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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Rusal, one of the largest aluminium producers in the world has signed a cooperation agreement with Russian Railways (RZD) at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum for the rail transportation of agreed cargo volumes from Rusal. RZD is one of the three largest transport companies in the world. “RUSAL has always been interested in establishing long-term mutually beneficial cooperation with Russian Railways, our long-standing and reliable partner. This agreement will further reinforce our business relationship, allowing us to optimize logistics and ensure the stable operation of enterprises and the development of the supply chain to customers,” commented Evgenii Nikitin, CEO of RUSAL. Under the agreement, RUSAL would present the cargo according to the pre-agreed schedules with the...
The International Aluminium Institute (IAI) Chair Gervais Jacques said IAI Board of Directors has selected Miles Prosser as the next Secretary General of the IAI. He will take over from the current Secretary General, Ron Knapp, in January 2020. IAI said Miles is currently the Executive Director of the Australian Aluminium Council and in that role has interacted with the work of the IAI for many years and is well acquainted with the high quality team at IAI. Prosser said: "I am excited by the opportunity of working on behalf of the aluminium industry at a global level and anticipate early priorities to be the management of bauxite tailings/residue and providing value to IAI’s diverse range of members, geographically and along the aluminium supply chain." The International Aluminium...
Shanghai Metals Market data showed that social inventories of primary aluminium across eight consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrants, stood at 1.15 million tonnes as of Thursday June 6. Primary aluminium stocks declined 64,000 tonnes from 1.212 million tonnes on Thursday May 30. Inventories continued to decline in the week to Thursday June 6, due to limited arrivals and brisk demand. The chart below indicates the current status of primary aluminium inventories across all major China markets: Primary aluminium stocks in Wuxi, Jiangsu dropped 24,000 tonnes from Thursday, May 30, to stand at 410,000 tonnes today. Inventories in Shanghai and Nanhai, Guangdong, declined 23,000 tonnes and 2,000 tonnes from May 30 to stand at 228,000 tonnes and 253,000 tonnes; in Gongyi, Henan,...
The US dollar recovered from earlier losses on Wednesday as stronger-than-expected US services sector growth countered weak jobs data. LME base metals closed lower and aluminium dropped over 1%. SHFE aluminium declined close to 0.3%. The LME cash contract closed Wednesday’s trading higher at US$ 1766 per tonne. A rebound in the US dollar forced three-month LME aluminium to relinquish earlier gains to close Wednesday 1.04% lower at US$1,766.5 per tonne overnight. The loading up of short positions primarily accounted for the losses in LME aluminium on the day. LME aluminium is expected to trade between US$1,760-1,820 per tonne today. As on June 5, Wednesday, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1765.50 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1766 per tonne; 3-months...
A00 aluminium ingot price recorded a drop on Thursday, 06 June 2019 to RMB 14060 per tonne, after remaining flat at RMB 14100 per tonne on Wednesday, 05 June. Ingot price declined RMB40 per tonne or 0.28 per cent. The average price is expected to range within RMB14040-14080 per tonne. Spot aluminium price is likely to be traded at a premium of RMB40 per tonne. Aluminium ingot price in Foshan stood at RMB 14140 per tonne, a decrease of RMB50 per tonne or 0.35 per cent from RMB 14190 per tonne. The average price is expected to range at RMB14120-144160 per tonne today. Ingot price in Wuxi and Hangzhou declined RMB 65 per tonne and RMB 40 per tonne to stand at RMB 14045 per tonne and RMB 14100 per tonne. Aluminium ingot price in Chongqing, Shenyang, Tianjin, Linyi and Gongyi declined to stand...
Norsk Hydro in the financial report of the first quarter of FY2019-20 reportedly posted that its underlying earnings before financial items and tax came in at NOK559 million, compared with NOK3147 million in the same quarter last year. This sharp decline in underlying earnings reflects lower realised aluminium prices, higher raw materials costs, and the effects of the production curtailment at the Alunorte alumina refinery. Underlying EBIT for bauxite and alumina stood down from NOK741 million in Q1 2018 to NOK153 million in Q1 2019, while EBIT for primary aluminium declined from NOK823 million in Q1 2018 to NOK771 in Q1 2019. Underlying EBIT for rolled products and extruded solutions decreased as well, from NOK232 million in Q1 2019 to NOK138 million in Q1 2019 and from NOK 734 million...
