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...
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Shanghai Metals Market research found that further decline in aluminium futures prices today, on November 28, for the third day this week led to a wait-and-watch stance among downstream consumers in the east-China spot aluminium market. The SHFE 1812 contract dipped in morning trade while spot discounts stood at RMB 40 per tonne to RMB 30 per tonne in Shanghai against the contract, compared to RMB 50 per tonne to RMB 40 per tonne in the previous day. In Shanghai and Wuxi, spot transactions were done at RMB 13,620 per tonne to RMB 13,640 per tonne and that in Hangzhou at RMB 13,660 per tonne to RMB 13,680 per tonne. Across eastern markets, sellers were keen to offload cargoes, but consumers held back from making purchases. Therefore, transactions between traders remained brisk. In...
The US dollar rose to the highest in two weeks after Federal Reserve vice chairman Richard Clarida said that the US central bank’s interest-rate policy should be aimed at sustaining economic expansion and that gradual interest-rate hikes are the best way forward. Base metals fell across the board, aluminium dropped 1.26% The contract closed Tuesday’s trading at US$1925 per tonne, slightly higher than last closing. After the gain, LME aluminium settled below all moving averages at US$1,924.5 per tonne overnight. As the US dollar remains at highs, the contract is expected to trade US$1,920-1,940 per tonne today. As on November 27, Tuesday, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1924.50 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1925 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at...
Shanghai Metals Market research found that spot aluminium sellers across south-China markets showed reluctance this morning, on November 27, in offloading cargoes as future aluminium prices fell in early trade. Both traders and downstream consumers were cautious in making purchases because of which the overall trades across the southern markets remained thin, SMM found. The SHFE 1812 contract declined in early morning trade while the most spot transactions in Guangdong were found at RMB 13,730 per tonne to RMB 13,740 per tonne, with Guangdong-Shanghai spread narrowed to RMB 40 per tonne. Spot transactions in Shanghai, on the other hand, were done at RMB 13,700 per tonne to RMB 13,710 per tonne with discounts at RMB 50 per tonne to RMB 40 per tonne against the SHFE 1812 contract, compared...
Brazil’s exports of petcoke remained almost flat year on year in 2017. The country delivered estimated 357819 tonnes of petcoke to the global markets last year.The leading destinations for total petcoke exports by Brazil last year, in descending order were South Africa, the United Arab of Emirates, the United States of America, Canada and India. According to recent estimates, South Africa was the top recipient of Brazilian petcoke in 2017. Petcoke imports increased 10% year on year to 107402 tonnes in 2017, as compared to 97856 tonnes in 2016. The import volume is expected to drop to 78015 tonnes this year. A by-product of the oil refining process Petcoke is a significant fuel for the power generation and aluminium smelting industries. Calcined petcoke, which is obtained by further...
The American Primary Aluminum Association (APAA) has urged the U.S. International Trade Commission to continue with the Section 232 tariffs on all aluminium imports, as the organization believes it is pivotal to safeguard the interests of the domestic primary aluminium producers. Mark Duffy, Chief Executive Officer of the APAA said, "The Section 232 aluminium tariffs are working. By the first quarter of 2019, due to production restarts, U.S. primary aluminium production will have increased by over 67 per cent. In order for those restarts to continue, and to better serve America's primary aluminium industry, all nations must be subject to either tariffs or quotas based on historic shipping levels.” He added that the tariffs have safeguarded the jobs and work of thousands of U.S. workers...
Going by Chinese consultancies AZ China and CRU’s calculations based on a local government document Reuters reports that China Hongqiao Group has been asked to close up to 550,000 tonnes of annual aluminium smelting capacity this winter. That is about equal to 1-1/2 days of aluminium consumption in China, noted AZ China Managing Director Paul Adkins. The city of Binzhou in Shandong province, where all of Hongqiao’s 6.46 million tonnes per year of aluminium capacity is located, reportedly listed pot closures at five Hongqiao smelting facilities in a document outlining winter restrictions. Some of the closures which have a total production capacity of 8.5 per cent of that of Hongqiao’s need to cut production for December and January instead of the full four-months winter heating season...
