LME aluminium prices gained ground on November 4, with cash and futures contracts moving higher. The Asian Reference Price also edged up, while exchange inventories declined. Alumina Platts prices, however, moved slightly lower. The cash bid rose by USD 53.50 per tonne , or 1.74 per cent, to USD 3,134.50 per tonne from USD 3,081 per tonne. The cash offer increased 1.72 per cent to USD 3,135 per tonne from USD 3,082 per tonne. Three-month aluminium prices also advanced. The bid climbed 1.08 per cent to USD 3,073 per tonne on November 4 from USD 3,040 per tonne, while the offer gained 1.05 per cent to USD 3,074 per tonne. It was previously at USD 3,042 per tonne . Explore the production, demand and consumption forecasts of bauxite and alumina in our report: " Global Bauxite & Alumina Market...
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...
Grow with
AL Circle
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) announced thatit has achieved a breakthrough record by exceeding its 2018 production target of 1,000,000 tonnes per annum (mtpa) to mark 1,011,101 mtpa. The production volume is the highest-ever achieved in Alba’s history - up by 3% year-over-year compared to 2017’s volume of 981,016 mtpa. Chief Executive Officer Tim Murray said:“Exceeding 1 million metric tonnes for the 1st time in Alba’s history and making Bahrain proud is a testament to our dedicated workforce. This achievement could not have been accomplished without our unwavering commitment to Safety.” “We also look forward to successfully complete the commissioning of Line 6 in 2019, which will take our production capacity to 1,500,000 mtpa and make Alba the largest smelter in the world.” Alba said...
Vedanta Ltd cut prices of aluminium ingots for the fifth time in a row by more than 2% with effect from Thursday January 3, making the price of P1020 / EC High purity ingot fall to INR 146,500 per tonne. With Thursday’s cuts, rates of these products are now at their lowest levels in more than a year. Before that, Vedanta cut prices to INR 149,000 per tonne on December 29. Aluminium prices plunged after the US said it would lift sanctions on Rusal Plc, one of the largest producers of the metal globally, on whose products it put a punitive sanction in April. LME aluminium slumped to the lowest in two years after the holiday on January 3 as the US dollar strengthened along with the Rusal’s freedom from sanctions. 3-months offer price for LME aluminium stood at US$ 1820.50 per tonne on...
The week from 31 December to January 4 has been a bearish week for both LME and SHFE aluminium. The US dollar index dipped below 97 this week as stocks traded higher after a week of price swings. There were holidays in SME and LME for New Year’s Day. LME aluminium started the week at US$1869.5 per tonne and continued falling to reach RMB 1825.5 per tonne on Thursday. However, at the end of the week LME recovered some losses and closed at RMB 1879 on Friday. As on January 3, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1825 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1825.50 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1820 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 1820.50 per tonne; Dec 19 bid price stands at US$ 1980 per tonne, and Dec 19 offer price stands at US$ 1985 per tonne....
According to the latest Weekly macro report from Shanghai Metals Market, aluminium prices in China are likely to trade under pressure in the near term as recent supply cuts in seven major smelters slowed down. Last week, social inventories of aluminium across eight consumption areas in China grew for the first time in seven weeks, reflecting slow downstream demand. Inventories of primary aluminium, including SHFE warrants, stood at 1.3 million tonnes as of Wednesday January 2, further up 16,000 tonnes from Thursday December 27. The stocks of 6063 aluminium billet across five major consumption areas expanded 1.29% to 11,000 tonnes, SMM data showed. Support to aluminium prices in China started reducing on the back of declining costs of major raw materials for primary aluminium production....
As showed by Brazil’s national aluminium association Abal’s figures, Brazil produced 48,800 tonnes of primary aluminium in November 2018. It is the lowest aluminium production recorded in 2018. November aluminium output was 26.70% lower Year on Year than the 66,600 tonnes produced in November 2017 and 3.40% less than the 50,500 tonnes of primary aluminium in October 2018. Monthly production in 2018 has been constantly lower in comparison with 2017, since April, when Albras, owned by Hydro reduced operations to 50% capacity. It was due to an environmental issues regarding a leakage from the bauxite residue plant in the Alunorte alumina refinery, which led to a forced operational curtailment by 50% in the refinery. Albras, one of only two primary aluminium producer-suppliers in Brazil, is...
