Canada and China have extended a bilateral trade arrangement that links Chinese market access for Canadian agricultural products with Canada's access for Chinese steel and aluminum. The decision provides greater certainty for exporters on both sides as Ottawa seeks to expand its trade relationships beyond the United States. The extension, announced on November 4, 2026, will keep the existing arrangement in place until the end of 2028. It comes amid renewed efforts by the two countries to strengthen economic ties and address outstanding trade issues. For the aluminum industry, the agreement offers a clearer timeline for market access, while its agricultural provisions provide Canadian producers with greater predictability in one of their key export markets. Canada-China trade agreement...
LME aluminium prices gained ground on November 4, with cash and futures contracts moving higher. The Asian Reference Price also edged up, while exchange inventories declined. Alumina Platts prices, however, moved slightly lower. The cash bid rose by USD 53.50 per tonne , or 1.74 per cent, to USD 3,134.50 per tonne from USD 3,081 per tonne. The cash offer increased 1.72 per cent to USD 3,135 per tonne from USD 3,082 per tonne. Three-month aluminium prices also advanced. The bid climbed 1.08 per cent to USD 3,073 per tonne on November 4 from USD 3,040 per tonne, while the offer gained 1.05 per cent to USD 3,074 per tonne. It was previously at USD 3,042 per tonne . Explore the production, demand and consumption forecasts of bauxite and alumina in our report: " Global Bauxite & Alumina Market...
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Spurred on by hopes that U.S. President Donald Trump’s 10-percent aluminium tariffs will usher in a better landscape for the production and sale of primary aluminium, the shuttered smelter formerly owned by Noranda Aluminium in the bootheel region of Missouri announced on Friday the restart of two of its three idled potlines. Magnitude 7 Metals LLC (M7M) said that it has begun to revive both potlines, with the first likely to begin production this spring and the second following on its heels this summer. “M7M hopes to soon be in a position to expand its restart plans to cover additional primary production capacity and/or downstream operations at the smelter site, with significant additional employment levels included.” Though no numbers were given by M7M, a local state senator announced...
Some Japanese aluminium buyers have agreed to pay a premium of $129 per tonne for shipments from global producers in the April to June quarter, reflecting soaring U.S. spot premiums, two sources directly involved in the pricing talks said on Monday. The new premium is 25 percent higher than the $103 per tonne premiums PREM-ALUM-JP in the current quarter. The premium is the highest in three years and marks the second quarterly increase in a row. Japan is Asia’s biggest importer of aluminium and the premiums for primary metal shipments it agrees to pay each quarter over the London Metal Exchange (LME) cash price set the benchmark for the region. The quarterly pricing negotiations began last month between Japanese buyers and global producers, including Alcoa Corp , Rio Tinto and South32 Ltd,...
LME aluminium continued falling through last week and closed with USD 2078.5 per tonne on Friday. However, the contract stayed firm above $2,100 per tonne over the weekend due to strong data from US non-farm payrolls. The LME aluminium contract gained higher to close at US$ 2097 per tonne on March 13. It is still the lowest in almost three months. According to Shanghai Metals Market, LME aluminium is expected to test the US$2,100 per tonne level and trade at US$2,085-2,110 per tonne today. As on March 12, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stands at US$ 2096.50 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 2097per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 2117 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 2118 per tonne; Dec 19 bid price stands at US$ 2168 per tonne, and Dec 19 offer price is...
The U.S. President Donald Trump has granted Australia an exemption from its new tariffs following discussions with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. Turnbull said Australia will not join an international protest against the U.S. over aluminium and steel tariffs. "Spoke to PM of Australia. He is committed to having a very fair and reciprocal military and trade relationship. Working very quickly on a security agreement so we don’t have to impose steel or aluminium (sic) tariffs on our ally, the great nation of Australia!,” Trump said on Twitter. Trump has already exempted Canada and Mexico from the new import tariff till the three countries decide on North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). "Great discussion today on security and trade. Australia/US trade is fair & reciprocal...
As updated by Shanghai Metals Market, spot aluminium fell to RMB 13,800 per tonne on Monday March 12. SMM updates today’s average A00 ingot price stands at RMB 13,810 per tonne and is expected to trade in a range of RMB 13790 – 13830 per tonne today with a discount of RMB 100-80 per tonne. Primary ingot prices registered a drop of RMB 120 to 170 per tonne across all domestic markets. Trading was active in the east China physical market but thin in the Guangdong market, SMM learned. In Shanghai and Wuxi, SHFE 1803 contracts were traded at RMB 13,800-13,820 per tonne with spot discounts of RMB 100-90 per tonne. Trades in Hangzhou were seen at RMB 13,810-13,830 while those in Guangdong were seen at RMB 13,850-13,860 per tonne. The difference in prices between Shanghai and Guangdong hovered...
