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US imported 11.5x more primary aluminium from Canada than it exported in semi-fabricated form in H1 2026 - know why
At the US-Canada border, aluminium is constantly on the move, but the direction of trade is far from balanced. In the first six months of 2026, the US imported 907,581.44 tonnes of primary aluminium from Canada, while exporting only 78,886.12 tonnes of semi-fabricated aluminium products such as sheets, plates, foils, extruded profiles, tubes and wire to Canada. US therefore imported about 11.5 times more primary aluminium from Canada than it exported in semi-fabricated form. That raises a question for the aluminium industry. If such large volumes of Canadian primary metal are entering the US, and the country has a sizeable downstream processing base, why is so little semi-finished aluminium travelling back to Canada? The answer lies in the different roles the two countries have developed...
LME aluminium offer price slips to $3,292.5/t as lower exchange stocks point to tighter availability
LME aluminium prices edged lower on September 4 compared with the previous trading day, while aluminium stocks also declined marginally. The most notable movement was in cancelled warrants, which fell by more than 38 per cent day on day. On September 4, the LME aluminium cash bid price stood at USD 3292 per tonne, down 0.30 per cent from USD 3302 per tonne on September 3. The cash offer price stood at USD 3292.5 per tonne , compared with USD 3303 per tonne a day earlier, marking a 0.32 per cent decline. The LME aluminium 3-month bid price stood at USD 3292 per tonne on September 4, down 0.33 per cent from USD 3303 per tonne on September 3. The 3-month offer price stood at USD 3293 per tonne, compared with USD 3303.5 per tonne previously, representing a 0.32 per cent decline. Explore- Most...
Australian bauxite forecast at $39/t vs Guinea at $34-46/t: How ore quality, freight and oversupply are shaping prices
What happens when the world’s biggest bauxite supplier produces too much of the one commodity it dominates? Guinea’s bauxite market is offering a striking answer. Record exports have strengthened its position in global trade, but the surge in supply has also pushed prices lower. Australia, meanwhile, continues to command a premium, even as prices across the market weaken. Guinea’s FOB bauxite price is forecast at around USD 34–46 per dry metric tonne in 2026, while Australia’s FOB price is forecast at around USD 39.15 per wet metric tonne in FY26. So why does Australian bauxite continue to hold a different price position when Guinea is supplying the market at such enormous volumes? The answer begins with quality, but it does not end there. Ore characteristics, freight costs, mining...
LME aluminium cash offer climbs 1.46% to $3,303/t as opening stocks fall to 246,225t on Sept 3
LME aluminium prices moved higher on September 3 compared with the previous trading day, while exchange stocks edged lower and cancelled warrants recorded a sharper decline. On September 3, the LME aluminium cash bid price stood at USD 3,302 per tonne, up 1.46 per cent from USD 3,254.5 per tonne on September 2. The cash offer price rose to USD 3,303 per tonne from USD 3,255.5 per tonne, marking a 1.46 per cent increase. The LME aluminium 3-month bid price stood at USD 3,303 per tonne on September 3, compared with USD 3,253 per tonne on September 2, an increase of 1.54 per cent. The 3-month offer price rose to USD 3,303.5 per tonne from USD 3,253.5 per tonne, also increasing by 1.54 per cent. Further along the forward curve, the December 27 bid price increased to USD 3,215 per tonne on...
Germany aluminium extrusion imports from Italy fall 41.83% in 4 years, with automotive & construction playing a major role - know why
Germany and Italy have long been closely linked in Europe’s aluminium extrusion trade. Italy remains a significant source of extruded aluminium for the German market, but the flow has changed considerably over the past few years. The latest numbers raise an interesting question: is Germany simply buying fewer Italian extrusions, or is the country’s demand for the product itself going through a broader transformation? German aluminium extrusion imports from Italy stood at 43,496.98 tonnes in January-May (YTD) 2022. By YTD 2023, that had fallen to 35,197.76 tonnes, down 19.08 per cent year on year. Imports declined again in YTD 2024 to 30,420.46 tonnes, a further 13.57 per cent decrease. Then the fall appeared to pause. Imports in YTD 2025 were almost unchanged at 30,397.72 tonnes,...
Aluminium extrusion usage in building and construction to grow 1.24% CAGR through 2035, with Americas at 1.15%, Europe at 1.30% & MEA at 2.47%
What does the building and construction market mean for aluminium extrusion industry? The answer may depend less on how much the world builds and more on where it builds and what those buildings require. As construction activity picks up across regions, aluminium extrusion is set to follow - but with the strongest opportunities emerging in different ways across markets. The global construction market was valued at about USD 11.4 trillion in 2024 and is estimated at USD 12.1 trillion in 2025. It is forecast to expand to around USD 16–17 trillion by 2030, representing a 5-6 per cent CAGR over the next five years, according to various industry sources. This expansion matters for aluminium extrusion because building and construction is already the largest end-use sector for extruded...
