Global Trade
May 23, 2025
Week-in-review: Smelters, scrap, and a squeeze play
Written by Nicholas Bell
Terminal markets firmed up amid new smelting announcements, tightening bauxite expectations, and jittery macro signals.
Market Moves Recap
Latest in Global Trade
EGA’s Al Taweelah restart reaches 50%
EGA has restarted 631 of Al Taweelah’s 1,262 reduction cells and still expects the smelter to return to full production in Q1 2027.
AMU Survey: Aluminum scrap outlook splits on prices
Recycler forward views shifted toward undersupply in October even as Midwest Premium and UBC expectations moved lower.
AMU Survey: Aluminum sheet lead times extend modestly
Aluminum sheet lead times rose modestly in October, while broader supply indicators remained largely stable after September’s shift.
Alcoa advances Massena East sale in New York
Alcoa expects two other unnamed sites to follow the Massena East sale.
Ardagh Metal Packaging sale clears court hurdle
A Luxembourg court withdrew an order blocking a potential sale of Ardagh Metal Packaging, allowing Ardagh Holdings to resume preparations.
