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 maintained last week’s gains as investors awaited developments in US-China trade negotiations and the Federal Reserve’s stance on interest-rate policy. LME base metals extended their declines as aluminium lost 2.29%. SHFE metals also closed lower and aluminium fell 0.31%. LME aluminium closed the day’s trading lower at US$ 1786 per tonne on Monday. The contract then led the losses among base metals overnight as macroeconomic pressure dragged it to a low of US$1,787 per tonne, and pulled it down 2.29% to US$1,789.5 per tonne. LME aluminium is likely to trade at US$1,790-1,820 per tonne today. As on May 20, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1785 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1786 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1818.50 per tonne,...
According to Shanghai Metals Market, the A00 aluminium ingot price has extended downfall today, on May 21, to RMB 14,240 per tonne. This is the third consecutive decline since May 17. The average prices are expected to range between RMB 14,220 per tonne and RMB 14,260 per tonne. In Foshan, Tianjin and Linyi, the A00 aluminium ingot price has dipped by RMB 10 per tonne to RMB 14,330 per tonne, RMB 14,270 per tonne and RMB 14,310 per tonne, respectively. In Wuxi and Hangzhou, on the other hand, the price has declined more by RMB 35 per tonne to RMB 14,245 per tonne and RMB 14,265 per tonne, while that in Shenyang and Gongyi by RMB 40 per tonne to RMB 14,255 per tonne and RMB 14,160 per tonne. The average price of spot alumina has shown restraint today at RMB 3087 per tonne after rising from...
EGA has started a new AED 15 million spent pot lining pre-treatment and crusher facility in its Al Taweelah site for recycling spent pot lining to be used by UAE cement industry. The largest spent pot lining treatment facility in the Gulf will have a capacity to crush 60,000 tonnes of SPL annually. The new facility is a part of EGA’s ongoing commitment to reducing and re-using industrial waste and the spent pot lining will be pre-treated to be used by cement companies in the UAE as a feedstock. Last year, EGA supplied over 41,000 tonnes of spent pot lining to UAE cement companies, reducing stockpiles from previous years and making EGA leading recycler of industrial waste. Worldwide, the aluminium industry produces over 1 million tonnes of spent pot lining every year without any...
Social inventories of primary aluminium across eight consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrants, came in at 1.309 million tonnes as of Monday, 20 May 2019. Inventories declined 37,000 tonnes from 1.346 million tonnes on Thursday, May 16, Shanghai Metals Market data showed. Inventories of primary aluminium continued to decline over the weekend, due to limited arrivals and robust demand. The chart below indicates the current status of primary aluminium inventories across all major China Markets. Compared with last Thursday, in Wuxi, Jiangsu, primary aluminium stocks declined 13,000 tonnes to stand at 470,000 tonnes on Monday. In Shanghai, stocks dropped 1,000 tonnes to stand at 269,000 tonnes; in Nanhai, Guangdong, inventories reduced 17,000 tonnes to stand at 269,000 tonnes....
The US dollar index on Friday advanced to its highest level in two weeks near 98 as the heavy selling pressure surrounding the major European currencies allowed investors to return to the relatively safer greenback. Base metals ended lower across the board as LME aluminium lost over 1%. SHFE aluminium dipped 0.52%. LME aluminium extended the weak trend from the Asian trading session, as it slipped to a low of US$1,826.5 per tonne and ended the trading day 1.27% lower at US$1,831.5 per tonne. Prices may face pressure as the US reached a deal to lift steel and aluminium tariffs on Canada and Mexico. It is expected to trade at US$1,830-1,850 per tonne today. As on May 17, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1804.50 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1805 per...
A00 aluminium ingot price records two back-to-back downfalls on Monday, 20 May 2019. The ingot price stood at RMB 14280 per tonne on May 20, down RMB 60 per tonne or 0.42 per cent from RMB 14340 per tonne on May 17. The price is expected to range within RMB14260-14320 per tonne today. Foshan aluminium ingot price dropped RMB 60 per tonne to RMB14340 per tonne today. Ingot price in Wuxi and Hangzhou declined RMB 40 per tonne and RMB 30 per tonne to stand at RMB143280 per tonne and RMB14300 per tonne. Aluminium ingot price in Chongqing, Shenyang, Tianjin, Linyi and Gongyi came in at RMB14300 per tonne, RMB14295 per tonne, RMB14280 per tonne, RMB14320 per tonne and RMB14200 per tonne. Australian alumina FOB price registered a USD18 per tonne increased to USD368 per tonne on Monday, 20 May...
