The Symbiosis concept pairs a premium aluminium outer shell with a transparent inner bottle, while the partners highlight low-carbon aluminium and future sustainability development. GEKA and AXILONE have partnered to introduce Symbiosis, a luxury beauty packaging concept combining GEKA’s injection blow-moulding technology with AXILONE’s expertise in premium aluminium packaging. The concept will be showcased at Luxe Pack Monaco, presenting a design that brings together a premium aluminium outer shell and a see-through inner bottle. The inner bottle’s transparent windows allow consumers to view the formulation’s colour and texture, adding a sensory element to the packaging. The combination is designed to offer beauty brands a distinctive appearance alongside a tactile product experience....
With the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays approaching, secondary aluminium alloy enterprises have successively finalized their production and holiday arrangements for the festive period. SMM recently conducted a survey on the double-holiday production plans, pre-holiday stockpiling, and raw material procurement of some secondary aluminium alloy enterprises, covering a total capacity of 4.2 million mt. The following is a summary of the survey findings: According to the SMM survey, during the 2026 Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays, secondary aluminium alloy enterprises generally arranged for continuous production or brief shutdowns, though some enterprises extended their holiday duration compared with 2025. Among the 25 sampled enterprises, more than half had...
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Domestic alumina spot prices held steady with slight adjustments last week, and scattered transactions showed mixed pricing. On the supply side, recent domestic alumina operating capacity stayed at around 99.4 million tonnes per year. A new alumina project in Beihai, Guangxi, is expected to start feeding material for trial production late this month, with associated capacity of about 2 million tonnes per year, and specific progress will be tracked closely. Meanwhile, roughly half of the industry's capacity is now running at a full-cost loss, and some producers have even slipped into cash-flow losses. Costs show no signs of easing though, and with few bullish drivers in sight, sector loss pressures keep mounting. Prices held flat last week mainly because new capacity releases are still...
A Canadian aluminium extruder is refusing to move its production to the US despite facing a sharp increase in tariffs that could effectively shut it out of one of its largest markets. Apex Aluminum Extrusions, based in Langley, British Columbia, says more than 40 per cent of its sales previously went to the US. The company expects those exports to fall to zero as US tariff measures on aluminium extrusions intensify. Darren McQueen, head of Apex, said the combined impact of the latest measures would result in a 100 per cent tariff on the company's selling price from September 15, after Section 338 tariffs are stacked on top of Section 232 duties. "Forty-plus per cent of our sales were into the U.S., and that will drop to zero," McQueen said. The company produces aluminium profiles used...
As we reflect on the Middle East crisis that commenced on February 28, 2026, and stretched into the second half of the year, it brings to mind the dramatic rise and fall of the London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium price that reached four-year highs before cooling down. The skyrocketing prices result from the declining inventory levels of the LME aluminium stocks, thereby reporting a month-on-month decline from 498,670 tonnes in January to 320,314 tonnes in June. LME H1 inventory trend: 2026 vs 2025 vs 2024 How has the LME aluminium inventory scenario fared across the January-June period? Here is the six-month cumulative year-on-year comparison among 2026, 2025 and 2024: H1 2026 – 2.48 million tonnes, down 12.88 per cent Y-o-Y H1 2025 – 2.85 million tonnes, down 31.82 per cent Y-o-Y H1...
A cut in US tariffs on Canadian aluminium alone is unlikely to bring down the elevated Midwest aluminium premium significantly, according to Alcoa CFO Molly Beerman, as the US still relies on imports from other countries to cover a structural supply gap. Speaking at the Jefferies Global Industrials Conference in New York, Beerman said the US needs to import around 4 million tonnes of aluminium a year, while Canadian suppliers can provide roughly 3 million tonnes. The remaining 1 million tonnes must come from other markets, where tariffs or other trade barriers continue to support higher delivered costs. The Midwest premium, the surcharge US buyers pay above the London Metal Exchange aluminium price for physical metal, currently stands at USD 1.09 per pound (USD 2,403 per tonne). It has...
The latest escalation in the US-Canada trade dispute is putting pressure on one of North America's most deeply integrated manufacturing networks, with auto-parts makers facing higher costs and growing uncertainty over where and how components should be produced. The two countries have spent decades building an automotive supply chain in which parts and materials routinely cross the border multiple times before reaching a finished vehicle. The latest tariff measures, including duties on aluminium and steel, threaten to disrupt that model and could force suppliers to reconsider long-established production routes. The immediate challenge for automakers and their suppliers is deciding whether to absorb higher costs in the short term or make expensive changes to their supply chains. For...
