions Impact, Supply Competition in North America/Europe, and Sourcing Challenges. Alba’s Chief Executive Officer, Tim Murray, said: “The Harbor Aluminium Outlook Summit is one of the world’s most strategic events that gives in-depth insights on the aluminium industry. It is also a well-known platform to connect and engage with our peers from the aluminium business and its various sectors. As we are...

According to Shanghai Metals Market data, the production of primary aluminium during the first five months of 2019 in China stood 1.3 per cent down from a year ago. The total production thus came in at 14.56 million tonnes. In May separately, the production was at 3.04 million tonnes, down 1 per cent year on year. Lower operation capacity despite a build-up in May was one of the major factors responsible for the decline in primary aluminium production, showed SMM data on Monday, June 10. By the end of May, the domestic primary aluminium capacity in operation was at an annualised 35.81 million tonnes, up 643,000 tonnes from the end of April but down 377,000 tonnes from a year ago. New capacity and recovery at smelters in Gansu, Yunnan, Guangxi, and Qinghai lifted the operating capacity...

The US dollar dropped on Friday on disappointing US nonfarm payroll figures. LME base metals, except for tin, closed lower on Friday and aluminium fell 0.8%. The SHFE remained closed from Thursday night for the Dragon Boat Festival and will reopen today. Three-month LME aluminium fell to a low of US$1,757 per tonne on Friday before it closed the trading day 0.76% lower at US$1,760.5 per tonne. The unwinding of long positions accounted for the loss on the day. A weaker US dollar and relatively poor fundamentals are likely to keep LME aluminium rangebound between US$1,750-1,810 per tonne today. As on June 7, Friday, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1732 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1733 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1765 per tonne, 3-months...

Shanghai Metals Market data showed that social inventories of primary aluminium across eight consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrants, came in at 1.131 million tonnes as of Monday June 10. Primary aluminium inventories declined 17,000 tonnes from 1.15 million tonnes on Thursday June 6. This was smaller than a drop of 31,000 tonnes in the previous weekend from Thursday May 30 to Monday June 3. Inventories declined slower over the holiday-extended weekend. The chart below indicates the current status of primary aluminium inventories across all major China markets: Inventories of primary aluminium in Wuxi, Jiangsu and Shanghai dropped 9,000 tonnes and 6,000 tonnes from Thursday, June 6, to stand at 401,000 tonnes and 222,000 tonnes respectively. Stocks in Hangzhou, Zhejiang stood...

According to Shanghai Metals Market, the price of A00 aluminium ingot has recorded further down over the weekend ended on June 10 from RMB 14,060 per tonne to RMB 14,020 per tonne. This indicates that the A00 aluminium ingot price has shrunk by RMB 40 per tonne. The average prices are expected to range between RMB 14,000 per tonne and RMB 14,040 per tonne. Spot aluminium contract is likely to be traded at a premium of RMB 40 per tonne. Since the beginning of the month, the aluminium ingot price had been registering a decline ranging between RMB 14,170 per tonne and RMB 14,020 per tonne and thus, the price is now standing lower than RMB 14,170 per tonne in the same period last month. Today, the ingot price in Hangzhou has recorded a maximum decline in compare with other Chinese cities. The...

A00 aluminium ingot price continued to decline in the week to Thursday June 6. Aluminium ingot price started the week with RMB14170 per tonne and moved downwards to wind up the week at RMB14060 per tonne on Thursday, June 6, 2019. Aluminium price in other major China markets also registered a declining trend throughout the week. Average aluminium price is expected to hover between RMB 14040-14080 per tonne. China market is closed on Friday for the Dragon Boat Festival. Trading will resume on Monday. The average premium came in at RMB20 per tonne on Monday, June. Premium declined to RMB10 per tonne on Wednesday, after remaining flat on Tuesday. It again rose to RMB20 per tonne on Thursday, June 6. As of Thursday, spot aluminium price is likely to trade at a premium of RMB 40 per tonne....

Benchmark aluminium price on London Metal Exchange declined 1.33 per cent from the previous day and closed at US$ 1742.50 per tonne on Thursday, June 6, 2019. As on June 6, Thursday, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1742 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1742.50 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1773.50 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 1774 per tonne; Dec 20 bid price stands at US$ 1890 per tonne, and Dec 20 offer price stands at US$ 1895 per tonne. The LME aluminium opening stock dropped to 1114125 tonnes. Live Warrants totalled at 708825 tonnes, and Cancelled Warrants were 405300 tonnes. LME aluminium 3-months Asian Reference Price is hovering at US$ 1767.46 per tonne. SME and SHFE Aluminium Price Trend China market is closed on Friday, 07...

Hindalco Industries Ltd. has cut the prices of aluminium products by nearly 2% with effect from Wednesday, trade sources told Cogencis. With this price cut, rates of the company's products have slipped to a multi-month low. The rates are down more than 7% compared to the previous quarter. The three-month futures of aluminium on the London Metal Exchange, to which the company generally links prices, is also down 7% in the same period. Hindalco's aluminium operations, excluding those of US-based subsidiary Novelis Inc, generally account for nearly half of the company's sales and 70% of its operating profit. At 1128 IST, shares of Hindalco Industries were down nearly 1% at 196.10 rupees on the National Stock Exchange.