US domestic primary aluminium output records a 3% drop M-o-M in Nov’22, but daily production grows 1%

According to the US Census Bureau data, the United States domestic primary aluminium production in November 2022 stood at 62,000 tonnes, registering a decrease of 2,000 tonnes or 3.15 per cent month-on-month from 64,000 tonnes. The USGS data also shows the US primary aluminium output in November 2022 edged a sharp fall of 13,000 tonnes or 17.33 per cent from 75,000 tonnes.

However, despite the drop in monthly production, the United States average daily output of primary aluminium in November 2022 stood 1 per cent higher M-o-M from 2,050 tonnes to 2,070 tonnes. On a year-on-year calculation, the daily production in November’22 was 18.33 per cent less than 2,510 tonnes.

Total aluminium recovered from scrap in November 2022 was 277,000 tonnes, down by 2.12 per cent from 283,000 tonnes in October but 4.53 per cent higher year-on-year than 265,000 tonnes. Of the total aluminium recovered from scrap, 151,000 tonnes was recovered from new scrap and 126,000 tonnes from old scrap.

The November 2022 US spot market price of primary aluminium ingot was $1.27 per pound, 3 per cent more than in October 2022 and 14 per cent less than in November 2021. The average cash price of primary aluminium ingot on the London Metal Exchange was $1.06 per pound, 4 per cent more than in October 2022 and 12 per cent less than in November 2021.

Inventories of primary aluminium in LME-approved warehouses, including off-warrant inventories, in the United States decreased to 9,103 tonnes at the end of November 2022 from 12,532 tonnes at the end of October 2022. Inventories of secondary aluminum (North American Secondary Aluminum Alloy Contract) in LME-approved warehouses, including off-warrant inventories, in the United States decreased to 3,737 tonnes at the end of November 2022 from 3,917 tonnes at the end of October 2022.