Category: Global Trade

Kloeckner says aluminum service centers are taking on more processing, finished inventory and production line work as OEMs shift capital-intensive steps upstream.

Currently, gallium production is concentrated in China, which introduce market controls in 2023.

The heads of the Canadian and US aluminum trade associations are calling on leaders to cool off and return to tariff negotiations.

Kibar Americas expects data center cooling growth to add fin stock demand while US foil supply remains reliant on imports.

And there certainly was no shortage of things to talk about. Tariffs, geopolitics, domestic production trends, data center construction, and scrap availability were just some of the topics getting the spotlight.

Canadian aluminum exports to the US have continued to drop since the tariff rate increased to 25% in March 2025, with a growing share shipping off to Europe and Mexico. The tariff rate has since spiked to 50%.

The breakdown in the US-Canada talks underscores one of the least talked about problems with tariffs. Imposing them is relatively easy (provided they are not overturned by the courts). But when it comes to removing them? A number of industries have grown accustomed to the protection tariffs afford. They will fight tooth and nail to keep them in place. Politicians usually buckle under this backlash, and we suspect this is what happened here.

The tentative trade pact would lower tariffs on some steel and aluminum products from 50% to 25%.

Recycler demand rebounded in August as obsolete scrap availability narrowed, inventory drawdowns persisted and forward oversupply expectations disappeared.

August survey results showed stronger demand alongside shorter measured lead times, while imports became more competitive and forward expectations moved toward balance.