German aluminium producer Trimet has proposed a series of measures to address competition concerns over Alcoa’s proposed acquisition of South32’s alumina and bauxite assets . These include the sale of integrated bauxite-mining and alumina-refining assets in Brazil or Western Australia, changes to ownership links in Alumar and MRN, and greater transparency and independent monitoring of alumina price reporting. Trimet has also asked Brazil's competition regulator, the Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE), to block the deal, saying it would reduce the number of independent smelter-grade alumina suppliers in the country from three to two. The company said the combined entity could control approximately 51.8 per cent of Brazil's merchant alumina sales, leaving Glencore with the...
Downstream aluminium is where geopolitics meets the shop floor. Tariffs, shipping disruption, regulation and shifting demand are deciding who rolls the metal, who gets it and what it becomes, whether a beer can, a battery housing or a length of wire. Fifteen recent developments across North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Oceania depict how aluminium flat rolled products (FRPs), packaging and electric vehicle (EV) demand are being rerouted, and where traders, exporters and buyers may need to adjust. Aluminium FRP and wire: tariffs and policy redraw the flows The tariff debate has reached the bar counter. In Virginia, Democrat Tom Perriello is campaigning on aluminium tariffs that he says raise brewers’ packaging costs. Across the border, a Windsor, Ontario brewery reports its...
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South32 expects the sale of its aluminium value chain assets to Alcoa to be completed in the six months ending June 2027. The proposed transaction covers its aluminium operations and related bauxite and alumina assets in South Africa, Australia and Brazil. The sale follows a binding conditional agreement signed by the two companies, under which Alcoa agreed to acquire the assets for up to USD 5.6 billion . The assets include South32's Hillside Aluminium smelter and the idled Bayside smelter in South Africa, its interests in the Boddington bauxite mine and Worsley alumina refinery in Australia, and the Mineração Rio do Norte bauxite mine and Alumar alumina refinery and aluminium smelter in Brazil. Explore the production, demand and consumption forecasts of bauxite and alumina in our...
Novelis reported a 20 per cent year-on-year increase in adjusted EBITDA to USD 508 million in the second quarter of fiscal year 2027, while rolled product shipments declined 2 per cent to 919,000 tonnes. Net sales rose 25 per cent to USD 5.9 billion from USD 4.7 billion in the corresponding quarter last year, mainly due to higher average aluminium prices. Higher shipments of beverage packaging and aerospace products were partly offset by lower volumes in automotive and speciality products. Net income attributable to Novelis' common shareholders increased 29 per cent to USD 210 million, compared with USD 163 million a year earlier. Excluding special items, net income also rose 29 per cent to USD 146 million. Explore further insights and forecasts for the aluminium flat rolled products...
LME aluminium cash prices recorded an increase on November 5, 2026, with the cash offer price rising by 0.80 per cent day on day to USD 3,160 per tonne from USD 3,135 per tonne on November 4. On November 5, the LME aluminium cash bid price stood at USD 3,158 per tonne, up by 0.75 per cent from USD 3,134.5 per tonne recorded on November 4. The cash offer price increased by USD 25 per tonne. Similarly, LME aluminium 3-month prices moved higher. The 3-month bid price rose by 0.78 per cent to USD 3,097 per tonne on November 5 from USD 3,073 per tonne on November 4. The 3-month offer price increased by 0.76 per cent to USD 3,097.5 per tonne from USD 3,074 per tonne. For December 27 contracts, the bid price advanced by 0.33 per cent to USD 2,997 per tonne on November 5 from USD 2,987 per tonne...
Indus Aluminium Recyclers Limited returned to profitability in the half year ended September 30, 2026, reporting a net profit of INR 1.73 million (USD 18,300), compared with a loss of INR 20 million (USD 211,900) in the corresponding period last year. The turnaround came despite a decline in revenue, as a substantial reduction in reported expenses helped improve the company's financial performance. Revenue from operations slipped to INR 129 million (USD 1.37 million) from INR 134.3 million (USD 1.42 million) in the first half of the previous financial year. However, total expenses declined to INR 129.4 million (USD 1.37 million) from INR 161.7 million (USD 1.71 million), allowing the company to move back into profit. Sharp reduction in other expenses supports profitability The most...
