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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LME has registered some substantial growth during the holiday season with the benchmark LME prices rising above US$ 2130/t. LME aluminium registered a record high in Friday's trading and today trading closes at 12.30 ET on Christmas holiday. As on December 22, LME official cash buyer aluminium price (Bid Price) stands at US$ 2136 per tonne, cash seller & settlement aluminium price (Offer price) is US$ 2137 per tonne, 3M Bid Price is US$ 2153 per tonne, 3M Offer Price is US$ 2153.50 per tonne, Dec1 Bid Price is US$ 2193per tonne, and Dec1 Offer Price is US$2,198 per tonne. LME aluminium Opening Stock or the LME aluminium inventory level stands at 1104950 tonnes, slightly down from the last closing. Total Live Warrants is 891525 tonnes, and Cancelled Warrant is 213425 tonnes. Metals are...
Japanese aluminium buyers have agreed to pay producers a premium of $103 per tonne for metal shipped in the January-March quarter, reflecting higher spot premiums, five sources directly involved in the quarterly pricing talks said. The deals, an 8 percent to 10 percent rise from the $94-$95 per tonne premium PREM-ALUM-JP in the previous quarter, mark the first increase in three quarters. 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 latest pricing negotiations began late last month between Japanese buyers and global producers, including Alcoa Corp, Rio Tinto, South32 Ltd and Rusal, with initial offers ranging between $110 and $118...
Alcoa Corporation, a global leader in bauxite, alumina and aluminium products, today announced decisions regarding smelting assets in the United States and Italy. The actions support the Company’s strategic priorities to reduce complexity and to strengthen the balance sheet. In the United States, Alcoa intends to permanently close its Rockdale Operations site in Texas, which has been fully curtailed since the end of 2008. The site includes a primary aluminium smelter and casthouse, an aluminium powder plant and associated buildings and equipment. Alcoa’s strategic review of these assets, announced earlier this year, concluded that these operations have limited economic prospects. Separately, the Company continues to market for sale more than 30,000 acres of land at the Rockdale site. In...
Primary ingot prices in China are hovering at a level above RMB 14000 without any strong support after falling drastically at the end of the first week of December. Average A00 ingot price has increased slightly to stand at RMB 14,290/t today from RMB 14,280/t yesterday. As updated by Shanghai Metals Market, the primary ingot prices registered some increase in some domestic markets too. The price is expected to range within RMB 14270 – 14310 per tonne. The average price of A00 ingot is trending the highest in the South China market at RMB 14,385/t after registering a small increase. The below table shows the price increase in the other major Chinese markets: The high aluminium inventory in China and falling alumina prices remain a concern for the analysts and they are going to put counter...
The end of the year is seeing some substantial growth in benchmark LME prices closing at US$ 2108.50/t. LME aluminium recorded a six-week high in last night’s trading SMM expects to see rangebound trading next, at $2,130-2,160/t today. As on December 21, LME official cash buyer aluminium price (Bid Price) stands at US$2108 per tonne, cash seller & settlement aluminium price (Offer price) is US$ 2108.50 per tonne, 3M Bid Price is US$ 2125 per tonne, 3M Offer Price is US$ 2125.50 per tonne, Dec1 Bid Price is US$ 2165per tonne, and Dec1 Offer Price is US$2,170 per tonne. LME aluminium Opening Stock or the LME aluminium inventory level stands at 1106025 tonnes, slightly down from a day earlier. Total Live Warrants is 892750 tonnes, and Cancelled Warrant is 213275 tonnes. A rising U.S....
Alro, the largest aluminium smelter in the Central and non-CIS Eastern European region has signed a partnership agreement with Quintiq, a Dassault Systèmes company and global leader in supply chain planning and optimisation (SCP&O) under which, Quintiq would provide capacity planning, inventory management and production scheduling support capabilities. A subsidiary of the world’s seventh largest aluminium producer Vimetco N.V., Alro aims to boost production and delivery performance while keeping costs low and minimising scrap generation. The company also plans to reach out to highly demanding sectors such as aerospace and automotive. Quintiq’s solutions will help Alro reach these goals and maintain its regional dominance. The company can have complete visibility over its entire supply...
