Primary Aluminum Metal Balance Ended in Surplus Till April

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The January to April 2022 Metals Balances Report published by the World Bureau of Metal Statistics (WBMS) suggests that primary aluminium market ended in surplus of 400 kt. This follows a deficit of 1,819 kt recorded for the whole of the previous year.

The global aluminum production during the initial four-month period of the current year rose marginally by nearly 0.5% upon comparison with the same period a year before. The Chinese output, at 13,006 kt, accounted for approximately 58% of the global aluminium production. The Chinese net exports of aluminum semi manufactures rose by 24% to 1,890 kt during Jan-Apr ‘22, in comparison with the corresponding period a year before.

ALSO READ:

World Nickel Market Posted Modest Deficit in First Quarter

WBMS: Copper Metal Balance in Deficit Until February

The demand stood lower by 750 kt from the comparable four-month period in 2021 at around 21.9 million tonnes. The Chinese apparent demand inched lower by 5.2% than in Jan-Apr ‘21. The Japanese demand was up by 64 kt, while the U.S. demand too rose modestly by 56 kt.

The total reported stocks of the metal declined in the initial four-month period of the year to close at 417 kt below the end-2021 levels. The Shanghai stocks declined during the month of April this year and ended the period 33.4 kt below the end-2021 levels. Meantime, the LME stocks closed at 833 kt at the end of April 2022, compared with 1,213.4 kt at the end of the previous year.

In April 2022, primary aluminium production totalled 5,744.7 kt, whereas the demand stood at 5,675.9 kt.