Aluminum Price in 1990
In 1990, the price of aluminum averaged $1,639 per tonne, down 16.0% from the year before. This page covers the 1990 average, high, low, and year-end close, the events that moved the market, and what that aluminum would be worth in today's dollars.
1990 Average
$1,639
LME annual average, USD/tonne
Change vs 1989
-16.0%
from $1,951 in 1989
What happened to the aluminum price in 1990
Aluminum averaged $1,639 per tonne in 1990, sliding 16.0% from the $1,951 average of 1989.
The 1990s were mostly weak, with post-Soviet metal flooding the market and the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis capping demand; aluminum spent the decade largely between $1,250 and $1,800.
Adjusted for inflation, aluminum's 1990 average of $1,639 equals about $4,042 in today's dollars. The conversion uses US Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U annual averages, so treat it as a close approximation rather than an exact figure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the price of aluminum in 1990?
What is a 1990 aluminum price worth in today's dollars?
Annual averages are World Bank and LME aluminum prices per tonne in US dollars (LME cash and settlement basis). Values before the LME aluminium contract launched in October 1978 are producer and list-price proxies, and the 2025 figure is preliminary. Where daily data exists, the per-year high, low, and close come from MetalCharts historical data. Inflation adjustments use BLS CPI-U annual averages.