China Aluminum Market to Reach Balance in 2019, SMM Predicts

[SMM Aluminum Express News] Alcoa Corp. (NYSE: AA), the largest U.S. aluminum producer, is seeing a surge in new orders and buyer inquiries as Gulf states (Middle East) smelters curtail output due to ongoing regional disruptions. In a Bloomberg report (March 17, 2026), CFO Molly Beerman told the JPMorgan Chase conference that Alcoa is experiencing an "uptick in orders" from customers who previously sourced from Middle Eastern producers. This includes additional spot purchases and increased inquiries for Q2 and H2 2026, positioning Alcoa to capture redirected demand. The shift is driven by production cuts and export rerouting challenges in the Gulf, boosting Alcoa's supply role in North America and beyond.

[SMM Aluminum Bulletin] According to customs data, imports of unwrought aluminum alloy were 90,300 mt in January 2026, down 9.4% YoY and down 3.1% MoM. In February 2026, imports of unwrought aluminum alloy were 65,800 mt, down 28.2% YoY and down 27.1% MoM. Cumulative imports for January-February 2026 totaled 156,100 mt, down 18.5% YoY. Exports of unwrought aluminum alloy were 24,200 mt in January 2026, up 33.6% YoY and down 4.9% MoM. In February 2026, exports of unwrought aluminum alloy were 13,300 mt, down 24.0% YoY and down 45.1% MoM. Cumulative exports for January-February 2026 totaled 37,500 mt, up 5.3% YoY.

[Weekly Operating Rates in the Aluminum Processing Industry: China's Aluminum Processing Sector Sees Modest Growth Amid Peak Season Demand] This week, the weekly operating rate of leading downstream aluminum processing enterprises in China edged up 1 percentage point WoW to 62.9%.