Africa’s primary aluminium production shrank to 401,000 tonnes in Q2 2020 amidst COVID-19 pandemic

The latest data of the International Aluminium Institute shows a slight dip in the primary aluminium production in Africa in the second quarter of 2020. In the first quarter, Africa’s primary aluminium output was 402,000 tonnes, which in the second quarter marginally declined to 401,000 tonnes. When compared to the corresponding period last year, the country’s production found lower by 11,000 tonnes or 2.74 per cent from 412,000 tonnes.

The accumulative primary aluminium production in Africa in the first half of 2020 totalled 803,000 tonnes, found IAI. This stood lower by 20,000 tonnes or 2.43 per cent from 823,000 tonnes in H1 2019.

Africa’s aluminium production in the last month stood at 129,000 tonnes after declining by 10,000 tonnes from 139,000 tonnes in May. In April, the country had churned 133,000 tonnes of primary aluminium, meaning May saw a month-on-month hike of 6,000 tonnes or 4.5 per cent.

The world’s total primary aluminium production in June 2020 was 5.27 million tonnes, up by 1 million tonnes from 5.26 million tonnes in June 2019. In Q2, the total output came in at 16 million tonnes, remaining flat compared to the production in Q1.