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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According to a White House Report, the Trump administration announced new sanctions on Iran's metals sectors on Wednesday under International Emergency Economic Powers Act. This is a punitive step against Tehran that has been creating tensions in the Middle East. Trump's executive order has imposed sanctions on the Iranian iron, steel, aluminium and copper industries. The order came after Iran withdrew from parts of a nuclear agreement signed during Obama era. United States withdrew from that deal a year back but Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China are still a part of the deal. “The order takes steps to deny Iran revenue, including revenue derived from the export of products from Iran’s iron, steel, aluminium, and copper sectors, that may be used to provide funding and support for...
The US dollar dropped to the 6-week low against the yen, as risk appetite lowered on most markets amid the US-China trade conflict. Two days of trade negotiations begin in Washington on Thursday and market participants are waiting for a solution. LME base metals declined for the most part while SHFE metals mostly increased. LME aluminium advanced 0.42% and SHFE aluminium jumped 0.21%. LME aluminium continued to regain losses and settled 0.42% higher on the day at US$1,806.5 per tonne after rising to a high of US$1,810 per tonne. The contract is expected to trade at US$1,750-1,850 per tonne today. As on May 9, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1766 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1766.50 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1798 per tonne, 3-months...
China’s Henan Shenhuo Group announced that it started the construction of an aluminium smelting project investing around RMB 6.75 billion ($996.59 million). The company also said that its new project, located in the southwestern province of Yunnan, would be having an annual capacity of 900,000 tonnes. The expected time to launch the project is in next two years. The first phase will have a capacity of smelting 451,100 tonnes of aluminium per annum. The project is the latest case illustrating Yunnan’s increasing popularity as a location for aluminium smelters in China due to abundant hydropower resources, which is cheaper and cleaner, compared to coal fired power. Henan Shenhuo Group Co., Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, produces aluminium and related products, such as electrolytic...
The prices of aluminium ingot price have extended gain today, May 10, across all major markets in China. Shanghai Metals Markets data shows that A00 aluminium ingot price has increased RMB90 per tonne to RMB14170 per tonne. The average price is expected to range between RMB14150-14190 per tonne. On Friday, 10 May 2019, Foshan aluminium ingot price has increased further to RMB14210 per tonne from RMB14120 per tonne. In Wuxi and Hangzhou market, ingot price rose to RMB14165 per tonne and RMB14175 per tonne. Aluminium ingot price in Chongqing, Shenyang, Tianjin, Linyi and Gongyi stood at RMB14200 per tonne RMB14195 per tonne RMB14160 per tonne RMB14230 per tonne RMB14115 per tonne. Aluminium powder price stood at RMB17.7 per kg, up from RMB17.6 per kg. In another update from SMM, average...
The US dollar rebounded with foreign exchange traders holding off from making big moves as they awaited definitive news out of the trade talks between the US and China which resume on Thursday. Base metals ended mostly lower and LME aluminium fell almost 1.1% and SHFE aluminium closed 0.4% lower. Compared with the SHFE 1906 contract, three months LME aluminium felt a greater impact from macroeconomic pessimism, as it lost 1.05% overnight and finished at US$1,799 per tonne, with a low of US$1,793 per tonne. It is seen trading between US$1,750-1,800 per tonne today. As on May 8, 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$ 1798 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 1800 per tonne;...
Primary aluminium inventories in China have recorded further downfall this week ended on May 9 due to limited arrivals and strong demand, found Shanghai Metals Market. This has brought down the stocks to 1.409 million tonnes, down 33,000 tonnes from 1.44 million tonnes on May 5 across eight major consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrants. In Wuxi and Jiangsu, the primary aluminium inventory has dropped by some 11,000 tonnes to stand at 506,000 tonnes; while that in Shanghai, Nanhai and Guangdong, and Gongyi and Henan, the inventories are down by some 7,000 tonnes to hover at 277,000 tonnes, 9,000 tonnes to 310,000 tonnes, and 2,000 tonnes to 99,000 tonnes, respectively. The chart below indicates the current status of primary aluminium inventories across China in more details:...
