Primary aluminium output shows downtrend across Europe in Feb’2022 as energy crisis leads to production cuts

In February 2022, primary aluminium production in Russia & Eastern Europe registered a decline of 35,000 tonnes or 10.03 per cent month-on-month to stand at 314,000 tonnes, found the International Aluminium Institute (IAI). In January, the output in Russia & Eastern Europe stood at 349,000 tonnes, down by 2,000 tonnes from 351,000 tonnes a month ago.

Also, on a year-on-year calculation, production in February 2022 recorded a downfall of 5,000 tonnes from 319,000 tonnes, showed IAI data.

In the first two months of 2022, Russia & Eastern Europe’s primary aluminium output totalled 663,000 tonnes, experiencing a decrease of 9,000 tonnes or 1.34 per cent from 672,000 tonnes during the same period last year.

In Western & Central Europe, primary aluminium production in February 2022 showed no exception but a month-on-month downfall from 262,000 tonnes to 230,000 tonnes. That was a decline of 32,000 tonnes or 12.21 per cent over the month. In January, the output recorded a downfall as well by 16,000 tonnes or 5.76 per cent from 278,000 tonnes in December 2021. 

On a year-on-year basis, primary aluminium production in Western & Central Europe in February 2022 registered a decrease of 29,000 tonnes or 11.20 per cent from 259,000 tonnes.

During January-February 2022, Western & Central Europe’s primary aluminium production amounted to 492,000 tonnes, after being plunged by 9.56 per cent from 544,000 tonnes a year ago.

The downtrend in primary aluminium output across Europe is attributable to production cuts due to soaring energy costs. Since December 2021, the energy shortage problem in Europe fermented, as Russia cut off the supply of natural gas to Europe stating that it needed to actively stockpile natural gas to ensure its own heating demand due to the current cold weather.

The world's primary aluminium production in February 2022 totalled 5.114 million tonnes, with average daily production of 182,600 tonnes, learned IAI.