Some aluminium plants in the Middle East announce production resumptions, overseas daily average aluminium production up 1.6 per cent M-o-M

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According to SMM statistics, total outside-China aluminium production in July 2026 fell 6.7 per cent Y-o-Y, mainly due to a Y-o-Y decline in operating rates at Middle East aluminium smelters. Outside-China daily average production rebounded 1.6 per cent M-o-M, mainly driven by ongoing production resumptions at smelters in the Middle East and Iceland, as well as output increases brought by project ramp-ups and power-on commissioning in Indonesia, Vietnam, and other locations.

In July, there were many updates on operating aluminium capacity outside China. The details are as follows:

• On July 1, an announcement on Hydro’s official website showed that the Slovalco aluminium smelter had reached an agreement with the Slovak government, allowing it to resume production of 75,000 tonnes of aluminium capacity, with production expected to start in 2026 Q4.
• On July 2, according to overseas media reports, Magnitude 7 Metals will restart the No. 1 potline at its aluminium smelter in Marston, Missouri, adding 75,000 tonnes per year of primary aluminium capacity by the end of 2026.
• On July 2, EGA announced that its plant in Al Taweelah had made progress in restoring production: anode removal for all pots had been fully completed; pot cleaning was about 90 per cent complete; and solidified aluminium blocks in over 20 per cent of pots had been cleared. On May 26, the first repaired pot was successfully restarted; as of July 2, 89 pots were in operation (1,262 pots in total).
• On July 3, Vedanta Aluminium released a production report showing that in FY27 (2026 Q2), aluminium production at the Balco smelter reached 168,000 tonnes, up 10 per cent Q-o-Q and up 17 per cent YoY, mainly benefiting from trial production output from expanded capacity.
• On July 15, Rio Tinto released its Q2 results report, noting continued capacity increases at Kitimat, NZAS, and AP60. The last two potlines at the Arvida aluminium smelter were closed as planned in June, and Arvida AP60 is expected to reach full production by year-end.
• On July 16, Alcoa released its Q2 results report. Its production reached 636,000 mt, up 5 per cent Q-o-Q, mainly benefiting from the completion of production resumptions at the San Ciprián smelter in Spain, ongoing production resumptions at the Alumar smelter in Brazil, and the completion of production resumptions at the Lista smelter in Norway and the Portland smelter in Australia.

Looking ahead to August 2026, production resumptions in the Middle East are expected to continue; new projects previously commissioned in Indonesia and Vietnam are expected to continue ramping up production; and Balco’s expanded capacity in India is expected to continue ramping up.

Although the Middle East conflict has flared up again, market feedback indicates it has not affected smelter production again. Overall, outside-China aluminium production is expected to maintain the M-o-M growth trend in the short term.

However, recent market rumours suggest that construction progress for some aluminium projects in the Middle East and Indonesia has fallen short of expectations, and continued attention should be paid to subsequent announcements from relevant smelters in the Middle East, Indonesia, and India.

Note: This article has been issued by SMM and has been published by AL Circle with its original information without any modifications or edits to the core subject/data.