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 Shanghai Metals Market, aluminium billet inventories in China have rebounded over the week ended on June 13, as more deliveries have arrived at warehouses and downstream consumption remained moderate. SMM data shows that the stocks of 6063 aluminium billet across five major Chinese consumption areas have recorded a rise by some 10,800 tonnes to 73,900 per tonnes, as of June 13. On June 6, the billet stocks were at 63,100 tonnes after declining by some 14,000 tonnes week on week. In Foshan, Guangdong, the aluminium billet inventory has increased by some 3,100 tonnes from the last week to stand at 30,100 tonnes, while that in Wuxi, Jiangsu, and Changzhou, Jiangsu has risen by some 2,100 tonnes and 900 tonnes to stand at 9,300 tonnes and 7,900 tonnes, respectively. In Huzhou,...
The US dollar index rose on Wednesday, even as government data showed moderate US inflation in May. Most LME base metals closed lower on Wednesday but aluminium advanced 0.5%. SHFE base metals performed similarly overnight and aluminium inched up. Improved market sentiment bolstered three-month LME aluminium on Wednesday closing 0.48% up at US$1,786.5 per tonne. LME cash contract closed slightly lower at US$ 1753.50 per tonne at the day’s closing. LME aluminium is expected to trade between US$1,750-1,820 per tonne today. As on June 12, Wednesday, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1753 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1753.50 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1785 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 1786 per tonne; Dec 20 bid price stands at US$...
According to Shanghai Metals Market on June 13, the average spot price of alumina has inched down by RMB 46 per tonne to RMB 3032 per tonne after remaining restrained at RMB 3078 per tonne May 30 to June 12, 2019. Since the decline in alumina spot price has touched upon all the major markets in China, the price in the east and central has registered a decrease by RMB 50 per tonne to RMB 3040 per tonne and RMB 3050 per tonne. In the south market, the price has dwindled by RMB 50 per tonne too and standing at RMB 3065 per tonne, while that in the north is hovering at RMB 3000 per tonne after slipping by RMB 40 per tonne. The Australian alumina FOB price extends its downfall by US$2 per tonne to US$348 per tonne, as of June 13. Against the background of declined alumina spot price, the A00...
The U.S. total exports of aluminium including scrap were essentially unchanged during the first three months of 2019 compared with those of the same period in the previous year. Total exports came in at 741,000 in the mentioned period, according to the latest Mineral Industry Survey report from US Geological Survey. The U.S. exported 260,000 tonnes of aluminium (crude metals and alloys, plate, sheets, bars, etc., and scrap) in March 2019, from 263,000 tonnes exported in March 2018. Exports of crude metal and semi-fabricated products declined by 20% and 16% respectively in three months period of 2019 compared with those in the same period of 2018. Scrap exports increased by 17% year-on-year. The leading destinations for total aluminium exports in the first quarter of 2019 were Mexico...
A major shareholder of the Portland aluminium smelter has reportedly revealed that the high cost of electricity is threatening the future viability of the plant. According to Alumina Limited managing director Mike Ferraro’s report to The Australian Financial Review , “Prices (for electricity) have fallen because of renewables coming on stream, but it still needs to continue to fall to achieve the sort of returns that we need to achieve to keep the facility operating.” Member for South West Coast Roma Britnell is of the opinion that high power prices are the biggest issue that businesses across Victoria are suffering from, especially the energy intensive industries like the Portland smelter. She said the state government should have made power more affordable for the Portland smelter so...
According to a recent report, Alcoa has bagged an award as a silver tier employer in the Australian Workplace Equity Index Awards (AWEI). Chairman and managing director Michael Parker said, “The aim was for every Alcoa employee to bring their whole selves to work and to feel included and valued for who they were and for the diversity of ideas and experiences they brought.” “Since 2013, our ally network for LGBTI employees, EAGLE, has grown from 30 members to more than 500, all banding together to champion change across the business,” Mr. Parker said further. Under the leadership of Alcoa’s Pinjarra Alumina Refinery manager Mark Hodgson, the network actively promotes a culture of inclusion and rallies support for LGBTI colleagues. Some of the activities in which the EAGLE network has taken...
