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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South32 reported alumina production of 5.05 million tonnes in FY19, as compared to 5.06 million tonnes in FY18. In Q4 FY19, alumina production increased 9% quarter-on-quarter to 1.3 million. Production at Worsley Alumina increased 1% year-on-year to 3.79 million tonnes in FY19. In Q4 FY2019, alumina production stood at 996,000 tonnes, up 12% QoQ, due to uplift in calciner availability. “Calcined alumina production is expected to approach nameplate capacity of 4.6Mt (100% basis) in FY20 as we further benefit from initiatives that are expected to sustainably improve calciner availability and the refinery processes excess hydrate stocks,” South32 said. Sales from Worsley Alumina rose 2% YoY to 3.85 million tonnes in FY19. Production at Brazil Alumina decreased 4% YoY to 1.25 million tonnes...
Chinese economy has registered its slowest growth since 1992 last quarter at 6.2%, down 0.2 percentage point from March quarter. The negative data is indicating the impacts of the prolonged Sino-American trade war. Though U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping agreed in June to reopen trade talks, the fourth round of talks between the two countries have been delayed. China’s total exports have registered a drop in the first half of the year. Despite government’s steps like slashing taxes and reducing social security contributions, the impact has not been significant. Auto sales, another key component of consumer spending and revenue source for the country, have been sluggish in the first half of 2019. Sales of new vehicles declined 12% on the year in the H1 and...
According to a recent report, Western Australia will launch its much-awaited container deposit scheme in 2020, with a 10 cent refund on offer for every eligible container returned. This initiative is designed to encourage people to recycle empty containers and reduce litter. Aluminium containers between 150 millilitres and 3 litres are eligible for the 10 per cent refund. Besides, plastic, glass, steel, and paper-based containers are allowed in this scheme. As per the report, the scheme will be launched under the banner "Containers for Change" on June 2, 2020. On the same date, about 170 full-time or flexible refund points will open across the state and another 59 refund points will open by the end of 2020. "So, right around the state, wherever you are, you'll have access to a collection...
Iran's total production of aluminium declined 32 per cent year-on-year to 62,146 tonnes in the first three months of the current Iranian year (March 21-June 21), the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO) reported. Iran’s flagship aluminium producer Iran Aluminum Company (IRALCO) accounted for 45,976 tonnes of the total figure. That was up 2 per cent from last year's corresponding period. Hormozal Aluminum Company produced 7,799 tonnes, which was a 73 per cent drop on the year. Almahdi Aluminum Company’s production came in at 7,401 tonnes, a decrease of 58 per cent year-on-year. Iran has an estimated aluminium nameplate capacity of 457,000 tonnes per year. Aluminium production is expected to reach 1.5 million tonnes by 2025.
Alcoa Corporation in the financial results of second quarter 2019 declared that its revenue stood at $2,711 million, compared to $2,719 million in Q1 2019. This indicates the company’s revenue remained flat quarter-on-quarter in Q2 2019. The net loss recorded at $402 million or $2.17 per share, in comparison with a net loss of $199 million or $1.07 per share in Q1 2019. The second quarter results include the impact of $400 million of special items, including $319 million from the divestiture of Alcoa’s interest in the Ma’aden Rolling Company (MRC) in Saudi Arabia and $81 million in other special items. Excluding the impact of special items, adjusted net loss improved sequentially to $2 million, or $0.01 per share. The adjusted EBITDA excluding special items stood at $455 million in Q2...
Metro Mining has released results for its June quarter and reported bauxite production of 880 thousand wet metric tonnes (WMT). The company’s June quarter bauxite shipments stood at 836 thousand Wet Metric Tonnes (WMT). Shipping levels since mid-June have exceeded the estimated annual rate of 3.5 million tonne. This was a commendable performance considering the fact that ex Tropical Cyclone Trevor in early-April delayed the commencement of operations in 2019 and shipment was disrupted due to unfavourable sea conditions. Daily shiploading rates averaged over 15,000 WMT per day, including a daily record of 20,835 WMT from June second week. Bauxite Hill mine is on track to meet its current production and shipping guidance of 3.3-3.5M WMT for 2019. Metro Mining reported Sales Revenue (gross)...
