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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Downeast Cider continues to extend its reach from the East Coast to the West Coast in the U.S., building a following for a growing niche in the specialty hard cider market: “unfiltered” cider. In fact, Downeast, launched by brothers Ross and Matt Brockman, is the original unfiltered cider. "When our three founders got together to launch Downeast, they decided on a few basics to differentiate the product," says Pete McCoubrey, Downeast Product and Brand Marketing. "Five fresh apples go into every 12 oz. can. And it was determined that filtering them out would mean filtering out flavour. So, as our leaders like to say, we leave the good stuff in there." Downeast customers agree as demand for the popular cider continues to increase with an increasing slate of offerings that include core...
Pennex Aluminum recently completed a $23 million expansion of their Leetonia, Ohio facility. The 175-employee facility specializes in aluminum fabrication and extrusions for the automotive, construction, HVAC, landscaping, and off-road vehicle markets. The company, which is part of Pennsylvania-based Metal Exchange Corporation, was founded in 1979 and acquired the Leetonia plant in 2010. The primary focus of the investment will be new equipment focused on increasing the company’s offerings and meeting market demands. Upwards of 50 new jobs will also accompany the expansion. Syncing with the completion of the project is the 40th anniversary of Pennex being purchased by MEC. Making everything possible is a local school district agreement that provided Pennex with a 15-year tax abatement in...
In September 2017, a HRL Laboratories team published a paper announcing that they had succeeded in 3D printing a traditionally non-weldable, high-strength aluminum alloy. A feat of ingenuity, the team functionalized an incredibly crack-prone material with average yield strengths up to 580 MPa. Two years later, the material used by HRL in this experiment became the first additive manufacturing aluminum alloy registered with the historic Aluminum Association. Known as Aluminum 7A77.60L, this metal powder for 3D printing is now available to buy directly from HRL. By commercially releasing the material to the market, HRL has now achieved what it set out to do: “HRL’s goal in developing materials has always been to make sure designers have the opportunity to use the highest performing...
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba), on course to become the world’s largest aluminium smelter, is proud to announce the launch of its Master Training Plan for its employees. Led by the Acting Chief Executive Officer Ali Al Baqali, this initiative aims to create a customised training plan that will meet the needs of every job and employee in the Company. Held on 06 October 2019, the Acting Chief Executive Officer said during the launch of this initiative: “We are not only in the business to make money but also in the people’s business and Alba future lies in investing in its people. The Master Training Plan - in line with the Kingdom of Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030 - is one-of-a-kind opportunity for our employees, both management and non-management as it is tailored to bring us closer to...
The average spot alumina price registered an increase of RMB 9 per tonne on Tuesday, 08 October 2019, after a week-long holiday. Alumina price in China stood at RMB 2613 per tonne, from RMB 2604 per tonne. Spot alumina prices in East China, Central China, and North China markets climbed by RMB 10 per tonne each. The average prices of alumina (East China), alumina (Central China), and alumina (North China) stood at RMB 2610 per tonne, RMB 2630 per tonne, RMB 2630 per tonne respectively on October 8. A00 aluminium ingot price rose by RMB 70 per tonne from its earlier price of RMB13980 per tonne. The price stood at RMB 14050 per tonne and expected to move within a range of RMB 14030-14070 per tonne, Aluminium ingot price in Foshan stood at RMB 14050 per tonne, up RMB 60 per tonne. Ingot...
As shown by data from Shanghai Metals Market, social inventories of primary aluminium in China expanded over the week after the National Day holiday. As trading was closed because of the holidays and cargoes arrived in the warehouses, it led to an increase in stocks stemming several weeks of declines. Trading has started today and the inventory is likely to fall this week. SMM data showed that stocks across eight consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrants, increased by 75,000 tonne from September 30 to 969,000 tonne as of Tuesday October 8. The inventory status is shown in the below table: Shanghai Metals market also reported that 6063 aluminium billet stocks across five major consumption areas in China increased by 35,400 tonne from September 30 to stand at 135,200 tonne as of...
