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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The US dollar came under pressure as investors moved towards safe-haven currencies such as the Japanese yen and Swiss franc. Despite that the greenback hit a four-month high against the Chinese yuan on Monday. The yuan slid with the escalation of trade war between the US and China. China announced they will impose higher tariffs on US$60 billion worth of US goods after the US announcement of a tariff hike on US$200 billion of Chinese products on Friday. LME aluminium closed 0.25% lower but SHFE aluminium traded strong. LME official settlement price stood almost flat from the last closing at the end of Monday’s trading. Three months LME aluminium is likely to trade at US$1,800-1,820 per tonne today. As on May 13, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1765 per tonne, LME official...
Average spot alumina price continued their upward track and stood at RMB2850 per tonne on Tuesday, 14 May 2019, up RMB47 per tonne from RMB2803 per tonne on Monday, 13 May 2019. Alumina price in the East, Central and North rose RMB50 per tonne to stand at RMB2860 per tonne, RMB2850 per tonne and RMB2870 per tonne. Alumina price in the South increased RMB30 per tonne to RMB2790 per tonne. Imported alumina price stood at RMB2940 per tonne, representing a growth of RMB30 per tonne from RMB2910 per tonne. The price is expected to range at RMB2890-2990 per tonne. In another update from Shanghai Metals Market, A00 aluminium ingot price again witnessed a drop of RMB20 per tonne or 0.14 per cent from yesterday. Ingot price dropped from RMB14260 per tonne to RMB14240 per tonne. The average price...
The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) would require about 3000 transformers to replace stolen or outdated ones. Energy and Power Development deputy minister Magna Mudyiwa has said that they are facing fund issues to buy the same. Responding to a query in National Assembly, Mudyiwa said the local transformer supplier, Zent, was considering manufacturing aluminium transformers to handle vandalism. The present transformers are made of copper and are more prone to theft. They are managing with lesser supply while demand is more from all areas. “I would like to inform the House that the output from Zent has been generally low such that all regions have got a huge backlog of transformers,” responded said. “ZETDC requires in excess of 3 000 distribution...
The world’s largest aluminium shipbuilder Austal Limited (ASX: ASB) has reportedly released its New Zealand investor presentation where it provided updates on operations and full-year revenue guidance. Currently, the Australian shipbuilder is working on new age technologies such as improving fuel efficiency, digitisation of control systems, and new low emission fuels including LNG and battery-powered vessels. Another innovation-led product includes Auxillary Transport vessels. Besides, LCS Littoral Combat Ships and EPT Vessels ordered by the United States Navy are under construction in Alabama shipyard. Besides the USA where Austal houses the most efficient aluminium shipyard, the company’s development in the Asian region is also noteworthy with the largest integration facilities. The...
According to the latest report from US Geological Survey, US domestic primary aluminium production stood at 87,000 tonnes in February 2019. The average daily production was 3,100 tonnes, up 42 per cent Year-on-Year. Primary aluminium production increased slightly from January and 54 per cent from February 2017. Total aluminium recovered from scrap was 271,000 tonnes in February, 7 per cent lower than the revised amount in February 2018. This was down 7 per cent less than the revised amount in January and 9 per cent less than the amount in February 2017. Of this, 152,000 tonnes of aluminium was recovered from new scrap and 119,000 tonnes was recovered from old scrap. Primary aluminium inventories in LME-approved warehouses in the United States stood at 44,175 tonnes at the end of February....
True to its reputation as a technology and innovation-driven company, Sohar Aluminium is harnessing the transformational potential of the 4th Industrial Revolution (a.k.a. Industry 4.0) in its quest to position itself as the ‘Smelter of the Future’. Its brief 10-year history as one of the Middle East’s youngest greenfield aluminium smelter is punctuated with accolades and milestones attesting to its superior technological underpinnings and operational excellence. From the use of leading-edge smelting technology with progressive increase in amperage, to the deployment of state-of-the-art production, efficiency and safety optimization tools, technological innovation has long been the cornerstone of its ambition to become the benchmark smelter in the region. Today, Sohar Aluminium is on the...
