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 dropped for the second day in a row even after dollar index touched 3-year low on broad-based weakness. The light metal contract came down from US$2,235 per tonne on Monday, January 22, to close at US$2,213.50 per tonne on Tuesday, January 23. Shanghai Metals Market analysis suggests that LME aluminium will trade at US$2,205-2,245 range on Wednesday, January 24, with support at the moving averages. As on January 23, LME official cash buyer aluminium price (Bid Price) stands at US$2,213 per tonne, cash seller & settlement aluminium price (Offer price) is US$2,213.50 per tonne, 3M Bid Price is US$2,217 per tonne, 3M Offer Price is US$2,218 per tonne, Dec1 Bid Price is US$2,262 per tonne, and Dec1 Offer Price is US$2,267 per tonne. LME aluminium opening stock stands at 1086200...
UC RUSAL announces that it will invest around USD 250 million to implement Eco-Soderberg technology at the Company's smelters between 2018 and 2022, a press release from the company confirms. The transition involves a number of engineering activities, like the construction two-stage gas-cleaning plants, the implementation of an automated system to supply raw materials to reduction cells and automation systems, high-performance innovative system for gas removal from reduction cells, and the mechanisation of labour-intensive processes. The new system for gas removal from the reduction of cells increases the gas removal efficiency to 97.5% and reduces emissions by 3.5 times, thus bringing out the environmental efficiency of the Eco-Soderberg technology to pre-baked anode technologies. The...
SMM forecasts alumina prices are likely to rally ahead of the Chinese New Year holiday in mid-February before downward pressure returns. Currently, spot alumina price in China is struggling to stay afloat in the face of slow demand. Today’s average alumina price stands at RMB 2862 per tonne, slightly down from last closing. The average price of Chinese domestic alumina in four major regions stood at RMB 2,850 per tonne. A drop in the price in South China market has driven the average price drop. Chalco Alumina and imported alumina prices remain unchanged today. The price trend in last one month can be seen in the following graph: According to an SMM update, roasting operations have resumed at alumina plants in Henan, Shanxi and Inner Mongolia provinces. The refineries were affected by...
The Indo-Italian MetalHub seminar titled ‘Aluminium Age’ held last Saturday, January 20, in Bhubaneshwar, Odisha, heralded a new era of cooperation between Indian and Italian aluminium industry players. The high-level delegation from Italy comprising Mario Conserva, General Manager A&L and Vice President Alfin-Edimet, the founding company of METEF, Mauro Cibaldi, President Centro Al – Assomet, Maurizio Sala, President Amafond, representing the Associations: Amafond, Assomet, Assofond, Francesco Esposito, Carmelo Brocato, Vice President DCMK, Danieli&C, Giuseppe Giordano, FACE, Prof Alberto Cavicchiolo GM, Art Valley, and Alberto Pomari, the Marketing Director of A&L aluminium magazine showed genuine interest in investing at the upcoming downstream aluminium park at Angul. The delegates...
Novelis Inc. will spend $300 million in an automotive aluminium sheet manufacturing facility in Guthrie, Kentucky. The investment is the latest addition to company’s' extensive network of automotive finishing lines. The greenfield facility will have an annual nameplate capacity of 200,000 metric tons and will include heat treatment and pre-treatment lines that prepare aluminium for use in vehicle parts such as body-in-white, hoods, doors, lift gates and fenders. "Today's announcement by Novelis to expand its capabilities in North America is a strategic decision fully supported by the Aditya Birla Group to maintain the group's leadership position in the global metals sector and its ongoing commitment to serve both upstream and downstream customers," said Kumar Mangalam Birla, chairman of...
Buoyed by events in China, the aluminium market is expected to see rapid growth in 2018, according to global energy, chemicals, renewables, metals and mining research and consulting group Wood Mackenzie (WoodMac). In its latest aluminium report, the company highlighted that China supply reforms, the possible capping of future growth in Chinese smelting capacity additions, trade cases against Chinese exports of semi-finished products, and the direction of premia would be stand-out factors that would shape the trajectory of prices and the global aluminium market balance. “Aluminium premia experienced a volatile 2017, led by large swings in US Midwest quotes. US tax cuts and the promise of a boost in infrastructure and defence spending kept premia at elevated levels. Moreover, a rising...
