
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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In early August, rePlanet suddenly closed all 284 of its recycling centers and terminated 750 employees. The company blamed reduced payments, depressed pricing for scrap aluminium and PET plastic, and higher operating costs as the factors leading to their closure. Currently, about 19% of all California beverage container recycling centers are operating. According to the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, the number stands at 1,225. Aluminum cans and containers were once the most prominent type of container collected for recycling. Lately, both aluminium’s value and quantity are taking hits. Plastic has become more predominant, but it's worth less than aluminium and many manufacturers prefer virgin plastics. "Even aluminium, which still retains value, is worth about...

China’s exports of unwrought aluminium alloy in July declined 6.6 per cent compared with the same period last year. Exports in China came in at 39,500 tonnes last month, showed data from China Customs. Unwrought aluminium alloy exports declined 22.3 per cent month-on-month, as exports of primary aluminium alloy A356 dropped, reported Shanghai Metals Market. CITIC Dicastal exported 22.61 tonnes of unwrought aluminium alloy to the US in July, from some 10,000 tonnes exported in June. Shanghai Metals Market expects that exports of this product are unlikely to significantly pick up in the near term, as outflows via general trade will face a 15% duty. In another update from SMM, daily average retail sales of passenger vehicles in China dropped 17% year-on-year during August 19-25, after a...

Chalco, formally known as Aluminium Corporation of China Limited, said its primary aluminium production in the first half of 2019 came in at 1.89 million tonnes, down 8 per cent from 2.06 million tonnes in the same period last year, according to Reuters report. Decline in aluminium prices and rise in operating costs had hit the Chinese smelters and thus their production, as per the report. As Chalco said, lower aluminium prices and higher operating costs also weighed on its net profit, which fell 14 per cent year-on-year to RMB 705.8 million during January-June. Chalco’s aluminium output level stood just ahead of Russian rival Rusal which produced 1.87 million tonnes during January-June 2019, but below China Hongqiao Group whose production clocked at 2.86 million tonnes during the said...

A new aluminium plant by Hansens Aluminum, which was supposed to start operations from 2019 and create 50 new jobs in Henderson is put on hold. The 75,000 square-foot automotive aluminium plant within the Henderson County Riverport Industrial Park was supposed to connect this area to a global automotive industry. The Henderson County Judge-executive Brad Schneider has said that Hansen’s Aluminum wasn’t going to meet key deadlines to get nearly a million dollars in Kentucky incentive money. Media was told that the company can reapply for the incentives. They can reapply for the incentives and the plant could come in the future. Hansens Aluminum a South African company established in Port Elizabeth in 1956, announced this project in November 2016. "The facility was supposed to house...

According to Shanghai Metals Market based on the latest customs data, China’s exports of aluminium extrusions, bars and rods came in at 90,500 tonnes in July, up 2.75 per cent from 88,100 tonnes in June 2019 and 88,357 tonnes in July 2018. Depreciation in Chinese currency and healthy demand for aluminium semis outside China were the two primary reasons for this rise in July. In June, China’s exports of aluminium extrusions, bars and rods had shrunk by 8.6 per cent from May to stand at 88,100 tonnes on a stronger currency and higher SHFE/LME aluminium price ratios. On a yearly basis, however, the export amount in June was higher by some 3.7 per cent. Among total exports under five HS codes, three categories saw significant increases in July compared to a year ago. But exports of...

The US exports of aluminium scrap in June stood 9.66% higher than the same period last year. Exports came in at 159,000 tonnes in June 2019. On a month-on-month comparison, aluminium scraps exports dropped by 1.85% from May’s export volume of 162,000 tonnes, according to the latest report from US Geological Survey. {newsStudioGallery} In the first half of 2019, the US exported 944,000 tonnes of aluminium scrap, from 828,000 tonnes exported in the first half of 2018. This records an increase of 14.01% year-on-year. China, South Korea, and India remained to be the top three aluminium scrap importers from the US in June 2019. The US exported 31,800 tonnes of aluminium scrap to China in June 2019. That was down 15.2% from 37,500 tonnes exported in June 2018. Aluminium scraps exports reduced...

