
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...
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After a brief marginal, mid-week drop, LME aluminium rose 1.1 per cent to reach a 10-day peak at US$2,239 per tonne on Friday, January 12. The consistent rise in the light metal prices can be partly viewed as a result of the erosion in global aluminium supply caused due to output cuts in China. LME aluminium closed at US$2,215 per tonne on Friday, up from US$2,179 per tonne on Thursday, January 11. Shanghai Metals Market analysis suggests that LME aluminium will rise higher at US$2,210-2,240 per tonne on Monday, January 15, due to the closure of Alcoa’s plant and anti-dumping factors. As on January 12, LME official cash buyer aluminium price (Bid Price) stands at US$2,214 per tonne, cash seller & settlement aluminium price (Offer price) is US$2,215 per tonne, 3M Bid Price is US$2,222.50...

The U.S. International Trade Commission on Friday said in an initial finding that imports of aluminium alloy sheet metal from China harm U.S. producers, allowing a U.S. probe to proceed into whether the product was being dumped or unfairly subsidized. Employing a seldom-used tactic aimed at speeding up the imposition of duties, the U.S. Commerce Department in November “self-initiated” anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations of the imports, which are typically used in construction and in transportation and electrical equipment. It estimated it would impose anti-dumping duties of about 56.54 percent to 59.72 percent in the case. About $603.6 million worth of the flat-rolled metal was imported from China in 2016. The probe excludes aluminium used in beverage can manufacturing. The...

On an operational development, ABI Becancour smelter at Quebec locked out 1,030 unionized employees at around 3 a.m. Thursday. The smelter plans to use non-unionized workers to maintain operations at one of three production lines. The smelter, located halfway between Montreal and Quebec City has the capacity to produce about 430,000 tonnes of aluminium annually. The smelter is 75 per cent owned by Alcoa and 25 per cent by Rio Tinto. The move came after members of United Steelworkers Local 9700 voted more than 80 per cent to reject the company’s final contract offer. The union disagreed to a company plan to introduce a new member-funded pension plan instead of a defined benefit plan and some issues regarding employee transfers and turnover. According to Jean Simard, the head of the...

According to a new figures released by the Statistics Centre Abu Dhabi (Scad) and published by Emirates news agency WAM, Abu Dhabi’s aluminium trade increased 58.6 per cent to $1.3 billion (AED4.6 billion) in the first ten months of 2017, from $790 million (AED2.9 billion) during the same period in 2016. Aluminium exports rose 82.4 per cent to $1.1 billion (AED3.96 billion) from $600 million (AED2.17 billion), while imports dropped to $152 million (AED560 million) from $196 million (AED720 million) in 2016. Abu Dhabi’s trade in aluminium and copper reached $3.5 billion (AED12.8 billion) from January to October, up 29.2 per cent from $2.7 billion (AED9.9 billion) during the corresponding period in 2016. Abu Dhabi’s trade in aluminium and copper accounted for 9.5 percent of the emirate’s...

Poland’s imports of commodities have decreased at an annualized rate of -0.503%, from US$ 210 billion in 2011 to US$186 billion in 2016 during the last five years. Aluminium scrap accounts for 1.5% of total imports of the country. A three-year data snapshot shows a downward aluminium scrap import trend by the country. Germany has remained one of the top aluminium scarp suppliers to Poland. In 2017, Poland imported an estimated 125675 tonnes of aluminium scrap from Germany. According to available import-export data, in 2015, Poland imported 238950 tonnes of aluminium scrap. Compared to 2015, in 2016, the country imported an estimated 235733 tonnes of aluminium scrap. The total aluminium scraps import was valued at US$338 million and US$285 million in 2015 and 2016 respectively. Poland...

Figeac Aero has won its first contract from Boeing as a supplier of large structural aluminium parts for the 777X. It will supply the wing component measured 4 m (13 ft.) long, 1 m wide and 0.15 m thick. The manufacturing processes will be streamlined at its headquarters in Figeac, France. However, the production will take place at Figeac Aero’s Wichita, Kansas, factory in the United States because its surface treatment methods are approved by Boeing. This is confirmed by a Figeac Aero spokesperson. Operating since 1989, the Figeac Aero group specializes in the design of metal parts for aviation including steel aluminium and magnesium. Nearly 30 years after its creation, the group has won a new recognition with the signing of a contract with Boeing. They are the first French company to...

