Global aluminum inventory decline in November

According to the latest data released by the International Aluminum Association (IAI) on Thursday, global aluminum stockpiles dropped by 87,000 tons in November, bringing the total to 2.258 million tons. This marks a continued downward trend in inventories, reflecting ongoing demand and supply dynamics across the industry. In October, global aluminum inventories stood at 2.345 million tons, showing a slight decrease from the previous month. However, the most significant drop came when comparing November 2012 with the same period in 2011, where inventories fell by 143,000 tons, down from 2.401 million tons. The data highlights regional variations in aluminum stock levels. Africa reported 134,000 tons in November, while North America saw 586,000 tons. South America had 191,000 tons, Asia recorded 465,000 tons, Europe held 810,000 tons, and Oceania had 72,000 tons. The overall total for November was 2,258,000 tons, compared to 2,345,000 tons in October and 2,401,000 tons in November 2011. These figures suggest that aluminum markets are adjusting to shifting economic conditions, with reduced stockpiles possibly indicating increased consumption or tighter production. Analysts are closely watching these trends as they could influence future pricing and trade flows in the global aluminum sector.