Century Aluminum

Primary Aluminum Productioncenturyaluminum.com

Century Aluminum is the largest U.S. primary aluminum producer, operating approximately 1.02 million metric tonnes of annual smelting capacity across U.S. and Icelandic facilities, supported by upstream bauxite and alumina assets in Jamaica, and serving automotive, aerospace, defense, construction, and packaging manufacturers through direct B2B sales.

Company typePublic
Founded1995
HeadquartersChicago, United States
Headcount1,001–5,000
GTM typeB2B
OfferingHardware or Manufacturing

What Century Aluminum does

Century Aluminum Company is a global primary aluminum producer that operates the full aluminum value chain from bauxite mining and alumina refining through carbon anode production to primary aluminum smelting. The company runs reduction facilities in the United States (Sebree, KY at 220,000 metric tonnes per year; Mt. Holly, SC at 229,000 metric tonnes per year) and Grundartangi, Iceland (320,000 metric tonnes per year), with combined rated capacity of approximately 1.02 million metric tonnes per year following the February 2026 divestiture of the Hawesville, Kentucky smelter to TeraWulf. Upstream assets include a 55%-owned interest in Jamalco, a bauxite mining and alumina refining joint venture in Jamaica with nameplate capacity of over 1.4 million tonnes per year, and a carbon anode production facility in Vlissingen, Netherlands. Products include standard ingot, primary foundry alloy, extrusion billet, sow, and molten aluminum, plus the Natur-Al low-carbon sub-brand produced in Iceland using 100% renewable geothermal and hydroelectric power with a verified CO2 footprint of 4 tonnes per tonne aluminum.

The company sells primarily through direct B2B channels to industrial manufacturers in automotive, aerospace, defense, construction, packaging, and electronics, with U.S. facilities positioned within a 600-mile radius of the majority of customers. Pricing follows the London Metal Exchange aluminum price plus regional premiums, with the U.S. Midwest Premium reaching a record 118 cents per pound in May 2026 and Section 232 tariffs of 50% on imported aluminum providing a structural pricing advantage for domestic producers. FY2025 revenue was $2.527 billion, with Q1 2026 revenue of $649.2 million and adjusted EBITDA of $231 million (up 35% sequentially).

Century's strategic agenda is anchored on capacity expansion and downstream value chain integration. In January 2026, the company announced a $4 billion joint venture with Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA 60%, Century 40%) to build a 750,000 metric tonne-per-year primary aluminum smelter in Inola, Oklahoma, the first new U.S. primary aluminum smelter since 1980, supported by up to $500 million in DOE funding. The Mt. Holly expansion was brought online in April 2026, the Grundartangi Line 2 restarted ahead of schedule in April 2026, and Century holds the largest share of U.S. primary aluminum output at nearly 60%. The company is publicly traded on NASDAQ under ticker CENX with a market capitalization of approximately $6.74 billion as of May 2026 and an S&P credit rating recently upgraded from B- to B.

Century Aluminum firmographics

Firmographics

Name: Century Aluminum
Legal name: Century Aluminum Company
Website: https://centuryaluminum.com
Company type: Public
Founded year: 1995
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 1,001–5,000 employees
Short description: Century Aluminum is the largest U.S. primary aluminum producer, operating approximately 1.02 million metric tonnes of annual smelting capacity across U.S. and Icelandic facilities, supported by upstream bauxite and alumina assets in Jamaica, and serving automotive, aerospace, defense, construction, and packaging manufacturers through direct B2B sales.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

Century Aluminum industry classification

Industry

Product category: Primary Aluminum Production
NAICS: Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing (3313), Other Aluminum Rolling, Drawing, and Extruding (331318)
SIC: Primary Production Of Aluminum (3334)
akta.pro primary industry: Primary Aluminum Smelting (IMAKACAC)
akta.pro secondary industries: Aluminum Value-Added Components (Automotive, Aerospace, Packaging, Building Systems) (IMAKACAM), Aluminum Casting & Ingot/Billet/Slab Production (IMAKACAE)

Keywords

Primary aluminum production
Aluminum smelting operations
Low-carbon aluminum products
Alumina refining services
Value-added aluminum alloys

Where Century Aluminum is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Chicago
HQ country: United States
HQ region: North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

Century Aluminum business model

Business model

GTM type: B2B
Offering type: Hardware or Manufacturing
Cost components: Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

Primary Aluminum Sales: Revenue generated from sale of primary aluminum products including standard-grade aluminum, high-purity aluminum, and value-added products such as billet, ingot, sow, and molten metal. Products are sold directly to industrial manufacturers in automotive, aerospace, construction, packaging, and defense sectors.
Low-Carbon Aluminum Premium: The company's Natur-Al brand commands premium pricing due to its significantly lower carbon footprint (4 tonnes CO2 per tonne aluminum vs. 16+ tonnes industry average), meeting growing ESG-driven demand from environmentally conscious customers.
Alumina Supply: Through its 55% ownership of Jamalco in Jamaica, Century produces alumina (aluminum oxide) for internal consumption and external sales, providing upstream integration and cost efficiency.

