2023 world alumina production displays a Y-o-Y drop despite the bounce back in H2

According to the International Aluminium Institute survey, world alumina production in December 2023 stood at 12.298 million tonnes, bringing the whole year output at 141.924 million tonnes, slightly down from 142.23 million tonnes in 2022.

Further introspection into global production

The decline in annual output was due to slow production in the first half of 2023. From January to June, the world alumina production stood below 12 million tonnes. July onwards, the output gained momentum and mostly stood above 12 million tonnes through H2 2023. The production in December experienced an increase of 3.4 per cent month-on-month from 11.894 million tonnes and rise of 3.5 per cent year-on-year from 11.878 million tonnes.

The world’s daily average production in December 2023 was 396,700 tonnes, up by only 200 tonnes from 396,500 tonnes in November but significantly higher by 3.5 per cent from 383,200 tonnes.

World’s robust alumina production in H2 2023 was manifested in the volume of 72.699 million tonnes, up by 5.02 per cent from 69.225 million tonnes in H1 2023. On a year-on-year calculation, the output in H2 2023 registered a growth of 5.02 per cent from 72.053 million tonnes.

China's alumina output

According to IAI, China’s alumina production in December 2023 stood at 7.09 million tonnes, reflecting a month-on-month rise of 3.35 per cent from 6.86 million tonnes and a year-on-year increase of 6.14 per cent from 6.68 million tonnes

In H2, the country produced 42.3 million tonnes of alumina, which brought the total production of 2023 to 82.38 million tonnes – 3.28 per cent more than 79.76 million tonnes a year ago.

Production in the Oceania

The Oceania region produced 1.607 million tonnes of the aluminium ore in December 2023 compared to 1.612 million tonnes in November.  That reflected a month-on-month fall of 0.31 per cent, found IAI. Even on a year-on-year basis, Oceania’s production in December registered a fall of per cent from 1.729 million tonnes.

In the entire year 2023, Oceania’s alumina production totalled 19.04 million tonnes – 5.37 per cent less than 20.12 million tonnes in 2022.

For 2024, AL Circle’s recent comprehensive report, titled “Global Aluminium Industry Outlook 2024”, has anticipated moderate growth in the world alumina production, reaching 142.8 million tonnes.