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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According to latest figures from the US Census Bureau and US International Trade Commission, aluminium scrap exports by the U.S. rose in the first three months of this year. Total exports by the U.S. stood at 386, 910 tonnes in Q1 2018, up 9 per cent from the same period previous year. U.S. exports of aluminium scrap to China reduced in the first quarter. China imported 177, 553 tonnes of aluminium scraps, a decrease of 7.2 per cent from the same period previous year. India’s imports of aluminium scrap increased 146.8 per cent to 27, 516 tonnes in Q1 2018. Malaysia imported 20, 179 tonnes of aluminium scraps, up 370 per cent. South Korea and Mexico purchased 49, 723 tonnes (+13.6 per cent) and 39, 292 tonnes (+20.4 per cent) of aluminium scrap respectively in the first quarter of 2018.
Followed by experiencing windfall gains from booming metal prices at LME, state-owned integrated aluminium complex Nalco now aims at improving its profitability further after Utkal D block becomes operational. Nalco was given two captive coal blocks – Utkal D and E – with a combined deposit of 200 million tonnes, out of which, the former is expected to start operating from the end of the year or beginning next year and reduce Nalco's aluminium production cost by 25 per cent by providing the necessary amount of coal as required energy, aiding company to save up to US$500 or INR 35,000 per tonne of aluminium churned out at Nalco’s 0.46 million tonne smelter at Angul. “Most of the statutory clearances for the block are in place and it will be a game changer for the company”, said TK Chand,...
Vietnam’s imports of aluminium bar rods and profiles increased during the last three years. The country imported about 2 million tonnes of aluminium bar rods and profiles in 2017. The figure represented an increase from the previous year’s import volume when it reached 1.5 million tonnes. The aluminium bar rods and profiles import is again expected to rise reaching 3 million tonnes by December end. Aluminium bars accounts for 4.2 per cent of total imports of the country. The major countries from where Vietnam has been importing its aluminium bar rods and profiles include China, Mexico, the USA, Malaysia, South Korea, and Thailand. According to recent estimates, in the first quarter of 2018, Vietnam’s aluminium bar rods and profiles import reached an estimated total of 629540 tonnes. The...
Two sustainable packaging innovations from Amcor that boost efficiency and improve consumer convenience have won 2018 Alufoil Trophies at the European Aluminium Foil Association awards. The company’s PolyInert laminates, which enable sensitive pharmaceuticals to be packaged in stick-pack form, won the Resource Efficiency category, and AluFix Retort Xtra, the newest addition to the successful AluFix range, won the Technical Innovation award. PolyInert Laminates This material helps keep pharmaceutical patients safe because its stable and inert high barrier doesn’t interact with or absorb active pharmaceutical ingredients and keeps medication effective longer. The panel also praised the sustainability of the PolyInert stick-pack format, noting that “it delivers a huge saving in material use...
Japan’s LIXIL Group is worried about the current developments that are taking place in the global aluminium market causing volatility in aluminium prices. The inflated prices driven by the U.S. trade actions and sanctions on United Company Rusal are creating tension in the company. The company, according to the CEO is however not concerned about procuring the metal. Aluminium prices had a sharp rise since the United States imposed sanctions on Rusal, one of the world’s biggest aluminium producers and suppliers. LIXIL makes aluminium sash windows and buys about 160,000 tonnes of aluminium a year. The company expects aluminium prices to hover around 250,000 yen (US$2,289) per tonne in FY 2019 in comparison to 234,000 yen (US$2,128) a year earlier. “We don’t expect aluminium prices to fall...
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is to make an announcement for aluminium project funding on Thursday, May 10, 2018, at Saguenay, along with Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard and Rio Tinto’s executives. The details of the project are not known yet other than the fact that it will start ahead of by-election call in Quebec region. This move by Justin Trudeau, however, could not avoid going through sharp criticisms from opposition parties. The latter is of the opinion that the Liberal Party is playing politics to influence the outcome of the impending vote in Chicoutimi-Le Fjord, a riding that has been vacant since Dec. 1, 2017. NDP MP Alexandre Boulerice also thinks that this upcoming aluminium project announcement with Rio Tinto has an indication of electoral opportunism, despite his...