Australia could turn more of its aluminium and copper resources into higher-value battery components, with a new report from national science agency CSIRO identifying opportunities to strengthen the country's domestic battery manufacturing capabilities. The report, The Future of Australian Battery Manufacturing: Cell Cans and Current Collector Foils, examines how Australia could use its existing industrial expertise, materials and manufacturing capabilities to produce key components for lithium-ion and emerging sodium-ion batteries. Rather than focusing solely on the country's critical mineral resources, the analysis explores practical ways to move further downstream and capture more value through local manufacturing. The opportunity comes as global demand for batteries continues to grow,...
Germany and France share one of Europe’s busiest downstream aluminium corridors, and the metal flows in both directions. In the first seven months of 2026, aluminium flat rolled products (FRP), which cover aluminium plates, sheets and strips (HS code: 7606), as well as aluminium foil (HS code: 7607), crossed the border each way, amounting to a total of around USD 692 million. However, the bilateral trade flow is tilted towards Germany, which remains France’s largest FRP supplier. Nonetheless, the inter-dependence remains as the countries do exchange the same products but engage in cross-border trade of specialised high-value products and alloys, feeding the demand on either side. The trade figures for January–July 2026, as compiled from the International Trade Administration, highlight...
Scatec has begun construction of the first phase of a major solar power project that will supply renewable electricity to the Aluminium Company of Egypt (Egyptalum), advancing the Egyptian producer's efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of its aluminium operations. The first phase of the Dandara Solar Power project comprises a 569 MW solar plant supported by a 100-MWh battery energy storage system. The Norwegian renewable energy company has also signed loan agreements to finance the development, which was first announced in 2025. Under a 25-year power purchase agreement, the facility will supply clean electricity to Egyptalum. Once operational, the first phase is expected to generate approximately 1.4 TWh of renewable power annually and avoid more than 550,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide...
NTPC Green Energy Limited (NGEL) plans to expand its renewable energy capacity from around 12 gigawatts (GW) to 60 GW by 2032, marking a major step in its clean-energy expansion strategy. The target forms part of parent company NTPC Limited’s broader ambition to reach 149 GW of installed power capacity, supported by renewable energy, thermal expansion and a proposed entry into nuclear generation. The roadmap was outlined by P. Rahul, Deputy General Manager, Business Development – Green Hydrogen at NGEL, during the Bharat Renewable Energy Summit and Expo 2026. Alongside renewable capacity additions, the company is advancing green hydrogen, energy storage and green chemicals projects. To learn about the market potential of aluminium dross, explore "ALuminium Dross Processing: Generation,...
National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) is advancing its INR 30,000 crore or INR 300 billion (USD 3.18 billion) aluminium smelter expansion project at Anugola or Angul, Odisha, which is expected to more than double its existing smelting capacity from 460,000 tonnes per annum to approximately 1 million tonnes per annum (MTPA). The Navratna public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Mines has secured key statutory approvals and initiated partnerships and preparatory measures for the project, which is targeted to begin operations in 2030-31. A recent meeting of the Rehabilitation and Peripheral Development Advisory Committee (RPDAC) focused on facilitating land acquisition for the proposed facility and addressing associated compensation and rehabilitation matters. Explore the...
Impact Minerals has proposed changing its corporate name to Altrica Advanced Materials as it sharpens its focus on high-purity alumina (HPA) development. The proposed rebranding reflects the company's strategic shift towards its 80 per cent-owned Lake Hope project in Western Australia, which has become its principal priority for management attention and development capital. The name change will require shareholder approval through a special resolution at the company's annual general meeting scheduled for November 30, 2026. The proposal follows an October strategic review that established a clearer direction for the company's HPA activities while separating them from its earlier focus on precious and base metals exploration. Lake Hope remains central to HPA development strategy The Lake...
Canada and China have extended a bilateral trade arrangement that links Chinese market access for Canadian agricultural products with Canada's access for Chinese steel and aluminum. The decision provides greater certainty for exporters on both sides as Ottawa seeks to expand its trade relationships beyond the United States. The extension, announced on November 4, 2026, will keep the existing arrangement in place until the end of 2028. It comes amid renewed efforts by the two countries to strengthen economic ties and address outstanding trade issues. For the aluminum industry, the agreement offers a clearer timeline for market access, while its agricultural provisions provide Canadian producers with greater predictability in one of their key export markets. Canada-China trade agreement...
