Global Commodities: Aluminum’s premium paralysis

Speakers:   Greg Shearer, Head of Base & Precious Metals Research This podcast was recorded on June 13, 2025. The surprise increase in US aluminum tariffs to 50% has led to a huge amount of uncertainty across the industry and dominated our conversations at the Harbor Aluminum Summit in Chicago last week. Most participants held a rather sideways outlook on aluminum prices with two-sided corporate flow expected to continue to keep prices in a range though, others were a bit more cautious on future demand over the balance of the year. More confounding is the reaction in US aluminum premiums.  The US Midwest premium (MWP) is barely high enough to cover the boosted tariff alone and well below the 70 c/lb or higher needed to incentivize necessary imports as the market remains uncertain about whether a 50% tariff on aluminum will eventually be walked back or if key exemptions may come through. Eventually, this stasis will have to break (MWP higher) if nothing changes on the tariff front. This communication is provided for information purposes only. Institutional clients can view the related report at https://www.jpmm.com/research/content/GPS-5003825-0 for more information; please visit www.jpmm.com/research/disclosures for important disclosures. © 2025 JPMorgan Chase & Co. All rights reserved. This material or any portion hereof may not be reprinted, sold or redistributed without the written consent of J.P. Morgan. It is strictly prohibited to use or share without prior written consent from J.P. Morgan any research material received from J.P. Morgan or an authorized third-party (“J.P. Morgan Data”) in any third-party artificial intelligence (“AI”) systems or models when such J.P. Morgan Data is accessible by a third-party. It is permissible to use J.P. Morgan Data for internal business purposes only in an AI system or model that protects the confidentiality of J.P. Morgan Data so as to prevent any and all access to or use of such J.P. Morgan Data by any third-party.

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