Week in Review: ITC nixes import duties in aluminum extrusions, interest rates and more

RMU’s Gabriella Vagnini took a look at what’s affecting the Midwest Premium, the go-to measure to figure out the cost of aluminum. You can read more about what greener tech, fuel costs and decarbonization mean for supply and demand here.

The International Trade Commission opposed the imposition of import duties on extrusions made from 14 countries. The decision follows the U.S. Department of Commerce’s final determination issued last month that imports of aluminum extrusions from China, Colombia, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam are sold in the United States at less than fair value, and subsidized by the Governments of China, Indonesia, Mexico, and Turkey. The ITC voted 2-1.

Industry groups were not pleased. A statement issued by the U.S. Aluminum Extruders Coalition and the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union said they are “surprised and disappointed by the split negative vote by the commission and the surprising recusal of one of the commissioners. The domestic industry has been, and continues to be, injured by unfairly traded imports and will evaluate all possible means at its disposal to address this injury.”

Speaking of the Midwest Premium, our parent company, CRU Group, noted that it was holding steady this week, trading between 18.2–18.7 ¢/lb. Current slowdowns, a bullish 2025 outlook and, of course, the U.S. election, have factored into the flatness.

“With a clear-cut difference between the two candidates on support for EVs and green energy, top line growth in North America will be affected by the outcome,” CRU noted. “A republican win could also signal more aggressive tariffs, which would support a higher premium over the long term.”

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