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 Europe, as flexible packaging market is expected to grow from $28.22 billion in 2016 to $ 41 billion by the end of 2021 at a CAGR of 7.76%, the United Kingdom emerges as a large consumer of aluminium foils. According to the global export-import data, the United Kingdom in 2016 imported 66,025 tonnes of aluminium foil, which in 2017 grew 46 per cent to 96,586 tonnes. In 2018, the country’s import volume remained flat at 96,448 tonnes, while this year is expected to see a growth of 4.2 per cent to 100,499 tonnes. Unique characteristics like strength, formability, and barriers properties are playing the most important role in consistently stimulating the use of aluminium foil. It is largely used in flexible packaging, container applications, automotive and heat exchange components,...
According to ABAL, the aluminium industry association of Brazil, Brazilian primary aluminium production declined 3.1 per cent year-on-year in May 2019. Aluminium production in Brazil totalled 50,000t in May. Month-on-month, Brazil’s primary aluminium production increased 3.31 per cent from 48,400 tonnes in April. The total primary aluminium production in the first five months of 2019 also dropped 20.1 per cent year-on-year to 245,400 tonnes, according to the association, Brazil’s full-year aluminium production for 2018 stood at 659,000 tonnes. The country’s declining aluminium output has been impacting South American total production. Regional primary aluminium output came in at 86,000 tonnes in May, down 8.51 per cent on the year. Abal comprises CBA, part of local conglomerate...
Toyota Motor Corp. and its Chinese partner BYD Co. will develop battery-electric vehicles and batteries as the Japanese automaker is looking at building affordable EVs for the world's top vehicle market in collaboration with its Chinese partners. Toyota and the Chinese electric automaker announced in a statement that they would manufacture sedans and crossovers to be sold under the Toyota brand in China before 2025. Toyota also announced it was teaming up with China's Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. to supply and develop batteries for lower-emission vehicles. Toyota is a late entry into the market for battery EVs in comparison to its rivals like Nissan. The automaker recently announced its plans to get half of its global sales from EVs and gasoline hybrids by 2025. To meet this early...
Norsk Hydro in the financial results of second quarter 2019 declared that its underlying earnings before financial items and tax stood at NOK 875 million, compared to NOK 2,713 million in the same period last year. This year-on-year fall in underlying earnings could be attributed to cyber-attack and lower aluminium and alumina prices across the globe. Underlying EBIT for bauxite and alumina, however, stood higher from NOK 364 million in Q2 2018 to NOK 415 million in Q2 2019, primarily buoyed by increased production following the lifting of the embargo on May 20. “Alunorte reached 80-85 per cent capacity utilization in June, within the targeted 75-85 per cent capacity utilization for the state-of-art press filter technology. Paragominas and Albras are also ramping up successfully. This is...
The US dollar inched up on Monday as investors tempered expectations for an aggressive Federal Reserve interest rate cut later this month. LME base metals, closed lower on Monday. Aluminium tumbled 1.8% and SHFE aluminium shed 0.6%. Three-month LME aluminium slipped 1.81% to close at US$1,813.5 per tonne on Monday. The load-up of short positions primarily accounted for the losses. LME aluminium is expected to trade between US$1,800-1,840 per tonne today. As on July 22, Monday, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1807.50 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1808 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1835 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 1836 per tonne; Dec 20 bid price stands at US$ 1938 per tonne, and Dec 20 offer price stands at US$ 1943 per tonne....
A00 aluminium ingot price has edged lower by 0.36 per cent today. As on Tuesday, 23 July 2019, ingot price ranged at RMB 13780-13820 per tonne; the average price stood at RMB 13800 per tonne, down by RMB 50 per tonne from its previous price of RMB 13850 per tonne on July 22. In Foshan and Wuxi, aluminium ingot price has dropped by RMB 50 per tonne each to stand at RMB 13770 per tonne and RMB 13790 per tonne. Their average price is expected to range within RMB 13750- 13790 per tonne and RMB 13780- 13800 per tonne. Aluminium price in Hangzhou is down RMB 50 per tonne at RMB 13800 per tonne as on July 23. On Tuesday, 23 July 2019, aluminium ingot prices in Chongqing, Shenyang, Tianjin, Linyi, and Gongyi stand at RMB 13790 per tonne, RMB 13760 per tonne, RMB 13790 per tonne, RMB 13810 per...
