AMU
April 11, 2025
Written by Greg Wittbecker
A week after “Liberation Day,” the global economy got a 90-day “stay of execution.” The Trump administration hit the pause button on many of its broad tariff measures, with the exception of China.
Despite the Beltway cheerleading, it’s far from certain this will bring a Golden Age of US manufacturing. The challenges in aluminum smelting are a good snapshot of the broader struggles in heavy industry.
Recycler forward expectations swung toward oversupply in September as inventory drawdowns eased and export demand lost August’s improving responses.
Kibar Americas said production has started at its aluminum plant in Fairmont, W.Va., where it will manufacture products for the HVAC, packaging, automotive and industrial sectors.
China is bumping up against its official primary production capacity limit of 45.3 million metric tons/year, but production can still increase through “capacity creep.”
Automotive aluminum demand is rising as extrusions, sheet, and castings gain ground across vehicle applications and powertrains.
Recycler demand increased while fewer respondents reported sufficient obsolete scrap, even as inventory drawdowns remained widespread.