
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

According to the 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 215 thousand tonnes during November 2017, an increase of 5% over the November 2016 total of 205 thousand tonnes. Month on month, shipments decreased 9% from the amount in October 2017. YTD shipments through November 2017 totalled 2.47 million tonnes, up 2.6% over the same period of 2016. Estimated shipments of Aluminum Drawing Stock, Bare Wire and Rod & Bar by U.S. and Canadian producers totalled 47 thousand tonnes during November 2017, off 2.6% from November 2016. Month on month, shipments decreased 8.1% from the September 2017 total of 51.7 million tonnes. YTD shipments through November 2017...

According to Shanghai Metals Market statistics, China’s social inventory of primary aluminium including SHFE warrants climbed further to 1.78 million tonnes as of January 2, up 19,000 tonnes from levels seen on December 28. Current stocks in the major Chinese cities are as follows: Average A00 ingot price increased from yesterday to stand at RMB 14,670 per tonne today and expected to move within a range of RMB 14650-14,690. Spot discount is set to shrink to RMB 330-290/t. Aluminium ingot price in the South China market has dropped slightly to RMB 14,790/t. In other major Chinese markets, A00 ingot prices have registered an increase. SHFE aluminium is set to follow suit and trade at RMB 15,100-15,300/t today. Despite the increasing inventory in China, primary aluminium prices have been...

Metallica Minerals Limited today announced that it has received the mining lease for the Urquhart Bauxite Project from the Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines. The company is now awaiting a separate approval for construction of the haul road linking the project to established port infrastructure at Hey Point. The company said that the department has imposed conditions on the development of Urquhart that are in line with its plans and expectations. Included among the conditions is the requirement that operations are only conducted during the dry season (April through December inclusive). Metallica CEO, Mr Simon Slesarewich said: “The haul road now becomes the clear focus. The Company remains confident of gaining the approval and transitioning into production, although the...

LME aluminium marks a strong start to 2018. The light metal contract which had ended at US$2,241.5 per tonne on December 29, rose by 0.6 per cent to close at US$2,256 per tonne on Tuesday, January 2. Technical analysis suggests that LME aluminium will trade higher in the range of US$2,250-2,285 per tonne today, January 3. However, with China’s refined aluminium inventory including SHFE warrants climbing further to 1.78 million tonnes as of January 2, from levels seen on December 28, the momentum is expected to stay weaker in the short term. As on January 2, LME official cash buyer aluminium price (Bid Price) stands at US$2,255.50 per tonne, cash seller & settlement aluminium price (Offer price) is US$2,256 per tonne, 3M Bid Price is US$2,267 per tonne, 3M Offer Price is US$2,268 per...

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) green lighted the merger of Marcventures Holdings Incorporated with two mining firms: Brightgreen Resources Holdings Incorporated (BHI) and Asia Pilot Mining Philippines Corporation (APMPC). Marcventures will become the surviving entity. The listed firm on Tuesday, January 2 told the local bourse that SEC approved the increase in Marcventures' authorized capital stock to P4 billion divided into 4 billion common shares with a par value of P1 per share. This was compared to the current P2 billion divided into two billion common shares with a par value of P1 each. Of the increased authorized capital stock, Marcventures will issue a total of 1.125 million common shares priced at P1 per share. This will comprise of 675 million shares for APMPC...

Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba), the Bahrain-based international aluminium smelter, teamed-up with Fives Solios and Fives ECL to deliver key training workshop for Alba employees. The trainings “Carbon Plant Process & Equipment” and “Reduction Plant PTA Crane Maintenance” were held in October 2017 at Alba’s Training Department. Commenting on these training programmes, Alba’s Chief Administration Officer, Waleed Tamimi, said: “As a leading aluminium smelter in the world, it is vital that our people are well-versed and up-to-date with the latest technology and trends. By collaborating with our key industry partners such as Fives Solios & Fives ECL, we aim to further develop the skills of our workforce, our human assets, thereby enhancing the Company’s productivity.”

