https://newsletter.mw.creamermedia.com
Energy|Iron Ore|Projects|Steel
Energy|Iron Ore|Projects|Steel
energy|iron-ore|projects|steel

Trump tariffs spell fresh turmoil for volatile aluminum market

President Donald Trump

President Donald Trump

11th February 2025

By: Bloomberg

  

Font size: - +

The global aluminum market is entering a fresh period of upheaval as traders rush to assess the potential impact of renewed US protectionism under President Donald Trump.

The US leader ordered tariffs of 25% on all imports of aluminum and steel on Monday, effectively toughening up a trade regime he launched during his first presidency. The measures threaten to increase costs for US buyers, and at least some rerouting of international trade flows.

“We expect any tariff would lead to higher prices for US manufacturers” via a rise in regional premiums, ANZ Group Holdings analysts, including Daniel Hynes, wrote in a note. More Canadian supply will likely be exported to Europe, with the US increasing its purchases from the Middle East, they said.

The tariffs mark the start of a new phase for a global aluminum market that has been rocked in recent years by international sanctions and energy-market turmoil in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The metal rose 7% last year on the London Metal Exchange.

Trump has effectively expanded the tariffs introduced in 2018, which former President Joe Biden largely kept in place. Exemptions for major suppliers including Canada, Mexico, Brazil, the European Union are now removed, and the rate for aluminum imports has been raised from 10% to 25%.

There is speculation that some nations could again be excluded as Trump uses these new measures as leverage in his wider effort to reset America’s trade relations. He has already imposed 10% tariffs on all imports from China, while 25% levies on Mexican and Canadian goods have been announced but put on hold for now.

Even as Trump on Monday warned that his metals tariffs could go even higher, the price reaction on the London Metal Exchange was relatively muted. Prices of Aluminum on the LME were little changed as of 12.20pm in Singapore. Iron ore futures in Singapore fell 0.9% from their highest close since October.

The potential impact of Trump’s tariffs will arguably be greater for aluminum than for steel because the US relies more on the base metal, and because of the increase in existing tariff levels.

“US aluminum buyers will have to share more of the cost increase as its demand is resilient, not replaceable,” Zhang Meng, analyst with AZ China Ltd. said. The US itself has a very limited number of new aluminum projects, he added.

Edited by Bloomberg

Comments

Showroom

John Ratcliffe
John Ratcliffe

At John Ratcliffe, we are aftermarket specialists for heavy-duty on and off-road vehicles. We engineer and retrofit advanced safety systems, engine...

VISIT SHOWROOM 
Weir
Weir

Weir is a global leader in mining technology. We recognise that our planet’s future depends on the transition to renewable energy, and that...

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Magazine round up | 21 February 2025
Magazine round up | 21 February 2025
21st February 2025
BOLSTERING PRESENCE
The project is set to bolster Namibia’s position as one of the world’s leading uranium producers
Uranium mine moving closer to production
21st February 2025 By: Simone Liedtke

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:0.051 0.126s - 127pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now