Russia’s aluminium market could face a new competitive dynamic after Sual Partners signed a production-sharing agreement with state-controlled hydropower group RusHydro, potentially giving Sual access to up to 150,000 tonnes of aluminium from the Boguchany smelter in Siberia. The arrangement could challenge Rusal’s near 20-year dominance of Russia’s primary aluminium market, allowing Sual to target both domestic and overseas customers with the metal. The agreement, announced on October 15 during Russian Energy Week, provides for a production-sharing mechanism at the Boguchansky aluminium plant, which is co-owned by RusHydro. The arrangement could give Sual access to as much as a 50 per cent share of the smelter’s output, putting it in a position to compete directly with Rusal, its...
The Confederation of British Metalforming (CBM) has called for closer UK-EU relations, warning that proposed European industrial policies could affect British manufacturers supplying the aluminium, steel and automotive industries. Stephen Morley, CBM President and Chair of the Euroforge Automotive Sector, made the call at the organisation's autumn meeting in Munich. He said stronger cooperation between the UK and EU was important for protecting manufacturing jobs, investment and cross-border supply chains. He stated, “ We need to protect British industry, but we also need to recognise that the UK and European automotive sectors are deeply connected. What damages one part of the supply chain will inevitably affect the other. ” Join the fourth edition of webinar " Hedging for recyclers -...
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On Monday, September 29, both LME aluminium cash bid price and LME aluminium official settlement price hiked by USD 29.5 per tonne or 1.11 per cent to clock at USD 2,671.5 per tonne and USD 2,672 per tonne. As per the data, 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price also added USD 28 per tonne or 27.5 per tonne to halt at USD 2,675 per tonne and USD 2,675.5 per tonne. December 26 bid price and December 26 offer price surged by USD 25 per tonne to settle at USD 2,717 per tonne and USD 2,722 per tonne. Also Read: The World of Aluminium Extrusions – Industry Forecast to 2032 LME aluminium opening stock, Live warrants and Cancelled warrants stood at 515,600 tonnes, 412,775 per tonne and 102825 tonnes. The LME alumina (platts) price remained unchanged at USD 332.66 per tonne. Explore our B2B...
President Donald Trump has moved to expand his trade war on multiple fronts, unveiling tariffs of up to 100 per cent on pharmaceuticals and sharp new duties on heavy trucks and furniture. The announcement marks one of the broadest extensions of his tariff regime so far, aimed at forcing industries to shift production back to US soil. Pharma, trucks, and furniture in the crosshairs The tariffs will range from 30 to 100 per cent, with pharmaceuticals facing the steepest increase. A 100 per cent duty is set to apply on imported branded and patented medicines unless companies are already constructing plants inside the United States or if their home countries have specific trade agreements covering pharmaceuticals. Generic medicines are excluded for now, but branded imports—particularly from...
Iran is preparing to launch its largest alumina production project by the end of this year, with the state-owned Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO) confirming that the USD 1 billion Parsian alumina plant will soon enter implementation phase. Image for representational purpose The facility, to be built in the Parsian Special Economic Zone in Hormozgan province, is designed to produce one million tonnes of alumina powder annually. Its construction is part of the country’s Seventh National Development Plan and will begin once final approvals are secured from relevant authorities, including the Supreme Economic Council. At present, Iran’s alumina supply is almost entirely dependent on a single source — the Jajarm plant, which produces about...
The world’s primary aluminium production remained almost muted over a month in August 2025, mirroring the same trend as the previous year. However, on an annual basis, the output stood 1 per cent higher than 6.222 million tonnes. According to the data reported by the International Aluminium Institute, the world primary aluminium production in August 2025 summed at 6.277 million tonnes, just slightly higher than 6.268 million tonnes in July. While growth was minimal, the sector at least avoided another decline—after the last month-on-month drop in June, when production fell 3 per cent from 6.258 million tonnes to 6.070 million tonnes. Cumulatively, global primary aluminium output from January to August reached 49.04 million tonnes, marking a 1.32 per cent year-on-year rise from 48.4...
Globus Maritime Limited, a Greece-based dry bulk shipping company, announced that shareholders approved key proposals at its annual meeting held in Glyfada. Image for representational purpose The meeting confirmed the election of Mr. Georgios “George” Feidakis as Class III director, extending his term through the 2028 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Shareholders also endorsed the appointment of Ernst & Young (Hellas) Certified Auditors Accountants S.A. as the company’s independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025. In addition, approval was granted for amendments to the company’s Articles of Incorporation, authorising the Board of Directors to implement one or more reverse stock splits of the company’s issued and outstanding common and Series B preferred shares at a...