Canyon Resources Limited has reportedly acquired a fund of $4 million for the pre-feasibility study (PFS) development stage of Minim Martap Bauxite project in Cameroon. Canyon has successfully raised the fund by way of a private placement of shares to sophisticated and professional investors at an issue price of 16 cents per share. Phillip Gallagher, Canyon’s Managing Director, said: “We are extremely pleased with the support we have received in the capital raising. Canyon is now funded to complete a PFS and move our global tier-one Minim Martap Bauxite Project into the next stage of development.” The Minim Martap Project is located in the Adamawa region of Cameroon, adjacent to Canyon’s existing Birsok Bauxite Project. Canyon Resources recently discovered 8 metres at 56.76% aluminium...
In 2018, alumina refineries in the world generated around 154 million tonnes of red mud while producing 130 million tonnes of alumina. Red mud or bauxite residue has remained one of the biggest challenges for the aluminium industry since its inception. The risk of environment hazards from red mud and the recent incidents of red mud spillage from residue ponds are creating grave concern for the refineries, the communities living around a refinery and the environmentalists. The major concerns surrounding the red mud issue are: Continuous growth with more aluminium production Considered hazardous Storage issues Fear of leakage and release into the air Environmental hazards like air, water and soil pollution No proven utilization in bulk However, we cannot ignore the fact that red mud is a...
Global primary aluminium production in June decreased slightly from 5.33 million tonnes in June 2018 to 5.24 million tonnes. Aluminium production dropped 2.96% from May’s 2019 production of 5.4 million tonnes, according to the latest data showed by the International Aluminium Institute (IAI). Primary aluminium production in the first half of 2019 stood at 31.61 million tonnes, almost flat from the first half of 2018 figure. In Asia ex-China, aluminium production stood at 360,000 tonnes in June compared with 368,000 tonnes in June 2018. Production in January-June totalled 2.19 million tonnes. In the Middle East, primary aluminium production increased from 437,000 in June 2018 to 449,000 tonnes in June 2019. Europe’s primary aluminium production totalled 628,000 tonnes in June compared with...
Japan to make 2020 Olympic torches from recycled aluminium platesJapan is promoting sustainability in a big way in 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Starting with the medals to the characteristic aluminium torches, a lot of recycled metal is being used for the games accessories. Japan created hundreds of medals made from recycled metals – sourced from discarded smart phones. Now, the government has announced its decision to make the Olympic torches that are used to kick-off the competition from recycled aluminium. The scrap metal including aluminium was collected in Fukushima prefecture, the region which was devastated by a major earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster in 2011. These disasters jointly caused an estimated 16,000 fatalities – while costing the local economy no less than US$ 235...
According to Shanghai Metals Market, social inventories of primary aluminium across eight consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrants, increased 5,000 tonnes from Thursday July 18 to stand at 1.047 million tonnes as of Monday July 22. On Thursday, July 18, the primary aluminium inventories were 1.042 million tonnes, barely changed from a week ago. The chart below indicates the current status of primary aluminium inventories across all major China markets: In Wuxi and Shanghai, primary aluminium inventories declined 2,000 tonnes and 1,000 tonnes from Thursday to stand at 318,000 tonnes and 200,000 tonnes on Monday, 22 July 2019. Inventories in Nanhai, Guangdong increased from 258,000 tonnes to 269,000 tonnes. In Gongyi and Hangzhou, the inventories dropped 1,000 tonnes and 3,000...
Malaysia imported 58,500 tonnes of crude metal and alloys, aluminium semi-finished products (plates, sheets, bars, etc.) and scrap from the US in the first four months of 2019, an increase of 25,900 tonnes or 79% from 32,600 tonnes in the first four months of 2018. In April, total aluminium imports by Malaysia stood 69% higher than the corresponding period of 2018. Aluminium imports increased from 11,000 tonnes to 18,600 tonnes, according to the latest Mineral Industry Survey report from US Geological Survey. On month on month comparison, imports were up 20% or 3,100 tonnes from 15,500 tonnes. Malaysia’s imports of aluminium scrap from the US came in at 57,400 tonnes in January-April 2019. That was up 86% year-on-year. The country had imported 30,900 tonnes in January-April 2018....
