
A potential easing of trade tensions between the United States and Canada could reshape the North American aluminum market, with European buyers facing the risk of stronger competition for Canadian metal. Import data from ITC Trade Map shows that US purchases of Canadian unwrought aluminum fell sharply in 2025, while imports from Canada increased across six European markets, highlighting how trade flows have evolved amid tariff uncertainty. The United States imported approximately 2.03 million metric tons of unwrought aluminum from Canada in 2025, down 25.9% from 2.74 million metric tons in 2024. The decline amounted to around 711,494 metric tons over the year. Import value also decreased, falling 22.2% from $7.82 billion to $6.09 billion. The figures come as the possibility of a...
Century Aluminum’s proposed USD 4 billion primary aluminum smelter in Inola, Oklahoma, is “moving forward on all fronts” as the company prepares for construction, despite local opposition and legal challenges, CEO Jesse Gary said during the company’s third-quarter earnings call. Developed jointly by Century Aluminum and Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), the project is designed to produce 750,000 tonnes of primary aluminum annually, potentially doubling U.S. primary aluminum production. The facility is expected to create thousands of direct and indirect jobs and add USD 1.5 billion to Oklahoma’s gross domestic product, according to company estimates. The partners had targeted construction to begin by the end of 2026. However, local restrictions and permitting challenges have affected the...
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The US dollar declined last Friday as downbeat US economic data grew concerns that the coronavirus outbreak has taken a toll on the US economy. Three-month LME aluminium pared some losses after it broke down US$ 1,710 per tonne, ending 0.06% lower on the day at US$ 1,711 per tonne. A softened US dollar is expected to keep LME aluminium between US$ 1690 per tonne and US$ 1730 per tonne. As of Friday, February 21, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1676 per tonne after declining significantly by US$ 10 per tonne from the previous day, while LME official settlement price dropped to US$ 1677 per tonne from US$ 1687 per tonne. 3-months bid price came in at US$ 1702 per tonne and 3-months offer price at US$ 1703 per tonne. Dec 21 bid price stood at US$ 1833 per tonne and Dec 21 offer...

Rio Tinto has announced that the company will appoint three new independent non-executive directors to its board. Hinda Gharbi and Jennifer Nason will join the board with effect from 1 March 2020. Hinda Gharbi is executive vice president of Reservoir & Infrastructure at Schlumberger Limited (Schlumberger), and Jennifer Nason is a Global Chairman at JP Morgan Chase & Co (JP Morgan). Ngaire Woods, Professor of Global Economic Governance at Oxford University, will join the board with effect from 1 September 2020. Rio Tinto chairman Simon Thompson said,"I am delighted to welcome Hinda, Jennifer and Ngaire and look forward to benefiting from their insights and expertise in natural resources, finance, technology, governance and public policy. Their diverse international experience will further...

The Triumph Rocket 3 has landed in South Africa in a big way. It has been empowered by the world’s largest producer of the motorcycle engine. In 2004 the Rocket 3 joggled up the cruiser motorcycle market when it was initially launched with a 2300 cc engine, but now in 2020, this super-cruiser has landed with a 2500 cc engine. The new lightweight multi-spoke cast aluminium wheels developed the bold look, with the Rocket 3 R’s wheels featuring a blacked-out finish, while the Rocket 3 GT model goes one step further with exposed machining on the rim and spokes. The triple-cylinder hunk delivers 221Nm to make it reach its highest torque of any bike engine, aligned with 123kW of power. This makes Triumph to match up to its acceleration with a supercar. The equipped big engine in the bike sheds...

Arconic has received Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) Performance Standard Certification for its global headquarters in Pittsburgh, PA, as well as operations in Samara, Russia. Russia facility manufactures aluminium extrusions, forgings, castings, sheet and plate for automotive, energy, packaging, transportation and aerospace sectors. Fiona Solomon, Chief Executive Officer of ASI said: “ASI warmly congratulates Arconic on achieving ASI Performance Standard Certification. The company has been a long-standing supporter of ASI, and we take pleasure in seeing the company demonstrate its commitment to sustainability on the ground. We look forward to seeing Arconic expand its certifications throughout its global network of facilities.” The ASI Certification program is the only...

The US-based First Bauxite’s subsidiary company Guyana Industrial Minerals Inc. (GINMIN), on 21 st February’20, started its mining operation and processing plant at Bonasika mine, Essequibo Islands-West Demerara region. A $100 million investment assurance can enhance it to a world-class operation. The start of mining exploitation at the Bonasika project marks a noteworthy accomplishment for the organization, which started its pre-mining operation here in 2008. First Bauxite’s Board Chairman Thibault Van Stratum said in brief remarks when he addressed the gathering of workers and special invitees at the commissioning “We will gladly admit that we have taken our time to put this mine in operation but as we say today is the day.” It has been projected that the Bonasika Bauxite Project can...