For most high school students, LEGO means playtime. For 18 seniors from Michigan this October, LEGO bricks will mean lessons in efficiency, waste reduction, and manufacturing mastery. Bonnell Aluminum, in partnership with Berrien RESA, is turning the Bertrand Innovation Center in Niles into a classroom for lean manufacturing, and the subject is snowmobiles. Image for referential purpose only (source: https://forzagroupus.com/) Also read: EU plans to be back at talk with the US! Here’s who we think needs it more On October 9, as part of Manufacturing Week, Bonnell Aluminum and Berrien RESA will host the inaugural Lean 101 LEGO Simulation Manufacturing Day Competition. Students from Brandywine, Buchanan, and Niles High Schools will compete in an immersive, hands-on simulation — producing...
India’s clean energy push is constrained by its heavy reliance on imported lithium — the rare earth element vital for EV batteries, smartphones, and renewable power. Despite government initiatives, domestic reserves remain untapped, leaving recycling as the only near-term alternative. Image for representational purpose The irony is hard to miss. Lithium, now billed as “white gold,” was first identified in Jammu & Kashmir back in the 1990s — but at the time, it was overshadowed by the search for bauxite, then in heavy demand as the raw material for aluminium production. Lithium’s toxic reputation and limited industrial use meant geologists logged the find and moved on. Fast forward three decades in 2023, the Geological Survey of India (GSI) announced that nearly six million tonnes of...
Odisha today sits at the commanding heights of India’s aluminium industry, contributing nearly 72 per cent of the country’s primary metal output. Yet this dominance has long carried a paradox. The state has remained a smelter powerhouse without building the deep downstream ecosystem that converts hot metal into high-value products such as extrusions, rolled sheets, foils and castings. That imbalance is what the government and National Aluminium Company (NALCO) now seek to correct through the Angul Aluminium Park. If the project achieves its ambition, Odisha could transform from being merely the backbone of India’s upstream aluminium supply into a centre of value-added excellence with global competitiveness. Image for representational purpose only (source: https://nalcoindia.com/ Read our...
India-based PRB Infraprojects Pvt Ltd has applied for clearances to carry out bauxite exploration across 1,100 acres of forest land in Karnataka’s Honnavar division, sparking concerns over potential ecological impact in a fragile coastal belt. Image for representational purpose The company has proposed drilling 25 boreholes and digging 25 pits in the Nittadgi block at an estimated project cost of around INR 1.4 crore. Bauxite , a critical raw material for aluminium production, has seen rising exploration interest nationwide. The move follows a technical committee under the Union Ministry of Mines approving the proposal earlier this year. PRB Infraprojects submitted its request to the deputy conservator of forests, Honnavar division, in March for a preliminary survey. Department sources...
London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium prices edged lower on September 26 compared to the previous day. The cash bid price declined to USD 2,642 per tonne, down 0.71 per cent from USD 2,661 per tonne on September 25, while the cash offer price slipped by 0.71 per cent to USD 2,642.50 per tonne. The 3-month bid price eased by 0.68 per cent to USD 2,647 per tonne, and the 3-month offer dropped by 0.66 per cent to USD 2,648 per tonne. Further out, the December 26 contract also softened, with the bid price down 0.48 per cent to USD 2,692 per tonne and the offer at USD 2,697 per tonne, compared with USD 2,705 and USD 2,710, respectively, on September 25. Also read: The World of Aluminium Extrusions – Industry Forecast to 2032 Meanwhile, the LME aluminium 3-month Asian Reference Price stood at...
Canyon Resources Limited, the Australian miner behind the Minim Martap project in Cameroon, has rolled out a funding package to support the launch of the large-scale bauxite development. The fund aims to raise AUD 215 million (USD 140 million), subject to shareholder approval, under the management of Cameroonian banking group Afriland and Canyon’s majority shareholder, Eagle Eye Asset Holdings (EEA). The package comprises a two-tranche placement worth AUD 205 million (USD 134.5 million) and an additional AUD 10 million (USD 6.6 million) from EEA. Institutional investors will provide AUD 36 million (USD 23.62 million) in the first tranche, while EEA will commit AUD 100 million (USD 65.6 million) in the second, raising its stake in Canyon to 56.5%. These funds will be combined with Canyon’s...
