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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As the temperature soared above 40 degrees, it triggered power outages on Australia's strained grid on Friday. Demand for air-conditioning soared and coal-fired generators struggled to meet the surge in consumption leading to power shortage. To manage the power shortage, Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) cut power to Alcoa Corp's Portland aluminium smelter, the biggest power consumer in the state of Victoria for two hours on Thursday and Friday. Wholesale power rates in Victoria hit the market cap of A$14,500 ($10,298) per megawatt hour (MWh) before midday on Friday, earlier than expected, then dropped to A$300. AEMO Chief Executive Audrey Zibelman said that despite the additional power from the states of Tasmania, New South Wales and South Australia, they were short of supply and...
The US dollar strengthened against the euro after European Central Bank President Mario Draghi warned on downbeat economic growth. Base metals ended mixed. LME aluminium fell 0.55% and SHFE aluminium edged down. LME aluminium closed Thursday’s trading lower at US$ 1851 per tonne. Then the contract extended its rangebound trend overnight as it rebounded to close at US$1,885 per tonne after fell below the five-day moving average. Shanghai Metals Market expects the LME aluminium contract to trade at US$1870-1,900 per tonne today. As on January 24, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1850 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1851per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1870 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 1871 per tonne; Dec 19 bid price stands at US$ 2005...
Following the growth of primary aluminium stocks by 39,000 tonnes to 1.303 million tonnes yesterday, the price of A00 aluminium ingot has registered a drop today, on January 25, to RMB 13,400 per tonne, Shanghai Metals Market found. This marks the primary aluminium price drop by RMB 70 per tonne after two back-to-back rises on January 23 and January 24. Today, the average prices are expected to range between RMB 13,380 per tonne and RMB 13,420 per tonne, with spot discounts to settle at RMB 80 per tonne to RMB 40 per tonne. In the east (Wuxi and Hangzhou), the ingot prices have declined today by RMB 65 per tonne and RMB 60 per tonne to stand at RMB 13,400 per tonne and RMB 13,390 per tonne respectively. In the south and north, on the other hand, the prices have plunged by RMB 20 per tonne...
Social inventories of primary aluminium across eight major consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrants, came in at 1.303 million tonnes as of Thursday January 24. The figure is up by 39,000 tonnes from Thursday January 17, Shanghai Metals Market data showed. For the same period, stocks in Nanhai, Guangdong and Gongyi, Henan increased by 23,000 tonnes and 9,000 tonnes to stand at 182,000 tonnes and 119,000 tonnes while stocks in Wuxi, Jiangsu and Shanghai reduced by 3,000 tonnes and 1,000 tonnes to stand at 489,000 tonnes and 300,000 tonnes. The below chart indicates the current status of primary aluminium inventories across China: The increase in primary aluminium inventory could be attributed to smaller purchases as most downstream plants have closed for Chinese New Year.
According to a Reuter’s report, the London Metal Exchange (LME) has announced seven new contracts to be launched on March 11. LME has not been very successful in launching new products and are mostly dependent on its core base metal contracts. LME hopes to boost trading activities in the exchange with the multiple new contracts. The new contracts are all cash-settled futures indexed against physical market price assessments and there will be no physical delivery. LME will launch two new aluminium premium contracts- one indexed against Platts’ assessment of the Midwest U.S. market and one against Fastmarkets MB’s assessment of the duty-unpaid European market, in competition with CME. Super-charged aluminium premiums played a key role in the market in 2013 due to the long load-out queues in...
The US dollar decreased against a basket of currencies as uncertainties over trade and the global economy clouded the currency's near-term outlook. The dollar index dipped to the lowest in three days at 96.04. Base metals rallied across the board and aluminium nudged up. SHFE aluminium went up 0.7%. LME aluminium closed Wednesday’s trading higher at US$ 1877.50 per tonne. LME aluminium received support from a stronger SHFE contract. During night trading, the contract gained 1.4 per cent to tip the highest in a month at US$1,917 per tonne and then it slipped by 0.7 per cent to US$1,896 a tonne by 0117 GMT. Today, the contract is expected to trade at US$1,870-1,900 per tonne. The Trump administration is expected to lift sanctions on Rusal by Friday, which could mean that aluminium that had...
