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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After registering a record low in eight months, LME aluminium touched a high at $2,063 per tonne last Friday. After the announcement that the U.S. sanctioned and froze Oleg Deripaska's assets subject to US jurisdiction, aluminium prices on the London Metal Exchange gained by 2.2% at the close on Friday April 6. However, the initial upturn started correcting and the contract finally closed the trading day at US$1967 on Friday, April 6. London aluminium rallied two per cent on Monday’s trading and is expected to rise further. SMM expects LME aluminium to trade between $2,060-2,100 per tonne today while traders will be on a buying spree due to uncertainties regarding Rusal aluminium. As on April 6, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stands at US$ 1966 per tonne, LME official settlement price...
Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) has reported a year-on-year increase in both production and sales for the first quarter of 2018. The company’s sales volume reached 251,637 tonnes in Q1 2018, an increase of 3.6 per cent Year-over-Year (YoY). Production stood at 259,399 tonnes, up 4.3 per cent YoY In addition, the company closed the quarter with Value-Added (VA) sales averaging 58 per cent of total shipments, from 56 per cent for the same period in 2017. Commenting on Alba’s Sales volume and Production for Q1 2018, Alba’s Chief Executive Officer, Tim Murray said: “Despite the market’s volatility, we continue to capitalize on our culture of ‘always do better than necessary’ and were able to stretch our targets thanks to our operational efficiency and dedication of our employees.” We aim to continue...
With a growing collection of single-serve packaging systems in the market, aluminium slugs are expected to secure a positive opportunity in the packaging industry. Healthcare, paint, food & beverage, pharmaceuticals and many other industries are looking at an increasing use of aluminium slugs for having eco-friendly and recyclable properties. Moreover, they are widely available and easy to be reshaped for the convenience of the customers. Market dynamics: The aluminium slugs market is expected to witness an optimistic growth over the forecast period due to the rising demand for smaller and convenient slugs for extrusion. According to the anticipation, personal care and beauty products will bring aluminium slugs more into use for having an extended shelf life and a safe approach to...
The Trump administration imposed punitive sanctions on Friday April 7, which includes seven Russian oligarchs, 12 companies they own or control, as well as 17 senior Russian government officials. The sanctions are an extension of US sanctions passed in response to Russia’s 2014 invasion of Crimea, and were called for under a law passed by Congress last year. The U.S. government included Russian magnate Oleg Deripaska and his aluminium company Rusal on its sanctions blacklist. This is expected to have a strong impact around the world because his business empire has a global footprint and counts major multinationals as partners. Acording to U.S. administration, Mr Deripaska and eight of his companies were placed under sanctions as they were “benefit[ing] from the Putin regime and play[ing]...
American manufacturers across multiple sectors use both foreign and domestic steel and aluminum in their production processes. According to US Geological Survey, in 2017, imports made up 61 per cent of aluminium consumption in the U.S. and total crude and semi-finished aluminium import stood at 6.3 million tonnes. The tariffs are creating worries among the US automakers, can makers and construction industries and construction material suppliers. US automakers buy much of their raw steel and aluminium domestically, but they import some of the auto components from other countries. Duties have created a great deal of supply chain uncertainty for automotive-sector companies. The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has announced procedures whereby U.S. consumers of steel and aluminium can...
At the commencement of e-auctions, Odisha Mining Corporation offers 190,000 tonnes of bauxite secured from its Kodingamali mines in Southern Odisha. This maiden attempt of OMC to sell bauxite at e-auctions has evoked buying interests from many alumina refinery owners, both within and outside the state. "We have received the participation of BALCO (Bharat Aluminium Company), Hindalco for its units at Muri and Belgaum and Anrak Aluminium at the bauxite e-auctions. As per the policy finalized, 30 per cent of our saleable bauxite would be liquidated through auctions”, said R Vineel Krishna, managing director, Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC). This is not the first time Anrak Aluminium has decided to source bauxite from OMC. Earlier also, the refinery had turned to Odisha Government for a...
