US primary aluminium production in April 2023 dips 3% M-o-M, but daily output remains steady

According to the US Geological Survey, the United States domestic primary aluminium production in April 2023 stood at 63,000 tonnes, down by 2,000 tonnes or 3.08 per cent from 65,000 tonnes in March 2023. On a year-on-year calculation, the output plunged by 19,000 tonnes or 23.17 per cent from 82,000 tonnes. The United States' total production of primary aluminium in the first four months of 2023 amounted to 251,000 tonnes.

The average daily production in April 2023 was 2,100 tonnes, almost restrained compared to 2,110 tonnes in the previous month and down by 640 tonnes or 23.36 per cent from 2,740 tonnes a year ago.

Total aluminium recovered from scrap in April 2023 was 270,000 tonnes – 5,000 tonnes or 1.82 per cent less than 275,000 tonnes in March '23 and 18,000 tonnes or 6.25 per cent down from 288,000 tonnes in April 2022. Of the total aluminium recovered, 148,000 tonnes was recovered from new scrap versus 150,000 tonnes in the previous month and 123,000 tonnes was recovered from old scrap compared to 125,000 tonnes.

The April 2023 average US spot market price of primary aluminium ingot was $1.32 per pound, unchanged from that in March 2023 and 30 per cent less than in April 2022. The average cash price in April 2023 of primary aluminium ingot on the London Metal Exchange (LME) was $1.06 per pound, slightly more than in March 2023, 28 per cent less than in April 2022.

Inventories of primary aluminium in LME-approved warehouses, including off-warrant inventories, in the United States were 3,349 tonnes at the end of April 2023 - 3 per cent less than at the end of March 2023. Inventories of secondary aluminum (North American Secondary Aluminum Alloy Contract) in LME-approved warehouses, including off-warrant inventories, in the United States were 1,072 tonnes at the end of April 2023, 21 per cent less than at the end of March 2023.