Aulong Shipbuilding, a joint venture between Austal and Guandong Jianglong Shipbuilding of China, has secured contract worth A$20 million for the construction of high speed aluminium ferries in China. The company will design and build four 42 metre high speed catamarans for Xidao Dazhou Tourism Co Ltd. Image: Aulong Austal Chief Executive Officer David Singleton said: “This A$20 million order is a great start to 2018, following our record sales in 2017 when we added eight commercial vessel orders worldwide, worth over A$380 million.” “Our strategic objective in China is to establish our joint venture, Aulong, as a highly credible brand leader in the very large, mainland Chinese market.” Construction of the aluminium ferries will commence from Aulong’s Zhongshan shipyard in Guandong...
UK’s imports of aluminium household articles have been declining in the last three years. UK, the 4th largest importer in the world, is estimated to import less aluminium household articles this year. According to recent statistics, China and India were the top exporters of aluminium household articles in 2017. UK imported about 14882 tonnes and 1525 tonnes from China and India respectively. Global trade shows that UK imported 22280 tonnes of aluminium household articles in 2017, down from 23348 tonnes in 2016. Considering the data for the last two year, UK is estimated to import 16855 tonnes of aluminium household articles in 2018. The cost of aluminium household articles import stood at US$ 135 million and US$103 million in 2016 and 2017 respectively. The estimated value of import will...
A large wildfire in Southland is threatening electricity supply to the country's aluminium smelter. The fire at Tiwai Peninsula near Bluff burned through the night after it began just after 7pm yesterday. The fire has now claimed 100ha of native scrub. Nearly a dozen fire crews have been battling the blaze as well as two aircraft using night vision googles because of the proximity of the smelter. Image Source: www.stuff.co.nz Fire and Emergency southern shift communications manager Brent Dunn said the fire was still posing problems for the smelter. "There is still a threat to the overhead transmission lines. The fire is still active but at this stage it is being well managed," he said. Last night the fire was 100m from the main powerlines that run to the smelter, and 400m from the smelter...
Rio Tinto's $US1.9 billion ($2.4 billion) Amrun bauxite project is now 75 per cent complete and the Amrun team is soon expected to award some more contracts associated with the project. Amrun project will produce 22.8 million tonnes of bauxite annually starting in mid-2019. According to Rio's growth and innovation executive Stephen McIntosh, Amrun resource could support double the amount of Rio’s present production level. "We have built some capability for future expansions into the foundations of the project itself and so have a view that the resource itself could sustain options for 50 million tonnes per annum and we are [currently] building for 22.8 million tonnes per annum," he said. Rio's bauxite operations supplied to the alumina refineries on Queensland's eastern coast, but the...
AlCircle’s new sector focus report- “Aluminium Dross Processing: A global Review” is generating overwhelming response. From leading aluminium smelters, rolled aluminium product manufacturers and recycling companies to market research firms and technical infrastructure providers- everyone is showing keen interest in the report. Some of the biggest names in the industry have already even purchased it. With broadly researched information and case studies, the report promises to be an important strategic buy for any company that has dross processing operations or intends to explore opportunities in the field. Aluminium recycling from scrap has come under focus lately driven by sustainability issues worldwide. Consequently, the once insignificant material aluminium dross has too gained...
Nigeria signed Renewed Share Purchase Agreement with UC Rusal for the takeover of the Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON). The agreement was signed by the two parties in Abuja on Friday, January 19. The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, said that the Federal Government still retains 20 per cent equity in the Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON). The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Muazu Abdullahi; Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Mr. Abubakar Bawa Bwari; the CEO/Member of the Board of Directors UC Rusal, Mr. Vladislav Soloviev; the Managing Director of ALSCON, Mr. Dmitry Zavyaiov; and Head of Legal, UC Rusal, Mr. Piter Maxsimov, were present at the ceremony.
