According to data released by the International Aluminium Institute (IAI), global primary aluminum production reached 5.922 million mt in April 2026. This represented a decrease compared to 6.05 million mt in the same period last year, and also showed a declining trend compared to the previous month's production (revised to 6.254 million mt from the original 6.302 million mt). Specifically for China, primary aluminum production in April was estimated at 3.678 million mt, compared to 3.795 million mt in the previous month.

The International Aluminium Institute (IAI) noted that primary aluminum production in the Gulf region totaled 330,000 mt in April, down 35% year-on-year from the same period in 2025, as the Iran war affected smelters in the region. Although the region accounted for only about 8% of global primary aluminum production, it was the source of 28% of Japan's imports and 21% of US imports. Given the supply chain disruptions and a continuously deteriorating outlook, IAI Secretary General Jonathan Grant stated that the April data may not yet have reached the bottom, and the situation could worsen further.