ELYSIS, a technology company created by a partnership between two global industry leaders – Alcoa and Rio Tinto has been selected as the international “Breakthrough Solution of the Year” at the Global Metals Awards by S&P Global Platts, in London. The award is given to innovators as well those who have improved on an existing process remarkably. Vincent Christ, Chief Executive Officer of ELYSIS regards the “The ELYSIS™ technology as the greatest breakthrough in the aluminium industry since its beginnings in 1886. “It has the potential to completely revolutionize the global aluminium industry. We are pleased to see such an important organization, S&P Global Platts, recognizing it with this international award. It’s a great reward for all our talented and devoted professionals who are...
Greenback hit a four-month high against the Chinese Yuan at the beginning of the week. The Yuan slid with the escalation of trade war between the US and China. The US dollar rose to the highest since May 3, at 97.88 on May 17 Friday, as better-than-expected US data boosted investors’ risk appetite, even as the US and China remained locked in a trade dispute. LME aluminium started its upward trend at the beginning of the week and continued rising. The cash settlement contract hovered within a range of US$ 1765.5 per tonne to US$ 1832 per tonne over the week and ended the week slightly lower at US$ 1805 per tonne on rising dollar. The three months aluminium price closed the week at US$ 1835 per tonne. The lifting of Section 232 tariffs on Canada and Mexico will determine the movements of...
Rio Tinto, a global leader within the aluminium sector, won two awards at the seventh annual S&P Global Platts Global Metals Awards. Rio Tinto was named in both ‘Metals Company of the Year’ and ‘Industry Leadership Award – Nonferrous’. 2019 Global Metals Awards held at a black-tie gala in London on May 16, 2019. The event -- hosted by S&P Global Platts, the leading independent provider of information, analytics and benchmark prices for the commodities and energy markets -- was emceed by CNBC's Julianna Tatelbaum and attended by nearly 200 industry executives. The Global Metals Awards' independent judging panel lauded Rio’s forward-looking approach to the production of aluminium on a sustainable footing, while delivering strong financial performance in a year of international trade...
The US administration has announced the complete and permanent lifting of tariffs on aluminium imports from Canada, as well as a commitment to jointly address potential issues of transshipment, dumped or subsidized metal and surges that could impact the North American value chain. According to Jean Simard, President and CEO of the AAC, “As of next week, Canada and Mexico will be the only two countries in the world to have full and unrestricted access to the US market”. “This presidential decision, stated Jean Simard, enables the full realization of the potential of the new CUSMA free trade agreement between our three countries by putting an end to the harmful uncertainty that is impeding the development of the Canadian and North American aluminium industry. It’s time to turn the page and...
Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development and Design Centre (JNARDDC), Nagpur has reportedly innovated a process to convert coal fly ash into useful products such as aluminium fluoride and high purity silica at laboratory scale. So, now the current demand of aluminium fluoride, which is about 42,000 tonnes in Indian aluminium smelters, can be fulfilled by coal fly ash alone. This will help in saving natural resources, such as bauxite and sand, and lead to proper utilisation of coal fly ash. Aluminium fluoride is majorly used in the primary aluminium industry during the production of aluminium from alumina. The coal fly ash (CFA) generation in India is about 200 million tonnes per annum containing 30 per cent alumina and 60 per cent silica. The innovation of the process was based on...
Alcoa Corporation, a leading global producer in bauxite, alumina, and aluminium products, has agreed to extend the existing labour contract with the United Steelworkers. Alcoa has agreed to reach a new multi-year labour agreement covering about 1,700 active employees at five U.S. locations. The Company and the union have agreed to continue with the existing contract, which was set to expire on May 15, 2019. Negotiations between Alcoa and the workers will continue and a new deadline has not been set. United Steelworkers employees will continue to work under the extended contract at the five Alcoa sites: Warrick Operations in Indiana; Massena Operations in New York; Gum Springs in Arkansas; Wenatchee Works in Washington and Point Comfort in Texas. The major part of United Steelworkers...
