
A proposed AUD 3.7 billion data centre at the former Hydro Aluminium Kurri Kurri industrial site in New South Wales, Australia, could repurpose a major industrial property for digital infrastructure, with an estimated peak construction workforce of 1,210 people and around 254 ongoing jobs. The Kurri Kurri Data Centre project, proposed at Hart Road, Loxford, is seeking approval for the fit-out and operation of a large-scale data storage facility with a planned power consumption of 550.5 megawatts (MW). The development application, listed as a State Significant Development under reference SSD-128819490, is currently at the public exhibition stage. The proposal highlights how former aluminium industry sites could find new uses as demand for data storage and computing infrastructure expands....
Alcoa is looking to unlock up to USD 1 billion from asset sales and other monetisation efforts by 2030, with a proposed deal to sell part of its Massena East site in New York expected to generate as much as USD 315 million. The plan comes as alumina supplies outside China tighten and global aluminium inventories remain historically low, potentially supporting the company’s market outlook. Alcoa shares (NYSE: AA) traded more than 1 per cent higher overnight ahead of Friday, although they remained down 4 per cent for the week. The stock had risen 5.8 per cent in Friday’s trading following the company’s third-quarter (Q3) 2026 results, which showed stronger earnings, higher aluminium production and improved realised aluminium prices. Massena East deal sets Alcoa’s asset monetisation plan in...
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Metal stocks dazzled on Wednesday, January 14, including industrial metals. The Nifty Metal traded 2.7 per cent higher at INR 11,660.45 levels, with Vedanta stocks gaining 6.1 per cent. From INR 637.20 (USD 7.05) on January 13, Vedanta's share price surged to INR 676 ($7.48), reflecting optimism around company-specific developments. Week-on-week, the stock price rose by 8.65 per cent. To know more about the global primary aluminium industry 2026 outlook, pre-book the report " Global Aluminium Industry Outlook 2026 ” at a special price. Vedanta’s internal reshaping is seen as a fresh source of momentum for the stock. Reports suggest the group is close to completing the regulatory clearances needed for its plan to split into five independently listed companies. Investors widely expect the...

Call it destiny or plain arithmetic, aluminium’s decarbonisation story now hinges on energy prices. The Hall-Héroult smelting process is evidently electricity-intensive, so swings in oil, gas, coal and (crucially) electricity prices feed directly into producers’ margins, and definitely into the calculus for switching smelters to renewables or cleaner fuels. Also read: Global bauxite production refused to blink in 2025, leading to an output exceeding 475 MT Starting with the numbers The IEA’s World Energy Outlook provides the baseline price paths used by markets and planners. Crude oil averaged about USD 79 per barrel in 2024, and under the IEA scenarios, oil will range roughly between USD 33-106 per barrel by 2035, depending on the policy pathway (Stated Policies Scenario vs Current...

Ships leave Guinea’s ports every day loaded with bauxite destined for refineries thousands of miles away, while only a fraction of that ore is ever transformed at home. This contrast captures the essence of Africa’s aluminium story - a sector - rich in resources, steady in operations, yet still waiting for its value chain to come together. Over the past five years, Africa’s alumina capacity has remained unchanged at 0.65 million tonnes, while production has followed a clear cycle of decline and recovery. Output eased from 0.439 million tonnes in 2020 to 0.414 million tonnes in 2021, reflecting a 5.7 per cent year-on-year decline. The downturn intensified in 2022, when production fell to 0.340 million tonnes, a sharper 17.9 per cent contraction from the previous year. The decline extended...

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly recently visited Egypt Aluminium Company to inspect the newly commissioned high-quality aluminium wire production line. The facility, now fully operational, has been installed at a cost of close to USD 17.5 million and marks a significant upgrade in the company’s manufacturing capability. To know more about the global primary aluminium industry 2026 outlook, pre-book the report " Global Aluminium Industry Outlook 2026 ” at a special price. The project was delivered in partnership with Italian engineering firm Properzi and adds a high-quality aluminium wire line with an annual capacity of 60,000 tonnes. According to the Ministry of Public Business Sector, this single addition effectively doubles Egyptalum’s total aluminium wire output to 120,000 tonnes a...

