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 rose for the third consecutive trading day and jumped to the highest since March 11, at 97.3 last night. Base metals ended mixed. LME aluminium gained while SHFE aluminium went down slightly. LME aluminium closed Thursday's trading lower at US$ 1896.50 per tonne and rebounded and ended 0.11% higher overnight after it fell below support from the 40- and 60- day moving averages, to a low of US$1,896 per tonne. The contract is likely to trade at US$1,870-1,930 per tonne today. As on March 28, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1895.50 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1896.50 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1911.50 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 1912 per tonne; Dec 20 bid price stands at US$ 2040 per tonne, and Dec 20 offer...
Aluminium Corporation of China Limited’s (Chalco) 2018 annual aluminium production has reportedly recorded a growth of 16 per cent to come in at 4.17 million tonnes. The news came after the state-run company formally announced in a presentation to analysts reviewed by Reuters on March 29. After taking over Yunnan Aluminium last year, Chalco’s unlisted parent company Chinalco’s group capacity increased to 5 million tonnes and above. The jump was enough for Chalco to overtake Russia’s Rusal as the world’s second-biggest publicly traded producer of the metal. Rusal produced 3.753 million tonnes in 2018. Before this, Beijing-based Chalco could beat Rusal’s aluminium production in 2012, when both the firms had produced more than 4 million tonnes, according to a review of company filings. Later...
A00 aluminium ingot price once again sees a drop today, March 29, 2019. The price dropped from RMB13940 per tonne to RMB13920 per tonne, representing a drop of RMB20 per tonne from yesterday. The price is expected to hover between RMB13900-13940 per tonne, with spot premium to settle at RMB250-290 per tonne. In the East (Hangzhou), the aluminium ingot price dropped from RMB13960 to RMB13940 per tonne on Friday, 29 March 2019, and expected to move within a range of RMB13930-13950 per tonne. Ingot price in the East (Wuxi) showed restraint at RMB13930 per tonne. Aluminium ingot price in the South declined RMB20 per tonne to stand at RMB13920 per tonne, while that in the North increased RMB50 per tonne to stand at RMB13960 per tonne. Their average price is expected to range between...
According to the latest data showed by International Aluminium Institute (IAI), world primary aluminium production stood at 4.92 million tonnes in February 2019, down 9.07 per cent from January production of 5.4 million tonnes, but up 0.26 per cent from February 2018 production of 4.9 million tonnes. China’s estimated primary aluminium production came in at 2.78 million tonnes in February, data showed on Wednesday, March 20. In Asia ex-China, total aluminium production registered 343,000 tonnes last month. This was up 1.48 per cent from 338,000 tonnes in February 2018. In the Middle East, the production dropped 1.93 per cent year-on-year to 406,000 tonnes in February 2019. Total primary aluminium production was ta 414,000 tonnes last year. Europe primary aluminium production totalled at...
The US dollar index rose on Wednesday to a new high of 96.98 since March 13, while emerging-market currencies declined. LME base metals traded mixed on Wednesday. LME aluminium rose 0.05% while SHFE aluminium gained 0.48%. The three-month LME aluminium rose to an intraday high of US$1,919.5 per tonne on Wednesday before it pared some gains to end marginally higher at US$1,903 per tonne. The market appeared to have been minimally affected by the Norsk Hydro’s announcement that it reached an agreement with Brazil’s federal prosecutor for a complete restart at Alunorte. LME aluminium is expected to trade at US$1,870-1,920 per tonne today. As on March 27, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1898 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1898.50 per tonne; 3-months bid...
After three consecutive drops, the A00 aluminium ingot price has recorded a growth of RMB 40 per tonne to RMB 13,940 per tonne, Shanghai Metals Market found. This is the first rise of aluminium ingot this week, after which the price has rebounded to what it was a week ago, on March 20. As the first quarter of the calendar year 2019 is approaching an end, it can be concluded that the A00 aluminium ingot price has shown an overall growing trend. There had been intermittent drops in price; but nonetheless, it grew up to RMB 14,020 per tonne on March 22, the highest in the quarter. Also, compared with the same period last year, the ingot price as on today is higher by RMB 280 per tonne from RMB 13,660 on March 28, 2018. The A00 aluminium ingot average price today is expected to range between...