On May 7, the Aluminum Association released a new policy roadmap called “The Aluminum Agenda” for a sustainable and competitive U.S. Aluminum Industry. The agenda includes principles and policy goals for a U.S. aluminium industry in the 21st century. The document prepared in consultation with the aluminium companies covering the entire value chain has listed down five key areas for the future growth and investment in the U.S. aluminium sector. Trade: Negotiation with China to discuss aluminium overcapacity, elimination of trade restrictions for countries that abide by the trade rules and implementation of trade enforcement for others. Environment: Development of common sense and science-based environmental regulation for air and water quality, chemical reporting and fuel economy standards...
Norway-based aluminium producer Hydro and Germany-based renewable power developer Sowitec have planned to form a joint venture for the development of a large-scale floating solar power project on Lake Tucurui in the state of Pará, Brazil. If realized, the solar plant will produce electricity for Hydro’s operations in Pará, including the alumina refinery Alunorte and the primary aluminium plant Albras, Hydro said through its press release. Courtesy: Hydro “Hydro has a clear strategy to further reduce emissions from our operations. Increasing our use of clean energy is an important contributor to achieving that target,” said executive vice president of Hydro’s Energy business area, Arvid Moss. “If we succeed in realizing this project, it will be an important milestone for floating solar...
Production of primary aluminium in China stood at 11.52 million tonnes for the first four months of 2019, showed Shanghai Metals Market survey. Production dropped 1.42 per cent year-on-year as capacity in operation remained low after losses triggered a slew of capacity cuts from June 2018 to February 2019. China produced 2.89 million tonnes of aluminium in April, a drop of 2.08 per cent from a year earlier. Domestic primary aluminium capacity in operation came in at an annualised 36.23 million tonnes by the end of April, with operating rates averaging 88.8%, inching up 0.3 percentage point from the end of March. China’s primary aluminium production is expected to decline 1.56 per cent year-on-year to stand at 3.03 million tonnes by the end of this month. Social inventories of primary...
The US dollar weakened against the Japanese yen. LME aluminium grew 1.06% and SHFE aluminium finished slightly higher last night. Benchmark aluminium price on London Metal Exchange dropped to close at US$ 1767 per tonne on Tuesday, May 7, from US$ 1783.5 per tonne on Friday May 3. LME aluminium is likely to be traded at US$1,800-1,820per tonne today. As on May 7, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1766 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1767 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1798 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 1798.50 per tonne; Dec 20 bid price stands at US$ 1918 per tonne, and Dec 20 offer price stands at US$ 1923 per tonne. The LME aluminium opening stock stood at 1263400 tonnes. Live Warrants totalled at 864650 tonnes, and Cancelled...
Metals & mining firm Vedanta Limited announced its audited consolidated results for the fourth quarter (Q4) and full year ended 31 March 2019 (FY2019). For Q4 FY2019, the company reported a attributable Profit after Tax (PAT) before exceptional items and DDT of INR2,615 crore, up 66% quarter-on-quarter. For FY2019, attributable PAT before exceptional items and DDT declined 15% year-on-year to INR6,857 crore. Revenue for Q4 FY2019 stood at INR23,092 crore, down 1% QoQ sequentially on lower commodity prices, rupee appreciation and lower volume at Aluminium and Zinc India business, partially offset by higher sales volume at ESL, Zinc International and Iron ore Karnataka. For FY2019, revenue came in at INR 90,901 crore, lower by 1% YoY. Mr. Navin Agarwal, Chairman Vedanta Limited, said,...
A00 aluminium ingot price recorded an increase of RMB30 per tonne on Wednesday, 08 May 2019 after declining three days in a row. Ingot price increased from RMB14050 per tonne to RMB14080 per tonne. Spot aluminium contract is likely to be traded at a premium of RMB40 per tonne. The price is expected to range at RMB14060-14100 per tonne. Aluminium ingot price in Foshan and Wuxi rose by RMB30 per tonne and RMB25 per tonne to stand at RMB14080 per tonne and RMB14075 per tonne. Their prices are expected to range at RMB14060-14100 per tonne and RMB14070-14080 per tonne. In other major cities like Hangzhou, Tianjin and Linyi, the aluminium ingot price increases by RMB20 per tonne each to stand at RMB14090 per tonne, RMB14100 per tonne and RMB4170 per tonne. Their prices are expected to range at...
