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 decreased sharply in afternoon trade on Friday, surrendering early gains after an employment report for the month of April that topped economists’ expectations. LME base metals ended mostly higher but aluminium lost over 1%. SHFE metals closed mixed on Tuesday April 30, the last trading day before the Labour Day holiday and aluminium slid 0.35%. SHFE aluminium is expected to trade higher today. LME aluminium fell below all moving averages to a low of US$1,796 per tonne, from a high of US$1,829 per tonne last Friday. Expanding aluminium inventories across LME warehouses depressed prices. It is expected to trade at US$1,700-1,800 per tonne after trades resume on Tuesday. Today, there will be no trading due to Early May Bank Holiday. As on May 3, Friday, LME aluminium cash...
The Indian government has once again deferred the deadline to impose retaliatory import duties on 29 US products, including almond, walnut, and pulses. So, now instead of May 2, 2019 the deadline to impose tariffs is on May 16, 2019. The deadlines have been extending since June 2018, when India decided to impose these duties in retaliation to the Trump Administration’s decision to impose high customs duties on certain aluminium and steel products. Further extension of the deadline comes in the backdrop of the US decision to withdraw export incentives provided to Indian exporters under Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) programme. America has given 60 days-notice, which will come to an end this week, to withdraw the export incentives. However, on May 6, the US Commerce Secretary...
US dollar continued to stay strong and hovered just below 98 last night. Most of the LME base metals saw a tumbling session on Wednesday but recovered to a certain extent on Thursday. Aluminium stock in the LME registered warehouses registered a rise yesterday. The LME aluminium price, however, shrugged off the stocks increase, rising 0.1 per cent to end at $1,816 a tonne after its plunge on Wednesday to its weakest in more than two years. The United States and China are likely to close a trade deal that would roll back a portion of the US$250 billion in U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods. U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin also indicated about “productive” talks in Beijing. Both LME cash and 3 month price registered a rise yesterday. The LME benchmark price is likely to trade within a...
Alba published its financial results for the first quarter of 2019. The company’s top-line and bottom-line were primarily impacted by 14% year-over-year decrease in LME prices. With regards to Total Sales/Revenues, Alba generated BD 203.5 million (US$ 541.3 million) in Q1 2019, down 8% YoY. Alba’s Total Assets as of March 31, 2019 stood at BD 2,259.9 million (US$ 6,010.3 million). The company reported a net loss of BD 15.8 million (US$ 42 million) in Q1 2019 compared to a net profit of BD 33.9 million (US$ 90 million) in Q1 2018, down 147% year-over-year. Gross Profit stood at BD 0.850 million (US$ 2.3 million, down 98% from BD 40 million (US$ 106.3 million) for the same period last year. Alba closed the quarter with Value-Added (VA) sales averaging 52% of total shipments. The company’s...
US dollar held on to overnight gains today. Most of the LME base metals saw a tumbling session on Wednesday with aluminium and lead hitting their lowest in more than two years. This was attributed to the sale of computer-driven funds after an options expiry amid concerns about China demand. However, most of them recovered rose from the low overnight, with progress in the U.S.-China trade talks lending some support. The United States and China are likely to close a trade deal that would roll back a portion of the US$250 billion in U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods. U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on his Twitter account that the two countries have completed “productive” talks in Beijing. Benchmark aluminium rose 0.3 per cent to US$1,819.50 a tonne by 0140 GMT. As on May 1, LME...
Century Aluminum Company on Tuesday announced its first quarter 2019 results. The company reported a net loss of $34.6 million for the first quarter of 2019. The adjusted net loss stood at $66.6 million in Q1 2019 compared to an adjusted net loss of $40.7 million in Q4 2018. Shipments of primary aluminium were 206,451 tonnes compared with 199,466 tonnes in Q4 2018, reflecting the continued incremental production from the Hawesville restart. Net sales increased from $486.9 million to $490.0 million in Q1 2019, up 1 per cent quarter-on-quarter despite lower LME prices and regional premiums. Adjusted EBITDA stood at $(44.1) million driven by the unprecedented alumina price relative to the metal price. Cash position at quarter end was $22.2 million and revolver availability was $152.0...
