23 June 2025 – Raw materials for aluminium production continue to be in high demand in China. Bauxite imports rose by almost 26% in the first five months of 2025. Green Deal finally at an end? Largest EU steel maker halts plans for green steel.
China: Raw materials for aluminium production still in high demand
Statistics from the Chinese government for May 2025 have recently shown that China continues to require large quantities of raw materials for its aluminium production. For example, imports of unwrought aluminium alloys rose by more than 11% in May compared to the previous month.
Chinese Bauxite imports up 26% compared to the previous year
China also saw a significant increase in bauxite imports compared to the previous year. From January to May, the People’s Republic imported almost 26% more bauxite than in the same period last year. A change in the countries of origin was observed, particularly in bauxite imports. One of China’s most important sources of bauxite, Malaysia, fell below a 40% import share for the first time.
Bauxite is also likely to become scarcer, as the rainy season has recently begun in Guinea and this is already having a significant impact on the shipment of bauxite from there.
LME aluminium on warrant stocks fall again
On the London Metal Exchange (LME), the decline in aluminium on warrant stocks continued last week. Stocks fell by more than 3%. This is also reflected in aluminium prices, which remain stable at more than USD 2,500 per tonne.
Green Deal at an end? Largest EU steel maker halts transformation
With nearly 30 million tonnes of crude steel production per year, ArcelorMittal is by far the largest steel maker in Europe. In comparison, the largest German steel maker, Thyssenkrupp, produces just under 10 million tonnes of crude steel per year. ArcelorMittal therefore accounts for the lion’s share of the EU’s decarbonisation efforts in the steel sector.
Green steel not economical to produce
Back in November 2024, the multinational corporation announced that it did not intend to make any final investment decisions regarding its decarbonisation measures. On 19 June, the corporation announced that it did not intend to implement the last two projects still pending in Germany (Bremen and Eisenhüttenstadt). The reason: green steel is not economically viable to produce. At the same time, the company called for further trade protection measures.
With this withdrawal from its voluntary commitment to reduce CO2 emissions, and at the same time even more extreme demands for more government subsidies and tariffs, which have been proven to fuel inflation, it is clear that the company is primarily pursuing other goals here.
In any case, the European Green Deal and the Carbon Border Tax CBAM cannot be implemented credibly and without enormous damage to the EU economy and must be stopped.
‘Stop the clock for CBAM now!’
If one of the largest CO2 emitters in Europe can abandon its decarbonisation efforts without fear of consequences, then this must also be possible in return for the laws and regulations enacted to this end.
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