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...
Grow with
AL Circle
According to Shanghai Metals Market, inventories of 6063 aluminium billet in China continue to shrink over the week on lower cargo arrivals. After decreasing by some 13,900 tonnes today, on May 23, aluminium billet stocks are standing at 79,700 tonnes across five major consumption areas. This indicates that the stocks today have declined higher than in the last week on May 16, when inventories had stood at 96,500 per tonnes after plunging by some 2,900 tonnes. In Foshan, Guangdong, the aluminium billet inventory has dropped by some 11,200 tonnes from the last week to stand at 36,800 tonnes, while that in Wuxi, Jiangsu has declined by some 2,000 tonnes to stand at 16,000 tonnes. In Changzhou, Jiangsu and in Huzhou, Zhejiang, the inventory has dropped by some 600 tonnes and 2,500 tonnes to...
The Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) announced the certification of Hydro Aluminium Rolled Products operations against the ASI Chain of Custody Standard. ASI certified Hydro Aluminium Rolled Products operations for the sites in Grevenbroich, Hamburg, and Neuss (Germany), the joint venture site Alunorf (Germany) (including outsourcing contractors). Hydro’s CoC Certification includes smelting, re-melting, and casting operations, thus enabling the company to manufacture ASI certified aluminium. Einar Glomnes, Executive Vice President Rolled Products, commented: “We are happy and proud to be certified against the Chain of Custody Standards by the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative, which enable us to offer certified aluminium to our customers. This is an important milestone for Hydro on...
Hobart ship-building company Taylor Bros is currently constructing two 16.3 metre-long and 6.2 metre-wide aluminium ‘heavy-lift’ barges for Australia’s Antartic flagship RSV Nuyina. These two barges and a fleet of small watercraft will reportedly support RSV Nuyina when the icebreaker voyages south. RSV Nuyina is currently being constructed in Romania at the Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding yard and is due to arrive in Hobart in 2020. Antartic Modernisation Brach Manager Rob Bryson said the two barges, which will travel at eight knots in calm seas with 448 kilowatt, will transport up to 45 tonnes of cargo each, in ship-to-shore operations. “The barges will be our primary link between the ship and shore as we don’t have wharves or jetties in Antarctica,” Mr. Bryson said while adding,...
The US dollar index firmed near a one-month peak, hovering around 98, after the May Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting. Base metals declined across the board. SHFE aluminium fell 0.49% and LME aluminium dropped 0.7%. Three months LME aluminium slipped to a low of US$1,776.5 per tonne and ended the trading day 0.7% lower at US$1,781 per tonne as most base metals decreased. Cash contract closed at US$ 1747 per tonne. Norsk Hydro’s Albras aluminium smelter will ramp up its output after restrictions were lifted, and this depressed confidence in longs. Today, Three months LME aluminium is expected to trade at US$1,780-1,800 per tonne. As on May 21, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1746 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1747 per tonne; 3-months bid...
A00 aluminium ingot price has further declined today, on May 23, to stand at RMB 14,160 per tonne, found Shanghai Metals Market. The ingot price yesterday was at RMB 14,220 per tonne, which means it has dropped by RMB 60 per tonne over a day. Since April 17 the ingot price has been decline and within almost a week it has dropped by RMB 180 per tonne. The average prices today are expected to range between RMB 14,140 per tonne and RMB 14,180 per tonne. Some of the major Chinese cities like Foshan, Wuxi, Chongqing, and Gongyi have witnessed a fall in ingot price today by RMB 60 per tonne, RMB 50 per tonne, and RMB 40 per tonne. Thus, the prices there are standing at RMB 14,250 per tonne, RMB 14,155 per tonne, RMB 14,190 per tonne, and RMB 14,075 per tonne. Other cities like Hangzhou,...
RUSAL has obtained a license to develop the Goryachegorsk nepheline mine in the Krasnoyarsk region, Russia. The mine will provide the main raw material for the Achinsk alumina refinery. According to the feasibility analysis, the mine has sufficient reserves to be in operation for next 60 years. The Achinsk alumina refinery is Russia’s largest refinery where alumina is produced from nepheline ore as the key raw material. Currently, the refinery uses nepheline from the Kiya-Shaltyrskiy mine and Mazulskiy limestone mine with enough reserve for next 10 years. The Goryachegorsk deposit has nepheline reserves of approximately 414.4 million tonnes. Evgenii Nikitin, CEO of RUSAL, said: “One of the Company’s top priorities is the development of the proper resource base whilst there is still a...
