The aluminium market in China was expected to come under massive demand from the new energy vehicle (NEV) sector in the years ahead, but the aluminium industry still faced various challenges in the application of the metal in NEVs, Fastmarkets has learned.

The German auto-manufacturer BMW opened its first press shop in North America at its plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where it will produce the exterior for its X3 model, the company announced on Friday June 21

Saudi Arabia, through its spearheading of a mining and minerals production and consumption push in the Middle East, a region usually associated with oil and gas, is leading neighboring countries to increase their presence in the base metals markets

Indonesia is preparing to invest more in its aluminium supply chain as part of its wider critical metals strategy, Fastmarkets understands

Market sentiment remain mixed on whether the investigation will impact aluminium prices and production

Aluminium premiums in all key regions remained well-supported in the week to Tuesday June 18, amid ongoing reports of tight availability, while market participants in Europe and Asia are focusing on ongoing negotiations for Japanese third-quarter supplies

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s (KSA) ambitious plan to diversify away from oil and into metals will increase local nickel consumption and fund international mining projects, given recent massive investments in nickel-intense industries

Fastmarkets proposes to amend the name of the MB-AL-0231 Aluminium P1020A all-in price, delivered Midwest US, US cents/lb to clarify that the price is based on the London Metal Exchange cash aluminium price.

Tight aluminium scrap availability, the increase in container costs, sluggish demand in the US and the US market’s current indifference to rising premiums in Europe and Asia were the top subjects discussed during the Harbor Aluminum Summit that took place in Chicago on June 4-6

The publication of Fastmarkets’ aluminium scrap and secondary aluminium ingot price assessments for Wednesday June 12 were delayed because of a reporter error. Fastmarkets’ pricing database has been updated.