According to statistics from the International Aluminium Institute (IAI), the global aluminum production reached 6.302 million tons in March, a 0.9% rise compared to March. Despite this annual growth, daily output declined by 0.3% from February, reaching 203,300 tons, as instability in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region disrupted operations.
GCC’s aluminum output dropped by 6% to 495,000 tons as raw material access ceased and facilities sustained damage from conflict.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz prevents the movement of bauxite and alumina, trapping finished metal at smelters. Although production in China and Europe grew, North American and African volumes dropped.
The IAI warns that current figures remain incomplete, with final data due in May likely reflecting lower actual volumes. Recovering these supply chains could take months due to the complexity of restarting electrolytic cells.