The US dollar rose to the highest since May 3, at 97.88, as better-than-expected US data boosted investors’ risk appetite, even as the US and China remained locked in a trade dispute. LME base metals advanced for the most part and aluminium gained 0.19%. SHFE aluminium ended 0.24% higher. Lower inventories and rising prices of alumina on supply cuts continued to buoy prices of aluminium. LME aluminium gained 0.19% to settle at US$1,855 per tonne. LME aluminium is likely to trade at US$1,850-1,870 per tonne today. As on May 16, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1830 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1832 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1861 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 1862 per tonne; Dec 20 bid price stands at US$ 1873 per tonne, and...
A press release from Mecfor confirms that its 1st electrical autoguided vehicle (AGV) is in operation in a Quebec aluminium smelter. Ms. Éloïse Harvey, President of Mecfor announced this during the ‘Forum Manufacturier innovant’ in Montreal in the presence of Minister of the Economy and Innovation, Mr. Pierre Fitzgibbon. Government of Quebec has granted $ 350K to test the AGV TEAM prototype in real operational condition. Mecfor, a leader in North America for specialized mobile equipment for aluminium smelters invested US$ 1.5 million in this R & D project. The government added financial support of US$ 1,1 million for the project. Commenting on the announcement Éloise Harvey, President, Mecfor said, ‟We are proud to see our AGV TEAM, designed and manufactured here in Quebec, operating in a...
According to a Canadian media report a top Trump administration cabinet member has said the punitive steel and aluminium tariffs on Canada and Mexico will be lifted very soon. U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the U.S. is close to reaching an “understanding” with Canada and Mexico in the negotiation process of lifting the 25-per-cent duty on steel and 10-per-cent duty on aluminium from the two close trade allies. Mnuchin testified at the U.S. Senate appropriations subcommittee on the lifting of tariffs. Mnuchin said that lifting of the tariffs is an important step before ratifying the newly negotiated USMCA trade deal in all three countries, which would replace NAFTA. He added that President Donald Trump had issued instructions to resolve the tariff issues before the...
The US dollar retreated after a gain and ended flat on the day on disappointing data on the US retail sales for April. Base metals rose across the board and LME aluminium rose 0.68%. SHFE aluminium increased 0.38%. LME aluminium price saw two consecutive increases in last two days and crossed the US$1800 per tonne benchmark after continuous low run. The three months aluminium contract is expected to trade within a range of US$1,840-1,860 per tonne today. As on May 15, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1801.50 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1802 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$ 1943 per tonne, and Dec 20 offer price stands at US$ 1948 per tonne. The LME...
Primary aluminium stocks across eight major consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrants, have dropped further on higher demand and limited cargoes arrival, learned Shanghai Metals Market. The premium of spot prices over prices of futures triggered a larger outflow of warrants, which also reduced inventories. According to SMM data, the inventories have plunged by some 63,000 tonnes from May 9 to stand at 1.346 million tonnes, as of Thursday, May 16. In contrast to 506,000 tonnes in Wuxi and Jiangsu on May 9, the inventories today are standing at 483,000 tonnes, down 23,000 tonnes. In Shanghai, the inventories dipped 7,000 tonnes to clock at 270,000 tonnes and in Nanhai and Guangdong by 24,000 tonnes to 286,000 tonnes. In Gongyi and Henan, and Linyi and Shandong, the inventories...
Emirates Global Aluminium has become the first company in the Middle East to receive certification under the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI). EGA’s Al Taweelah site has been certified against ASI’s Performance Standard for responsible production, sourcing and stewardship of aluminium. Al Taweelah site produces more than 1.5 million tonnes of aluminium each year and has been in operation since 2009. Abdulla Kalban, EGA’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, said: “People around the world are rightly concerned that the products they use every day to make their lives better do not harm other people or the planet. Aluminium Stewardship Initiative certification provides assurance to our customers, in industries from automotive to electronics, that EGA is committed to helping...
