• Skip to main content

    AMU

    Wittbecker on Aluminum: US-China trade war clobbers cross-Pacific trade

    Written by Greg Wittbecker


    Container shipping lines have sharply increased blank sailings on Transpacific routes in response to escalating trade tensions between the US and China. Blank sailings are canceled voyages.

    The total blanked capacity for weeks 16-19 has surged to 367,800 TEU compared to just 60,000 TEU three weeks prior. The Asia-North America West Coast trade lane has seen scheduled capacity drop by 12% compared to six weeks ago, while the Asia-North America East Coast route experienced an even steeper decline of 14%.

    Latest in AMU

    The words "Aluminum Market Update" in white against a dark blue background

    AMU: Edward Meir’s week in review and thoughts for the week of Oct. 12, 2026

    Base metals had a mixed week. Tin lost almost 4% on the week, finishing at $53,000/ton. Prices dropped to a low of $51,259/ton at one point. Aluminum was another loser, off by about 1.6% on the week. Investors are expecting more aluminum supply going forward, especially out of China and Indonesia. Copper prices tacked on 1.1%. They have now recovered more than half of the $700/ton loss sustained (over the course of a week) following reports/rumors in mid-September that US tariffs on refined copper imports might not proceed after all.