Gränges’ production plant in Shanghai, China, has been certified against Aluminium Stewardship Initiative’s (ASI) Performance Standard for responsible production, sourcing and stewardship of aluminium. The facility produces aluminium strips and plates for the auto industry. Shanghai plant is set up for direct chill casting, hot rolling, cold rolling, and finishing, with a current production capacity of 120 thousand tonnes. Johan Menckel, Chief Executive Officer at Gränges, said: “Achieving this ASI certification is an important milestone in our sustainability commitment and ambitious sustainability agenda and it is a great recognition for our sustainability efforts. The certification verifies that our aluminium products are produced responsibly and sustainably and it is a first step...
The US dollar softened on lower US bond yields and expectations that the Federal Reserve would cut interest rates. The dollar index fell 0.17% and ended at 97.217. LME base metals traded higher across the board. Aluminium advanced 0.2% and SHFE aluminium lost 0.4%. Three-month LME aluminium rose for the fourth straight trading day as it rallied from a low of US$1,836 per tonne to highs around US$1,848 per tonne, settling up 0.2% at US$1,847 per tonne. Three months aluminium is likely to trade at US$1,800-1,860 per tonne. As on July 17, Wednesday, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1818 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1819 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1838 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 1839 per tonne; Dec 20 bid price stands at US$...
Shanghai Metals Market data showed that social inventories of primary aluminium across eight consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrants, remained barley changed from a week ago and stood at 1.042 million tonnes as of Thursday July 18. The chart below indicates the current status of primary aluminium inventories across all major China markets: Stocks of primary aluminium in Wuxi, Jiangsu and Shanghai came in at 320,000 tonnes and 201,000 tonnes on Thursday, 18 July 2019, down 11,000 tonnes and 2,000 tonnes from Thursday July 11. Primary aluminium stocks in Nanhai, Guangdong increased 15,000 tonnes to stand at 258,000 tonnes today. Primary aluminium stocks in Gongyi, Henan dropped from 112,000 tonnes to 105,000 tonnes on Thursday, 18 July 2019. A00 aluminium ingot price recorded no...
According to Shanghai Metals Market, inventories of aluminium billet in China have recorded further decline this week, as stocks in Foshan of Guangdong province has dipped significantly. Across five major consumption areas, the stocks of 6063 aluminium billet have decreased by some 400 tonnes over the week to stand at 81,100 tonnes, as of July 18. On last Thursday, July 11, the stocks hovered at 81,500 tonnes after declining from 83,200 tonnes week-on-week. In Foshan, Guangdong, and Nanchang, Jiangxi, the billet inventories have registered a drop from 47,900 tonnes last week to 41,700 tonnes and from 6,400 tonnes to 5,100 tonnes, as of July 18. In other major markets like Wuxi, Jiangxu; Changzhou, Jiangsu; and Huzhou Zhejiang, the inventories have, however, increased today by 3,400...
China’s imports of aluminium scrap are expected to fall 16% year-on-year to 1.31 million tonnes in 2019, as the country expects lower aluminium scrap import quotas in the fourth quarter. Aluminium scrap import quotas are likely to drop to 120,000 tonnes in Q4 compared with 361,000 tonnes in Q3, Shanghai Metals Market estimated. On July 10, China issued the 10th batch of quotas for restricted metal scrap imports for 2019. The batch allows 306,930 tonnes of aluminium scrap imports for companies mostly from Guangdong, Jiangsu and Liaoning. The 9th and 10th batches of import quotas allow a total of 361,186 tonnes of aluminium scrap to enter China, compared to imports of 349,510 tonnes registered in the third quarter of 2018. Major secondary aluminium producers with overseas scrap as...
With the growing consumption of rose wine during the summer months, more producers of rose wine are turning to aluminium closures as their preferred choice. According to a press release from Aluminium Closures Group, even in the traditional European markets, winemakers are using convenient twist and open aluminium closures for their wines. France, which is a strong market for rosé wines in the summer months has seen even traditional winemakers using aluminium closures in their packaging designs. The share of aluminium closures used in this segment has tripled to 38% in just five years. The growing use of aluminium screwcaps in wine have been driven by rise in outdoor events such as festivals and concerts and growing popularity of home barbecue parties. The various benefits of aluminium...
