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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Indian state government-owned oil and gas company, Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOC), is reportedly developing metal-air batteries that will produce energy by oxidising metals such as iron, zinc and aluminium. This is to forestall dependence on lithium imports once electric vehicles and renewable energy projects take off in a big way, said IOC chairman Sanjiv Singh. These batteries cannot be recharged, but motorists can replace plates to power them almost instantly, eliminating the need for charging infrastructure. Besides, the metal-air batteries have high energy density. If a normal lithium-ion battery can travel the vehicle up to 300 km, these batteries can take it to 500 km. The cost-effectiveness of these batteries will, however, depend on the scale of operation. Also, the...
The US dollar weakened on Friday against a basket of other currencies after US President Donald Trump said China and the US reached the first phase of a substantial trade deal that delays tariff hikes that were set to kick in this week. LME base metals, except for aluminium and nickel, drifted higher on Friday. SHFE aluminium shed 0.6%. Three-month LME aluminium fell on Friday, losing 1.6% to US$1,722 per tonne. As reported by Reuters LME aluminium rose 0.2% on Monday morning. Today, LME aluminium is likely to regain some of the losses it made during the end of last week. As on October 11, Friday, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1720 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1721 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1725.50 per tonne, 3-months offer price...
The average spot alumina price increased by RMB 15 per tonne or 0.57 per cent from Friday to at RMB 2643 per tonne on Monday, 14 October 2019. This is the fifth consecutive day of increase in alumina prices. The prices of alumina rose across East, Central, North China markets today. Alumina prices in East and Central markets climbed RMB 30 per tonne and RMB 20 per tonne to stand at RMB 2650 per tonne and RMB 2660 per tonne. Their average prices are expected to range at RMB 2640- 2660 per tonne and RMB 2650-2670 per tonne. In North market, the price stood at RMB 2660 per tonne, up RMB 10 per tonne from its previous price. The price in South Market remained unchanged at RMB 2520 per tonne. Australian alumina FOB price registered an increase of USD 2 per tonne on Monday, 14 October 2019. The...
The production and sales report of Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) for the third quarter of 2019 reveals that the company’s aluminium production topped 385,396 tonnes, up 53 per cent from 251,472 tonnes in the same period last year. Sales volume grew 51 per cent year-on-year to stand at 376,025 tonnes, compared with 248,970 tonnes in Q3 2018. For the nine months of 2019, Alba’s report reveals that the production rose 26 per cent from 762,952 tonnes in the same period of 2018 to 963,830 tonnes, while sales volume increased to 945,067 tonnes after rising by 26 per cent as well from 750,202 tonnes in the nine months of 2018. CEO of Alba, Ali Al Baqali, said: “With the double-digit growth in our Production and Sales’ Volume, we are set for a strong finish to 2019. This year is proving to be...
According to a recent report, New York-based studio Gill Schmid has released the initial details of its latest superyacht concept, an 80 meter hybrid explorer. It is a hybrid between functional explorer and luxurious superyacht, said the studio. The superyacht is designed with a steel Ice Class hull and aluminium superstructure in collaboration with Tim Dempers Studio. Key features of the yacht include a spacious helideck with a gym, beauty salon, lounging areas fore and aft flanked by an outdoor Jacuzzi. The exterior would be mirror glazed reflecting the outdoor environment. The yacht is also equipped with an A-frame crane capable of launching a plethora of tenders and toys, including a 12-metre limousine tender, Jet Skis, and two Triton-built submarines. The accommodation capacity of...
Metallica Minerals, an Australian bauxite developer, announced the company has identified three alternative logistics solutions to deliver bauxite from its Urquhart bauxite project. Metallica will finalise the solution and release an updated pre-feasibility study for the project by the end of December. “Further regulatory approvals are required for all three alternatives and these are planned to be advanced, subject to a positive outcome from an updated pre-feasibility study for the project which will determine a selected development option and targeted to be complete by about the end of December 2019,” Metallica Minerals said. The three potential logistic options identified include the building of a shiploader adjacent to the Urquhart Heavy Minerals Sands (HMS) Mining Lease (ML) owned by...