The US dollar traded robustly, supported by expectations of further interest rate hikes by the US Federal Reserve and the G-20 summit later this week when political leaders will focus on global trade tensions. The greenback index hovered above 97. Base metals increased for the most part but aluminium edged down. The contract closed Monday’s trading at US$1920 per tonne, slightly lower than last Friday. After that LME aluminium settled at the highest overnight at US$1,949 per tonne as longs entered the market near closing. It is expected to test support at the 10-day moving average and trade at US$1,930-1,950 per tonne today. The general downturn continues to grapple all LME aluminium contracts. As on November 26, Monday, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1918 per tonne, LME...
German aluminium producer Trimet has reportedly reduced the production of its P1020 ingot in response to tight global alumina supply. The firm had started a gradual reduction in its output from autumn, but exactly when the ingot production started being affected is unknown. The company’s board member Thomas Reuther said, "Due to a supply-shortage on the alumina market, Trimet has temporarily reduced its production of primary aluminium by approximately 10pc. Trimet expects to resume to full capacity in early 2019.” The company’s casting production, however, remains unaffected and expected to meet all the delivery commitments, said Trimet itself. Many other European smelters were hit similarly or more by the 50 per cent output cap at Norwegian producer Norsk Hydro’s Brazilian Alunorte...
U.S. tariffs on imported aluminium and steel which has triggered a trade war, has shaken the global markets, easing Asia's supply-demand balance and putting pressure on prices in this region while lifting prices in the U.S. This was further worsened by the sanctions imposed upon Rusal by the U.S., which has created a supply concern among its buyers. U.S. imports of the metal decreased 10% in the January-August period from a year earlier due to sanctions imposed by President Donald Trump causing prices to go up. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, imports of aluminium and aluminium products excluding scraps dropped about 440,000 tons to stand at 3.85 million tons. In late October, spot prices for aluminium ingots on an ex-works basis stood at around US$2,400 per ton, up roughly 3%...
The prices of prebaked anode in December are expected to fall on suspension of high cost downstream aluminium smelters and lower impact of 2018/2019 winter production cuts in the primary sector, SMM expects. Some 1.96 million tonnes of capacity was cut for this winter in major prebaked anode producing provinces of Shandong and Henan, compared with around 6 million tonnes last year. Actual impact of the cutbacks is likely to fall short of the expected 1.96 million tonnes, as low prices of prebaked anode kept producers below full production over the year, SMM learned. In Shandong, where prebaked anode capacity accounted for 30.8% of overall capacity in China, only 530,000 tonnes of capacity was required to suspend during the winter. In Henan, a total of 14 prebaked anode plants received...
The US dollar index increased on hopes the US and China might renegotiate a trade deal at the G-20 summit in Buenos Aires, and this grew safe-haven gains for the greenback. Base metals, expect for SHFE nickel fell across the board. LME aluminium recovered some losses last week, but plunged heavily during Friday’s trading to close at US$ 1922.50per tonne on rising greenback. The contract traded upward at night. However, lower prices of oil and weaker macro sentiment pushed LME aluminium contract 0.33% to US$1,942 per tonne. It is likely to hover around the five- and 10-day moving averages, and test support at the 10-day moving average today. As on November 23, Friday, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1922 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1922.50per tonne;...
Shanghai Metals Market research found spot aluminium discounts across Shanghai market remained unchanged on Friday from the previous day at RMB 40 per tonne to RMB 30 per tonne against the SHFE 1812 contract. In the morning trade, the SHFE 1812 contract increased but in a tight range. Most transactions in Shanghai and Wuxi were heard at RMB 13,810 per tonne to RMB 13,830 per tonne while that in Hangzhou at RMB 13,840 per tonne to RMB 13,860 per tonne. Sellers across the eastern markets were keen to offload cargoes, given the recent rebounds in aluminium prices and cash flow issues by month-end. The narrow spread between the December and January contracts left little arbitrage opportunities to traders and pushed them to sidelines while gains in aluminium prices eroded purchasing enthusiasm...