Rio Tinto has disclosed additional information in relation to its global tailings facilities in its website in line with its commitment to disclose information about its practices. Rio Tinto, in its website, defines tailings as “residues created as part of mining, refining, smelting and water treatment processes. These processes are never 100 per cent efficient, nor is it possible to reclaim all reusable and expended processing chemicals. Tailings are discharged – normally as slurry – to a storage facility, where water is subsequently recovered and recycled back into the operation.” It covers red mud or bauxite residues, spent potlining (SPS), anode butts and other process residues under Rio Tinto’s aluminium operations. Queensland Alumina Limited (QAL) Red Mud Dam The latest information...
Hydro on Monday announced the signing of an agreement with the Federal University of Pará (UFPA). The agreement will lead to research to improve operations in Barcarena and Paragominas, as well as community development there. On May 31, Hydro’s companies in Brazil - Mineração Paragominas, Alunorte and Albras - signed agreements with UFPA. The next step will be a workshop between company professionals and researchers to define lines of inquiry, Hydro said. Hydro's director of sustainability, Domingos Campos, said: "A company like ours cannot advance without the support of the academy. Only with the engagement of all society - government, citizens, universities and companies – we can have sustainable and lasting operations in Pará." Campos said the agreements represent a range of...
Proficient in preserving the quality and flavour of the contents, aluminium cans have an unparalleled safety record and currently represent one of the most widely used containers for packaging purposes. These cans are non-toxic in nature, can be reprocessed and require less care during handling and distribution. According to IMARC Group, the global aluminium cans market has grown at a CAGR of around 2.6 per cent during 2011-2018, reaching a production volume of 300 billion cans in 2018.In the European Union, in particular, the beverage can market is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 4 per cent between 2017 and 2025, according to Grand View Research, Inc. However, the aluminium cans import by Belgium has been found declining over the past two years. After a sweeping growth in Belgium’s...
According to the statistics from Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), passenger vehicles sales dropped 20.55 per cent YoY to 239,347 units in May from 301,238 units in May 2018. This is sharpest decline in the history of passenger vehicle sales in India. Passenger car sales declined 26.03 per cent to 147,546 units, whereas sales of UVs and vans dropped 5.64 per cent and 27 per cent to 77,453 units and 14,348 units respectively. Total domestic sales declined 8.62 per cent to 2,086,358 units May. Commercial vehicles registered a decline of 10 per cent to 68,847 units while sales of two-wheelers dropped 6.73 per cent to 1,762,206 units. Industry experts considered this as the worst situation in last 15-20 years.
The Aluminum Association announced yesterday that the Association’s President and CEO Heidi Brock is resigning from the chair later this year to become President and CEO of the American Forest and Paper Association. The Aluminum Association Board of Directors has started the search for a successor for Ms Brock. “Over nearly eight years as President and CEO, Heidi has grown the Aluminum Association’s value proposition and membership. Today, the association is speaking with a strong, united voice across the aluminium value chain and is a recognized leader on critical issues including sustainability and trade,” said Michelle O’Neill, Alcoa Senior Vice President for Global Government Affairs and Sustainability, and Chair of the Aluminum Association. Since 2011, Brock has been constantly...
The Federation of Aluminium Consumers in Europe (FACE) has reportedly launched a campaign to urge the European authorities to remove import tariffs on primary aluminium, particularly, unwrought aluminium. The import tariffs range between 3 per cent and 6 per cent. In support of this campaign, FACE has published a study commissioned to the LUISS University in Rome that shows maintaining the import tariffs on unwrought aluminium had incurred an extra-cost of up to €18 billion on the EU's downstream aluminium sector between 2000 and 2017. The downstream sector accounts for 92 per cent of the jobs and 70 per cent of the turnover of the European Union’s aluminium industry. The LUISS study also shows that the 6 per cent import tariff on unwrought aluminium for protecting EU producers could not...