The US dollar dipped on Tuesday after comments from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell fuelled expectations of a cut in interest rates. LME base metals closed mixed on Tuesday. Aluminium climbed 0.6%. SHFE base metals also saw mixed performance overnight. Aluminium traded marginally lower. After closing the day's trading weaker, the three-month LME aluminium got boosted by the falling greenback on Tuesday. The contract gained 0.62% to close at US$1,785 per tonne overnight. The loading up of long positions primarily accounted for the gains. Three months LME aluminium is expected to trade between US$1,760-1,810 per tonne today. As on June 4, Tuesday, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1751 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1751.50 per tonne; 3-months bid price...
Pacific Aluminium (New Zealand) Limited (PacAl NZ), a subsidiary of Rio Tinto, has reported its interest in the Tiwai Point smelter operated by New Zealand Aluminium Smelters Limited (NZAS). Smelter’s underlying earnings came in at NZ$22 million in 2018, down NZ$53 million from NZ$75 in 2017. This result reflects that during 2018 the operating environment became significantly more challenging, according to the release. The average LME price in the second quarter stood at US$2,259 per tonne. But then decline to US$1,971 in the fourth quarter. “While the New Zealand dollar averaged 0.69 US cents lower than 0.71 during the previous year, the increasing and volatile cost of raw materials throughout the year meant this provided little relief.” The smelter’s aluminium production increased 0.9...
Donald Trump’s decision to end the aluminium import tariff on Canada last month seems to have brought in relief to Oswego, as two of the city’s largest businesses were affected by the tariff. Since aluminium is one of the major sources of daily wages for the people in Oswego, President Donald Trump’s decision to levy a 10 per cent tariff on the metal from Canada badly hit the economy there, said Oswego Port Authority Director William Scriber. Compared to last year, Oswego has seen much of a loss this year, as imports of aluminium are down by 50 per cent from the same time of the previous year. Till the end of 2017, many aluminium suppliers were under contract to ship the metal to the Port of Oswego, which as a result, protected the city in New York from witnessing an economic upheaval in...
The US dollar sharply extended its declines on Monday. LME base metals closed mixed on Monday, and aluminium dropped 1.1%. SHFE base metals performed similarly, and aluminium declined 0.6%. Three-month LME aluminium fell below the five- and 10-day moving averages to close the trading day 1.11% lower at US$1,774 per tonne on Monday. The LME aluminium contract closed at US$ 1763.5 per tonne on Monday June 3, up from the last closing. LME aluminium is expected to trade between US$1,765-1,820 per tonne today. As on June 3, Monday, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1763 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1763.50 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1788 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 1788.50 per tonne; Dec 20 bid price stands at US$ 1900 per tonne,...
Reacting to a report from The New York Times, claiming that Trump administration was advised on imposing tariffs on Australian steel and aluminium, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Monday that the country has been complying with the terms of the trade deal with the U.S. It was reported that Trump was advised to import tariffs on Canberra considering the growing aluminium import from Australia to the United States over the past year. However, Morrison insisted that Australian aluminium exporters have not disregarded the trade deal with the U.S. after exemption last year. The New York Times report said that though Trump considered imposing tariffs on imports from Australia last week, he decided against it after opposition from military officials and the State Department....
According to the New York Times report, some of the United States top trade advisers including Robert Lighthizer, the US trade representative, and Peter Navarro, the director of the White House Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy, had urged the Trump administration to impose tariffs on aluminium imports from Australia. But Trump was eventually persuaded to backtrack on the decision as imposing tariffs on Australia could alienate a key ally in the Asia-Pacific region. The surge in Australian aluminium flowing onto the American market over the past year, which now accounts for about 6 per cent of all aluminium imported to the country, led the United States top advisers come up with the idea of scrapping the exemption that was granted last year to Australia. In May last year, when the...