According to trade sources Nalco, Vedanta and Hindalco have cut prices of their products in accordance with the falling aluminium prices. Hindalco Industries Ltd is also reported to have cut the prices of aluminium products by more than 1%, effective November 21. The basic price of Hindalco’s P1020 Grade Ingots/Sows stands at INR 1,54400 (US$ 2187)per tonne on November 21, down from INR 1,56,400 ((USD 2215) per tonne on November 15. Prices of Hindalco’s aluminium products are now at their lowest level since mid-August. The company’s product prices have dropped over 6-7% in third quarter from the 2nd. This is in line with price of three-month futures of aluminium on the London Metal Exchange, which have declined more than 4% so far this quarter. Aluminium business accounted for 50% share...
The United States has rejected an appeal from India and Switzerland to set up a panel against the US for imposing high import duties on certain steel and aluminium products. Both the countries will now have to file a second request at the dispute settlement body's (DSB) next meeting which the US will not be authorised to reject. India had asked to establish panels after it failed to resolve the issue through a bilateral consultation process with the US under the dispute settlement mechanism of the WTO. "The two argued that the US actions were, in effect and content, safeguard measures and that they were both concerned the US was using national security as a justification for the tariffs,” a Geneva-based official told BusinessLine. The WTO's Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) agreed on...
The US dollar dipped against the pound and euro, which marched higher following the news that a draft agreement had been struck between the UK and the EU. LME aluminium has recovered some losses this week after dropping continuously since the second week of November. The contract closed Thursday’s trading at US$ 1941.50 per tonne, slightly lower than the previous closing. Upward momentum is seen in LME aluminium in the short run, as concerns over slow pace in interests rate hikes by US Fed will weigh on the dollar. The contract is likely to trade at US$1,940-1,970 per tonne today. The gap between the cash prices and future prices continues to grow bigger. As on November 22, Thursday, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1941per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$...
According to Shanghai Metals Market, downstream consumers of primary aluminium remained cautious in making purchases across east-China markets on Thursday, November 22, given the recent volatility in prices. The SHFE 1812 contract inched up in the morning trade while spot discounts in Shanghai narrowed down to RMB 40 per tonne to RMB 30 per tonne against the SHFE contract, from RMB 50 per tonne to RMB 40 per tonne in the previous day. In Shanghai and Wuxi, most transactions were seen at RMB 13,740 per tonne to RMB 13,760 per tonne and that in Hangzhou at RMB 13,760 per tonne to RMB 13,780 per tonne, SMM found. Across eastern markets, sellers remained keen to offload cargoes. But purchasing enthusiasm was missing among traders because of the narrowed backwardation structure between the...
Xinfa Group, one of China’s top smelters, has been included on a list of exemptions for the winter heating season published by the Liaocheng Economic and Information Technology Committee and reviewed by Reuters. Subsidiaries of Xinfa, which has around 1.4 million tonnes of smelting capacity in Liaocheng, will not have to reduce production this winter. But an alumina refinery owned by Xinfa that can produce 4.4 million tonnes per year would have to cut production by 10 percent from Dec. 1 to Jan. 31, Reuters reported. The measures are much more lenient than during the 2017/18 winter, when China ordered smelters in 28 northern cities to cut production by 30 percent from mid-November to mid-March in order to reduce air pollution. Northern China’s heating season runs from Nov. 15 to March 15....
The aluminium producer Aluar, the only aluminium smelter in Argentina and one of the largest in South America has reported 54.5% increase in profits in its half yearly results. Based on the results, It announced peso 2,884 billion (79.71 million US dollars) dividends among its shareholders. The results reported to Argentina's stock exchange regulator Comisión Nacional de Valores (CNV), which was primarily driven by the Argentine peso devaluation. According to a company statement, the distribution of dividends will take place on November 28 as decided upon at the shareholders' meeting. Argentina's peso has fallen 52% against the dollar this year The company reported a gain of peso 4,107.10 billion in profits for the six months closing June 30, which registered an increase of 54.5% compared...
