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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Emirates Global Aluminium’s (EGA) wholly-owned subsidiary Guinea Alumina Corporation (GAC) has secured Guinea’s largest-ever project financing for its greenfield bauxite mining project in the West African country, which is expected to lift up Guinea’s economy significantly. The total US$750 million loan for a period of 12 to 14 years was funded by development finance institutions, export credit agencies and international commercial banks, first time for a project in Guinea. This loan for GAC opens up the way for international financing for Guinea and boosting the national economy. The fund will support the development of the mine and the supporting infrastructure like a port, railways during the first phase of the investment. The mine is supposed to have some of the world’s best quality...
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba), on course to become the world’s largest smelter with Potline 6, announced an outstanding Safety milestone as its smelter achieved 6 million working-hours without Lost Time Injury (LTI) on Sunday 26 May 2019. A ceremony was held on Tuesday June 28 to mark the occasion. It was attended by Alba Deputy CEO, Mr. Ali Al Baqali, the Executive Management, Directors Managers and employees from various departments. Chairman Alba’s Board of Directors, Shaikh Daij Bin Salman Bin Daij Al Khalifa said: “This achievement of 6 million working-hours without LTI, the highest level attained in over a decade, proves that Safety sits at the Heart of Alba. I want to thank every employee and contractor for going above and beyond to reach this milestone. As we move into the hot...
Abu Dhabi Waste Management Centre Tadweer has reportedly acknowledged four companies that annually generate over 250 tonnes of waste in a bid minimise waste production at source. One of the honorees is Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) that has developed a successful and cost-effective waste recycling model. Since 2010, EGA is in collaboration with the UAE-based leading cement manufacturers to reutilise spent pot lining, a major waste stream of aluminium smelting. In 2018, EGA provided cement companies with more than 41,000 tonnes of spent pot lining for use as an alternative fuel and raw material. Use of SPL as an alternative feedstock reduced CO2 emissions from cement manufacturing. Overall, last year EGA had achieved a 15 per cent reduction in waste generation, while its recycling...
Japan’s aluminium industry is import based and it has stopped producing primary metal altogether shifting its focus towards value added applications and in secondary aluminium recovery. The country is Asia's top importer of aluminium and the premiums for primary metal shipments it agrees to pay each quarter over the London Metal Exchange cash price set the benchmark for the Asia region. The two major aluminium product manufacturers in Japan are Kobe Steel and Aluminium and UACJ Corporation who make aluminium plates, pre coated sheets and various rolling products for value added applications. Most of end-users keep annual purchase volume of aluminium unchanged to secure stable supply to their production plants. The country imports a large volume of aluminium (alloyed and non-alloyed) to...
According to a report, Jamaica’s largest alumina refinery JISCO Alpart lost several hours of production time as residents from surrounding communities blocked the entrance early yesterday to protest against environmental pollution and related issues. The protest continued until the JISCO Alpart management agreed to meet residents, community leaders, and political representatives. It was only then the employees who arrived early morning for the start of their day-time shifts could enter the plant. Around 50 residents, mostly women, attended the meeting, along with political representatives and community leaders. The meeting concluded with an agreement for the setting up of a monitoring committee which would meet fortnightly and report to residents on the progress of efforts by the company...
Rio Tinto’s Amrun bauxite mine was announced winner of the ‘Best Company Indigenous Procurement Initiative Award’ at the Queensland Resources Council (QRC) Indigenous Awards in Brisbane on Monday. The $2.6 billion Amrun recently transitioned from a construction project to a fully operational bauxite mine. Rio Tinto made the first shipment from Amrun in December 2018, six weeks ahead of schedule. Amrun bauxite mine will have a capacity of 22.8 million tonnes a year at full production. The company in March completed commissioning of the Amrun located on the Cape York Peninsula in Queensland, Australia. Rio Tinto Weipa Operations general manager Daniel van der Westhuizen said: “Since planning stages of the Amrun Project, our ethos has always been to employ local, buy local and grow local...