Reuter reports that CME Group’s physical delivery of aluminium has gained momentum since September after expansion into Europe and Asia. It was driven by growing liquidity in Asian market “We are starting to see actually more and more materials coming into our warehouses,” Young-Jin Chang, CME’s Global Head of Metals told Reuters on Friday. He added that they were expecting more stocks of aluminium in Asian locations. Aluminum stocks at CME Group’s Asian warehouses in Malaysia and Singapore stood at 13,500 tonnes as of Oct. 10, which accounts for more than 70% of its total 19,221 tonne inventory. Ports at three European countries in Spain, Belgium and The Netherlands had no inventory on Thursday. CME has been building up its storage network through the U.S., Europe and Asia. As Young-Jin...
Indonesian government is weighing on the proposal of the bauxite-rich province of West Kalimantan for change in royalty rules after the recent increase in bauxite production. According to a statement from the coordinating ministry for maritime affairs in charge of mining, the central government is in the process of revising regulations and a draft will soon be submitted to President Joko Widodo for approval. He has already approved some changes in the royalty rate as suggested by the West Kalimantan government. The ministry however did not specify which regulations are being revised. Currently miners pay 3.75% of revenue from sales of bauxite to the government. The West Kalimantan government asks for a larger share of revenue from bauxite, and some authority to handle a miner’s export...
Brazil’s exports of petcoke have been surging over the last three years. According to recent estimates, exports of petcoke stood at 428356 tonnes in 2018, up 4.59% from 409548 tonnes in 2017 and 149.08% from 171972 tonnes in 2016. The total value of petcoke exports in 2016, 2017, and 2018 was USD 98 million, USD 528 million, and USD 558 million, respectively. {newsStudioGallery} Petcoke or petroleum coke, a by-product of the oil refining process, is a significant fuel for the power generation and aluminium smelting industries. The leading destinations for petcoke exports in 2018 were the United Arab Emirates (94770 tonnes), South Africa (75136 tonnes), Canada (67796 tonnes), and the USA (60444 tonnes) among others. Exports to the United Arab Emirates came in at 94770 tonnes in 2018....
In a bid to bringing in some innovation to Pakistan’s energy industry, Shell Pakistan Limited (SPL) has recently introduced aluminium tank Lorries, which will distribute fuel across Pakistan’s improved road network to Shell’s customers. According to the parameters set by National Highway Authority on axle to weight ratio, these aluminium Lorries will enhance efficiency by allowing higher volumes of product to be transported as compared to steel tank Lorries. Besides, they are light-weight and therefore, better for Pakistan’s roads. Also, since aluminium is non-corrosive and negates static charge, the new Lorries will increase safety and security. The aluminium tank Lorries also reduce maintenance cost and improve fuel economy while reducing environmental impact. SPL inaugurated the new...
A number of aluminium companies and steelmakers along with other suppliers recently filed separate complaints against four largest railroad companies in the United States. They alleged that the railroad companies in the United States conspired to raise prices and overcharge customers billions of money for freight services over a period of five years. They did this under the guise of fuel cost recovery program. Among the aluminium companies, Alcoa Corp., Pittsburgh; Alumax Mill Products, Lancaster, Pennsylvania; Arconic, Pittsburgh; Northwest Alloys, Washington; Reynolds Metals Co., Richmond, Virginia; and Eastalco Aluminum and Intalco Aluminum, subsidiaries of Alcoa, filed a lawsuit Sept. 30 with the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. The companies alleged that...
Hong Kong-based drinks giant Vitasoy has reportedly launched a pilot scheme on Tuesday, October 8, to recycle Tetra Pak cartons that need specialist recycling for having aluminium, polythene and paper layers. The pilot scheme includes recycling bins, workshops, and a mobile education centre, in partnership with Secure Information Disposal Services (SSID), which operates a waste management plant in the city’s Yuen Long district. Recycling bins along with education centre will be placed in more than 75 schools, while learning resources to be circulated in schools as well as housing estates. As part of the programme, the 79 year old company will collaborate with Hong Kong Polytechnic University to organise environmental workshops and work with students in its School of Design to make...