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) will host Arab International Aluminium Conference (ARABAL) 2019 under the patronage of HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain. ARABAL will take place from 19 – 21 November 2019 at the Gulf Hotel, under the theme ‘Shaping the Future of Aluminium in the Arab Region’. Alba’s Chairman of the Board of Directors, Shaikh Daij bin Salman bin Daij Al Khalifa said: “ARABAL is reputed as one of the premium platforms for the aluminium industry in the Arab world that brings together the who’s who of the aluminium industry across the globe. Being the first aluminium smelter in the GCC, Alba is privileged to host the 36th edition of the prestigious ARABAL under the patronage of the Prime Minster HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman...
Shanghai Metals Market found passenger car sales in China decreased year-on-year in April for the 11 th consecutive month. Trade tensions and economic slowdown were the two probable reasons that kept the consumption down. Retail sales of sedans, sport utility vehicles, minivans, and multi-purpose vehicles dropped 16.6 per cent on the year to 1.54 million units in April, updated China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) on Friday, May 10. In March, the drop was by 12 per cent and in February 18.5 per cent YoY. Sales excluding minivans had logged in at 1.51 million units in April 2019, down 13.8 per cent from March and 16.9 per cent from April 2018. Retail sales of passenger cars also displayed a downward trend by 18 per cent year on year, coming in at 44,275 units. Secretary General of CPCA...
The Rigel ship arrived at the port of Yantai in China last week carrying 300,000 tonnes of bauxite loaded at the port of Boké in Guinea. The Consortium and the shipping industry have considered the arrival of this bauxite shipment in China as a new record in terms of tonnage for bauxite transport. SMB-Winning Consortium is aiming at increasing Guinea’s bauxite production to more than 40 million tonnes in 2019 and is working on the production and transport infrastructure to facilitate the same. Commenting on the shipment, Sun Xiunshun, President of the SMB-Winning Consortium said: "The arrival of the Rigel ship with its 300,000 tonnes of bauxite at the port of Yantai illustrates the key role of logistics in the success of the SMB-Winning Consortium. As we aim for a continuous increase in...
According to the latest report from US Geological Survey, the U.S. exports of aluminium scrap came in at 149, 000 tonnes in February. The figure was up 22,000 tonnes or 17.32% from February’s 2018 total of 127,000 tonnes. On a month-on-month basis, exports increased 6.43% from January’s export volume of 140,000 tonnes. In the first two months of 2019, total exports stood at 289,000 tonnes, up 18.44% from 244,000 tonnes in the same period last year. The U.S. exports to China in February stood at 37,400 tonnes, from 59,200 tonnes in February 2018. Total export stood at 73,800 tonnes in the two-month period. This was down 33.51% from 111,000 tonnes in the two-month period of 2018. Exports to India jumped 130.67% year-on-year to 17,600 tonnes in February. The U.S. exported 35,500 tonnes of...
According to Shanghai Metals Market, the primary aluminium inventories in China have continued extending their declines over the weekend ended on May 13, 2019. As demand increased and cargoes arrivals decreased, the social inventories across eight major consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrants, dropped some 36,000 tonnes from Thursday, May 9, to stand at 1.373 million tonnes. As the above chart indicates, the inventory in Wuxi and Jiangsu has dropped by some 13,000 tonnes to stand at 493,000 tonnes, while that in Shanghai by some 2,000 tonnes to 275,000 tonnes. In Nanhai and Guangdong, Linyi and Shandong, and Chongqing, the inventories have dropped too by some 17,000 tonnes, 2,000 tonnes, and 3,000 tonnes to come in at 293,000 tonnes and 16,000 tonnes, and 26,000 tonnes...
The US dollar weakened against its major rivals on Friday as market participants worked through newly-released consumer price data. US and China trade representatives wrapped up two days of talks but failed to reach an agreement. The Trump administration raised the stakes for future negotiations by raising tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese imports. Those tariffs "may or may not be removed depending on what happens with respect to future negotiations," Trump tweeted. Base metals mostly ended higher as LME aluminium rose 0.47%. SHFE aluminium increased 0.64%. Lower inventories across LME warehouses and the weaker US dollar buoyed three months LME aluminium to a high of US$1,821 per tonne, and settled it at US$1,810.5 per tonne during Friday night. LME aluminium is expected to trade...