The US dollar inched higher against a basket of currencies on Monday, stemming the decline from a more than two-year high hit last week, as investors took a cautious approach ahead of the US Federal Reserve Meeting Minutes and trade talks between Washington and Beijing this week. LME base metals were mixed on Monday's close. Aluminium rose 1.5%. Three-month LME aluminium recovered from earlier losses to end at a more than one-week high of US$1,751 per tonne on Monday. It gained 1.45% on the day, recovering losses from last week when it touched the lowest since January 2017. Data showed that LME aluminium inventories declined 2,300 tonnes on Monday to 964,225 tonnes, after consecutive days of gains. High inventories and a lack of developments on fundamentals will keep LME aluminium under...
Benchmark aluminium price on London Metal Exchange dropped 0.27 per cent to US$ 1701.50 per tonne on Friday, October 4, from US$ 1697 per tonne on October 3. As on October 4, Friday, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1701 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1701.50 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1714.50 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 1715.50 per tonne; Dec 20 bid price stands at US$ 1795 per tonne, and Dec 20 offer price stands at US$ 1800 per tonne. The LME aluminium opening stock increased to 966525 tonnes. Live Warrants totalled at 782925 tonnes, and Cancelled Warrants were 183600 tonnes. LME aluminium 3-months Asian Reference Price is hovering at US$ 1719.56 per tonne. SHFE Aluminium Price Trend Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) is...
Shinhwa Group, an automotive parts manufacturer in South Korea, announced it will make a new $42 million investment in manufacturing operations in Auburn, Alabama. The company will initially manufacture drive shafts for vehicles made by Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama in Montgomery and Kia Motor Manufacturing Georgia. Shinhwa will provide parts for other car manufacturers in the near future. “Shinhwa’s decision to invest $42 million and create 95 jobs in Auburn is great news for Alabama,” said Alabama Governor, Kay Ivey. “Alabama has become an important player in a changing automotive industry, and Shinhwa’s plans to open its first U.S. plant in Auburn is proof of our success.” “The Shinhwa Group has become a leader in the aluminium die casting industry because of our willingness to...
The oversupplied primary aluminium and aluminium scrap market was the topic of discussion among the speakers at the 2019 Commodities Roundtable Forum, hosted by the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) on Sept. 11-13 in Chicago. Doug Hilderhoff, a principal analyst of London-based CRU Group said an oversupply of primary aluminium is pushing the price down. As for the scrap market is concerned; the condition is similar in the North American market struggling with excess scrap. Becky Proler, the president of Southern Core Recycling, Houston, said an excess of 6000 and 5000 series automotive aluminium scrap has dragged down the market. Hilderhoff said, though importance of recycling is growing because of the increased focus on sustainably produced aluminium, the domestic market...
Wynnchurch Capital has invested in Eastern Metal Supply (EMS), a distributor of aluminium extrusions and related products. The terms of the investment were not disclosed. Founded in 1982, Florida-based EMS now has fourteen nationwide distribution centers and manufacturing facilities, totalling nearly 1.5 million square feet. The company’s aluminium products are sold into a variety of industrial, commercial, residential, and marine end markets. Greg Weekes, President and Co-Founder of EMS said, “We have built and grown EMS by providing our customers with exceptional service, just-in-time delivery and a wide breadth of value-added products. Wynnchurch shares this commitment and we are excited to partner with them as we continue that mission and pursue our next phase of growth.” Chris...
Darnet Design has recently unveiled its latest superyacht concept – the 86 metre Starlight. Both exterior and interior design of the yacht, which features a steel hull and aluminium superstructure, has been done by Darnet. Some of the key features of the yacht’s interior include a touch and go helicopter landing pad, 17 square metre swimming pool on the aft main deck, and beach club exceeding 100 square metres. The beach club is also equipped with two underwater observatories on the port and starboard side. The total accommodation capacity is for 14 guests in seven cabins. Six of them are guest cabins on the main deck and one is the owner’s stateroom on the dedicated owner’s deck. Gym, spa, sauna sit are some of the other features present on the main deck. The main deck can be reached via...
