ASSA ABLOY has agreed to acquire Brazilian aluminium solutions manufacturer Rometal, strengthening its manufacturing presence in Latin America while expanding its portfolio of door systems, furniture fittings and aluminium products. Announced on November 12, 2026, the proposed acquisition would bring an established Brazilian business with approximately 500 employees into the Swedish group's Americas Division. Rometal recorded sales of approximately BRL 332 million (USD 59 million) in 2025, equivalent to approximately SEK 580 million (USD 57.57 million) in ASSA ABLOY's announcement. The purchase price has not been disclosed. ASSA ABLOY described the company's EBIT margin in 2025 as strong and expects the transaction to be accretive to earnings per share from the start. Rometal acquisition...
Finland-based renewable heat technology developer Coolbrook has joined Australia’s Heavy Industry Low-carbon Transition Cooperative Research Centre (HILT CRC) as an affiliate partner, bringing its electrified heating technology into research aimed at decarbonising alumina refining and the wider aluminium industry. The collaboration would explore how high-temperature electric heating can support next-generation alumina refineries, reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Coolbrook would work alongside major alumina and aluminium producers, including Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), Alcoa, Rio Tinto, South32 and Hydro, as well as research organisations of CSIRO and Adelaide University. Initially, it would focus on HILT CRC’s Alumina Refineries’ Next-Generation Transition (AlumiNEXT) project,...
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On the face of increasing aluminium demand across the world, rapid growth of aluminium recycling sector has become imperative to ensure adequate supplies of the metal with more sustainable use of resources. In 2017, the world production of recycled aluminium was estimated at around 20.9 million tonnes, against a production of primary aluminium at 63.4 million tonnes. The world stock of aluminium products, on the other hand, has also been put at some 950 million tonnes, since inception, assuring the long-term availability of aluminium scrap for recycling industry that uses only 5% of the energy when compared to producing aluminium from bauxite ore through smelting process. So, keeping the importance of aluminium recycling in mind and its future prospect, Al Circle, as a responsible...
The US domestic aluminium finished products manufacturers such as automakers and can makers have been in real distress over the past few months on increasing volatile aluminium price range across the world. Series of events like the United States’ tariffs on imported aluminium and steel, followed by the sanctions on Rusal blew a storm to create price upheaval. In the US, the aluminium price jumped highest to 26 per cent in April and remained 12 per cent higher since January. If this price rise sustains, it could affect the prices of aluminium extrusions and rolls, which in turn, would pass on a great impact on the end-user sector with a maximum usage of aluminium, including transportation, construction, electrical and consumer goods. From February 16 to March 23, 2018, the demand for...
The global trade data suggests that Bosnia and Herzegovina will import 33 per cent more alumina in 2018 than last year. Greece is the key country from where country sourced maximum volume of alumina. Greece exported an estimated 165643 tonnes of alumina to Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2017, according to recent statistics. Ireland and Germany exported about 4106 tonnes and 213 tonnes of alumina respectively last year. According to the international trade data Bosnia and Herzegovina imported about 170071 tonnes of alumina in 2017.The figure represented a drop from the previous year’s import volume when it reached 172600 tonnes. This year, the country is estimated to import 226743 tonnes of alumina in 2018, up 33 per cent. The cost of alumina imports in Bosnia and Herzegovina increased in 2017....
The Trump administration is reportedly planning to impose hefty tariffs on steel and aluminium imports from Canada and EU. According to the Wall Street Journal, dropping EU from the exemption list for import tariffs of 25% on steel, and 10% on aluminium may take place as early as Thursday May 31. The Globe and Mail says imposing tariffs on Canada may take place on Thursday itself and it may soon spark a trade war and complicate the negotiations over the North American Free-Trade Agreement. Washington Post first reported Donald Trump’s decision to hit Canada, Mexico and the European Union with tariffs on Wednesday. The news was also confirmed to The Globe and Mail by a Canadian official and a U.S. industry source. This is to be noted that the President has not made an official announcement...
On anticipating the shortage of bauxite availability in China within the next three years, Alumina Limited would consider acquiring new bauxite assets. It would even consider ramping up the production capacities of its existing mines. Alumina and its joint venture partner Alcoa have exposure to bauxite assets in Western Australia, Guinea and Brazil. Mike Ferraro, the company’s chief executive, indicated that he would be interested in growing the company’s bauxite output through organic and possibly inorganic means. He told the Australian Financial Review, "We've got bauxite in Western Australia, Guinea and in Brazil and each of those has different advantages and disadvantages, so I think we would certainly look to not only growing organically those mines for third-party exports, but also...
