Aluminum producer adds markups as tariffs drive up costs

The tightness in the U.S. market has been exacerbated by language in the presidential proclamations that says aluminum tariffs won’t apply to imported products if the metal was smelted and cast in the U.S. Photo by Safak Oguz/Getty Images/Postmedia files

Rio Tinto Group is imposing surcharges on aluminum shipments it sells to the United States, a move that threatens to further disrupt a North American market already roiled by import tariffs that are driving up costs for consumers.

The Anglo-Australian mining giant is including the extra charge on aluminum orders delivered to the U.S. citing low inventories, as demand starts to outstrip available supply, according to people with direct knowledge of the matter.

The U.S. relies heavily on foreign aluminum supplies as it doesn’t