Cleaner aluminium depends on three things going right at once: scrap collection, melting it in a furnace without much carbon, and the electricity behind the whole chain not being coal-powered. Developments across North America, the UK, the European Union (EU), Egypt, Thailand, Malaysia and India depict how unevenly those pieces are falling into place. While some markets are losing recoverable metal at the sorting line, others are redirecting cargoes or writing scrap into industrial policy, and a few are lining up green projects to hold primary aluminium production together. Aluminium scrap trade: North America leads, Thailand bans, EU retains The international aluminium scrap market is facing a combination of changing trade flows and growing pressure to secure cleaner, more consistent...
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...
Grow with
AL Circle
Germany, one of the top exporters of aluminium containers, witnessed an increase in both volume and value in 2017 after a drop in 2016. According to the Product Complexity Index (PCI), large aluminium containers are the 1131st most traded product and the 602nd most complex product. Global trade data suggests that Germany’s aluminium container export will decrease in 2018. Aluminium containers are used for packaging of several commercial commodities. Germany exported 2110 tonnes of aluminium containers in 2016. Last year, aluminium containers volume was slightly up at 2388 tonnes. In 2018, aluminium container export by Germany is estimated to reach 1890 tonnes by December end, a decline of 498 tonnes from the previous year. Value-wise, from US$30 million in 2016, the value of aluminium...
An additional hydro power unit is set to bring in more benefits to Ghana’s Volta Aluminium Company (VALCO). The 75 MW unit will help VALCO procure power at a competitive rate of $0.035/kwh in the first quarter of the next financial year. The cost advantage will expectedly allow the primary aluminium company to add one more pot-line to its current one pot line-equipped production facility, which churns out 40,500 tonnes of the metal. According to the Select Committee on Mines and Energy on the Annual Budget Estimates report of the Ministry of Energy for the year ending December 31, 2018, the expansion will result in increase in revenue and payment of Value Added Tax to government from $79 million to $150.75 million and $7.6 million to $16.1 million per annum respectively. The production...
The Indo-Italian Metal Hub seminar was inaugurated today in Bhubaneshwar, Odisha. The first-day’s programme titled “Aluminium Age- Smart Metals, Finance and the Industrial Parks of the Third Millennium” started with the welcome address of Mr S.K.Dash, Treasurer- Aluminium Association of India & Executive Director (Business Development & R&D), NALCO. Mr. Kamal Prakash, Director Jiwanram Sheoduttrai Group, was the Special Guest for the day. Other guests of honour for the session were Mr. Damiano Francovigh, Italian Consul General in India, Mr. Maurizio Sala, President Amafond, representing the Associations: Amafond, Assomet, Assofond, Mr. Sanjay Kumar Singh, CMD, IDCO, and Ms. Francesca Bruni, President Art Valley. Mr. Sanjeev Chopra, Additional Chief Secretary-cum-Principal Secretary to...
The recent rise in China’s aluminum exports has had a limited impact on the Asia market to date due to the moves that participants made to protect their businesses after a similar surge in 2015, market sources said Friday. London Metal Exchange aluminum prices traded higher than Shanghai Futures levels in December, prompting Chinese plants to export aggressively over the past two months. A similar situation emerged in the first half of 2015, which significantly impacted the Asia market. This time, few market participants in Asia are feeling the direct impact of the increase Chinese exports, as they are able to compete more effectively, trade and producer sources said. S&P Global Platts surveyed two producers and five trading firms this week on the impact of China’s increase in exports....
Aluminium bodied cars won all the highlights in the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. The aluminium-intensive 2018 Lincoln Navigator won Truck of the Year and the 2018 Honda Accord was named Car of the Year in the North American Car, Utility and Truck of the Year (NACTOY) Awards, announced on Monday, Jan 15. For the second consecutive year, an aluminium-intensive vehicle has won a NACTOY award, reinforcing the relevance of using aluminium in cars and truck for better performance, safety, fuel efficiency, durability, towing capability, sustainability and carbon neutrality. Chrysler Pacifica was named North American Car Utility Vehicle of the Year in 2017. Commenting on the awards, Heidi Brock, President & CEO of the Aluminum Association said, “It’s no wonder Car...
