US executive order cuts tariffs for new primary aluminium investments; Century Aluminum welcomes move

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Century Aluminum Company has welcomed a new executive order signed by US President Donald Trump that aims to encourage investment in domestic primary aluminium production. Under the order, approved companies investing in new primary aluminium production facilities in the United States will be allowed to import an equivalent amount of primary aluminium at half the otherwise applicable tariff rate.

The announcement follows Century Aluminum's agreement with Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), announced in February, to jointly develop a new primary aluminium smelter in Inola, Oklahoma. The project is expected to be the largest single investment in US primary aluminium production and has the potential to more than double the country's current primary aluminium output.

CEO of Century Aluminum, Jesse Gary, said, “President Trump is again prioritising America first by making it easier to make investments like Oklahoma Primary Aluminium.“

The proposed Oklahoma smelter will have an annual production capacity of 750,000 tonnes of primary aluminium. The project is also expected to create more than 1,000 direct jobs and around 4,000 construction jobs.

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Century Aluminum also recently announced plans to expand production capacity at its Mt. Holly smelter in South Carolina. The expansion is expected to increase the company's total US primary aluminium production by nearly 10 per cent and create an additional 150 jobs.

Gary further said, “We are grateful for the President’s steadfast support, which strengthens our commitment to supply this critical metal to vital American industries like defence and aerospace.”

Century Aluminum operates primary aluminium smelters in the United States and Iceland and is the majority owner and managing partner of the Jamalco alumina refinery in Jamaica.