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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National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) aims to raise its net profit to more than INR 2,000 crore by 2020 and INR2,500 crore in next three years, said Tapan Kumar Chand, CMD NALCO, while inaugurating the 2 day long 5th National management conference (NamCon-2019) on “Weatherproof organization: Challenging the Challenge” here at Asian School of Business Management. “With the business model in place, the company doubled its net profit from INR669 crore in FY 2016-17 to INR1342 crore in FY 2017-18. Now the company is all set to scale higher on financial front and envisages achieving a net profit of more than INR 2000 crore by 2020 and INR2500 crore in the next three years” “Besides, to retain business excellence, the company has consistently been working on with focus on sustainability...
The United Arab of Emirates, world’s fifth largest aluminium producer and one of the top aluminium exporters to the world exported about 2.68 million tonnes of aluminium and aluminium alloys in 2018. The biggest aluminium exporter in the UAE, EGA exports the major portion of its aluminium and ships the rest domestically. {newsStudioGallery} When we compare it year on year, we observe, UAE exported about 2.61 million tonnes of aluminium and aluminium alloys in 2017. This records a growth of about 2.7% over last year. Data shows, UAE earned export revenues of about US$ 4 billion in 2017 and it increased to US$ 4.1 billion in 2018. This shows that the aluminium tariffs imposed by the US have no significant impact on UAE’s overall aluminium export. When we look at UAE’s aluminium export to...
Social inventories of primary aluminium across eight consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrants, increased 45,000 tonnes from Thursday February 21, Shanghai Metals Market data showed. As of Monday February 25, social stocks of primary aluminium stood at 1.72 million tonnes. The chart below indicates the current status of the primary aluminium inventories across China: Inventories in Wuxi, Jiangsu and Nanhai, Guangdong increased 6,000 tonnes and 22,000 tonnes from Thursday February 21 to 636,000 tonnes and 340,000 tonnes respectively. Stocks in Gongyi, Henan stood at 157,000 tonnes as of Monday February 25, up 19,000 tonnes from Thursday February 21. Inventories in Shanghai and Hangzhou, Zhejiang dropped 2,000 tonnes to 312,000 tonnes and 149,000 tonnes respectively. The reason...
The US dollar index fell on Friday as investors took on riskier assets on hopes for a trade deal between the US and China. LME base metals traded higher on Friday and aluminium advanced 0.4%. SHFE base metals also ticked up across the board on Friday night and aluminium advanced 0.8% and tin inched up 0.1%. LME aluminium has been showing some upward movement since last week and the contract closed the day’s trading at US$ 1890.50 per tonne on Friday. After a lower open, the three-month LME aluminium climbed into positive territory to end at US$1,918 per tonne on Friday night. It is expected to trade at US$1,900-1,920 per tonne today. As on February 22, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1890 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1890.50 per tonne; 3-months bid...
Century Aluminum Company announced fourth quarter and full year 2018 results. The company reported net loss of $65.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2018. Adjusted net loss was 40.7 million compared to adjusted net income of $2.3 million for Q3 2018. Adjusted EBITDA for Q4 2018 was $(18.1) million driven by the historically high alumina price relative to the metal price. Cash position at quarter end was $38.9 million and revolver availability was $156.9 million. Shipments of primary aluminium were 199,466 tonnes compared with 182,926 tonnes shipped in Q3 2018, reflecting the impact of the Hawesville and Sebree restarts. Net sales were $486.9 million compared with $481.8 million for Q3 2018. For the full year 2018, Century reported a net loss of $66.2 million. The adjusted net loss for...
According to Shanghai Metals Market, spot aluminium trades across east-China remained positive on this morning, February 22, as downstream consumers stockpiled for the weekend. In Shanghai and Wuxi, spot deals were mostly heard at RMB 13,490 per tonne to RMB 13,510 per tonne and that in Hangzhou at RMB 13,500 per tonne to RMB 13,510 per tonne, SMM research found. Traded prices were up more than RMB 70 per tonne from the previous morning. The front-month aluminium contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange also rose on the day. Spot discounts in Shanghai were seen at RMB 90 per tonne to RMB 70 per tonne against the SHFE March contract, slightly wider than RMB 60 per tonne to RMB 50 per tonne on Thursday morning. The state-owned aluminium giant the Aluminium Corporation China (Chalco)...