Aluminium Bahrain (Alba)’s Line 6 expansion project is at the final stage of construction and the Chairman of Alba’s Board of Directors Shaikh Daij Bin Salman Bin Daij Al Khalifa, visited Line 6 on Sunday 21 July 2019, to inspect the progress of the last stage of the potline. He also witnessed the handover of the remaining pots for the Safe Start-Up of Line 6. Alba’s Executive Management and Owners’ teams from Line 6 and Power Station 5 (PS 5) joined the Chairman during the visit. Commenting on this occasion, Shaikh Daij Bin Salman Bin Daij Al Khalifa said: “I would like to thank all Alba employees and contractors for the continued success on the safe start-up of Line 6. “I am confident that the Line 6 Start-Up Team will continue to take Extreme Ownership on Safety as we approach the...
Spot alumina prices in China dropped further on Monday throughout all the major markets. On July 22, the average alumina price stood at RMB 2527 per tonne, a decline of RMB 20 per tonne from RMB 2547 per tonne. Spot alumina prices in East China, Central China, North China, and South China markets fell by RMB 20 per tonne each. The average prices of alumina (East China), alumina (Central China) alumina (North China), and alumina (South China) stood at RMB 2540 per tonne, RMB 2540 per tonne, RMB 2510 per tonne, RMB 2535 per tonne respectively on July 22. On July 22, Australian alumina FOB price came in at USD 299 per tonne, down 0.33 per cent from its previous price of USD 300 per tonne. A00 aluminium ingot price stood at RMB 13850 per tonne on Monday, 22 July 2019, down 70 RMB from its...
The US dollar rebounded on Friday after dropping on Thursday. LME base metals closed mixed on Friday. LME aluminium declined 0.2% while SHFE aluminium sank 0.3%. Three-month LME aluminium dropped on Friday night after climbing to a more-than two-month high of US$1,866 per tonne, and closed 0.22% lower at US$1,847 per tonne. It is expected to trade between US$1,830-1,870 per tonne today. As on July 19, Friday, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1832 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1833 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1855 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 1856 per tonne; Dec 20 bid price stands at US$ 1957 per tonne, and Dec 20 offer price stands at US$ 1962 per tonne. The LME aluminium opening stock registered dropped yesterday to 974000...
Gränges, a leading global supplier of rolled aluminium products for heat exchanger applications and other niche markets, reported sales volume of 92.9 ktonnes (99.1) in the second quarter of 2019. Net sales dropped to SEK 3,188 million (3,443). Adjusted operating profit stood at SEK 257 million (301), while adjusted operating profit per tonne amounted to 2.8 kSEK (3.0). Profit decreased to SEK 171 million (214) in the second quarter of 2019. Gränges’ CEO Johan Menckel said: “The softer market conditions that we experienced in the first quarter continued in the second quarter of 2019. Lower market demand resulted in a sales volume decline of 6 per cent to 92.9 ktonnes. The adjusted operating profit declined by SEK 44 million to SEK 257 million and included costs for the US expansion...
The rates of National Aluminium Co Ltd's aluminium ingots are at their highest level in two months after the company hiked the prices of these products on Friday. The government-owned aluminium maker has raised the prices of these products by 1% in the domestic market. This was following the recent rise in three months aluminium price in LME. The prices of its products were down over 2% at the end of the June quarter compared with the end of the March quarter. As of July 19, 2019, the price of Nalco’s IC20 aluminium ingot stood at INR 15,2050 (US$ 2206) per tonne. This was about INR 14,9550 (US$2170) per tonne on July 1 2019. Other two major aluminium producers Hindalco and Vedanta have also raised their ingot prices in the domestic market. The price of Hindalco’s P1020 EC Grade Ingot &...
Alcoa this week reported a net loss of $402 million and negative free cash flow of US$7 million on its $2.7 billion of Q2 2019 revenue. Divesting of interest in the Ma'aden Rolling Company (MRC) in Saudi Arabia costed the company dearly. Results were negatively affected by lower alumina and aluminium prices. The results indicate a tough period for the aluminium sector globally and in the U.S. for the rest of 2019. Despite the falling inventories, Alcoa expects lower demand growth worldwide for aluminium mostly driven by trade tensions and macroeconomic headwinds, the company said in its earning call on Wednesday. The results have raised the growing concern about aluminium demand and the slowing economic growth. Alcoa lowered its global aluminium demand growth projection for 2019 to a...
