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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According to a recent report, Addison Saws, the West Midlands based machine tool supplier, has installed three Mecal Kosmos 4-axis machining centres and one Mecal Geos MDT 5-axis machining centre at Hydro Components (formerly SAPA) for increasing complex aluminium parts production that are mainly used in state-of-the-art electric vehicles. These new machines, which are said to be the first of its kind in the UK, are part of Hydro Components’ recent investment of £9.6 million in the refurbishment and re-opening of its manufacturing plant based in Bedwas, Wales. “At first, Hydro needed to outsource the CNC machining element as issues with its existing machines meant it lacked the functionality to produce the parts themselves,” explained Mike Grogan, Addison regional sales manager. He...
The dollar fell but moved within narrow ranges yesterday. The dollar index slipped some 0.1% and finished at 98.22. Base metals closed lower across the board. LME aluminium slid 0.7%. SHFE aluminium lost 0.5%. Three-month LME aluminium extended its declines overnight and fell to a low of US$1,774.5 per tonne, closing down 0.7% on the day at US$1,778.5 per tonne. The contract is likely to at US$1,700-1,800 per tonne today. As on August 22, Thursday, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1738 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1739 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1766 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 1766.50 per tonne; Dec 20 bid price stands at US$ 1848 per tonne, and Dec 20 offer price stands at US$ 1853 per tonne. The LME aluminium opening...
The average spot price of alumina further recorded an increase of RMB 11 per tonne to stand at RMB 2474 per tonne on Friday, 23 August 2019. The prices of alumina rose across major China markets today. Spot alumina prices in East China, Central China, and North China markets increased by RMB 10 per tonne each. The average prices of alumina (East China), alumina (Central China), and alumina (North China stood at RMB 2480 per tonne, RMB 2470 per tonne, and RMB 2490 per tonne respectively on August 23. South China price stood RMB20 per tonne higher than the previous price. The price came in at RMB 2440 per tonne, and expected to move within a range of RMB 2410-2470 per tonne. After registering an increase yesterday, A00 aluminium ingot price recorded a drop of RMB50 per tonne or 0.35 per...
Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) has announced on August 22 that Hydro Aluminium Primary Metal operations in Luxembourg and Norway have been certified against the ASI Chain of Custody Standard. Hydro’s aluminium smelting, re-melting/refining and casthouse activities are certified against the ASI Performance Standard. Hydro has now has the longest chain of ASI certified entities covering its operations from bauxite to downstream products and secondary aluminium productions. The third-party audits of the Primary Metal operations were carried out by DNV GL. ASI’s Standards apply across the supply chain, from mining to downstream sectors that use aluminium in their products. The ASI Standard sets out the benchmarks for the creation of a Chain of Custody across the complete value chain...
Shanghai Metals Market data showed that social inventories of primary aluminium across eight consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrants, stood at 1.063 million tonnes as of Thursday August 22. Stocks increased 12,000 tonnes from 1.051 million tonnes as of Thursday August 15. Primary aluminium inventories rose for a fourth straight week, as some regions saw greater arrivals. The chart below indicates the current status of primary aluminium inventories across all major China markets: Primary aluminium stocks in Wuxi, Jiangsu rose 7,000 tonnes from a week ago to 321,000 tonnes on Thursday, 22 August 2019. Inventories in Shanghai and Nanhai, Guangdong dropped 2,000 tonnes and 14,000 tonnes to 199,000 tonnes and 302,000 tonnes. Gongyi, Henan declined 2,000 tonnes from August 15 to...
Rheinfelden Alloys, a subsidiary of Aluminium Rheinfelden Group, has signed a global licensing agreement with MNA Nikkei MC Aluminium for the production of innovative, patented aluminium alloys. After the agreement NMA Nikkei MC Aluminium will be authorised to manufacture and sell Rheinfelden’s Silafont, Castasil, Castaduct, and Castaman aluminium alloys worldwide. “It is an important step for us in the growth strategy of our company,” says Erika Zender, CEO of Aluminium Rheinfelden. Shuichi Asakuno, CEO of MNA Nikkei MC Aluminium says: “The special alloys of Rheinfelden Alloys round out our portfolio perfectly, and we can now better meet the needs of innovative foundries and OEMs.” Rheinfelden Alloys is a leader in the development and production of innovative aluminium alloys for the...
