Rio Tinto imposes additional charges on American aluminum materials, Trump's tariffs causing structural damage to the market.

According to reports from American media, Rio Tinto Group is imposing additional fees on its aluminum exports to the United States, which may further disrupt the North American market. The market has already been turbulent due to import tariffs, raising costs for consumers. According to sources familiar with the situation, this British-Australian mining giant is charging extra fees for aluminum orders delivered to the United States, citing low inventory as demand exceeds available supply. The United States heavily relies on foreign aluminum supply as its own production capacity is insufficient to meet demand. Canada is its largest foreign supplier, accounting for over 50% of US imports. Sources reveal that the new additional fees, on top of Midwest premiums, add 1 to 3 cents per pound, which, while not a large amount, when added on top of the Midwest premium, results in an additional $2,006 on top of the raw material price of approximately $2,830 per ton, meaning the premium exceeds 70%. This is even higher than the 50% import tariff by Trump. Consumers and traders describe the market as nearing collapse, and the additional fees are the most blatant sign yet that its structure has been severely impacted by Trump's tariffs.