Global Primary Aluminum Production Rises in March 2025, Led by China

Global primary aluminum production reached 6.23 million tonnes in March 2025, up from 6.09 million tonnes in the same month last year, according to the International Aluminum Institute (IAI). This marks a 2.3% year-on-year increase, with the daily average output rising to 200,900 tonnes from 196,400 tonnes in March 2024. However, this daily rate fell slightly from February’s 202,100 tonnes as production growth moderated following the shorter February period.

China, the world’s largest aluminum producer, played a significant role in this growth. Chinese smelters increased output by 8.8% month-on-month in March, reaching 3.7 million tonnes, compared to 3.4 million tonnes in February. This expansion was driven by the resumption of previously curtailed capacity and the activation of new projects, especially in Sichuan and Guangxi provinces.

Other major producing regions also saw increases. Europe (including Russia) boosted output by 10.6% month-on-month to 594,000 tonnes, while the Gulf Cooperation Council and Asia (excluding China) also recorded notable gains. Despite these improvements, the overall growth rate for the first quarter of 2025 slowed to 1.34% year-on-year, down from a 4.3% increase in Q1 2024. Analysts attribute this moderation to range-bound March production across key regions and only marginal gains compared to January.