Australian miner South32 Ltd has reported a larger-than-expected 25% drop in annual profit driven by lower aluminium prices which was the result of the trade war between China and the United States. The drop in profits sends its shares lower by as much as 5.8% on Thursday, August 22. Results were also negatively affected by lower thermal coal prices. The miner’s fortunes have fallen this year with a decline in aluminium and alumina prices. Prices were under pressure due to a slowdown in China - the world’s biggest consumer of the metal due to the Sino-U.S. trade war. The results were also affected by the falling alumina price. Underlying earnings for the 12 months to June 30 fell to US$992 million (Australian $1.46 billion) from US$1.33 billion in the prior year. Cost cuts could not...
India’s total aluminium exports including scrap to the US increased 16.35% year-on-year to stand at 121,000 tonnes in January-May 2019. Aluminium export was 104,000 tonnes in January-May 2018. In May, exports came in at 23,400 tonnes, an increase of 1.3% year-on-year, but down 19% month-on-month, as updated by US Census Bureau. {newsStudioGallery} Crude metal and alloys export increased 11.73% or 9,900 tonnes year-on-year in the five months. Exports rose from 84,400 tonnes in the first five months of 2018 to 94,300 tonnes in the first five months of 2019. Exports stood at 17,600 tonnes in May. This records a drop of 3.83% year-on-year and 28.16% month-on-month. Semi-finished products (plates, sheets, bars, etc.) exports to the US stood at 26,400 tonnes in January-May 2019, as compared to...
Australian mining and metals company South32’s chief executive Graham Kerr reportedly says that it’s not the right time to commit large investments in alumina refineries expansion, as the return of Brazil’s Alunorte alumina refinery’s production creates an oversupply of the commodity which therefore leads to the price drop. South32 owns stakes in alumina refineries in Brazil and at Worsley in Western Australia. Mr. Kerr says efforts to debottleneck and improve the consistency of those assets may add some incremental growth, but there would be no big spend. ''The reality of the moment with Alunorte ramping back up into production in Brazil, which is the world's largest refinery, the market is probably slightly long, and there has also been an additional five million tonnes of new capacity...
According to Shanghai Metals Market, stocks of 6063 aluminium billet across five major consumption areas stood at 91,300 tonnes as of Thursday August 22, down some 2,400 tonnes from Thursday August 15. Aluminium billet inventories extended their declines while consumption remained sluggish. Inventories of aluminium billet in Foshan, Guangdong dropped 3,100 tonnes from Thursday, 15 August 2019 to stand at 40,800 tonnes on Thursday, 22 August 2019. Aluminium billet stocks in Wuxi, Jiangsu and Changzhou, Jiangsu rose 1,400 tonnes and 2,000 tonnes to 17,900 tonnes and 15,000 tonnes. Stocks in Huzhou, Zhejiang and Nanchang, Jiangxi stood at 9,000 tonnes and 8,600 tonnes, a drop of 1,000 tonnes and 1,700 tonnes from Thursday August 22. The prices of aluminium alloys (A356) registered an...
U.S. Court of International Trade has affirmed virtually all of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s final antidumping determination on certain aluminium foil imported from China. The Aluminum Association has welcomed the court’s decision in a statement. Aluminum Association Vice President for Policy and International Trade Lauren Wilk said: “The Aluminum Association was pleased that the U.S. Court of International Trade affirmed the bulk of the Department of Commerce’s final antidumping determination on certain aluminium foil from China. The court’s decision reinforces the critical role rules play in a functioning global trading system. Targeted trade enforcement – as we’ve seen successfully deployed in the U.S. markets for aluminium foil and common alloy sheet– can have a meaningful and...
According to a recent report, the Zimbabwe Electricity Distribution Company (ZETDC) has started removing copper cables and replacing them with aluminium conductors along the Bulawayo-Plumtree grid to curb vandalism. Constant occurrence of copper cable theft mainly on a stretch between Bulawayo and Figtree has moved the ZETDC to decide on removing cables and substituting them with aluminium conductors. Recently, the border town and its surrounding environs went for close to a week without electricity after thieves stole a 1,2 kilometre-long copper cable at Cyrene High School in Figtree. As per the report, aluminium cables have been fitted along the stretch from Figtree to Plumtree. Zesa Holdings Plumtree area manager, Victor Ndawana, revealed the new development to members of the Civil...