Quaker Houghton (NYSE: KWR), the global leader in industrial process fluids, will exhibit at Aluminium Düsseldorf 2026 (6–8 October), where it will introduce its EMDUR™ biotechnology alongside a portfolio of rolling fluids, maintenance lubricants, and automated digital technologies for the aluminium industry. EMDUR™ Biotechnology Emulsions used in aluminium hot rolling are inherently susceptible to microbiological activity, which can contribute to the depletion of lubricating components, reduced fluid stability, and corrosion within systems. Conventional approaches typically rely on reactive treatments to manage these effects. EMDUR™ biotechnology has been developed to support longer-term emulsion stability by addressing underlying drivers of fluid degradation through: Biofilm disruption,...
In the contemporary architectural landscape, executing high-value engineering projects-ranging from premium multi-family residential complexes to expansive commercial developments-demands an unprecedented level of structural precision and design flexibility. Project architects, facade consultants, and procurement managers frequently encounter severe bottleneck challenges when sourcing large-scale fenestration systems. Standard off-the-shelf products rarely satisfy localised building codes, stringent acoustic restrictions, thermal efficiency mandates, or unique structural wind-load requirements. Navigating these multi-faceted constraints often leads to fragmented supply chains, misaligned design execution, and costly installation delays. To overcome these procurement hurdles, tier-one...
Alba Voronezh has launched a new aluminium beverage can manufacturing plant in the Voronezh region of Russia, with a production capacity of up to 4,000 cans per minute. The facility, located at the “Center” Special Economic Zone (SEZ), represents an investment of RUB 12 billion (USD 143 million). Construction was completed in 11 months, according to Voronezh Governor Alexander Gusev. The plant has created more than 200 jobs and is expected to produce around 1 billion aluminium cans a year. Its warehouses can hold up to 150 million cans. The facility is expected to meet at least 25 per cent of Russia’s demand for aluminium beverage packaging. Over the next 10 years, the plant is projected to contribute around RUB 3 billion (USD 36 million) in taxes to the regional budget, along with more...
Russian aluminium producer RUSAL is nearing the final stage of the permitting process for a planned bauxite-to-alumina processing project in Kalimantan, Indonesia, according to Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia. The project will process bauxite into alumina as part of Indonesia’s push to expand domestic mineral processing. Lahadalia said the Indonesian government is involved in the overall development, while RUSAL will work directly with Indonesian private companies on the project. Lahadalia said, “They are going to build a downstreaming facility to process bauxite into alumina. It will be located in Kalimantan. The permitting process is already in the near-final stage.” The minister has not yet disclosed the names of RUSAL’s local partners or the expected investment...
Venezuela’s biggest aluminium smelter, Venalum, could be heading for a fresh start as Mercuria Energy Group Ltd. and Glencore Plc explore a potential deal that could bring new investment and operating expertise to the facility that has spent years producing only a fraction of its original capacity. The talks come as Venezuela seeks to rebuild an industrial sector weakened by economic turmoil, power shortages and years of underinvestment. Discussions with the Venezuelan government have included the possibility of taking over operations at the Venalum smelter and securing access to the aluminium it produces, according to Bloomberg News. Mercuria is working with private mining investment firm Heeney Capital on the potential transaction. The two companies have previously worked together on...
Odisha has handed over more than 7,000 acres of land for the Adani Group-International Resources Holding (IRH) joint venture’s proposed USD 11.5 billion integrated aluminium complex. This covers planned alumina refining, aluminium smelting and downstream manufacturing facilities across Sundargarh and Rayagada districts. The land includes around 4,000 acres in Sundargarh district and 3,000 acres in Rayagada district. In the presence of India’s Ambassador to the UAE, Deepak Mittal, the documents were handed over by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. The project is being developed as a 50:50 joint venture between the Adani Group and IRH, a unit of Abu Dhabi-based International Holding Company. It will cover several stages of the aluminium value chain, from alumina refining and aluminium...
Futures: The most-traded SHFE aluminium 2610 contract closed at RMB 24,000 per tonne, down RMB 190 from yesterday's settlement price, a decline of 0.79 per cent. It opened at RMB 24,100.00 per tonne during the day and fluctuated within a range of RMB 23,920-24,100 per tonne. The price traded below MA5 (24,349.00), MA10 (24,303.50), and MA30 (24,041.67), but above MA60 (23,597.08). The short-term upward structure faced resistance and pulled back, with a consolidating correction structure emerging. The short-term moving averages above formed key pressure. The MACD DIF (155.0670) was below DEA (162.3661), and the MACD green bar stood at -14.5982. Bullish momentum weakened somewhat. The core trading range for SHFE aluminium is suggested at RMB 23,700-24,500 per tonne. The LME aluminium 3M...