In a positive development, Canada’s ambassador to the U.S. David MacNaughton told reporters on Thursday that the steel and aluminium tariffs imposed on Canada by U.S. President Donald Trump should be lifted “in the next few weeks,”. He expressed his confidence that the end of the trade war is approaching. "It is obviously difficult to predict accurately exactly what is going to happen here — there are many moving parts, there are other distractions — but I'm confident that we're going to get there in the next few weeks," MacNaughton said. Trump imposed 25 per cent tariff on steel and the 10 per cent tariff on aluminium imported from all countries in March 2018, which started a trade war between the U.S. and its closed allies and prompted counter-tariffs on a wide range of goods from the...
The US dollar index on Thursday recovered from earlier losses spurred by soft US economic data, as investors consolidated positions and looked for fresh trading incentives amid US-China trade talks and Brexit negotiations. LME base metals traded mixed on Thursday and aluminium rose 1.6%. SHFE base metals traded higher overnight with aluminium gaining 1%. The three-month LME aluminium saw gains accelerate and trading volumes expand in the afternoon of European trade as the fresh round of US-China trade negotiations in Washington began. LME aluminium ended the trading day at US$1,907.5 per tonne last night and is expected to trade at US$1,870-1,910 per tonne today. As on February 21, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1857.50 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$...
As most downstream consumers returned from CNY break and took active participation in trading in the spot aluminium market yesterday, the A00 aluminium ingot price once again extends its growth by RMB 80 per tonne to RMB 13,510 per tonne, found Shanghai Metals Market. This marks the third consecutive rise to the highest, not only of this month but the year 2019. The average prices today are expected to range between RMB 13,490 per tonne and RMB 13,530 per tonne, with spot discounts to settle at RMB 80 per tonne to RMB 40 per tonne, after declining by RMB 10 per tonne from the previous day. In most of the major Chinese markets, the ingot price today has increased by RMB 70 per tonne, by coincidence. Prices in the east (Wuxi), south and north markets have reached to RMB 13,500 per tonne,...
According to the latest data showed by International Aluminium Institute (IAI), global primary aluminium production came in at 5.3 million tonnes in January. Production in January decreased by 1.06 per cent from January 2018, and dropped 3.53 per cent from December 2018. In Asia ex-China, primary aluminium production stood at 372,000 tonnes in January 2019, up 0.81 per cent from 369,000 tonnes in January 2018; in the Middle East, the production rose from 452,000 tonnes in January 2018 to 453,000 tonnes in January 2019. Source: International Aluminium Institute China’s total primary aluminium production stood at 2.96 million tonnes last month, data showed on Wednesday, February 20. Europe primary aluminium production totalled at 651,000 tonne in January, down from 665,000 tonnes in the...
Argentina-based aluminium producer Aluar Aluminio Argentino SAIC reportedly switched on a 50.4-MW wind park last week, located in the local province of Chubut. The wind park is named as Parque Ecolico Aluar and covers an area of 14,000 hectares. It has 14 wind turbines – all supplied by Vestas Wind Systems A/S. Vestas Wind Systems A/S is a Danish manufacturer, seller, installer, and servicer of wind turbines. The wind park is expected to generate enough power to meet the demand of more than 700,000 homes. But that will be possible only after it obtains approval from the Argentine wholesale power market administrator Cammesa to commence commercial operations. Parque Ecolico Aluar is just the first of a three-stage wind cluster. The second phase, comprised of 17 wind turbines with a...
GB Railfreight announced that they would be continuing their successful partnership with Liberty British Aluminium. Both the companies have agreed to extend their contract for the next three years. According to the extended contract, GBRf class 66 locomotives will bring alumina for Liberty British Aluminium from North Blyth to Fort William six days a week. The service enables the delivery of critical supplies to an industry which is not only central to the West Highlands, but the Scottish economy as a whole. John Smith, Managing Director of GB Railfreight, said: “We are delighted to see the extension of this historic relationship between GB Railfreight and Liberty British Aluminium. The move will ensure the continuation of rail freight on the West Highland line. Our ambition at GBRf is to...