According to the latest report from United States Geological Survey for aluminum total aluminium recovered from scrap (recovery from purchased, tolled, or imported scrap) in June was 286,000 tonne, essentially unchanged from the revised amount in May, 9% less than the amount in June 2018, and 5% less than that in June 2017. Of this, 159,000 tonnes of aluminium were recovered from new scrap and 127,000 tonnes were recovered from old scrap. For the first six months of 2019, total aluminium recovery from scrap stood at 1.71 million tonnes, down 7% from 1.84 million tonnes in the same period of 2018. Of this, 962,000 tonnes of aluminium were recovered from new scrap and 751,000 tonnes were recovered from old scrap. Domestic primary aluminium production in June was 91,000 tonnes. Inventories...

To avoid future dependency on China for lithium batteries, Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) will reportedly make an alumina-based battery, which will be used for running electric vehicles. The company executives said a foreign company had been working as a partner with IOCL for the development and research of this new technology, which would be introduced in the market once all the regulatory and other approvals are in place. Currently, the company is looking out for a space around the automotive hubs like Chennai or other similar places, said the executives further. In January 2018, commercial vehicle major Ashok Leyland had signed a letter of intent with Phinery of Israel for the development of aluminium air batteries. According to industry experts, aluminium air batteries produce...

Stocks of 6063 aluminium billet across five major consumption areas in China stood at 91,700 tonnes as of Thursday August 29, an increase of some 400 tonnes from 91,300 tonnes Thursday August 22, according to Shanghai Metals Market. Aluminium billet inventories grew this week after two consecutive weeks of declines as downstream consumption remained sluggish. Inventories of aluminium billet in Foshan, Guangdong and Nanchang, Jiangxi increased 1,600 tonnes and 1,500 tonnes from Thursday August 22 to stand at 42,400 tonnes and 10,100 tonnes. Stocks in Huzhou, Zhejiang remained unchanged at 9,000 tonnes as of Thursday August 29. Aluminium billet stocks in Wuxi, Jiangsu and Changzhou, Jiangsu stood at 16,900 tonnes and 13,300 tonnes on Thursday, down 1,000 tonnes and 1,700 tonnes from 17,900...

The US dollar was modestly higher against the yen on Wednesday. The dollar index rose 0.21% to 98.21. LME base metals closed mixed and SHFE metals ended mostly higher. LME aluminium fell 0.62% and SHFE aluminium increased 0.24%. LME aluminium plunged during yesterday’s trading. Three-month LME aluminium fell for the seventh straight session as shorts added their positions and the US dollar gained. It finished the trading day 0.62% lower at US$1,749 per tonne last night, with open interest up 5,204 lots to 756,000 lots. It is likely to be trading around US$1,745 per tonne today. As on August 28, Wednesday, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1723.50 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1724 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1758 per tonne, 3-months offer...

Social inventories of primary aluminium in China have recorded a week-on-week decline today, August 29, after rising for four consecutive weeks. According to Shanghai Metals Market, the inventories across the eight major Chinese consumption areas, including SHFE warrants, have fallen by 30,000 tonnes from a week ago to stand at 1.033 million tonnes. On last Thursday, August 22, the inventories were at 1.063 million tonnes, marking a rise for the fourth straight week. The major reason for the decline in inventories today is the lowered arrivals of stocks in most regions. Since, the primary aluminium stocks arrivals have lowered in most of the regions, the inventories have registered a drop in almost all the major markets. For instance, the inventories in Wuxi, Jiangsu; Shanghai; Nanhai,...

Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), on course to become the world’s largest aluminium smelter with Line 6, announced a historic milestone as its smelter completed 10 million working-hours without any Lost Time Injury (LTI) on 27 August 2019 for the first time in the history of its operations since 1971. A ceremony was held on 28 August 2019 to mark the occasion. It was attended by the Acting Chief Executive Officer Ali Al Baqali, Alba Executive Management team, employees and contractors across the plant. Alba’s Chairman of the Board of Directors Shaikh Daij Bin Salman Bin Daij Al Khalifa stated: “Achieving 10 million working-hours without any Lost Time Injury (LTI) in the smelting industry is a rare feat, especially as we progress with the full ramp-up of Potline 6. Alba could not have achieved...

