Luopusijin and Zhongyifeng Chengjian Jointly Establish Suzhou Zhongjie for Industry Chain Investment

US-Canada trade negotiations collapsed on August 21, leaving Canadian steel and aluminum subject to the existing 50% Section 232 tariffs and dashing market expectations of any tariff relief. The newly imposed 50% tariffs cover products including alcohol, dairy, furniture, and certain apparel, but do not extend to steel or aluminum. With the high tariff barrier remaining in place, Canadian steel and aluminum will continue to face significant headwinds in accessing the US market; South Korean steel has already largely displaced Canada's market share, a trend expected to continue.

[SMM Aluminum Express News] Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries (RIL) is evaluating an entry into aluminum production as part of a broader expansion into metals, although the plan remains at an exploratory stage. Reliance is considering linking aluminium production with its planned coal gasification operations in Andhra Pradesh, where it has secured the Recherla and Chintalpudi coal blocks. The company has proposed investing ₹2.73 trillion over 30 years in an integrated underground coal gasification complex, with metals production potentially providing an additional use for the fuel produced. Reliance’s interest has already extended upstream into bauxite, with the company participating in the recent auction process for Odisha’s Karlapat bauxite block, which contains more than 200 million tonnes of resources across over 3,100 hectares. Reliance did not secure the block, with Vedanta-owned BALCO emerging as the preferred bidder at a 175% auction premium, but its participation provides a concrete indication that the group has been assessing an integrated aluminum value chain rather than only downstream manufacturing.