Aluminium Premiums
Japan’s aluminium premiums climb in first three quarters of 2026 before Q4 decline
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...
South32 shareholders approve aluminium asset sale worth $5.6b to Alcoa
South32 shareholders have overwhelmingly backed the proposed sale of the company’s aluminium value chain assets to Alcoa for up to USD 5.6 billion, with proxy votes recording 99.18 per cent support for the transaction at the company’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Wednesday. The disposal covers South32’s interests in Worsley Alumina, Hillside Aluminium, the MRN bauxite mine, the Brazil Alumina refinery and the Brazil Aluminium smelter. According to the company’s statement, the transaction is expected to be completed in the second half of fiscal year 2027, subject to the satisfaction of relevant conditions. The vote marks a significant step towards the transfer of the assets to Alcoa, spanning bauxite mining, alumina refining and primary aluminium production. Explore the production,...
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15th International Bauxite, Alumina & Aluminium Conference & Exhibition - IBAAS–VFMSTA 2026
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SMM AICE 2026 Southeast Asia Aluminum Conference
15th International Bauxite, Alumina & Aluminium Conference & Exhibition - IBAAS–VFMSTA 2026
ICSOBA 2026 - 44th International Conference and Exhibition
SMM AICE 2026 Southeast Asia Aluminum Conference
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A report that reveals where the aluminium casting industry is heading and how businesses can act.
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A report that reveals where the aluminium casting industry is heading and how businesses can act.
LEARN MOREEurope’s recycled aluminium production: Germany, Italy and the UK anchor a competitive market
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AL Circle analysis: How do Germany’s 32.8% automotive aluminium share, 40% Diet Coke can price rise & 3.54Mt North American extrusion demand matter?
AL Circle Analysis: Guinea’s 150Mt bauxite cap, China’s import swings, US tariffs draw aluminium Q4’26
EU approves Germany’s power relief instrument: Could aluminium producers save €459m annually?
News
Alcoa prepares for quarterly results as metals markets heat up
Alcoa Corporation is drawing market attention ahead of its third-quarter results as firmer aluminium and alumina prices shape expectations for the integrated producer. The company is scheduled to report its results on October 15, 2026, after the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange. The broader metals market has also attracted interest, with copper and precious metals strengthening and materials companies benefiting from renewed investor attention. Aluminium remains a key industrial metal within this environment, placing producers such as Alcoa in focus as investors assess market conditions ahead of the earnings update. Aluminium prices and energy costs shape the outlook Aluminium is widely used in transport, packaging, construction and electrical applications because of its...
US aluminum maker Shapes Unlimited faces up to $5m in extra costs as tariffs and Iran conflict bite
US aluminum product manufacturer Shapes Unlimited faces up to $5 million in additional costs this year as President Donald Trump’s tariffs and rising freight charges linked to the conflict involving Iran add pressure to American manufacturers. The Ohio-based company is among businesses grappling with higher input and transportation costs, while uncertainty over US trade policy and deteriorating relations with Canada complicate planning and expansion. Although some American manufacturers have benefited from higher barriers facing foreign competitors, others are struggling to absorb additional expenses and maintain growth. Doug Rende, chief executive of Shapes Unlimited, told AFP that the combined pressures had become increasingly difficult to manage. “Frustrating would be one word,” Rende...
AL Circle Analysis: From Guinea to Gulf, how bauxite, tariffs and logistics redraw aluminium map
Aluminium markets in late 2026 are being shaped by more than the headline LME aluminium price. Bauxite security, alumina availability, geopolitical disruptions, tariff negotiations, logistics diversification and regional premiums are increasingly determining where metal moves and what buyers pay. From RUSAL reassessing Caribbean assets and Vedanta securing Odisha bauxite to Brazil extending mine life and EGA rebuilding its Guinea supply chain, producers are strengthening control over critical raw materials. At the same time, the US remains heavily dependent on imported bauxite and alumina, while Europe and Asia are experiencing sharply different premium dynamics. These developments point to a market where physical availability is becoming a regional factor even as aluminium itself remains...
Aluminium du Maroc’s revenue retreats, but profit refuses to follow with a 31% Y-o-Y increase in H1 2026
Aluminium du Maroc reported a 31 per cent year-over-year increase in H1 2026 net income to MAD 41.0 million (USD 4.11 million), even as consolidated revenue declined to MAD 603.7 million (USD 60.55 million) from MAD 650.1 million (USD 65.21 million). The Moroccan aluminium producer’s results point to a stronger profitability performance despite weaker top-line activity. Net income rose from MAD 31.3 million (USD 3.14 million) in H1 2025, while operating income also increased by 23 per cent to MAD 77.2 million (USD 7.74 million), according to AlphaMena. Profit growth outpaces revenue The divergence between revenue and profit was the key feature of Aluminium du Maroc’s H1 2026 performance. Revenue declined by around 7 per cent year over year, while net income increased by nearly one-third....
Mexico launches second anti-dumping sunset review on Chinese aluminium cookware
Mexico has initiated a second anti-dumping sunset review on aluminium cookware from China, while existing duties will remain in force throughout the proceeding. Mexico’s Ministry of Economy has initiated a second anti-dumping sunset review covering aluminium cookware originating in China, following a formal request from domestic producer Vasconia Brands, S.A. de C.V. The review examines whether the existing trade-remedy measures on Chinese aluminium cookware should remain in place. The products covered by the proceeding fall under tariff code 7615.10.02 of Mexico’s TIGIE. Mexico sets dumping and injury review periods The dumping investigation covers the period from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, while the injury analysis spans July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2026. Explore AL Circle’s...
Aluminium gains 1.1% as oil surge drives New Zealand commodity prices
The ANZ World Commodity Price Index rose 0.6 per cent month on month and 1.0 per cent year on year, with prices increasing across most categories. The rise was largely driven by higher energy prices, while a weaker New Zealand dollar pushed the index in local-currency terms up 2.8 per cent. Oil surge lifts aluminium prices along with milk powder Aluminium benefited from supply disruption linked to the Middle East conflict. Prices rose 1.1 per cent during September and are around 23 per cent higher year on year, with production and exports in the region remaining disrupted. Dairy prices increased 1.0 per cent in September, led by skim milk powder. Prices for the product jumped 9.2 per cent month on month and are now 41.1 per cent higher than a year earlier. ANZ said milk powder prices are...
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