In the first half of 2018, global primary aluminum production was 1% lower than the previous year's level. Overall, China's production has slightly decreased, while production in other parts of Asia has increased significantly, according to IKB Bank report launched by Duss. The bank's experts estimate that the production in 2018 will be approximately 64 million tons. In Europe, the bank observed that production remained stable, but slightly decreased in North America. The production of Gulf countries has also increased again. The global demand for primary and recycled aluminum continues to be driven by the lightweight structure of the automotive industry and the good order situation in the aviation industry; The good economy of the construction industry in the European continent and packaging industry is also inspiring.

The sanctions imposed by the United States on Rusal, the world's second-largest aluminum producer, and the US tariffs on aluminum imports were the main themes of the first half of 2018- and continue to cause significant turbulence in the global metal market. Given the current political developments, supplying the aluminum market will become less secure in the coming months. The impact on producers and processors is not entirely predictable, as prices will continue to fluctuate due to market volatility. By the end of the third quarter of 2018, IKB expects the price of primary aluminum to be around $2250 per ton or $2200 per ton. If from then on, the sanctions against Rusal will be seized on October 23rd, marked as 2.

European aluminum industry is concerned that sanctions and tariffs may lead to significant market changes that could drag down the supply chain. The supply and delivery bottlenecks of primary aluminum or alumina, as well as price increases, are all threats. Ultimately, converters and customer industries such as automotive, construction, or packaging must pay higher prices, which is neither in the interest of aluminum producers nor in the interest of customers.

Industry insiders believe that sanctions will have a significant impact on trade flows. The EU is a net importer of primary aluminum and alumina. Sanctions may lead to market changes for all market participants in the entire supply chain. This will also affect major customer industries such as the automotive industry. Some market participants are concerned that supply security and price predictability are no longer guaranteed, at the cost of the competitiveness of non European suppliers such as China, India, or Gulf countries.

Despite various uncertainties, for the aluminum alloy year of 2018, all traffic signals were green. Especially, the automotive industry is promoting the use of lightweight metals. As people become increasingly aware of the dangers of air pollution, the demand for aluminum is increasing. Regardless of whether electric vehicles will make races, trucks, and ships use liquefied natural gas or even hydrogen as a driving energy source in the future - making these fuel alternatives closer to economy, it is important to reduce weight. In the automotive industry, the process of replacing heavier metals such as steel with lighter weight aluminum is already underway. It is expected that this trend will continue to implement ambitious plans to establish the entire electric fleet.

ALUMINIUM 2018 will showcase the extensive production and processing of various light metals. The world's largest aluminum trade fair and conference event will not only showcase major trends such as industry innovation, additive manufacturing, and electric transportation, but also provide ways to better utilize energy and other resources.