Century Aluminum, a global producer of primary aluminum has created a buzz with an announcement that it is going to invest US$116.5 million for the improvement of one of its smelters in Hawesville, Kentucky and offer jobs to 250 personnel. This announcement was made on Wednesday April 4, 2018 by Governor Matt Bevin, where he said that the company will upgrade its smelting technology and train new and existing employees to use the new equipment for producing aluminium required for aerospace, defense, and electrical industries, reported by The Messenger-Inquirer of Owensboro. On the advent of this news, many county leaders and business owners have started analysing its potential impact on the market. Hancock County Industrial Foundation Director Mike Baker said that this enhancement of...
Norsk Hydro completes s acquisition of Arconic’s two extrusion plants in Brazil on April 2, 2018, strengthening Hydro’s downstream position in Brazil and creating a solid platform for further growth. The two extrusion plants at Utinga and Tubarão in southern Brazil that belonged to Arconic have one casthouse, seven extrusion presses ranging from 7 to 14 inches, and value-added capabilities. He plants have more than 600 employees. After completing the acquisition of Sapa, Hydro has lined up the growth solutions of its Extruded Solutions business and the transaction is in line with that and will strengthen Hydro’s downstream position in Brazil. “We believe in the importance of being close to our customers to offer high-quality customized extrusions and local support. With the acquisition of...
Turkey's Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci recently said U.S. President Donald Trump’s imposition of a 25 per cent tariff on imported steel and a 10 per cent tariff on aluminium is not acceptable to Turkey. Turkey mostly exports aluminium rolled products globally. Assan Alüminyum is Tukey’s leading manufacturer in the flat rolled aluminium sector, producing flat rolled products (coil, sheet and foil) since its establishment in 1988. Assan Alüminyum accounts for more than half of the flat rolled aluminium production in Turkey and exports to more than 70 countries around the world. Here, we are trying to analyse the export trends of aluminium plates, sheets, and strips in Turkey to understand if there is any major upturn or downturn in the export market. We would also try to list out the...
As a retaliatory move to the US tariffs on imported aluminium and steel, China has revived its aluminium scrap policy and imposed 25 per cent tariffs on imported aluminium scraps. This has already created mayhem among the countries who export aluminium scraps to China, including the United Kingdom. The British Metals Recycling Association (BMRA) warns that this situation is affecting the aluminium scraps prices in the UK. President Donal Trump’s decision to impose tariffs on China’s aluminium and steel imports in an attempt to protect American smelters has engendered fear of a trade war between the two countries, which in the long run may not spare the UK. The BMRA said that the continuing lack of clarity over the US and China’s tariffs issues and the latter’s recent decision to...
According to a Bloomberg report, Trump administration’s 25 per cent duty on about $50 billion worth of imported goods will hamper growing export of Chinese-assembled cars to the U.S. auto market. A small number of Chinese-made cars make way to the U.S. market, but the number has been on the rise. Volvo Cars started importing S60 sedans from China in 2015. General Motors Co. also imported Buick Envision SUV and Cadillac CT6 plug-in hybrid in small numbers. According to Autodata Corp, about 4,367 Envisions were sold in the U.S. last month, less than 1.5 per cent of GM’s total sales, plus only 17 plug-in Cadillac CT6s. “At this point, the decision would put on hold any plans to import cars,” said Jeff Schuster, senior vice president of forecasting for LMC Automotive, adding that “it’s really...
Turkey’s Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci announced on Thursday April 5, 2018 that Ankara, the capital state of Turkey has got in touch with the United States, seeking exemption from the tariffs on imported aluminium and steel. "Our contacts [with the U.S.] continue through writing, telephone and our embassy in the U.S. and by all other means," Zeybekci told reporters after a meeting with Sudan's Agriculture and Forests Minister Abdullatif Ahmed Mohamed Ijaimi in the capital Ankara. The minister said 25 per cent tariffs on imported steel and 10 per cent on imported aluminium, as levied by the US in March, were totally unacceptable for Turkey. "The U.S. claims that 'While I fulfil all kinds of obligations related to the security of the world, the other countries do not spend on defense...