Scotland-based Stirling Distillery is planning to use aluminium bottles to store its whisky. Making this announcement, the company emphasised that metal bottles are more environmentally friendly than traditional glass containers. Delving into research with experts from Heriot-Watt University, the company attempted to explore sustainability options with the aluminium alternative for liquid containers. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with Outlook 2026 insights across the value chain Prompted by sustainability concerns, the distillery explored aluminium alternatives to offer to the customer base. Kathryn Holm of Stirling Distillery explained, “We want to make our distillery as sustainable as possible ahead of our first mature whisky being released in 2027.” The glass...

Just ahead of summer, India is facing a shortage of aluminium beverage cans, which is threatening supplies for soft drinks and beer manufacturers like Coca-Cola and United Breweries Ltd (Kingfisher). Officials in the beverage industry report doubled imports of beverage cans from Sri Lanka and the Middle East to avoid disruptions. This is caused by regulatory delays in aluminium can manufacturing approvals, as well as surging seasonal demand. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with Outlook 2026 insights across the value chain In April 2025, aluminium cans were brought under mandatory Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification through a Quality Control Order (QCO). The step was taken with an aim for freshness improvement, safety and recycling purposes. According to...

Walter has expanded its Tiger·tec Gold thread milling range with a new grade WSM37G, featuring PVD aluminium oxide coating. Rather than focusing on a single application, the new grade has been developed to operate across a wide spectrum of materials and machining conditions, delivering high temperature resistance and extended tool life, according to Walter. To know more about the global primary aluminium industry 2026 outlook, pre-book the report " Global Aluminium Industry Outlook 2026 ” at a special price. The product supports thread milling from a nominal diameter of 16 mm or UNC three-quarters and can be applied to steels, stainless steels, cast iron, non-ferrous materials, heat-resistant superalloys and hardened steels up to 55 HRC across ISO P, M, K, N, S and H materials groups....

LME aluminium prices edged higher on January 13 compared with the previous session, while inventories showed a marginal decline. The LME aluminium cash bid price stood at USD 3,193 per tonne on January 13, up from USD 3,185 per tonne on January 12, marking an increase of 0.25 per cent. The cash offer price rose from USD 3,185.5 per tonne to USD 3,194 per tonne, an increase of 0.27 per cent. In the futures market, the LME aluminium 3-month bid price increased from USD 3,177 per tonne on January 12 to USD 3,183 per tonne on January 13, up by 0.19 per cent. The 3-month offer price also moved higher, rising from USD 3,177.5 per tonne to USD 3,183.5 per tonne, a gain of 0.19 per cent. To know more about the global primary aluminium industry 2026 outlook, pre-book the report “ Global Aluminium...

Scatec ASA, a Norwegian renewable energy developer, has signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC) for 1.95 GW of solar capacity and 3.9 GWh of battery energy storage systems (BESS), which will strengthen Egypt's utility-scale renewable power infrastructure. The project will combine solar generation with large-scale battery storage to deliver continuous renewable baseload power, addressing intermittency challenges typically associated with solar energy. In addition, Scatec will develop two standalone BESS facilities to support grid stability and balancing services. Once operational, the development is expected to become the largest combined solar and BESS installation in Africa and Scatec’s largest investment to date. To know more...

Global brewing giant AB InBev is set to reclaim a 49.9 per cent stake in US aluminium can manufacturing plants under a pre-existing contractual right, tightening its grip on packaging operations as tariff and cost pressures continue to mount. The brewer owns a global brand portfolio led by Anheuser-Busch. The shareholding is related to properties that were sold in 2020 to Apollo Global Management Inc., a New York-based company that reportedly spent USD 3 billion for the Metal Container Corp. (MCC) factories. AB InBev, a corporation located in Belgium, maintained operational control over the facilities, enabling uninterrupted production and providing flexibility to expand ownership when circumstances called for it. Also read: Constellation keeps steady with Q3 after Q1 troubles and Q2...

Australia has adopted a more assertive stance in the global contest for strategic resources, announcing plans to establish a national stockpile of critical minerals. According to a report on January 13, the federal government confirmed that it would commit AUD 1.2 billion (USD 805 million) to purchase and hold key minerals from domestic producers, in a bid to shore up defence preparedness, support advanced manufacturing, and lessen exposure to China’s dominance of the sector. The announcement was made jointly by Treasurer Jim Chalmers, Resources Minister Madeleine King and Trade Minister Don Farrell. Also read: Post-Venezuela’s capture, 7 countries tremble, fearing for their independence and their reserves The prime materials of the reserves will be rare-earth elements, antimony and...