Pricing tiers

Model	Billing	Price
Transaction based/ take rate	Pay-as-you-go	Standard-grade primary aluminum priced at LME plus regional premium

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Century Aluminum product offering

Product offering

Core offering

Century Aluminum produces and sells primary aluminum products including standard-grade aluminum ingot, primary foundry alloy, extrusion billet, sow, and molten metal from reduction facilities in the United States (Sebree, KY; Mt. Holly, SC) and Iceland (Grundartangi). The company also produces its Natur-Al low-carbon aluminum sub-brand, smelter-grade alumina via the 55%-owned Jamalco joint venture in Jamaica, and carbon anodes at Vlissingen in the Netherlands, supplying industrial manufacturers in the automotive, aerospace, construction, packaging, defense, and electronics sectors.

Product overview

Century Aluminum Company is a global primary aluminum producer operating across the aluminum value chain from bauxite mining and alumina refining to primary aluminum smelting. The company operates primary aluminum reduction facilities in the United States (Sebree, KY; Mt. Holly, SC) and Iceland (Grundartangi), supported by a carbon anode production facility in Vlissingen, Netherlands and a 55%-owned alumina refinery in Jamaica (Jamalco). Its total primary aluminum production capacity is approximately 1,020,000 tonnes per year. The product portfolio includes standard-grade and value-added primary aluminum products — standard ingot, primary foundry alloy, extrusion billet, sow, and molten aluminum — as well as the Natur-Al sub-brand of low-carbon aluminum produced in Iceland. Jamalco supplies smelter-grade alumina as the critical upstream raw material, while the Vlissingen anode facility supplies carbon anodes to the Icelandic smelter.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

Natur-Al™: Low-carbon aluminum brand produced at Grundartangi, Iceland facility with CO2 footprint of four tonnes per tonne aluminum, less than one-quarter of the industry average

Products and services

Natur-Al Low-Carbon Aluminum Natur-Al is Century Aluminum's proprietary brand of low-carbon primary aluminum produced at the Grundartangi, Iceland smelter using 100% renewable geothermal and hydroelectric power. It has one of the lowest CO2 footprints in the world at 4 tonnes CO2 per tonne of aluminum versus a 16+ tonne industry average, with emissions independently third-party verified, and is targeted at sustainability-focused industrial customers seeking reduced-carbon aluminum for automotive, packaging, and other applications.
Standard Ingot Standard-grade primary aluminum ingots weighing 20-22 kg, available in grades P0610, P1015, and P1020, produced at U.S. and Icelandic smelting facilities and sold to industrial manufacturers for further processing into end products.
Primary Foundry Alloy Value-added primary aluminum foundry alloy (grade A356) produced for casting applications in automotive, aerospace, and industrial sectors, sold at a premium to standard-grade aluminum.
Extrusion Billet Extrusion billet produced at Sebree and Mt. Holly facilities using Air Slip and NuMax casting technology, available in lengths up to 288 inches and diameters from 7 to 14 inches, in 1XXX, 2XXX, 3XXX, and 6XXX alloy series with up to 70 alloy combinations, sold to extrusion customers primarily for automotive and construction applications.
Sow Large-format primary aluminum sow blocks shipped to customers for re-melting and blending. Standard sow nominal 1,400 lb; low-profile sow nominal 1,500 lb. Grades P0506A, P0610A, P1020A.
Molten Aluminum Molten primary aluminum supplied directly from potlines to nearby customers in grades P0202A through P1020A, enabling energy savings by eliminating re-melting at customer facilities.
Smelter-Grade Alumina (Jamalco) Century Aluminum operates a 55%-owned joint venture alumina refinery in Jamaica through Jamalco, with nameplate capacity of over 1,400,000 tonnes per year of smelter-grade alumina, backed by bauxite mines with 30+ years of remaining life. Alumina is produced for internal consumption and external sales.

Quantifiable outcome

Q1 2026 EBITDA of $231 million, up 35% sequentially
+3 more outcomes

Companies that use Century Aluminum

Customer profile

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Century Aluminum technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Century Aluminum partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor, flagship and core.

