【SMM Aluminum Flash News】15-tonne anorthosite push meets Greenland pact as AnorTech advances sustainable alumina

[SMM Aluminum Express News] Mexico and the US have postponed their fourth round of bilateral trade negotiations from late September to potentially October, while technical discussions continue. Mexico’s Deputy Economy Minister for Foreign Trade Luis Rosendo Gutiérrez said the two sides are working toward an interim trade agreement covering nearly 90 issues. For aluminum, Mexico is seeking relief from US Section 232 tariffs on steel, aluminum and automobiles. No agreement on a lower aluminum tariff rate has yet been reached, meaning Mexican aluminum exports remain exposed to the current US tariff measures while negotiations continue. An October negotiating round could provide the next indication of whether tariff relief is achievable.

[SMM Aluminum Express News] Oklahoma Primary Aluminum says its proposed Inola smelter could contribute around US$49 billion cumulatively to Oklahoma’s economy through 2060, according to a new economic-impact study conducted by Regional Economic Models (REMI). The planned more than US$4 billion, 750,000 t/y primary aluminum smelter, a joint venture between Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) and Century Aluminum, is projected to add an average US$1.45 billion/year to Oklahoma GDP and support around 7,000 jobs annually, with employment peaking above 10,600 in 2029. PR Newswire The developers said the project would create more than 1,000 permanent direct jobs and around 4,000 temporary construction jobs, while separate regional infrastructure investment is estimated at US$400-500 million for port, wastewater and electricity infrastructure. The 441-acre smelter at the Tulsa Port of Inola would use EGA’s EX reduction-cell technology and, at 750,000 t/y, would more than double current US primary aluminum production capacity.

[SMM Aluminum Express News] New Zealand’s Tiwai Point aluminum smelter is operating at full production as stronger aluminum prices support export earnings, with the country’s aluminum exports reaching around NZ$2.2 billion. The Rio Tinto-owned New Zealand Aluminium Smelter (NZAS) produces more than 335,000 tonnes/year, around 90% of which is exported, and is one of the world’s lower-carbon primary aluminum operations due to its predominantly renewable hydropower supply. Further upside to Tiwai production could come from restarting the currently idle Line 4 potline. Rio Tinto and Contact Energy signed a letter of intent in May for a new power agreement that could support a 2030 restart, adding approximately 30,000 tonnes/year of primary aluminum production and an estimated NZ$100 million/year in additional exports. Further upside to Tiwai production could come from restarting the currently idle Line 4 potline. Rio Tinto and Contact Energy signed a letter of intent in May for a new power agreement that could support a 2030 restart, adding approximately 30,000 tonnes/year of primary aluminum production and an estimated NZ$100 million/year in additional exports.