World primary aluminium production declines 1.81% M-o-M in September 2020, but total output in Jan-Sept up by 2.1%

The latest data released by the International Aluminium Institute for September 2020 shows the world primary aluminium production stood at 5.42 million tonnes, down by 1.81 per cent from 5.52 million tonnes in August 2020. However, on a year-on-year basis, the output grew by 4.03 per cent from 5.21 million tonnes.

Total primary aluminium production from January to September 2020 came in at 48.61 million tonnes versus 47.61 million tonnes during the same period last year. This means the world primary aluminium production during the first nine months of 2020 stood higher by 1 million tonnes or 2.1 per cent year-on-year.

In China, primary aluminium production in September 2020 stood at 3.15 million tonnes, lower by 1 per cent than 3.18 million tonnes in August 2020 but 8.25 per cent higher than 2.91 million tonnes in September 2019.

During January-September 2020, primary aluminium production in China totalled 27.71 million tonnes, up by 3.36 per cent from 26.82 million tonnes.

Europe produced 608,000 tonnes of primary aluminium in September 2020, 3.34 per cent lower than 629,000 tonnes in August 2020 and 1.94 per cent than 620,000 tonnes in September 2019. Total production during January-September 2020 stood at 5.60 million tonnes compared with 5.68 million tonnes during the same period last year.

In the Middle East, primary aluminium production in September 2020 came in at 465,000 tonnes, down by 3.12 per cent from 480,000 tonnes in the month earlier and 2.71 per cent from 478,000 tonnes a year ago. Total production in GCC in the first nine months of the year stood at 4.35 million tonnes.

In Asia (ex-China), aluminium production in September 2020 came in at 348,000 tonnes, slightly down from 349,000 tonnes in August 2020. On a year-on-year comparison, the production was lower by 3.60 per cent than 361,000 tonnes. Total production during January-September 2020 came in at 3.08 million tonnes.