Aluminium

Primary Aluminium (or Ali, as it is affectionately known), is the LME’s largest traded contract. Aluminium Alloy is also traded.

It is a silvery-white metal, it is light, non-toxic, non-magnetic and can be decorative. It is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity. The pure metal is soft, but it becomes strong and hard when alloyed with copper, magnesium, silicon, manganese or other elements.

 It has a remarkable ability to resist corrosion and is invaluable in the aerospace industry. It is also essential to most forms of transport (cars, planes, trains, bicycles), in the construction industry (windows and doors) and in packaging (cans and foil).

Aluminium is most commonly produced in Western Europe, North America, China and Eastern / Central Europe. Although it is the most abundant metal in the earth’s crust, it needs to be refined, using the Bayer process, from bauxite, an aluminium ore.

The Facts
Symbol: Al
Atomic Number: 13