Global alumina production surged to 11.92 mn tons in May this year, up by 4.32 percent compared to the previous month.
The data was released by a report published recently by the International Aluminum Institute (IAI). It also revealed that the world’s alumina production in April reached only 11.425 mn tons.
Alumina, also called aluminum oxide, is a nearly colorless crystalline substance that is used as a starting material for the smelting of aluminum metal, a critical raw material for manufacturing and other industries.
Production trends
The daily global alumina output last May also saw a growth of 1 percent, with production reaching 384,500 tons, up by 0.97 percent from 380,800 tons in April.
However, year-on-year data showed that the May 2023 alumina production is lower than last year’s output of 12.20 mn tons, down by 2.34 percent.
During the January-May 2023 period, world alumina production totaled 56.71 mn tons, reflecting a decline of 0.99 percent from 57.28 mn tons during the same period last year.
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Alumina production overview
China, a major player in the global alumina market, produced 6.9 mn tons of alumina in May this year, registering a month-on-month rise of 3.34 percent compared to its April production. However, this figure represents a 0.77 percent decrease in China’s output compared to last year.
From January to May, China produced 32.986 mn tons of alumina – 3.99 percent more than 31.72 mn tons a year ago, IAI’s report added.
Meanwhile, alumina production in Asia & Africa (excluding China) in May amounted to 1.16 mn tons. The total production in the first five months of the year reached 5.46 mn tons.
Elsewhere, the Oceania region also contributed to overall alumina production in May 2023. With a production volume of 1.62 mn tons and a daily output of 52,300 tons, Oceania had a month-on-month growth of 2.14 percent.
However, compared to May 2022, there was a decrease of 6.25 percent. In the first five months of 2023, the total alumina production in Oceania was 7.8 mn tons, which also indicates an 8.69 percent decrease compared to the same period last year.
These numbers highlight the challenges the region faced and the importance of monitoring production trends to ensure long-term stability.
According to the report, further insights into the production trends and regional dynamics of alumina production would provide a deeper understanding of the global industry landscape.
Room for improvement
The world of alumina production is a dynamic one, with fluctuations in output influenced by a variety of factors.
The recovery in May is a good sign, but the slight year-on-year decrease suggests there is still room for improvement.
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