By Stuart Burns
Analysts are finding it hard to get a handle on what lies ahead for 2020 aluminum prices.
On the one hand, some well-respected sources, like Capital Economics, are suggesting in a recent report that prices will rise by year-end on the back of stronger demand, despite a return to production of temporarily shuttered production in Brazil and China during 2019 and new capacity coming onstream in Russia.
But Reuters disagrees, saying aluminum producers are actively reviewing their smelter portfolios. Norsk Hydro (NHYDY) has announced output cuts and both Alcoa (AA)