Global production of primary aluminum increased by 2.6pc to 65.29mn mt in 2020 compared to the previous year according to the International Aluminium Institute (IAI).
The IAI indicated in its annual aluminum production statistics that the COVID-19 pandemic did not reduce aluminum production last year. In fact, the metal’s output increased in China and North America by more than 4pc last year to 37.33mn mt and 3.97mn mt, respectively, compared to 2019.
Aluminum production in Africa, Europe, Oceania, and the Middle East trended flat in 2020 with output in Africa at 1.6mn mt, in Western Europe at 3.34mn mt, Oceania at 1.92mn mt, and the Middle East at 5.8mn mt.
Production declined by 6pc in South America and Asia (ex-China) last year with the regions reporting primary aluminum output at 1mn mt and 4.14mn mt, respectively.
The IAI reported that aluminum production has increased by 50pc over the past decade driven by demand and consumption of the metal in China and the Middle East.
In 2020, global alumina production increased by 2pc to 134.43mn mt compared to the previous year with estimated production in China reported at 71mn mt.