Shanghai Metals Market survey shows the operating rates of Chinese secondary aluminium producers have fallen for the third consecutive month in June to 52.24 per cent, down 1.49 percentage point month-on-month and 0.5 percentage point year-on-year. Sluggish secondary aluminium demand among carmakers and dealers as they attempted to clear inventories before new vehicle emission standards took effect in July could be attributed to this fall in operating rates. Moreover, continued weakness in the car market grew inventories of finished goods across secondary aluminium producers, resulting in production curtailments in June. In May, the operating rates were at 53.73 per cent after falling 4.6 percentage points from April and 4.2 percentage points from May 2018. Shanghai Metals Market suggests...
Tenova TAKRAF, an integrated solutions provider to the global mining, bulk material handling and minerals processing sector says that a 48-hour performance test is successfully completed for bauxite-carrying trains in Kamsar, Guinea on July 1. Compagnie des Bauxites de Guinée (CBG) has started a a production expansion project at its bauxite mine in Kamsar, Guinea in order to increase bauxite exports to 18.5 million tonne per annum. During the 48-hour period, more than 1,560 wagons, equal to the weight of 12 individual complete trains, carrying bauxite were successfully unloaded. Andreas Papst, Tenova TAKRAF Senior Project Manager, said: “I would like to personally thank all colleagues, including our partners on the client’s side, for their strong willingness to collaborate and solid...
Taiwan’s exports of total aluminium including scrap to the US came in at 27,500 tonnes in the first four months of 2019, 290% higher than the corresponding period of 2018, according to the latest Mineral Industry Survey report from US Geological Survey. In April, aluminium exports to the US stood at 7,630 tonnes, an increase of 132% from 3,290 tonnes in April 2018. Taiwan exported 27,100 tonnes of aluminium semi-finished products to the US in January- April 2019, from 6,280 tonnes exported in January- April 2018. This records an increase of 331.53% or 20,820 tonnes year-on-year. Exports of semi-finished products increased by 142% in April compared with the same period last year. Exports to the US stood at 7,560 tonnes in April 2019, from 3,120 tonnes in April 2018. On a month-on-month...
According to a regulatory filing on Monday, Braidy Industries still lacks about US$300 million in private investment to fund construction of its Kentucky aluminium rolling mill. The filing also says that half of Rusal’s US$200 million investment in the mill is dependent on Braidy’s ability to raise US$300 million from other investors and secure construction financing. Braidy says in the statement that it has “received indications of interest from prospective investors in excess of this ($300 million) amount, (but) these prospective investors currently are not committed to make any investments.” Braidy Industries chairman and CEO Craig Bouchard expressed optimism about the project in a statement: "Our progress building one of the largest mills in the world has gone faster than any project...
In association with Coca-Cola, Russian food retailer X5 Group will reportedly test reverse vending machines in Pyaterochka stores in Moscow, aiming to collect and recycle used plastic bottles and aluminium beverage cans of different brands. As per the report, the vending machines will dispense a 15 per cent discount coupon, applicable on a range of Coca-Cola drinks, for each item deposited by customers. Commenting on the collaboration with Coca-Cola, the CEO of X5 Retail Group, Igor Shekhterman, said, "We are happy to collaborate with one of our large partners on this pilot plastic collection project that represents an important step towards reducing waste.” He also said, "Teaming up to install reverse vending machines at our stores allows us to refine procedures for a potential future...
Metro Mining Limited has provided an update regarding its JORC reserves and resources for the Bauxite Hills mine following the first year of mining. The total reserve estimate for Bauxite Hills is now 109.5 million tonnes (wet), up 18.8% from 92.2 million tonnes in March 2017. This has the potential to extend mine life by approximately 3 years to 2037, at the expanded run rate of 6 million tonnes per annum. The increase in reserve is largely due to additional conversion of resources to reserves and change in moisture assumption from 10% to 12%. Metro’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Simon Finnis said: “We are pleased to report the increase in Reserve, effectively extending the mine life of Bauxite Hills, and the greater level of confidence in the total Resource. There has...