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) has started 25 per cent of Line 6 pots on Tuesday March 26, 2019. The company has safely started 106 pots out of 424 pots in Line 6 smelter, and expects to reach 50 per cent by the end of next month. Alba, soon to be the largest aluminium smelter in the world, had announced the successful testing and operation of 40 pots in February 2019. The Chairman of Alba’s Board of Directors, Shaikh Daij Bin Salman Bin Daij Al Khalifa, said: “We are pleased to have safely started 106 pots which equates to 25% of Line 6 capacity. Our next milestone is to reach 50% by the end of April and we expect full completion of Line 6 in early Q3 2019.” “I would like to thank all of our employees and contractors for taking Extreme Ownership on Safety during the Line 6 start-up.”
As updated by Shanghai Metals Market, downstream consumers showed interest in purchasing spot aluminium in the eastern and southern markets in China this morning as prices of aluminium fell. Spot aluminium in Shanghai mostly trade at RMB13,870 per tonne and RMB13,880 per tonne on Wednesday, March 27, down some RMB70 per tonne. Spot aluminium was at RMB13,940 per tonne and RMB13,950 per tonne on Tuesday morning. Premiums over the front-month April contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange stood at RMB280 per tonne and RMB300 per tonne, from RMB320 per tonne and RMB340 per tonne in the previous morning. In Wuxi and Hangzhou, on Wednesday morning, spot deals mostly occurred at RMB13,870 per tonne and RMB13,880 per tonne, and RMB13,880 per tonne and RMB13,900 per tonne. In Guangdong, spot...
The Aluminum Association released a joint letter with the Aluminium Association of Canada and IMEDAL urging for quota-free exemptions from the aluminium tariffs for Canada and Mexico before the implementation of United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Addressed to the Presidents of the US, Canada and Mexico, the associations urged the administration to resolve any national security concerns related to the Section 232 tariffs on aluminium products while exempting the two trade partners from tariffs. The associations believed that the new USMCA cannot function properly without full exemptions for Canada and Mexico. They emphasised that the association members have been benefitted by the fair and legal trades of aluminium and aluminium products within North America. The proposed...
The US dollar inched higher against its rivals as benchmark US 10-year Treasury debt yields rebounded from 15-month lows. Base metals ended mostly higher. LME aluminium rose 0.9% and SHFE aluminium, edged down. LME aluminium dropped to a low of $1,874.5/mt after miner Rio Tinto said they restarted bauxite mining in Australia after the cyclone was over. The aluminium contract then regained some losses overnight and closed at US$1,904.5 per tonne, facing pressure from the five-day moving average. The contract is likely to trade at US$1,850-1,930 per tonne today. As on March 26, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1849 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1849.50 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1875.50 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 1876 per...
A00 aluminium ingot price further extends its decline to RMB13900 per tonne on Wednesday, 27 March 2019. This records a decline of RMB50 per tonne or 0.36 per cent from yesterday. The price is expected to range between RMB13880-13920 per tonne, with spot premium to settle at 270-310 per tonne. Aluminium ingot price in the East Wuxi and Hangzhou dropped RMB70 per tonne and RMB85 per tonne to stand at RMB13875 per tonne and RMB13890 per tonne respectively. Ingot price in the South and North declined RMB60 per tonne, each and stood at RMB13900 per tonne and RMB 13860 per tonne today. Australian alumina FOB price registered USD410 per tonne on Wednesday, up USD4 per tonne or 0.99 per cent. The price was at USD406 per tonne on Monday, March 25. The average price of aluminium alloy (A356)...
L&T Hydrocarbon Engineering Limited (LTHE), a wholly owned subsidiary of Larsen & Toubro, has bagged a contract from Tawfiq Coke Products-Oman for coke calciner project in Sohar Industrial Estate located in Oman. LTHE said its work scope includes selection of technology licensor, FEED & EPC for a 2 x 225,000 TPA plant of calcined coke from green pet coke. The company will work facilities, including material handling, rotary kiln and cooler, combustion chamber, gas separation and associated offsite & utilities packages. “This award will further reinforce L&T’s operations in Oman and provide an opportunity to contribute to the expansion of industrial facilities in Sohar,” the company said in its press release. Last month, LTHE had secured the Engineering, Procurement, Construction and...
dmg events today, March 26, announced the launch of Aluminium Expo that is going to take place at Dubai World Trade Centre on 24-26 September 2019. The show will welcome traders and suppliers from the entire aluminium value chain, whether they provide raw materials, finished products, or the machinery that are used to build aluminium products. Senior vice president – construction at dmg events Chris Kilbee said that the launch of this kind of show related to the aluminium industry in Dubai was an utmost important, especially the UAE being a well-known exporter of aluminium. A host of networking and learning events will also take place alongside the exhibition. So, the attendees can come, hear, and debate with experts from the industry. Expectedly, 10,000 professionals will attend the expo...