Vedanta, a global diversified metals and mining company, plans to sign a long-term contract with Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) to haul bauxite for its Lanjigarh (Kalahandi district) alumina refinery. However, the company is perplexed about the escalation of the transport cost of procuring raw material from OMC’s recently opened mine on the Kodingamali plateau. The estimated transport cost is INR 1000 to INR 1200 per tonne because of the absence of direct rail route between Lanjigarh alumina refinery and Kodingamali mines. This may lead to bauxite price rise by more than 100 per cent within the time it reaches Lanjigarh plant. “Logistics is an issue. In a competitive market, when companies like Nalco and Hindalco have refineries next to their captive mines, and have the advantage of...
The most dreaded downturn in aluminium that was worrying analysts during the peak period in 2017 seems to be approaching. Trump’s trade restrictions on import acted as a catalyst in the already volatile meal market. LME continues downward trend without any strong fundamental in the international market. After losing its position of US$2,000 per tonne the LME aluminium contract finally closed much lower at US$ 1969 per tonne on April 5. It is likely to extend its downward trend in the light of growing trade tension. There is no clear indication of further stability in price. According to Metal Bulletin analyst Andy Farida, "With no sign that global on-exchange stock levels are declining or that there will be a toned-down approach from the US or China on fresh tariffs, LME aluminium is...
Hydro will host a combined analyst and press conference at its corporate headquarters at Drammensveien 260, Oslo, on Monday April 9. The presentation will be hosted by President and CEO Svein Richard Brandtzæg. Representatives from both the internal task force and the external environmental consultancy SGW Services will also present their reports. Alunorte is in dialogue with the environmental authorities of Pará to resume normal operations in the refinery and the bauxite residue plant. In addition, Alunorte is seeking an agreement with the public prosecutor, Ministério Público. Ministério Público published their counterproposal for an agreement on 26 March 2018. This proposal will be evaluated by the company. As reported by Hydro website, inspections conducted by several local, state and...
Capral Aluminium, the largest aluminium extruder in Melbourne, Australia, with a national footprint of five extrusion plants operating eight press lines, five powder coating lines, one anodising line and 7.2 hectare plot of land boasting three sprawling warehouses, earns a remarkable recognition in transport industry for providing strong, flexible and lightweight building materials to trailer manufacturers, reported by Trailer Mag. While the company takes pride in the field of various innovative technologies used in the automotive market, the new aluminium processing equipment that can extrude up to 400mm CCD and offers DNV certification adds a feather to its hat. Mark Murray, National Market Manager Industrial Products at Capral said that the company intends to further assist the marine...
According to the estimates of the Ministry of Mines, bauxite production in India further fell by 16.34 per cent in 2017-18, totalling 20.63 million tonnes, after a decline of 12.3 per cent in 2016-17. On the other hand, Ministry further updated that the total domestic consumption of primary aluminium remained same in 2017-18 as that of 1.55 million tonnes in 2016-17. According to a senior aluminium industry executive, the sudden fall of bauxite production in India is due to the decrease of export to China. Earlier China used to import a significant amount of bauxite from India but now Australia and Guinea have become significant bauxite exporters to China due to better quality and low cost. Moreover, the domestic aluminium consumption remained low over the past few years. Hence, there had...
Altech Chemicals Limited has been aiming to become one of the world’s largest suppliers off 99.99 per cent (4N) high purity alumina (HPA), a high value, high margin and highly demanded chemical ingredient required for synthetic sapphire production. With that aim, it had exercised its options to purchase the freehold land on October 17, 2017. But the settlement of the purchase was subject to a number of conditions including the subdivision of the registered land title, the issuing of title certificates for the new lots created, and the final payment of the purchase price. Today the company announces that it now wholly owns subsidiary Altech Meckering Pty Ltd. after completing approximately 92 hectares of freehold land purchase, covering granted mining lease M70/1334, at Meckering, Western...