Constellium has supplied aluminium auto body sheet and crash management system to Groupe PSA. The company provides aluminium sheet for the hood of Groupe PSA’s new PEUGEOT Partner and Rifter, and new Citroën Berlingo and Berlingo Van. For the outer hood panels, Constellium delivers Surfalex®, a material developed to meet stringent requirements for high surface quality with specific hemming and roping properties. For the inner hood, the company provides a material solution with superior formability and mechanical resistance. Constellium also delivers the front Crash Management System for this range of vans. Aluminium provides superior energy absorption to protect the passengers and vehicle in the event of a collision. Dieter Hoell, Vice President, Global Automotive for the Packaging and...
According to Shanghai Metals Market, the Qinghai-based aluminium producer Western Hydropower has plans to restart its primary aluminium capacity of 150,000 tonnes, which were closed earlier due to rising production cost and environmental restrictions. Of those 150,000 tonnes of capacity, the company intends to resume 50,000 tonnes by the end of May and the remaining 100,000 tonnes in the months ahead, a source told SMM on Wednesday, May 22. Shanghai Metals Market found the plant started enjoying a lower electricity price of RMB 0.3 per tonne from May. Shenhuo Group’s aluminium smelting project, with an annual capacity of 900,000 tonnes, is also underway in the southwestern province of Yunnan. The company announced the news itself in early May. The company also said that the project...
European Aluminium expects that Europe should be the next to be exempted from 10% tariff on aluminium products after the lifting of 232 tariffs on aluminium from Canada and Mexico, a press statement from the association says. Commenting on the matter European Aluminium Director General Gerd Götz said: “The EU is an important ally of the U.S. and a trusted and stable supply source for aluminium. European imports in no way represent a threat to the national security of the U.S. In this respect, we support the European Commission’s negotiation position to lift the Section 232 tariffs as a pre-requisite of any trade deal with the U.S.” Producers now have a global value chain and their operations are not limited to one country. Hence, the Association believes transatlantic trade flows are...
Fota Wildlife Park has announced the installation of aluminium drink cans recycling bins throughout the park. Fota Wildlife Park has collaborated with Every Can Counts to promote the recycling of drink cans. Lynda McSweeney, Head of Education at Fota said: “Fota Wildlife Park welcomes the collaboration with “Every Can Counts” which will further enhance our commitment to environmental sustainability. We believe that protecting the environment and promoting sustainability compliments our conservation objectives. As a conservation organisation, we are in a unique position to encourage environmental stewardship with the aim of inspiring our visitors to become proactive in helping to conserve wildlife and the natural world.” “Since we started the Green Zone project at Fota Wildlife Park we...
Aluminium bar, rods and profiles import by Vietnam is estimated to extend its rise this year, according to global export-import data. In 2018, Vietnam’s import of aluminium bar, rods and profiles had pegged at 309,748 tonnes, in contrast to 75,385 tonnes in 2017. This means the country’s import in 2018 had increased by 310 per cent from its previous year. In 2019, the import amount is likely to increase by 12 per cent year on year to stand at 348,137 tonnes. Aluminium bars account for 4.2 per cent of Vietnam’s total imports. The major countries from where Vietnam imports are China, Japan, Malaysia, and South Korea. Leading the list, China this year is expected to supply 317,796 tonnes at US$1056 million, followed by Malaysia which is likely to provide 22,616 tonnes at US$41 million and...
Aluminium extrusion dies manufacturer Phoenix International has been acquired by private equity firm Ambienta SGR for an undisclosed amount. Europe’s leading private equity investor Chequers Capital on Monday announced the sales of its portfolio company Phoenix. Phoenix, headquartered in Verdello, Italy, designs, produces, sale aluminium extrusion dies for the construction, transportation and industrial markets. The Group has eight plants in Europe, the US and the Middle East. Revenues for 2018 came in at EUR 91 million. Roberto Rusticelli, CEO of Phoenix International, said: “Over the tenure of Chequers, Phoenix has grown from its solid foundation as a South European leader to become the undisputed world leader in the dies market through acquisitions in Germany and the US and the...
