US primary aluminium production shows a 4% monthly rebound in October, but no positive change seen in YTD output

According to the latest data from the US Geological Survey, the United States' domestic primary aluminium production showed a month-on-month rebound in October 2024. Aluminium scrap recovery also grew in the same month, suggesting an overall boost in aluminium operations nationwide. However, the question remains: does this monthly improvement signal a silver lining in the backdrop of sluggish performance of primary aluminium production in the United States, or has it translated into a positive shift in year-to-date output?

Growing by about 4.4 per cent M-o-M, the United States' October output stood at 57,000 tonnes in October, following a 2.5 per cent drop in September from 56,000 tonnes to 54,600 tonnes. But unfortunately, this monthly hike was not enough to lead to an increase in the United States' year-to-date primary aluminium production that amounted to 563,000 tonnes this year, down by 18.16 per cent from 688,000 tonnes in the first ten months of 2023.

In fact, the United States' primary aluminium production in October saw a 6.6 per cent year-on-year fall from 61,000 tonnes to 57,000 tonnes.