Primary aluminium imports: According to data from the General Administration of Customs, domestic primary aluminium imports stood at approximately 186,000 tonnes in August 2026, up 0.2 per cent month-on-month and down 14.6 per cent year-on-year. Cumulative domestic primary aluminium imports from January to August 2026 reached roughly 1.657 million tonnes, a year-on-year decline of 3.4 per cent. Primary aluminium exports: Customs data showed domestic primary aluminium exports were around 22,000 tonnes in August 2026, dropping 30.7 per cent month-on-month and 14.7 per cent year-on-year. Cumulative primary aluminium exports between January and August 2026 totalled approximately 168,000 tonnes, representing a year-on-year increase of about 9.3 per cent. Net imports of primary aluminium:...
The London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium price graph continues to drop across the pricing and contract segments on the September 24 trading session, reporting declines over the September 23 close . The LME aluminium cash bid slumped from USD 3,239.5 per tonne to USD 3,227 per tonne, rising 0.39 per cent. The offer price moved from USD 3,240 per tonne to USD 3,228 per tonne, dropping by 0.37 per cent. Explore- Most comprehensive and forward-looking industry-focused report — Global Bauxite & Alumina Market Forecast to 2036: Supply–Demand, Trade Flows & Price Outlook The LME aluminium three-month bid contracted from USD 3,258 per tonne to USD 3,252 per tonne, decreasing by 0.18 per cent. The offer price plunged from USD 3,260 per tonne to USD 3,252.5 per tonne, representing a 0.23 per cent...
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South32 reported two per cent quarter-on-quarter decline in its third quarter FY19 aluminium production. Total aluminium production dropped from 247,000 tonnes in Q2 FY19 to 242,000 tonnes in Q3 FY19. Production remains unchanged at 737,000 in in the nine months ended March 2019. Hillside Aluminium production increased by one per cent to 536,000 tonnes in the nine months ended March 2019 from 533,000 tonnes in the nine months ended March 2018. In Q3 FY19, production stood at 176,000 tonnes, down two per cent quarter-on-quarter. Sales declined by 14 per cent QoQ in the March 2019 quarter reflecting the timing of shipments. Production guidance for FY19 remains unchanged at 720,000 tonnes, but remains subject to load-shedding. “Notwithstanding the smelter’s continued strong operating...
According to a Reuters report, China Hongqiao Group plans to restart some of its closed smelting capacities this year. The move will allow the company to replace ageing production lines with newer technology, including a high-performing 600 kA potline without adding extra capacity. Hongqiao, the world’s largest aluminium producer has a licensed aluminium capacity of 6.46 million tonnes per year and had to close 2.68 million tonnes of illegal capacity in mid-2017, on order of the provincial government in eastern China’s Shandong. According to a statement from Shandong’s Department of Industry and Information Technology Hongqiao will idle 543,000 tonnes of capacity this year and replace it with 542,000 tonnes of new capacity. China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology allows...
During Alcoa’s first quarter earnings call on April 17, Alcoa CEO Roy C. Harvey highlighted aluminium trade imbalance, Chinese overcapacity, Section 232 tariffs and the proposed quota on Canada’s aluminium export to the U.S. He said that in China downward domestic demand growth is constantly being balanced by higher levels of smelting curtailment. While the government is offering export incentives, Chinese exports are bound to grow more this year and will continue to flood international markets despite trade barriers. He added that the U.S. trade policy designed to help the domestic aluminium industry has not been able to address Chinese overcapacity, and the growing export of semi-fabricated products from that country. “Since U.S. Section 232 tariffs were enacted last year, Chinese...
Strong retail sales and labour data bolstered the US dollar on Thursday. LME aluminium traded flat and SHFE aluminium inched up close to 0.1%. Despite the rebound in the greenback, three-month LME aluminium rallied from earlier lows to close 0.84% higher at US$1,868 per tonne on Thursday night, recovering from much of the losses in the previous day. The cash contract also closed the trading day almost flat and gained slightly overnight. Weak fundamentals will likely keep gains in LME aluminium in check. It is expected to trade within a tight range in the short term. As on April 18, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1838.50 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1839 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1854 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 1854.50...
Social inventories of primary aluminium across eight consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrants, stood at 1.59 million tonnes as of Thursday April 18, Shanghai Metals Market data showed. Inventories declined by about 49,000 tonnes from Thursday April 11. Continued resumption of downstream demand lowered the primary aluminium inventories. In Wuxi, Jiangsu, and Nanhai, Guangdong, stocks of primary aluminium declined 14,000 tonnes and 15,000 tonnes from Thursday April 11 to stand at 572,000 tonnes and 359,000 tonnes respectively. Stocks in Gongyi, Henan and Hangzhou, Zhejiang dropped to stand at 131,000 tonnes and 118,000 tonnes. The chart below indicates the current status of primary aluminium inventory across China: In another update from SMM, A00 aluminium ingot price records...
