Midwest and European premiums favoring Canadian producers
Rising Midwest and European premiums are giving Canadian aluminum producers a rare boost, restoring pricing power just ahead of key 2026 negotiations.
Category: Trade Policy and Tariffs
PPI and M3 data: Inflation makes aluminum growth disappear
July's producer price index (PPI) and manufacturing survey (M3) data show an aluminum sector that looks steady on paper but is shrinking once inflation is stripped away, with costs cascading unevenly through the supply chain.
AMU's monthly roundup: Midwest premiums, tariffs, and lots of scrap news
There’s a lot of news to keep track of, so we’re lending a hand with highlights from the past month and what they mean for you.
AMU's webinar on scrap export bans is now available
It's not too late to catch up on what potential scrap export bans could mean for the market.
AMU Survey: Lead times split by product group
The August AMU survey reveals lead times lengthening for sheet but easing for billet and extrusions, with distributors, producers, manufacturers, and recyclers each reporting conditions shaped by their position in the value chain.
Mating season is upon U.S. and negotiations could be difficult
U.S. aluminum buyers and sellers are bracing for a bruising 2026 contract season as tariffs, tight supply, and shifting scrap economics threaten to push Midwest premiums and upcharges to unprecedented levels.
Container rates continue to fall
Container freight rates keep sliding for a tenth straight week, with looming U.S. tariffs on Chinese vessels and rerouted Gulf shipments reshaping global trade costs.
The state of primary aluminum inventories in the U.S.
They're low. This is what's going on.
AMU webinar: Recycling rates, scrap exports and price spreads
Recycling rates are just one of the factors at play when considering scrap export bans
Section 232 derivative guide, Part 2: Transformers, wire and cable
Part 2 of a deeper look at the expanded Section 232 tariffs on aluminum derivatives.