Guinea has been facing a number of socio-political issues related to bauxite mining as the bauxite industry gets embroiled between the contradictory needs of economic development and environmental and land related concerns of the communities affected by bauxite mining. The west-African country has the world’s largest reserves of bauxite, one of the most sought after raw materials because of the growing demand for aluminium. Thirteen Guinean communities have finally entered a dispute resolution process in order to settle an issue in relation to alleged land grabbing by a bauxite mine supported by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Bank’s private sector arm. IFC’s Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO) will convene the dispute resolution process. CAO is an independent...
Turkey’s exports of aluminium semi-finished products (plates, sheets, bars, etc.) to the US increased by 148.9% in June compared with the same period last year. Imports stood at 5,650 tonnes in June, from 2,270 tonnes in June 2018. Aluminium products exports to the US reduced by 0.53% from May’s export of 5,680 tonnes but rose by 41.25% from April’s export of 4,000 tonnes. Turkey exported 34,000 tonnes of aluminium semi-finished products to the US in the first six months of 2019, from 9,290 tonnes exported in the first six months of 2018. This indicates an increase of 265.98% year-on-year, according to the latest Mineral Industry Survey report from the US Geological Survey. On the import side, Turkey’s imports of aluminium semi-finished products from the US stood at 2,690 tonnes in the...
General Motors launched its two-seat full electric vehicle for customers across China last month under SAIC-GM-Wuling Automobile, General Motors’ light-vehicle partnership with SAIC Motor Corp. The micro EV, the Baojun-badged E200, offers two variants at prices of RMB 54,800 ($7,697) and RMB 64,800 after government subsidies. The car comes with a warranty of eight years or 120,000 kilometers for its battery system. The vehicle has a range of 250 km on one charge and targets urban commuters. The vehicle is easy to park and make U-turns, GM said. About 43 per cent of the vehicle is made of ultra-high-strength and high-strength steel and the rest is made of multiple materials including aluminium. The Baojun E200 first went on sale in September 2018 in the southwest China city of Liuzhou...
Rio Tinto, Queensland Alumina Limited (QAL) and The University of Queensland’s (UQ) Sustainable Minerals Institute have received a recognition for their joint research into technologies that could turn bauxite residue, also known as red mud, into fertile soil. They are trying a new process that uses eco-engineering technology to alter the minerals in the red mud into a soil-like material suitable for plant growth. If successful, the research could help transform the way alumina refineries rehabilitate red mud dams. Led by the Sustainable Minerals Institute’s Professor Longbin Huang, the research team works closely with employees at the Yarwun and QAL refineries in Gladstone and Gove in the Northern Territory. Earlier this year, the trio won the Achieving Resilient Environments and...
LME aluminium prices climbed off recent lows on Thursday, boosted by a weaker dollar, as trading was thin due to China’s National Day week long holiday. Three months LME aluminium prices rose 0.4% to $1,711.50 a tonne, from $1,704.85 on Wednesday which was the weakest since early 2017. US dollar index came under further selling pressure after hitting fresh 2019 highs near 99.70 on Tuesday. The dollar extended the move lower to sub-99.00 levels. The ISM Non-manufacturing PMI dropped to the lowest level since August 2016 at 52.6, adding to fears of a US recession. As on October 3, Thursday, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1696.50 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1697 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1710 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$...
Maaden Aluminium Co. (MAC), an affiliate of Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Maaden), has announced the signing of an agreement with Radian Oil and Gas Services Co. to provide environmental solutions, process aluminium by-products from aluminium smelting, and extract raw aluminium for manufacturing purposes. Ali Al-Qahtani, Chairman of Maaden Aluminium said, “The project is part of Maaden’s strategy to maximize benefit from raw mineral resources, energy consumption rationalization, production cost cuts and expansion of Maaden’s activities in boosting the local content.” Both parties agreed to process 30,000-40,000 tonnes per year of aluminium by-products and extract raw materials for reuse in manufacturing processes.The deal is the first of its kind in Saudi Arabia aimed at promoting...
