Cast Aluminum Alloy Inventory Falls 13,900 mt WoW Amid Widening Spot-Futures Spread and Price Cuts

Saudi Finance Minister, Mohammed Al-Jadaan, has cautioned that recent global supply chain disruptions are now exceeding the impact seen after the COVID-19 pandemic. He noted that ongoing geopolitical tensions could have wider economic consequences if they continue for an extended period of time. He pointed out that while oil markets often draw the most attention, the pressure is becoming more visible across key industrial sectors such as refined products, fertilisers, steel, aluminium and petrochemicals.

Hydro Energi AS has signed a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) with Swiss energy provider Alpiq, securing an annual supply of 219 GWh in the period from 2031 to 2038. The contract will be delivered in the Norwegian electricity price area NO3 and will provide an aggregated supply of 1.75 TWh during the contract period.

The Middle East tension is affecting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in South Korea that depend on the region for aluminium and naptha. A report says these firms need support to manage raw material supply and exports. SMEs do not import much overall from the Middle East, but they depend on it for some key materials. According to a report by The Small and Medium Venture Business Research Institute, about 82.8 per cent of naphtha imports come from countries like Kuwait, the UAE and Qatar. Some aluminium products also rely on the region, including scrap (11.2 per cent) and non-alloy ingots (8.8 per cent). This creates a risk of supply problems.