U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick joined Century Aluminum's CEO and South Carolina leaders to celebrate the company's expansion at its Mt. Holly facility, which will increase total U.S. domestic primary aluminum production by approximately 10% and grow the workforce to over 600 employees. The expansion is attributed to President Trump's Section 232 trade program and represents a $50 million investment in American aluminum manufacturing.

Century Aluminum Company will report second quarter 2026 earnings on August 6, 2026, with a conference call at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time. The announcement coincides with celebrations by U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and other government officials marking a historic 10% increase in U.S. aluminum production.

Century Aluminum and Emirates Global Aluminum announced plans to build a new aluminum smelter in Inola, Oklahoma, with capacity for 750,000 tonnes of production. President Trump's executive order reduces tariff rates from 50% to 25% for companies investing in new U.S. primary aluminum production, supporting the project which is expected to create over 1,000 direct jobs and 4,000 construction jobs. Century is also expanding capacity at its Mt. Holly plant in South Carolina.

Century Aluminum Company announced its first quarter 2026 results and confirmed that CEO Jesse Gary will present at the Wells Fargo Industrials and Materials Conference on June 9, 2026. The company operates primary aluminum smelting facilities in the United States and Iceland, and owns a majority stake in Jamaica's Jamalco alumina refinery. The presentation will include a live audio webcast available on the company's investor website.

Aluminum prices have surged nearly 50% in the past year due to Iran war impacts and tariffs, benefiting domestic producers Kaiser Aluminum and Century Aluminum. Kaiser reported strong Q1 2026 earnings with 42% YOY revenue growth, while Century is positioned to benefit from higher aluminum prices and its domestic production focus. Both companies stand to gain from Section 232 tariffs on aluminum imports, though valuation concerns and tariff policy risks remain.

The Middle East conflict has created divergent impacts on industrial metals. Aluminum faces severe supply constraints due to damaged production facilities and blocked alumina shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, pushing prices to four-year highs near $3,500/ton. Copper, however, risks demand destruction if oil prices spike above $150/barrel, potentially pushing the market into surplus and prices below $10,000/ton. High-cost copper producers face significant earnings pressure, while aluminum producers benefit from supply-driven rallies.

Century Aluminum CEO Jesse Gary sold 150,000 shares worth $8.32 million on March 16, 2026, under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan. The sale comes as aluminum prices surge to near 4-year highs amid geopolitical tensions and strong demand. Century Aluminum is positioned for growth with a 40% stake in a new U.S. smelting plant partnership with Emirates Global Aluminum, the first domestic aluminum plant in 47 years.

The U.S. government is allocating over $30 billion to strengthen critical supply chains across 54 partner nations, signaling a permanent shift toward resource sovereignty. Federal permitting streamlining and capital flows from institutions like the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation are accelerating domestic projects in uranium, graphite, aluminum, and gold sectors.

Aluminum prices surged to their highest level in four years after Aluminium Bahrain suspended deliveries due to Strait of Hormuz disruptions, reaching $3,418 per ton. The shortage highlights the U.S.'s vulnerability with only six primary smelters remaining and less than 1% of global supply. Domestic producers face challenges competing for affordable electricity as tech giants bid up power prices for data centers.

Gunnar Gudlaugsson, EVP of Global Operations at Century Aluminum, sold 43,000 shares worth $2.3 million on February 25, 2026, reducing his direct holdings by 24%. Despite the insider sale, the company remains well-positioned with a landmark partnership with Emirates Global Aluminum to build the first U.S. aluminum smelting plant in 47 years, expected to create 1,000 jobs. Century Aluminum's stock has surged 166% over the past year and is up 31% in 2026.

The article identifies five under-followed stocks positioned to benefit from current market conditions: QXO (building products distributor), SM Energy (oil and gas producer), Mach Natural Resources (energy company), Century Aluminum (aluminum producer), and Rush Street Interactive (online gaming platform). These stocks combine sector tailwinds, growth potential, and attractive valuations with analyst upside targets ranging from 14.6% to 32.4%.

The Pentagon allocated $4.5 billion to critical minerals in late 2025, with government backing for strategic mineral projects expected to reach record levels in 2026. This trend is driving investment in companies developing domestic sources of critical minerals including copper, graphite, uranium, antimony, and aluminum to reduce U.S. dependence on imports and strengthen national security.