World alumina production in July’23 grows above 12 MT, with daily output improving by 1%

In July 2023, the world alumina production saw a month-on-month rise of 4.32 per cent to reach 12.179 million tonnes, found the International Aluminium Institute (IAI). The growth occurred in July 2023 after a monthly fall in June by 1.96 per cent from 11.908 million tonnes to 11.675 million tonnes.

On a year-on-year calculation, the world aluminium output experienced a restraint compared to 12.198 million tonnes, showed IAI.

The monthly output growth in July 2023 brought the world’s total alumina production in the first seven months to 80.669 million tonnes, down by 0.79 per cent from 81.310 million tonnes during the corresponding period of the last year. 

World daily average alumina production in July 2023 also grew M-o-M by 0.95 per cent from 389,200 tonnes to 392,900 tonnes. But on an annual basis, the daily output in July decreased by 0.36 per cent from 394,300 tonnes.

China, the world’s leading alumina producer, churned out 7.337 million tonnes of the mineral in July 2023 compared to 7.1 million tonnes in June, reflecting a month-on-month rise of 3.34 per cent. On an annual basis, the production increased by 3.78 per cent from 7.070 million tonnes, according to IAI.

In the first seven months of 2023, China’s alumina production totalled 47.527 million tonnes – 4 per cent higher than 45.7 million tonnes during the corresponding period of the previous year.

In Africa & Asia (ex-China), alumina output in July 2023 amounted to 1.174 million tonnes after experiencing a month-on-month growth of 5.29 per cent from 1.115 million tonnes. However, on a year-on-year basis, Africa & Asia’s alumina production volume in July 2023 edged a dip of 2.25 per cent from 1.201 million tonnes.

During January-July 2023, alumina production in Africa & Asia (ex-China) totalled 7.749 million tonnes, down by 3.66 per cent from 8.043 million tonnes a year ago.

In the Oceania region, alumina output in July’23 came in at 1.628 million tonnes – 7.03 per cent more than 1.521 million tonnes a month ago but 4.63 per cent less than 1.707 million tonnes a year earlier. During January-July, alumina output in the region was recorded at 10.995 million tonnes, 7.95 per cent down from 11.945 million tonnes.

AL Circle’s in-house report 'Global Aluminium Industry Outlook 2023' projects alumina production to grow this year and beyond, with many new projects on line. For instance, China Aluminium Company’s venture in Indonesia – Mempawah alumina refinery is expected to come online by 2024. In India, the state of Odisha has approved Adani group to set up a 4 million tonnes per annum alumina refinery project and alumina production at Worsley Alumina Refinery is set to go beyond its nameplate capacity, enabled by better production initiatives.