Alcoa Corporation released first quarter 2019 results yesterday and reported a net loss of US$199 million compared to net income of US$51 million in Q4 2018. The 2019 first quarter results include the impact of US$156 million for special items driven by the dismissal of two smelters in Spain. Commenting on the results, President and Chief Executive Officer Roy Harvey said, “We improved our operations in the first quarter, even as alumina and aluminium prices weakened.” “Our Bauxite and Alumina segments increased their production rates, and we took steps last quarter to restructure our Aluminum portfolio.” Excluding the impact of special items, first quarter 2019 adjusted net loss dropped to US$43 million from net income of US$133 million in 2018. Adjusted EBITDA excluding special items...
The US dollar weakened against a basket of foreign currencies on Wednesday as better-than-expected economic data in China bolstered risk appetite. LME base metals traded mixed on Wednesday. LME aluminium dipped 0.05% and SHFE aluminium advanced 0.5%. Three-month LME aluminium came off from a week-high of US$1,872.5 per tonne to end marginally lower at US$1,852.5 per tonne on Wednesday. Cash settlement price stood at US$ 1840.50 per tonne at the closing, a slight gain from previous day. LME aluminium has been on a steady downward curve from the beginning of April. With limited support from fundamentals, LME aluminium is expected to trade between US$1,840-1,880 per tonne today. As on April 16, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1840 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands...
The metals trading startup Concord Resources reported double profits in 2018 on account of price volatility in alumina and aluminium market driven by US sanctions on Rusal. “It was a year of exceptional opportunities,” said Chief Executive Officer Mark Hansen. “The sanctions on Rusal created disruptions across the aluminium and alumina supply chain and we were able to execute on those opportunities outstandingly well.” Concord registered a net income of US$43.4 million last year. After the U.S. sanctions on Rusal in April, alumina prices skyrocketed to more than US$700 a ton within a week. Concord has a long-term contract to buy alumina from a refinery in Louisiana. It also bought a stake in the parent company New Day Aluminum Holdings LLC. Operating profit for Concord rose 77 per cent to...
The US dollar index extended its gains above 97 on Tuesday with the weakening of the euro. LME base metals traded lower on Tuesday. LME aluminium fell 0.5% and SHFE aluminium gained 0.5%. The robust greenback pulled down the three-month LME aluminium 0.5% to close at US$1,853.5 per tonne on Tuesday. It is expected to trade between US$1,840-1,880 per tonne today as traders failed to find direction from fundamentals. LME cash settlement price also closed lower on Tuesday from previous closing. As on April 16, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1838 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1839 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1855 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 1856 per tonne; Dec 20 bid price stands at US$ 1985per tonne, and Dec 20 offer price...
A00 aluminium ingot prices registered a jump across all major markets in China on Wednesday, 17 April 2019. Ingot price recorded a rise of RMB160 per tonne or 1.16 per tonne from yesterday. A00 ingot price rose from RMB13810 per tonne to RMB13970 per tonne. Spot aluminium contract is expected to be traded at discount of RMB30 per tonne to premium of RMB10 per tonne. The average price is likely to range at RMB13950-13990 per tonne. The ingot price in East Wuxi and East Hangzhou increased RMB130 per tonne and RMB135 per tonne to stand at RMB13960 per tonne and RMB13980 per tonne. Aluminium ingot prices in North market and South market stood at RMB13970 per tonne and RMB13920 per tonne today. The price of Aluminium Alloy (A356) increased RMB100 per tonne to range at RMB14650-14750 per tonne...
According to the latest report from US Geological Survey, US primary aluminium production in January 2019 was 95,000 tonnes. The production registered a 43% increase from January 2018 and 52% more than January 2017. Canada’s production stood at 242,358 tonnes and total North American production (U.S. and Canada) stood at 337,358 tonnes. The Aluminum Association, in cooperation with the Aluminium Association of Canada, reported primary aluminium production in North America (U.S. and Canada) in February was 308,643 tonnes. Canada’s production stood at 219,188 tonnes while production in the US stood at 89,455 tonnes. The US production dropped about 6% month-on-month. While Canadian production dropped about 9.5% month-on-months. However, in March, primary production registered a growth in...
