China leads global aluminum output to all time April high

Global aluminum output was at an all-time high in April with China’s record production leading the way, according to Harbor Intelligence. In its aluminum industry fundamentals report, Harbor says practically every region delivered growth, based on IAI figures.

Global daily primary aluminum production increased in April by 2.9% month on month, or by 1.22 annualized million tons to a new to a record high of 43.35 annualized million tons. In year on year terms, it rose 5.9%. China led the increase, Harbor Intelligence says, with output growing 6.0% month on month, or 993,349 annualized tons to an all-time high annualized rate of 17.6 million tons.

Harbor says in the rest of the world, primary aluminum output rose 0.9% month on month, or 228,419 annualized tons, to 25.69 annualized million tons, levels not seen since October 2008. The largest monthly increases outside China were by North America, followed by Africa, Oceania, Latin America, West Europe and the Middle East.

Harbor says that although output in China is growing fast and has pushed global output to a record high, challenges continue to emerge for aluminum production. “Potential energy cuts in China during the summer and poor economics, project delays in India, jeopardized output in Venezuela and minimal brownfield/greenfield projects outside China are expected to enter the market in the next 12 months," the Harbor report says.