Mexico hopes to secure a favourable response from the United States to its request for lower tariffs on aluminium, steel and vehicles before the end of 2026, Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard said. The Trump administration imposed 50 per cent tariffs on Mexican aluminium and steel and 25 per cent tariffs on vehicles, with an exemption for vehicles with US content. The duties were introduced on national security grounds under Section 232 of the US Trade Expansion Act. Speaking at a press conference in Mexico City, the Economy Minister said Mexican officials had presented technical arguments and supporting evidence to US authorities to justify reducing the tariffs. He argued that the United States runs a steel trade surplus with Mexico, making the tariffs on the metal unjustified from the...
A proposed AUD 3.7 billion data centre at the former Hydro Aluminium Kurri Kurri industrial site in New South Wales, Australia, could repurpose a major industrial property for digital infrastructure, with an estimated peak construction workforce of 1,210 people and around 254 ongoing jobs. The Kurri Kurri Data Centre project, proposed at Hart Road, Loxford, is seeking approval for the fit-out and operation of a large-scale data storage facility with a planned power consumption of 550.5 megawatts (MW). The development application, listed as a State Significant Development under reference SSD-128819490, is currently at the public exhibition stage. The proposal highlights how former aluminium industry sites could find new uses as demand for data storage and computing infrastructure expands....
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The global aluminium recycling market entered 2025 with record material recovery but shrinking mobility of scrap. While worldwide secondary aluminium consumption touched 28.4 million tonnes as compared to primary consumption of 72.4 million tonnes in 2024, global recycled aluminium production reached 41.7 million tonnes during the same timeframe. Image for reference only Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with 50+ reports across the value chain According to the International Aluminium Institute’s material-flow modelling cited in AL Circle’s World Recycled Aluminium Market Analysis: Industry forecast to 2032 , total aluminium scrap flows combining domestic recycling and cross-border trade expanded from 25.6 million tonnes in 2013 to 41.4 million tonnes in 2023, marking...
As China edges closer to its self-imposed primary aluminium production cap of 45 million tonnes, a set of billion-dollar questions is reverberating in air. Is the global market counting days for supply deficit? Will anybody step in to bridge the gap? If yes, then who can do so at scale? While these questions seem obvious, answers may appear to be far less aligned with prevailing assumptions. However, before exploring the possibilties, let us check how the market is already reacting to the early signals of supply deficit amidst steady demand growth. How is primary aluminium responding to today’s market condition? Already the rising demand and supply deficit is making its presence felt in prices. Primary aluminium on the London Metal Exchange has climbed to USD 2,932 per tonne (as of...
The Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) has rejected reports suggesting that government plans to hand over the Nyinahin bauxite concessions to businessman Ibrahim Mahama, calling the claims “false and misleading.” In its statement, GIADEC said it had taken note of a publication alleging that the Government of Ghana intends to grant concessions to Mr. Mahama, stressing that, “no such plan exists.” The corporation added: “GIADEC unequivocally refutes this allegation and states for the avoidance of doubt that no such plan exists.” GIADEC explained that the decision to centralise control of Ghana’s bauxite resources dates back to the period when executive approval was granted under President John Dramani Mahama. The intention, it said, was to enable the corporation to...
Snowy Hydro could become the “fairy godmother” in the race for power contracts, investment and credibility as New South Wales prepares to close more coal plants. The pressure point is 2026. By then, NSW needs to find about USD 27 billion to finance several wind projects so coal plants can shut while still meeting decarbonisation goals. Three linked problems now decide whether progress happens: signing enough PPAs (long-term power contracts) getting equity even though the off-balance-sheet model doesn’t really suit electricity dealing with the practical limits of delivering turbines across the state Wind projects in the South West Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) may be technically stronger than those in Central West Orana, because the land is flatter and the wind is better. But even so, only a...
China's imports of aluminum scrap during January-November this year totalled 1.8 million tonnes, higher by a significant 12.2 per cent compared with the same period last year, according to the latest data released by the country's General Administration of Customs (GACC). In November alone, China's aluminum scrap imports rose by 2.8 per cent on month and jumped 17.7 per cent on year to reach 162,756 tonnes, GACC data showed. By country, Thailand renained the top aluminum scrap supplier to China last month, with shipments growing 3.1 per cent on month and 6.6 per cent on year respectively to reach 27,559 tonnes, accounting for 16.9 per cent of China's total Imports. according to the data. Meanwhile, aluminum scrap imported from the UK the second-largest supplier of the material to China -...