Bauxite Resources Limited has received advice from legal counsellor that the rejection of the proportional takeover bid made by Mercantile OFM Pty Ltd (Mercantile) at the Company’s general meeting held on 23 March 2018 will not be applicable to the Mercantile bid. The board has accepted this advice and, as such, has resolved that Mercantile’s bid remains valid notwithstanding the outcome of the resolutions considered at the General Meeting. Company Shareholders who accept Mercantile’s offer under the bid will have their remaining 50% shareholding continue to trade on the ASX under the new ASX share code BAUE. BRL’s directors however recommended that the shareholders should reject the offer. They argued that the offer is for only 50% of the shareholding and less than BDO’s preferred value....
After showing gain and closing at US$2384 per tonne on Tuesday May 8, LME aluminium closed down at US$ 2295 per tonne on Wednesday May 9. The metal surged to a high of US$2,370 per tonne from a low around US$2,280 per tonne overnight. Shanghai Metals Market expects it to test support at the five- and 20-day moving averages and trade at US$2,320-2,370 per tonne today. LME aluminium stocks declined to a low level of 2007 yesterday. According to news published by Reuters, as a result of an LME ban on Rusal metal, aluminium stocks "are back to the low levels of 2007, with only 864,000 tonnes left on warrant", Malcolm Freeman, CEO of KingdomFutures, wrote in a note. As on May 9, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stands at US$ 2293 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 2295 per...
As shipments grew in some of the major Chinese markets like Wuxi and Foshan, China’s primary aluminium inventory again shrank from 2.21 million tonnes on May 7, 2018, to 2.196 million tonnes on Thursday, May 10, 2018, according to Shanghai Metal Market. On May 7, the inventory had risen from 2.2 million tonnes on May 2, 2018, however, plunged again on May 10 due to rising shipments. As a consequence, some of the Chinese cities also witnessed a shrink in their inventories, such as follows: On the other hand, according to the update from SMM, the average A00 aluminium ingot price dropped further to RMB 14520 per tonne on Thursday, May 10, 2018, from RMB 14560 per tonne on May 8, 2018. The prices are expected to range between RMB 14500 per tonne and RMB 14540 per tonne, with spot discounts...
The Future Aluminium Forum opened its door to industry delegates in Milan yesterday, May 8, at Hotel Michelangelo. The Forum intends to discuss what industry 4.0 means to the future of the aluminium industry and how it can assist in its quest for greater efficiencies. Delegates from major aluminium companies and associations are gathering at the venue to join this debate on applications of various Industry 4.0 architectures like AI, Internet of Things, cloud computing, data analysis etc to ; hear from experts and network with solution providers and industry peers. The Future Aluminium Forum discussions will highlight how Industry 4.0 and ‘smart manufacturing’ will revolutionise aluminium manufacturing and processing and analyse the benefits of implementing Industry 4.0 architecture in the...
The Queensland Resources Council has welcomed a new four-year export deal secured for Queensland bauxite with one of China’s largest integrated aluminium companies. QRC Chief Executive Ian Macfarlane said the Queensland resources sector contributed $55 billion – or 78% – of Queensland’s $70 billion exports over the last 12 months, and deals like the one Metro Mining have secured with Xinfa further strengthens that contribution. “We are seeing strong double-digit growth in resource exports from Queensland. We have the coal, minerals and LNG that the world needs,” he said. “Stable policy and continued access to resource will continue to underpin the sector’s contribution not only to Queensland exports, but the wider economy and employment.” “Importantly the Bauxite Hills Mine, north of...
Magna has opened its new aluminium casting facility in Telford to supply automotive aluminium products to Jaguar Land Rover, a leading vehicle manufacturer in the U.K. and Magna’s long-time customer. The aluminium die casting plant will use Magna's innovative high-pressure vacuum die casting process to produce a number of advanced lightweight aluminium castings. The lightweight aluminium castings help maximize strength and stiffness and minimize weight. The 225,000 square foot aluminium casting facility is expected to create 300 jobs in Telford. “With this new aluminum casting facility, we have established a world-class center of excellence to bring the most advanced structural casting technologies to the U.K.,” said John Farrell, President of Cosma International. Ben Goater, General...
