Contributor: Greg Wittbecker

Greg Wittbecker

Veteran aluminum executive Greg brings over 40 years of leadership experience from Alcoa, Cargill, and CRU. He offers rare depth in commercial strategy, policy analysis, and industry evolution, with expertise spanning the trading floor to the boardroom. You can reach Greg at Greg.Wittbecker@crugroup.com or 865-621-4564.

Secondary aluminum casthouses: Time for a rethink?

The widening gap between scrap costs and value-added premiums is making secondary aluminum casthouses look far more attractive - time for a rethink.

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.

Does the U.S.-EU trade deal shift attention to Mexico or Canada?

U.S-China trade negotiations have another 90 moratorium, so it does suggest that perhaps the USMCA partners may next up on the agenda.

Canada’s tariff and trade position clarified. Part 2.

Would a 25% tariff be a win for Canada?

Is there a path forward for a U.S.-Canada aluminum deal? Part 1.

The lack of progress on aluminum concessions is frustrating to people on both sides of the border given the precedent of concessions in crude oil and potash.

The enigma of recycled metals’ apparent demand and pricing

The U.S. scrap market is sitting on a significant opportunity in UBC and zorba recovery, but without structural change and serious private-public investment, that potential will keep slipping through our fingers.

Grid upgrades starting to cope with rising electricity demand

A massive wave of U.S. grid investment is set to supercharge demand for aluminum transmission cable.

Will other smelters follow Mt. Holly's restart?

With Century's Mt. Holly coming back online, the real question is whether other idled U.S. smelter capacity have any realistic path to restart.