NASA has launched a state-of-the-art high-tech sensor, which is being used to hunt critical minerals throughout the American West. This sensor technology, called AVIRIS-5 (Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer-5), is built on technology created by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), which was first developed in the 1970s. AVIRIS-5, whose size is about the size of a microwave, is nestled in the nose of one of NASA’s ER-2 high-altitude research aircraft. The sensor made its debut in 1986 and JPL has been working ever since to make improvements. The sensor is one of NASA's and the US Geological Survey (USGS) joint research projects, making it one of the latest tools being used in GEMx. This project focused on searching the surfaces for critical mineral traces, which are a...
Even after President Donald Trump announced a rare earth “truce” with Chinese President Xi Jinping in late October, US companies say the promised relief has yet to materialise on the ground. Market participants report that China is still limiting access to key rare earth inputs needed to build permanent magnets and other strategic products in the United States. More than a dozen consumers, producers, government officials and trade experts said China has increased shipments of finished magnets, but American manufacturers still cannot secure the raw materials required to make them domestically - a central goal of the administration. The people requested anonymity because the discussions aren’t public. The situation underscores lingering tensions in US - China trade relations since the Oct...
Rio Grande do Norte is set to receive another major boost in renewable energy. The Chinese group CPFL Energia confirmed an investment of about BRL 800 million (USD 144.8 million) to install new photovoltaic generation projects in the state, strengthening its position as one of Brazil’s leading hubs for clean energy. The delegation, led by Sun Peng, chairman of the company’s board of directors, was joined by executives from CPFL Renewables and state authorities. The initiative marks a new step for the conglomerate in Brazil, expanding its portfolio beyond wind power and moving decisively into large-scale solar generation. CPFL’s parent company, State Grid, has 843.3 MW of installed capacity in Rio Grande do Norte - the equivalent of roughly 61 per cent of its wind generation in Brazil. The...
Piyush Goyal, India's Union Mines Secretary, has shared his thoughts considering the need for timeliness in completing any expansion projects, pushing up the production targets and making structured improvements in the overall operational efficiency during a review of National Aluminium Company Ltd (NALCO)’s ongoing expansion programs and overall performance on Wednesday. NALCO, a firm that is already a key player within the Indian bauxite mining, alumina refining and aluminium production sectors, is looking to increase its capacities to meet the growing domestic demand from sectors like electric vehicles, renewable energy and infrastructure projects. Don’t miss out- Buyers are looking for your products on our B2B platform Goyal further commended NALCO for its impressive achievements and...
Europe’s transition to electric mobility remains officially on track, but the destination now appears less certain. The European Commission has moved to defer its long-standing plan to phase out petrol and diesel car sales by 2035, prompting unease among electric vehicle startups and climate-focused investors. Image source: EARTH.ORG Under the revised approach, new cars would no longer need to be entirely zero-emission by 2035. Instead, manufacturers may sell a limited proportion, up to 10 per cent of hybrid or similar vehicles, provided they offset the associated emissions through carbon credits. The proposal forms part of a wider “Automotive Package” that Brussels says is intended to preserve both environmental goals and industrial competitiveness. If endorsed by the European...
Kindia Bauxite Company in Guinea has launched 10 new CDD 5B1 diesel locomotives, along with 95 wagons. This launch is done with the aim of increasing the haul capacity as well as reducing the time taken during travelling on its rail networks. After the introduction of these locomotives, the company aims to uplift its overall bauxite production in Guinea-Conarky from 3.7 million tonnes to 5 million tonnes. Must read: Key industry individuals share their thoughts on the trending topics With the ramped-up production, the firm has been able to create a total of 466 new jobs, which brings the total workforce of the firm to 1,768 as of now. Moreover, for the newly introduced locomotives, 22 Guinean drivers are provided with training programs to help them operate the new fleet. In addition to...