Chinese coal prices, which have fluctuated between CNY550-750/t (US$83.60-114/t) in the past two years, are set to ease going forward, as it is anticipated that the country's policy makers will allow Chinese miners to increase production again in response to prices reaching the upper range of US$100/t in Newcastle. Coal producers outside China are also ramping up production, tempted by the higher prices realised in 2017. US exports have been reported to expand at the highest pace in the last five years, while in Colombia and Australia coal supply is improving. Meanwhile, seaborne demand from key importers such as China and India is anticipated to contract as domestic output expands. The resulting oversupply is expected to lower prices for seaborne coal with Newcastle prices falling from...
The uptrend in LME aluminium seems to be lacking momentum. With alumina prices declining in China domestic market (US$438 per tonne as on December 21 down from US$538 per tonne on November 21) the light metal contract is expected to rise but within a narrow range. Technical analysis suggests that LME aluminium will range at US$2,110-2,140 per tonne on Thirsday, December 21. As on December 19, LME official cash buyer aluminium price (Bid Price) stands at US$2,091.50 per tonne, cash seller & settlement aluminium price (Offer price) is US$2,092 per tonne, 3M Bid Price is US$2,113 per tonne, 3M Offer Price is US$2,114 per tonne, Dec1 Bid Price is US$2,157 per tonne, and Dec1 Offer Price is US$2,162 per tonne. LME aluminium Opening Stock or the LME aluminium inventory level stands at 1107975...
Alro S.A. ,the largest aluminium producer in Continental Europe (except Russia and Scandinavia), has established the first dual education class in the Olt county. The project was actively supported by the Slatina Technical Metallurgic College and by the Slatina City Hall. "Alro’s long-term strategy focuses on increasing production and diversifying the range of products", says Gheorghe Dobra, Alro General Manager. "Human resources are the main asset on which this strategy is based. We need specialized employees, able to implement our expansion plans and help us penetrate new markets. And we are willing to invest in them, by helping the formation of the next generation of aluminium specialists. We are confident that the dual education program will be a success and we intend to expand it,...
The price of A00 ingot in China is continuing its recovery after the fall through November and December. Average A00 ingot price has increased further to stand at RMB 14,310/t on December 20 from RMB 14,180/t on December 19. As updated by Shanghai Metals Market, the primary ingot prices registered some increase in the domestic markets too. The price is expected to range within RMB 14290 – 14,330 per tonne. According to an update from Reuters, Ministry of Environmental Protection found five aluminium and steel producers had not limited or closed output to comply with the winter emissions cuts directives running from November 2017 to March 2018. Taiyuan East Aluminum which has refined aluminium output capacity of 100,000 tpy and aluminium rod production capacity of 50,000 tpy, with plans to...
U.S. President Donald Trump’s new security strategy bolsters the case for trade actions to protect U.S. economic interests on national security grounds, including possible import tariffs on steel and aluminium, a senior Trump administration official said on Tuesday. The strategy document released on Monday did not specifically mention the Commerce Department’s “Section 232” investigations into whether rising steel and aluminium imports represent a threat to national security. With recommendations due in January, the probes could lead to broad tariffs or import quotas under a Cold War-era trade law. The official said the document made clear that Trump considered economic strength to be an integral part of national security and “formalizes” the link between the two. The 232 probes on steel...
LME aluminium is climbing higher at a moderate pace. The light metal contract which closed at US$2,047 per tonne on Monday, December 18, rose by 0.6 per cent to close at US$2,061 per tonne on Tuesday, December 19. Technical trend analysis suggests that LME will test the resistance at the 40-day moving average and range at US$2,090-US$2,115 per tonne on Wednesday, December 20. As on December 19, LME official cash buyer aluminium price (Bid Price) stands at US$2,060.50 per tonne, cash seller & settlement aluminium price (Offer price) is US$2,061 per tonne, 3M Bid Price is US$2,080 per tonne, 3M Offer Price is US$2,082 per tonne, Dec1 Bid Price is US$2,125 per tonne, and Dec1 Offer Price is US$2,130 per tonne. LME aluminium Opening Stock or the LME aluminium inventory level stands at 1105875...