The US dollar recovered some ground on Monday, as market holidays in Britain and the US muted trades. Most SHFE base metals traded higher overnight but aluminium dipped close to 0.1%. LME remained closed yesterday. As on May 21, Friday, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1761 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1761.50 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1793 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 1795 per tonne; Dec 20 bid price stands at US$ 1913 per tonne, and Dec 20 offer price stands at US$ 1918 per tonne. The LME aluminium opening stock stood at 1208900 tonnes. Live Warrants totalled at 741575 tonnes, and Cancelled Warrants were 467325 tonnes. LME aluminium 3-months Asian Reference Price is hovering at US$ 2072 per tonne. SME and SHFE Aluminium...
China’s manufacturing firm East Hope Group has reportedly entered into an agreement with Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (KIZAD) to explore the feasibility of setting up a project in that region by investing $10 billion. Samir Chaturvedi, CEO of KIZAD, and Meng Changjun, president of Investments, East Hope Group signed the memorandum of understanding (MoU) in the presence of His Excellency Rashed Matar Alsiri Alqemzi, Consul General, United Arab Emirates Consulate General in Shanghai and Yongxing Liu, Chairman of East Hope Group. The potential project may take place in three phases over 15 years, occupying more than 7msqkm within KIZAD. In phase one, there could be the development of an aluminium facility, while in phase two and three, there could be a red mud research centre, a...
Luoyang Wanji Aluminium Processing Co., Ltd has become a Production & Transformation member of Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI). This brings the total number of ASI members to 88. Luoyang Wanji Aluminium Processing is a manufacturer of aluminium foil in China, established in 2008, wholly owned by Wanji Holding Group Co., Ltd. The company’s products are widely applied in the fields of transportation, packaging and building and supply intermediate materials for home appliance, electronic communication, pharmaceuticals, printing and other product sectors. Chairman of Wanji Aluminium, Yuemin Li said: “Wanji Aluminium Processing is glad to join ASI, we strive to minimize the environmental impacts of our operation, and support ASI’s commitment to promote sustainability in the aluminium...
On May 27, Canada took the first step towards formalising a new North American Trade Agreement. Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland presented what is known as a “ways and means motion” to the House of Commons, which leads the way to the formal presentation of a bill. However, the USMCA deal, which would replace the 25-year old North American Trade Agreement, is yet to be approved by legislatures of the three participating countries – Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The administration of US President negotiated the deal but some US Democratic lawmakers demanded stronger enforcement provisions for USMCA's new labour and environmental standards. The US on May 17 struck deals to exempt aluminium and steel imports tariffs from Canada and Mexico, removing a major obstacle to legislative...
A00 aluminium ingot price dropped after two consecutive increases and stood at RMB14300 per tonne on Tuesday, 28 May 2019. This was down RMB50 per tonne or 0.35 per cent from RMB14350 per tonne on Monday, May 27. The average price is expected to range at RMB14280-14320 per tonne Spot aluminium price is likely to be traded at a premium of RMB40 per tonne. Aluminium ingot price in Foshan came in at RMB 14410 per tonne, down RMB50 per tonne from RMB 14460 per tonne. The average price is expected to range at RMB14390-14430 per tonne today. Ingot price in Wuxi and Hangzhou declined RMB 50 per tonne and RMB 55 per tonne to stand at RMB 14280 per tonne and RMB 14320 per tonne. Aluminium ingot price in Chongqing, Shenyang, Tianjin, Linyi and Gongyi stood at RMB 14340 per tonne, RMB 14335 per...
Nearly 500 members of the local chapter of the United Steelworkers union at Massena cast their votes Friday night in support of a strike against Alcoa and Arconic as negotiations over new labour contracts with them broke off in mid-May. However, the leaders insisted that they are “not going in there wanting to strike” or “any kind of work stoppage” but “they want to negotiate”. "What [the vote] is supposed to tell people is, the union is unified and fighting for what they believe in," Mark Goodfellow, president of United Steelworkers Local 420 said. "They want a fair contract from Alcoa and Arconic." The workers according to him will continue to show up at the plants as usual under the last contract terms for now. In the U.S. more than 4,000 Alcoa and Arconic employees are represented by...
Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Berhad, the largest Aluminium smelter in South East Asia, published released its financial results for the three months ended 31 March 2019. The group’s revenue increased marginally by RM45.82 million or 2.2% in 1Q FY19 compare with the same period last year. Revenue stood at RM2.17 billion in 1Q FY19. Net profit attributable to shareholders declined 23.5% year-on-year to RM115.11 million in 1QFY19. The group had reported net profit of RM150.48 million in 1QFY18. “Despite the higher revenue, margins were lower as a result of lower realized aluminium prices and prolonged high raw material prices stemming from the partial shutdown of the world’s largest alumina refinery in Brazil,” Press Metal said. Group Chief Executive Officer Tan Sri Paul Koon said: “Our...
SRG Global has secured an asset services contract with South32 Worsley Alumina in Western Australia. Under the contract, SRG Global will provide engineered access solutions for the Worsley Alumina operation, including scaffold services and rope access technicians. Work will start in June 2019 for an initial three-year term with extension options for a further three years. The total estimated revenue is $32 million over the initial three-year term, and some $60 million on the basis that the extension options are exercised. SRG Global Managing Director, David Macgeorge said, “The opportunity to work with a world-renowned mining company like South32 at its long-established Worsley Alumina project in South West WA is a great achievement for SRG Global. The effort our team put in during the...
According to the latest data from China Customs, China’s imports of bauxite increased 24.5 per cent from a month ago to stand at 9.77 million tonnes in April 2019. Bauxite imports in April rose 68.2 per cent from the same period previous year. China’s bauxite import registered 35.9 per cent growth in the first four months of 2019 compared with the same period last year. Total bauxite import came in at 35.58 million tonnes in the mentioned period, showed Customs data under eight-digit HS code. The Republic of Guinea, Australia and Indonesia remained to be the top three bauxite suppliers to China. The three countries together exported about 33.08 million tonnes of bauxite to China in the four-month period of 2019. China’ bauxite imports from Guinea increased 32 per cent from January to...
The US dollar index extended its declines on Friday as disappointing data of US durable goods orders grew worries that the trade conflict with China may have slowed the growth of the world’s largest economy. LME base metals traded higher on Friday. Aluminium rose 0.3%. SHFE aluminium advanced 0.5%. As the US dollar extended its declines, three-month LME aluminium fluctuated to close Friday 0.33% higher at US$1,802 per tonne. LME cash settlement price ended the week higher at US$1761.50 per tonne. As on May 21, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1761 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1761.50 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1793 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 1795 per tonne; Dec 20 bid price stands at US$ 1913 per tonne, and Dec 20 offer...
Social inventories of primary aluminium across eight consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrants, stood at 1.234 million tonnes as of Monday May 27. Inventories dropped 48,000 tonnes from 1.282 million tonnes on Thursday, May 23, Shanghai Metals Market data showed. Inventories of primary aluminium continued to decline over the weekend, due to limited arrivals and brisk demand. The chart below indicates the current status of primary aluminium inventories across all major China Markets. Primary aluminium stocks in Wuxi, Jiangsu, declined 18,000 tonnes from Thursday, May 23 to stand at 443,000 tonnes. Stocks in Shanghai and Nanhai, Guangdong dropped from 265,000 tonnes and 261,000 on May 23 to stand at 259,000 tonnes and 253,000 tonnes today. Social inventories of primary aluminium...
The average Bauxite (6.0≤Al/Si ＜7.0) price in Henan increased from RMB 500 per tonne to RMB 530 per tonne on Monday, 27 May 2019. This records a growth of RMB 30 per tonne or 6 per cent. The average price is expected to stay within a range of RMB 510-RMB 550 per tonne. The average Bauxite (4.5≤Al/Si＜5.5) price stood at RMB 420 per tonne, up RMB 30 per tonne or 7.69 per cent from RMB 390 per tonne. The average price is expected to stay within a range of RMB 390-RMB 450 per tonne. Price of bauxite remains unchanged in all the three major China markets (Shanxi, Guangxi and Guizhou). The average Bauxite CIF price dropped to USD 42 per tonne as on May 27. The average price is expected to hover between USD 41 per tonne and USD 43 per tonne. Australian alumina FOB price declined from USD 380 per...
