AMU Survey: January lead times stable, but still uneven across products
January's AMU survey shows stabilizing lead times with growing product-level and role-based divergence, alongside a notable shift in perceptions of import competitiveness.
January's AMU survey shows stabilizing lead times with growing product-level and role-based divergence, alongside a notable shift in perceptions of import competitiveness.
Early-2026 rail freight data show bulk commodities driving volume gains while primary metals, lumber and vehicle shipments lag, highlighting uneven demand signals across North American industrial markets.
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.
“There's absolutely no doubt that aluminum will be a growth platform for us going forward,” said Mark Millett, co-founder, chairman & CEO of the Indiana-based steelmaker.
Let’s unpack the facts behind this move.
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.
A review of 2025 Airbus and Boeing aircraft deliveries, with context around production and supply-chain structure.
December survey data showed lead times rising across aluminum products even as respondents reported steadier conditions.
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.
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.