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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AlCircle is pleased to announce joining of Anthony (Tony) Tropeano to its advisory board. Mr. Tropeano retired as CEO of FATA SpA in January 2018 and set up his own company, TT Consulting Inc., providing management consulting services for metals, mining and contracting sectors. Mr Tropeano's firm TT Consulting Inc has Foundry Ecocer Srl from Italy as one of its major clients. He has successfully spent 40 years of his professional career in the ferrous and non-ferrous industries. His career began as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Italimpianti of America, Inc. In 1994 he joined the Italian company FATA where he held several executive leadership positions and retired as the CEO. He successfully led FATA’s two operating divisions, FATA Hunter (world leader in...
According to a report from Platts, the ongoing 50% capacity cut at Hydro’s Alunorte alumina refinery in Brazil has affected US caustic soda exports in the first two months of 2019. According to the latest data from the US International Trade Commission US shipments of caustic soda was down 45% YoY in the first two months of 2019. According to the latest press update from Hydro, the company’s production volumes in Q1 2019 fell YoY, reflecting the continued Alunorte curtailment and the recent cyber-attack that disrupted production putting up a number of operational challenges, primarily in Extruded Solutions business. The 50% capacity cut, ordered by state and federal Brazilian authorities in March 2018 after the complaint of leaks in its red mud ponds caused by rainfall continues to stay...
Social inventories of primary aluminium across eight consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrant, stood at 1.44 million tonnes as of Sunday May 5, Shanghai Metals Market data showed. Primary aluminium stocks declined 28,000 tonnes from Monday, April 29. The chart below indicates the current status of primary aluminium inventories across China: Stocks of primary aluminium in Wuxi, Jiangsu stood at 517,000 tonnes, down 15,000 tonnes from 532,000 tonnes on Monday April 29. Inventories in Shanghai and Nanhai, Guangdong decreased 1,000 tonnes and 4,000 tonnes to stand at 284,000 tonnes and 319,000 tonnes. Inventories of primary aluminium in Gongyi, Henan dropped to stand at 101,000 tonnes, while that in Hangzhou, Zhejiang increased to stand at 117,000 tonnes.
Bauxite import by Ukraine has been recording a steady growth year over year since 2016. According to our third-party data, Ukraine had imported an estimated amount of 3.2 million tonnes in the said year, which in 2017 had risen to 4.8 million tonnes. Therefore, in 2017, Ukraine’s bauxite import had recorded a jump of 50 per cent year-on-year. In 2018, the estimated import amount grew further to 5 million tonnes, up 4 per cent from 2017. This year is expected to show no exception either, as the amount of bauxite import by Ukraine is expected to climb 8 per cent year-on-year to 5.4 million tonnes. Alongside, Ukraine’s bauxite import cost has been growing as well. From US$122 million in 2016, the country’s estimated cost of import had grown to US$212 million in 2017, up 74 per cent. The year...
Alumina spot price has recorded a rise today after the Labour Day holiday. The price increased by RMB 18 per tonne to stand at RMB 2,778 per tonne on Monday, 06 May 2019. The alumina spot price is expected to range within RMB 2,778 per tonne. In the east and central market, the alumina price has registered a growth by RMB 10 per tonne each to stand at RMB 2,780 per tonne and RMB 2,770 per tonne, respectively. In the north and south, the alumina price has climbed by RMB 30 per tonne and RMB 10 per tonne to RMB 2,800 per tonne and RMB 2,740 per tonne. The Australian alumina FOB price has dropped by USD13 per tonne to stand at US$350 per tonne. A00 aluminium ingot price recorded a drop of RMB 100 per tonne today. The price stood at RMB 14,080 per tonne. Spot aluminium contract is likely to...
The US dollar decreased sharply in afternoon trade on Friday, surrendering early gains after an employment report for the month of April that topped economists’ expectations. LME base metals ended mostly higher but aluminium lost over 1%. SHFE metals closed mixed on Tuesday April 30, the last trading day before the Labour Day holiday and aluminium slid 0.35%. SHFE aluminium is expected to trade higher today. LME aluminium fell below all moving averages to a low of US$1,796 per tonne, from a high of US$1,829 per tonne last Friday. Expanding aluminium inventories across LME warehouses depressed prices. It is expected to trade at US$1,700-1,800 per tonne after trades resume on Tuesday. Today, there will be no trading due to Early May Bank Holiday. As on May 3, Friday, LME aluminium cash...
