The Aluminum Association of Canada (AAC) welcomes the integration of country of smelt and cast reporting into Canada’s Aluminum Import Monitoring Program (AIM), effective October 1, 2026. This milestone strengthens transparency across aluminium supply chains and equips authorities with better information to monitor trade flows and identify potential circumvention. The new requirements build on Canada’s progressive development of its aluminium import monitoring framework: • September 1, 2019: Canada launched AIM under General Import Permit No. 83, following the Canada–US joint statement on steel and aluminium trade. • Summer 2024: Global Affairs Canada (GAC) consulted stakeholders on collecting and publishing country of smelt and cast information. • July 31, 2025: Under a separate trade...
Futures: SHFE aluminium closed at RMB 23,145 per tonne, edging down 0.19 per cent. Although prices held above MA5 (23,077) and MA10 (23,044), they remained capped by MA30 (23,760) and MA60 (23,767), with the overall market in a consolidation phase following the sharp decline. The MACD indicator's dual lines (DIF=-261.81, DEA=-237.16) operated below the zero axis, with the green bar expanding to -49.29, failing to extend the previous day's bottom divergence repair, indicating fading rebound momentum. Trading volume shrank to 54,800 lots, with market activity turning cautious. The suggested core trading range for SHFE aluminium is 22,700-23,500. LME aluminium closed at USD 3,008 per tonne, edging up 0.07 per cent. Prices barely held above MA5 (3,002.4) but remained pressured by MA10...
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Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) has restarted 631 of the 1,262 reduction cells at its Al Taweelah aluminium smelter in the UAE, marking a major milestone in recovery efforts following an emergency shutdown on March 28 amid regional security developments that affected operations at Khalifa Economic Zone Abu Dhabi. The shutdown required a full evacuation of the Al Taweelah site, leaving molten aluminium frozen inside every reduction cell. EGA began restarting the first restored cell on May 26 and is now progressing across all three potlines simultaneously, with teams working to restore the remaining cells. Despite the scale of the disruption, EGA continues to expect the Al Taweelah aluminium smelter to return to full production during the first quarter of 2027. Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief...
The London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium prices improved in the October 21 session after a decline in the October 20 trading session . A gain of nearly 1 per cent was reported across the pricing and contract segments, while stocks recorded a consistent decline. The LME aluminium cash bid price gained 0.91 per cent day-on-day, up from USD 3,003 per tonne to USD 3,030 per tonne. The offer price edged up from USD 3,003.5 per tonne to USD 3,031 per tonne, rising by 0.92 per cent. Explore- Most comprehensive and forward-looking industry-focused report — Global Bauxite & Alumina Market Forecast to 2036: Supply–Demand, Trade Flows & Price Outlook On October 21, the LME aluminium three-month bid price climbed from USD 2,996 per tonne on October 20 to USD 3,024 per tonne, marking a 0.94 per cent...
Mexico hopes to secure a favourable response from the United States to its request for lower tariffs on aluminium, steel and vehicles before the end of 2026, Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard said. The Trump administration imposed 50 per cent tariffs on Mexican aluminium and steel and 25 per cent tariffs on vehicles, with an exemption for vehicles with US content. The duties were introduced on national security grounds under Section 232 of the US Trade Expansion Act. Speaking at a press conference in Mexico City, the Economy Minister said Mexican officials had presented technical arguments and supporting evidence to US authorities to justify reducing the tariffs. He argued that the United States runs a steel trade surplus with Mexico, making the tariffs on the metal unjustified from the...
London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium prices declined across cash, three-month and December 2027 contracts on October 20 compared with October 19. The cash offer price fell by 0.51 per cent to USD 3,003.5 per tonne , while the three-month offer price decreased by 0.50 per cent to USD 2,997 per tonne. The LME aluminium cash bid price declined by 0.51 per cent from USD 3,018.50 per tonne on October 19 to USD 3,003 per tonne on October 20. The cash offer price decreased by 0.51 per cent from USD 3,019 per tonne to USD 3,003.5 per tonne. Similarly, the three-month bid price fell by 0.47 per cent from USD 3,010 per tonne to USD 2,996 per tonne, while the offer price dropped by 0.50 per cent from USD 3,012 per tonne to USD 2,997 per tonne. Explore- Most comprehensive and forward-looking...
London Metal Exchange (LME) three-month aluminium prices have returned to just above USD 3,000 per tonne, close to their levels in early February, before US and Israeli military operations against Iran began. However, the apparent stability in prices masks continuing pressure across the physical aluminium supply chain, following Iranian missile attacks on Gulf smelters and disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Almost 3 million tonnes of aluminium production capacity has been knocked out by the disruptions. Eight months later, the market appears relatively unconcerned, with traders relying on rising output from Indonesia and increased Chinese exports of aluminium products to compensate for the shortfall until Gulf smelters recover and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz...