B Water & Beverages Inc., a leading innovator in premium hydration solutions, has entered into a partnership with Lipari Foods, one of the nation’s largest independent distributors. The deal will take B Water’s aluminium bottled waters, featuring Disney characters from Toy Story, Disney Princesses, Mickey Mouse, Star Wars and The Mandalorian, to 35 states through a chain of retailers. Storytelling meets sustainability Each aluminium bottle is designed to be recyclable, reusable, and collectible, combining nostalgia with eco-conscious packaging. A spokesperson from B Water & Beverages Inc. said, “We’re thrilled to partner with Lipari Foods, whose expansive distribution network and commitment to innovation make them an ideal ally in our mission to deliver premium hydration with purpose....
Italian shipbuilder MED Group has announced the launch of the first model in its new TYKUN line of high-performance chase boats. Named TYKUN X, the 10.5-metre vessel will make its official debut at the 2025 Monaco Yacht Show. Designed by renowned architect Tommaso Spadolini, the boat combines sleek, dynamic aesthetics with advanced, military-inspired technology. Image for representational purpose Military-grade performance, safety and comfort Built on MED Group’s defence-sector pedigree, TYKUN X features a robust aluminium hull engineered with advanced stability calculations. The vessel is capable of speeds exceeding 50 knots, while maintaining a smooth, safe and comfortable ride across diverse sea conditions. A distinctive carbon-fiber hard-top adds lightweight strength and structural...
Recently, Apple has given clarifications on two alleged controversies - one related to the aluminium unibody and the other related to some scratches. Some consumers had raised issues regarding the durability of the aluminium unibody design of the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, against which Apple stated the aluminium unibody was specifically selected for its heat performance and is tough but may develop slight wear relative to the titanium finishes employed by other models. For the issue related to scratches seen in recently launched iPhone 17 Pro, Pro Max, and iPhone Air, which even started being referred to as ‘scratchgate’, Apple cited that these scratches were not true scratches, but a material transfer. According to the company, worn-out MagSafe charger risers in the retail...
Scandium Canada Ltd, an advanced materials company focused on scandium alloys, has reported new data showing that its scandium-modified AA535 and AA7075 alloys deliver an economically viable technological advancement in the field of aluminium-scandium (Al-Sc) alloys for additive manufacturing. The findings, based on laser powder-bed fusion (L-PBF) printed samples, demonstrate that the alloys significantly reduce cracking in high-strength aluminium – a major barrier in metal 3D printing. The company highlighted that these alloys unlock a path towards lightweight, high-performance, and cost-effective components for aerospace, automotive, and advanced engineering. “Scandium Canada’s proprietary alloys directly address the critical need for printable, high-strength, and lightweight metals in...
The global aluminium industry is at a crucial turning point as the surge in demand driven by the clean energy transition meets the urgent need to decarbonise a sector known for its high energy consumption. From new smelter projects popping up in Asia to the shifting supply-demand balance in China, Europe and India, industry players are grappling with production challenges, changing regulations and market ups and downs. Key trends, like fluctuations in LME prices, spikes in bauxite trade and strategic moves towards sustainability are transforming the competitive landscape for producers, suppliers and investors alike. Upstream Weekly by AL Circle Pvt Ltd Inside Asian aluminium industry Adaro Minerals made strides with its aluminium smelter project through its subsidiary, PT Kalimantan...
Alcoa’s stock came under pressure on Tuesday after Chief Executive William (Bill) F. Oplinger alerted that President Donald Trump’s steep tariff regime risks making aluminium prohibitively expensive and deflating demand for domestically produced steel and aluminium. Shares of the Pittsburgh-headquartered producer slid 3.4 per cent in regular trading, though retail sentiment on Stocktwits remained broadly bullish, with chatter on the counter spiking 67 per cent in the past 24 hours. Image source: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-oplinger/ Also read: Alcoa’s Q1 2025 performance displays stable 26% EBITDA growth amid first phase of tariff pressure In a recent media interview, Oplinger said aluminium prices in the United States have surged under Trump’s tariff framework, which doubled duties...
After the pandemic in 2020 and early 2021, global aluminium demand has made a strong comeback and is now on a steady growth trajectory. According to industry data, total global consumption hit 97.6 million tonnes in 2023 and is projected to rise to 100.8 million tonnes in 2024, primarily driven by the release of pent-up demand. Out of this total, recycled aluminium made up 27.7 million tonnes in 2023, with a slight increase to 28.4 million tonnes in 2024. As per AL Circle's report, the global aluminium recycling market is set to experience notable growth from 2023 to 2032. By 2024, the industry had already shown consistent progress, due to strategic moves and investments from key players in the field. In 2024, global aluminium consumption, which includes both primary and recycled metal,...
