APAA applauds Trump’s move to support Atlantic Alumina Co. (ATALCO)

A fresh federal investment aimed at reinforcing the United States’ aluminium supply chain has drawn strong backing from the American Primary Aluminum Association (APAA), which has welcomed the Trump Administration’s decision to support Atlantic Alumina Co. (ATALCO). The move places renewed emphasis on alumina, a critical raw material in aluminium production, at a time when supply security is increasingly tied to national defence and energy resilience.

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ATALCO is the US’s only large-scale alumina producer, delivering a strategic gravity to the investment. APAA said the funding underlines the importance of safeguarding domestic capacity for materials that underpin both industrial manufacturing and defence readiness.

Mark Duffy, President of APAA, described the move as a significant step for national security, noting that the Department of War’s involvement highlights alumina’s role as a foundational input for primary aluminium. He also pointed to the Trump Administration’s earlier decision to impose a 50 per cent Section 232 tariff on imported aluminium, which he said protected thousands of American jobs and demonstrated a clear understanding of the industry’s supply chain vulnerabilities.

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Alumina, a fine white powder refined from bauxite, is essential to aluminium smelting. The latest investment is expected to lift US production of both alumina and gallium, materials widely used in defence systems and energy-related technologies.

The APAA represents the interests of America’s primary aluminium sector and its workforce through its Aluminium Now campaign. The association is a Washington, DC-based, non-profit trade body advocating for a strong and competitive domestic aluminium industry.