LME Asia Week is staring today, May 7, 2019, at Hong Kong with over 2,000 metals professionals and media converging together. The week will see industry experts discussing a number of topics around precious, base and ferrous metals. Ian Roper, general manager of SMM Singapore said during LME Asia Week in Hong Kong that supply side reforms in China have not benefitted the aluminium and lead sector. “Supply side reforms have not really restricted Chinese supply of aluminium,” Roper said. He said that despite supply reforms aluminium capacity in China continues to grow in excess and about 2.9 million tonnes of capacity would come online in 2019. Production in 2018 dropped for the first time in 20 years but the entire loss will be offset by new capacity, he added. Most of the new capacity to...
The US dollar increased on Monday as the cautious stance in the global markets sustained the upside momentum in the greenback. , after the US President Donald Trump re-ignited trade effervescence on Sunday. SHFE nonferrous metals closed lower on the first trading day after the Labour Day holiday, as trade tensions between Washington and Beijing re-escalated after President Donald Trump said the US would hike tariffs on goods from China. Base metals ended mixed and SHFE aluminium dropped 0.11%. The LME was closed for a bank holiday on Monday and it reopens trading on Tuesday. The most traded SHFE June contract opened lower and extended its declines to end at an intraday low of RMB13,925 per tonne on Monday, down 1.8% on the day. The unwinding of long positions accounted for the losses in...
According to Shanghai Metals Market, the price of A00 aluminium ingot extends its drop today, on May 7, by RMB 30 per tonne to RMB 14,050 per tonne. The average prices are expected to range between RMB 14,030 per tonne and RMB 14,070 per tonne. Spot aluminium contract is likely to be traded at a discount of RMB10 per tonne to a premium of RMB30 per tonne. After a rise on April 29, the A00 aluminium ingot price has been declining, marking today the third consecutive drop. In major cities like Foshan, Hangzhou, Chongqing, and Shen Yang, the aluminium ingot price has declined by RMB 30 per tonne, while in Wuxi by RMB 10 per tonne, Tianjin by RMB 50 per tonne, Linyi by RMB 20 per tonne and in Gongyi by RMB 25 per tonne. As far as the prices of raw materials are concerned, the spot alumina...
Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) has announced that it has successfully started additional 106 pots in Line 6 expansion on Thursday 18 April 2019. With this ALBA has started a total of 212 pots, which is equivalent to 50% of Line 6 production capacity. Alba organized a ceremony to mark this milestone, which was held on Tuesday 30 April. The ceremony was attended by the Chairman of the Board of Directors Shaikh Daij bin Salman bin Daij Al Khalifa along with Alba CEO Mr. Tim Murray, Alba Executive Management Team, Line 6 Start-up Team and senior Bechtel officials. Commenting on the ocassion, the Chairman of Alba’s Board of Directors, Shaikh Daij Bin Salman Bin Daij Al Khalifa, said: “We are excited to have progressed the ramp-up of Line 6 pots ahead of plan by 12 days. With 50% of Line 6...
AlCircle is pleased to announce joining of Anthony (Tony) Tropeano to its advisory board. Mr. Tropeano retired as CEO of FATA SpA in January 2018 and set up his own company, TT Consulting Inc., providing management consulting services for metals, mining and contracting sectors. Mr Tropeano's firm TT Consulting Inc has Foundry Ecocer Srl from Italy as one of its major clients. He has successfully spent 40 years of his professional career in the ferrous and non-ferrous industries. His career began as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Italimpianti of America, Inc. In 1994 he joined the Italian company FATA where he held several executive leadership positions and retired as the CEO. He successfully led FATA’s two operating divisions, FATA Hunter (world leader in...
Social inventories of primary aluminium across eight consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrant, stood at 1.44 million tonnes as of Sunday May 5, Shanghai Metals Market data showed. Primary aluminium stocks declined 28,000 tonnes from Monday, April 29. The chart below indicates the current status of primary aluminium inventories across China: Stocks of primary aluminium in Wuxi, Jiangsu stood at 517,000 tonnes, down 15,000 tonnes from 532,000 tonnes on Monday April 29. Inventories in Shanghai and Nanhai, Guangdong decreased 1,000 tonnes and 4,000 tonnes to stand at 284,000 tonnes and 319,000 tonnes. Inventories of primary aluminium in Gongyi, Henan dropped to stand at 101,000 tonnes, while that in Hangzhou, Zhejiang increased to stand at 117,000 tonnes.
