The Construction MMI (Monthly Metals Index) moved sideways, dropping by 2.0% month-over-month. In early June 2025, new Trump tariffs doubled pre-existing steel and aluminum duties from 25% to 50%. As buyers scrambled, U.S. aluminum premiums immediately hit a record 60¢/lb. Meanwhile, the tariff surge is already squeezing the U.S. construction industry. Construction Input Inflation Construction […]
Category: Aluminum
Automotive MMI: Automakers Scramble as Rare Earths Crunch and Tariffs Impact Supply Chains
The Automotive MMI (Monthly Metals Index) moved sideways month-over-month, dropping by 0.70%. This comes as auto industry executives in the U.S. are confronting a whirlwind of trade and supply chain disruptions, not to mention the effects of the recent round of Trump tariffs. In the past month alone, high-stakes U.S.–China trade talks, critical mineral export […]
Tariff Ticking Time Bomb: Trump Gives UK Until July 9th to Avoid Steel Shock
Trump tariffs are back once again putting U.S trade partners in a tough spot. President Donald Trump recently exempted the United Kingdom from his doubling of import tariffs on steel and aluminum into the United States, but only temporarily. While import tariffs from UK steelmakers remain at 25% for now, failure to reach an agreement […]
Trump’s 50% Tariffs Slam Indian Metals. Is $2 Billion in Trade at Risk?
India is seeing mixed reactions to U.S. President Donald Trump’s new announcement that he is imposing a 50% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports from the country. While the Indian Government sought to play down the new Trump tariffs, with one minister dubbing its impact as “minor,” some analysts, experts and trade bodies are […]
If the Goal Isn’t Price Stability, Then What Are These New 50% Tariffs Really About?
During a rally at U.S. Steel’s Mon Valley Works–Irvin Plant near Pittsburgh last Friday, U.S. President Trump announced plans to raise tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from 25% to 50%. These new “Trump Tariffs” are set to take effect on June 4, 2025, and will not only apply to primary and semi-finished steel and […]
China’s Metal Anti-Dumping is Back. What You Need to Know
Chinese mills are churning out steel, aluminum and even refined copper at near-record levels and sending the surplus abroad, a trend steel industry analysts say could pressure industrial metal prices in the United States. After a year of lagging domestic demand, China’s exports of construction and manufacturing metals have surged, flooding global markets with cheap […]
Aluminum MMI: Aluminum Prices Stabilize as Midwest Premium Hold onto Gains
The Aluminum Monthly Metals Index (MMI) appeared increasingly bearish with a 3.08% decline from April to May. What do other metal and commodity market trends mean for aluminum trends? Track other MetalMiner monthly indexes here, and compare how the overall industrial metal market is performing. Aluminum Prices Stabilize Following Post-Tariff Drop Aluminum prices found an […]
Construction MMI: Construction Market Braces Itself as Recession Fears Loom
The Construction MMI (Monthly Metals Index) moved sideways month-over-month, dropping by 2.72%. In the wake of fresh federal policy moves this spring, construction news reports indicate that the industry is navigating a sudden spike in material costs. Over the past month, new government tariffs and trade measures have caused significant price fluctuations in critical inputs […]
How U.S. Manufacturers Shift Gears and Save Money Amid Metal Price Volatility
U.S. manufacturers in the automotive, appliance and general industrial sectors are overhauling procurement strategies as economic volatility and swings in steel, aluminum and copper prices squeeze margins. Recent U.S. tariff actions have jolted metals markets, sending input costs soaring for downstream manufacturers. According to Reuters, the uncertainty not only triggered panic buying but extended lead times […]
U.S. Aluminum vs. European Aluminum: A Comprehensive Short-Term Market Outlook
A striking aspect of the aluminum premium and the aluminum market turmoil currently unfolding after Trump’s aluminum tariffs is how differently it’s playing out in the U.S. versus other regions. While premiums inside of the U.S. are rising, outside the United States, aluminum premiums are actually falling. With U.S. tariffs shutting out or discouraging some […]
