World primary aluminium production continues to grow quarterly by 2.4% to 17.481 million tonnes in 3Q2022: IAI

According to the International Aluminium Institute’s latest data, world primary aluminium production in the third quarter of 2022 ended September 30 closed at 17.481 million tonnes, recording a quarter-on-quarter increase of 2.36 per cent. In Q2 ended June 30, global output stood at 17.078 million tonnes, up by 3.33 per cent from 16.527 million tonnes in Q1. As the data revealed, world primary aluminium production reflected a consistent growth in each quarter, bringing the total production in nine months of the year to 51.086 million tonnes, which also registered an improvement of 1.18 per cent from 50.492 million tonnes a year ago.

However, world primary aluminium output in September 2022 edged 3.22 per cent lower month-on-month to 5.702 million tonnes compared to 5.892 million tonnes but grew over the year by 5.28 per cent from 5.468 million tonnes.

China, the world’s highest primary aluminium producer, churned out 3.398 million tonnes in September 2022 compared to 3.511 million tonnes in August. That was a decline of 3.22 per cent month-on-month. However, compared to the year last, the output recorded an increase of 7.84 per cent from 3.151 million tonnes. In Q3, China produced 10.428 million tonnes of the metal, up by 3.20 per cent from 10.105 million tonnes a quarter ago and 6.77 per cent more than 9.767 million tonnes a year earlier.

The next world’s leading aluminium producer, the GCC region produced 498,000 tonnes in September 2022 – 3.30 per cent less than 515,000 tonnes in August but 1.22 per cent more than 492,000 tonnes in September 2021. During July-September, the output in the GCC countries stood at 1.529 million tonnes, up by 1 per cent Q-o-Q from 1.514 million tonnes and 2.89 per cent Y-o-Y from 1.486 million tonnes.

In Asia (ex-China), primary aluminium production in September 2022 was 380,000 tonnes , down by 11,000 tonnes from 391,000 tonnes in August but up by 8,000 tonnes from 372,000 tonnes in September 2021. In September quarter, the output amounted to 1.153 million tonnes versus 1.136 million tonnes in the previous quarter and 1.141 million tonnes in a year ago.

World’s average daily primary aluminium production in September 2022 was 190,100 tonnes, reflecting M-o-M restraint but recorded an increase of 4.28 per cent from 182,300 tonnes annually.