According to latest report from Aluminum Association, shipments of Aluminum Extruded Products (extruded shapes, pipe & tube, and rod & bar) by U.S. and Canadian producers totalled an estimated 358.0 million pounds during December 2017, up 4.8 per cent over the December 2016 total of 341.7 million pounds. Compared to the previous month, shipments decreased 16.9 per cent from the November 2017 revised total of 430.7 million pounds. Preliminary shipments for the full year 2017 stood at 5,312.8 million pounds, up 2.7 per cent over the same period of 2016. Estimated shipments of Aluminum Forgings and Impacts by U.S. and Canadian producers stood at 27 million pounds during December 2017, an increase of 15.8 per cent over the December 2016 total of 23.3 million pounds. Compared to the previous...
According to an SMM analysis, aluminium scrap supply will be tight in China in 2018, as the domestic aluminium scrap market continues to be plagued by tight supplies since December 2017. As updated by SMM, average prices for aluminium Zorba scrap stands unchanged at USD 1550 per tonne today. The prices saw last gain in November 2017 from USD 1450 per tonne and since then it remains flat on a higher level. With the supply expected to remain tight, the prices would stay high in the short and medium term. The price trend in last one year can be seen in the following graph. Supply has been limited because of the new scrap policies and the restrictions imposed upon the import of aluminium scrap in China. Prerequisites on the level of impurity in imported scrap aluminium are also affecting...
The U.S. Commerce Department announced the submission of the results of its national security investigation on imported aluminium. The department submitted the report to the President Donald Trump on Friday. Reuters reported Trump administration officials confirmed that the findings in the Section 232 probe were delivered by the U.S. Commerce Department though no further details on the matter have been divulged. "After this submission, by law the President has 90 days to decide on any potential action based on the findings of the investigation," according to the U.S. Commerce Department. “We look forward to swift and decisive action by the President on this issue in order to save the American aluminium industry. American producers need comprehensive relief against excess capacity from all...
LME aluminium dropped marginally on the first trading day of the week. The light metal contract came down from its last week’s close at US$2,256 per tonne to close at US$2,235 per tonne on Monday, January 22. Shanghai Metals Market analysis suggests that LME aluminium will remain strong and trade at US$2,220-2,260 range on Tuesday, January 23. As on January 22, LME official cash buyer aluminium price (Bid Price) stands at US$2,234 per tonne, cash seller & settlement aluminium price (Offer price) is US$2,235 per tonne, 3M Bid Price is US$2,238 per tonne, 3M Offer Price is US$2,239 per tonne, Dec1 Bid Price is US$2,282 per tonne, and Dec1 Offer Price is US$2,287 per tonne. LME aluminium opening stock stands at 1088425 tonnes, total Live Warrants is 839225 tonnes and Cancelled Warrants...
According to Shanghai Metals Market, Chinese exports of semi-finished aluminium products surged 60,000 tonne to 440,000 tonne in December, as domestic firms boosted production and exports in order to deliver before the Feb 1 ruling of the US Department of Commerce's investigations on anti-subsidy practices. According to SMM, the increase was mainly seen in plate and strip products. Exports of aluminium plates to the US are expected to slow in January but that will be compensated by exports of cast-rolling coil from China to the rest of the world other than the U.S. Overall, SMM sees a decline in China's export of unwrought aluminium in January and a significant decrease of exports of aluminium plates, strips and foils to the US in 2018. The average price of A00 ingot in China has dropped...
LME aluminium managed to hold grounds as it registered a must awaited gain to stand at US$ 2,256 per tonne on Friday January 19 from 2,225 per tonne on Thursday January 18. Shanghai Metals Market analysis sees LME aluminium trading at $2,200-2,230 per tonne today, after the historical data showed a dip in LME aluminium prices following US government shutdowns from 1990. As on January 19, LME official cash buyer aluminium price (Bid Price) stands at US$ 2255per tonne, cash seller & settlement aluminium price (Offer price) is US$ 2256per tonne, 3M Bid Price is US$ 2253per tonne, 3M Offer Price is US$ 2254 per tonne, Dec1 Bid Price is US$ 2298 per tonne, and Dec1 Offer Price is US$ 2303 per tonne. LME aluminium opening stock stands at 1091850 tonnes, up from last closing. Total Live Warrants...