Israel has taken a major step to protect its aluminium industry by imposing anti-dumping duties on imports of aluminium profiles and tubes from China for the next five years. The decision, announced by Minister of Economy and Industry Nir Barkat, follows an investigation that concluded Chinese exporters were selling products in Israel at unfairly low prices and harming domestic producers. The move was based on findings compiled by Trade Duties Commissioner Danny Tal and reviewed by the advisory committee at the ministry. Their conclusion was clear: dumping practices were distorting the market and creating real damage for Israeli manufacturers. Anti-dumping duties are hardly unusual in global trade. Anchored in World Trade Organization rules, they have become one of the most widely used...
On December 24, the London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium price showed a strong upward momentum in cash bid and offer, with a slight uptick on the 3-month and forward contracts as well. However, the LME alumina Platts has slightly inched down. Both the cash bid and offer went up by USD 16 per tonne or 0.54 per cent, where the bid reached USD 2,931.5 per tonne from USD 2,915.5 per tonne and the offer at USD 2,932 per tonne from USD 2,916 per tonne. At the 3-month contract, the bid rose by USD 2 per tonne or 0.07 per cent and settled at USD 2,957 per tonne, up from USD 2,955 per tonne. Concurrently, the LME 3-month offer expanded by USD 3.5 per tonne or 0.12 per cent to reach USD 2.959 per tonne from USD 2,955.5 per tonne. Don’t miss out- Buyers are looking for your products on our B2B...
According to BCA Research, aluminium prices are expected to remain comparatively firm in the near term, owing to the tight primary supply in China and the wide pricing difference between copper and aluminium. Image for representational purposes only Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with 50+ reports across the value chain A key factor here is China’s primary aluminium production constraints. The country is approaching its annual cap of 45 million tonnes, a limit first implemented in 2017 and renewed under the 2025-2027 Action Plan. Roukaya Ibrahim, Chief Commodity Strategist at BCA, noted in simple terms, “Chinese primary aluminium production is close to its ceiling.” This marks the conclusion of an expansion of several decades that delivered over 80 per cent in...
The Imo State Government has officially recommissioned the Imo Aluminium Extrusion Industries Limited (ALEX) in Inyishi, Ikeduru Local Government Area, marking the full revival of one of the state’s oldest and most strategic industrial assets. At the official flag-off ceremony on Tuesday, the Commissioner for Trade, Commerce and Investment, Chief Barrister Rex C. Anunobi, described the development as a major milestone in Imo State’s drive towards industrial renewal. He traced the factory’s origins to 1983, when it was established under the administration of the late Chief Samuel Onunaka Mbakwe and rapidly became a leading producer of aluminium long span roofing sheets, profiles and accessories, supplying markets nationwide. Also read: Aluminium Extrusion surge in caps, strong week at...
India’s rare earth footprint spans coastlines, riverbeds and hard rock terrains, giving the country one of the more widely distributed resource bases globally. According to the government data, India hosts around 7-7.2 million tonnes of rare earth elements oxide (REO) contained within 13.15 million tonnes of monazite, occurring across coastal beach sands, teri and red sand belts, and inland alluvium in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Gujarat and Maharashtra. In addition, 1.29 MT of rare earths is located in hard rock formations in parts of Gujarat and Rajasthan. Despite this geological spread, India currently meets very little of its rare earth demand through local production, relying instead on imports - an imbalance that has come into focus as global...
The federal critical mineral policy of the US in 2026 will be shifting its focus beyond rare earths towards the high-risk inputs, likely antimony and tungsten. This is mainly because the US are highly dependent on China, Tajikistan and Russia to receive a proper supply of these minerals in its defence alloys, munitions and flame-retardant applications. Washington, with this shifted focus, will be prioritising the domestic processing capacity in place of the new mines and back alternatives towards the traditional smelting and further refining, which shall aid in reducing the overall emissions and bring down the US power prices. Concurrently, the rising demand for electricity from the AI data centre will create pressure on metals like aluminium, copper, titanium and magnesium, creating a...
The Chhattisgarh High Court has rejected an intra-court appeal filed by Keshkal G N India Bauxite Mines and Minerals Ltd regarding a bauxite mining lease in the Kanker–Bastar region of the state. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Bibhu Datta Guru, in an order passed on December 16, upheld an earlier single-judge ruling that had dismissed the company’s petition. The bench has observed that the firm had not violated any legally enforceable right and consequently lacked the standing to pursue the appeal. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with 50+ reports across the value chain Started in 2003, the dispute roots back to the time when Chhattisgarh Mineral Development Corporation (CMDC) signed a joint venture with the appellant company for...