British group, Liberty Engineering, owned by industrialist Sanjeev Gupta has won its bid to take over AR Industries (ARI), the only French manufacturer of aluminium wheels, in a court ruling. In March, GFG Alliance, led by Liberty Group, submitted the bid to the court administrators for AR Industries at Chateauroux in the Centre-Val de Loire region of France. GFG Executive Chairman Sanjeev Gupta said: “This is a very positive result not just for our business but first and foremost for the workforce at ARI. We’ve been very clear that France is one of the world’s great industrial economies and a key market for us. ARI is a perfect fit for our business and our investment strategy for France. We want to create the kind of sustainable, vertically integrated structure in France that we’ve...
The US dollar index fell from a six-month high to around 94 overnight due to the lower-than-expected employment data and GDP from the US, intensified worries over US-Sino trade conflicts and a rebound in the euro. LME base metals rose for the most part. The contract recovered from the 40-day moving average and closed at US$2265.5 per tonne from US$2260 per tonne on previous closing. LME aluminium traded range-bound last night. It touched a high of US$2,284 per tonne after it was dragged down by its SHFE counterpart. It is likely to retain its range bound pattern today. As on May 30, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stands at US$ 2264.50 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 2265.50 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 2271.50 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$...
China’s primary aluminium inventory has been witnessing a continual decline on limited deliveries to warehouses since the beginning of the month, and today, May 31, 2018, did not display any exceptions. According to the Shanghai Metal Market, including SHFE warrants, the inventory saw a plunge from 2.05 million tonnes to 2.03 million tonnes. Deliveries to warehouses at major markets continued to be limited, SMM learned. This drop in aluminium inventory indicates that it dipped 45,000 tonnes from Thursday, May 24, and fell 20,000 tonnes from Monday, May 28. The week-on-week decline today was relatively slower than the decline of 60,000 tonnes last Thursday, and marked a fifth consecutive week of decline. The table below shows the movements of inventories across the major Chinese cities....
Harsco Corporation has acquired ALTEK Group, a manufacturer and installer of aluminium dross and scrap processing systems, for a purchase price of £45 million (approximately $60 million), plus an additional future consideration, to be paid subject to the future financial performance. Alan Peel, ALTEK Managing Director, said: “With Harsco’s extensive international presence and company infrastructure, Harsco will greatly enhance the ability of ALTEK to provide service and support to its international customer base. This will be particularly helpful as we commercialize our latest technology AluSalt around the world. With very similar and aligned values between the two companies, all of this will provide for a very exciting future for ALTEK with Harsco and the customers we serve within the...
National Aluminum Associations, government officials and major industry players would gather in Montreal to discuss overcapacity “Roadmap” during a summit. The leaders from the Aluminium Associations of Canada, the United States, Europe and Japan will host a summit in Montreal on June 3rd and 4th to address the China overcapacity issues and discuss how it has affected the international trade scenario. This is expected to open up the discussions prior to the G7 meeting later in the week in Charlevoix, Québec. The organizers are of the view that global aluminium industry is facing great challenges considering the current market conditions, and it is vital for the industry to initiate a top level process to address overcapacity through policy changes. They want to find a solution to the...
The European Union seems to be in a difficult spot, as Donald Trump has asked for EU’s voluntary export restrictions on aluminium and steel for granting permanent exemptions from metal tariffs. Initially, while demanding a permanent relief from the US tariffs, the EU had taken a principal stance that it would not want to breach the WTO rules for international trade. This is now making the situation more critical for the EU to give in to President Trump’s demands without losing face. On the other hand, Germany is putting pressure on the EU to move away from a trade dispute with the US, fearing that it might take a toll on both. According to an update from a news agency, Washington and Brussels are working on an informal deal that would cap European steel shipments to the US at 90 per cent...
We have covered in our earlier news reports how China is focussing on the automotive sector for enhancing their manufacturing sector and boost consumption of aluminium and steel. EVs are going to play a very significant role in driving the automotive growth. As reported by Shanghai Metals Market, Suzhou Economic and Information Technology Commission published a notice on May 11 announcing that Suzhou city in Jiangsu province plans to promote the sale of 9,000 new-energy vehicles (NEVs) in 2018. The province will also build 2,245 new charging points in 2018. The promotion target was distributed to local districts including Zhangjiagang, Changshu, and Kunshan. Data from the commission shows a total of 4,561 NEVs and 2,259 charging points in Suzhou were submitted for provincial subsidies....