The Volta Aluminium Company Limited (VALCO) announced the plan for expanding its smelter operational capacity to 40 per cent from the current 23 per cent. The initiative supports Ghana’s downstream value-addition chain, overcoming the limitations of exporting primary aluminium only. This strategic shift has helped VALCO evolve from its previous role of primary aluminium producer to one also focused on broader industrial development and financial boost. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with Outlook 2026 insights across the value chain The initiative, called the Continuous Cast Rod (CCR) project, will contribute 1 per cent to Ghana’s GDP, which is approximately USD 1 billion, through expanded aluminium-based industries. Moreover, it has the potential to generate more...

Canyon Resources has appointed Ernst & Young as its new external auditor, in place of HLB Mann Judd. This appointment has been conducted after the board of the company decided to change the previous auditor after a formal review and approval from the regulators. To know more about the global primary aluminium industry 2026 outlook, pre-book the report " Global Aluminium Industry Outlook 2026 ” at a special price. Canyon Resources has chosen one of the Big Four firms as the company is expanding its operational base and it tends to start its initial phase of bauxite production. This change shows that the company is moving towards strengthening its corporate governance and financial reporting structure, which would be beneficial to handle all its operational bases. Although the auditor has...

Ashapura Minechem of India is capitalising on a structural shift in global aluminium supply as bauxite is moving to the centre. With its operational base in Guinea, the company exported 3.38 million tonnes of bauxite in H1 FY26, almost meeting the full FY25 volume. With captive port capacity set to expand to 27 million tonnes by FY27, and plans to lift exports to 15 million tonnes by FY28, it is expected to dominate mining and market. H1 FY26 revenue rising by 75 and net profit up 136 per cent, Ashapura emerges as a profitable bauxite supplier amid global market constraints. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with Outlook 2026 insights across the value chain Ashapura evolves into a distinct mineral base Founded in 1982, Ashapura started as a bentonite-focused company...

In recent years, people often explained aluminium prices using familiar demand stories like construction cycles, auto production, sentiment from China, and seasonal buying. However, as we approach 2026, a larger factor affecting price behaviour is hard to overlook: supply is less flexible than it once was. Even in a slower-growing economy, aluminium prices can remain elevated if the market lacks enough capacity to absorb shocks. This is exactly what we are seeing now: tightness driven by a mix of structural constraints and not just one-time disruptions. AL Circle’s upcoming Global Aluminium Industry Outlook 2026 frames this tightening as the result of multiple interconnected factors across the value chain, not one isolated event. Structural deficits are replacing cyclical balance It is...

The US has launched an industrial tactic to save its last domestic alumina refinery while building out critical gallium capacity, conclusively deemed a dual move with strategic importance of both feedstock and advanced materials for defence, aerospace and high-tech sectors. Washington has committed USD 450 million in public and private funding to revive the Atlantic Alumina Company’s (ATALCO’s) Gramercy, Louisiana facility, securing alumina production and adding what could become America’s first large-scale gallium production circuit. Also read: Post-Venezuela’s capture, 7 countries tremble, fearing for their independence and their reserves The Department of Defense (DoD) is set to invest USD 150 million in preferred equity in ATALCO and the additional USD 300 million will be paired with...

For over a year now, the Australian alumina market has rarely stayed out of the headlines. Sometimes due to capacity curtailment at refineries and sometimes because of the volatile Free On Board (FOB) price, which swung dramatically within a span of a year from as high as USD 700 per tonne in Q4 2024 to USD 317 per tonne in Q4 2025. Factors like freight rates and currency movements to investor sentiment pull at the price lever, yet the fundamental triad of production, demand, and supply plays the most critical role in directing the price movement. Australia’s benchmark role in the global alumina trade For being the world’s second-largest supplier of alumina after Guinea, Australia’s alumina FOB price is widely treated as a benchmark for long-term contracts, hedging strategies, and spot...

After a challenging start to FY26, owing to the prevailing US tariff constraints, Constellation Brands Inc. exceeded Wall Street expectations within the third quarter (Q3). The company exhibited effective strategy and achieved Earnings Per Share (EPS) of USD 3.06 in Q3, beating analyst forecasts despite continued pressure on sales and the market. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with Outlook 2026 insights across the value chain Q3 picks up momentum Momentum in Q3 as Constellation exceeded earnings expectations despite continued top-line pressure. For the quarter ended November 30, net sales declined 10 per cent Y-o-Y to USD 2.22 billion, while adjusted EPS of USD 3.06 beat analyst forecasts. The beer sector kept outperforming steadily in the broader beverage alcohol...