Spot alumina prices in China are showing restraint as reports from SMM shows a drop in alumina production month on month, as December output drops from that in November. As reported by SMM, average spot alumina price in China increased slightly to stand at RMB 2866/t today. Alumina prices have not seen much momentum in the month of December till date. It started the month with RMB 2855 per tonne and hovering within a range of RMB 2850-2870 per tonne. Chalco and imported alumina prices also remain unchanged at RMB 3320 and RMB 3450 per tonne respectively. Average domestic price stands at RMB 2850/t today. SMM forecast China’s alumina output to grow in January due to the closure of Henan’s special green policy and the newly-increased capacity of Liulin Senze and Huaqing Aluminium. We can...

Crown Embalagens Metálicas da Amazônia S.A. (Crown Brazil), one of the biggest manufacturers of two-piece aluminium cans for soft drinks, juices and teas in Brazil and a subsidiary of Crown Holdings, has partnered with Eklo Water to bring the first flavoured water to be packed in aluminium beverage cans in Brazilian market. Altair Frulane, Director of Commercial Operations at Crown Brazil, said “We are excited to partner with Eklo Water on this initiative. Beverage cans play a pivotal role in addressing the needs of natural and organic foods” “The format also offers several functional benefits that appeal to consumers, including the ability to chill quickly and being light in weight, allowing them to enjoy their favorite drinks on-the-go.” Crown has already manufactured sleek style 310ml...

LME aluminium registers another gain after continuous drop and according to Shanghai Metals Market; the light metal contract would test the effectiveness of the five-day moving average following a slump, trading at $2,170-2,190/t today. LME aluminium contract gained from US$ 2159 per tonne on January 10 to close at US$ 2179per tonne on January 11. As on January 11, LME official cash buyer aluminium price (Bid Price) stands at US$ 2178per tonne, cash seller & settlement aluminium price (Offer price) is US$ 2179 per tonne, 3M Bid Price is US$ 2190 per tonne, 3M Offer Price is US$2191 per tonne, Dec1 Bid Price is US$ 2262 per tonne, and Dec1 Offer Price is US$2267 per tonne. LME aluminium opening stock stands at 1088325 tonnes, off from the stock on last closing. Total Live Warrants stands...

Manaksia Aluminium Company, a part of the Kolkata, India based Manaksia Group, is planning to invest INR 40 crore in order to add 15-20 per cent more capacity over the next one year. Manaksia Aluminium is a manufacturer of value-added aluminium products such as colour-coated roofing and panelling that are used in automobiles, air conditioning, warehousing and vans. The NSE and BSE listed company is currently operating at 80-85 per cent capacity at its Haldia unit in West Bengal. According to Sunil Agrawal, Managing Director, the company is planning to increase the total capacity to 21,000 tpy aluminium products from its existing capacity of 18,000 tpy at its Haldia unit. “We will look at both internal accruals and loans to fund the capex. Capacity addition would come mostly from...

Altech Chemicals Limited has submitted a manufacturing licence application to the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) for 4,500 tonnes high purity alumina (HPA) plant in Malaysia. The high purity alumina project represents an investment of approximately 1.2 billion ringgit. The plant will produce HPA directly from kaolin clay, which will be sourced from the Company’s 100%-owned kaolin deposit at Meckering, Western Australia. “Application has also been made to MIDA for the HPA project to be afforded “Pioneer Status” (High Technology) investment incentive classification. A project approved as Pioneer Status (High Technology) will benefit from income tax exemption of 100% of its statutory income for a period of 5 years from the commencement of commercial production, according...

Aamal Company announced that it will establish aluminium production facility through its Senyar Industries Qatar Holding. The plant, Senyar Aluminium Production Factory, with capital of QAR 10 million ($2.75 million), will specialise in the production of aluminium bars in Doha. The aluminium plan, which is the first of its kind in Doha, will be funded using a combination of equity and debt. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2019. Aamal Company has 50% stake in Industries Qatar Holding, which is one of Qatar’s leading industrial groups. It owns and operates two main divisions - Doha Cables, the first cable manufacturing facility in Qatar, and El Sewedy Cables Qatar. Aamal Company will also build a copper production facility and a drum production facility via Senyar...

