The global primary aluminum market recorded a 1.02mn mt deficit in January-June 2021, following a surplus of 1.19mn mt for 2020, according to the World Bureau of Metal Statistics (WBMS). In June, output stood at 5.77mn mt, while demand was measured at 6.09mn mt.
Production volumes for January-June 2021 were not disclosed by the Bureau, however, it was estimated that production within the period rose by 5.6pc when compared to the same period of 2020.The calculated demand for primary aluminum for the period was 35.47mn mt, 94.5pc more than in the same timeframe of last year.
China accounted for 57pc of global production, with an estimated volume of 19.64mn mt. Demand in China rose by 13pc within the period on an annual basis. Japanese demand rose by 103,000mt while US demand declined by 214,000mt.