Operating Rate of Secondary Aluminium Industry Slightly Drops in October

Century Aluminum CEO Jesse Gary said in an interview published on October 19 that US Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum have been highly effective in encouraging domestic manufacturing investment and reshoring, urging policymakers to maintain the existing tariff structure during USMCA negotiations. The comments followed reports that US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick opposed reducing the 25% tariffs on Mexican automobiles and 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum, as well as lowering duties on certain derivative products, contributing to stalled US-Mexico trade negotiations. Century Aluminum maintains that the current tariff framework supports domestic primary aluminum production and investment, while North American aluminum producers continue to monitor the potential implications for regional trade and supply chains.

German aluminum producer Speira has launched CORIS, a new high-purity aluminum product range covering purity levels from 99.9% to 99.9999% and above, targeting advanced applications in semiconductors, electronics, aerospace, medical technology and electrification. The company controls trace elements at parts-per-million levels to ensure high electrical and thermal conductivity, material consistency and reliability. The portfolio includes billets, ingots, plates, sheets, foil and wire rod, alongside customized alloy solutions. Leveraging its refining, casting and rolling capabilities at the Rheinwerk facility in Germany, Speira aims to expand high-purity aluminum applications in batteries, optics, thin-film coatings and communication infrastructure.

According to SMM data, on October 21, the SMM Alumina Index stood at a premium of 21.05 yuan/t over the latest traded price of the front-month contract at 11:30.