Rio Tinto has confirmed through a press release that it has received a binding offer from Liberty House to acquire Rio Tinto’s Aluminium Dunkerque smelter in northern France. The deal is finalised for $500 million, subject to final adjustments. Rio Tinto will launch a consultation process with employees, relevant European works councils and other stakeholders in relation to the bid. Rio Tinto expects to complete the sale of Aluminium Dunkerque by Q2 2018, on the completion of this consultation process. Commenting on the offer, Rio Tinto Aluminium chief executive Alf Barrios said “The binding offer for the sale of Aluminium Dunkerque represents the best option for the future development of the site while also delivering value for Rio Tinto as we continue to streamline our portfolio....

Greece is the largest producer of bauxite and many other industrial minerals in the European Union. Aluminium of Greece which is the main aluminium producing company in the country owns Delphi-Distomon mining company. It operates two large bauxite deposits at Boeotia and Phocis. The plant has total bauxite processing capacity of 200,000 tonnes in a year. On a quarterly basis, Greece exported an estimated 156447 tonnes of bauxite in Q1 FY2017-18. In Q2, the estimated bauxite export stood at 133749 tonnes and in Q3, the amount stood at about 132797 tonnes. In Q4 FY2017-18, estimated bauxite export will stand at about 133256 tonnes. The country generated revenue of USD 6.6 million from bauxite export in Q1 FY2017-18. In Q2, the export value stood at USD 6.7 million and in Q3, the value stood...

According to an update from proactiveinvestors Australia, Lindian Resources Ltd is set to start drilling at the Lushoto Bauxite Project in Tanzania. The company has received a fund of $500,000 for 12 months, to undertake drilling at Magambe deposit. This was one of the key objectives behind the binding heads of agreement that was negotiated in August 2017. According to the agreement, Lindian Resources has the option to take a 75% stake in the project if it progresses through to the definitive feasibility study stage. The project up to the feasibility study stage would require a further investment of $1.4 million. Lindian will be drilling at the high grade zones identified during trenching and sampling activities. The sampling expected the project would expand to 9 deposits. The company...

SMM has published the latest output data from the major Chinese producers of alumina and aluminium along with other base metals and report shows an increase in aluminium production month on month despite the winter capacity cut. SMM observes that despite the supply-side reform and winter cuts last year, recovered and newly-added capacity made up for the suspended capacity at Shandong Weiqiao, Shandong Xinfa, Xinjiang Xiwang, Xinjiang Jiarun and Inner Monglia Jinlian, keeping the output high in December. The following table shows the latest output for alumina and aluminium in December and a forecast for January. According to the preliminary data for aluminium production for the month of December, the output stands at 3 million tonne; up 1.7% from December 2016 and up 3.2% from November...

LME aluminium shows some positive gain after continuous drop and sees pressure at the five-day moving average and is expected to trade at $2,165-2,195/t. The light metal contract gained from US$ 2143.50 per tonne on January 9 to close at US$ 2159 per tonne on January 10. As on January 10, LME official cash buyer aluminium price (Bid Price) stands at US$ 2158.50per tonne, cash seller & settlement aluminium price (Offer price) is US$ 2159 per tonne, 3M Bid Price is US$ 2172.50 per tonne, 3M Offer Price is US$2173 per tonne, Dec1 Bid Price is US$ 2247 per tonne, and Dec1 Offer Price is US$2252 per tonne. LME aluminium opening stock stands at 1090525 tonnes, off substantially from the stock on last closing. Total Live Warrants stands at 848825 tonnes and Cancelled Warrants 241700 tonnes. The...

The IndoItalian MetalHUB engineering tour of India will be taking place on 15-23 of January 2018 that will consist of a week of meetings and interactions organized by ArtValley, Al Circle, Uniseven and the IICC – The IndoItalian Chamber of Commerce, FACE – (The Federation of Aluminium Consumers in Europe), Amafond, Assofond, METEF, Sinfonet for metallurgy and the Ditecfer Consortium for the transportation sector. The meetings will be between important players, businesses, and associations in Indian and Italian industry as well as in the engineering, metals and transportation sectors. The IndoItalian MetalHUB tour is a programme aimed at decision makers in the industrial sector in India, Italy, and Europe. The associations are involved in order to coordinate individual companies – in the...