JW Aluminum is shutting down its St. Louis, Missouri plant because it can no longer compete with Chinese aluminum imports.
The flat-rolled aluminum products company will be closing the plant on May 30, 2020 and laying off about 190 employees, although it has promised to provide other alternatives.
JW purchased the St. Louis facility from Alcoa in 2004, at which time, said Lee McCarter, JW Aluminum’s chief executive officer, China-made foil imports comprised under 1pc of the total aluminum market.
By 2019, the imports grew to represent nearly a quarter of the market, he added, despite bans and tariffs. Consequently, American companies like JW have had trouble maintaining their capacities.
In a statement, the company said the plant closure is necessary to maintain its robust presence in US aluminum manufacturing sector.