Demand for aluminum in the United States rose almost 7% in May, according to Harbor Intelligence.
At the same time, daily average primary aluminum slipped 2%.
“In annual terms output is still losing dynamism,” the company says. “The rate of growth fell from 5.3% in December, 4.5% in February, 2.7% in March and 2.5% in April to 1.9%. Nonetheless, including China, daily output remaining flat in monthly terms. It is down in annual terms to 5.5% from 5.8% in April.”
The implication: continued high aluminum prices.