By Jesus Calero
(Reuters) -Norwegian aluminium producer Norsk Hydro reported an 18.6% fall in third-quarter core profit on Friday, hit by lower alumina prices and a stronger Norwegian crown, partly offset by higher production volumes.
Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation fell to 6.0 billion crowns in the July–September period from 7.4 billion crowns a year earlier.
Analysts on average had expected it to report a core profit of 6.36 billion crowns, according to a company-compiled consensus.
The return of U.S. tariffs on aluminium has upended trade flows and pushed physical market premiums to record highs, amplifying costs for American buyers while reshaping global supply lines.
Canada, the main supplier to the U.S. market, has diverted part of its output to Europe after Washington doubled tariffs to 50% in June, while the higher U.S. Midwest premium has lifted costs for American buyers but supported prices elsewhere.
With Chinese smelters churning out near-record volumes of aluminium and looking to offload surplus abroad, barriers in the West have offered short-term relief to companies like Hydro by lifting regional premiums and curbing low-cost competition.
“European extrusion demand is estimated to have been flat in the third quarter of 2025 compared to the same quarter last year, but decreased 20 percent compared to the second quarter due to seasonality,” Hydro said.
(Reporting by Jesus Calero; Editing by Matt Scuffham)