Xiamen Xiashun has achieved Aluminium Stewardship Initiative certification against ASI Chain of Custody Standard for its Haicang Foil Plant, Head Office, Huli Plant, and Sheet Plant in Xiamen, China. The certification includes Aluminium Re-melting / Refining, Casting and Semi-fabrication operations. The company is the first of ASI’s China-based members to be able to offer their customers ASI aluminium. Vice President, Sales & Marketing of Xiashun, Eric Loh said, “It means a new start for Xiashun to pass the dual certification of the ASI Performance Standard and the ASI Chain of Custody (CoC) Standard. Apart from committing ourselves to become a “capable, responsible and sustainable” company, we will drive our stakeholders to join the ASI organization and make their due contribution to the...
Followed by a drop on August 21 from 14,380 per tonne to RMB 14,320 per tonne, the A00 aluminium ingot price has recorded a rise today, August 22, by RMB 40 per tonne to stand at RMB 14,360 per tonne, found Shanghai Metals Market. The average prices are expected to range between RMB 14,340 per tonne and RMB 14,380 per tonne, with spot contract to be traded at a discount price of RMB 10 per tonne to a premium price of RMB 30 per tonne. In Wuxi, Chongqing, Shenyang, and Gongyi, the ingot prices have grown by RMB 40 per tonne as well to RMB 14,370 per tonne, RMB 14,380 per tonne, RMB 14,260 per tonne, and RMB 14,240 per tonne, respectively. While the A00 aluminium ingot price rise has touched upon all the major Chinese markets today, the prices in Hangzhou, Foshan, and Tianjin have increased...
The dollar rose against the safe-haven yen and Swiss Franc yesterday. The dollar index rallied some 0.15% and finished at 98.3. LME base metals closed mixed while SHFE metals ended mostly higher. LME aluminium fell 0.3%, and SHFE aluminium edged lower. LME traded lower yesterday with the contracts closing lower. Three-month LME aluminium fell 0.3% overnight and ended at US$1,778.5 per tonne, after it came off from a high of US$1,790.5 per tonne to a low of US$1,774.5 per tonne. Trading range today is seen at US$1,700-1,800 per tonne. As on August 21, Wednesday, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1750.50 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1751per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1780 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 1781 per tonne; Dec 20 bid price...
The UK’s systems supplier Epwin Window Systems has announced the joining of the Council for Aluminium in Building (CAB), the largest UK aluminium in building trade association. CAB’s mission is to promote the use of aluminium in building by being the recognised voice of the sector. CAB members include consultants, fabricators, installers, systems companies and many specialist product supply and manufacturing companies. Gerald Allen, Epwin Window Systems’ Marketing Manager, said: “We take our responsibilities towards the sectors we work in very seriously. With the launch of Stellar, our ground breaking new aluminium window and door system, it was important to us to join the biggest trade association for the material.” Epwin Window Systems recently launched Stellar at FIT Show, a full...
According to a recent report, a 7 per cent growth in aluminium demand in India during April-June quarter of the financial year 2019-20 failed to boost production as consumption remained moderate in industries facing liquidity crunch. Sales of aluminium companies also fell by 10.8 per cent in that period as imports grabbed a bigger share of the consumption pie. “The share of imports to domestic aluminium consumption has risen to 60 per cent at the end of June. Overall imports witnessed spike of eight per cent while scrap imports rose eight per cent in the June quarter. The unabated rise in imports is worrisome for the primary aluminium producers,” said an industry source. In FY2019, aluminium imports had risen to 2.3 million tonnes, resulting in a forex outgo of $5.5 billion or 1 per cent...
Global primary aluminium production stood at 5.405 million tonnes in July, representing a drop of 1.28% from 5.475 million tonnes in July 2018, according to the latest data showed by the International Aluminium Institute (IAI). Primary aluminium production in the first seven months of 2019 stood at 37.073 million tonnes, almost flat from 37.235 million tonnes in the first seven months of 2018. In Asia ex-China, aluminium production 372,000 tonnes compared with 376,000 tonnes in July 2018. This records a decrease of 1.06% year-on-year. Aluminium production was up 3.33% month-on-month. Production in January-July totalled 2.565 million tonnes. In the Middle East, primary aluminium production came in at 477,000 tonnes in July 2019. Europe’s primary aluminium production totalled 641,000 tonnes...