The US dollar weakened following the biggest slump in the manufacturing activity index by the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) since 2008. The US dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of six global currencies, stood 0.5% lower at 96.32. Base metals grew for the most part as LME aluminium surged over 3%. SHFE aluminium edged down. LME aluminium closed further down yesterday, January 3 at US$1825.50 per tonne. A surge of longs rallied LME aluminium to a high of US$1,849 per tonne and ended it at US$1,848.5 per tonne overnight. However, weak fundamentals may limit momentum and keep prices at US$1,815-1,855 per tonne today. As on January 3, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1825 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1825.50 per tonne;...
The A00 aluminium ingot price again witnessed an increase today, on January 2, to RMB13300 per tonne from RMB13270 per tonnes as of January 3. The average prices today are expected to range between RMB 13280 per tonne and RMB 13320 per tonne, with spot discounts to settle at RMB 40 per tonne. The aluminium ingot price in the east Wuxi and Hangzhou rose by RMB 25 per tonne and RMB 30 per tonne to stand at RMB 13315 per tonne and RMB 13335 per tonne, respectively. In Wuxi, the price is expected to range between RMB 13300 per tonne and RMB 13330 per tonne; in Hangzhou, the price is expected to range between RMB 13330 per tonne and RMB 13340 per tonne. The A00 ingot prices in the south and southwest increased by RMB 30 per tonne to clock at RMB 13420 per tonne and RMB 13340 per tonne,...
The US dollar increased on Wednesday as weak economic data from some major economies caused concerns over global growth, and sparked demand for safe havens. The dollar index rose 0.71% to 96.81 in late trading. US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the US stock market suffered "a little glitch" in December but that it would go up once he negotiates trade deals with China and others. Base metals fell for the most part as LME aluminium slumped 3.16%. SHFE aluminium dropped 0.48%. LME aluminium closed at US$1858 per tonne on January 2, 2018, further down from US$ 1869.50 per tonne on Monday December 31. Then LME aluminium slumped to the lowest since January 2017 overnight as the US dollar strengthened. Shanghai Metals Market maintains that macroeconomic pessimism will weigh on...
Shanghai Metals Market found that a purchase of more than 6,000 tonnes of spot cargoes in east China, at higher than expected prices, by an aluminium trader on Thursday, January 3, 2019, triggered the overall trades across eastern markets. The on-month aluminium contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange hovered at lows in morning trades. In Shanghai, the spot discounts were seen at RMB 20 per tonne to RMB 10 per tonne against the SHFE 1901 contract, against the discounts of RMB 40 per tonne in the previous day. Spot transactions in Shanghai and Wuxi were done at RMB 13,280 per tonne to RMB 13,300 per tonne, while at RMB 13,300 per tonne to RMB 13,310 per tonne in Hangzhou. Prices were down close to RMB 40 per tonne from the prior day. In Guangdong, on the other hand, spot transactions...
According to Shanghai Metals Market, the A00 aluminium ingot price has extended its drop today, on January 3, to RMB 13,270 per tonne from RMB 13,310 per tonne, as of January 2. Since the reopening of the market in the New Year 2019, the Chinese A00 aluminium ingot price has recorded a plunge for the past two days in a row. Today, the average prices are expected to range between RMB 13,250 per tonne and RMB 13,290 per tonne, with spot discounts to settle at RMB 60 per tonne to RMB 20 per tonne. The aluminium ingot price in the east Wuxi and Hangzhou has declined by RMB 40 per tonne and RMB 35 per tonne to stand at RMB 13,290 per tonne and RMB 13,305 per tonne, respectively. The A00 ingot price in the south and north, on the other hand, has plunged by RMB 60 per tonne and RMB 40 per tonne...
Slow year-end trading lowered the US dollar fell against the yen and euro on Monday as optimism over US-China trade dispute dented its safe-haven allure. However, the greenback stayed on track to log its strongest annual performance in three years. Base metals ended mixed on Monday, December 31. LME aluminium closed Monday’s trading at US$ 1869.50 per tonne, further down from Friday, December 28. The exchange remained closed on January 1 for New Year’s Day holiday. LME aluminium is likely to maintain its weak trend and hover at US$1,840-1,875 per tonne today. SME and SHFE Aluminium Price Trend The benchmark aluminium price on Shanghai Metal Exchange started the week lower after the holidays at US$ 1942 per tonne on Wednesday 2 January. Improved cash flow issues at domestic alumina plants...
