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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LME aluminium surged to a high of US$2,330 per tonne at one point overnight. Benchmark aluminium price on London Metal Exchange further increased to close at US$ 2269 per tonne on Wednesday May 2, from US$2258 per tonne on Tuesday, May 1. SMM sees limited upward momentum with no development in the Rusal sanctions. LME aluminium is expected to trade at US$2,280-2,330 per tonne today. As on May 2, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stands at US$ 2268 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 2269 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$2269 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 2270 per tonne; Dec 19 bid price stands at US$2250 per tonne, and Dec 19 offer price stands at US$ 2255 per tonne. The LME aluminium opening stock stood at 1323425 tonnes. Live Warrants totalled at...
Constellium announced that it will be the primary supplier of aluminium Auto Body Sheet for the new Mercedes-Benz CLS model, which was released at the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show. This four-door coupe entered the market in March 2018. Constellium will provide the coils for the outer trunk lid panels and fenders of the Mercedes-Benz CLS. Constellium’s Surfalex, which offers high surface quality as well as specific hemming and roping properties, has been chosen by Mercedes to achieve the new pioneering structure and look set by Mercedes designers. Surfalex is the ideal material for demanding skin quality for closure parts and provides solutions for the most trendsetting design requests while contributing to lightweighting. “Constellium is proud to contribute to the new Mercedes-Benz CLS with...
New Zealand Aluminium Smelters, controlled by the mining giant Rio Tinto, has declared to restart its fourth potline in next six months to strengthen production capacity at Tiwai Point smelter by about 9.2 per cent and create 32 new jobs in Scotland. The company takes this decision on securing a power contract for 50 megawatts per hour until December 2022 and estimates to boost its production by 85 tonnes a day, which amounts to 31,000 tonnes a year, up by 9.2 per cent from the existing production of 337,000 tonnes. NZAS chief executive Gretta Stephens said, "It is never good to have a cold potline at a smelter as it represents a capital investment that isn't contributing to our economy and our community." Adding to it, he also said, “NZAS is well-placed to offer metal that is...
Jost Gaertner, Manging partner and editor for AluMag Automotive said that battery electric vehicles will bring new possibilities for the aluminium foundries, but there could be an overcapacity situation in the sector. According to him, improving battery technology and forthcoming regulation / ban of ICE vehicles are boosting the outlook for EVs. Components for EV (HEV, PHEV and BEV) offer new opportunities for the aluminium foundries that cast automotive parts. The switch of the automotive industry towards complete electric cars like this Tesla will have a major impact on aluminium foundries as suppliers. However, if the BEV share rise considerably faster than that of the PHEV and Full HEV combined, an overcapacity could hit the aluminium foundries by the end of the next decade. EV...
The Kubal smelter, Rusal’s sole producer of primary aluminium in Sweden, with a production capacity of 134,000 tonnes was suspended from trading on the Nord Pool energy trading market a couple of weeks ago, in the wake of US sanctions on Russian companies. Within a week, the latter, Europe’s leading power market, is striving to find a solution to restore access to Kubal, as reported by Reuters on Friday, April 27, 2018. Nord Pool’s spokeswoman intimidated Reuters via e-mail on Friday that they are now cooperating with Kubikenborg Aluminium to find a solution for it. According to the spokeswoman, the suspension was due to a violation of Nord Pool’s rule book that operates independently of any US sanctions on Rusal. The detail of the violation, however, could not be provided due to the...
Ball Corporation aims to help its customers boost branding on the top aluminium cans with new colourful lids. The company said its proprietary Cameo End Printing will add appeal for consumers looking for their favourite beverages. Jay Billings, Ball Corporation North and Central America vice president of commercial, said: “Ball’s Cameo End Printing delivers both branding advantages for our customers, and functional benefits for consumers. “For our customers, Cameo extends the can’s 360-degree billboard to the top of the package, further increasing brand visibility and offering exciting new possibilities for contests, special promotions and limited release packaging. “For consumers, Cameo makes searching for your favourite brand easier in coolers and convenience stores, where the top of...
Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Executive Council Member of Abu Dhabi, inaugurated one-of-a-kind highly automated and flexible aluminium extrusion plant Taweelah Aluminium Extrusion Company (Talex) on Tuesday, May 1, 2018, at the Kizad Industrial City in Abu Dhabi. Formed through a joint venture between General Holding Corporation (Senaat) and privately-owned Gulf Extrusions Al Ghurair Group, Talex, spreading over 200,000 square meters, is the result of a US$240 million investment, with an estimated annual production capacity of 50,000 tonnes of aluminium profiles and 45,000 tonnes of aluminium billets for regional as well as international markets. The opening ceremony was attended by ministers, key government officials, as well as senior executives representing existing and...
China imported 20.4 million tonnes of bauxite in the first three months of 2018, an increase of 47 per cent year-on year. In March 2018, the country’s import of bauxite increased 44 per cent year-on year to 7.2 million tonnes, based on the import-export data released by General Customs. Data Source: metal.com Guinea still remains the top supplier of bauxite to China. Guinea exported 3.6 million tonnes of bauxite last month, up 96 per cent year-on year .During January-March, the volume increased 118.85 per cent year-on-year to reach 10.5 million tonnes. Guinea has been focussing on its mineral export-based strategy for growth in a big way. The country’s bauxite exports to China surged by 132.35 per cent last year. The West African country is likely to increase its bauxite exports in a...
European Aluminium, the voice of the entire aluminium value chain, regrets US decision to exempt Europe from the 10% tariff on aluminium products for only one month, starting today until the 1 June 2018. While the industry was requesting a permanent exclusion of tariffs, this short temporary extension provides no relief to the industry, which is already in a vulnerable state due to unsustainable increase of overcapacity in China in both the primary and semi-fabricated aluminium sectors. “Unfortunately, the future of our strongly interlinked transatlantic value chains is still clouded in uncertainty. Our industry needs stability to fully benefit from the growing demand for aluminium for strategic applications in packaging, mobility, construction and the electrical sector,” commented...
According to the preliminary estimates from the Aluminum Association say that aluminium demand in the United States and Canada (shipments by domestic producers plus imports) totalled an estimated 2.1 million tonnes through February 2018, up 6.1 per cent YoY. Demand for semi-fabricated (mill) products totalled 1.5 million tonnes, up 6.6 per cent. Apparent consumption (demand less exports) in domestic markets totalled an estimated 1.8 million tonnes, up 4.5 per cent YoY. Exports of aluminium ingot and mill products from the U.S. and Canada (excluding cross-border trade) totalled 554 million pounds through the first two months of 2018, up 20.1 per cent over like-2017, while imports were up 6.4 per cent to 1,575 million pounds. Demand for aluminium semi-fabricated (mill) products in the...
Among many other countries, South Africa had urged for an exemption from the US imported aluminium and steel tariffs claiming that its metal exports to the US is too marginal to pose any national security threat to the latter nor should affect the aluminium and steel manufacturers there. But unfortunately, the request has been disregarded by the Trump government. Although the United States has extended the exemptions for Canada, Mexico, and the European Union until June 1, 2018, and has reached agreements for permanent exemptions for Argentina, Australia and Brazil on Tuesday, May 1, 2018, it did not consider South Africa. South Africa’s Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) spokesperson Sidwell Medupe has expressed disappointment on this matter, saying that despite representing only 1.6...
A Brazilian federal judge yesterday upheld a lower court ruling that ordered Norsk Hydro to cut production at Alunorte alumina refinery by 50 per cent. Federal Judge Arthur Pinheiro Chaves said that failure to honor the conditions set by the courts would result in a daily fine of 1 million reais ($285,000), according to news published by Reuters. Hydro Alunorte, located in the region of Barcarena, is the world's largest alumina refinery and employs around 2,000 people and has a nameplate capacity of an annual 6.3 million tonnes. On average, 14 per cent of its production goes to the domestic market and the other 86 per cent is exported. Hydro holds 92.1 per cent of Alunorte ownership. A regional court issued a ruling on Wednesday, February 28, demanding Hydro to cut production by half at...
