CRU’s Ross Strachan and Paul Williams outline at the CRU World Aluminium Summit 2026 how GCC disruptions are tightening billet, slab and foundry alloy supply more sharply than primary aluminum availability, increasing pressure across downstream manufacturing markets.
There was a lot going on this past week on both the geopolitical and economic fronts. Investors were fixated on the two-day visit to China by President Trump. He arrived in Beijing last Wednesday night, with a massive corporate delegation in tow. Expectations were high that some progress would be made on a host of thorny issues. But at the end of the day, the trip produced relatively modest results.
“The timing of our Mt. Holly restart could not be better...providing additional American metal units to the domestic market,” CEO Jesse Gary said.
In the base metals markets, we had a mixed showing. Tin did best, adding almost 10% on the week on concern about lagging supply.
Century Aluminum CEO Jesse Gary said his company could start up its new smelter in Oklahoma ahead of schedule if the permitting process moved more quickly.
Nexans plans to acquire Republic Wire to expand its US low-voltage wire and cable business.
Century Aluminum restarted a potline at its Iceland smelter after an outage, though the move is unlikely to directly affect North American supply.
First-quarter earnings show aluminum markets identifying supply risk across value-added products, but not yet experiencing measurable disruption.
Measured lead times moved in different directions in April, with sheet easing, extrusion firming, and primary tightening.
The Iran war has curtailed a market already tight due to curtailments in Mozambique and disruptions in Iceland. Alcoa is increasing production at some facilities.