Leading non-alcoholic beverage brand Coca Cola has pledged to recycle all used bottles and aluminium cans the company sells and will be selling by 2030. As a part of their new packaging vision, the fizzy-drink maker will also shift to recyclable packaging globally. The “massive global ambition” is aimed at undoing the littering of environment that the firm has been committing and responsibly tackling the problem at the micro-level. At the launch of its “World Without Waste” campaign, Coca Cola acknowledged the fact that like many other food and beverage companies, their firm too has been contributing to the rise of landfills. "The world has a packaging problem - and, like all companies, we have a responsibility to help solve it," Coca-Cola CEO James Quincey said. To the question- how it...
China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) asked Chinese aluminium firms to have replacement capacity ready by end-2018. This notice was directed to firms having permits to replace capacity closed over the past seven years. According to the MIIT statement on its website, the ruling is applicable to companies producing molten aluminium or aluminium ingots. It is also applicable if they are replacing capacity internally or via mergers and acquisitions. As a part of Beijing's supply side reforms and environmental shutdowns, China closed 3 million tonnes to 4 million tonnes of illegal smelting capacity in 2017. Government has allowed companies with legal but outdated production are entitled to replace their capacity with more modern facilities, on condition that they...
RUSAL, a leading global aluminium producer is mastering a new product at its Achinsk Alumina Refinery – fine precipitated aluminium hydroxide (FPAH). Company's proprietary technology allows keeping the production cost of the FPAH below the world’s average price for this product. The total amount of investment in construction of the pilot plant will amount to RUB 250 mln. Fine precipitated aluminium hydroxide is a powder with particles of less than 3 μm, which is a hundred times thinner than a human hair. Its physical and chemical properties make this material an excellent fire retardant. Therefore, aluminium hydroxide is widely used in the production of silicate wool for cables for the nuclear, ship building, aviation, and automotive industries. It is also used in the production of paints...
Le Belier has planned to inaugurate a new facility for the production of aluminium casting in June. The facility will be the first plant in Serbia that will manufacture aluminium casting. Le Belier is a French company specializing in the production of aluminium components primarily for the automotive industry. The company supplies brake system components and aluminium chassis for the global automotive industry. Le Belier has invested 6 million euro in the construction of the new facility. The company is planning to invest an additional 1.5 million euro by the end of the year. “The production in the new hall is to start in June. This is a mechanical processing facility and this is the first facility in Serbia that will produce aluminium castings,” Jean Sebastien Ackx, Director of the...
In another step towards electrification of commercial vehicles in India, Ashok Leyland Limited, one of the largest commercial vehicle manufacturers in India, has signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with Israeli firm Phinergy to use their aluminium air batteries for electric CVs in India. The development took place as an outcome of the Israeli PM’s recent visit to India and it was announced to the stock exchanges on January 17, 2018. Phinergy develops clean and high energy-density systems based on metal-air technology. Along with making aluminium-air battery, Phinergy has developed a technology to generate electricity using aluminium as an energy source. ALL plans to use this technology for its electric CVs in India. The next few months will be utilized in developing prototypes and pilot...
With reference to the Off Market Takeover Bid for 50% of the issued ordinary shares in Bauxite Resources Limited, Mercantile OFM Pty Ltd has lodged a revised notice with ASIC on 19 January increasing the offer. Mercantile has increased the Offer from 9.0 cents cash to 11.0 cents cash for one of every two BAU Shares. Mercantile OFM has also extended the Offer Period to 7pm (Sydney time) 28 February 2018. As a result of the Extension of the Offer Period, the new date for giving of the notice of the status of the conditions to Mercantile OFM’s takeover offer stands at 21 February 2018. The notice also said that if the proposed capital return of 5c a share announced by BAU on 15 December 2017 is implemented and BAU Shareholders accept Mercantile OFM’s Offer, the Mercantile OFM will reduce the...
France imports alumina to feed the domestic aluminium industry. Import of alumina has been shrinking for the last three years. France’s alumina import is estimated to drop this year. The Ireland is the top supplier of alumina to the country. France imported an estimated 664219 tonnes of alumina from Ireland in 2017. Other exporting countries are Jamaica, Germany, Greece and Spain. As per international data, France imported about 795383 tonnes of alumina in 2016. The country’s imports of alumina decreased to 790494 tonnes in 2017. France is estimated to import 597980 tonnes in 2018. The figure shows that the country is witnessing a fall in import of alumina. The cost of alumina import stood at USD 224 million and USD 315 million in 2016 and 2017 respectively. The cost of import for alumina...
