Primary Aluminum Metal Market Ended in Notable Deficit

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The January to June 2021 Metals Balances Report published by the World Bureau of Metal Statistics (WBMS) suggests that primary aluminium market ended in modest deficit of 1,021 kt. This follows a surplus of 1,193 kt recorded for the whole of year 2020.

The global aluminum production during the initial six-month period of the current year rose by nearly 5.6% upon comparison with the similar half-yearly period a year before. The Chinese output, at 19,635 kt, accounted for almost 57% of the global aluminium production. The Chinese exports of aluminum semi manufactures rose 10% to 2,280 kt during January to June in 2020.

ALSO READ:

Nickel Mine and Smelter Output on the Rise: WBMS Review

World Nickel Market Posted Modest Deficit Until May

The demand stood higher by 3,378 kt from the comparable period in 2020 to around 35.47 million tonnes. The Chinese apparent demand surged higher by 13% than in Jan-June ‘20. The Japanese demand was up by 103 kt, whereas the U.S. demand fell by 214 kt.

The total reported stocks of the metal declined in June to close the period at 469 kt below the end-2020 levels. The Shanghai stocks rose in the first quarter of the year, but dropped in second quarter, ending the half-yearly period at 63 kt above the end-2020 levels. Meantime, the LME stocks closed at 2,331.9 kt at the end of H1 2021, compared with 2,917.0 kt at the end of the previous year.

In June this year, primary aluminium production totalled 5,767.2 kt, whereas the demand stood at 6,092.7 kt.