The global primary aluminum market recorded a 588,000mt deficit in January-April 2021, following a surplus of 1.07mn mt for 2020, according to the World Bureau of Metal Statistics (WBMS). In April, the world’s primary aluminum output was 5.72mn mt while demand was measured at 6.09mn mt.
Production volumes for January-April 2021 were not disclosed by the Bureau, however, it was estimated that production within the period rose by 5.8pc when compared to the same timeframe last year. The calculated demand for primary aluminum for the period was 23.45mn mt, 9.8pc more than in 2020.
China accounted for 57pc of global production, with an estimated volume of 13.02mn mt. Demand in China rose by 19pc within the period on an annual basis. Production in the EU for January-April 2021 fell 6.3pc in comparison to the same period last year while demand increased by 33,000mt when compared to the 2020 period.