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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The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) announced that it had made final finding that imports of aluminium foil from China harm domestic industry. As a result, the U.S. Department of Commerce will issue unfair trade orders on aluminium foil imports from China imposing antidumping duties ranging from 48.64 to 106.09 percent and countervailing duties ranging from 17.14 to 80.97 percent. Image Source: Aluminum Association Heidi Brock, president & CEO of the Aluminium Association said: “Today’s decision is a victory not only for U.S. foil producers but also for the rules-based trading system. When companies have confidence that our trade rules are being enforced they have the confidence to invest and grow.” “The ITC’s determination will move the foil industry toward a level playing...
UC RUSAL announced that new high strength wrought scandium aluminium alloys have entered the test phase that is held in cooperation with customers from the shipbuilding industry. The unique Al-Mg-Sc composition of the new alloys was developed by UC RUSAL and the Institute of Light Materials and Technologies. Its main competitive advantage is that it reduces the required scandium content three-fold while preserving the improved properties usually associated with scandium aluminium alloys. The new alloys are thus cheaper while still delivering the best possible strength, corrosion resistance and welding seam strength characteristics. This means that the new alloys will be much more accessible rather than being an upscale product. The company's been working on the project for 4 years, having...
Indian aluminium producers have urged US government to exclude them from the new tariff as aluminium imports from India do not affect U.S. national security and domestic industry. U.S. President Donald Trump last week signed proclamation that imposed 10 per cent levy on imported aluminium. The Aluminium Association of India (AAI) has written to the Union ministry of commerce & industry to grant an exemption from the new import tariff. “The global leaders of European Union countries and other close allies of US like UK, Japan and Korea are taking up this matter with the US government, seeking individual exemptions. In line with other nations, this individual exemption from the US tariffs shall also be sought for India to support the Indian aluminium industry since the tariffs shall render...
The data on China's economy in January and February 2018 were released yesterday by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Vice president of Zhongda Futures, Jing Chuan, remained bullish on the development of China's economy. He added that the rapid growth in value added applications in the industrial sector suggested that industrial consumption was picking up, and this is likely to give support to the metals market, including steel and aluminium. Jiang Xingchun, director of Soochow Futures Institute, also showed great confidence in China's economy. He added that nonferrous metals will not see a significant rally until downstream consumption recovers. According the data from NBS, the total value added across industrial enterprises rose by 7.2% year on year. Total investment in fixed...
Andersen Corporation, headquartered in Minnesota, has acquired Heritage Windows and Doors, a manufacturer of custom, high-quality aluminium windows and doors for the luxury residential and commercial market in Gilbert, Arizona. "The acquisition of Heritage expands Andersen's product portfolio, increases our advanced manufacturing capabilities and extends our geographic reach," said Jay Lund, Andersen Chairman and CEO. "We welcome all Heritage employees into the Andersen family and look forward to a bright future together." The Heritage product line of high performance doors includes sliding glass doors, multi-sliding doors, French doors, bi-folding doors and glass only stack and slide doors. Heritage's window product offering includes architectural style, casement awning, horizontal...
The winter heating season and capacity cut deadline ends today on Thursday March 15. Aluminium smelters in 28 northern Chinese cities had been told to reduce output by at least 30 percent from Nov. 15 to March 15, although the actual volume cut was below expectations, putting pressure on prices. Stocks of aluminium have grown noticeably so far in 2018, which is indicating subdued demand and already giving rise to concerns about excessive supply. Average A00 Aluminum Ingot prices are showing a temporary restraint at RMB 13,740 per tonne today. The prices are expected to range within RMB 13,720 to RMB 13,760 per tonne and spot discounts are expected to settle at RMB 70 to 30 per tonne or about RMB 50 from RMB 350 in February. The narrowing discount between cash SHFE and physical prices of...
Malaysia imported MYR 73.2 billion worth of products around the world in January 2018, an increase of 11.6 per cent year-on-year. Imports of aluminium wire by Malaysia have been growing with each passing year. The automotive and construction sector is driving the market for aluminium wire worldwide. The country is expected to witness a surge in import of aluminium wires this year. The top aluminium wire exporter to Malaysia is Indonesia. Indonesia exported an estimated 4964 tonnes in 2017. The country imports major chunk of aluminium wire from Australia, China, Japan and Vietnam. As per global import-export data, Malaysia imported an estimated 11708 tonnes of aluminium wire in 2016. Import volume increased to stand at 14617 tonnes in 2017. In 2018, the estimated aluminium wire import is...
After closing lower at US$ 2080 per tonne on Tuesday 13 March, LME aluminium showed some positive gain and crept up to US$2096 per tonne on Wednesday March 14. With the dropping of euro and the rebound of US dollar index to around 89.7 overnight, most base metals climbed up yesterday. As updated by Shanghai Metals Market, LME aluminium met resistance at the five-day moving average and support at $2,100 per tonne last night. SMM expects the contract to trade at US$2,080-2,105 per tonne today. As on March 14, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stands at US$ 2095.50per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 2096 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 2115 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 2117 per tonne; Dec 19 bid price stands at US$ 2165 per tonne, and Dec 19 offer price...
Bauxite shipments resumed on Wednesday from the Guinean mining towns of Boke and Kamsar after riots delayed deliveries the day before, company and government officials said. Train and barge traffic restarted after demonstrators lifted barricades and protests over disputed local elections subsided, said Frederic Bouzigues, managing director of Société Minière de Boke (SMB). A senior official at the National Agency for Development of Mining Infrastructure also said operations were running normally. The capital Conakry was calmer on Wednesday though there were pockets of violence in some areas and police dispersed crowds with tear gas.
