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 March 2019, the US exports of aluminium semi-finished products (plates, sheets, bars, etc.) came in at 75,800 tonnes, down 21.21 per cent from 96,200 in March 2018. On a month on month comparison, the export volume increased 3.84 per cent from the February export volume of 73,000 tonnes, according to the latest Mineral Industry Survey report from US Geological Survey. In the first three months of 2019, aluminium semi-finished products export stood at 226,000 tonnes, as compared to 270,000 tonnes in the first three months of 2018. This indicates a drop of 44000 tonnes year-on-year. Exports to Canada stood at 27,300 tonnes in March 2019. In the first three months of 2019, exports came in at 84,200 tonnes, from 107,000 tonnes in the first three months of 2018. The US exports to Mexico and...
Metro Mining Ltd has recommenced operations for the 2019 operating year and completed activities relating to the expansion of production at the Bauxite Hills Mine. The installation of duplicate screening infrastructure and integration of new 7,000t barges and tripleset trailers have resulted in a demonstrable increase in production levels. Daily mining rates were initially hindered by the wet conditions and delays to the delivery of the new triple trailers. Focus on mining from the BH1 deposit located 25km from the port also caused limitations to haulage operations. However, with commissioning of the new triple-trailer sets mining rates have increased significantly and have been consistently between 12,000 and 14,000tpd. Further increases are anticipated as the June mining plan dictates...
According to Fastmarkets reports, the China’s alumina supply has not been affected by the full production cut at Xinfa Group’s Jiaokou alumina refinery. The market has not showed any sign of tightness till now. As shown by Shanghai Metals Market’s data, China’s alumina price has been continuing its downward trend. The average spot alumina price at China’s domestic market stands at RMB 3,078(US$444) per tonne on Tuesday June 11. Imported alumina price also dropped to an average of RMB 3,050 per tonne on Tuesday June 11 after two consecutive losses. A significant drop in imported alumina prices might encourage more import for alumina. However, the market is not tight. Alumina output during January-May remained 4.29 per cent higher YoY and stood at 29.56 million tonnes. It was predicted that...
The US dollar recovered on Monday as the US and Mexico reached a deal to avoid tariffs. Most LME base metals closed higher on Monday and aluminium rose 0.9%. Most SHFE base metals also ticked up overnight and aluminium gained 0.3%. Three-month LME aluminium rebounded from an intraday low of US$1,752.5 per tonne to close 0.94% higher at US$1,777 per tonne on Monday night. The loading up of long positions primarily accounted for the gain over the day. LME cash contract closed lower at the day’s trading but recovered some losses overnight. Three months LME aluminium is expected to trade between US$1,760-1,820 per tonne today. As on June 10, Monday, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1720 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1720.50 per tonne; 3-months bid price...
As updated by Shanghai Metals Market, A00 aluminium ingot price in China increased from RMB 14020 per tonne on June 10 to RMB 14070 per tonne on June 11. The average prices are expected to range between RMB 14050 per tonne and RMB 14090 per tonne. Spot aluminium contract is likely to be traded at a premium of RMB 40 per tonne. Aluminium ingot price in Foshan registered an increase of RMB60 per tonne today and came in at RMB 14170 per tonne. Ingot price in Wuxi and Hangzhou increased RMB 50 per tonne and RMB 55 per tonne to stand at RMB 14060 per tonne and RMB 14080 per tonne. Aluminium ingot price in Chongqing, Shenyang, Tianjin, Linyi, and Gongyi stood at RMB 14100 per tonne, RMB 14085 per tonne, RMB 14070 per tonne, RMB 14150 per tonne and RMB 14010 per tonne. Aluminium Alloy (A356)...
Showa Denko Group companies and their associates successfully continued their aluminium can recycling activities in FY 2018 ended March 2019. They collected about 4.79 million UBC for recycling or recovered about 75 tons of aluminium when converted at the rate of 15.7 grams of aluminium per can. Showa Denko K.K. (SDK’s) aluminium business produces aluminium materials and high-value-added fabricated aluminium and aluminium cans. Showa Aluminum Can Corporation started its aluminium can recycling drive in 1972, which later spread across the Showa Denko Group in 2001 and continued till date. SDK has an in-house program to educate employees about aluminium can recycling. Employees are encouraged to participate in recycling activities and appreciated officially according to the employees'...
