AMU Community Chat: LME and Midwest premium highs and tariff fatigue
AMU contributors Greg Wittbecker and Edward Meir spoke on a wide range of topics during a Community Chat on Thursday, Jan. 22.
Tag: Prices
AMU Survey: MWP/UBC expectations and scrap outlook
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.
Week-in-Review and Thoughts for the Upcoming Week of 01/26/2026
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 reports full-year 2025 results, details 2026 outlook
Alcoa's full-year 2025 results show higher aluminum production yet lower shipments as the company outlines its 2026 outlook and capital posture.
LME high grade aluminum: How high is high in a post-China cost curve?
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.
The question of aluminum and substitution
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.
AB InBev repurchases minority stake in US metal can operations
Anheuser-Busch InBev has repurchased a minority stake in its US metal can manufacturing operations, reversing a $3 billion transaction completed in 2020.
AMU Survey: UBC expectations fragment as scrap signals stabilized
December survey results show UBC price expectations becoming more debated even as scrap availability, inventory behavior, and Midwest premium expectations point toward steadier underlying conditions.
Midwest premiums: How high is high?
The Midwest premium has risen beyond replacement economics, driven by thin liquidity, depleted US inventories, slow import response, and limited near-term substitutes - raising questions about sustainability and forward risk.
New Year's resolutions for the aluminum Industry
There are some tactical resolutions in this list that are essential for the companies involved to achieve their financial results for 2026. Some are aspirational and may take more than 2026 to happen.