LME aluminium prices recorded a sharp decline on September 11 compared with the previous trading day, with cash and three-month prices falling by around 2%, while exchange stocks edged lower. The LME aluminium cash bid price slipped to USD 3,273 per tonne on September 11, compared with USD 3,342 per tonne on September 10, marking a 2.06 per cent decline. The cash offer price followed the same trend, falling to USD 3,274 per tonne from USD 3,343 per tonne, also down 2.06 per cent. The weakness extended to the three-month contract. The 3-month bid price fell to USD 3,249 per tonne from USD 3,316 per tonne, representing a 2.02 per cent drop, while the offer price declined to USD 3,250 per tonne from USD 3,318 per tonne, down 2.05 per cent. Further down the forward curve, the December 27 bid...
As of August 31, the monthly average price for A00 aluminium ingots was RMB 23,869.0 per tonne in East China, up 3.34 per cent M-o-M; RMB 24,010.0 per tonne in South China, up 3.79 per cent M-o-M; and RMB 23,762.4 per tonne in Central China, up 3.42 per cent M-o-M, based on Mysteel's assessment. In August, China's aluminium prices fluctuated widely under the shifting macro expectations and tight spot supply, with the monthly average price rising noticeably compared to July. Early in the month, improved overseas macro expectations and a periodic weaker US dollar, coupled with continuous destocking of domestic traders' inventory, drove a rapid rebound in SHFE aluminium prices. Mid-month prices briefly surged but subsequently retreated and consolidated as US inflation data and rate hike...
Bosch Software and Digital Solutions (Bosch SDS) and Dassault Systèmes today announced a collaboration in India to help manufacturing enterprises accelerate digital transformation across product engineering, manufacturing operations and industrial value chains. The collaboration brings together Dassault Systèmes’ industry-leading capabilities across Virtual Twin Experiences, Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), Digital Manufacturing and Manufacturing Operations Management with Bosch SDS’ expertise in contextualized data products, smarter manufacturing transformation, energy optimization, IT/OT integration and machine-level intelligence, and global expertise in Industrial AI solutions and services from both companies. It marks a significant step in enabling manufacturing enterprises to...
Abu Dhabi-based International Holding Company (IHC) and India’s Adani Group have expanded their investment plans in Odisha, outlining INR 2.105 trillion (USD 25 billion) of potential investment across 14 projects spanning metals, critical minerals, energy, chemicals and infrastructure. The agreement, signed during Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi’s visit to the UAE, builds on the companies’ earlier USD 11.5 billion aluminium project announced in July. The broader portfolio includes metal downstream industries, slurry pipelines, critical minerals and rare earths, chemicals and petrochemical derivatives, renewable energy equipment, healthcare, tourism, skills development and industrial and sports infrastructure. The Odisha government estimates the 14 projects could create about...
1. Macro perspective The US-Iran conflict escalated sharply. On September 9, Iran's Revolutionary Guard struck multiple oil tankers and merchant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, causing a significant drop in strait traffic. Brent crude broke through USD 100 per bbl, closing at USD 101.21, while WTI settled at USD 96.05, sharply lifting energy costs for overseas smelting. Fed Chairman Walsh's debut at the Jackson Hole symposium signalled a hawkish stance, and with August nonfarm payrolls beating expectations, CME showed the probability of a 25bp rate hike in September rising to around 60 per cent. US Treasury yields surged, and the US dollar index hit a 13-month high, pressuring base metals. Next week, attention turns to the US CPI on September 11 and the FOMC meeting on September 15-16....
American Rare Earths has appointed Dr Sanja Miskovic as Chief Technical Advisor, with her work focused on process optimisation and recovery as the company advances the feasibility study for its Halleck Creek Rare Earths Project in Wyoming, USA. Miskovic will work on flowsheet development, mineral beneficiation and hydrometallurgical recovery, as well as decisions around scaling up the processing technology. The work is aimed at supporting the planned production of separated rare earth oxides at the proposed Wyoming processing site. American Rare Earths CEO Mark Wall said, "Sanja brings the technical depth and operating instinct we need as we move Halleck Creek through feasibility and toward construction. ” With more than 20 years of experience in minerals and process engineering, Miskovic...
