Global aluminum production reached 5.25 million metric tons in June, the International Aluminum Institute reported Monday.
The June total marked a decline from the 5.43 million metric tons produced in May and the 5.33 million metric tons produced in June 2018.
China led the way with 2.96 million metric tons produced in June, down from the 3.05 million metric tons produced in June 2018.
Asian production ex-China reached 360,000 metric tons, down from 368,000 tons in June 2018.
Production in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries reached 449,000 metric tons, up from 437,000 metric tons in June 2018.
Production in east and central Europe reached 344,000 metric tons, up from 333,000 metric tons in June 2018.
In western Europe, production reached 284,000 metric tons, down from 310,000 metric tons in June 2018.
North American aluminum production hit 314,000 metric tons, up from 303,000 metric tons in June 2018.
African production hit 135,000 metric tons, down from 140,000 metric tons in June 2018.
South American production reached 95,000 metric tons, up from 88,000 metric tons in June 2018.
In other aluminum news, aluminum producer Alcoa (NYSE:AA) announced the planned restart of its Aluminerie de Bécancour Inc. smelter in Quebec, Canada, after it reached a six-year labor agreement with the United Steelworkers Union.
The smelter, majority-owned by Alcoa, has an annual capacity of 413,000 tons. The restart is scheduled to begin Friday, July 26, and is expected to be completed during the second quarter of 2020, the company said.
The company forecast a global aluminum deficit ranging between 1.0 million tons and 1.4 million tons for 2019, down from last quarter’s forecast of a range of 1.5 million tons and 1.9 million tons.
In addition, the company forecast global aluminum demand growth ranging between 1.25-2.25%, down from a previous forecast of 2-3%. The decline in the growth forecast was “driven by lower demand in both China and the world ex-China due to trade tensions and macroeconomic headwinds,” the company said.
By Fouad Egbaria