Rio Tinto’s aluminium production for the first quarter of 2019 came in at 796,000 tonnes. Production was in line with the first quarter of 2018. “Excluding production from the non-managed Becancour smelter, which continues to be impacted by a lock-out, production was one per cent higher, reflecting continued productivity creep,” the company said. Aluminium production in the first quarter of 2019 was three per cent lower than the fourth quarter of 2018. At the Kemano hydro-power facility at Kitimat, British Columbia, boring of the tunnel commenced on 9 March 2019. Rio Tinto expects $0.5 billion project to complete by late-2020. 2019 guidance is unchanged. Rio Tinto’s expected share of aluminium production in 2019 is between 3.2 and 3.4 million tonnes. Rio Tinto’s alumina production in Q1...
The US dollar rebounded against a basket of foreign currencies on Monday. LME base metals traded lower on Monday. LME Aluminium edged down 0.05% and SHFE aluminium sank 0.1%. LME aluminium is in a consolidating phase without much fluctuation. LME cash settlement price remained flat from the previous trading day at US$ 1843.50 per tonne. Three-month LME aluminium fluctuated to close marginally lower at US$1,863 per tonne on Monday. In the face of the rebounding dollar, LME aluminium will have limited upward movement and is expected to trade between US$1,840-1,880 per tonne today. As on April 15, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1843 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1843.50 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1859 per tonne, 3-months offer price is...
According to Shanghai Metals Market, social inventories of primary aluminium across eight major consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrants, dropped over the weekend ended on April 15, Monday, to come in at 1.622 million tonnes. Compared to last Thursday, April 11, the fall of primary aluminium inventories on Monday was higher, as the stocks last week had plunged by some 5,000 tonnes while today by some 14,000 tonnes. In some cities, the inventories dropped while in others they recorded a hike or continued to remain the same. For instance, in Wuxi, Jiangsu, the inventories plunged from 586,000 tonnes on April 11, to 582,000 tonnes, but in Shanghai, the stocks rose from 290,000 tonnes to 292,000 tonnes. The below chart indicates the status of the current primary aluminium...
The US dollar index slipped on Friday as the euro rose sharply. LME base metals traded higher across the board on Friday April 12. LME aluminium advanced about 0.3% and SHFE aluminium popped 0.1%. LME closed the week lower at 1843.50 per tonne on Friday. As the US dollar weakened, three-month LME aluminium rallied from a month-low of US$1,846 per tonne on Friday, and closed 0.3% higher at US$1,864 per tonne. The trading level of LME aluminium remained below all moving averages. Weak fundamentals are likely to cap upside room in LME aluminium, which is expected to trade at US$1,850-1,880 per tonne today. As on April 12, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1843 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1843.50 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1864 per tonne,...
The year 2019 marks the 15 th anniversary of Aluminium China. Building on the success of the past 14 editions, Aluminium China 2019 will keep focusing on raw materials, semi-finished and finished products, machinery and solutions for the complete industry chain in the fields of construction, building, automotive, transportation and consumer durables. As the leading aluminium exhibition in Asia, it gathered 600 leading exhibitors and 24,789 trade visitors and buyers from 91 countries at its last edition. Aluminium China 2019 will play its part in boosting industry growth as the event continues to attract more and more industry leaders. Confirmed exhibitors include leading international giants such as Novelis, Constellium, FANUC, Nikkekin, Danieli, Primetals, Urgerer, Pyrotek, Tenova,...
According to the latest report from US Geological Survey, US primary aluminium production in January 2019 was 95,000 tonnes. The average daily production in January 2019 was 3,050 tonne, essentially unchanged from that in December 2018. However, the production registered a 43% increase from January 2018 and 52% more than January 2017. At this current rate, US aluminium production is likely to cross one million tonne in 2019. The aluminium sector continued to recover a large volume of scraps. Total aluminium recovered from scrap in January 2019 was 290,000 tonnes, unchanged from the previous month. However, the amount drops 6% YoY, indicating a drop in domestic recycling. Of this, 172,000 tonnes of aluminium was recovered from new scrap and 118,000 tonne was recovered from old scrap. The...
Social inventories of primary aluminium across eight consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrants, decreased some 5,000 tonnes from Thursday April 4 to 1.636 million tonnes as of Thursday April 11, Shanghai Metals Market data showed. In Shanghai and Nanhai, Guangdong, inventories of primary aluminium declined 4,000 tonnes and 11,000 tonnes from Thursday April 4 to stand at 290,000 tonnes and 374,000 tonnes respectively. Stocks in Wuxi, Jiangsu and Gongyi, Henan increased 2,000 tonnes and 10,000 tonnes from last Thursday to 586,000 tonnes and 145,000 tonnes on Thursday, April 11. The chart below indicates the current status of primary aluminium inventory across China: A00 aluminium ingot price recorded a growth of RMB20 per tonne on Friday, 12 April 2019. Ingot price increased from...
