Contributor: Greg Wittbecker

As aluminum markets head into 2026, LME prices appear structurally supported while the Midwest premium looks increasingly risky and politically distorted, forcing buyers and sellers to hedge very differently.

Australia is hardly alone in intervening in heavy industry.

Mexico’s Congress authorized up to 50% tariffs on goods from countries with which it does not have a bilateral trading agreement. This is gives Mexico some cover over concerns it bowed to US pressure to block just Chinese goods flowing through Mexico to the US.

Despite competing fiercely for market share, aluminum and plastics share the same structural recycling failures rooted in incentives and policy resistance.

Recent swings in aluminum supply-demand balances reveal the practical gap between accuracy and precision, showing how real smelter disruptions can upend even the most carefully constructed forecasts.

Although not large by overall industry metrics, the RV market is a barometer of consumer sentiment for discretional durable goods.

When we last reported on Chinese trade, the numbers showed a strong performance for September. Two months later, we see more growth. China shrugged off disappointing October exports of $305.4 billion to record November exports of $330.3 billion, according to data released by China’s General Administration of Customs. That was a 5.9% rise over October […]

Production metrics can gauge whether there are more premium shocks in our future.

This AMU Explainer breaks down how LME open interest works and how it can help you interpret shifts in market sentiment and price direction.

Scrap discounts remain exceptionally wide to the Midwest transaction price. Some seasonal tightness may occur, but still affords rolling mills and extruders excellent earnings potential.