US industrial policy needs to be systematic, not just ad hoc – Part 1
Our current approach can win economic skirmishes, but not the geopolitical conflict. – Part 1 After decades during which the very concept was taboo and the reality swept under the rug, the US has now rediscovered industrial policy. But this rediscovery remains incomplete, as too much of it is...
From black shale to smelter feed: CEM advances North American alumina supply chain
Canadian Energy Metals has demonstrated a process for producing smelter-grade alumina from Saskatchewan black shale and has started a prefeasibility study for its Thor Project. Canadian Energy Metals Corp. (CEM) has taken a step towards developing an alternative North American source of alumina...
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Consumer product prices are likely to take US aluminium and copper tariff hits, warn analysts
Amid various speculations raised by Donald Trump's recently proposed import tariffs on aluminium and copper, the most recent one is the possible impact on domestic consumer good prices. Aluminium industry analysts and participants fear that suggested tariffs on US aluminium and copper imports may...
Trade overview: US aluminium scrap exports through the first ten months of 2024
The United States is one of the leading aluminium scrap exporters in the world, with an annual average export volume close to 2 million tonnes. In 2023, the country exported 2.06 million tonnes, and by October, 1.74 million tonnes was shipped. In the first ten months of the subsequent year, the...
Upstream weekly recap: Change in investment outlook for global aluminium companies, US tariff threats, and much more
Some of the news headlines this week in the upstream aluminium industry, particularly in the primary aluminium sector, suggest a potential shift in market dynamics in the near term in the wake of aluminium price drop on alumina supply ease and proposed tariffs on aluminium imports by the US...
Donald Trump’s tariff threat on Canada prompts Alcoa to reroute its aluminium shipments
Donald Trump's tariff threat following his second presidential term inauguration on January 20 has already sparked speculation among aluminium industry leaders from both the domestic and international markets, prompting them to make strategic decisions regarding overseas trade. For instance, Alcoa,...
Trade tensions emerge early in Trump 2.0 with tariff threats on China, Mexico and Canada; aluminium industry on edge
At the dawn of the new presidential era on January 20, 2025, Donald Trump announced his intent to impose a 10 per cent tariff on Chinese product imports, including aluminium, as early as February 1. Following the news, the three-month aluminium price on the London Metal Exchange decreased by 0.9...
Jan-Oct’24: US aluminium plates, sheets and bars imports record a 22% hike despite the slower recovery in recent times
Until October 2024, the United States imported 1.03 million tonnes of aluminium plates, sheets and bars versus 842,000 tonnes a year ago. That reflected an annual hike of 22.37 per cent, driven by back-to-back significant import volumes from April to July 2024, ranging between 106,000 and 120,000...
Novelis: First US-based aluminium manufacturer to bag the Sustainability Lighthouse honour
Novelis, the world's largest recycler of aluminium, has been a driving force in advancing circularity and decarbonising the aluminium industry to foster a more sustainable future. This week, Novelis' Uhrichsville plant achieved a significant milestone by being recognised as a Sustainability...
Spectro Alloys expansion to add 55,000 tonnes of secondary billet production capacity by 2026
Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), the largest industrial company in the UAE outside of oil and gas and the world’s leading producer of premium aluminium, has announced the completion of civil works for the expansion project at its U.S. recycling subsidiary, Spectro Alloys. Source- EGA webiste...
EPA to excavate contaminated soil from abandoned aluminium plant after 8 years wait
Leftover degraded soil at a closed-off aluminium facility located North of Columbia Falls will be converged and capped as per a chalked-out plan published last week by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Image for representational purposes only The EPA has figured out the doable for the...
AL demand surges substantially in Q3 across the US and Canada — industry agility weighs in
The Aluminum Association, Arlington, Virginia, has disclosed initial estimations of the domestic as well as transnational demand for the aluminium industry in North America (US and Canada) increased by 4.6 per cent through the first three quarters of 2024. The association’s ‘Aluminum Situation’...
Exploring Alaska’s critical mineral potential is a whopping $9.4 million federal-funded programme
Alaska boasts deposits of 49 of the 50 minerals deemed critical to the United States economy, national security, and clean energy ambitions. Yet, many of these vital resources do not reside within traditional ore deposits. Instead, they are often byproducts of conventionally mined metals such as...
Brimstone's decarbonised cement manufacturing process pioneers smelter-grade alumina production
Brimstone, a U.S.-based industrial innovator, has unveiled a groundbreaking advancement in its operations with the production of smelter-grade alumina through its deeply decarbonised cement manufacturing process. This milestone marks a pivotal moment for the US industry, with far-reaching...
US primary aluminium production shows a 4% monthly rebound in October, but no positive change seen in YTD output
According to the latest data from the US Geological Survey, the United States' domestic primary aluminium production showed a month-on-month rebound in October 2024. Aluminium scrap recovery also grew in the same month, suggesting an overall boost in aluminium operations nationwide. However, the...
Role reversal: Thailand replaced Malaysia as the second-largest aluminium scrap importer in September 2024
The latest data from the US Geological Survey reflects a shift in the market dynamics for aluminium scrap in Thailand and Malaysia. Thailand, which usually happens to be the third-largest aluminium scrap importer from the United States, ranked second in September, beating Malaysia’s import volume....
DOE approves $1.45 billion loan guarantee for Hanwha Qcells' solar manufacturing facility in Georgia
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has granted a conditional loan guarantee of US$1.45 billion to Hanwha Qcells, a Korean-owned solar manufacturer, to support the development of its vertically integrated manufacturing facility in Cartersville, Georgia. Image Source: FREEPIK This loan, part of the...
Black Diamond is now UL Solutions validated; over 25% recycled aluminium usage confirmed
In a recent press release, Black Diamond, a renowned manufacturer of equipment for skiing, climbing, and mountain sports based in Utah, United States, reported that UL Solutions backed its proprietary BD7075 aluminium alloy billet through UL Environmental Claim Validation Procedure for Recycled...
US aluminium plates, sheets and bars exports downtrend by 2.77% in Q3 2024, attributed to Canada
The United States' aluminium plates, sheets and bars exports decreased through the third quarter of 2024, totalling 189,800 tonnes. The export volume fell sharply by 2.77 per cent from 195,200 tonnes compared to the previous quarter. In September 2024, the United States exported 59,400 tonnes of...
US alumina imports downtick Y-o-Y from January to September 2024 despite hikes in Q2 and Q3
According to the United States Geological Survey, the United States alumina imports through the first three quarters of 2024 reflected a year-on-year downfall of 1.1 per cent, despite sequential growth in the second and third quarter of the year. Image Source: iStock A sharp fall in Q1 by 20.33 per...