US dollar index settles over 97 today. LME base metals traded lower. LME aluminium closed at US$ 1809 tonne. Chinese market will remain closed from Wednesday May 1 to Saturday May 4 for Labour Day. As on April 30, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1808 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1809 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1817 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 1817.50 per tonne; Dec 20 bid price stands at US$ 1938 per tonne, and Dec 20 offer price stands at US$ 1943 per tonne. The LME aluminium opening stock stood at 1074650 tonnes. Live Warrants totalled at 708350 tonnes, and Cancelled Warrants were 366300 tonnes. LME aluminium 3-months Asian Reference Price is hovering at US$ 1823 per tonne. SME and SHFE Aluminium Price Trend The benchmark...
Century Aluminum Company, a global producer of primary aluminium, has announced the appointment of Jesse E. Gary as the company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, a newly created position. Jesse E. Gary will continue to serve as Century’s General Counsel. Jesse E. Gary said: “I am honored and excited to have this opportunity to serve and support all of our incredible employees and customers. Century is well positioned to perform in the current dynamic industry environment, and I look forward to working with Mike and the rest of our team to safely drive our business forward.” “I am also very pleased to announce Morgan’s promotion. Over the past five years, she has demonstrated superb legal skills and has become a trusted partner of the business. I am very confident...
According to the latest press update from Hydro, the company’s production volumes in Q1 2019 fell YoY, reflecting the continued Alunorte curtailment and the recent cyber attack that disrupted production putting up a number of operational challenges, primariloy in Extruded Solutions business. Hydro will be releasing its complete Q1 financial results on June 5. “The cyber attack that hit us on March 19 has affected our entire global organization, with Extruded Solutions having suffered the most significant operational challenges and financial losses,” says President and CEO Svein Richard Brandtzæg. He added that the overall financial impact of the cyber attack is estimated at NOK 400-450 million in Q1. Hydro’s cyber security was already insured with cyber insurance from recognized service...
Russian aluminium giant Rusal posted that its first-quarter sales of value added products (VAP) dropped 44 per cent from the contemporary period of the previous year and 22 per cent from the last quarter. Sanctions by the United States are held primarily responsible for this year-on-year and quarter-on-quarter downfall. Washington had declared sanctions against the Russian aluminium company in April 2018 and lifted them in January 2019 when co-owner Oleg Deripaska reduced his stake after months of talks and several extensions of the deadline for sanctions to take full effect. But despite the withdrawal of the sanctions, the company claims its sales of VAP metal - alloyed ingots, slabs, and some other products to have been affected in the first quarter. Sales of VAP metal decreased to...
Aluminum Corporation of China Limited (CHALCO) announced that its net profit stood at RMB444.9 million in the first quarter of 2019, up 46 per cent from RMB304.5 million in the first quarter of 2018, as aluminium prices stabilised and asset disposals swelled its bottom line. Revenue for January-March increased 20.7 per cent year-on-year on higher production. Revenue came in at RMB44.11 billion, according to a filing to the Hong Kong stock exchange. CHALCO‘s aluminium production in the three month period of 2019 dropped 6.9 per cent year-on-year, underlining the impact low prices are having on its operations. Aluminium production stood at 950,000 tonnes, down from 1.02 million tonnes in the three month period of 2018, said CHALCO in the data sheet released on Tuesday and reviewed by...
Charles Brian Hesse is the new head of Russian aluminium giant Rusal’s United States office, according to the latest report. Rusal has appointed Mr. Brian Hesse at a time when trying to strengthen its presence in North America. The news came when the firm said in a statement on Tuesday, April 30. Hesse will join Rusal with a vast experience in the metal industry. He worked as the Vice President of sales and marketing for the Americas for India’s Vedanta, prior to which, he also worked as the global sales director in a rolled products manufacturer Aleris International. Rusal in mid-April landed its first investment in the United States since Washington lifted sanctions. It has collaborated with Braidy Industries Inc. to construct an aluminium rolling mill in Ashland, Kentucky, USA in order...