According to Shanghai Metals Market, Weiqiao Group lowered its prebaked anode purchasing prices by RMB 130 per tonne after it cut prices by RMB 50 per tonne in December. For January the prices are hovering at RMB3,460 per tonne in cash and RMB 3,495 per tonne on acceptance. Prebaked anode prices in east China market declined RMB 130 per tonne on January 2, 2019. Average price of prebaked anode stood at RMB 3,495 per tonne today. The price is expected to range between RMB 3395 per tonne RMB3595 per tonne. Prebaked anode prices in Central, South-west and North-west remained unchanged at RMB 3610 per tonne, RMB 3900 per tonne, and RMB 4000 per tonne respectively. Price of cryolite is currently ranging at RMB 5900-6100 per tonne. The price of aluminium fluoride is hovering at 11100- 11300 per...
According to Shanghai Metals Market, social inventories of primary aluminium across eight major consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrants, stood at 1.3 million tonnes as of Wednesday January 2, up 16,000 tonnes from Thursday December 27. This followed after a week-on-week increase of 6,000 tonnes on Thursday December 27. The current status of primary aluminium inventories across China is given in the chart below: A00 aluminium ingot price dropped RMB 130 per tonne to RMB 13,310 per tonne on January 2.Today, the average prices are expected to range between RMB 13,290 per tonne and RMB 13,330 per tonne, with spot discounts to settle at RMB 100 per tonne to RMB 60 per tonne. In the East(Wu Xi) and East(Hang Zhou), the A00 aluminium ingot prices dropped by RMB 155 per tonne to...
With the international aluminium price hovering at 20-month low, the earnings outlook for the domestic aluminium producers are at a risk and is banking heavily on import duty hike. Currently the three months LME aluminium prices are at US$ 1846 per tonne, much lower than what analysts had estimated. Earnings estimates were largely made with US$1,940 a tonne as the price benchmark. The downturn in price will lower the earnings estimate significantly and the industry is banking on import duty hike. Indian primary aluminium industry has proposed an increase in import duty on scrap and primary aluminium from 2.5 per cent and 7.5 per cent, respectively, to 10 per cent. Though an increase in import duties may offer some support, earnings outlook would remain weak due to the falling...
The US dollar index dipped below 97 as stocks traded higher after a week of price swings. LME base metals traded weak on Monday and aluminium dropped further. The SHFE was closed for the New Year's Day holiday. LME aluminium closed Monday’s trading at US$ 1869.50 per tonne, further down from Friday, December 28. The exchange will remain closed today for New Year’s Day holiday. As on December 31, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1868.50 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1869.50 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1845.50 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 1846 per tonne; Dec 19 bid price stands at US$ 1918 per tonne, and Dec 19 offer price stands at US$ 1923 per tonne. The LME aluminium opening stock increased slightly to 1267125 tonnes. Live...
The US dollar index dipped on Friday as stocks traded higher after a week of price swings. LME base metals traded mixed on Friday and aluminium dropped 0.7%. SHFE base metals also saw mixed performance and aluminium plunged 0.9%. The SHFE was closed overnight for the New Year's Day holiday. LME aluminium closed Friday’s trading at US$ 1881 per tonne, down from Thursday, December 27. The contract might show some gain during today’s trading before the New Year’s Day holiday on 1st. As on December 28, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1880 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1881 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1856.50 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 1857 per tonne; Dec 19 bid price stands at US$ 1930 per tonne, and Dec 19 offer price stands at...
According to a report, Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) commenced operations at Casthouse 4 on December 26, 2018, the biggest furnace in the kingdom-based aluminium smelter’s history. Alba’s board of directors Shaikh Daij bin Salman bin Daij Al Khalifa and deputy chief executive officer Ali Al Baqali attended the opening of the first cold-charge of Furnace 3 at Casthouse 4. Representatives from the Alba executive management team, the Casthouse 4 start-up team, Bechtel, and other major contractors were also in attendance. On this occasion, Shaikh Daij said: “We are pleased with this milestone, which is another turning point in Alba’s journey towards becoming the largest smelter in the world. With this landmark, we are on track to cast final products from CH 4 -- another success in the Safe...
The US dollar index saw a weak run over the week as investors flocked to safe-haven currencies following another volatile trading session of US stocks market. LME aluminium saw a bearish week as the removal of US sanctions on Rusal created a relaxed atmosphere in the market. The week saw three trading days as the LME was closed on Tuesday for Christmas and on Wednesday for Boxing Day. LME aluminium started the week’s trading on 24th December at US$ 1898.50 per tonne, lowest in last two years. After the two holidays, it opened lower again and then extended its losses on Thursday night hovering at US$ 1898 per tonne. Finally, the aluminium contract closed the week at US$1881 per tonne. It is expected to trade at US$1,850-1,900 per tonne in the coming week. As on December 28, LME aluminium...