Sen. Ron Wyden has questioned the relationship between the Kentucky aluminium mill and the previously sanctioned Russian aluminium company Rusal. He addressed a letter to Craig Bouchard, CEO of Braidy Industries and questioned whether Braidy Industries had established a relationship with Rusal before the removal of U.S. sanctions against the company. Rusal was formerly owned by Russian oligarch Demetri Deripaska, who was a close ally of Putin. A number of companies controlled by Deripaska including Rusal were sanctioned by the U.S. in April 2018 as part of the Countering America's Adversaries through Sanctions Act. Sanctions on Rusal were removed after Deripaska cut down his stake to less than 50 per cent, and his voting rights to less than 35 per cent. Democrats voted against the lifting...
The US dollar dropped to a more than two-week low on Thursday against its rivals on optimism over the ongoing US-China trade talks. LME base metals closed higher on Thursday. LME aluminium gained 0.4% and SHFE base metals also drifted mostly higher overnight. Aluminium edged down 0.1%. Three-month LME aluminium recovered from earlier losses to close Thursday trading 0.37% higher at US$1,750 per tonne, as the British pound strengthened against the greenback. Upside potential in LME aluminium, however, will be limited because of the rising LME aluminium inventories. The contract is expected to move between US$1,730-1,760 per tonne today. As on October 10, Thursday, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1737.50per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1738 per tonne;...
According to Shanghai Metals Market, the A00 aluminium ingot price has further declined in China by RMB 30 per tonne to stand at RMB 13,970 per tonne, as of October 11. This marks the second consecutive drop this week, bringing the A00 aluminium ingot price lower by RMB 500 per tonne from a month before. Muted purchase amidst increasing stocks is one of the primary reasons for the decline in aluminium ingot price. After the increase in inventories by 75,000 tonnes on Tuesday, October 8, the stocks further rose on October 10 by 8,000 tonnes to come in at 977,000 tonnes. The average prices of aluminium ingot today are expected to range between RMB 13,950 per tonne and RMB 13,990 per tonne, with spot contract to be traded at a premium price of RMB 40 per tonne. Shenyang, Tianjin, Linyi and...
Liberty Aluminium Dunkerque has become a Production & Transformation member of the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI). This brings the total number of members working toward a responsible aluminium value chain to 101. The Aluminium Dunkerque plant, located in Northern France, is the largest primary aluminium smelter in Europe, specialising in the manufacture of aluminium slabs and ingots with over 99% purity. Liberty’s aluminium products are used for value added applications in the transport, automotive, aerospace, packaging, building and construction industries. “We are very proud to announce our membership to ASI. We strongly believe that joining ASI will help in promoting the low-carbon footprint of the aluminium produced at Liberty Aluminium Dunkerque,”Guillaume de Goÿs, Managing...
Shanghai Metals Market found the social inventories of primary aluminium extended its rise across eight major consumption areas, including SHFE warrants, by 8,000 tonnes from Tuesday, October 8, to come in at 977,000 tonnes on Thursday, October 10. According to SMM, increase in cargo arrivals is the primary reason behind the continued growth in primary aluminium stocks. On October 8, the stocks increased by 75,000 tonnes over the National Day Holiday to stand at 969,000 tonnes. Just before the week-long holiday, the inventories on September 30 were at 894,000 tonnes after declining by about 45,000 tonnes from 939,000 tonnes on Thursday, September 26. The chart below shows the current status of inventories across China in more details: The inventories in Wuxi, Jiangsu; and Nanhai,...
Shanghai Aluminium prices are outperforming the LME aluminium prices as the falling domestic supply is boosting prices, while weak demand in the rest of the world is putting pressure on the prices. This equation is likely to continue in the medium term. Benchmark LME aluminium price hit its lowest since January 2017 at US$ 1697 per tonne in the beginning of October, a drop of 12% since March when the trade dispute between the United States and China escalated. Prices on the Shanghai Futures Exchange are currently around RMB 14,000 per tonne or US$ 1965 per tonne after a week-long National Day holiday. “Normally the disconnect would not last as China would export less,” said Citi analyst Tracy Liao. That means abundant supply in the domestic market which will put pressure on the prices....