A00 aluminium ingot price increased further to RMB13470 per tonne on January 24, registering a growth of RMB80 per tonne from the previous day. The average prices today are expected to range between RMB 13450 per tonne and RMB 13490 per tonne, with spot discounts to settle at RMB 70-30 per tonne. Aluminium ingot prices in the East Wuxi and Hangzhou increased by RMB 80 per tonne and RMB 60 per tonne to stand at RMB 13465 per tonne and RMB 13450 per tonne, respectively. Their average prices are expected to hover between RMB 13460 per tonne and RMB 13470 per tonne, and RMB 13440 per tonne and RMB 13460 per tonne. Ingot price in South China rose by RMB 90 per tonne to stand at RMB 13500 per tonne, price of ingot in North China increased by RMB50 per tonne to RMB 13450 per tonne. Aluminium...
Emirates Global Aluminium has achieved cost savings of AED 70 million from employee suggestions and continuous improvement projects in 2018. EGA said through its press release that approximately AED 50 million worth of savings were generated through a record 38,037 proposals submitted as a part of EGA’s Suggestion Scheme. In addition, 201 improvement projects, resulting in the remaining savings were registered through “Tamayaz”; a cross-functional, team based program. Abdulla Kalban, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of EGA, said: “At EGA we believe that everyone has a role to play in continuous improvement. Employees who are closest to a certain work process are often best placed to spot opportunities to improve it. Our programmes are built to enable all our people to share...
The US dollar edged down as US-China trade tension continued. The partial US government shutdown and a three-year low in US pending home sales also weighed on the greenback. Base metals fell for the most part but LME aluminium jumped 2.46%. LME aluminium closed Tuesday’s trading at US$1867.50 per tonne and fell below support at the five-, 20-, and 10-day moving averages during the Asian trading session as US-CHINA trade talk optimism waned. It rebounded to a month-high of US$1,896.5 per tonne during the European trading session and closed at US$1,893 per tonne. The contract is expected to trade at US$1,860-1,895 per tonne. As on January 22, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1867 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1867.50 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands...
According to Shanghai Metals Market, the A00 aluminium ingot price has recorded a rise today, on January 23, to stand at RMB 13,390 per tonne. This marks a growth by RMB 50 per tonne from the previous day. The average prices are expected to range between RMB 13,370 per tonne and RMB 13,410 per tonne, with spot discounts to settle at RMB 70 per tonne to RMB 30 per tonne. The aluminium ingot price is found growing over the past week with one or two intermediate drops. Right from RMB 13,200 per tonne, as on January 15, the non-ferrous metal’s price has grown to RMB 13,390 per tonne, as on January 23. But despite this growth, the price still remains sluggish month-on-month compared to RMB 13,560 per tonne on December 21, 2018, or RMB 13,620 per tonne on December 24, 2018. In the east market...
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba), now amongst the 1 Million-Club metric tonnes smelters in the world, has achieved US$102 million savings in Phase III of Project Titan. Alba has launched Phase IV of Project Titan to reduce cash-cost of US$100 million by the end of 2020. Phase IV, a 24-month Program, aims to achieve US$40 million in 2019 and US$60 million in 2020. Alba’s Chief Executive Officer Tim Murray said: “As Alba is progressing to be transformed to become the world’s largest aluminium smelter with a production of 1.5 million metric tonnes, we must challenge ourselves in every aspect to stay competitive and ahead of the curve especially amidst the weak sentiment hovering around LME price.” The company achieved benefits of US$143 million in Phase I (2-year Program), US$36 million in...
(Continued from Part I ) LME/SME price trends An analysis of the LME and SME price trends in H1, H2 and the whole year 2018 will give us an idea about how the prices were impacted by the events in the aluminium supply scenario. As the sanctions hit the market in April and LME prices were pushed higher to about US$2602.5 per tonne, the average LME price for H1 2018 skyrocketed to US$ 2208/tonne. It was further supported by the increasing alumina prices due to sanctions on Aughinish alumina and 50% capacity cut in Alunorte refinery. Prices started correcting when the sanction deadlines were extended and came to settle in June. LME prices started its downtrend during the second half of 2018. This was mostly driven by the following factors: Extension of sanction deadlines on Rusal Drop in...
