China’s Jun bauxite imports up 8% on the year

[SMM Aluminum Flash News] Valdis Dombrovskis, the European Commission’s Commissioner for Economic Affairs, said on the 27th that the EU economy was facing stagflation risks as the conflict in the Middle East had triggered a surge in energy prices. On the same day, the Eurogroup held an online meeting on energy prices. At a press conference held after the meeting, Dombrovskis said that “the outlook is clouded by a high degree of uncertainty,” and that the EU economy was facing stagflation risks, a situation in which economic growth slows down while inflation rises.

[SMM Aluminum Flash News] Joanne Hsu, Director of the University of Michigan’s consumer survey, said that the US consumer sentiment index fell 6 in March, reaching its lowest level since December 2025. Consumer confidence declined across age groups and political affiliations. Middle- and upper-income consumers and those with stock market wealth were affected by continuously rising gasoline prices and volatile financial markets following the Iran conflict, with their confidence posting particularly notable declines. Overall, the short-term economic outlook fell 14, expectations for personal finances over the next year declined 10, while the decline in long-term expectations was relatively mild.

[SMM Aluminum Flash News] Recently, the vessel "Furui," loaded with prebaked anode cargo, successfully departed from the bulk cargo terminal of the Binzhou Port Area of Bohai Bay Port, Shandong Port, marking the successful addition of a new high-value-added cargo category to Binzhou Port's bulk and breakbulk business. The launch of this new cargo category was an important achievement in the deepening strategic cooperation between Binzhou Port and Sunstone Global Supply Chain, and also a key step for the port to break through its traditional cargo source structure and optimize its business layout, which is of great significance for enhancing the port's comprehensive service capabilities and strengthening its competitiveness in the regional market.