IAI April aluminum output falls as GCC declines outweigh gradual Western restarts

Primary aluminum production trends continued to diverge by region through April, with output among Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries dropping sharply as the Iran war disrupted regional operations and shipping flows, while producers in Europe and North America slowly restored portions of previously idled capacity.

Data from the International Aluminium Institute (IAI) showed global primary aluminum output fell to 5.922 million metric tons in April from 6.050 million metric tons in the year earlier period. GCC countries accounted for the largest share of the decline, with regional output down by roughly 175,000 metric tons year over year. African production also fell sharply following the mid-March shutdown of South32’s Mozal smelter in Mozambique.

Nicholas Bell

Nicholas brings over half a decade of experience covering metals markets, pricing trends, and supply chain dynamics. Prior to joining AMU, he reported on aluminum, high-temperature scrap, and ferro-alloy markets at Argus Media, with additional coverage of minor metals and rare earths. His work has built deep expertise in North American metals pricing and trade flows. A native of Houston, Nicholas holds a bachelor’s degree in Media Production and an MBA with a concentration in Finance, both from the University of Houston.