Bahrain is hoping it will be granted an exemption from U.S. tariffs on foreign-made aluminium and steel. American Chamber of Commerce Bahrain President, Qays H. Zu'bi said Bahrain is a key strategic ally of the United States and will be given due consideration for an exemption from these measures. “Aluminium is Bahrain’s top export to the US, representing 61pc of all goods exported from Bahrain to the US in 2017,” said Qays Zu’bi. “This is significant to Bahrain’s economy, but is considered a very small percentage of the total aluminium imported by the US worldwide.” "We remain optimistic that Bahrain, being a key strategic ally of the US and a host to the US Fifth Fleet, as well as beneficiary of the US-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement will be given due consideration for an exemption on the...
Packaging companies SIG and Amcor have united to create a value chain partnership which commits to 100% certified sourcing of aluminium. The partnership aims to assure that the aluminium foil supply chain is working towards the performance standard of the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI). ASI has recently launched a new certification programme, which focuses on responsible production, sourcing and stewardship. The new scheme aims at addressing and reducing the impacts of aluminium production from mines and smelters. Amcor is one of SIG’s main suppliers for aluminium in Europe. A razor-thin aluminium layer is used in most of SIG’s carton packs to protect the food from light, oxygen and external odours. The companies said they support ASI as it is “very effective in creating long-term...
The demand for secondary aluminium is increasing significantly due to the growing requirements of lighter vehicles. The demand for this product will continue to grow in the coming years. Italy exports substantial amount of aluminium scrap every year. Looking at the previous year, the country’s aluminium scrap exports were higher than what they were in 2016. Italy is estimated to witness a decline in exports of aluminium scrap this year. The top destinations of Italy aluminium scrap exports are Germany, Romania, China, Turkey, India, Hungary, Spain, South Korea, Slovenia, France, Austria and Albania. China, who is also one of the top buyers of its products, imported 182 tonnes of aluminium scrap in January 2018. According to recent estimates, in the year 2016, Italy exported 90993 tonnes...
Aluminium closures now account for just under 30% of the total global bottled still wine market, according to research recently conducted by Euromonitor. With 30 billion bottles sold worldwide in 2016, the aluminium closure market size is now around 9 billion units annually. This shift towards aluminium screwcaps is particularly evident for the largest still wine markets – Europe and USA. Europe still represents the largest market for bottled still wines with volumes of more than 17 billion in 2016, according to other research by IWSR, which looked at 0.75L equivalent bottle measurement units. Both reports show a decline in bottled still wine volumes in Europe of between 5.3 and 6.4% in the five years under study. But aluminium closures made significant progress in the same period,...
China aluminium prices continue downward trends with temporary signs of restraint. As updated by Shanghai Metals Market, today’s average A00 ingot price stands at RMB 13,720 per tonne and is expected to trade in a range of RMB 13700 – 13740 per tonne with a discount of RMB 90-50 per tonne. This registers a moderate gain from yesterday’s closing. Prices will continue to face downward pressure in the short term unless there is support from downstream demand or inventories drop with more stocks moving to the market. Primary ingot prices registered slight gains ranging from RMB 5 to 45 per tonne across all domestic markets. Primary ingot prices remain the highest in South China market. Aluminium alloy prices also remain unchanged today after a period of steady fall. On the cost side alumina...
Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC), a state run mining entity, is all set to conduct the first ever national e-auction for bauxite in April. The deadline for registration to participate at the national auctions for bauxite is March 23. At the national e-auction, OMC will directly deal with the end-user industries. Participation by traders will be considered only if there is persistent lack of adequate response from end-user industries. The State Cabinet has recently approved the amendment of the long-term linkage policy to facilitate bauxite linkage. Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi said 70 per cent of the saleable stock of bauxite will be made available for long-term linkage and the balance 30 per cent sold through national e-auction Business Standard reported that OMC has started mining...
After a modest gain on Monday to US$ 2097 per tonne, LME aluminium resumed its downward trends and closed at US$ 2080 per tonne on Tuesday 13 March. As updated by Shanghai Metals Market, LME aluminium met resistance at the five-day moving average and support at $2,100 per tonne last night. SMM expects the contract to trade at US$2,095-2,115 per tonne today. As on March 13, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stands at US$ 2079.50per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 2080 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 2100 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 2101 per tonne; Dec 19 bid price stands at US$ 2155 per tonne, and Dec 19 offer price is US$ 2160 per tonne. The LME aluminium opening stock has dropped to 1301700 tonnes with the moving of stocks in the Asian warehouses...
The internal expert task force established to review the Alunorte alumina refinery after the flooding in February has reported preliminary findings. The status report has the following main findings: Discharge of water overflowing from the adjacent waste-water holding pond into the internal open drain, Canal Velho, in addition to the already communicated rainwater release. A release of diluted caustic soda inside the plant due to a power failure on February 17. This was mixed with rain water from the factory area before entering the waste-water holding pond, with overflow into Canal Velho. Based on the preliminary findings of the task force, Hydro has no indications of leaks or overflow from the bauxite residue deposit areas. In addition, an inspection has detected cracks in a pipeline,...
Vishakhapatnam-based aluminium alloy wheel manufacturer Synergies Castings Limited has recently entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Andhra Pradesh government to set up greenfield aluminium casting alloy wheel plant in Vishakhapatnam. “As customer requirements become exceedingly more stringent, and consequent need to invest in substantial capex for sophisticated production, testing and development facilities, it is important to scale up and tech-up to remain competitive. While we have evaluated several manufacturing location options in the country, we believe that Vizag, and the terms of engagement with the state of Andhra Pradesh offers the best opportunity to be the most competitive manufacturer of alloy wheels in the country, ”said Synergies president Shekar Movva. The plant...
