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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The US dollar gained on Wednesday as stocks dipped, boosting demand for safe haven currencies, after the Federal Reserve released minutes from its September meeting. LME base metals, except for zinc, ended in negative territory across the board on Wednesday. An increase of 85,725 tonnes in LME inventory, following a rise of 70,775 tonnes in the previous day, dragged the contract to an intraday low of US$2,015 per tonne. Aluminium slipped 0.7% to finally close at US$ 2018 per tonne on October 17 from US$ 2022 per tonne on Tuesday, October 16. Given the strong dollar, LME aluminium is likely to trade under pressure today between US$2,010-2,040 per tonne. As on October 17, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stands at US$ 2017.50 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 2018 per...
Both LME and SHFE base metals ended in mixed performance overnight. Benchmark aluminium price on London Metal Exchange decreased to close at US$2022 per tonne on Tuesday, October 16, down from the previous day’s close at US$ 2028 per tonne. LME aluminium fluctuated on Tuesday but tumbled to a low of US$2,014 per tonne as LME inventories gained 70,775 tonne, the greatest gain among nonferrous metals. SMM expects it to trade at US$2,020-2,060 per tonne today. As on October 16, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stands at US$ 2021 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 2022 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 2023.50 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 2024 per tonne; Dec 19 bid price stands at US$ 2075 per tonne, and Dec 19 offer price stands at US$ 2080 per tonne....
According to the data by Shanghai Metals Market, the A00 aluminium ingot price in China once again sees a growth today, on October 17, from RMB 14190 per tonne, as on the previous day, to RMB 14290 per tonne. This marks an increase by RMB 100 per tonne. The average prices are expected to range between RMB 14270 per tonne and RMB 14310 per tonne, with spot discounts to settle at RMB 70 per tonne to RMB 30 per tonne. This rise in aluminium ingot price for the past two days in a row has touched all the major markets in China, SMM found. The markets in the east, south, have seen a rise by RMB 100 per tonne each while the market in the north, has witnessed a price hike by RMB 90. While in the east, the ingot price today is hovering at RMB 14275 per tonne; in the south and north, the prices are...
Alba’s Line 6 Expansion Project (Line 6 Smelter and Power Expansion Project) is brimming with all kinds of activities as the company progresses towards achieving the First Hot Metal on 01 January 2019, said the Chairman of Alba’s Board of Directors, Shaikh Daij Bin Salman Bin Daij Al Khalifa during a meeting with Bechtel Group Inc.’s delegation held today at Alba, Tuesday 16 October 2018. The Bechtel delegation comprised the President and Chief Operating Officer of Bechtel Group Inc.-Jack Futcher, Regional President of Europe and Middle East - Stuart Jones, Bechtel’s Line 6 Director - Denis Garrity and other officials from Bechtel leadership team. Alba’s Chief Executive Officer Tim Murray, Deputy Chief Executive Officer Ali Al Baqali, Chief Admin Officer Waleed Tamimi, Shawqi Al Hashimi...
Rio Tinto reported a slight drop in aluminium production in third quarter in Q3 2018. Aluminium production was one per cent lower than the corresponding period of 2017, due to an ongoing lock-out at the non-managed Becancour smelter, which began on 11 January 2018. Aluminium production stood at 0.9 million tonnes. Excluding this impact, aluminium production for the third quarter was two per cent higher than the same period of 2017, reflecting continued productivity creep. Rio Tinto chief executive J-S Jacques said “We have delivered consistent operational performance in the third quarter, highlighted by strong production from the Group’s copper assets. We continue to pursue all opportunities to improve productivity and drive enhanced cash flow generation. This, combined with the...
LME base metals ended mixed on Monday. After a gain on Friday to US$ 2045 per tonne, LME aluminium closed lower at US$ 2028 per tonne on Monday October 15. The metal fluctuated to end Monday at US$2,033 per tonne. Shanghai Metals Market analyses that LME aluminium will trade at US$2,020-2,060 per tonne range on Tuesday, October 16. As on October 15, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stands at US$ 2027.50per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 2028 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 2030 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 2031 per tonne; Dec 19 bid price stands at US$ 2082 per tonne, and Dec 19 offer price stands at US$ 2087 per tonne. The LME aluminium opening stock dropped further to 926100 tonnes. Live Warrants totalled at 613575 tonnes, and Cancelled Warrants...
