ArcelorMittal said the EU’s CBAM launch in January 2026 and TRQ changes in July 2026 are key first steps toward a fairer market for Europe’s low-carbon steel sector. However, it warned that rising imports of steel derivative products outside CBAM and TRQ coverage are weakening policy effectiveness, especially in electrical steels, automotive and packaging, and called for downstream products to be included."

A strike has commenced at JFR Moquegua in Peru, may cause immediate shipment delays for Anglo American’s Quellaveco and Grupo México. There is a growing risk that the strike action could escalate and spread to the Arequipa region, potentially disrupting operations at Matarani Port. If this occurs, shipments for other major mines—including Las Bambas, Cerro Verde, and Constancia—will face subsequent delays.

[India] Alang HMS (80:20) shipbreaking scrap held at around 400 USD/tonne EXW. In Gujarat’s Bhavnagar, billet fell to around 480 USD/tonne DAP, while rebar stayed near 539 USD/tonne EXW. In North India’s Mandi, billet slipped to around 502 USD/tonne DAP, rebar eased to around 558 USD/tonne EXW, and HMS scrap fell to around 413 USD/tonne DAP. Weak downstream demand kept mills buying only as needed, with prices likely to stay muted.

On 1 July 2026, the EU replaced the steel safeguard measures implemented since 2018 with a significantly stricter import quota system—this is not merely a continuation of the old policy, but a complete reconstruction of its underlying logic: the core objective has upgraded from "preventing trade diversion" to "targeted defense against high carbon and excess capacity."

Australian architectural firm Billard Leece Partnership (BLP) has completed the Wattle Building at The Children's Hospital at Westmead in Sydney. The 57,000-square-metre facility features a custom modular aluminium and terracotta façade, aluminium battens, high-performance glazing and energy-efficient building systems. The project combines sustainable aluminium architecture with child-friendly, biophilic design to create a modern healthcare environment focused on wellbeing and family-centred care.

Higher copper prices are accelerating the adoption of aluminum wiring across the automotive industry. Ferrari, BMW, Stellantis, Tesla, XPeng, Xiaomi and AVATR have expanded the use of aluminum conductors in selected vehicle models to reduce costs and vehicle weight. Aluminum costs about one-quarter as much as copper and weighs only around one-third as much, making it increasingly attractive for EVs. JPMorgan expects aluminum to replace about 6% of global copper demand by 2030 as material substitution accelerates.

Vitol has successfully transported about 35,000 tones of Emirates Global Aluminum (EGA) metal through the Strait of Hormuz, marking one of the first aluminum cargoes to leave the Gulf after recent conflict disruptions. The shipment, valued at around USD 110 million, signals a gradual recovery in Middle East aluminum exports and may help ease global supply tightness. However, shipping risks remain, and the pace of export recovery will continue to influence aluminum prices in the coming weeks.

CITIC Dicastal has revised its aluminum alloy wheel supply agreement, increasing annual related-party purchase caps to RMB 11 billion in 2026, RMB 12 billion in 2027 and RMB 13 billion in 2028. The company said the higher limits reflect rising aluminum prices, stronger demand for aluminum wheels driven by the EV sector and higher expected shipment volumes. The new agreement covers only finished aluminum alloy wheels and excludes raw material purchases, while transactions will remain subject to market pricing and regulatory oversight.

On June 30, CATL and J&T Express signed a strategic cooperation agreement. The two parties will promote the large-scale deployment of new energy heavy-duty trucks, light logistics vehicles, electric warehouse forklifts, and other logistics equipment, and jointly build green industrial parks to help the logistics industry reduce costs, improve efficiency, and achieve low-carbon transformation. CATL will provide a full suite of battery-swapping batteries, swap station equipment, and operation and maintenance services for over 5,000 heavy-duty trucks under J&T Express. The battery-swapping model can "fully recharge" a heavy-duty truck within 3 to 5 minutes, significantly reducing refueling time. In terms of ground integrated complexes, CATL will provide J&T Express with a full range of energy storage system products and services.

North China: As of this Thursday, spot discounts were 160-80/mt, with an average discount of 120 yuan/mt, up 20 yuan/mt from last Friday. This week, futures moved sideways, downstream procurement was marked by a strong wait-and-see sentiment, and overall demand was weak. Early this month, market circulating supply tightened, suppliers' willingness to hold prices firm increased, spot discounts moved up simultaneously, and market trading cooled. Overall, trading activity in the North China market this week was lower than last week. Looking ahead, the demand side is unlikely to improve in the short term, coupled with suppliers' maintaining of firm prices and wait-and-see stance, the market trading is expected to be difficult to recover.