After three consecutive drops, A00 ingot price graph is registering some upward movement. According to Shanghai Metals Market, average A00 ingot price registered some gain today to stand at RMB 14450 per tonne. The prices are expected to move within a range of RMB 14,430-14,470. Spot discount will range within RMB 220-180 per tonne today. Aluminium ingot prices registered gain in all individual markets in China. In the North China market A00 ingot prices dropped to RMB 14,465 per tonne today. It is noteworthy that, according to data from the state statistics bureau of China, published on Thursday January 18, the country produced 2.71 million tonnes of aluminium last month, down 1.8% YoY. Full-year output in 2017 was 32.27 million tonnes, up 1.6% from 2016. This has generated moderately...
The US-based company has decided to move to aluminium cans from glass bottles. Arbor Brewing Company announced that the company is switching its beer packaging from bottles to cans. The new canned beers will be available in the US by the end of this month. Mike Messink, Managing Partner, Arbor Brewing Company, said: “This is the first major branding change in the brewery’s 22-year history. In addition to sporting an updated logo, the cans feature new artwork and bright, eye-catching colors.” He added: “The new packaging includes an “Ypsi Made” stamp to emphasize the production brewery’s roots in Ypsilanti, and calls out its 1995 origins, which place it as one of the early pioneers in the Michigan craft brewing industry.”
Triple-listed diversified miner South32 on Wednesday reported that, the company had achieved its guidance for all its operations during the December quarter. Its manganese and aluminium operations, in particular, exceeded expectations, owing to strong market demand. South32 also managed to deliver another production record at its Mozal Aluminium operation in the second half of 2017. Despite a power fault in November 2017, which impacted 36 pots; South Africa Aluminium remained on track to increase production in 2018. Mozal Aluminium’s shipment increased by 1% to a record 137,000 tonne in the second half of 2017, as the smelter continued to operate at its maximum technical capability. Total sales volume increased by 10% as the inventory position returned to normal levels. The aluminium...
LME aluminium managed to hold grounds as it registered a moderate gain to stand at US$ 2,225 per tonne on Thursday January 19 from 2,187 per tonne on, Wednesday January 18. Shanghai Metals Market analysis suggests that LME aluminium will stay range-bound at US$2,220-2,250 per tonne on Friday, January 19. As on January 18, LME official cash buyer aluminium price (Bid Price) stands at US$ 2,224per tonne, cash seller & settlement aluminium price (Offer price) is US$ 2,225per tonne, 3M Bid Price is US$ 2218per tonne, 3M Offer Price is US$ 2218.50 per tonne, Dec1 Bid Price is US$ 2,263 per tonne, and Dec1 Offer Price is US$ 2268 per tonne. LME aluminium opening stock stands at 1090875 tonnes, down from last closing. Total Live Warrants is 842625 tonnes and Cancelled Warrants 248250 tonnes. The...
Danieli, one of the leading suppliers of equipment and plants to the metal industry, has announced that it will supply a rolling mill specifically for conducting research to RUSAL. The company will install the new rolling mill at RUSAL’s Engineering and Technology Center in Krasnoyarsk, Russia. Danieli said in its press release that the new rolling mill will allow RUSAL researchers to perform and accelerate the development of new aluminium alloys and processes in the most comprehensive, efficient and economical way. “One of the major requirements of the requested mill is the flexibility to replicate all potential rolling operations, ranging from hot rolling of thick ingots to cold rolling of thin sheets.” “The technical solution to roll the requested aluminium alloys consists of a 2-high...
According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), China churned out 2.71 million tonnes of primary aluminium in December, down 1.8 per cent on a yearly basis. Full year production in 2017, the country produced 32.27 million tonnes of aluminium, up 1.6 per cent on a yearly basis. China’s aluminium production increased despite capacity cuts in the country during winter. In December, the production volume of non-ferrous metals, including copper, aluminium, lead, zinc and nickel, increased 2.8 per cent to 4.72 million tonnes. Full-year nonferrous production came in at 53.78 million tonnes, an increase of 3 per cent on a yearly basis.