After the launch of three successful industry reports, AlCircle is now coming up with a comprehensive Aluminium Industry Recap 2017. While we are wrapping up a positive and eventful year for the global aluminium industry; it also gives us an opportunity to look back at the significant developments that shaped the industry value chain. This edition of Aluminium Industry Recap 2017 aims to touch upon the major developments in each vertical, which influenced each other driving growth or counter growth. The developments are not only analysed chronologically but also analytically so that we can draw a conclusion on how the entire value chain moved together to bring about a turnaround in the market. China continues to draw a good amount of attention due to its capacity cut moves and its effect...
LME aluminium has resumed its uptrend. The light metal contract having risen from US$2,036 per tonne on Friday, December 15, closed at US$2,047 on Monday, December 18 amid positive market fundamentals. Current price trend analysis suggests that LME aluminium will rise further. It is expected to range at US$2,060-2,090 per tonne on Tuesday, December 19. As on December 18, LME official cash buyer aluminium price (Bid Price) stands at US$2,046.50 per tonne, cash seller & settlement aluminium price (Offer price) is US$2,047.50 per tonne, 3M Bid Price is US$2,066 per tonne, 3M Offer Price is US$2,068 per tonne, Dec1 Bid Price is US$2,110 per tonne, and Dec1 Offer Price is US$2,115 per tonne. LME aluminium Opening Stock or the LME aluminium inventory level stands at 1105900 tonnes, total Live...
The price of A00 ingot in China is on recovery mode after continuous fall through November and December. The change could be seen after the country's National Bureau of Statistics reported that China’s primary aluminium output dropped 16.8% year on year to 2.35 million tonne in November. Though total output from January to November was up 1.7% to 29.54 million tonnes, month over month, it shows a substantial decline. Average A00 ingot price has increased to stand at RMB 14,170/t today from RMB 14,050/t on December 15 Friday. As updated by Shanghai Metals Market, the primary ingot prices registered some increase in the domestic markets too. The price is expected to range within RMB 14150 – 14,190 per tonne. SHFE contracts look set to hit the 20-day moving averages trading at RMB...
LME aluminium prices continued to rise during morning trading hours on Monday, December 18, amid fairly positive market sentiment. The light metal which stopped dropping last week closed at US$2,036 per tonne on Friday, December 15, up from US$2,017 on Thursday, December 14. Current price trend analysis suggests that LME aluminium will likely hit the 20-day moving averages to trade in the range of US$2,050-2,080 per tonne on Monday. As on December 15, LME official cash buyer aluminium price (Bid Price) stands at US$2,035.50 per tonne, cash seller & settlement aluminium price (Offer price) is US$2,036 per tonne, 3M Bid Price is US$2,050 per tonne, 3M Offer Price is US$2,051 per tonne, Dec1 Bid Price is US$2,095 per tonne, and Dec1 Offer Price is US$2,100 per tonne. LME aluminium Opening...
The Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) announced the launch of new certification program for the aluminium value chain, focused on responsible production, sourcing and stewardship of the metal. The new program will cover all stages of the value chain for aluminium, including bauxite mining, alumina refining, aluminium smelting, semi-fabrication, product design and manufacturing, and recycling. Dr Fiona Solomon, ASI Chief Executive Officer, said: “Supply-chain certification programs like ASI are becoming increasingly important for customers and stakeholders, who seek assurance that companies’ sustainability practices are genuine” “We are excited about the next steps as member companies work towards achieving the first ASI Certifications in 2018.” The ASI’s Performance Standard covers...
China has accused the United States and the European Union of breaking promises that they made when China joined the World Trade Organization, according to testimony published by China’s Commerce Ministry in an unusual step. China’s WTO ambassador, Zhang Xiangchen, told a WTO hearing that the high-stakes legal dispute boiled down to one principle: “Agreements must be kept”. “We are deeply concerned about the systemic implications this will have for the rules-based multilateral trading system,” Zhang said at the start of dispute hearings on Dec. 6. China took the legal action against the EU because it says that, under China’s 2001 WTO membership terms, it must be recognised as a “market economy” after 15 years. That means other countries have to take Chinese prices at face value. “China...
