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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Shanghai Metals Market anticipates the Chinese secondary aluminium producers’ operating rates to extend declines to 56 per cent in May, as aluminium purchases are expected to remain low among auto producers due to high inventories. The upcoming stricter national emission standards which will come into effect from July 1 have already depressed sales of those cars that come with lower emission standards. This as a result has increased inventory pressure at automakers. Moreover, lower prices of overseas ADC12 aluminium are estimated to bolster the imports in May and June, resulting in lowered consumption of domestic secondary aluminium alloy ingot. This may further drag on operating rates across secondary aluminium producers in May. Secondary aluminium producers’ operating rates in April had...
The US dollar rose to the highest since May 3, at 97.88, as better-than-expected US data boosted investors’ risk appetite, even as the US and China remained locked in a trade dispute. LME base metals advanced for the most part and aluminium gained 0.19%. SHFE aluminium ended 0.24% higher. Lower inventories and rising prices of alumina on supply cuts continued to buoy prices of aluminium. LME aluminium gained 0.19% to settle at US$1,855 per tonne. LME aluminium is likely to trade at US$1,850-1,870 per tonne today. As on May 16, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1830 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1832 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1861 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 1862 per tonne; Dec 20 bid price stands at US$ 1873 per tonne, and...
As updated by Shanghai Metals Market, China’s production of alumina stood at 24.54 million tonnes in the first four months of 2019. China produced 6.28 million tonnes of alumina in April, showed the latest data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Production in April increased by 4.2 per cent from a year ago. Alumina production expanded to the highest since June of 2017. NBS data also showed that China production of primary aluminium came in at 2.92 million tonnes, an increase of 3.9 per cent from a year ago. This followed after a year-on-year rise of 3.4 per cent in March. For the first four months of the year, output of ten nonferrous metals in China rose 5.2 per cent year-on-year to 18.64 million tonnes, NBS data showed.
According to Shanghai Metals Market, the spot price of alumina has recorded a further hike today, May 17, to RMB 3087 per tonne. Yesterday, the price was at RMB 2,990 per tonne, which means the price today has increased by RMB 97 per tonne. Over the month, the alumina spot price has risen from RMB 2,665 per tonne to RMB 3,087 per tonne, with no intermittent downfall. In contrast to the price in the same period last year, the spot alumina price is currently down by RMB 31 per tonne. One of the major reasons behind the continued rise in alumina spot price over the last one month could be the shutdown of Xinfa Group’s all production lines for the indefinite period of time due to environmental dispute, which has the annual capacity of 2.8 million tonnes. A logistics source working with Xinfa...
Aditya Birla Group flagship company Hindalco Industries announced results for the fourth quarter and year ended 31 March 2019. Hindalco’s consolidated revenue increased from INR1,15,820 crore in FY18 to INR 1,30,542 crore in FY19. EBITDA stood at INR16,627 crore, up 11% year-on-year. This buoyant performance was driven by stable operations, supporting macros and improved efficiencies. Consolidated Profit After Tax rose 22% to INR5,495 crore in FY19. Hindalco Industries reported an increase in standalone revenue for FY19. Revenue from operations (including Utkal) stood at INR45,908 crore. EBITDA was at a record high of INR7,532 crore, up 5% YoY. “This spirited performance, despite a sharp rise in input costs, was on the back of stable operations, supporting macros and improved operational...
The global supply chain for steel, copper and aluminium products set to gather in Johannesburg for the inaugural Africa Wire, Cable & Tube Conference Metallic wire, cable, tube and pipe products are crucial to industries that are key pillars of economic development across Africa; such as mining, power supply and construction. For the first time, a conference is being held to bring together local stakeholders and international experts to discuss how to boost production and trade in these products throughout the continent. The inaugural Africa Wire, Cable & Tube Conference, co-organised by CRU and The Southern African-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AHK), will be held on 11-13 November 2019 in Johannesburg, South Africa. wire and Tube Düsseldorf, the world’s largest trade shows in...
