50% tariff on aluminium imports: A catalyst for Century Aluminum’s big comeback
Century Aluminum Company, a global primary aluminium producer, has announced plans to resume over 50,000 tonnes of idled production at its smelter in Mt. Holly, South Carolina. The investment of approximately USD 50 million is expected to create more than 100 jobs. The facility will be operating at 100 per cent capacity by June 30, 2026, producing aluminium at full capacity for the first time in over a decade. This represents nearly a 10 per cent net increase in total US aluminium production. Currently, it is operating at 75 per cent.
The move follows the recent reinforcement of U.S. Section 232 tariffs, now 50 per cent on certain aluminium imports, which Century credits for enabling this strategic push. As CEO Jesse Gary stated, “Today’s announcement was made possible by President Trump’s commitment to onshoring manufacturing of critical metals, protecting America’s national security, and protecting American workers in our industry whose expertise is needed to ensure future generations do not have to rely on foreign supplies to build our communities and grow our economy.”
Power deal secures Mt. Holly
Mt. Holly has an economic footprint to be reckoned with: the University of South Carolina estimated its annual value to the state at more than USD 890 million, with average wages of USD 100,000 for the jobs it creates indirectly.
Also read: ALuminium LeaderSpeak 2025
The restart has been made possible by the extension of a power supply from Santee Cooper, the South Carolina Public Service Authority, until 2031. For the restart to be 'finalised', only the last of the details remain to be worked through, along with conferring state and county economic incentives.
Tariffs, supply tightness and price trends
Century Aluminum sees the tariff regime as a unique commercial opportunity. Century is confident that continued supply restrictions will create upward pressure on prices, further enhancing margins. The price movements so far support that forecast. As of June 11, the LME aluminium price was USD 2,511.50 per tonne, and the price in the Midwest set a record high of USD 1,194 per tonne, a huge increase of 190 per cent from Trump’s re-election in November 2024. The premium has increased by 42.5 per cent just in June from USD 838.
However, there is a warning from consultants Harbour Aluminium that to reflect the tariff, premiums are likely to increase to USD 1,543 per tonne, which could potentially suppress demand. S&P Global cautioned that consumers and traders are expressing concerns about the erosion of demand and are continuing to see slower demand trending – albeit most likely nothing major until at least October 2025.
While such risks exist, Century’s leadership is framing the moment as a chance to reassert U.S. aluminium independence. As Jesse Gary reinforced, “Our team stands ready to continue leading the resurgence of domestic primary aluminium, starting with bringing our Mt. Holly smelter back to full production.”
This restart is more than a production milestone; it's a geopolitical and economic move that shows how trade policy, energy arrangements, and market forces can come together and alter the aluminium landscape in North America.
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