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...
LME aluminium stocks declined by more than half during the first nine months of 2026, falling by 267,875 tonnes from 509,250 tonnes on January 2 to 241,375 tonnes on September 30 (52.6 per cent). The decline continued throughout the period, with average warehouse inventories falling each month. Compared with the same period in 2025, monthly average stocks were lower across all nine months, with the gap widening in the third quarter. Q1 LME aluminium stocks fall 18.2 per cent LME aluminium inventories continued to decline during Q1 2026. Month-end stocks fell from 495,725 tonnes in January to 465,550 tonnes in February, before dropping further to 416,775 tonnes in March. Monthly average inventories stood at 498,670 tonnes in January, 481,801 tonnes in February and 440,710 tonnes in March....
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Sohar Aluminium — First Smelter in the Gulf to be aligned with the Draft Reference Document on Best Available Techniques (BAT) in the Non-Ferrous Metals Industries published by the European Commission on Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (Draft July 2009). On July 30, 2011, Sohar Aluminium received the final environmental permits for its smelter and power plant facilities after demonstrating alignment with the above standard.
The metals closed lower on Friday but have been boosted this morning by news over the weekend that the US has come to an agreement on the national debt limit. Copper is trading at $9,870/t with support from the ongoing strike at the world’s largest copper mine, Escondida. This follows a 32-day strike at the mine six months ago, which was the longest labour strike at a private Chilean mine. SHFE Aluminium prices have continued to strengthen and the cash to six-month time spread move further into backwardation as domestic market conditions tighten on falling inventories and strong demand. SHFE inventories have more than halved since the beginning of the year and demand has been boosted by strong growth in the packaging and transportation sectors, while construction demand has also been...
The Bonneville Power Administration is proposing an electric-power deal for the Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. that could provide service to the dormant aluminum plant for up to 4 1/2 years. “We’ve been working with CFAC on this agreement,” said BPA spokesman Mike Hansen. He cautioned, however, that “At this time, CFAC has not committed to anything, but has expressed interest in the agreement.
Alcoa Foundation announced that it will sponsor 25 employees from the Company’s operations in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Hungary, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Spain, Suriname and the United States on Earthwatch Institute expeditions to Brazil and China. The employees, who volunteered to become Earthwatch Fellows, will venture to Rio Cachoeira Natural Reserve in Paraná State, Brazil, and the Gutianshan National Nature Reserve in Zhejiang Province, China, to become sustainability leaders. This is Alcoa Foundation’s ninth year supporting Earthwatch expeditions.
Demand for copper and other red metals, along with aluminum and stainless steel, is expected to remain firm aided by stronger second half economic activity and resilient commodity prices. Aluminum De ox: Demand for aluminum de ox should remain unchanged, but higher supply of product in the marketplace may keep selling prices in check. The Company continues developing plans to introduce other aluminum products to better utilize available plant capacity.
Q2 2011 Industry Highlights: Aluminium demand continues to remain healthy while benefiting from being one of the less sector-dependent base metals. Solid demand in Asia despite earthquake in Japan, increased industrial production in Europe, and demand in MENA region being driven by investments in infrastructure. New downstream facilities are expected to further develop local consumption. Trading at the London Metals Exchange (LME) reflected dollar fluctuations over high uncertainties around sovereign debts in Europe. The cash average was US$ 2,603 metric tonnes in Q2 2011 with LME ranging between US$ 2,465 in June 24 and US$ 2,772 on April 28. Q2 2011 Alba Highlights: Additional recurrent savings surpassed target by US$ 9 million by reaching US$ 44 million in H1 2011 while production was...
Most active SHFE 1110 aluminum contract prices opened higher at RMB 18,410/mt on August 1st. In the morning, strong long momentum pushed SHFE 1110 aluminum contract prices to RMB 18,645/mt, a new high since last Thursday’s RMB 18,570/mt. Later released weakening PMI data of China boosted short confidence, which led SHFE 1110 aluminum contract prices to struggle at RMB 18,500/mt. Finally closed price was RMB 18,535/mt, up 1.31%. SHFE aluminum again became the best choice for investors and led base metals to gain, with positions of most active SHFE aluminum contracts drastically increasing by over 20,000 lots. SMM expects active investor sentiment will push SHFE 1110 aluminum contract prices to test RMB 19,000/mt in the short term.
After SHFE aluminum prices rose to struggle at RMB 18,500/mt, spot aluminum prices in south China rallied to above RMB 18,800/mt. Mainstream traded prices in the area were between RMB 18,830-18,850/mt. On the first day of August, as capital pressure began to alleviate, goods holders were active moving goods at high prices, and purchases among downstream buyers slightly increased compared with last Friday. Overall market transactions also slightly increased.