The US dollar fell sharply on Friday after US President Donald Trump threatened new tariffs on Mexico. Most LME base metals traded lower on Friday, and aluminium advanced 0.7%. SHFE base metals traded mixed on Friday night and aluminium stayed flat. Three-month LME aluminium jumped to an intraday high of US$1,811.5 per tonne on Friday before it erased some gains to end 0.73% higher at US$1,794 per tonne at Friday night. The cash contract closed the week almost flat at US$ 1761 per tonne. Three months aluminium is expected to trade between US$1,770-1,820 per tonne today. As on May 31, Friday, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1760.50 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1761 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1787.50 per tonne, 3-months offer price is...
Social inventories of primary aluminium across eight consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrants, came in at 1.18 million tonnes as of Monday June 3. Primary aluminium stocks dropped 31,000 tonnes from 1.212 million tonnes on Thursday May 30, Shanghai Metals Market data showed. Inventories continued to decline over the weekend, due to limited cargoes arrivals at social warehouses. Deliveries from warehouses also shrank during the weekend. The chart below indicates the current status of primary aluminium inventories across all major China markets: Primary aluminium stocks in Wuxi, Jiangsu stood at 422,000 tonnes as of Thursday May 30, a drop of 12,000 tonnes from 434,000 tonnes on Thursday May 30. Inventories in Shanghai and Nanhai, Guangdong, declined 8,000 tonnes and 4,000 tonnes...
According to Shanghai Metals Market, Shandong Weiqiao Group, one of the top aluminium producers in China, has raised the benchmark purchasing price for prebaked anode for the first time this year by RMB 100 per tonne to RMB 3,095 per tonne in cash for June 2019. In May, the benchmark price had stood at RMB 2,995 per tonne in cash, down RMB 35 per tonne month on month. Amidst this, the prebaked anode price in the east and central has recorded a rise by RMB 50 per tonne to RMB 3,162 per tonne and RMB 3,197 per tonne after almost a month. The price of A00 aluminium ingot, on the other hand, has extended its fall by RMB 10 per tonne to RMB 14,170 per tonne, found Shanghai Metals Market. With this drop, the aluminium ingot price marks the fifth consecutive decline. The average prices are...
En+ Group, the parent company of Rusal, which covers the energy and aluminium assets previously belonging to business tycoon Oleg Deripaska reported its first-quarter results on Friday, May 31. The group’s first-quarter net profit fell by 39% to US$409 million due to the U.S. sanctions on the group and falling aluminium prices. En+ also reported its revenue dropped 19% to US$2.8 billion in the first quarter as a result of a 14% drop in LME aluminium prices and lower shipment volume. “The aluminium market continues to experience pricing pressure with only modest growth in global demand expected in 2019,” Vladimir Kiriukhin, En+’s chief executive, said in the statement. EN+ was one of three companies linked with Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska that had to face sanctions from the US...
A00 aluminium ingot price started its downward trend on Tuesday, 28 May 2019, after two back-to-back increases on May 24 and May 27. Aluminium ingot price started the week noticeably higher at RMB14350 per tonne on Monday and ended the week lower at RMB14180 per tonne on Friday, May 31, 2019. A00 Average aluminium price is expected to hover between RMB 14160-14200 per tonne. Aluminium price in other major China markets showed the same trend starting the week higher and ending lower. Premium remained unchanged at RMB20 per tonne till Thursday, 30 May. The average premium dropped to RMB10 per tonne on Friday, May 31. As of yesterday, spot aluminium price is likely to trade at a discount of RMB 10 per tonne to a premium of RMB 30 per tonne. Inventories of primary aluminium continued to...
The US dollar recovered some ground on Monday May 27 and continued to hover at a higher range over the week amidst US-China trade tension. LME aluminium registered a declining trend throughout the week. After a holiday on Monday May 27, the LME aluminium cash contract started the week with US$ 1773 per tonne and moved steadily downwards to wind up the week at US$1761 per tonne. Three-month LME aluminium fluctuated between US$1,799-1,814.5 per tonne on Tuesday and closed 0.08% higher at US$1,803.5 per tonne. Weak trading was seen for LME three months contract. As on May 31, Thursday, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1760.50 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1761 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1787.50 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$...
