North American Aluminium Industry Expands Capacity in 2026
Aluminum | 2026-09-17 06:38:43
The federal government has committed C$100 million to support ELYSIS inert-anode technology, while CEM’s Thor Project is progressing toward alumina demonstration production.
By Paul Ploumis
SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): North America’s aluminium industry has been witnessing a strong investment in primary production, refining, recycling and low-carbon technologies, with major projects advancing across the US and Canada in 2026.
In the US, Century Aluminum and Emirates Global Aluminium are planning a $4 billion smelter in Inola, Oklahoma. The proposed 750,000-tonne-per-year facility would be the country’s first new primary aluminium smelter in nearly five decades and could more than double domestic primary output.
The US government has committed $450 million toward restarting Atlantic Alumina Company’s Gramercy alumina refinery in Louisiana. Century is separately spending $50 million to reactivate capacity at its Mt Holly smelter, with the restart expected to lift US primary aluminium production by roughly 10%.
Another major project is the domestic mine-to-metal supply chain by Century and Brimstone. Also, Alcoa’s proposed acquisition of South32 assets could expand its global alumina and aluminium operations.
Canada is emphasizing lower-carbon production. The federal government has committed C$100 million to support ELYSIS inert-anode technology, while CEM’s Thor Project is progressing toward alumina demonstration production.
Rio Tinto’s expanded AP60 smelting facility in Quebec, which began operating in May, has added 160,000 tonnes per year of capacity. Once fully ramped up, production is expected to reach about 220,000 tonnes per annum.
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Which area is attracting significant investment in North America’s aluminum industry in 2026?
Frequently Asked Questions
- What major aluminum project is planned in Oklahoma?
Century Aluminum and Emirates Global Aluminium are planning a $4 billion aluminum smelter in Inola, Oklahoma. The proposed facility would have annual production capacity of 750,000 tonnes and could significantly increase US primary aluminum output.
- How is Canada supporting lower-carbon aluminum production?
The Canadian government has committed C$100 million to support ELYSIS inert-anode technology, which is designed to reduce emissions from aluminum smelting. CEM’s Thor Project is also progressing toward demonstration-scale alumina production.
- How much new capacity has Rio Tinto added in Quebec?
Rio Tinto’s expanded AP60 smelting facility in Quebec began operating in May 2026 and added 160,000 tonnes per year of capacity. Once fully ramped up, the facility is expected to produce around 220,000 tonnes annually.