After a continuous fall for past four days in a row, the A00 aluminium ingot price in China today, on October 16, has recorded a hike by RMB 90 per tonne to stand at RMB 14190 per tonne, Shanghai Metals Market found. The average prices are expected to range between RMB 14170 per tonne and RMB 14210 per tonne, with spot discounts to settle at RMB 70 per tonne to RMB 30 per tonne. The major markets including the east, south, and north have displayed no exception either. In the east, the price has climbed from RMB 14100 per tonne on October 15 to RMB 14175 per tonne on October 16, registering a growth of RMB 75 per tonne. In the south and north, on the other hand, the prices have jumped from RMB 14130 per tonne on October 15 to RMB 14240 per tonne today and from RMB 14110 per tonne to RMB...
Aluminium consumption in India may reportedly double to 7.2 million tonnes in the next five years from the existing level of 3.6 million tonnes. This makes important to focus on downstream aluminium products to tackle the threat of growing imports. Mr. Tapan Kumar Chand, CMD of Nalco said this while addressing the National Aluminium Network Meet 2018, at New Delhi. He also mentioned that India’s import of downstream aluminium products may rise to around US$ 5 million in case no importance is given to it. He further added: “Moreover, Indian aluminium industry is at the high end of cost curve for production; hence, the need to sustain and increase its margin by producing value-added and high-end downstream products.” In addition, Mr. Chand underscored the need for the promotion of...
According to the global export-import data, Turkey’s aluminium import, including both alloy and non-alloy, is forecast to see a drop in 2018 after a sweeping rise in the last year. In 2017, Turkey had imported a total amount of 2,158,883 tonnes of primary aluminium, up 105 per cent from 1,051,214 tonnes in 2016. But this year, the country’s estimated volume of aluminium import is likely to drop 36 per cent to 1,378,802 tonnes than the previous year. However, compared to 2016, the volume of aluminium import is expected to stand higher by 31 per cent. Consequently, with the drop in import volume, Turkey’s aluminium import cost is also likely to stand down this year. In 2017, the import cost was at US$ 4545 million, after rising 145 per cent from US$ 1854 million in 2016. But this year, the...
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has further extended the expiration date of certain general licenses related to EN+ Group plc (EN+) and United Company RUSAL PLC (RUSAL) until December 12, 2018. Last month, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) had extended the expiration date from 23 October 2018 to 12 November 2018. General Licenses 13E, 14B, and 16B amend their previous versions by extending the expiration date from November 12, 2018, to December 12, 2018, for transactions related to the companies and their subsidiaries. “EN+ and RUSAL have approached the U.S. Government about substantial corporate governance changes that could potentially result in significant changes in control. As the review of...
According to Bahrain local media report, Bahrain might get an exemption from US import tariffs on aluminium and steel. The appeal submission has been initiated and high-level discussions would continue to take place to explore the possibility for Bahrain to receive an exemption. Bahrain was also imposed 25 per cent tariffs on steel and 10 per cent tariffs on aluminium. Responding to a question from The Daly Tribune, Bahrain, John J Sullivan US Deputy Secretary of State said that the negotiations would continue towards it. According to him, the subject of steel and aluminium tariffs were discussed in detail during his meeting with business leaders and government officials in Bahrain. “We have had discussions about the steel and aluminium tariffs that were imposed. I understand its impact...
The dollar edged up on Friday, reflecting investor confidence in the US economy, despite criticism by President Donald Trump of the Federal Reserve and a sell-off in US equities. LME base metals ended mixed on Friday. LME aluminium contract gained after three consecutive falls and closed the day’s trading at US$ 2045 per tonne on Friday, October 12. LME aluminium retreated from early highs to close at US$2,030.5 per tonne overnight. Shanghai Metals Market expects LME aluminium to trade at US$2,010-2,050 per tonne today. The US Treasury announced on Friday that it would push back until December 12, 2018 a deadline to wind up contracts and business with Rusal, from the previous date of November 12. This is likely to weigh on aluminium prices today. As on October 11, LME aluminium cash (bid)...
