North American aluminum output climbs more than 4% in 2020: IAI

Pittsburgh — North America's primary aluminum production reached an estimated 3.98 million mt in 2020, rising about 4.4% from 2019 levels, according to International Aluminium Institute data released Jan. 20.

Earlier in the decade, aluminum capacity in North America had steadily declined each year from 4.92 million mt in 2013 to 3.77 million mt in 2018, IAI data showed. The region's aluminum output in 2020 represents the second straight year of growth for the industry after production in 2019 changed course, climbing to 3.81 million mt from 2018.

North America's aluminum industry in December saw production total 338,000 mt, the third highest monthly output for the year. December's production numbers rose from 327,000 mt in November and 324,000 mt in December 2019

Overall production in 2020 was negatively impacted by the curtailment of Alcoa's 279,000 mt/year Intalco smelter in the US.

However, the loss at Intalco was offset by production increases at Century Aluminum's Hawesville smelter in the US and the full production ramp-up of Alcoa's Aluminerie de Becancour smelter in Quebec.

Century restored the fourth 50,000 mt/year potline at Hawesville. Becancour returned to its annual nameplate capacity of 413,000 mt following the end of a labor lockout.

In the US, the Aluminum Association said estimated primary aluminum production totaled 1.03 million mt in 2020, down 8.8% from 2019, a separate report showed.

Canada's 2020 aluminum production was estimated at 3.12 million mt, up from 2.85 million mt, according to a report from the Aluminium Association of Canada.