LME aluminium registered gain after a drop on Monday. Benchmark aluminium price on London Metal Exchange increased to close at US$2258 per tonne on Tuesday, May 1, up from the previous day’s close at US$ 2224 per tonne on Monday April 30. SMM expects LME aluminium to trade rangebound at US$2,235-2,270 per tonne today if there is no further development on the Rusal sanctions. As on May 1, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stands at US$ 2257.50 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 2258 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$2252 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 2253 per tonne; Dec 19 bid price stands at US$2238 per tonne, and Dec 19 offer price stands at US$ 2243 per tonne. The LME aluminium opening stock stood at 1325925 tonnes. Live Warrants totalled at 925250...
After two days of holiday on the commemoration of Labour Day in China, Shanghai Metal Market unwrapped witnessing a drop in aluminium inventory on Wednesday, May 2, 2018, to close at 2.2 million tonnes. To say the truth, aluminium inventory had been witnessing a fall over the past one week, hovering at 2.231 million tonnes on 23rd of April, down from 2.248 million tonnes, and 2.21 million tonnes on April 26 respectively. Lowering of future price due to less investment on future contract by downstream consumers was the primary reason for the aluminium inventory plunge last time; while arriving of limited deliveries over the Labour Day holiday and rise in shipment ahead of the holiday bears the key responsibility for a further dip this time. Transactions in some of the major Chinese markets...
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C (Alba) presented its financial results for the First Quarter of 2018. The Company’s top-line and bottom-line performance for the first quarter of 2018 were driven primarily by 17% YoY increase in LME prices coupled with favourable management performance. Alba Total Sales stretched by 16% YoY to reach BD 221.3 million (US$ 588 million) versus BD 190.4 million (US$ 506 million) in Q1 2017. The Company posted a Net Income of BD 33.9 million (US$ 90 million) versus BD 25.6 million (US$ 68 million) in Q1 2017, an increase of 32% YoY. During the Annual General Meeting (AGM) which was held on Wednesday 07 March 2018, Alba approved a dividend of BD 36.8 million (US$ 98 million) and paid on 21st March 2018. Alba also streamlined its 2018 Priorities: Focus on Safety Selfie...
U.S. President Donald Trump has postponed the imposition of steel and aluminum tariffs on Canada, the European Union and Mexico until June 1, and has reached agreements for permanent exemptions for Argentina, Australia and Brazil, the White House said on Monday. The decisions came just hours before temporary exemptions from the tariffs on these countries were set to expire at 12:01 a.m. (0401 GMT) on Tuesday. In a statement, the White House said the details of the deals with Brazil, Argentina and Australia would be finalized shortly, and it did not disclose terms. “The administration is also extending negotiations with Canada, Mexico, and the European Union for a final 30 days. In all of these negotiations, the administration is focused on quotas that will restrain imports, prevent...
Most of the base metals remained rangebund before the pre-Labour Day weekend when the China market remains closed. Benchmark aluminium price on London Metal Exchange dropped to close at US$2224 per tonne on Monday, April 30, down from the last week’s close at US$ 2249 per tonne on Friday, April 27. U.S. President Donald Trump has postponed the imposition of steel and aluminium tariffs on Canada, the European Union and Mexico until June 1, and has reached agreements for permanent exemptions for Argentina, Australia and Brazil, the White House said on Monday. London aluminium slipped on Tuesday after the United States delayed the tariffs for some countries and announced permanent exemptions for others. The announcement has raised the prospect of better metal supply, partially releasing the...
Arconic Inc. reported revenues of $3.4 billion for the first quarter 2018, up 8% year over year. Organic revenue was up 4% year over year, driven by higher volumes in the aerospace engines, automotive, commercial transportation, building and construction, industrial and defence markets. Net income stood at $143 million compared to $322 million in the first quarter 2017. First quarter 2018 Operating income was $333 million, up 18% year over year. Operating income excluding special items was $345 million, down 12% year over year due to higher aluminium prices and performance shortfalls in Rings, Disks and Global Rolled Products operations Arconic Chief Executive Officer Chip Blankenship said, “In the first quarter, Arconic delivered solid organic revenue growth and free cash flow in line...