According to Gesamtverband der Aluminiumindustrie (GDA), the federation of German aluminium industry, the first half of 2019 saw a mixed bag of business activity development. While primary aluminium producers and processors had to reduce production by 5.6 and 5.4 per cent respectively, aluminium semi-finished products manufacturers increased output by 1.9 per cent year over year. Around 629,200 tonnes of raw aluminium were produced in Germany during January-June 2019, out of which 251,400 tonnes were of primary aluminium and 377,800 tonnes recycled aluminium. Also, producers of aluminium extrusions reported a decline in production in H1 2019 to 282,400 tonnes. The production of metal powder, foil, and thin strip fell as well by 3.7 per cent and 5.1 per cent respectively. Production of...

The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) said yesterday that it was not expecting a decline in alumina production in the near term despite proposed cut backs in the sector due to lower price of alumina. James Stewart, Senior Director at the PIOJ said that while the Institute is in discussion with JISCO regarding production, there is no sign of a production slowdown in Alpart. “There are some issues that are still under negotiations. No final decision has been made yet as to the cutback. Alpart still records increases each month, as we look at the data. So as of now, there has been no decline, particularly for July to September…..” PIOJ confirmed. The statement came after the leadership of the People's National Party's (PNP) Region Five told Comrades at a Regional Executive Council (REC)...

Nestlé has launched Starbucks by Nespresso, which unites Starbucks quality coffee with the Nespresso Original system, in the UK and Ireland. Starbucks by Nespresso will be available from Monday, 2nd September at all major retailers, making it the first time Nestlé has made available Nespresso’s unique aluminium capsule technology outside of its Nespresso business. Neil Stephens, who heads up Nestlé’s Beverages business in the UK and Ireland, said: “We are determined to bring high quality coffee options to millions more consumers. Our coffee portfolio now boasts three iconic brands: Nescafé, Nespresso and Starbucks and we are constantly exploring new ways to bring these much-loved brands to more people than ever before. Starbucks by Nespresso is a great example of our business focusing on...

On Tuesday, a federal appeals court revived aluminium lawsuits by aluminium buyers such as Novelis, Eastman Kodak, Fujifilm and Reynolds Consumer Products, which accused Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Glencore and other companies of conspiring to drive up aluminium prices by controlling supply. The 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan said the case was dismissed erroneously. The aluminium buyers accused banks and commodity trading, mining and metals warehousing companies of conspiring to hoard aluminium inventory earlier this decade, after prices had declined because industrial activity fell during the global financial crisis. The banks and commodity trading, mining and metals warehousing companies were accused of hoarding aluminium inventory earlier this decade when aluminium...

Growing consumer demand towards the lightweight automobile vehicles is incessantly driving the aluminium wire market over the years. By 2024, the aluminium wire market revenue is expected to exceed US$65 million. The global low voltage cable market by overhead (conductors, fittings & fixtures, others), by underground (PVC cables, XLPE cables, cable transmission, cable joints, and others), by end-user and by region has been found contributing to the increasing demand for aluminium wires, replacing and/or being used along with copper and silver wires. {newsStudioGallery} Italy being home to some of the world's biggest low voltage cable manufacturers such as Prysmian S.P.A is expected to witness a surge in import of aluminium wires. According to the global export-import data, Italy in 2019...

China Zhongwang Holdings Limited, the second-largest developer and manufacturer of industrial extruded aluminium products in the world and the largest in Asia, published announced its unaudited results for the six months ended 30 June 2019. The Group’s overall sales volume increased 63.7 % year on year in the six months on higher sales of industrial extruded aluminium products and aluminium flat-rolled products. Sales volume rose from 325,096 tonnes to 532,275 tonnes. The Group reported revenue of RMB 12.90 billion in the six months of 2019, an increase of by 38.3 % year on year. Gross profit grew by 32 % year-on-year to RMB 3.91 billion. Net profit for the period stood at RMB 1.47 billion, up15.7 % year on year. EBITDA came in at RMB 3.4 billion, from last year’s EBITDA of RMB2.8...