Century Aluminium, on Friday, February 21, announced a 2 per cent quarterly rise in primary aluminium shipments in Q4 2019 and 8 per cent year-on-year growth in the whole of 2019. In Q4, the shipments totalled at 202,870 tonnes compared with 198,543 tonnes in Q3, while that in the entire 2019 came in at 811,244 tonnes in comparison with 749,850 tonnes. The company also mentioned that its net sales in Q4 decreased by 1 per cent from $438 million in Q3 to $435.5 million, primarily attributing to lower LME prices partially offset by higher volume and product premiums. In the whole year also, net sales decreased by 3 per cent from $ 1,893.2 million in 2018 to $1,836.6 million. Century’s net loss in Q4 2019 was $4.8 million or $0.05 per share, while that in the whole year $80.8 million or...

Constellium reported results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2019. For the fourth quarter of 2019, the company reported revenue of €1.4 billion, down 2% year-on-year. The decrease was due to lower metal prices and lower shipments in the Aerospace and Transportation segment, partially offset by the consolidation of Bowling Green and improved price and mix. Shipments were slightly down to 368,000 tonnes. Net income increased to €22 million. Adjusted EBITDA stood at €121 million, up 15% on improved results in the Packaging and Automotive Rolled Products and the Aerospace and Transportation segments. For the full year of 2019, shipments increased by 4% YoY to 1.6 million tonnes on higher shipments in the Packaging and Automotive Rolled Products. Revenue came in at €5.9...

According to the USGS data, the United States aluminium scrap imports from Canada continued to rise in October, totalling at 34,800 tonnes. Month-on-month, the import amount rose by 7.73 per cent or 2,500 tonnes by volume, as the US in September had imported 32,300 tonnes of aluminium scrap from Canada. The import in August was 31,000 tonnes, meaning the month-on-month rise in September was 4.19 per cent or 1,300 tonnes by volume. In August, however, the country had recorded a monthly drop in scrap imports from Canada by about 8 per cent or 2,700 tonnes from 33,700 tonnes in July. Year-on-year, the United States aluminium scrap imports from Canada, however, dropped in October by 5.69 per cent or 2,100 tonnes from 33,700 tonnes during the same period last year. During January-October 2019,...

The Carnforth footbridge near Lancaster in the north of Lancashire County, England, will be confiscated and replaced with a footbridge adjoining to Kellet road in Carnforth this Sunday 23 rd February’20. The Lancashire Council said: “the replacement is needed as 'surveys have shown that the existing steel bridge is deteriorating, with the aluminium one expected to need less maintenance, minimising the potential for future costs and disruption”. The footbridge next to Kellet road will remain closed from Saturday 22 nd February midnight to 23 rd February midnight to empower the old deteriorated steel bridge to be uplifted and restore with a brand new aluminium one. The footbridge has been kept on delivering support to pedestrians as the road bridge fetching Kellet road over the canal is too...

Shanghai Metals Market found a further rise in 6063 aluminium billet inventories across five major consumption areas on Thursday, February 20. According to the data, the stocks rose by 22,500 tonnes over the week to come in at 193,100. On last Thursday, February 13, the billet stocks increased by 23,800 tonnes from February 6 to stand at 170,600 tonnes. The steady arrivals of stocks amidst low consumptions by aluminium end-users due to production curtail or suspension for the epidemic coronavirus outbreak boosted the billet stocks. The below chart indicates the current status of aluminium billet inventories across the major Chinese cities in more details: In Foshan and Wuxi, the inventories this week rose by 6,100 tonnes and 12,300 tonnes to stand at 72,500 tonnes and 41,300 tonnes,...

The President of Ghana H.E. Akufo-Addo announced that by the end of 2020, Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) would decide to enter a joint venture partnership with investors for exploration of Ghana’s bauxite reserves. During the 2020 State of the Nation Address in Parliament on 20 th February’20, he delivered the above words and also said this is a part of the government’s strategy to augment the industrialization agenda of the country. Akufo-Addo communicated “We have decided at long last to explore our bauxite, manganese and iron ore deposits which allow us to establish an integrated bauxite and aluminium industry and iron and steel industry. The Ghana Integrated Bauxite and Aluminum Development Corporation and the Ghana Integrated Iron and Steel Corporation...

The average alumina spot price in China has further rallied by RMB 7 per tonne to RMB 2,510 per tonne, on Friday, February 21, according to Shanghai Metals Market. This marks the fourth consecutive rise in the alumina spot price. With the continued growth, the price stands higher by RMB 56 per tonne month-on-month. In the north and central China, the price has gained by RMB 10 per tonne and RMB 5 per tonne to RMB 2,530 per tonne and RMB 2,515 per tonne, but in the east and south the price has remained restrained at RMB 2,510 per tonne and RMB 2,520 per tonne, respectively. The Australian alumina FOB price shows no change on February 21, after a rise yesterday straight from US$ 285 per tonne to US$ 299 per tonne. The incessant growth in Chinese alumina price could be attributed to the...

