North American demand gained slightly in 2025, Aluminum Association reports
Demand totaled an estimated 26.65 billion pounds in 2025, a year marked by an ever-shifting tariff environment, the association said.
Category: Trade Policy and Tariffs
Community Chat: Posner warns metals sector to brace for logistics shockwaves
Global shipping volatility is tightening its grip on metal supply chains. And the risks are not easing; in fact, they’re escalating, according to Anton Posner, CEO of Mercury Resources.
Edward Meir's week in review and thoughts for the week of May 18, 2026
There was a lot going on this past week on both the geopolitical and economic fronts. Investors were fixated on the two-day visit to China by President Trump. He arrived in Beijing last Wednesday night, with a massive corporate delegation in tow. Expectations were high that some progress would be made on a host of thorny issues. But at the end of the day, the trip produced relatively modest results.
Tariff hearing reveals concerns about unfair competition, mainly from China, but not just China
Meanwhile, this week, President Trump is in Beijing for a crucial series of meetings with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Discussions are expected to include trade, the Iran war, technology and agriculture.
Lutnick: USMCA could be replaced by separate deals with Mexico and Canada
US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the US should pursue separate, bilateral trade negotiations with Canada and Mexico instead of renewing the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
Aluminum stocks to stay in red, prices to stay high as Iran war continues
The LME price for aluminum spiked at the start of the US/Israel war on Iran and has lately hovered around $3,400-$3,600 per ton, not yet breaching $4,000.
Iran war disruptions show importance of US smelters, Century says
“The timing of our Mt. Holly restart could not be better...providing additional American metal units to the domestic market,” CEO Jesse Gary said.
Join AMU and SMU for a Community Chat with Mercury Resources CEO Anton Posner
Anton Posner, CEO of Mercury Resources, will join Steel Market Update (SMU) and Aluminum Market Update (AMU) for a Community Chat on Thursday, May 14, at 11 am ET.
Class 8 surge, trailer slump complicates trucking recovery narrative
ACT Research and FTR Intelligence data showed Class 8 truck orders increased sharply in early 2026 even as trailer demand, OEM deliveries and manufacturer shipments remained weaker.
Century CEO says Okla. smelter online sooner if permits expedited, brushes off power concerns
Century Aluminum CEO Jesse Gary said his company could start up its new smelter in Oklahoma ahead of schedule if the permitting process moved more quickly.