SAF’s operations to be affected by U.S. aluminium tariff

Southern Aluminium Finishing (SAF), a manufacturer and distributor of aluminium products, could be hit by Trump’s latest move that imposed tariff on imported aluminium. A 10 per cent tariff on aluminium imports is expected to affect company’s operations.

Aluminium tariff will raise its costs and therefore selling prices. SAF buys half of the aluminium rolls or coils from China and half of the products from U.S. producers.

SAF’s products include architectural aluminium sheets, architectural metalwork, anodized and painted aluminium sheets, custom anodized aluminium extrusions, coil anodized aluminium extrusions etc. The company has manufacturing plants in Georgia, Tennessee, and California.

“I think it definitely helps the rolling mills but the end users or manufacturers like us . . . yeah, it’s going to raise our costs and therefore raise our selling price,” Penn McClatchey, CEO of SAF, said.

President Donald Trump has signed proclamation imposing tariff on aluminium and steel. The new tariffs will go into effect in 15 days.  Trump has exempted Canada and Mexico from new tariffs.

SAF is the only aluminium service center in the country with anodizing and painting facilities, a full-time fabrication center, an unparalleled stock of sheet and extrusions and others.