U.S. Says China to Scrap Some Export Subsidies

China has agreed to scrap some export subsidies on a range of products from metals to agriculture and textiles, the United States said on Thursday, in a step by Beijing to reduce trade frictions with Washington.

China ended a program which provided export subsidies of some $1 billion over three years to Chinese companies in seven economic sectors, the U.S. Trade Representative’s office said…

U.S. trade commission to investigate foreign aluminum producers

The U.S. International Trade Commission will investigate the role of China and other big metal producers around the world in driving overproduction, which has contributed to dramatic price declines for aluminum on global markets.

Weak prices and intense foreign competition have in turn led to a wave of smelter shutdowns and layoffs in the U.S. aluminum industry…

U.S. commission to look into aluminum market

A federal agency will be looking into the whether market manipulation is taking place in the aluminum industry.

The U.S. International Trade Commission announced Wednesday, April 6, that it is launching an investigation to examine the U.S. aluminum industry and global aluminum trade. The study will include a public hearing as well as research into recent trade trends and the factors that increased supply and drove down prices in recent months.

The drop in aluminum prices is one factor that led Alcoa to announce the curtailment of the Intalco Works aluminum smelter near Ferndale. The curtailment is scheduled to take place at the end of June, laying off around 465 workers…

Reed Calls For Investigation Into Alleged Unfair Trade Practices

U.S. Rep. Tom Reed is calling for an investigation into questionable trade practices by China and other countries in the aluminum industry.

Reed, R-C-I-Corning, recently signed on to a letter requesting an investigation over the dumping of aluminum into world and U.S. markets. The call for an investigation comes amid accusations by the U.S. aluminum industry that unfair trade practices are undercutting domestic manufacturers.

The letter is urging Kevin Brady, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, to appeal the U.S. International Trade Commission to begin the investigation, but it is unclear whether the chairman will take up the cause.

“When China cheats, we’re going to call them out on it and we’re going to hold them accountable,” Reed said. “What I’m looking for is a fair, level playing field upon which our American workers will win every single day. I say to China, enough is enough.”…

Noranda files bankruptcy, legislative action likely only avenue for survival

NEW MADRID, Mo. – Noranda Aluminum announced Monday they have initiated court-supervised restructuring under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. Noranda has taken this action to have additional time and financial flexibility to evaluate options for its various business operations.

There has been a great deal of discussion about a potential legislative deal between Noranda and its energy provider Ameren Missouri. In light of the recent industrial incident and Monday’s bankruptcy filing, it appears that a legislative solution is the only way to maintain the employer’s presence in the bootheel…

Goldman sees copper, aluminum extending declines through 2016

Copper and aluminum prices may fall more than 10% by year’s end amid ongoing weakness in Chinese demand that’s unlikely to show any recovery in 2016, according to Goldman Sachs Group.

The bank lowered its 12-month outlook for copper on the London Metal Exchange to $4 000 a metric ton from $4 500 a ton, and cut its aluminum forecast to $1 350 a ton from $1 550 a ton, analysts including Max Layton wrote in a note dated February 8.

“We now anticipate no material recovery in Chinese metals demand growth in 2016,” the analysts wrote. China’s transition from metals-intensive, investment-led growth “is likely to be permanent,” they said, while also citing an overhang of property inventory and the country’s high debt levels as challenging for demand in the world’s top commodities consuming nation…

Morning Trade

ANTI-CHINA ALUMINUM GROUP MAKES ELECTION APPEAL: The U.S. aluminum industry organized under the “China Trade Task Force” is continuing its campaign to combat China’s overproduction of aluminum, this time focusing on presidential candidates. The group released a new online ad this week on the issue, which will go up on TV early next week in early primary states.

“Illegal Chinese aluminum subsidies are destroying the lives of tens of thousands of hardworking Americans who are losing their jobs across the country. And at a time when our nation’s presidential candidates profess a need to ‘get tough on China,’ they are suspiciously silent on how to combat Chinese job hacking,” China Trade Task Force Executive Director Will Dempster said in a statement.

The group argues that Chinese government subsidies are fueling an overproduction of aluminum that is undercutting prices and threatening to put U.S. producers out of business. Watch the ad here: http://bit.ly/1StU8fZ

U.S. sets new deadline for investigating China aluminum extrusions

The U.S. Department of Commerce has set a new deadline of Feb. 22 to decide whether to investigate allegations that a Chinese aluminum extruder evaded U.S. import duties, a spokesman said on Tuesday.

* New deadline comes after Commerce Dept. asked Aluminum Extrusions Fair Trade Committee to re-file initial petition as several separate cases.

* Previous deadline had been Jan. 21…

Aluminum Market Report 2016-2026

Visiongain  assesses that the global aluminium market will reach $93.72bn in 2016. And global aluminium production is projected to be 57.77 million tonnes in 2016.

Visiongain’s 295 page report keeps you informed about the future prospects for the aluminium industry. Stay ahead of your competitors. Gain that competitive advantage.

This report answers questions such as:

– How is the global aluminium market evolving?

– What is driving and restraining the aluminium market dynamics?

– How will each of the aluminium submarkets grow over the forecast period and how much revenue will these submarkets account for in 2026?

– How will the market shares for each of the aluminium submarkets develop from 2016 to 2026?

– Which individual technologies will prevail and how will these shifts be responded to?

– How will political and regulatory factors influence the regional markets and submarkets?

– Will leading national aluminium markets broadly follow the macroeconomic dynamics, or will individual country sectors outperform the rest of the economy?

– How will the market shares of the national markets change by 2026 and which geographical region will lead the market in 2026?

– Who are the leading players and what are their prospects over the forecast period?

– What are the predictions for M&A activity, consolidation for existing players and the potential prospects for new market entrants?…