LME aluminium continued falling closing the week with USD 2078.5 per tonne, down from USD 2082.5 per tonne the day before. The contract stayed firm above $2,100 per tonne over the weekend due to strong data from US non-farm payrolls. Shanghai Metals Market expects it to test the five-day moving average and trade at US$2,110-2,135 per tonne today. As on March 9, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stands at US$ 2078 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 2078.50 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 2098.50per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 2099 per tonne; Dec 19 bid price stands at US$ 2148 per tonne, and Dec 19 offer price is US$ 2153 per tonne. The LME aluminium opening stock has dropped to 1311725 tonnes with the moving of stocks in the Asian warehouses after the...
Major Asian nations have expressed strong concern and reaction to U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to impose tariffs on steel and aluminium imports on Friday. They feared the tariffs will damage global trade relations and urged for a unified call for retaliation. President Donald Trump has signed proclamation imposing 10 per cent tariff on aluminium and 25 per cent levy on steel on Thursday. The new tariffs will go into effect in 15 days. The move is likely to face retaliation from its major trading partners, though he announced exemptions for Canada and Mexico, and said exceptions could also be made for other allies. China's commerce ministry published a statement saying that it "resolutely opposed" a move by Trump to impose tariffs on steel and aluminium imports and urged the U.S....
The US dollar rebounded above 90 overnight, while base metals saw mixed trading. LME aluminium is struggling under increasing downward pressure and closed further down at US$ 2082.50 per tonne on March 8. However, the contract inched up and received support at US$2,100 per tonne overnight. Shanghai Metals Market expects the contract to trade at US$2,095-2,120 per tonne. As on March 8, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stands at US$ 2082 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 2082.50 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 2103.50per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 2104 per tonne; Dec 19 bid price stands at US$ 2150 per tonne, and Dec 19 offer price is US$ 2155 per tonne. The LME aluminium opening stock has dropped to 1315500 tonnes, Live Warrants totalled at 1080625...
Ning Jizhe, the VC of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) has recently announced that China will continue to cut aluminium capacity in 2018, and it would be market-based, standard, and prevent rule violations. This indicates the supply side reforms and environmental cuts would repeat in 2018, though not specific policy has been announced. The recently published data from China Customs show China's exports of unwrought aluminium and aluminium products dropped to 372,000 tonnes in February from 445,000 tonnes in January. On the other hand in the first two months of 2018, China’s exports of unwrought aluminium and products rose 26% to 817,000 tonnes. February drop is also partially due to the Chinese New year holidays. The rise in aluminium shipments in Jan-Feb suggested...
European Aluminium applauds EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström’s statements concerning the potential US tariffs against all aluminium products from Europe. The association representing the entire aluminium value chain with more than 600 plants all across Europe encourages the executive body to take the necessary actions to fight for European jobs by applying WTO-compatible tools. “The Commissioner ticked all the boxes during yesterday’s press conference. Yes, it’s unfair to justify any unilateral decision under the false pretense of national security. Yes, it’s out of scope because it does not fix Chinese overcapacity, which is at the heart of the problem. Yes, the EU has to respond to stand in for our interests and the respect of international trade rules. She is spot on,” commented...
China metals lost ground on Wednesday as looming U.S. trade tensions overshadowed data that showed February semi—finished aluminium exports surged at the fastest pace in three years in China. Average A00 Aluminum Ingot prices dropped to RMB 13,910 per tonne today. The prices are expected to range within RMB 13,890 to RMB 13,930 per tonne and spot discounts are expected to settle at RMB 140 to 110 per tonne. Primary ingot prices registered a drop of RMB 120 to 170 per tonne across all domestic markets. China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi remarked at the National People's Congress on Thursday March 8 that the trade war by the US will result in a 'harmful outcome' in today's globalised world. He added that China will respond as necessary in the event of a trade war with the United States. In an...