The dollar index climbed close to 90, the highest in nearly a month, supported by US-China trade tension and higher US Treasury yields.Base metals ended mostly higher as LME aluminium went up 0.22%. SHFE aluminium dipped 0.53%. LME aluminium dipped in the European session after it traded robustly in the Asian trading session. The contract ended the day’s trading lower at US$ 1766 per tonne. It regained losses from the previous day and ended 0.22% higher at US$1,793.5 per tonne overnight. We see it trading at US$1,795-1,805 per tonne today. As on May 21, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1765.50 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1766 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1803 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 1805 per tonne; Dec 20 bid price stands...
The removal of production embargo by the Federal Court on Alunorte alumina refinery has reportedly led Albras aluminium smelter to begun ramping up its output from Tuesday, May 21. Albras, partly owned by Norsk Hydro, had curtailed its aluminium production by 50 per cent due to lowered raw material supply when Alunorte plant was forced to operate at half capacity. However, by the second half of 2019, the plant is expected to return to its full production, said Norsk Hydro in a statement. On the news of Albras production raise, its Oslo-listed shares closed 5.6 per cent higher on May 21, after hitting a two-week high of 35.40 Norwegian crowns in early trading. According to Norsk Hydro CEO Hilde Merete Aasheim, Albras’ near-term profit will boost as well on high output resumption. The...
The average spot alumina price rose from RMB 3116 per tonne to RMB 3156 per tonne on Wednesday, 22 May 2019. Alumina price recorded RMB40 per tonne or 1.28 per cent growth from yesterday. The price also increased across all major markets in China. Alumina price in East and Central rose RMB 50 per tonne each to stand at RMB 3150 per tonne and RMB 3170 per tonne. Alumina price in North and South increased RMB 30 per tonne and RMB 40 per tonne to stand at RMB 3170 per tonne and RMB 3085 per tonne. Imported alumina price stood at RMB 3120 per tonne on Wednesday, 22 May 2019, up RMB 30 per tonne from RMB 3090 per tonne. The price is expected to range at RMB 3070- 3170 per tonne. A00 aluminium ingot price registered a drop of RMB20 per tonne or 0.14 per cent from yesterday and stood at RMB14220...
Trimet Aluminium has started trial operation of its ‘virtual battery’, which would control the energy supply for aluminium production at its Essen plant. This is expected to create a power storage facility that will make it easier to integrate the discontinuously generated electricity from renewable energy sources into the power grid. About 36 million euros were invested in the project. “We have reinvented the electrolysis process for the production of aluminium,” says Philipp Schlüter, CEO of Trimet. “For the first time, we will be able to vary the energy supply during operation significantly. This will allow us to react to changes in the electricity supply, which will benefit the power supply to households in Essen. As an aluminium producer, we are naturally an energy-intensive company....
According to the latest data showed by International Aluminium Institute (IAI), world primary aluminium production came in at 5.2 million tonnes in April, down 1.83 per cent from April’s 2018 production of 5.3 million tonnes, and 3.27 per cent from March’s production of 5.379 million tonnes. Primary aluminium production in the first four months of 2019 totalled 20.9 million tonnes, representing a drop of 0.39 per cent year-on-year. In Asia ex-China, aluminium production stood at 361,000 tonnes, up 1.69 per cent from 355,000 tonnes in April 2018. Production in January-April increased to 1.45 million tonnes. In the Middle East, the production dropped 2 per cent year-on-year to 434,000 tonnes in April 2019. Europe primary aluminium production totalled 625,000 tonne in April, as compared to...
Canada’s Finance Minister Bill Morneau declared on Monday, May 20, that the country lifted the retaliatory tariffs on aluminium and steel, as well as more than 70 other products including licorice, coffee, sleeping bags and ketchup from the United States. “The removal of tariffs and countermeasures is a true win-win for everyone involved, and great news for Canadian and American workers, for our communities, and our economies,” Morneau said in a written statement. Canada took this decision after the United States reached a deal to lift tariffs on steel and aluminium imports in a move that could lead to approval for a new North American trade deal. Trump tweeted late Sunday, May 19, that US farmers “can begin doing business again with Mexico and Canada.” The Canadian retaliatory duties on...