The US aluminum industry, through its troubled journey over the past four decades, has been holding on to its remaining active smelters to maintain domestic aluminum production. However, its production figures reveal how little ground it has regained. Stability has been a strong suit, with 339,000 metric tons produced in H1 2026, yet matching the volume recorded in H1 2024. With domestic primary production still constrained, the focus is shifting to whether the Century Aluminum’s Mt Holly restart and the proposed Oklahoma primary aluminum smelter can turn modest gains into a sustained supply revival. Explore the production, demand and consumption forecasts of bauxite and alumina in our report: “ Global Bauxite & Alumina Market Forecast to 2036: Supply–Demand, Trade Flows & Price Outlook ”...
The London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium price chart continued to report gains over the October 15 close across the pricing segment on the October 19 trading session. Near-term and long-term contracts, however, registered an eased trend. The LME aluminium cash bid jumped from USD 3,013 per tonne to USD 3,018.5 per tonne, rising 0.18 per cent. The offer price moved from USD 3,014 per tonne to USD 3,019 per tonne, up 0.17 per cent day-on-day. Explore- Most comprehensive and forward-looking industry-focused report — Global Bauxite & Alumina Market Forecast to 2036: Supply–Demand, Trade Flows & Price Outlook The LME aluminium three-month bid contracted by 0.05 per cent to USD 3,010 per tonne from USD 3,011.5 per tonne. Meanwhile, the offer price reported no change from USD 3,012 per tonne....
Japan’s quarterly aluminium premiums, known as Main Japanese Port (MJP) premiums, rose sharply in the first nine months of 2026 before falling ahead of the fourth quarter. The premium increased from USD 195 per tonne in January-March to USD 350-353 per tonne in April-June. It then reached USD 395 per tonne in July-September, its highest level in 11 years, as supply remained tight and geopolitical tensions affected the market. The Q1 2026 settlement was around 127 per cent higher than the USD 86 per tonne recorded in Q4 2025. The premium rose by another 79-81 per cent in Q2 and increased by a further 12-13 per cent in Q3. Tight aluminium supplies, lower inventories and competition from buyers in Europe and the US have contributed to the rise. Premiums in both markets have also remained...
Malaysia could attract a significant new investment in aluminium manufacturing, with Chinese investors assessing potential sites in Sarawak as they look to expand their international business. Samalaju Industrial Park in Bintulu is among the locations under consideration, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said. The proposed facilities could serve downstream industries, including construction and automotive manufacturing, while helping Malaysian-made products reach a wider customer base. According to Ahmad Zahid, the prospective investors would bring established market networks that could support the expansion of Malaysia’s exports. To facilitate the proposal, Ahmad Zahid said he would approach the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) and the Investment,...
Germany’s last remaining primary aluminium producer, TRIMET Aluminium SE, has a combined nameplate capacity of approximately 540,000 tonnes per year across its German and French smelters. Yet Germany exported 466,756 tonnes of unwrought primary aluminium in 2025, equivalent to 86.44 per cent of that combined capacity. Exports reached 501,678 tonnes in 2023 and 449,590 tonnes in 2024, while shipments totalled 273,080 tonnes between January and July 2026. The comparison presents an intriguing picture of Germany’s aluminium industry. Despite having a limited primary smelting base, the country continues to export hundreds of thousands of tonnes of unwrought aluminium annually. At the same time, it imported 2 million tonnes of primary aluminium in 2025, more than four times its exports. Why...
Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Bhd is facing pressure on its earnings as aluminium prices fall below US$3,000 per tonne and carbon anode prices reach a three-year high. The increase in raw material costs, combined with weaker aluminium prices, has led RHB Research to lower its earnings forecasts for FY26 to FY28, although the firm has retained its “Buy” recommendation on the company. RHB Research linked Press Metal’s nine percent single-day share price decline to lower aluminium prices, higher carbon anode costs, concerns over rising US inflation, tighter monetary policy and a stronger US dollar. Aluminium prices fell to US$2,987 per tonne as market sentiment weakened following a sell-off in artificial intelligence-related stocks. Expectations of a faster-than-anticipated recovery in the...
