I just bought 30# of .19 x 2 6061 T6 and it was $2.30 a lb. delivered. I thought that was pretty good. It was import material and it was top quality.
My salesman said that extrusions aren't really in question - it's pretty much a problem with sheet. My orders have reflected that. That said, the company that told me that only stocks domestic extrusions, so maybe mileage varies at other distributors.
In December, he told me to anticipate a 5-8% increase. Just a general price increase. In January, we were blindsided by a 38% increase. In February, I noticed another, but didn't have the heart to check the percentage. I have been told to possibly expect more.
His claim is that in response to the threats of embargo or tariffs, China simply quit sending aluminum over, to avoid the risk of containers of it being turned away at port.
He said at one of their branches, a customer caught wind of the news a day before they did, and bought their entire inventory of one item at that location. They went to reorder, and found there wasn't any available.
Admittedly, I wasn't in the best of moods when I called to inquire why my quote was suddenly out of this world, but after calming down, I casually remarked that I understand that he's got to make money too. At that point, he's the one who hit the roof, and mentioned that they aren't (at least the 'they' that are in distribution - I've got no clue about the mills). He said they are trying to operate at about break even just to keep metal moving, and keep customers serviced until everything equalizes. He said depending on how second quarter goes, they may have to ration us to the tonnage that we purchased in '17.
How true that is, I don't know. I don't usually buy the line of bull most salesman are pushing, but with this particular individual, I am inclined to trust him.
For what it's worth, Aluminum Association has been strongly praising this administration for this effort and NMMA (National Marine Manufacturers Association) has sharply criticized it. All of the small boat companies that I deal with have had to announce immediate price increases.