Concerns that the U.S. could slap down import tariffs on aluminium as well as steel have dragged those metals down. LME aluminium edged down during yesterday’s trading and overnight and is set to test support at $2,100/mt today. LME aluminium is struggling under increasing downward pressure and closed down at US$ 2112.50 per tonne on March 7. Shanghai Metals Market expects the contract to trade at US$2,085-2,120 per tonne. As on March 7 LME aluminium cash (bid) price stands at US$ 2112 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 2112.50 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 2131.50per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 2132 per tonne; Dec 19 bid price stands at US$ 2177 per tonne, and Dec 19 offer price is US$ 2182 per tonne. The LME aluminium opening stock has dropped to...
After the success of four successful industry reports and a Recap of 2017, AlCircle is now coming up with a comprehensive Aluminium Industry Outlook 2018. While we have wrapped up a positive and eventful year and are treading into the New Year, we are analysing how the significant developments of 2017 are shaping up the industry value chain in 2018. The year starts with a persisting volatility in the market and an impeding trade war between the East and the West, however, we are also enthusiastic about the way demand and supply has been handled in 2017, hence looking at a balanced aluminium market in 2018, with more sustainable growth. Aluminium cannot be seen as an independent commodity as the market is driven by forces that have impact on the entire value chain. The entire value chain...
A new aluminium smelter will open in New Madrid County, Missouri, at the site of the former Noranda Aluminium plant, state and federal officials said Tuesday. State Rep. Don Rone, R-Portageville, and U.S. Rep. Jason Smith welcomed the jobs the new Magnitude 7 Metals plant will create. Gov. Eric Greitens, Rone and Smith are among officials scheduled to attend the formal announcement at 2 p.m. Friday at the former smelter at St. Jude Industrial Park in New Madrid County. Magnitude 7 Metals is hiring workers for the new plant, which could generate close to 400 jobs for the area, Rone said in an online news release. The Swiss-based company purchased the smelter in bankruptcy. It was the only potential buyer that didn’t want to scrap the plant, Rone said last year. “The project has been two...
Aluminium prices in China are range bound today on the announcement by VC of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) that China will continue to cut aluminium capacity in 2018. Since, no specific policy was announced; SMM observes market fundamentals to have more impact on the price movement in the near term. Average A00 Aluminum Ingot prices increased from RMB 14,060 per tonne to stand at RMB 14,080 per tonne. The prices are expected to range within RMB 14,060 to RMB 14,100 per tonne and spot discounts are expected to settle at RMB 160 to 120 per tonne. Average primary ingot prices registered mixed trend across all domestic markets registering moderate increase in a few markets and dropping in another. Aluminum Alloy (ADC12) price in South China market has registered an...
With the US dollar hovering around the 90 level at the backdrop of the trade war between the US and other countries, base metals are expected to remain rangebound. LME aluminium started the week with a drop and remained almost flat today. In the short term, Shanghai Metal Market expects the US dollar to continue to hover at 89.9 with resistance. LME aluminium is struggling to stay afloat under increasing downward pressure and closed almost flat at US$ 2136 per tonne on March 6. The contract is gaining support at the five-day moving average. The contract is expected it to trade at US$2,140-2,160 per tonne today. As on March 6, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stands at US$ 2135.50 per tonne, LME Official Settlement Price stands at US$ 2136 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 2154.50...
Since Press Metal Aluminium exports minimal amount of primary aluminium products to the United States, Trump’s proposed tariffs on aluminium and steel imports will have minimal impact on its business. Malaysia’s Press Metal said in an exchange filing on Monday, March 5. “We understand that the market is concerned after learning about the potential tariff on aluminium which may be implemented by the US. We have been monitoring this development and we feel the current direct impact to our business is minimal.” “Press Metal exports a very minimal amount of its primary aluminium products to the US. Including extrusion products, our exposure to the US market is less than 1% of our total revenue,” company said. The company said that primary aluminium consumption in the US was almost six million...
Emirates Global Aluminium, the largest industrial company outside oil and gas, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Abu Dhabi Ports, to work together to develop opportunities for Abu Dhabi Ports to upgrade ports, logistics infrastructure and services abroad used by EGA to load raw materials destined for the UAE. The agreement could lead to new international business opportunities for Abu Dhabi Ports, enable more efficient shipping for EGA, and spur economic growth around the ports by creating opportunities for other trade. The agreement was signed at EGA’s headquarters at Al Taweelah in Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi by Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Chief Executive Officer of Abu Dhabi Ports, and Abdulla Kalban, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of EGA. Captain...