Hyundai expands beyond cars as robotics becomes a new growth engine
What happens when an automaker starts building a business beyond cars? For Hyundai Motor Co., robotics is becoming a key part of that shift, with the company moving from using robots in its factories to developing, manufacturing and deploying them at scale. Hyundai is laying the groundwork to become a physical AI and technology company following its takeover of robotics maker Boston Dynamics. The move comes as the company looks to diversify its revenue, with its automotive business currently accounting for nearly 80 per cent of revenue. The next step is already taking shape at Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America in Savannah, Georgia, where the company manufactures all-electric vehicles. Hyundai opened its Robot Metaplant Application Center there in June. The centre simulates real...
Global bauxite flows climb 3% in July as Guinea shipments surge ahead of potential export curbs
Global bauxite flows rose to 20 million tonnes in July 2026, up more than 3 per cent year on year, as a sharp increase in shipments to China offset declines across almost every other region. However, the strength in July may not fully carry into the coming months, with Guinea’s expected export restrictions prompting buyers to bring purchases forward. Bauxite flows destined for China increased by 5 per cent in July, providing the main support to global volumes. India, despite recording a surge in bauxite imports during 2026, saw shipments destined for the country fall by 2 per cent in July. This was only the second monthly decline recorded so far this year. Flows to the UAE remained under pressure as the conflict in the Arabian Gulf region continued to affect shipments. July marked the...
European aluminium foil deliveries rise 5.8% in Q2 as demand shows signs of recovery
European aluminium foil deliveries showed a clear improvement in the second quarter of 2026, following a subdued first quarter. EAFA member companies delivered around 238,000 tonnes between April and June, up 0.6 per cent year on year and 5.8 per cent higher than the 225,000 tonnes delivered in Q1. The quarter-on-quarter improvement came as the market began to recover from the weakness seen at the start of the year. In Q1, European aluminium foil deliveries fell 4.3 per cent year on year, while Q2 saw European deliveries increase 0.8 per cent. Exports outside Europe also stabilised, moving from the weaker first-quarter environment to a virtually unchanged result of 0.6 per cent in Q2. June provided the strongest signal of the shift, recording the first clearly positive monthly result of...
AL Circle analysis: From cans and NEVs to extrusion, shifting end-use demand reshapes aluminium’s growth story
The aluminium industry is entering the second half of 2026 with demand signals moving in different directions. Beverage cans are finding new consumption opportunities in Brazil, extrusion demand remains resilient in key markets, and aluminium producers are benefiting from firmer prices. At the same time, tariffs and trade-policy uncertainty are adding cost pressure, while automakers and packaging companies are placing greater emphasis on aluminium’s role in lower-carbon products. Demand: New consumption patterns open fresh opportunities Brazil’s beverage can market is maintaining a positive trajectory in 2026, with 16.4 billion cans sold in the first half and full-year growth expected in the low single digits. The more interesting development, however, is the changing beverage mix. Beer...
Europe’s aluminium extrusion demand set to grow at 2.42% CAGR through 2035 - Which end-use sectors will drive it?
Europe’s aluminium extrusion market is entering a new phase, with demand expected to expand across several key industries. The region accounts for around 10 per cent of global aluminium extrusion usage, making it an important market for producers and suppliers. Electric vehicles, grid investment and construction activity are set to play an important role in shaping demand over the coming years. Aluminium extrusion usage in Europe is forecast to rise from 3.48 million tonnes in 2025 to 3.56 million tonnes in 2026, an increase of 2.30 per cent. By 2035, usage is projected to increase by 27.01 per cent from 2025 levels. The CAGR for 2025-2035 is expected to be approximately 2.42 per cent. For the exact figures and detailed sector-wise outlook, read our updated aluminium extrusion report -...
EGA’s Al Taweelah smelter restoration reaches 25% milestone, full output targeted in Q1 2027
Emirates Global Aluminium’s restoration of its Al Taweelah smelter has reached a 25 per cent milestone, with 315 of the facility’s 1,262 reduction cells now restored and back in operation. The company said the progress puts it on track to restore full production at the smelter in the first quarter of 2027, as work continues across all three potlines in parallel to accelerate the pace of reduction cell start-ups. Al Taweelah sustained significant damage on March 28 when an Iranian attack on Khalifa Economic Zone Abu Dhabi led to an emergency shutdown of all EGA’s facilities on the site. To restore hot metal production, EGA is progressively repairing and restarting each reduction cell. Potline 1 was energised on May 26, followed by potline 3 on July 13 and potline 2 on August 3. Following a...
