Domestic primary aluminium production in US surges 14% on year to 82,000 tonnes during April 2022

According to the latest data found by the US Geological Survey, the United States produced 82,000 tonnes of primary aluminium in April 2022, which was down by 2,000 tonnes from the output in March. But on a year-on-year basis, the output recorded a surge of 10,000 tonnes or 13.9 per cent from 72,000 tonnes.  

The daily average production in April came in at 2,740 tonnes, almost unchanged from 2,730 tonnes in March but up by 13.69 per cent from 2,410 tonnes a year ago.

Total aluminium recovered from scrap in April 2022 was 288,000 tonnes versus 290,000 tonnes in March 2022 and 263,000 tonnes in April 2021. That displayed a month-on-month increase of 2,000 tonnes and a year-on-year rise of 25,000 tonnes, according to USGS data.

Of the total aluminium recovered from scrap, 155,000 tonnes of aluminium was recovered from new scrap and 132,000 tonnes from old scrap.

The average US spot market price of primary aluminium ingot in April 2022 stood at $1.87 per pound, 6 per cent less than in March 2022 but 46 per cent more than in April 2021. The average cash price in April 2022 of primary aluminium ingot on the London Metal Exchange (LME) was $1.48 per pound, 8 per cent less than in March 2022 and 40% more than in April 2021.

Inventories of primary aluminium in LME-approved warehouses, including off-warrant inventories, in the United States decreased to 36,689 tonnes at the end of April 2022 from 43,871 tonnes at the end of March 2022. Inventories of secondary aluminium (North American Secondary Aluminum Alloy Contract) in LME-approved warehouses, including off-warrant inventories, in the United States decreased to 7,537 tonnes at the end of April 2022 from 8,499 tonnes at the end of March 2022.