Last week, aluminum was the best performer in base metal markets, with SHFE and spot aluminum prices climbing driven up by a flood of speculative funds, and with SMMI.Al soaring by nearly 4%. Last week, SHFE aluminum prices surged after temporarily fluctuating at the 5-day moving average. Driven up by a flood of speculative funds, SHFE aluminum prices shrugged off bearish economic conditions and have risen for 3 successive days, with most active SHFE aluminum contract prices further climbing after breaking through RMB 18,000/mt despite stronger selling pressure. However, resistance turned stronger again at RMB 18,600/mt. As the longs exited the market after profit-making, most active SHFE aluminum contract prices fell, but still found strong support at the moving averages. SMM expects...
Morning traded prices of spot aluminum in Shanghai on Aug. 1st were between RMB 18,570-18,600/mt, with discounts of negative RMB 30-0/mt over SHFE current-month aluminum prices. Low-iron aluminum was traded between RMB 18,660-18,700/mt. Traded prices of spot aluminum in Wuxi were between RMB 18,580-18,600/mt. Falling SHFE aluminum prices has limited upward space of spot aluminum prices which are also expected to fluctuate in the short term. Cautious sentiment among purchasers also led to slight discounts of spot aluminum prices. Only a few market transactions at lower prices were reported.
According to the CNIA, China’s aluminum output was 1.56 million mt during June, up 9.81% YoY, while YTD output from January to June was up 4.4% YoY. Annualized capacity of June output was 19.03 million mt, up 880 kt from May. Commissioning of new projects at Lanzhou Liancheng Aluminum Industry Company and East Hope Baotou Rare Earth Aluminum Company, as well as the restarting of capacity in Henan province, contributed to higher aluminum output during June. Almost 1.5 million mt/yr in new aluminum capacity is scheduled to come online gradually during 2H 2011, so SMM predicts China’s aluminum output will continue to grow.
China's aluminum prices have risen 4.1% so far this week to hit 15 month high due to steady demand and speculation and this could drive up prices of the metal on the London Metal Exchange.
According to report of Federal State Statistics Service, Russia’s aluminum production down by 2% year on year in the first six months of this year; however, the exact statistics hasn’t been revealed.
Sohar Aluminium (SA) honoured 75 male and female students at the end of its summer training programme for students of Omani colleges and faculties. A farewell party was organised at Crown Plaza Hotel under the auspices of Dr Hilal bin Abdullah al Hinai, Human Resources and Corporate Affairs General Manager at SA. This training programme came as part of the efforts exerted by the company to allow the students apply the aspects of their scientific studies inside the different departments of the company according to their speciality. It also aimed at acquainting these students with the work course inside the company and acquiring the appropriate practical skills.
China Nonferrous Metal Industry's Foreign Engineering and Construction Co said on Monday that it would increase its stake in Australian miner Terramin Australia Ltd in a deal worth 32.35 million yuan ($5 million).
Risk aversion sentiment gradually grew after the White House and Republican leaders failed to reach an agreement during the debt talk on July 29th, which helped the US dollar index stand steady above the 10-day moving average during European trading hours. Later, the US Department of Commerce announced that US GDP increased at an annual rate of 1.3% in second quarter, a growth rate below the expected 1.8%. As a result, risk aversion sentiment quickly fell, and the US dollar index fell continuously to 73.741, down 0.58%. Due to US debt default worries, LME aluminum prices fluctuated downward from the 5-day moving average on July 29th, but found strong support at USD 2,600/mt. Later weak US 2Q GDP data dragged down the US dollar index, which helped LME aluminum prices to rebound. LME...
Most active SHFE 1110 aluminum contract prices opened lower at RMB 18,380/mt on July 29th. After total positions sharply decreased by over 19,000 lots due to profit-making by the longs, SHFE 1110 aluminum contract prices plunged and hit RMB 18,200/mt. Finally closed price was RMB 18,210/mt, down RMB 245/mt or 1.33% from previous trading day. SHFE aluminum prices erased gains of the previous day to the RMB 18,200/mt mark after 3 successive days of rising. Falling aluminum prices in turn cooled down investor confidence and forced some longs to exit the market. However, support for aluminum prices at the 5-day moving average remained strong, and SMM expects aluminum prices to fluctuate in the short term. Latest SHFE aluminum inventories fell by 22,062 mt to 181,715 mt. Though aluminum prices...
According to China Customs, China’s exports of aluminum semis were 300 kt during June, with exports failing to break May’s record high of 340 kt, but still up 55.0% YoY. YTD exports from January to June were 1.52 million mt, up 47.6% YoY. Lower exports of aluminum semis were due mainly to rising SHFE/LME aluminum price ratio, and also indicate that China’s export orders of aluminum semis decreased, and that positive impact on China’s aluminum market fundamentals from exports weakened gradually.
