AMU
July 11, 2025
Written by Nicholas Bell
The commercial vehicle sector is showing signs of fatigue, but you wouldn’t know it at first glance of the latest government figures.
As order volumes weaken across trailers (box-style haulers) and Class 8 trucks (big rigs), macroeconomic data on transportation equipment points in the opposite direction, with record-high values in new orders and unfilled backlogs.
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.