U.S. Aluminum CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 February 2026U.S. Aluminum Company signed agreement with EGA and Century Aluminum to explore developing an aluminum fabrication plant near the planned Oklahoma Primary Aluminum smelter in Inola, Oklahoma as part of creating an aluminum hub.
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris WrightminorOthers · 10 February 2026U.S. Energy Secretary joined EGA and Century Aluminum executives to celebrate the joint smelter project, demonstrating federal government support for domestic aluminum production.
TeraWulfminorOthers · 3 February 2026Century Aluminum sold its Hawesville, Kentucky smelter site to TeraWulf for $200 million upfront plus retained 6.8% equity stake in the resulting AI-focused data center joint venture. Transaction completed February 2026.
Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 January 2026Joint venture to build the first new U.S. primary aluminum smelter since 1980 in Inola, Oklahoma. EGA holds 60% stake, Century holds 40%. Projected 750,000 metric tonnes annual capacity, more than doubling U.S. output. $4 billion investment creating 1,000 permanent jobs and 4,000 construction jobs. Supported by up to $500 million DOE grant.
BechtelcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 26 January 2026American engineering firm engaged to conduct preparatory engineering work on the proposed Oklahoma primary aluminum smelter project. Target is Final Investment Decision and construction start by end of 2026.
EimskipminorOthers · 1 October 2025Icelandic shipping company that transports alumina to Grundartangi smelter. Electrical equipment failure at the smelter affected Eimskip's transport volumes as Norðurál is a major customer.
South Carolina Public Service Authority (Santee Cooper)coreOthers · 1 January 2025Power agreement with Santee Cooper extending through 2031 enables Mt. Holly smelter operations in South Carolina.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Century Aluminum competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Broad incumbents

Rio Tinto Group: Diversified global miner with a substantial aluminum product group (bauxite, alumina, primary aluminum, and specialty). Operates at significantly larger scale than Century but competes in the same primary aluminum and value-added billet markets globally.
China Hongqiao Group: The world's largest primary aluminum producer, primarily operating in China. While geographically separated, Hongqiao's production decisions and capacity additions directly influence global LME pricing and Chinese export volumes that drive Section 232 tariff dynamics.
Hindalco Industries (Aditya Birla Group): Indian integrated aluminum and copper producer with primary smelting, alumina, and rolled products. Comparable upstream-to-midstream integration and competes with Century in global value-added aluminum markets.

Emerging players

Kaiser Aluminum Corporation: U.S.-based specialty aluminum manufacturer focused on aerospace, automotive, and packaging rolled products. While not a primary smelter, it purchases primary aluminum inputs that overlap with Century's customer base and competes in value-added downstream markets.
Arconic Corporation: U.S.-focused aluminum sheet and plate manufacturer serving aerospace, automotive, and packaging. Sits downstream of primary smelters like Century and competes for similar end-customer relationships, particularly in aerospace high-purity alloys.
Constellium SE: Specialty aluminum products manufacturer serving aerospace, automotive, and packaging end markets. Downstream of primary smelters but competes for value-added billet demand; relevant for benchmarking Century's extrusion billet strategy.

Direct peers

Alcoa Corporation: The other major U.S. primary aluminum smelter; competes directly with Century's Sebree and Mt. Holly facilities for U.S. customers and is the principal domestic beneficiary of Section 232 tariffs. Closest comparable in scale, geography, and product mix.
Norsk Hydro ASA: Global integrated aluminum producer with primary smelting, value-added products, and a strong low-carbon product line (REDUXA). Centry's SVP Strategy (Matthew Aboud) joined from Hydro, underscoring close operational comparability in primary and extrusion billet.
Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA): Century's 60/40 JV partner in Oklahoma Primary Aluminum and one of the world's five largest primary aluminum producers. Direct competitor in primary aluminum with comparable product portfolio including value-added billet and foundry alloys.

Regional players

Vedanta Aluminium: One of India's largest primary aluminum producers (part of Vedanta Limited). Competes with Century in global primary aluminum supply but is regionally focused on the Indian domestic market rather than the U.S. or Europe.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Century Aluminum compliance and trust

Trust signal

Compliance10 records

Century Aluminum financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Century Aluminum leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Century Aluminum subsidiaries and ownership

Company hierarchy

Subsidiaries4 records

Century Aluminum funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Century Aluminum M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Century Aluminum

What does Century Aluminum do?

Is Century Aluminum a public or private company?

Century Aluminum is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.

When was Century Aluminum founded?

Century Aluminum was founded in 1995. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.

Where is Century Aluminum based?

Century Aluminum is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.

How does Century Aluminum make money?

Three revenue lines are on record. Primary Aluminum Sales are the primary driver. The others are low-Carbon Aluminum Premium and alumina Supply.

Who are Century Aluminum's main competitors?

Broad incumbents on record are Rio Tinto Group, China Hongqiao Group and Hindalco Industries (Aditya Birla Group). Emerging players are Kaiser Aluminum Corporation, Arconic Corporation and Constellium SE. Direct peers are Alcoa Corporation, Norsk Hydro ASA and Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA). Vedanta Aluminium is listed as a regional player.

Does Century Aluminum have an API?

No public API is recorded for Century Aluminum.

What industry is Century Aluminum in?

Century Aluminum's product category is Primary Aluminum Production. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAKACAC, Primary Aluminum Smelting, with a secondary code of IMAKACAM, Aluminum Value-Added Components (Automotive, Aerospace, Packaging, Building Systems). Its NAICS code is 3313 and its SIC code is 3334.