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This morning in metals news, global aluminum associations are calling for action on market-distorting activity, China’s semi-finished steel imports skyrocketed in September and Freeport-McMoRan reported its 3Q 2019 results.

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Aluminum Associations Demand Reforms

Yesterday, we noted steel associations around the world are asking governments to tackle the challenge of steel excess supply.

Now, aluminum associations are asking for reforms of their own, particularly in an effort to tackle activities that distort markets.

Jean Simard, president and CEO of the Aluminium Association of Canada; Gerd Götz, director general of European Aluminium, and Ryan Olsen, vice president of business information and statistics for the Aluminum Association, released a joint statement asking for action on the matter.

“Given the extent and duration of the harm suffered by the aluminium industry, we are calling for swift, focused and decisive action on market-distorting behavior and excess capacity in both the upstream and downstream sectors,” they said. “On behalf of our respective member companies, we stand ready to support Governments and international organizations with our knowledge, data and commitment to articulate improved trade rules and to restore normal market functions so that all producers throughout the aluminum value chain can compete under conditions of fairness and transparency.”

China’s Semi-Finished Steel Imports Jump in September

China’s imports of semi-finished steel increased in September amid new restrictions earlier this year on scrap imports, Reuters reported.

According to the report, China imported 370,000 tons of semi-finished steel in September, which marked a 418% year-over-year increase.

Freeport’s Copper Sales Fall in 3Q

Miner Freeport McMoRan reported its third-quarter financial results Wednesday, reporting an adjusted net loss of $8 million.

Sales of copper and gold in the third quarter were down on a year-over-year basis “reflecting anticipated lower mill rates and ore grades as PT Freeport Indonesia (PT-FI) transitions mining from the open pit to underground,” according to the firm.

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Third-quarter copper sales reached 795 million pounds, down from 1.0 billion pounds in 3Q 2018. Gold sales totaled 243,000 ounces, down from 837,000 ounces in 3Q 2018.

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The U.S.’s rise as an oil producer is well-documented, but the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) latest report marks another milestone for the domestic sector.

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According to the EIA, the U.S. now exports crude oil to more nations than it imports from.

In 2009, the U.S. imported oil from as many as 37 sources in a given month, according to the EIA. Meanwhile, through the first seven months of 2019, the largest number of import sources in a given month was 27.

In terms of exports, the U.S. exported oil to as many as 31 destinations per month through the first seven months of 2019.

“This rise in U.S. export destinations coincides with the late 2015 lifting of restrictions on exporting domestic crude oil,” the EIA said. “Before the restrictions were lifted, U.S. crude oil exports almost exclusively went to Canada. Between January 2016 (the first full month of unrestricted U.S. crude oil exports) and July 2019, U.S. crude oil production increased by 2.6 million b/d, and export volumes increased by 2.2 million b/d.”

Demand abroad for light-sweet crude oil has fueled the U.S.’s rise as an oil exporter.

“Several infrastructure changes have allowed the United States to export this crude oil,” the EIA said. “New, expanded, or reversed pipelines have been delivering crude oil from production centers to export terminals. Export terminals have been expanded to accommodate greater crude oil tanker traffic, larger crude oil tankers, and larger cargo sizes.”

As noted in MetalMiner’s Annual Outlook, in addition to the strength of the U.S. dollar and China’s economy, oil prices constitute a key price driver for metals.

OPEC’s daily basket price reached $59.50 per barrel on Monday.

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According to a Reuters report, OPEC and its allies are considering whether to extend previously agreed upon supply curbs in an effort to support flagging oil prices.