According to the data by Shanghai Metals Market, A00 aluminium ingot price in China has recorded a plunge today, on October 15, by RMB 70 per tonne to stand at RMB 14080 per tonne to RMB 14120 per tonne. This marks a drop in ingot price for the past 4 days in a row. After a hike on October 9 to RMB 14480 per tonne, the ingot price has been registering a fall since Wednesday, October 10. The first plunge was by RMB 40 per tonne, followed by RMB 210 per tonne on October 11 and then by RMB 20 and RMB 70 per tonne on October 12 and 15, respectively. Today, the average prices are expected to range between RMB 14080 per tonne and RMB 14120 per tonne, with spot discounts to settle at RMB 30 per tonne to RMB 10 per tonne. In the east and south, the A00 aluminium ingot prices have also dropped by...
Vedanta Resources has published production results for the second quarter and half year ended 30th September 2018. The company reported record quarterly aluminium production at 494,000 tonnes in Q2 FY2019, registering a growth of 23% YoY and 3% higher QoQ. This was attributed to production ramp up at the Jharsuguda-I smelter which was completed in Q3 FY2018 and ongoing ramp-up of Jharsuguda II smelter. At Jharsuguda II, Line 3 has progressively ramped up with 303 out of 336 pots operational by quarter end as compared to 245 pots at the end of Q1 FY2019. Line 4 continues to be under evaluation. Stabilised aluminium production which excludes trial run production stood at 476,000 tonnes in Q2 FY2019. In H1 FY2019, aluminium production increased 30% YoY to 976,000 tonnes. The growth was...
The UAE, one of the top importers of petcoke, is set to witness a rise in its total petcoke import in 2018. The country’s petcoke imports will grow 22 per cent on a yearly basis to reach 781,948 tonnes in 2018. In 2017, petcoke import totalled 638992 tonnes, down 13 per cent from the previous year, according to recent estimates. Petcoke or petroleum coke, a by-product of the oil refining process, is a significant fuel for the power generation and aluminium smelting industries. Calcined petcoke, which is obtained by further heat-treating petroleum coke, is used to manufacture anode used in the electrolysis reduction process of aluminium smelting.The aluminium production process requires around half a tonne of carbon for every tonne of metal produced. According to global import-export data,...
The dollar fell to low in two weeks on Thursday against a basket of currencies as traders pared greenback holdings on lower US Treasury yields and further losses on Wall Street. A weaker-than-forecast rise in US consumer prices in September also reduced bets for a faster pace of interest rate. LME aluminium continued downward trend and closed at US$ 2024 per tonne on Thursday October 11. The contract fluctuated to a six-day losing streak and notched a new low in three weeks on Thursday. Its weekly KDJ lines expanded downwards but support remained at US$2,000 per tonne. The contract is likely to trade at US$2,010-2,050 per tonne today. As on October 11, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stands at US$ 2023.50 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 2024 per tonne; 3-months bid...
Century Aluminum of South Carolina, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Century Aluminum Company, announced that the company has signed a two- year extension of its contract with South Carolina's state-owned electricity provider Santee Cooper. The agreement will allow the Goose Creek, SC plant to continue to operate at half capacity. The US-based aluminium manufacturer said in its press release that the deal with Santee Cooper has a term through December 31, 2020, but can be terminated by Mt. Holly on 120 days' notice. “Under this agreement, Santee Cooper will continue to service 25% of the Mt. Holly load at a standard cost-based industrial rate. The remaining 75% of the power required to serve Mt. Holly is expected to be sourced from a third-party supplier at market prices that are tied...
As reported by Shanghai Metals Market, primary aluminium inventories across eight consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrants, rose by some 23,000 tonnes from Thursday September 27 and 9,000 tonnes from Monday October 8 to stand at 1.613 million tonnes as of Thursday October 11.China’s aluminium inventories grew in the first week after the National day holiday as shipments delivered during the break arrived at warehouses. In Wuxi and Jiangsu, the inventory stood at 691,000 tonnes; in Shanghai and Nanhai, Guangdong, the inventory came in at 355,000 tonnes and 249,000 tonnes respectively. The current inventory status in the major Chinese cities is as follows: Average A00 aluminium Ingot price plunged by RMB 210 per tonne to RMB 14190 per tonne on Thursday, 11 October 2018. The...