Iran will continue to exports aluminium to its neighbouring countries despite US sanctions, the secretary of Iran Aluminium Industries Syndicate Abolfazl Rezaiee said. On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing sanctions on the Iranian aluminium, iron, steel and copper sectors. The metal sector forms one of Iran’s largest non-petroleum sources of export revenue. He said, “Afghanistan, Turkey and Iraq are our major exports destinations for aluminium and the recent US-led sanctions will have no impact on exports to these countries unless banking difficulties impede us from the set target.” Abolfazl Rezaiee said US sanctions on the country’s metal industry can push the production prices up but the biggest challenge for Iran’s aluminium industry has been...
According to Shanghai Metals Market, the spot price of alumina has recorded further expansion today, May 13, from RMB 2,784 per tonne to RMB 2,803 per tonne. This is the second consecutive growth in alumina spot price after remaining restrained from May 6 to May 9 at RMB 2,778 per tonne. Shanghai Metals Market found that alumina spot price had been growing since mid-April and showed no intermittent downfall. Therefore, compared to the price of RMB 2,646 in the same period last month, the price this month is RMB 157 per tonne higher. Today, the alumina spot price in the east, central, and north has grown by RMB 20 per tonne to stand at RMB 2,810 per tonne, RMB 2,800 per tonne, and RMB 2,820 per tonne, respectively. In the south, the price has inched up by RMB 10 per tonne to RMB 2,760 per...
Alupro has objected to the Scottish Government’s plan to introduce 20p deposit return system for all sizes of containers. The proposed 20p deposit will lead to unintended consequences, specifically on the sales of multi-pack cans. “This is double the level typically used in the Scandinavian DRS programmes,” Alupro said. “The proposed 20p deposit would increase the cost of 24 cans in a multipack by £4.80 whilst the same volume of drink sold in four 2-litre plastic bottles would increase by 80p.” Alupro said that they have raised concerns directly with the Scottish Government and Zero Waste Scotland. In the UK nearly 80% of drinks cans are sold in multi-pack format and in Scandinavia, a majority of cans are sold individually, according to Alupro. Research conducted in Scotland on Alupro’s...
It has been a year President Trump announced tariffs on steel and aluminium. Further tariffs on Chinese goods were started kicking-in a few months later and in late September of 2018 a 10 per cent import duty was applied to US$200 billion of Chinese goods. A report from the Department of Labor in the US claims that contrary to the expectations that the tariffs would hurt U.S. consumers; the actual market data defy predictions of tariff-led inflation. A report from the Department of Labor in the US said Friday that its consumer price index was up just 2.0 per cent YoY, indicating that prices are not rising at a faster rate after the tariffs. The Federal Reserve says it targets 2 per cent inflation, although it uses a different measure of prices. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross insisted that...
A high-end luxury Danish electronics company Bang & Olufsen has reportedly launched two new wireless earphones Beoplay E8 Motion and Beoplay E6 Motion. Both are designed for an active lifestyle, but without compromising on sound and design for true wireless freedom. Beoplay E8 Motion comes with a range of frosted silicone fins that provide a better fit and superior comfort. A white leather and aluminium charging case also come along with the earphone. The Beoplay Charging Pad also has aluminium details and is available in white colour. Since it has wireless charging, the earphone is truly and totally wireless. Beoplay E6 Motion also comes with a range of frosted silicone fins and has splash resistant rubber cord. The earphone is capable to deliver a consistent high sound performance in...
According to a Platts report, traders in Asia are of the view that the impact of US sanctions on the Iranian copper and aluminium sectors would be minimal on Asia as Iranian exports to the region have been marginal. US President Donald Trump Wednesday signed an executive order imposing sanctions on the Iranian aluminium, iron, steel and copper sectors. The metal sector forms one of Iran’s largest non-petroleum sources of export revenue. Iran has about 487,000 tonnes of primary aluminium capacity. The country’s export revenue from raw aluminium stood at US$144 million according to the latest figures. It also exports aluminium in semi-finished form. However, Iran's aluminium exports have been negligible. In 2018, China imported 160 kg of aluminium foil from Iran. According to the Iranian...