On more cargo arrivals in China post Labour Day Holiday from May 1 to May 4, stocks of 6063 aluminium billet across five major consumption areas recorded a growth on May 5, found Shanghai Metals Market. The inventories thus, stood at 94,900 tonnes after rising by some 2,700 tonnes from April 25. After seven consecutive weeks of decline until April 25, 6063 aluminium billet inventories finally marked a rise yesterday. As of April 25, inventories had fallen some 6,400 tonnes from April 18, to come in at 92,200 tonnes, SMM data showed. Coming back to today’s inventory status, Changzhou, Jiangsu and Huzhou, Zhejiang registered a growth yesterday by some 1,000 tonnes and 2,000 tonnes from April 25 to stand at 7,500 tonnes and 10,000 tonnes respectively. Recording the highest jump, the billet...
Chinese automaker Geely Technology Group will reportedly build a new energy battery research institute at Xiuzhou Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone. The agreement was signed on April 29 with local government of Xiuzhou District, Jiaxing, Zhejiang. About RMB 3 billion of investment is involved in this project, which is expected to start operation within this year. The institute will work as the headquarters for the group to research and develop new energy batteries with R&D hubs of battery cells and electricity generation system as well as centres for analysis & testing and forward-looking technology development. The objective of this institute is not only to meet Geely’s demands on future continuous growth of new energy batteries, but to help improve the quality and efficiency of local...
The Aluminum Transportation Group (ATG) concluded its spring 2019 Aluminum Design Workshop on May 2. The workshop demonstrated how automotive aluminium designs a safe and strong vehicle and how lightweighting with aluminium is the safest choice. In the case of a crash, aluminium has the ability to fold predictably and absorbs twice as much crash energy as steel offering more safety. The workshop also highlighted the environmental benefits of aluminium-intensive vehicles. An aluminum-intensive vehicle can cut down up to 20% energy consumption and 17% CO2 omission during total life cycle. The Land Rover Range Rover lowered its overall carbon footprint with a 420kg weight savings with the use of aluminium. The aluminum automotive parts demonstrations at the Design Workshop showed how...
The Indian government has once again deferred the deadline to impose retaliatory import duties on 29 US products, including almond, walnut, and pulses. So, now instead of May 2, 2019 the deadline to impose tariffs is on May 16, 2019. The deadlines have been extending since June 2018, when India decided to impose these duties in retaliation to the Trump Administration’s decision to impose high customs duties on certain aluminium and steel products. Further extension of the deadline comes in the backdrop of the US decision to withdraw export incentives provided to Indian exporters under Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) programme. America has given 60 days-notice, which will come to an end this week, to withdraw the export incentives. However, on May 6, the US Commerce Secretary...
China Zhongwang Holdings Limited, a world-leading fabricated aluminium products developer and manufacturer, has announced results for the first quarter of 2019. The Group has reported revenue of RMB6.2 billion in Q1, up 74.1% year-on-year. Gross profit for the quarter increased 62.3% year-on-year to RMB1.8 billion. Net profit stood at RMB618 million, up 15.4% year-on-year. The Group's total sales volume stood at 262,025 tonnes, up 101% from 130,385 tonnes in the same period last year, due to strong demand for aluminium alloy formwork and fabricated products from transportation segment. Increased capacity utilisation of flat rolling and industrial aluminium extrusion could also be attributed for the rise in sales volume. Mr. Lu Changqing, Chairman and President of China Zhongwang , said,...
Novelis Inc., the world leader in aluminium rolling and recycling has announced changes to its executive leadership team to further focus on enhancing its manufacturing capabilities, building up in-house talent and improving its operations. Tadeu Nardocci has been promoted to Senior Vice President and Chief Manufacturing Officer, effective June 3, 2019. He is currently working as Senior Vice President and President, Novelis South America. He will be responsible for executing global manufacturing standards to in order to meet the business objectives of the company. He will report to Steve Fisher, Novelis' President and CEO and will remain based in São Paulo. Nardocci will assume the Manufacturing Excellence responsibilities from Nick Madden, Senior Vice President of Manufacturing...