Gestamp North Europe Services has reportedly expressed its intention to invest 23.5 million levs ($13.4 million/12.0 million euro) in acquiring major stakes of Viohalco’s aluminium profiles production and processing businesses – Etem Automotive Bulgaria and Etem Aluminium Extrusions by increasing the two companies’ capital. As per the official documents, Etem Aluminium Extrusions’ capital will be increased by 18.58 million levs to 37.92 million levs, while Etem Automotive Bulgaria’s capital will be hiked by 4.89 million levs to 9.59 million levs. After increasing the capital, Spain-based Gestamp North Europe Services will reportedly control a 49 per cent stake in Etem Aluminium Extrusions and 51 per cent in Etem Automotive Bulgaria. Earlier this year, Viohalco had announced that Etem...
Volvic, bottled water brand in the UK, has announced a new range of sparkling drink, L’mon. Lemon & Orange, Lemon & Lime and Lemon & Grapefruit flavours come in 330ml aluminium can. The new range combines at least 25% real fruit juice and British spring water. L’mon range will be available nationwide across the UK and Ireland from the end of May. Jacqueline Lane, senior brand manager for Volvic UK & Ireland, said: “Now, more than ever, consumers are on the lookout for healthier products, which suit their busy lifestyles. Fizzy drinks continue to be hugely popular but are often seen as a less health conscious choice, particularly if they are high in sugar or full of artificial additives. At Danone, we don’t think you should have to choose between the pleasure of a tasty fizzy drink and...
Norway’s aluminium cans import is estimated to stand down this year to 9,374 tonnes, according to our third-party data. In 2018, the estimated import amount was at 9,539 tonnes, after growing from 9,502 tonnes in 2017. But the amount of import in 2017 was down from 2016, as the import volume in the latter year was at 9,734 tonnes. But despite the fall in Norway’s estimated amount of aluminium cans import in 2019, the country is likely to see a growth in aluminium cans import cost. This year the cost is likely to grow from US$60 million in 2018 to US$ 61 million. In 2018, on the other hand, the import cost had stood down from US$64 million in the previous year, despite a rise in import volume. A similar trend was seen in 2017 as well when the import cost had risen from US$56 million in...
According to Shanghai Metals Market, stocks of 6063 aluminium billet across five major consumption areas in China came in at 93,600 tonnes on Thursday, 16 May 2019. Inventories of aluminium billet dropped some 2,900 tonnes from 96,500 tonnes on Thursday, May 9. Aluminium billet stocks declined in the week as downstream consumption picked up, SMM data showed. In Foshan, Guangdong, the billet stocks stood at 48,000 tonnes, down 3,800 tonnes from 51,800 tonnes. Inventories of aluminium billet in Huzhou, Zhejiang and Nanchang, Jiangxi dropped 5,00 tonnes and 7,00 tonnes to stand at 11,500 tonnes and 7,600 tonnes. Stocks of aluminium billet in Wuxi, Jiangsu and Changzhou, Jiangsu rose by 1,600 tonnes and 5,00 tonnes from Thursday, May 9 to stand at 18,000 tonnes and 8,500 tonnes. The price of...
A press release from Mecfor confirms that its 1st electrical autoguided vehicle (AGV) is in operation in a Quebec aluminium smelter. Ms. Éloïse Harvey, President of Mecfor announced this during the ‘Forum Manufacturier innovant’ in Montreal in the presence of Minister of the Economy and Innovation, Mr. Pierre Fitzgibbon. Government of Quebec has granted $ 350K to test the AGV TEAM prototype in real operational condition. Mecfor, a leader in North America for specialized mobile equipment for aluminium smelters invested US$ 1.5 million in this R & D project. The government added financial support of US$ 1,1 million for the project. Commenting on the announcement Éloise Harvey, President, Mecfor said, ‟We are proud to see our AGV TEAM, designed and manufactured here in Quebec, operating in a...
A Brazilian federal court has lifted one of two production embargoes on Hydro Alunorte alumina refinery under the civil lawsuit on Wednesday, May 15, though full production will not restart until the production embargo under the criminal case is lifted. “Alunorte is still subject to a production embargo imposed by the same court in a parallel criminal lawsuit, but Alunorte is expecting an extension of the civil decision to the criminal case shortly,” Hydo said in a statement. The embargo on the use of the newly developed bauxite residue disposal area (DRS2) remains in force. The company continues to utilize the DRS1 depository based on state-of-the-art press filter technology. “Alunorte estimates a remaining lifetime of 8-18 months in DRS1, depending on production volume. Further...