Italian yard Benetti has reportedly delivered the 63-metre superyacht Metis to a German owner. The construction of the superyacht, with steel and aluminium, had started on speculation in 2016 at the builder’s Livorno facility. Then in 2017, the yacht was sold through Yacht Moments who had also overseen the project management. Giorgio M Casetta developed the modern exterior design of Metis, while London-based studio Bannenberg & Rowell and Birgit Otte Interior Design were responsible for her innovative interiors. The yacht has four decks with guest accommodation on the lower and main deck and the 162-square-metre master suite located on the main deck. In total, the superyacht can accommodate up to 12 guests in 6 cabins and 13 crews in 9 cabins. One of the key highlighting features of the...
Russian Economic Development Minister Maxim Oreshkin does not see Russia’s dispute with the United States on aluminium and steel duties imposed by Washington to be settled by December 2019. In June 2018, Russia filed a lawsuit with the WTO to challenge extra tariffs on steel and aluminium by the U.S. in March 2018. The country’s biggest aluminium exporter Rusal was also put under sanction in April 2018 by the U.S. treasury. Though the sanctions were lifted in January 2019, the tariffs are intact creating tension between both the countries. The minister expressed his thoughts in in Tsukuba, which is hosting the G20 ministerial meeting on trade and digital economy. "We are continuing our litigation, the procedures are not quick. It’s clear that most likely the US will oppose the decisions....
Indonesia’s shipments of bauxite are set to grow in 2019. China, the top importer of Indonesian bauxite, imported about 4.63 million tonnes of bauxite in the first four months of 2019. The upward trend is expected to continue this year. Indonesian state miner PT Aneka Tambang (Antam) is planning to request for additional export quotas for nickel ore and bauxite for 2019. Aneka Chief Executive Arie Prabowo Ariotedjo said that PT Aneka Tambang also plans to request for an additional bauxite export quota of 2 million tonnes for 2019. Currently, the limit of bauxite export quota stands at 840,000 tonnes. Antam expects to ship 2.8 million tonnes of bauxite in 2019. Antam produced 1.10 million tonnes of bauxite last year, up 70 per cent from a year earlier. Bauxite sales volume amounted to...
Cummins will host its ninth annual one-day recycle event this Thursday, June 13, inside the Central Avenue entrance to the Columbus Engine Plant, in a bid to honour its environmental commitment. In the event, more than 1000 people are expected to drop off household recyclables, appliances, electronics and more. Besides traditional recyclables including plastic, glass and paper, batteries, aluminium cans, steel cans and metal will also be accepted. In 2017 and 2018, more than 200 Cummins employees had volunteered to direct motorists to the appropriate area or provide unloading assistance during the day-long event. This year, the numbers of volunteers are expected to be the same or more, said Cummins environmental supervisor David Wehrkamp. The most popular items dropped off last year were...
Craft beer brewers and bottlers are raising questions on the 100% surge in the US aluminium premiums after Trump’s 10% tariffs on imported aluminium. The chairman of Molson Coors Brewing Co. and a bottler for PepsiCo Inc. has already requested the government to investigate the process which is used to set benchmark aluminium premiums. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross has supported the move as he too considers the rise unjustified. The premium or the surcharge that needs to be paid for physical delivery of the metal includes transportation and handling costs along with the amount of supply available. The premiums are determined by London-based S&P Global Platts using its own market survey methods. Platts establishes the pricing for commodities by surveying market participants including...
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) announced it was a sponsor and a key participant in one of the leading events in the world aluminium industry, the 12th Harbor Aluminium Outlook Summit. The event was held from 4 – 6 June 2019 in Chicago, USA. Tim Murray, Chief Executive Officer of Alba took part in the Executive Panel on 5 June, covering the topics: Section 232 One Year After, Lifting of Sanctions Impact, Supply Competition in North America/Europe, and Sourcing Challenges. Alba’s Chief Executive Officer, Tim Murray, said: “The Harbor Aluminium Outlook Summit is one of the world’s most strategic events that gives in-depth insights on the aluminium industry. It is also a well-known platform to connect and engage with our peers from the aluminium business and its various sectors. As we are...
