AMU
August 22, 2025
Written by Stephanie Ritenbaugh
On Thursday, the US and EU agreed to more concrete terms to their handshake deal of last month.
The key provision of the deal is a blanket import tariff of 15% on most goods ex the EU. This rate applies to pharmaceuticals, one of the EU’s biggest exports to the US and one that was considered very much in harm’s way. Lumber and semiconductors are also taxed at 15%.
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.