Social inventories of primary aluminium across eight consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrants, gained 55,000 tonnes from Thursday February 14, Shanghai Metals Market data showed. As of Thursday February 21, social stocks of primary aluminium came in at 1.67 million tonnes. Consumption has not resumed completely, and this accounted for the expanded inventories. The chart below indicates the current status of the primary aluminium inventories across China: Inventories in Wuxi, Jiangsu and Nanhai, Guangdong increased 22,000 tonnes and 24,000 tonnes from Thursday February 14 to 630,000 tonnes and 318,000 tonnes respectively. Inventories of primary aluminium in Hangzhou, Zhejiang stood at 151,000 tonnes as of Thursday February 21, up 8,000 tonnes from Thursday February 14....
On Thursday morning, February 21, spot aluminium trades across east China increased from the previous day, found Shanghai Metals Market. Most downstream consumers returned after the middle of the first lunar month and started active trading in the spot aluminium market, resulting in improved trades. In Shanghai and Wuxi, spot deals mostly occurred at RMB 13,420 per tonne to RMB 13,440 per tonne while in Hangzhou at RMB 13,410 per tonne to RMB 13,430 per tonne. Traded prices were up more than RMB 40 per tonne from the previous morning. The front-month aluminium contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange also inched up from the previous day. In Shanghai, spot discounts were heard at RMB 60 per tonne to RMB 50 per tonne against the SHFE March contract, slightly narrower than RMB 70 per tonne...
The US dollar index rose on Wednesday as the Federal Reserve’s latest policy meeting appeared more hawkish than the market had expected. LME base metals traded higher across the board on Wednesday and aluminium increased1%. SHFE base metals, except for tin, performed similarly overnight. SHFE aluminium gained 0.3%. LME aluminium closed the day’s trading at US$ 1829.50 per tonne. The three-month LME aluminium contract advanced some 1% to end Wednesday at US$1,876 per tonne. SMM expects the contract to trade at US$1,850-1,880 per tonne today. As on February 20, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1829 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1829.50per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1855 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 1856 per tonne; Dec 19 bid price...
According to Shanghai Metals Market, the A00 aluminium ingot price records a rise yet again on February 21, 2019, Shanghai Metals Market found. From RMB 13,390 per tonne, as of February 20, the price today has increased by RMB 40 per tonne to RMB 13,430 per tonne. With this rise today, the A00 aluminium ingot crosses its highest price so far this month of RMB 13,410 per tonne. The average prices today are expected to range between RMB 13,410 per tonne to RMB 13,450 per tonne, with spot discounts to settle at RMB 70 per tonne to RMB 30 per tonne. In the east (Wuxi and Hangzhou), the ingot price has grown by RMB 45 per tonne and RMB 30 per tonne to stand at RMB 13,430 per tonne and RMB 13,420 per tonne respectively. In the south and north, on the other hand, the ingot price has increased by...
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba), soon to be the world’s largest smelter, has been awarded the 2019 International Safety Award – Merit from the British Safety Council for its commitment to protect and maintain the safety, health and well-being of its workforce in 2018. Alba’s Chief Executive Officer, Tim Murray said: “We believe that our Safety performance is directly linked to our productivity. Alba is pleased to be recognised with the International Safety Award for its constant endeavour to ensure that all our employees and contractors uphold Safety as a top priority. As we prepare ourselves for Alba’s transformation to the largest smelter in the world, we must shift our mind-set to embrace Safety as a way of life.” Congratulating Alba on this Award, Mike Robinson, Chief Executive of the...
Spot aluminium trades weakened across east-China markets on Wednesday, February 20, as prices of aluminium increased. Spot deals mostly occurred at RMB13,380 to RMB13,390 per tonne in Shanghai and Wuxi, and at RMB13,380 per tonne to RMB13,400 per tonne in Hangzhou, Shanghai Metals Market research found. Traded prices were up more than RMB30 per tonne from the previous morning. In Shanghai, spot discounts were at RMB70 per tonne to RMB60 per tonne against the SHFE March contract. While sellers remained keen to offload cargoes, trades shrank as Chalco did not make purchases in eastern markets this morning. In Guangdong, spot deals occurred at RMB13,440 per tonne to RMB 13,450 per tonne, and the spread with prices in Shanghai came in at RMB60 per tonne. The Aluminum Corp of China (Chalco)...
