USGS reports 143000 tonnes domestic primary aluminium production in March 2015

United States Geological Survey (USGS) has reported that US domestic primary aluminum production in March 2015 was 143000 metric tons. The average daily production was 4,600 t, slightly less than the daily production during the previous month and 7% less than that in March 2014. Total aluminum recovered from scrap in March 2015 was 300,000 t, slightly more than that recovered in February and in March 2014.

Of this, 164000 tonnes of aluminum was recovered from new scrap, 3% more than the amount during the previous month and slightly more than the amount recovered in March 2014. The amount of aluminum recovered from old scrap was 136000 tonnes, slightly more than the amount recovered in the previous month and in March 2014. Total imports of aluminum in the first quarter of 2015 were 5% more than those in the same period of 2014.

Imports of semifabricated aluminum products increased by 64% and imports of aluminum scrap increased by 16%, but imports of crude metal and alloys decreased by 9%. Canada accounted for 51% of total aluminum imported in the first quarter of 2015, 79% of which were crude metal and alloys. Imports of crude metal and alloys from Canada accounted for 40% of all aluminum imported during the quarter.

Total exports of aluminum during the first quarter of 2015 were 12% less than those in the same period of 2014. Exports of crude metal and alloys decreased by 11%; semifabricated aluminum products decreased by 3%; and aluminum scrap decreased by 18%. The leading destinations of total aluminum in the first quarter of 2015 were Mexico (29%), China (28%), and Canada (24%). Exports of scrap to China accounted for 27% of all aluminum exports during the quarter.