World primary aluminium production rebounds from the loss to 5.744 million tonnes in May 2021: IAI

According to the International Aluminium Institute data, world primary aluminium production in May 2021 rebounded at 5.744 million tonnes, reflecting an increase of 3.63 per cent from 5.543 million tonnes in April. On a year-on-year calculation, world primary aluminium production in May edged 5.78 per cent higher than 5.430 million tonnes.

In the first five months of the year, output totalled 27.942 million tonnes, up by 4.35 per cent from 26.777 million tonnes during the same period last year.

China, the world’s highest primary aluminium producer, churned out 3.344 million tonnes in May. That was 3.98 per cent up month-on-month from 3.216 million tonnes and 9 per cent year-on=year from 3.068 million tonnes. During January-May, China produced 16.211 million tonnes of primary aluminium in total compared to 15.113 million tonnes during the same period last year.

In the GCC countries, primary aluminium production in May 2021 stood at 494,000 tonnes, up 3.78 per cent from 476,000 tonnes in April, while flat compared to 495,000 tonnes a year ago. In the five months of the year, GCC countries produced 2.411 million tonnes – 1.43 per cent less than 2.446 million tonnes during the corresponding period last year.

In Asia (ex-China), primary aluminium output came in at 379,000 tonnes in May, reflecting a month-on-month hike of 3.55 per cent from 366,000 tonnes and 10.82 per cent from 342,000 tonnes a year ago. During January-May 2021, Asia (ex-China) produced 1.838 million tonnes compared to 1.711 million tonnes during the same period last year.