Futures : SHFE aluminium closed at RMB 23,315 per tonne, up 0.56 per cent. Although the price rebounded to stand above the MA5 (23,246), it remained capped by the MA10 (23,440) and the dense cluster of medium- and long-term moving averages below (MA30 = 23,972, MA60 = 23,824), with the overall moving average system maintaining a bearish alignment. The MACD indicator's DIF (-223.65) and DEA (-137.46) ran deep below the zero axis, with the green bar reaching -172.39. The bearish trend remained intact, and the short-term rebound was an oversold recovery. Trading volume shrank sharply to 74,500 lots (below the average volume), reflecting cautious market participation. The suggested core trading range for SHFE aluminium is 23,000-23,600. LME aluminium closed at USD 3,007 per tonne, down...
London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium prices increased on October 16 compared with the previous day, October 15, across cash, three-month and December 27 contracts. The LME aluminium cash bid price increased by 0.48 per cent to USD 3,013 per tonne on October 16 from USD 2,998.50 per tonne on October 15. The cash offer price rose by 0.50 per cent to USD 3,014 per tonne from USD 2,999 per tonne. The three-month contract also recorded gains. The bid price increased by 0.58 per cent to USD 3,011.50 per tonne from USD 2,994 per tonne, while the offer price rose by 0.58 per cent to USD 3,012 per tonne from USD 2,994.50 per tonne. For the December 27 contract, the bid price climbed by 0.57 per cent to USD 2,975 per tonne from USD 2,958 per tonne. The offer price increased by 0.57 per cent to USD...
Alcoa plans to sell part of its idle Massena East industrial site in New York for up to $315 million, marking the first step in its broader effort to generate cash from underused assets by 2030. The agreement comes as the aluminum producer prepares to complete its multibillion-dollar acquisition of South32’s bauxite, alumina and aluminum assets while navigating changing metal prices and higher input costs. The company has reached a definitive agreement with an undisclosed buyer for the Massena East property. The transaction is expected to bring in an initial payment of $50 million to $65 million at closing, which is anticipated within the next six months. The remaining proceeds are expected before the end of the decade, although the agreement allows up to seven years for commissioning....
Indonesia is pitched as the next big Asian aluminium hub as the country has released an expansive alumina and aluminium expansion plan, based on the abundant bauxite resource in the country. China has exhausted its aluminium capacity cap and is unlikely to raise installed capacity significantly in the coming years. Additionally, geopolitical conflicts, sanctions, and tariffs have made much of global aluminium capacity inaccessible and vulnerable. This includes Russian aluminium and the Gulf output, along with restricted and costly access to Canadian aluminium for the US smelters. The already tight supply conditions have been made worse after the Iran-Israel-US war that disrupted the Gulf aluminium capacity. Under current supply conditions, India and Indonesia will play a critical role in...
This week, the overseas aluminium market overall remained in the doldrums. Weak demand continued to be the core issue across major markets, with offer prices in Japan, South Korea, Thailand, the US, and China generally under pressure. Trading activity was sluggish, and the tug-of-war between sellers and buyers persisted, with the market lacking clear directional guidance overall. Japan: MJP negotiations continue, market sentiment remains subdued The Japanese market remained relatively quiet this week, with focus still on the progress of Q4 MJP negotiations. Some sellers are still negotiating premiums with buyers, but the two sides have significant differences in price expectations, and negotiations are progressing slowly. As a result, the MJP market remains subdued, with limited spot...
Alcoa’s Alumar aluminum smelter in São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil, has completed its internal investigation into a work-related fatality involving lighting maintenance at its carbon plant. The company is also cooperating with its partners and relevant authorities as their investigations continue. An employee died following a workplace incident at Alcoa’s Alumar aluminum smelter in Brazil, prompting renewed attention to safety controls during industrial maintenance operations. According to Alcoa, the employee was found unconscious at the facility on September 16, 2026, and immediately transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. The employee later died, and the incident was determined to be work-related. The incident involved lighting maintenance at the smelter’s carbon plant....
LME aluminium prices edged lower on October 15, with cash and futures contracts weakening. The Asian Reference Price was little changed, while exchange inventories recorded modest declines. Alumina Platts prices continued to climb. The cash bid slipped 0.31 per cent to USD 2,998.5 per tonne from USD 3,008 per tonne on October 14 . The cash offer fell 0.36 per cent to USD 2,999 per tonne from USD 3,010 per tonne. Three-month aluminium prices saw a sharper decline. Both the he bid and offer prices dropped 0.63 per cent. The bid was at USD 2,994 per tonne on October 15 from USD 3,013 per tonne previously, while the offer was USD 2,994.5 per tonne from USD 3,013.5 per tonne previously. Explore the production, demand and consumption forecasts of bauxite and alumina in our report: " Global...
