Japan's Imports Rise 10.2% YoY in Feb, Exports to US and China Decline

Emma Swan, Managing Director of BOAL Extrusion UK, has been appointed the new Vice Chair of the Aluminium Federation (ALFED) in the UK. Ms. Swan brings a wealth of experience, leadership, and passion for the aluminum industry, and her appointment comes at a pivotal time for the industry and the broader UK manufacturing landscape. In her role as Vice Chair, Ms. Swan will work closely with Aluminium Federation Chief Executive Officer Nadine Bloxsome, Chair Wendy Giles of Amari Metals Ltd, and other members of the Federation’s Board to help advance the sustainable development priorities and advocacy interests of its members across the entire aluminum value chain.

Alcoa Received More Orders After Disruptions to Middle East Aluminum Supply Alcoa saw an increase in client inquiries after supply disruptions in the Middle East caused by the ongoing conflict. Molly Beerman, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Alcoa, said: “We received more inquiries from clients regarding Q2 and H2 2026 in connection with uncertainty over Middle East supply.” The remarks were made on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at the JPMorgan Industrials Conference held in Washington, D.C. “If you look at the smelters in the Gulf region, their aluminum production was slightly below 7 million mt. That accounted for about 9% of global supply. Excluding China, the share was more than 20% of global supply,” Ms. Beerman said.

Wanshun New Materials recently announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Jiangsu Zhongji Composite Materials (Hong Kong) Co., Ltd., had completed the acquisition of 100% of the equity interest in Eurofoil Luxembourg S.A. held by Aluminium Investment Company Limited. The transaction amount was EUR 12,388,900, marking Wanshun New Materials' further expansion in the international market. According to the latest audit and valuation results, the market value of Eurofoil Luxembourg's net assets was EUR 32,170,300, representing an appreciation of EUR 11,150,100 over its book net assets, with an appreciation rate of 53.04%. This valuation result provided strong support for the smooth progress of the transaction.