Aluminium’s downstream and end-user world is having one of those fortnights where a beer can, a luxury sports car, a German construction site and an Indian furnace all end up in the same conversation. The metal may begin its life far upstream, but its real fuss is playing out in cans, cars, extrusions, buildings and factories, where tariffs, trade policy, energy costs and demand cycles decide who wins. This fortnight highlights that aluminium demand is moving towards electric vehicles, lightweight transport and long-life infrastructure, even as packaging and construction feel the pinch of cost and weak activity. Meanwhile, producers from Vietnam to New Zealand are arguing over the oldest question in the business of how much protection, taxation or openness does a downstream industry need...
Malaysia has opened a limited route for raw rare earths exports while pursuing a broader ambition to develop domestic processing capabilities, highlighting the challenge of attracting international investment without giving up opportunities to create more value locally. The country has approved its first application to export unprocessed rare earths under a revised regulatory framework, with the shipment authorised for research and development purposes. Malaysia’s Department of Mineral and Geoscience granted the approval, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, which confirmed the decision in response to a Bloomberg query. The ministry did not identify the applicant or disclose further details. The approval follows new guidelines issued earlier in...
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India is increasing its focus on renewable energy further, owing to the rising tensions in the Middle East, which create concerns about fuel supply. The country depends on imports for about 80 per cent of its oil and gas, now exposed to global risks. It also relies heavily on imports of key minerals required for clean energy technologies. India aims for 500 GW in renewables, including solar, wind, and hydro, by 2030. It is also scaling up battery storage and electric vehicles. The current climate goal of the nation aims for 60 per cent of power capacity from non-fossil sources by 2035, which will further increase demand for minerals. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " While India produces some materials...
In FY2025-26, India hit its record wind power addition of 6.05 GW. This represents a 46 per cent increase compared to the previous year and exceeds the earlier peak recorded in FY2016-17. With this, the country’s total installed wind capacity reached over 56 GW. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " India’s wind capacity growth aids its drive for non-fossil fuels. The 2030 goal is 500 GW, with wind joining solar and other renewables. The government is supporting the wind sector through several measures. It lowered customs duties on turbine parts and raw materials. It offered phased waivers on inter-state transmission charges (ISTS) until June 2028. There is a usage of competitive bidding for project...
India’s aluminium extrusion sector is seeing a steep slowdown, with production levels falling sharply due to ongoing disruptions linked to the West Asia crisis. Industry body Aluminium Extrusion Manufacturers Association of India said monthly output has nearly halved, dropping from around 100,000 tonnes to roughly 50,000-60,000 tonnes. On an annual basis, the sector had been operating at about 1.2-1.3 million tonnes, indicating a significant pullback in activity. According to ALEMAI Secretary Ankur Aggarwal, production cuts are directly linked to supply bottlenecks and fuel shortages. A large share of raw materials, close to 50 per cent, typically sourced from West Asia is currently stuck, as container unloading at ports in the region has come to a standstill, he said. For the global...
Shares of RITES Limited moved higher after the company received a revised contract from National Aluminium Company Limited, linked to coal mine infrastructure in Odisha. The stock rose 6.7 per cent to INR 213.90 (USD 2.31), up from the previous close of INR 200.41 (USD 2.17). Despite the jump, the stock remains down 4.6 per cent over the past year, with a current market capitalisation of around INR 98.65 billion. The updated contract relates to a railway siding project at Sankerjang, part of Phase I of NALCO’s Utkal-D coal mines. RITES is providing detailed engineering and project management consultancy (PMC) services under a deposit work, cost-plus turnkey model. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026" The key...
The South Korean government is planning to make solar panels mandatory on the rooftops of new factories, part of a wider push to speed up its renewable energy transition and reduce reliance on external fuel sources. The proposal, presented by the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, comes as President Lee Jae Myung framed the ongoing Middle East crisis as a turning point for the country’s energy strategy. He said the pace of grid transformation will be critical for long-term energy security. At the centre of the plan is a sharp scale-up in renewable capacity. The government is targeting 100 gigawatts of installed capacity, well ahead of its 2030 goal. Current capacity stands at about 37 gigawatts, so this would mean nearly tripling output within four years. Solar is expected to do...
The Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI) and other industry groups have criticised recent tariff decisions by Donald Trump, saying they give an advantage to imported canned goods over products made in the United States. CMI President Scott Breen said tariffs on aluminium and steel used by US manufacturers remain high, increasing the cost of producing metal cans domestically. In contrast, imported canned foods and beverages are not subject to the same level of tariffs, making them cheaper in the US market. He said this creates an uneven situation for American can makers, farmers, and food producers. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " In his words, “The Trump Administration’s recent aluminium and steel tariff...
Novelis Inc. has moved to standardise its global operations, with 10 of its manufacturing plants achieving the first level of certification under the Novelis Operating System (NOS) by the end of fiscal year 2026. The milestone marks the first tier in a four-level certification framework designed to embed uniformity across the company’s aluminium rolling and recycling footprint. The NOS, built on established manufacturing operating system principles, has been tailored specifically for the operational complexities of aluminium processing, signalling a shift from decentralised improvement practices to a standardised global model. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " "Having world-class operations is...
Ardagh Metal Packaging-Europe (AMP-Europe) has opened a new high-functioning laboratory in Bonn, Germany. This development sets a cornerstone to solidify the customer segment, market support and also the future of the aluminium beverage can industry with potential investments. The plant is designed to monitor food legal compliance, improve end-to-end technical services to customers and production units. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 across the value chain Initiated in October 2025, the project had a detailed plan and infrastructure setup carried out to ensure a smooth transition. Operations were not interrupted while relocating to the new facility, allowing AMP to provide continued and seamless services to its customer...