The year 2018 has seen the highest and lowest in terms of aluminium price growth and production of primary aluminium is estimated to be slightly higher (about 1.3%) in comparison to 2017. The year was marked by supply uncertainty in alumina and aluminium which pushed the prices higher in the first quarter. Tariffs and punitive sanctions created panic in the market disrupting the international trade. However, they also encouraged restarting of closed aluminium operations by Alcoa and Century Aluminum in the U.S. While prices saw some unprecedented gains, towards the end of the year they touched rock bottom as the supply uncertainties eased out but economy continued to move slower in China and the trade war waged by the U.S. reached no solution. We are analysing the various developments in...
The greenback continued its bullish momentum to start the week, as the US dollar index overnight climbed to the highest since January 4 at 96.43.Base metals closed mixed last night. LME aluminium lost over 1% and SHFE aluminium fell 0.59%. Benchmark aluminium price on London Metal Exchange dropped to close at US$ 1842.5per tonne on Monday, January 21. LME aluminium came off from a high of US$1,886 per tonne during the European session, as it fell below the 20- and five-day moving averages. SMM expects the contract to trade at US$1,840-1,865 per tonne today. As on January 21, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1842 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1842.50 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1855 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 1856 per tonne;...
Following China and the United States’ sanctions, India’s aluminium imports have reportedly recorded a year-on-year rise by 24 per cent during April-October 2018. According to executives, the volume of inbound shipments may grow further and cause more distress to the domestic industry. Scrap imports have also increased during this period by 22 per cent, after the US imposed 10 per cent duty on aluminium and China slapped 25 per cent import duty on aluminium scrap from the US. The industry expects further increase in scrap imports as well, as China has classified aluminium scrap as restricted import from July 2019 and plans to ban all scrap dumping by 2020. India, however, has no standards to restrict scrap imports, pointed out Vedanta CEO (aluminium and power) Ajay Kumar Dixit. Mr. Dixit...
According to Shanghai Metals Market, social inventories of primary aluminium across eight major consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrants, stood at 1.262 million tonnes as of Monday January 21, down 2,000 tonnes from Thursday January 17. Compared to last Thursday, inventories in Wuxi, Jiangsu and Shanghai dropped by about 8,000 tonnes and 2,000 tonnes to stand at 484,000 tonnes and 299,000 tonnes while stocks in Nanhai, Guangdong increased by some 8,000 tonnes to stand at 167,000 tonnes. Inventory in Gongyi, Henan decreased to 102,000 tonnes. The below chart indicates the current status of primary aluminium inventories across China: Limited cargoes arrived at social warehouses during the weekend, and this accounted for the decline in primary aluminium inventories.
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) has successfully closed by the end of 2018 the final instalment of the 2nd tranche in respect of the financing of its Line 6 Expansion Project. The loan facilities consisting of US$136 million and EUR90 million are used to finance the provision of equipment for Alba’s Line 6 Expansion Project. The facilities are made-up of US$136 million Export Development Canada (“EDC”) supported-facility with 10-year tenure; and EUR90 million Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC)/Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI) supported-facilities comprising two contract loans, with 10-year and six-year tenure. Alba’s Chairman of Board of Directors, Shaikh Daij Bin Salman Bin Daij Al Khalifa said: “This is another concrete highlight for us and a step closer...
A Press Release from Gulf Aluminium Council has confirmed that the primary aluminium producers in the GCC region produced a total of 5,408,257 tons of primary Aluminium in 2018. The high quality primary aluminium was shipped to the local as well as the international market. This registers an increase of around 230,000 tons over 2017 and the growth was primarily driven by improved efficiency and completion of modernisation of projects. This was further contributed by Alba, which had surpassed one million tonnes of production for the first time. The top five primary smelters in GCC are: Emirates Global Aluminium(EGA) which is a merger of Dubal - Dubai Aluminium and Emal - Emirates Aluminium, United Arab Emirates Alba - Aluminium Bahrain, Bahrain Qatalum - Qatar Aluminium, Qatar Sohar...
