US primary aluminium production in 2Q2022 reflects 1.24% rise, bringing total output in H1 to 485,000 tonnes

The United States’ domestic primary aluminium production in June 2022 stood at 78,000 tonnes, bringing the total output of the first half of the year to 485,000 tonnes, showed the US Census Bureau. The United States’ primary aluminium production in June reflected a decrease of 6,000 tonnes or 7.14 per cent from 84,000 tonnes.

In the second quarter of 2022 (from April to June), the United States churned out 244,000 tonnes of primary aluminium – 1.24 per cent or 3,000 tonnes higher than 241,000 tonnes in Q1 2022.

The daily averageproduction in June 2022 was 2,620 tonnes, down by 2.96 per cent from 2,700 tonnes in May but 9 per cent higher than in June 2021.

Total aluminium recovered from scrap in June 2022 was 286,000 tonnes – 6,000 tonnes or 2.05 per cent less than 292,000 tonnes in May but 3 per cent more than a year ago. Of the total scrap recovered, 154,000 tonnes of aluminium was recovered from new scrap, while 132,000 tonnes from old scrap.

The June 2022 average US spot market price of primary aluminium ingot was $1.49 per pound, 10 per cent less than in May 2022 and 8 per cent more than that in June 2021. The average cash price in June 2022 of primary aluminium ingot on the London Metal Exchange (LME) was $1.16 per pound, 9 per cent less than in May 2022 and 5 per cent more than that in June 2021.

Inventories of primary aluminium in LME-approved warehouses, including off-warrant inventories, decreased to 23,302 tonnes at the end of June 2022 from 28,958 tonnes at the end of May 2022. Inventories of secondary aluminium (North American Secondary Aluminium Alloy Contract) in LME-approved warehouses, including off-warrant inventories, decreased to 6,332 tonnes at the end of June 2022 from 6,376 tonnes at the end of May 2022.