Aluminium aerosol cans are significantly less likely to be recovered during recycling operations than conventional drinks cans, according to new research by waste intelligence company Greyparrot. An AI-powered analysis of waste streams found that aluminium aerosols recorded a sorting success rate of 68 per cent, compared with 85.3 per cent for drinks cans, highlighting the challenges faced by recycling facilities in recovering non-beverage aluminium packaging. The findings were generated through Greyparrot's Deepnest platform, which analysed 1.2 billion waste items across facilities in the UK, the US and the Netherlands, including 395,424 aerosols. The results were discussed during a recent webinar involving representatives from waste management company Biffa, packaging manufacturer Ball...
KAP Minerals and Cymat Technologies are exploring a partnership to produce scandium-aluminium master alloy in Ontario, following the signing of a memorandum of understanding. The partnership would use scandium oxide from KAP’s Kapuskasing critical minerals project and Cymat’s aluminium-processing technology to produce alloys for aerospace, defence and manufacturing applications. To know the global production, demand and consumption forecasts of aluminium extrusions, explore our report " The World of Aluminium Extrusions to 2035 " Scandium-aluminium alloys can improve strength, performance and weldability while reducing weight. The companies aim to use the proposed venture to establish a domestic supply chain, converting Canadian critical minerals into value-added industrial materials....
India’s renewable energy transition is gathering pace, with installed renewable power capacity surpassing 300 gigawatts (GW) in 2026, almost quadrupling over the past decade. The country has also achieved its target of sourcing 50 per cent of installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuel sources five years ahead of schedule, strengthening its position as one of the world’s fastest-growing clean energy markets. The expansion is beginning to deliver measurable energy security benefits by reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels, while competitive renewable power costs and expanding domestic manufacturing are opening new investment opportunities. However, sustaining this momentum will require substantial improvements in electricity transmission, storage infrastructure and...
Glencore has defended its progress on the Aurukun bauxite project in Queensland, saying it has met all commitments under its licence conditions, as calls for greater scrutiny mount over its proposed sale to Rio Tinto. Queensland MP Robbie Katter, a member of the Parliamentary Primary Industries and Resources Committee, is seeking an inquiry into the deal. The reported sale value has been put at USD 250 million, though this figure has not been confirmed. Katter questioned why a multinational company should hold a public resource without developing it and then sell its interests. He said, “That resource is owned by the people of Queensland, it’s not the government’s to play around with, or for any of these global mining companies to just trade.” Explore the production, demand and...
LME aluminium prices gained ground on November 4, with cash and futures contracts moving higher. The Asian Reference Price also edged up, while exchange inventories declined. Alumina Platts prices, however, moved slightly lower. The cash bid rose by USD 53.50 per tonne , or 1.74 per cent, to USD 3,134.50 per tonne from USD 3,081 per tonne. The cash offer increased 1.72 per cent to USD 3,135 per tonne from USD 3,082 per tonne. Three-month aluminium prices also advanced. The bid climbed 1.08 per cent to USD 3,073 per tonne on November 4 from USD 3,040 per tonne, while the offer gained 1.05 per cent to USD 3,074 per tonne. It was previously at USD 3,042 per tonne . Explore the production, demand and consumption forecasts of bauxite and alumina in our report: " Global Bauxite & Alumina Market...
The Volta Aluminium Company Limited (VALCO) has reported a provisional profit of USD 1.3 million within the first nine months of 2026, signalling progress in its efforts to restore operations and strengthen its financial position. The Ghanaian aluminium producer has also outlined an ambitious expansion target of processing 1.5 million tonnes of alumina within the next decade, supported by an estimated USD 4 billion investment. VALCO CEO Dr Robert Makila Sambian said the company was now focused on strategic capital investment to achieve its long-term production ambitions. He shared the update during the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources' Progress Report Series, an initiative through which agencies under the ministry present updates on their activities and performance to the media....
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has defended the feasibility of cooling artificial intelligence (AI) data centers in space, claiming that aluminum radiators facing away from the Sun can dissipate approximately 1,300 watts of heat per square meter. His comments have brought Aluminum's thermal management capabilities into focus as SpaceX explores the development of orbital computing satellites powered by its existing Starlink technology. In a post on social platform X on November 2, Musk argued that cooling high-performance computing equipment in space could be "much easier than on Earth," challenging concerns that the vacuum environment would make heat dissipation particularly difficult. Aluminum radiators form the basis of Musk's cooling argument The discussion began after Jan Broersen, a professor...
