The global primary aluminum market recorded a 1.54mn mt deficit in January-March (Q1) 2021, following a surplus of 63,503mt for 2020, according to the World Bureau of Metal Statistics (WBMS). In March, the world’s primary aluminum output was 5.3mn mt while demand was measured at 5.35mn mt.
Production volumes were not disclosed by the bureau; however, it was estimated that production from January-March 2021 rose by 5.9pc when compared to the same period last year. The calculated demand for primary aluminum in the same timeframe was 15.6mn mt, 9pc more than in 2020.
China accounted for 57pc of global production with an estimate of 8.85mn mt. Demand in China increased by 17pc in Q1 2021 on an annual basis. Production in the EU for Q1 2021 was 7.6pc lower than in the same period last year while demand fell marginally when compared to the 2020 sum. Production in North America decreased by 0.2pc in January-March.