According to Shanghai Metals Market data, the production of primary aluminium during the first five months of 2019 in China stood 1.3 per cent down from a year ago. The total production thus came in at 14.56 million tonnes. In May separately, the production was at 3.04 million tonnes, down 1 per cent year on year. Lower operation capacity despite a build-up in May was one of the major factors responsible for the decline in primary aluminium production, showed SMM data on Monday, June 10. By the end of May, the domestic primary aluminium capacity in operation was at an annualised 35.81 million tonnes, up 643,000 tonnes from the end of April but down 377,000 tonnes from a year ago. New capacity and recovery at smelters in Gansu, Yunnan, Guangxi, and Qinghai lifted the operating capacity...
The US dollar dropped on Friday on disappointing US nonfarm payroll figures. LME base metals, except for tin, closed lower on Friday and aluminium fell 0.8%. The SHFE remained closed from Thursday night for the Dragon Boat Festival and will reopen today. Three-month LME aluminium fell to a low of US$1,757 per tonne on Friday before it closed the trading day 0.76% lower at US$1,760.5 per tonne. The unwinding of long positions accounted for the loss on the day. A weaker US dollar and relatively poor fundamentals are likely to keep LME aluminium rangebound between US$1,750-1,810 per tonne today. As on June 7, Friday, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1732 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1733 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1765 per tonne, 3-months...
Shanghai Metals Market data showed that social inventories of primary aluminium across eight consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrants, came in at 1.131 million tonnes as of Monday June 10. Primary aluminium inventories declined 17,000 tonnes from 1.15 million tonnes on Thursday June 6. This was smaller than a drop of 31,000 tonnes in the previous weekend from Thursday May 30 to Monday June 3. Inventories declined slower over the holiday-extended weekend. The chart below indicates the current status of primary aluminium inventories across all major China markets: Inventories of primary aluminium in Wuxi, Jiangsu and Shanghai dropped 9,000 tonnes and 6,000 tonnes from Thursday, June 6, to stand at 401,000 tonnes and 222,000 tonnes respectively. Stocks in Hangzhou, Zhejiang stood...
According to Shanghai Metals Market, the price of A00 aluminium ingot has recorded further down over the weekend ended on June 10 from RMB 14,060 per tonne to RMB 14,020 per tonne. This indicates that the A00 aluminium ingot price has shrunk by RMB 40 per tonne. The average prices are expected to range between RMB 14,000 per tonne and RMB 14,040 per tonne. Spot aluminium contract is likely to be traded at a premium of RMB 40 per tonne. Since the beginning of the month, the aluminium ingot price had been registering a decline ranging between RMB 14,170 per tonne and RMB 14,020 per tonne and thus, the price is now standing lower than RMB 14,170 per tonne in the same period last month. Today, the ingot price in Hangzhou has recorded a maximum decline in compare with other Chinese cities. The...
The world’s largest wheel manufacturer Maxion Wheels, with new joint venture partner Dongfeng Motor Parts and Components Group, reportedly held a ground-breaking ceremony yesterday, on June 6, at their future site of 22,000 square metres plant in Suizhou, China. In mid-March 2019, Maxion Wheels had entered into a joint venture agreement with Dongfeng Motor Parts and Components Group to build a new two-million per year capacity aluminium wheels manufacturing plant in Hubei Province, China, with series production scheduled for second half 2020. The new legal entity Dongfeng Maxion Wheels had invited guests including government officials, company dignitaries, customers, suppliers and associates to grace its new milestone. Maxion Wheels chief executive officer Pieter Klinkers said, "With our...
A00 aluminium ingot price continued to decline in the week to Thursday June 6. Aluminium ingot price started the week with RMB14170 per tonne and moved downwards to wind up the week at RMB14060 per tonne on Thursday, June 6, 2019. Aluminium price in other major China markets also registered a declining trend throughout the week. Average aluminium price is expected to hover between RMB 14040-14080 per tonne. China market is closed on Friday for the Dragon Boat Festival. Trading will resume on Monday. The average premium came in at RMB20 per tonne on Monday, June. Premium declined to RMB10 per tonne on Wednesday, after remaining flat on Tuesday. It again rose to RMB20 per tonne on Thursday, June 6. As of Thursday, spot aluminium price is likely to trade at a premium of RMB 40 per tonne....
