US domestic primary aluminium production slips by 7,000 tonnes M-o-M in Feb’22, but daily output grows slightly

In February 2022, domestic primary aluminium production in the United States was at 75,000 tonnes, reflecting a downfall of 7,000 tonnes or 8.54 per cent month-on-month, following an increase in the previous month. In January 2022, the output grew by 3,000 tonnes or 3.8 per cent from 79,000 tonnes in December 2021.

However, despite the monthly downfall in production, the daily average output in February grew slightly than the previous month from 2,650 tonnes to 2,670 tonnes. On a year-on-year basis, it stood 8.10 per cent higher than 2,470 tonnes, and so was the monthly production by 6,000 tonnes or 8.7 per cent than 69,000 tonnes.

Total aluminium recovered from scrap in February 2022 was 284,000 tonnes, 6.77 per cent more than 266,000 tonnes in January and 14.52 per cent than 248,000 tonnes in February 2021. Of the total aluminium recovered from scrap, 158,000 tonnes were recovered from new scrap and 126,000 from old scrap.

The average US spot market price of primary aluminium ingot in February 2022 was $1.93 per pound, 8 per cent more than in January 2022 and 67 per cent more than in February 2021.

Inventories of primary aluminium in LME-approved warehouses, including off-warrant inventories, in the United States decreased to 48,647 tonnes at the end of February 2022 from 51,496 tonnes at the end of January 2022. Inventories of secondary aluminium (North American Secondary Aluminum Alloy Contract) in LME-approved warehouses, including off-warrant inventories, in the United States declined to 9,464 tonnes at the end of February 2022 from 10,748 tonnes at the end of January 2022.