Rusal’s aluminum sales declined by 5.6pc in January-September 2020 but increased by 3.3pc in the third quarter, on higher aluminum prices from the preceding quarter.
According to Rusal’s Q3 operating results, primary aluminum production stood at 2.8mn mt in January-September 2020, trending flat compared to the same period last year. Alumina output, however, rose by 4pc to 6mn mt from 5.8mn mt in the same period under comparison.
During the third quarter, metal production was 1.3pc higher at 939,000mt from 927,000mt in the preceding quarter. Alumina output grew by 0.4pc to 2.01mn mt during the same period.
Rusal’s aluminum sales fell by 5.6pc in the first nine months of 2020, to 2.8mn mt from 3mn mt in the prior year. However, sales rose by 3.3pc in Q3 2020 over the prior quarter to 1mn mt over 976,000mt. The average aluminum price realized saw a 6.5pc uptick to $1,762/mt in Q3 2020 compared with Q2, owing to better LME prices and aluminum premiums.
The company’s aluminum foil and packaging operations produced 76,000mt in the first nine months this year, up 3.1pc from the prior year. During Q3 2020, the output from this segment rose by 10.5pc to 26,300mt, compared with 24,100mt produced in the preceding quarter.
Rusal’s VAP sales increased by 12.3pc in January-September 2020 to 1,239mt and saw a 25pc rise in sales during the third quarter to 455mt over the prior quarter, depicting a recovery in the VAP market.