The US dollar index weakened and fell below 98 as traders awaited more data to decide whether to add to their bullish positions in the greenback. Most major currencies remained in tight ranges and traded lightly as Japan began its 10-day Golden Week holiday. China will have its Labour Day holiday from Wednesday to Friday. LME base metals ended mixed and aluminium slid 1%. SHFE metals closed higher and aluminium gained 0.2%. As aluminium inventories across LME warehouses expanded some 48,000 tonnes, LME aluminium slid to the lowest since mid-January, at US$1,826 per tonne. It ended lower for the fourth consecutive trading day, at US$1,828 per tonne. It is likely to trade weakly between US$1,810-1,850 per tonne today. As on April 29, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1815 per...
Qatar Aluminium Manufacturing Company (QAMCO), a successful producer of primary aluminium and one of the largest aluminium smelters in the region, has reportedly announced its financial results for the fourth-month period ended on March 31, 2019. The company announced that its net profit was at QR13.3 million, with earnings per share of QR 0.02. This result predominantly represents the net profit share of QAMCO’s joint venture Qatalum. There were two challenging conditions in the market that primarily affected Qatalum’s performance, said the company itself. The first challenging condition was the increase in the costs of raw materials; particularly the prices of alumina that led to a rise in Qatalum’s operating cost and a decrease in its operating margins substantially during December...
LME aluminium contract closed at US$ 1,832 per tonne on Friday, April 26, down from US$1,852 per tonne on Thursday, April 25. The contract is expected to trade between $1,830-1,870 per tonne today. As on April 26, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1831.50 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1832 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1848 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 1849 per tonne; Dec 20 bid price stands at US$ 1972 per tonne, and Dec 20 offer price stands at US$ 1977 per tonne. The LME aluminium opening stock stood at 1020875 tonnes. Live Warrants totalled at 642100 tonnes, and Cancelled Warrants were 378775 tonnes. LME aluminium 3-months Asian Reference Price is hovering at US$ 1862.79 per tonne. SME and SHFE Aluminium Price Trend The...
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) is a key sponsor and participant in one of the leading events of the aluminium industry, the CRU’s 24 th World Aluminium Conference. The conference was held from 24 – 26 April 2019 at the Jumairah Carlton Tower, London. More than 210 delegates -- representing 129 companies from 41 countries participated in this year’s conference. Alba’s Marketing Director Boris Santosi, Alba America’s Manager Patrick Hudson, Strategic Supply and Planning Manager Moh’d Khalid and acting Public Relations Manager Abdulla Seyadi represented Alba at this event. Before the event, commenting on Alba’s participation in this Conference, Alba’s Chief Executive Officer, Tim Murray, said: “We look forward to engage with industry experts to effectively address the challenges our...
Canada's Ambassador to the United States David MacNaughton said on Thursday that there is no negotiation going on between the US and Canada over U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminium. He also said that parliament is not likely to approve the USMCA if Trump administration’s tariffs on Canadian aluminium and steel remain in place. Speaking at a U.S. Chamber of Commerce event in Washington, he said that "conversations" have consisted simply of the two countries restating their views. Canada's current Parliament breaks in June for the federal election expected in October. He said that the "conversations" have consisted simply of the two countries reiterating their views. "We're not in active negotiations at the present moment, but we need to get into active...
The A00 aluminium ingot price in China has once again dropped today, April 26, despite a rise in the alumina spot price, Shanghai Metals Market found. Followed by a rise to 6-months high, the ingot price has declined by RMB 60 per tonne to clock at RMB 14,170 per tonne, as of today. The average prices are expected to range between RMB 14,150 per tonne and RMB 14,190 per tonne, while the spot aluminium contract is likely to be traded at the same discount of RMB 30 per tonne to a premium of RMB 10 per tonne. As the decline in aluminium ingot price has touched upon all the major Chinese markets, the price in the south is found sunk by RMB 70 per tonne to RMB 14,180 per tonne while that in the north to the same price after declining by RMB 10 per tonne. The aluminium ingot price in the east...
