Primary aluminum production fell by 25pc in H1 2021 to 446,017mt from 558,264mt in the same period last year, according to data from the Aluminum Association.
In June alone, production declined 22.7pc to 73,502mt against 90,196mt in June 2020. The seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of production for 2021 currently stands at 894,300mt, down 18.7pc from 1.1mn mt for 2020. Average daily production in the US stood at 2,443mt at the end of June, compared with 3,073mt a year ago.
The Association noted that SAAR production increased by 0.1pc on a monthly basis. The survey is considered to account for 100pc of primary aluminum production in the US. Participants include Alcoa and Century Aluminum.