Glencore has reduced its stake in Century Aluminum to 33% by selling 9 million shares for $272.25 million and converting all Series A preferred shares (4.95 million shares) into common stock. The company now holds around 36 million shares, down from 43 million previously. At FinancialMediaGuide, we view this as a strategic monetization at peak market value, allowing Glencore to lock in profits without losing strategic influence over the company.
Since June, Century Aluminum shares have risen approximately 80% after the U.S. doubled the aluminum import tariff to 50%, giving local producers a competitive advantage. At FinancialMediaGuide, we see this as a direct impact of trade policy on stock value, confirming that government measures can significantly boost industry margins.
Glencore remains a strategic partner of Century, supplying alumina and purchasing nearly all aluminum produced by the company in North America. At Financial Media Guide, we emphasize that such a vertically integrated structure allows the company to reduce concentration risk while maintaining key influence over the aluminum supply chain, even while reducing its equity stake.
Following the announcement of the sale, Century shares dropped roughly 11%, which investors interpreted as a portfolio rebalance rather than Glencore exiting the market. At FinancialMediaGuide, we note that maintaining trust in Century’s management and strategic partnership indicates the deal is financial in nature, not a sign of management issues or negative company outlook.
Century Aluminum remains the largest primary aluminum producer in the U.S., with a capacity of around 690,000 tons per year, in demand for construction, energy, and packaging. At FinancialMediaGuide, we forecast that with high tariffs and Midwest premiums sustained, the company will continue generating strong margins, and Glencore can use the proceeds for diversification or strategic investments. This situation serves as an example of prudent risk management: locking in profits under favorable market conditions without losing strategic influence or a stable position in the aluminum market.
