Tag: Prices

It will likely be the second quarter before we see total imports return to the robust levels of Q1'25

With LME contango insufficient to cover financing and storage costs, the aluminum market has shifted the burden of carry onto physical premiums, forcing traders to rely on premium appreciation to keep inventory economically viable.

As China approaches its long standing primary aluminum production cap, shifting supply dynamics such as offshore capacity growth and redirected Russian metal are reshaping how the country's future demand is met by global supply.

There’s a lot of news to keep track of. So we’re here to lend a hand with a summary of recent news.

AMU contributors Greg Wittbecker and Edward Meir spoke on a wide range of topics during a Community Chat on Thursday, Jan. 22.

January AMU survey results show firmer Midwest premium expectations, stabilizing UBC outlooks, and a split between recycler responses and those of producers, manufacturers, and traders.

A weekly review of global political developments, market volatility and key macroeconomic data shaping equities, commodities, energy and trade heading into the week of Jan. 26.

Alcoa's full-year 2025 results show higher aluminum production yet lower shipments as the company outlines its 2026 outlook and capital posture.

Rising global capital and power costs, driven by China's production cap and higher-cost expansion in Indonesia, are structurally resetting aluminum's incentive price, making higher LME levels necessary to unlock new primary capacity outside China.

Decisions to swap materials are not made in the spur of the moment. Significant engineering changes have to be made, tooling has to be redesigned. With current lead times for heavy industrial equipment, substitution could take 1-2 years to execute. Substitution, whether good or bad for aluminum, is not happening quickly.