Aluminium rolled products — plates, sheets and strip have, for many years, formed a large volume of aluminium products shipped annually all over the world due to the increasing consumption of aluminium rolled products in packaging, automotive and other industrial sectors. To cash on this growing aluminium rolled products market, Sweden has been increasingly exporting aluminium plates, sheets and strips to various parts of the market, found our available third-party data. In 2018, Sweden had exported 90,297 tonnes of aluminium plates, sheets and strips, which in 2019 is estimated to rise to 91,734 tonnes, up 1.6 per cent. In 2016 and 2017, Sweden’s aluminium plates, sheets and strips exports were at 72,718 tonnes and 85,152 tonnes. This indicates that the country’s export has been growing...
Guinea government is focusing on increasing its energy production capacity by about four fold over next six years in order to help bauxite mining companies refine their bauxite locally, an announcement from the energy minister recently stated. Guinea is Africa’s biggest producer of bauxite and the growing bauxite demand from China has caused a boom in the country’s bauxite industry. The country now accounts for more than half of China’s bauxite imports. Now, in order to leverage on its mining resources for economic development, the government is encouraging mining companies to build refineries in order to refine them into alumina, the key raw material for aluminium. “Mines are, quite simply, development. And the mines can’t develop without energy,” Cheick Taliby Sylla said on the...
Braidy Atlas has collaborated with the BMW Group to create sustainability and technical/qualification for the future supply of automotive aluminium sheet. Once the rolling mill begins production, Braidy Atlas will supply the automaker with 5000x and 6000x series aluminium sheet. Braidy Atlas is a partnership of Ashland, KY-based Braidy Industries and United Company RUSAL. This is the first new U.S. greenfield rolling mill in 37 years. Craig Bouchard, Chief Executive Officer of Braidy said, “Our low-cost, high-quality, low-carbon footprint allows material improvement in global supply chain costs for BMW as a key customer.” The plan includes a comprehensive closed-loop recycling strategy leveraging Braidy Atlas’ logistically optimal location in Ashland, Kentucky and in close proximity to...
NRG Energy Inc. is reportedly planning to resume operations at its mothballed natural gas plant on the old Sherwin Alumina property in Gregory from June 2019. David Knox, a spokesman for NRG Energy Inc. said the natural gas plant was built in 2002 to provide energy to its partner Sherwin Alumina. In 2016 it was mothballed when Sherwin Alumina filed for bankruptcy and ceased operations, he said. However, now that the issues related to bankruptcy filing have been resolved, work is underway to restart the plant by early June, according to a news release. "I am pleased to announce the return to service of this highly efficient natural gas plant," said Mauricio Gutierrez, president and CEO of NRG, in a statement. "The Public Utility Commission of Texas' recent actions to further strengthen the...
US dollar continued to stay strong and hovered just below 98 last night. Most of the LME base metals saw a tumbling session on Wednesday but recovered to a certain extent on Thursday. Aluminium stock in the LME registered warehouses registered a rise yesterday. The LME aluminium price, however, shrugged off the stocks increase, rising 0.1 per cent to end at $1,816 a tonne after its plunge on Wednesday to its weakest in more than two years. The United States and China are likely to close a trade deal that would roll back a portion of the US$250 billion in U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods. U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin also indicated about “productive” talks in Beijing. Both LME cash and 3 month price registered a rise yesterday. The LME benchmark price is likely to trade within a...
Hydro announced that it will exhibit during The Battery Show Europe 2019 (May 7- 9), taking place in Stuttgart, Germany. The company will present aluminium solutions at The Battery Show Europe, Europe's largest and fastest-growing trade fair for advanced battery and H/EV technology. “Hydro will present aluminium-based material concepts to enable technical solutions for modern battery technology. The versatility of aluminium is in its low density, high conductivity, recyclability, corrosion resistance and formability – all advantages for automotive and other industries,” Hydro said through its press release. Hydro will be exhibiting at booth G 266. Hydro’s representatives in sales, engineering and R&D technology from extrusion and rolled business will be there. Hydro’s extrusion experts...