According to a Canadian media report a top Trump administration cabinet member has said the punitive steel and aluminium tariffs on Canada and Mexico will be lifted very soon. U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the U.S. is close to reaching an “understanding” with Canada and Mexico in the negotiation process of lifting the 25-per-cent duty on steel and 10-per-cent duty on aluminium from the two close trade allies. Mnuchin testified at the U.S. Senate appropriations subcommittee on the lifting of tariffs. Mnuchin said that lifting of the tariffs is an important step before ratifying the newly negotiated USMCA trade deal in all three countries, which would replace NAFTA. He added that President Donald Trump had issued instructions to resolve the tariff issues before the...
Turkish shipyard Bilgin Yachts has reportedly launched the second superyacht in its 156 model series in a private ceremony at the yard's Kucukcekmece facility in Istanbul. The yacht named Lilium is 47.5-metre long and built from a steel hull and aluminium superstructure. As per the report, the vessel will now undergo sea trials before undertaking her maiden journey to the south of France, following which it will make her public debut at the Monaco Yacht Show in September. While explaining the yacht’s name and where it derives from, Bilgin Yachts chief executive İsmail Şengün said: "The Bilgin 156-II is named after the beautiful white flower Lilium as a sign of our promise to the yacht owners: A sunny and happy day on a deck." White and golden interior, with brass and marble as the two key...
The US dollar retreated after a gain and ended flat on the day on disappointing data on the US retail sales for April. Base metals rose across the board and LME aluminium rose 0.68%. SHFE aluminium increased 0.38%. LME aluminium price saw two consecutive increases in last two days and crossed the US$1800 per tonne benchmark after continuous low run. The three months aluminium contract is expected to trade within a range of US$1,840-1,860 per tonne today. As on May 15, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1801.50 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1802 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1830 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 1832 per tonne; Dec 20 bid price stands at US$ 1943 per tonne, and Dec 20 offer price stands at US$ 1948 per tonne. The LME...
Primary aluminium stocks across eight major consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrants, have dropped further on higher demand and limited cargoes arrival, learned Shanghai Metals Market. The premium of spot prices over prices of futures triggered a larger outflow of warrants, which also reduced inventories. According to SMM data, the inventories have plunged by some 63,000 tonnes from May 9 to stand at 1.346 million tonnes, as of Thursday, May 16. In contrast to 506,000 tonnes in Wuxi and Jiangsu on May 9, the inventories today are standing at 483,000 tonnes, down 23,000 tonnes. In Shanghai, the inventories dipped 7,000 tonnes to clock at 270,000 tonnes and in Nanhai and Guangdong by 24,000 tonnes to 286,000 tonnes. In Gongyi and Henan, and Linyi and Shandong, the inventories...
The average spot alumina price stood at RMB2990 per tonne on Thursday, 16 May 2019, representing an increase of RMB39 per tonne or 1.32 per cent from yesterday. Alumina price also increased across major markets in China today. Alumina price in Central and North rose by RMB40 per tonne each to stand at RMB 2990 per tonne and RMB3010 per tonne. Alumina-East registered RMB2990 per tonne today, up RMB30 per tonne. Alumina-South increased from RMB2900 per tonne to RMB2935 per tonne. Imported alumina price recorded a growth of RMB50 per tonne on Thursday, 16 May 2019. The price stood at RMB3040 per tonne from RMB2990 per tonne. A00 aluminium ingot price rose from RMB 14340 per tonne on May 15 to RMB 14360 per tonne on May 16. The price is expected to range within RMB14340-14380 per tonne today....
Emirates Global Aluminium has become the first company in the Middle East to receive certification under the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI). EGA’s Al Taweelah site has been certified against ASI’s Performance Standard for responsible production, sourcing and stewardship of aluminium. Al Taweelah site produces more than 1.5 million tonnes of aluminium each year and has been in operation since 2009. Abdulla Kalban, EGA’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, said: “People around the world are rightly concerned that the products they use every day to make their lives better do not harm other people or the planet. Aluminium Stewardship Initiative certification provides assurance to our customers, in industries from automotive to electronics, that EGA is committed to helping...