Mexico’s Deputy Economy Minister Luz Maria de la Mora said to reporters on Monday that they are against the proposed steel and aluminium quotas and demanded complete removal of tariffs on those products under U.S. Section 232. He insisted that the tariffs cannot be replaced by any quota system. "The Mexican government's position is that the application of the 232 on steel and aluminum is not justified," he said to the reporters. Mexico has been consistently fighting against the tariffs claiming that they are damaging the trade equation in North America. On March 12, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said that the US is working on a plan to lift tariffs from Mexican and Canadian steel and aluminium. However, they wish to continue with the gains that U.S. domestic producers have...
Shanghai Metals Market found spot aluminium premiums continuing at the same price today, on March 26, as trades in east China remained muted in the morning. Traders were reluctant in purchasing that primarily accounted for a lacklustre spot aluminium trading. In Shanghai, spot aluminium transactions were mostly heard at RMB 13,940 per tonne to RMB 13,950 per tonne today, down from the transaction of RMB 13,950 per tonne to RMB 13,970 per tonne on Monday, March 25. But premiums over the front-month April contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange remained unchanged from yesterday at RMB 320 per tonne to RMB 340 per tonne. In Wuxi and Hangzhou, on the other hand, spot deals mostly occurred at RMB 13,940 per tonne to RMB 13,950 per tonnes and RMB 13,970 per tonne to RMB 13,980 per tonne this...
The US dollar traded lower as the US government bond yields extended their decline from last week on fears of slower global growth. Base metals ended mixed and both LME and SHFE aluminium dropped overnight. LME registered the third consecutive loss yesterday to close at US$1856 per tonne after the contract reached its highest last week after the news of cyber-attack on Hydro. Given limited upward momentum, LME aluminium slid after it increased to the highest overnight at US$1,899 per tonne. The contract is likely to trade at US$1,840-1,900 per tonne today. As on March 25, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1855.50 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1856 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1886 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 1887 per tonne; Dec...
According to Shanghai Metals Market, the A00 aluminium ingot price has recorded a further decline today, on March 26, to RMB 13,950 per tonne. Yesterday the price was at RMB 13,970 per tonne, which represents that today the price has dropped by RMB 20 per tonne. The average prices are expected to range between 13,930 per tonne and RMB 13,970 per tonne, with spot premium to settle at RMB 310 per tonne to RMB 350 per tonne. The aluminium ingot price in the east (Wuxi and Hangzhou) has plunged by RMB 15 per tonne and RMB 25 per tonne to settle at RMB 13,945 per tonne and RMB 13,975 per tonne, respectively. The aluminium ingot price in the south has dropped by RMB 15 per tonne to RMB 13,960 per tonne while that in the north has slipped by RMB 10 per tonne to RMB 13,920 per tonne. As far as...
Followed by a breakthrough of RMB 300 per tonne last Friday, spot aluminium premiums in south China extended gains today, on March 25, Shanghai Metals Market found. In Shanghai, premiums over the front-month April contract on Shanghai Futures Exchange hovered between RMB 320 per tonne and RMB 340 per tonne, compared with RMB 310 per tonne to RMB 330 per tonne on Friday, SMM learned. Spot transactions were seen at RMB 13,950 per tonne to RMB 13,970 per tonne, down some RMB 60 per tonne from last Friday. Spot transactions in Wuxi mostly occurred at RMB 13,950 per tonne to RMB 13,970 per tonne while that in Hangzhou at RMB 13,990 per tonne to RMB 14,010 per tonne this morning. Spot aluminium premiums stood above RMB 330 per tonne in early morning trade but dipped in later trade as smelters...
