AL Circle Analysis: Import rise meets demand growth on aluminium extrusion chessboard
Aluminium’s downstream trade network is getting more fragmented as import dependence, changing end-use demand and trade-policy interventions reshape regional markets. From North America and Europe to Asia-Pacific, the aluminium industry is navigating a market where access to supply, competitive...
US industrial policy needs to be systematic, not just ad hoc – Part 2
Our current approach can win economic skirmishes, but not the geopolitical conflict. – Part 2 Impact #5 of ad hoc industrial policy: Failing to use all required tools Industrial policy is often caricatured as just tariffs and subsidies. Mis-framed debates that evaluate the merits of tariffs in...
Grow with
AL Circle
The U.S. almost halves its bauxite imports in Q1 FY 2017-18, volume down by 47% YoY
<p>Bauxite imports by the U.S. in the first quarter of the current financial year have dropped both quarter-on-quarter and year-on-year, reported U.S. geological Survey in their latest Mineral Industry Surveys report. The imports of dried and crude bauxite in Q1 FY2017-18 totalled 790,000 tonnes,...
Aluminum Association request DOC not to allow broad exclusion on Chinese aluminium products
<p>Aluminum Association President & CEO Heidi Brock has sent a letter to the Commerce Department Secretary Wilbur Ross responding to the request to “exclude rolled aluminium can sheet and primary aluminum and ingot for food and beverage containers, lids, and closures from the scope of any...
Primary Aluminium production in North America drops in June, export up significantly
<p>The Aluminum Association, in cooperation with the Aluminium Association of Canada, reported that the annual rate of primary aluminium production in North America (U.S. and Canada) was at 3,928,033 tonnes during June 2017, which is down 0.6% from the May 2017 rate of 3,950,536 tonnes.</p> <p>The...
Missouri new governor sees the possibility of reopening of closed Noranda smelter
<p>The reopening of aluminium-smelting operation at the closed smelter of Noranda was the first topic of discussion in the first special session of the Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens in May.</p> <p>The smelter had been southeast Missouri’s largest employer. However, after that, there’s...
U.S. automakers concerned over the possibility of tariff hike on imported aluminium and steel
<p>The U.S. automakers and suppliers are concerned about a possible decision to impose steep tariffs on imported steel and aluminium predicated on national security reasons, leading to higher costs and sale loss to foreign competitors.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img style="vertical-align:...
Alcoa to restart a part of aluminium smelter at Warrick Operations
<p>Alcoa Corporation announced that it has proposed to restart three of five potlines, which were closed in March of 2016, at its Warrick Operations aluminium smelter near Evansville, Indiana. The company said that it would improve the competitiveness of the on-site rolling mill. The process is...
The U.S. import of alumina is on the rise in the first three month of 2017, exports drop on refinery shutdown
<p>The U.S. primary aluminium industry is slowly picking up the pieces on the back of positive expectations generated by the Trump’s ministry. Along with the fall of the primary industry a number of alumina refineries in the U.S. have closed down in 2016, including the shutdowns of the...
Can manufacturers seek duty exemption on aluminium can sheets
<p>The Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI) has asked the U.S. Commerce Department to exempt aluminium can sheets and other aluminium products, which are used to make beverage cans, from tariff or trade restrictions. CMI told aluminium can sheets are not a security risk that requires government...
G20 Summit: Australia wins US import tariff exemption for aluminium
<p>The prime Minister of Australia Malcom Turnbull and Finance Minister Mathias Cormann succeeded in lobbying US President Donald Trump and other officials on the sidelines of the recently ended G20 Hamburg Summit and won import tariff exemption for Australian aluminium (and steel), reported...
Curtain Wall Coalition holds ground against tariff on primary aluminium import to the U.S.
<p>The Curtain Wall Coalition (CWC) is an organization that represents the U.S. curtain wall fabricators and installers. As downstream consumers of aluminium, especially aluminium extrusions, they have expressed their stand against any tariff on the import of primary aluminium. They argued...
International Fair Trade Alliance warns against restrictions on imports of primary aluminium
<p>The International Fair Trade Alliance (IFTA) announced today July 6 that it opposes tariffs or other restrictions on the import of primary aluminium into the United States. Instead, IFTA calls on the U.S. Administration to curb directly illegal imports of Chinese semi-fabricated aluminium...
U.S. aluminium plates, sheets and strips export & import to drop in 2017
<p>The aluminium flat rolled products trade of the United States of America is shrinking, estimates derived from the global statistics reveal. While aluminium plates, sheets and strips export is slated to reduce to almost half its volume in 2017 from last year, value-wise decrease is also quite...
North America’s shipment of aluminium semi-finished products up in May; forgings and impacts register record growth
<p>According to the latest report from Aluminium Association, aluminium net shipments (including exports) by U.S. and Canadian producers stood at an estimated 2,091 million pounds during May, up 4.5% over the May 2016 total of 2,000 million pounds. Shipments of aluminium mill products increased 6%...
Iceland aluminium smelters support primary capacity of the U.S. aluminium majors
<p>The U.S. primary aluminium industry which was once buzzing with 30 aluminium smelters in the country by aluminium majors like Alcoa and Century is now operating just just five smelters with curtailed capacity with uncertain future. Aluminium producers like Alcoa and Century Aluminum which have...
European Aluminium urges G20 for creation of a Global Forum on aluminium overcapacity
<p>G20 leaders are going to meet in Germany next week to discuss many important topics for the global agenda related to trade policies and investments. The aluminium industry in the U.S. Canada and Europe has urged the G20 to address the issue of Chinese overcapacity, which is causing disruption in...
Aluminium demand and apparent consumption up in North America through May 2017
<p>Preliminary estimates from Aluminum Association indicate that aluminium demand in the United States and Canada (shipments by domestic producers plus imports) stood at an estimated 4.5 million tonnes through May 2017, up 3.0 % over the same period in 2016.</p> <p>Demand for semi-fabricated (mill)...
China expresses concern over U.S. investigation on aluminium imports on national security ground
<p>Washington has recently started a probe into aluminium imports from the world's top producer of the metal on national security grounds and the US Department of Commerce held a public hearing on June 22 on the Section 232 Investigation into the impact of aluminium imports on US national security....
Metal Shark to construct welded aluminium cutters for US Navy
<p>American shipbuilding company Metal Shark has been awarded contract by the US Navy to develop near-coastal patrol vessels (NCPVs) for the US partner nations. The shipbuilder was selected from a field of six competing shipyards by the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), and was subsequently...