The US dollar rose almost 2% on Tuesday against the yen, reaching its highest in almost 10 months. LME base metals fell across the board last night. LME aluminium declined 0.8%. Three-month LME aluminium hovered weakly around US$1,710 per tonne and finished the session 0.75% lower at US$1,712 per tonne. The contract is likely to trade between US$1,700-1,740 per tonne. As on Thursday February 20, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stands at US$ 1686 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1687 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1713 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 1715 per tonne; Dec 21 bid price stands at US$ 1843 per tonne, and Dec 21 offer price stands at US$ 1848 per tonne. The LME aluminium opening stock stood at 1150775 tonnes. Live Warrants totalled 813875...

Global primary aluminium production stood at 5.451 million tonnes in January 2020, an increase of 0.57% from 5.420 million tonnes in January 2019. The output inched up by 0.22% month-on-month, according to the latest data showed by the International Aluminium Institute (IAI) on Thursday, 20 February 2020. In 2019, primary aluminium came in at 63.697 million tonnes, slightly down by 0.99%% from 64.336 million tonnes in 2018. In Asia ex-China, aluminium production declined by 6.17% year-on-year and 4.89% month-on-month to 350,000 tonnes in January. The production in 2019 amounted to 4.395 million tonnes, a decrease of 0.45% from 2018’s production. In the Middle East, primary aluminium production totalled 508,000 tonnes, up 10.2% year-on-year and 0.4% month-on-month. The total production in...

Century Aluminium Company with its aluminium smelter in Grundartangi, Iceland, has made public of its rollout for Natur-Al™ low-carbon aluminium products. Natur-Al™ aluminium products are manufactured at the ASI-certified Norðurál Grundartangi aluminium plant in Iceland, facilitating energy from 100% renewable sources, permitting the plant to emit CO₂ levels below one-fourth which is considered as the industry average. It can also be counted as 4 tonnes of CO₂ emitted in per tonne of aluminium produced, which is one of the lowest CO₂ emittances in the world. The quantity of CO₂ emitted is to be validated by independent third parties, making easier life-cycle evaluation for consumers. Natur-Al™ ZERO is a completely neutralized, refined, carbon-neutral aluminium product line. The company...

As updated by Shanghai Metals Market, social inventories of primary aluminium across eight consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrants, stood at 1.23 million tonnes as of Thursday, 20 February 2020. That was up 137,000 tonnes compared to a build of 148,000 tonnes in the previous week. Primary aluminium stocks increased this week, as demand has yet to recover amid the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. The chart below shows the current status of the primary aluminium inventories across China in more details: Primary aluminium stocks in Wuxi and Shanghai increased by 62,000 tonnes and 3,000 tonnes from February 13 to stand at 447,000 tonnes and 111,000 tonnes on Thursday, 20 February 2020. Stocks in Nanhai, Gongyi, Hangzhou, and Linyi stood at 258,000 tonnes, 209,000 tonnes, 125,000...

The American export of aluminium scrap to South Korea has remained steady with a total volume of 134,000 tonnes in six months from May-Oct’19. The total export to South Korea in nine months from Jan-Oct’19 was recorded at 227,000 tonnes, with 14.64% growth and in volume by 29000 tonnes from the previous year. In 2018 the total aluminium scrap to South Korea was 198,000 tonnes. During May’19 export volume to South Korea stood at 21,100 tonnes, while in June’19 it was recorded at 22,500 tonnes, a rise of 6.63%. In July’19 the US export of Aluminium scrap to Korea reflected with 19,600 tonnes, dip by 12.88%. Again the export rose by 18.36% in August’19, with a total volume of export remained at 23,200 tonnes. September’19 showed a flat rise of Aluminium scrap export to South Korea by 1.72%,...

Shanghai Metals Market estimates a drop of 10 percentage points in operating rates of aluminium sheet, plate and strip manufacturers in February, to the lowest when compared to the same month in the past three years. The average FRPs operating rates in January declined by 9.22 percentage points month-on-month and 2.6 percentage points year-on-year to 62.3 per cent in January. Large-scale producers saw a decrease of 9.84 percentage points, while medium and small-scale manufacturers witnessed a plunge of 9.25 and 11.72 percentage points, respectively. Most of the producers remained shut a week more than previously expected due to the coronavirus outbreak, as they could not resume operation unless the local authorities approved. But still the producers saw their capacity utilisation rates...