LME aluminium cash offer price falls 0.86% to $3,188/t; stocks remain unchanged
LME aluminium prices declined on August 25 compared with the previous session, while exchange stocks remained broadly stable. The LME aluminium cash bid price fell to USD 3,187.50 per tonne on August 25 from USD 3,215 per tonne on August 24, a 0.86 per cent decline. The cash offer price dropped to USD 3,188 per tonne from USD 3,215.50 per tonne, down 0.86 per cent. The LME aluminium three-month bid price declined to USD 3,205.50 per tonne from USD 3,233 per tonne, a 0.85 per cent decrease. The three-month offer price fell to USD 3,206.50 per tonne from USD 3,235 per tonne, down 0.88 per cent. The December 2027 bid price stood at USD 3,122 per tonne on August 25, compared with USD 3,153 per tonne a day earlier, marking a 0.98 per cent decline. The December 2027 offer price fell to USD...
US-Canada tariff escalation puts aluminium, CO2 and industrial supply chains under pressure
The latest escalation in the US-Canada trade dispute is set to affect several industrial supply chains, including aluminium, CO2, cement, building materials and electronics. The US imposed 50 per cent tariffs on roughly USD 20 billion of Canadian goods on August 22, while Canada plans to retaliate with matching dollar-for-dollar tariffs from September 8. The move marks a dramatic reversal from the de-escalation a year ago, when Canada removed the majority of its retaliatory tariffs in September 2025. Aluminium is among the materials directly caught up in the dispute. US tariffs of up to 50 per cent on aluminium and steel are expected to raise packaging costs for the production of soda, sparkling water and other CO2-infused drinks, which relies on imported CO2 cylinders, aluminium cans and...
EU, Canada and Asia aluminium prices: Why $3,386/t benchmark can cost $5,792/t - read how regional premiums reshaped markets
What does a tonne of aluminium actually cost? The answer depends on where you are buying it. There is the price most of the market watches every day - the LME cash price. But a buyer waiting for aluminium to arrive at a Rotterdam warehouse, a US - Canada manufacturing plant or a Japanese port is dealing with something more complicated. The same primary metal can carry very different price tags once regional premiums, freight, tariffs and other costs enter the equation. That distinction became important in the first half of 2026. The LME cash aluminium price averaged USD 3,386 per tonne, compared with USD 2,538 per tonne in H1 2025, an increase of USD 848 per tonne, or 33.4 percent. But regional premiums moved very differently, meaning buyers in different parts of the world faced very...
RUSAL train derailment in Guinea halts Friguia alumina exports
Alumina exports from RUSAL’s Friguia refinery in Guinea have been halted after a train carrying the material derailed over the weekend, disrupting rail access to the plant and forcing production to slow, three sources told Reuters. The train, operated by Russian aluminium producer RUSAL RUAL.MM, derailed near Kagbelen in the Dubreka prefecture on Saturday evening. Four people were injured in the accident, and rail traffic was subsequently suspended, two company officials said. The disruption has affected both the movement of finished alumina and the delivery of supplies needed to keep the refinery operating. Fuel and caustic soda, among other production inputs, are transported by rail between the port and the refinery, a fourth source said. A senior official at the Friguia refinery said...
Canada’s aluminium extrusion imports rise 20% over five years, strengthening the case for protection measures
Canada’s aluminium extrusion market is expected to expand significantly over the coming years. The market was valued at USD 2,747.8 million in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 3,745.4 million by 2030, representing a 6.4 per cent CAGR, according to industry data. Recovery in automotive production, infrastructure investment and resilience in aerospace are expected to support this growth. At the same time, imports remain a significant part of Canada’s aluminium extrusion market. Average annual imports increased from 100,068.18 tonnes in 2016-2020 to 120,266.40 tonnes in 2021-2025, representing a 20.18 per cent increase. Imports peaked at 135,981 tonnes in 2022, before falling to 116,054.48 tonnes in 2024, down 14.7 per cent, and then to 111,376.35 tonnes in 2025, a further 4.0 per cent...
Kaiser Aluminum employee passes away following workplace incident at Kalamazoo facility
An employee at Kaiser Aluminum’s Kalamazoo facility passed away following a workplace incident, prompting an investigation by the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA). According to a MIOSHA report, the 43-year-old maintenance technician was welding inside a pneumatically powered scrap chute when the pneumatic clamshell closed, causing injuries that proved fatal. Kaiser Aluminum spokesperson Jill Gaul confirmed the incident and said the company is cooperating with local and federal authorities as the investigation continues. She added that the company is not currently in a position to provide further details. “Everyone at Kaiser Aluminum is deeply saddened and our thoughts are with the family, in addition to the welfare of all of our employees,” Gaul said. The...
