中金点睛·2025-12-30 23:56Core Viewpoint - The North American aluminum industry is facing opportunities from increased U.S. trade barriers on aluminum imports and challenges from data centers competing for limited power resources. The supply-demand gap for primary aluminum in North America is expected to widen over the next five years, with local U.S. aluminum maintaining a high premium [2]. Supply Overview - The supply of primary aluminum in North America is limited due to power constraints and uncertainties in trade policies. Since 2011, new primary aluminum capacity has stagnated, and cost pressures from aging power and equipment have led to many U.S. projects being idled or shut down. The U.S. local Mt Holly project has announced a restart of idle capacity, while new projects by Emirates Global Aluminum and Century Aluminum depend heavily on policy support. Canada currently has no expansion projects with net capacity increases planned. It is expected that North American primary aluminum production will slightly increase from 3.99 million tons in 2024 to 4.16 million tons by 2030, mainly from the restart of idle capacity [5][11][18]. Demand Overview - North American aluminum demand is expected to maintain rapid growth, with the regional supply-demand gap likely to widen further. The transportation sector is anticipated to see a recovery in automotive manufacturing capacity utilization under U.S. tariff protection, while strong orders in aerospace will support aircraft manufacturing demand. Residential construction aluminum demand may stabilize and rebound after new housing starts bottom out. The high investment in the power sector may continue to drive related aluminum demand [5][11][43]. Key Companies - The North American aluminum industry is dominated by three major companies: Alcoa, Century Aluminum, and Rio Tinto. Rio Tinto maintains a relatively stronger profitability due to its low-cost hydroelectric power and integrated bauxite resources. Century Aluminum benefits more from U.S. tariff protections due to its high domestic production ratio. Alcoa, with a higher proportion of alumina revenue, can better withstand cost pressures related to alumina prices, while its higher cash cost per ton of aluminum provides greater profit elasticity [6][45]. Trade and Policy Impact - U.S. aluminum net imports reached a historical high in 2017 but have since declined due to tariff policies. The U.S. aluminum dependency ratio rose from 3% in 2011 to 59% in 2017, then fell to 38% in 2020 due to tariff protections. However, the dependency ratio is expected to rise again to around 50% from 2021 to 2024. The recent increase in tariffs to 25% and 50% will significantly elevate trade barriers [25][26][30]. Price Dynamics - The Midwest premium for aluminum in the U.S. has been expanding due to tariff impacts. The premium has risen from below $0.10 per pound before 2012 to around $0.20 per pound after the introduction of tariffs in 2018, and further to $0.80-$0.90 per pound with the recent tariff increases, effectively covering additional costs imposed by tariffs [35][36]. Future Outlook - The supply of primary aluminum in North America is expected to remain limited due to power resource constraints and uncertainties in trade policies. The demand for aluminum is projected to grow rapidly, particularly in the transportation and packaging sectors. The supply-demand gap is likely to widen from 2025 to 2030, with the Midwest premium expected to remain at a high level sufficient to cover tariff costs [38][43].