The 49.8 metre Aluminium Classsuperyacht White has been delivered to her owner following the successful completion of her sea trials, Heesen Yachts has revealed. Originally built on speculation as part of the yard's 500 Aluminium class, this sleek motor yacht was sold in October 2017. Her interior, which comes in just below the 500GT mark, was designed by Cristiano Gatto, while the fast and comfortable hull was created by the yard’s in-house naval architects. Exterior styling comes courtesy of regular Heesen Yachts collaborator Frank Laupman and his Omega Architects studio, and the yard describes the look as “an emblem of sporty elegance”. Abberley Luxury Yachts, which represented the owner’s commercial interests during the construction phase, added, “This is the moment we have been...
China’s domestic aluminium scrap prices are likely to stay high with a small upward room in the short term as supplies with invoices would be further tightened after the authority imposed broad-based inspections on all scrap materials imported from the US from May 4, SMM believes. China’s customs also put China Certification and Inspection Group (CCIC)’s operations at North America under A-level risk alert for one month from May 4. This means that China would not be able to import scrap from the US due to a lack of CCIC certificate for one month. This move would see secondary aluminium producers that mainly rely on aluminium scrap imports suffer the most. Many secondary aluminium producers increased their export sales earlier this year as China decided to levy a 25% tariff on aluminium...
We recently covered a news update that existing supply deals with Rusal’s Aughinish alumina refinery in Ireland would resume as the U.S. had extended the deadline for US and non-US citizens to wind up business with Rusal to late October. However, Minister for Business Heather Humphreys said that the situation regarding Aughinish Alumina still remained “critical”. She held a series of meetings with members in the Trump administration including commerce secretary Wilbur Ross on the status of the refinery. Ms Humphreys said that the deadline extension had given some “breathing space,” to the refinery but the situation remained critical. “The sanctions have inadvertently put the company’s future in jeopardy, and we’re facing a potentially devastating impact on employment in the regional...
The global aluminium foil market is poised to show strong growth for the next five years. Technavio's analysts forecast the global aluminium foil packaging market in food and beverages industry to grow at a CAGR of 5.58% during the period 2018-2022. South Korea’s exports of aluminium foils are expected to increase in 2018.China imports substantial amount of aluminium foil from the country. According to the recent statistics, China imported an estimated 16457 tonnes of aluminium foil in last year. As shown by our data, South Korea exported 73454 tonnes of aluminium foils in 2016, which decreased to total at 72312 tonnes in 2017. For the full year of 2018, the volume of foil export is forecasted to increase to total at 76694 tonnes. The total value of export stood at USD 612 million and USD...
According to Shanghai Metals Market, bauxite supplies are tightening in Shanxi province, the main bauxite producing area in north China. Supply of bauxite with an alumina/silicon ratio above 4.5 was short in the market, as the Shanxi government started checks on illegal mining across the province. The drive that started on March 1 to protect ore resources, has suspended much operations across most bauxite mines. Some of the closed mines are Jiaokou’s Xishan mine, Taohua mine, Xiaoyi’s Yangquanqu mine and Xiaokuang . Xiangwang mine is producing bauxite grades that have lower alumina content than required. SMM expects bauxite prices in Shanxi to rise RMB 40-60 per tonne in the short term and RMB 20 per tonne in May. SMM also learned that an alumina plant raised its bauxite purchasing prices...
Novelis Inc., the world leader in aluminium rolling and recycling, reported record results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2018. The company reported net income of $106 million for the fourth quarter and $635 million for the full year. The increase is driven by its focused strategy to improve operational efficiencies, increase shipments of premium products, and make key investments to grow automotive capacity. Excluding tax-effected special items in both years, Novelis reported net income of $101 million in Q4 and $420 million in fiscal year 2018. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018, net sales increased 17% over the prior year to $3.1 billion, driven by higher average aluminium prices, higher total shipments, and a favorable impact from record automotive shipments. Shipments of...
