Primary aluminium output in Russia and Eastern Europe records a 2% Y-o-Y fall during 4QCY2022

According to the International Aluminium Institute, primary aluminium production in Russia and Eastern Europe amounted to 343,000 tonnes during December 2022, registering a monthly hike of 10,000 tonnes or 3 per cent from 333,000 tonnes but a yearly decline of 8,000 tonnes or 2.3 per cent from 351,000 tonnes. The year-on-year downfall of primary aluminium output in Russia and Eastern Europe could be attributed to the energy crunch resulting in operation cuts across many smelters.

The total production of primary aluminium in Russia and Eastern Europe during the fourth quarter of 2022 ended December 31, stood at 1.02 million tonnes, down by 1.16 per cent Q-o-Q from 1.032 million tonnes despite the increase in monthly output in December. On a year-on-year basis, the output in 4Q2022 also stood lower by 2.1 per cent than 1.042 million tonnes, found IAI data.

From January to December 2022, Russia and Eastern Europe’s primary aluminium output was 4.081 million tonnes, of which 2.052 million tonnes was produced in the second half of the year. According to IAI, the annual production was 1.40 per cent lower than 4.139 million tonnes in 2021.

In December 2022, primary aluminium production in Western & Central Europe was 232,000 tonnes, up by 8,000 tonnes or 3.57 per cent from 224,000 tonnes in November but down by 46,000 or 16.55 per cent from 278,000 tonnes in December 2021.

The total production in Q4 was 692,000 tonnes, registering a sharp downfall of 6.36 per cent from 739,000 tonnes in Q3 2022 and 16.12 per cent from 825,000 tonnes in Q4 2021.

In full-year 2022, Western & Central Europe churned out 2.913 million tonnes of primary aluminium versus 3.329 million tonnes a year ago, found IAI.