An office building in Mexico City has experienced some aesthetic work on architectural aluminium when California firm Belzberg Architects has wrapped vertical aluminium strips around the outer cover of an office building in Mexico City. The design continues inside to form various nooks and private areas. Belzberg Architects used a series of curved aluminium strips that were custom-made in California to frame the beautiful structure. "We used the prominent corner siting of this six-storey building as a prompt to explore the function and form of its two street-facing elevations," said the studio. "While maintaining the maximum useable floor area, we created a fluid, habitable facade that counteracts the project's otherwise rectilinear geometry." Titled Threads, the building is located in...

Aluminium stranded wires are mostly used in overhead power transmission and distribution applications in modern residential and industrial constructions. Aluminium stranded wire, cable, plait, uninsulated ne are the 2183rd most traded product. Germany has been following an upward pattern for the import of aluminium stranded wire. The country’s imports of this product will see an increase in both volume and value. According to recent estimates, Germany imported 9148 tonnes and 11190 tonnes of aluminium stranded wire in 2015 and 2016 respectively. The total import volume increased to 14296 tonnes in 2017 (estimated). The total aluminium stranded wire imports were valued at US$29 million in 2015, which increased to reach US$30 million in 2016. In 2017, the value of imports of this product is...

As reported by Economic Times, after the rejection of the insolvency petition filed by Anrak Aluminium by National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) in the 'interest of the nation', the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has directed the lead lender State Bank of India to move the tribunal seeking insolvency. According to a source close to the developments, Anrak Aluminium is among few other large stressed assets that the banking regulator has directed the SBI last week to initiate insolvency resolution process. The move also comes after the joint lenders forum lenders decided not to accept the decision of the tribunal rejecting the insolvency petition filed by the corporate debtor. SBI's counsel VK Sajith, partner with India-Law LLP, has confirmed filing a fresh petition before the NCLT but refused...

RUSAL announced that LMZ SKAD has increased its aluminium wheels production. The company expects to increase the number of wheels produced by 27% YoY to 1.1 million wheels per year in 2017. The company is planning to launch more than 10 new models of aluminium wheels to the market in 2018. In April 2017, RUSAL acquired a share of the foundry and mechanical production facility SKAD (SKAD), which is a producer of aluminium alloy car wheels, located in Krasnoyarsk. The implementation of RUSAL’s Production System and efficient processes have improved SKAD’s major business operations alongside the expansion of its product mix. This year, RUSAL has planned to expand and upgrade its equipment. Additional casting lines and processing machines will allow the Company to raise production by another...

On the first day of trading, the benchmark aluminium price at Shanghai Metal Exchange (SME) registered slow momentum and dropped to US$2256 per tonne today from US$2,261 per tonne on Friday, December 29. SMM expect the SHFE main aluminium contract to trade at RMB 15,250-15,500 per tonne. Spot discounts are to move at RMB370-330/t. Average A00 ingot price stands at RMB 14,640 per tonne today and expected to move within a range of RMB 14620-14,660 today. Spot discount is set to widen further to RMB 400-360/t. Aluminium ingot price in the South China market is trending the highest at RMB 14,800/t. Today’s drop in A00 ingot price in the major Chinese markets can be seen in the following table: Average prices of Aluminum Alloys (ADC12) have remained unchanged today. Aluminium Alloy (A356)...

Several improvements will be implemented to streamline the transportation of bauxite for export after the stockpile seizure order was withdrawn by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry said these improvements encompassed a more detailed scrutiny of Approved Permit applications, especially on the locations and amount of stockpile to be exported, subject to the approval of the state government and technical review from the Minerals and Geoscience Department. “Amendments will also be made to the Mineral Development (Licensing) Regulations 2016 to expedite the process of bauxite transportation for export purposes. “With these improvements, bauxite transportation can be better monitored to prevent pollution and protect the well-being of...

