Canada's next steps in aluminum
Canada is repositioning its aluminum exports toward Europe and Mexico as US tariffs raise costs, strain downstream demand and reshape trade flows.
Author: gregwittbecker
North America rail freight shipments: Gauging industrial demand
Early-2026 rail freight data show bulk commodities driving volume gains while primary metals, lumber and vehicle shipments lag, highlighting uneven demand signals across North American industrial markets.
The logic behind US government investment in Atlantic Alumina
Let’s unpack the facts behind this move.
LME high grade aluminum: How high is high in a post-China cost curve?
Rising global capital and power costs, driven by China's production cap and higher-cost expansion in Indonesia, are structurally resetting aluminum's incentive price, making higher LME levels necessary to unlock new primary capacity outside China.
China sees trade surplus as more partners shift from US
China's expanding trade surplus reflects a strategic rotation away from US markets and toward higher-value exports, even as domestic demand remains under pressure.
The question of aluminum and substitution
Decisions to swap materials are not made in the spur of the moment. Significant engineering changes have to be made, tooling has to be redesigned. With current lead times for heavy industrial equipment, substitution could take 1-2 years to execute. Substitution, whether good or bad for aluminum, is not happening quickly.
Recreational vehicle wholesale shipments slump
US RV wholesale shipments declined more sharply than typical seasonal norms in November 2025, signaling mounting pressure on discretionary consumer spending amid inflation and elevated interest rates.
Midwest premiums: Falling Canadian imports are telling
The US has seen a drastic decline in imports from Canada.
Midwest premiums: How high is high?
The Midwest premium has risen beyond replacement economics, driven by thin liquidity, depleted US inventories, slow import response, and limited near-term substitutes - raising questions about sustainability and forward risk.
How Venezuela figures into the aluminum sector
How Venezuela figures into the aluminum sector