The US dollar index dipped on Tuesday on higher US interest rates. Bolstered by hopes that China will pump money into building metals-intensive infrastructure, LME base metals closed higher across the board on Tuesday. LME and SHFE aluminium crept up slightly. Three-month LME aluminium climbed to an intraday high of US$1,797.5 per tonne on Tuesday before it lost most of those gains to close the trading day at US$1,778 per tonne. The unwinding of short positions \accounted for the gains on the day. LME aluminium is expected to trade between US$1,770-1,820 per tonne today. As on June 11, Tuesday, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1754 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1754.50 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1783 per tonne, 3-months offer price is...
A00 aluminium ingot price marks second consecutive increase today to RMB14080 per tonne. The average prices are expected to range between RMB14060 per tonne and RMB14100 per tonne. Spot aluminium contract is likely to be traded at a premium of RMB10-50 per tonne. Aluminium ingot price in Foshan stood 0.07 per cent higher on Wednesday, 12 June 2019, standing at RMB14180 per tonne. The average price is expected to hover at RMB14160- 14200 per tonne today. Ingot price in Wuxi, Tianjin, and Gongyi remained unchanged at RMB 14060 per tonne, RMB14070 per tonne, and RMB14010 per tonne. Ingot price in Hangzhou increased RMB 10 per tonne to stand at RMB 14090 per tonne. Aluminium ingot price in Chongqing, Shenyang, and Linyi came in at RMB14110 per tonne, RMB14100 per tonne and RMB14180 per tonne....
Shanghai Metals Market data shows that China’s auto sales in May have declined for the 12 th straight year. Retail sales of sedans, sport utility vehicles (SUVs), minivans and multipurpose vehicles (MPVs) inched down 12.5 per cent year on year and came in at 1.61 million units, according to the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA). In April 2019, the retail sales of sedans, SUVs, and MPVs had declined by 16.6 per cent, while that in March by 12 per cent. Excluding minivans, passenger car sales, on the other hand, increased 4.8 per cent month on month in May to 1.58 million units. This marks the largest month on month growth, likely bolstered by the efforts to clear inventories before new emission standards take effect in July. The new energy vehicle (NEV) sector also remained robust in...
IBAAS and GAMI are jointly organizing the 8th International IBAAS-GAMI Conference & Exhibition from September 4 to 6, 2019 at the picturesque city of Guiyang, China. The theme of this year’s IBAAS-GAMI Conference is “Technological Advances in Alumina, Aluminium Smelter, Downstream Operations, Energy Conservation, Environmental Control and Intelligent Manufacturing with Special Reference to China”. The organizers have formulated a world class program focusing on key topics and issues in the bauxite, alumina, aluminium and aluminium downstream industry and secondary sectors with special reference to China. International Bauxite, Alumina & Aluminium Society (IBAAS) is an India based organization formed by professionals from different fields of aluminium industry. Guiyang Aluminium Magnesium...
According to Abal, the aluminium industry association of Brazil, Brazil's primary aluminium output dropped 19.7% YoY to 48,400 tonnes in April 2019. This was the second smallest production volume recorded in 2019. Month-on-month, Brazil’s primary aluminium production dropped 3.6% from 50,200 tonnes in March. According to the association, the total primary aluminium production from January to April also dropped 23.5% to 195,400 tonnes in comparison with the same period of 2018. Brazil’s full-year aluminium output for 2018 stood at 659,000 tonnes. Brazil being the center of South America's aluminium value chain, its declining aluminium output has been impacting South American total production. Regional primary aluminium output dropped 20.4% year-on-year to 82,000 tonnes in April, according...
BYD Co., China’s largest electric vehicle manufacturer reports 10 per cent drop in sales to 33,920 in May. This is the first monthly sales drop reported by the company in 2019. Drop in deliveries of gasoline-powered vehicles offset robust demand for BYD’s full-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids. The company has been focusing on manufacturing new EVs and plug-in hybrids while cutting down on production of gasoline powered cars. Though deliveries of EVs and plug-in hybrids surged 54 per cent to 21,899, sales of conventional vehicles like sedans, crossovers and multipurpose vehicles plunged 49 per cent to 12,021 in May affecting total sales. From January to May BYD’s total sales increased 1.3 per cent to 189,337. Deliveries of EVs and plug-ins went up 106 per cent to 119,082 however,...