The production of aluminium flat rolled products in Japan is on the rise. The total flat rolled aluminium products production in April reached 107,000 tonnes, an increase of 4.7 per cent year on year, According to the data released by the Japan Aluminium Association. The country produced 14,000 tonnes of aluminium flat rolled plates for automobiles in April, up 7.1 per cent YoY. Production of aluminium cans came in at 37,000 tonnes, up 3 per cent on the year. Japan produced 65,000 tonnes of aluminium extruded products in April, up 0.1 per cent year on year. As shown by our data, Japan exported 49663 tonnes of aluminium plates, sheets and strips in Q1 2018. The value of export stood at US$207 million. Japan is estimated to export 49144 tonnes and 49575 tonnes of aluminium plates, sheets...
The Australian mining company, AU Capital Mining, co-owned by Pacific Bauxite, has had its exploration licence suspended in the Solomon Islands. Bradley Tovosia, Minister of Mines in Solomon Islands, said the exploration licence was suspended because the company had not had amicable relations with the local communities in Nende. The company last year obtained a license to explore bauxite mining at Nende in the remote eastern province of Temotu. Temotu province of Solomon Islands has been facing growing community unrest over bauxite mining licence and operations. In 2017, Temotu’s former provincial premier, Nelson Omar claimed that his removal from post was because he rejected licenses for mining and logging interests. He had rejected Pacific Bauxite for a business license. "The consent...
Lagune Exploitation Afrique in Ivory Coast reported that it is in talks with a unit of Sumitomo Corp. to build a partnership and develop a bauxite deposit and two alumina plants for 218 billion CFA francs (US$375 million). More details are not available yet other than the fact that Lagune is offering 25 per cent stake in the company. Both the Chief Executive Officer of Lagune Exploitation Afrique, Moumoni Bictogo, and General Manager at Sumimoto’s liaison office for West Africa, Masafumi Tanimoto, have declined to make further comments on the nature of talks between each other. In an interview on Monday, May 28, 2018, at West African nation’s commercial capital Abidjan, Moumouni Bictogo shared; the company is already developing 34.5 million tonnes of Benene deposit in the country’s east,...
The US dollar index surged to a high since November last year at 95.03 overnight and closed 0.47% higher from Monday at 94.85 on the plunging Euro. Base metals went down across the board as a result. LME aluminium contract tumbled to a low of US$2,248 per tonne overnight. The contract plunged below the 40-day moving average after the holiday on Tuesday and closed at US$2260 from US$2282 per tonne on previous closing. It failed to break its rangebound pattern last night. Shanghai Metals Market sees it trading at a range of US$2,250-2,280 per tonne today. As on May 29, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stands at US$ 2259 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 2260 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 2262 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 2263 per tonne; Dec 19 bid...
According to the update by Shanghai Metal Market, sellers in the spot aluminium market in East China showed reluctance in offloading their cargoes on Tuesday, May 29, 2018. Supply was, therefore, down from the previous day and spot discounts slightly narrowed. The SHFE 1806 contract fell as low as RMB 14, 660 per tonne on Tuesday morning, while on Monday morning, May 28, it hovered at RMB 14775 per tonne. In Shanghai, transactions were seen at RMB 14640-14650 per tonne with spot discounts settled at RMB 60 to 50 per tonne to the SHFE 1806 contract, compared to the transactions at RMB 14680-14690 per tonne with discounts of RMB 70 to 60 per tonne on the previous day (May 28, 2018). Transactions in Wuxi and Hangzhou also plunged from RMB 14680-14690 per tonne to RMB 14640-14650 per tonne...
In a local media update, the Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak said that the Russian authorities are developing measures to support the national aluminium industry after the US imposed punitive sanctions on RUSAL. “The measures aimed at supporting our aluminium industry are being developed. I have already met with the business [circles] and discussed that,” Kozak said on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF). In March, US President Donald Trump signed an order imposing tariffs for steel and aluminium imports over national security reasons. This was followed by the imposition of sanctions on Rusal, the world’s biggest aluminium producer and Rusal branded aluminium leading to LME delisting all aluminium stocks supplied by Rusal. Treasury has...