中文翻译附于新闻末尾，敬请继续阅读。 Rio Tinto and Century Aluminium have raised aluminium billet premiums in the United States by around 12 per cent amid supply disruptions linked to the Iran war, news sources reported on April 8, 2026. The two producers increased premiums by about 3 cents per pound, bout USD 110 per tonne, compared to pre-war levels. Rio Tinto is also pushing customers to sign multiyear contracts at the revised rates. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " The increase reflects disruptions in aluminium flows from the Persian Gulf, which accounts for nearly 20 per cent of US imports. With supply routes under strain, US buyers are turning more to domestic producers, where supply remains tight and prices are...
Russia-based RUSAL, a leading global aluminium producer, is planning to divert a part of its aluminium shipments originally intended for China to Japan and other Asian customer bases, as reported by Reuters. The update is revealed by the sources amid the ongoing geopolitical tensions that are actively redrawing the trade supply chain map and contributing to the skyrocketing premiums. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 across the value chain Aluminium premiums surge and outlook revision by eminent organisations like Goldman Sachs indicate a massive supply crunch and shifting trade flows due to the Middle East conflict, which led to the closure of a key global trade corridor, i.e., the Strait of Hormuz. The criticalities were...
Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES) Limited, under the Ministry of Railways of India, has received a remarkable increase in contract value for its ongoing railway siding consultancy project in collaboration with National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), solidifying its standing in the mining infrastructure development of India. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 across the value chain The revised order has raised the total project value to INR 1.19 billion (USD 12.84 billion), indicating s scope for expansion while reinforcing the long-standing partnership between the two public sector enterprises. Initially, the project that had been awarded INR 797.3 million (USD 8.59 million) on March 31, 2021, has now...
Global oil prices have fallen sharply and stock markets jumped after the US and Iran agreed to a conditional two-week ceasefire deal that includes the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The announcement triggered an immediate sell-off in oil markets, with prices slipping below USD 100 per barrel as concerns over prolonged supply disruptions eased. The global benchmark fell as much as 15 per cent to just under USD 92 per barrel before recovering slightly, while US-traded oil dropped to around USD 96 per barrel. Brent crude declined by as much as 16 per cent before stabilising near USD 94 per barrel, and WTI recorded its steepest fall in nearly six years. Lower oil prices also weighed on aluminium, with LME cash bid prices falling 2.24 per cent to USD 3,519 per tonne and offer prices down...
The US bicycle industry has secured relief from proposed steel and aluminium tariffs, after a sustained campaign led by PeopleForBikes resulted in bicycles and e-bikes being excluded from new Section 232 measures. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " US President Donald Trump confirmed in early April that bicycles, e-bikes and frames will not be treated as derivative products under the tariffs, avoiding what manufacturers said would have been significant costs tied to imported steel and aluminium components. PeopleForBikes said the industry had been pushing back since October against two separate requests that aimed to impose 50 per cent tariffs on the metal content of bikes and frames. The group mobilised...
After the soaring records on April 7 , the London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium prices cooled at the close of the April 8 session, as a reaction to the mutually agreed two-week ceasefire announced by the US President Donald Trump on April 8. With the limited trade flow allowed at the tentative reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, the market panic recorded in the last few weeks has begun to ease, as evident from the figures at the close of the session on April 8. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 across the value chain The LME aluminium cash bid price declined slightly by 2.24 per cent from the previous close, slipping to USD 3,519 per tonne from USD 3,599.5 per tonne. The offer price closed at USD 3,520 per tonne, down 2.22...
Charles Johnson, President and CEO of the Aluminum Association, addressed the ripple effect of the Middle East conflict on the aluminium industry. According to him, global aluminium markets are under the pressure of “elevated” prices as geopolitical tensions in the Gulf region disrupt supply chains. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 across the value chain While the situation has spurred short-term uncertainty with the “ closure of the strait ”, the industry is continuously adjusting through alternative sourcing, recycling and shifting trade flows. Supply chains adjust, but gaps remain In response to the logistical constraints around the Gulf region, as well as the supply crunch due to the disruptions surrounding 9 per cent...
Group Nirmal, a manufacturer of aluminium wire products and steel is moving ahead with a INR 1.5 billion expansion at its Khordha facility in Odisha, focusing on scaling aluminium production capacity. The development comes as Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi virtually performed the groundbreaking ceremony for Unit 4 of Nirmal Wires Pvt. Ltd. during a business conclave organised by the Industrial Promotion & Investment Corporation of Odisha. The event attendees included managing director Nirmal Saraf, along with other directors, Piyush Saraf and Parag Saraf, signalling the company’s resolve in expanding its presence in the state. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " The investment, cleared at the...
Aluminum Corporation of China Limited (Chalco) finalised a share purchase plan led by its controlling shareholder, Aluminum Corporation of China, along with parties acting in concert, with a total investment of about RMB 1.015 billion (USD 145 million). Chalco announced the plan in April 2025 to signal confidence in its future and support minority shareholders. It aimed to buy A shares and H shares worth between RMB 1 billion (USD 145 million) and RMB 2 billion (USD 292 million), with a limit of up to 2 per cent of the company’s total share capital. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " Over the 12 months, Chinalco and its partners purchased a total of 193,029,583 shares through the Shanghai Stock Exchange...
The US government has rejected requests from Ford Motor Company and other automakers seeking relief from aluminium import tariffs, despite ongoing supply disruptions. According to the report, Ford last week petitioned the administration for temporary duty relief until Novelis’ aluminium rolling facility in Oswego, New York, returns to full operations. The facility supplies aluminium sheet for major vehicles, including Ford’s F-150. According to its parent company, Hindalco Industries, the plant is expected to restart operations by the end of the second quarter. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " To manage the shortage, Novelis has been supplying aluminium from plants in South Korea and Europe. These...