Bosnian aluminium smelter Aluminij on Friday, December 29, said that the company expects an increase in aluminium production following the abolition of import tax on unalloyed aluminium, according to Reuters report. This year, Aluminij will boost annual production by 15% to 184,000 tonnes and raise exports by $55 million. The company expects to smelt 24,000 tonnes of unalloyed aluminium. Bosnian aluminium smelter produces 130,000 tonnes of primary aluminium annually and 30,000 tonnes of alloyed ingots. The company had asked state-level government to put an end to the import tax on unalloyed aluminium in order to reduce cost of production and boost productivity. The government of Bosnia's Federation owns 44% of Aluminij, small shareholders own another 44% and the Croatian government holds...

However, primary ingot prices are trending high at the end of the year despite higher inventory in China. Trading is closed today due to the New Year Holiday. Average A00 ingot price stands at RMB 14,700 per tonne today and expected to move within a range of RMB 14,680-14,720 per tonne. Spot discount is set to widen further to RMB 400-360/t. Aluminium ingot price in the South China market is trending the highest at RMB 14,880/t. The last updated A00 ingot prices in the major Chinese markets can be seen in the following table: Spot Alumina price has seen some substantial increase in 2017. This has been one of the reasons behind the growth of primary ingot prices in the country. Alumina price trend in China in 2017 can be seen in the following table. Increasing deficit in ex China world in...

The last week of 2017 gave LME aluminium strong upward momentum lifting up to a high not seen since March 2012. Open interest has also increased to 690,000 lots from 662,000 mt, while the SHFE-LME ratios moved lower to around 6.7. The aluminium contract in LME which started from the lows of US$1,700 per tonne in the beginning of this calendar year to US$2,175 per tonne in October closed at US$ 2241.50 per tonne on Friday, December 29, slightly down from US$2246. As on December 29, LME official cash buyer aluminium price (Bid Price) stands at US$2,241 per tonne, cash seller & settlement aluminium price (Offer price) is US$2,241.5 per tonne, 3M Bid Price is US$2,250.50 per tonne, 3M Offer Price is US$2,251 per tonne, Dec1 Bid Price is US$2,288 per tonne, and Dec1 Offer Price is US$2,293 per...

China’s imports of alumina reduced 19.51 per cent year on year to 210,579 tonnes in November. During January-November 2017, imports were up at 2.72 million tonnes, according to the latest import-export data published by China General Customs. In November, Indonesia and Australia exported 91,351 tonnes and 83,322 tonnes of alumina respectively. During January-November, Australia’s exports of alumina reduced to 1.17 million tonnes. Other exporting countries were Vietnam, India, Japan, Germany, and France. China’s exports of alumina increased 85.04 per cent YoY to 4,208 tonnes in November 2017. China exported 51,005 tonnes of alumina during the first eleven months of this year, down 50.58 per cent YoY. South Korea imported a major chunk of alumina totalling 2,802 tonnes in November. During...

Guinea's government has approved a more than $2.8 billion investment by Chinese company TBEA Co Ltd in a new bauxite mine, an aluminium refinery and an aluminium smelter, the mines ministry said on Friday. Guinea has about a third of the world's bauxite reserves but output has lagged, largely due to political instability. The West African country also lacks facilities to transform those reserves into higher-grade and more lucrative alumina. But bauxite production is expected to roughly double this year to about 50 million tonnes and a consortium involving Singapore's Winning Shipping said this month that it plans to start building Guinea's first alumina refinery in 2019. The TBEA mine should enter production by mid-2019 with an initial capacity of 10 million tonnes of bauxite per year...

Alcoa’s recently-sold smelter at Portovesme has already found a private-sector buyer, as Swiss firm Sider Alloys is on the cusp of closing a deal to purchase the plant from the Italian government. Per industry media, Sider Alloys is planning to close the transaction by mid-February. The assets of Alcoa Italy will still pass through the hands of the Italian government’s investment branch Invitalia, but it will remain the possession of the state only briefly. According to the union source, the state designed the sales plan in this manner in order to shield Alcoa from responsibility for an incoming investor’s potential failure at reviving the business. This is the first time a deal has been carried out in this manner by the Italian government. Though no sales figures were released, it is a...