Vietnam-based custom motorcycle studio Bandit9 has unveiled the Bandit9 (RED) 800, a limited-edition Ducati-based motorcycle that combines sculptural aluminium bodywork with a charitable commitment to healthcare programmes. Its defining feature is a hand-painted finish that fades from deep Racing Red at the front into exposed, hand-brushed aluminium towards the rear, making the metal itself a central part of the design. Limited to just nine units worldwide, the motorcycle is priced at USD 49,900, with Bandit9 pledging a fixed USD 14,000 from each bike to (RED), the organisation that raises funds to fight AIDS and other preventable diseases. If all nine examples are sold, the commitment would total USD 126,000. Red paint gives way to sculpted aluminium The Bandit9 (RED) 800 builds on the...
COROS has introduced the DURA 2 SOLAR, a second-generation GPS cycling computer featuring an anodised aluminium alloy frame and a braided carbon fibre back. The new model combines aluminium construction with a larger touchscreen, updated navigation functions and extended battery life. The device features an aluminium upper frame with a profile measuring just 5.7 mm at its thinnest point. Its construction combines the metal with carbon fibre to keep the overall weight at 99 grams without a mount, increasing to 138 grams with a compatible mount. The use of aluminium is part of a broader redesign that gives the cycling computer a slimmer profile. COROS has also expanded the screen size from 2.7 inches in the original DURA to 3.5 inches in the new model, improving the available display area...
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Unifor Local 127 members at Dajcor Aluminum have hit the picket lines after discovering the company’s plan to remove equipment and bring in replacement workers. Tensions flared when employees voted down a tentative agreement on Tuesday, July 29, prompting the union to extend the strike deadline and urge Dajcor to return to the bargaining table with a better wage offer. Instead of negotiating, Canada-based Dajcor Aluminum doubled down sparking outrage by moving forward with efforts to relocate machinery and enlist non-union labour. Unifor is ramping up its Protect Canadian Jobs campaign as a wave of new threats puts domestic manufacturing in the crosshairs. “Any attempt to remove equipment from a Unifor facility or bring in scabs will always be met with the swiftest possible response from...
Impact Minerals has once again confirmed its position as the lowest-cost global HPA producer with its recent release of a Pre‑Feasibility Study (PFS) for its Lake Hope High‑Purity Alumina (HPA) project in Western Australia. According to the PFS, the Net Present Value (NPV₁₀) is no less than AUD 1.165 billion (USD 746 million), a flat‑line CapEx of AUD 259 million (USD 167 million), and operating costs of ~USD 5,860 per tonne. However, it shows a potential of sliding below USD 4500 with the byproduct credits. Strategy meets scale: Impact Mineral’s vision for HPA growth Pilot plant & government-backed innovation A pilot plant is underway with CAD 2.87 million (USD 2.07 million) in UK‑PCRC funding, partnered between CPC Engineering and Edith Cowan University. The plant is focused on membrane...
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba), the world’s largest aluminium smelter on a single site, has achieved a major safety milestone by recording 38 million safe working hours without a Lost Time Injury (LTI) as of 31 July 2025. Image Source: Alba PR and Instagram This marks a 1 million-hour increase from 27 June 2025 , when Alba reported 37 million LTI-free hours, demonstrating the company’s sustained commitment to workplace safety. The accomplishment highlights Alba’s strong safety culture and proactive risk management systems. In comparison, data published in June 2022 showed just 20 million safe hours without LTI, marking a significant improvement. Alba Chief Executive Officer Ali Al Baqali stated, “This tremendous achievement of 38 million safe working hours without LTI is a testament to...
Aluminz Corporation has unveiled plans to establish the United States’ first zero-landfill aluminium production facility in Titus County, Texas. The project, developed in collaboration with the Mount Pleasant City Council and the Mount Pleasant Economic Development Corporation (MPEDC), will span a 155-acre site under a 30-year lease agreement. Once operational, the facility is expected to create more than 130 permanent jobs in the region. “This initiative isn’t only good for Titus County and Aluminz; it will help drive growth for a wide ecosystem of partners and customers,” said Richard Mayenknecht, CEO of Aluminz. The project is set to generate 130 full-time jobs across operations, maintenance, and administration, all offering above-market wages, in addition to 75 skilled construction...
Canadian aluminium smelters are sharply reducing primary metal exports to the US following an escalation in tariffs under the Trump administration. Beginning in March 2025, the US reinstated a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian aluminium, which was then unexpectedly doubled to 50 per cent in June, causing significant disruption to established trade flows and leaving Canadian exporters little time to adjust. Major producers such as Alcoa Corp have led this shift by diverting more than 100,000 metric tons of Canadian aluminium away from US buyers to alternative global markets, mainly in Europe. This pivot has been facilitated by the fact that approximately 30 per cent of Alcoa's Canadian production is not bound by annual contracts, allowing flexible redirection to more favourable markets....
Alcoa Corporation, a prominent global aluminium producer, has once again demonstrated its financial resilience by maintaining a consistent quarterly cash dividend of USD 0.10 per share for both its common stock and Series A convertible preferred stock. Despite ongoing challenges such as falling aluminium prices, rising tariffs and global market uncertainties, the company's Q2 2025 earnings showcased strong operational performance and a robust cash position, reaffirming its shareholder-focused capital strategy. On July 30, 2025, the firm announced that its Board of Directors had declared the quarterly cash dividend. The dividend includes USD 0.10 per share on the company's common stock and a corresponding dividend on its Series A convertible preferred stock. Both are scheduled to be paid...
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has firmly denied reports suggesting the cancellation of a $1.2 billion bauxite lease awarded to Rocksure International in favour of foreign companies, calling the allegations false, baseless, and misleading. In a statement released on July 30, the Ministry clarified that no valid lease ever existed with Rocksure International, as Ghana’s 8th Parliament never ratified the proposed agreement before its dissolution in January 2025. This statement directly challenges claims that Ghana followed Guinea’s lead in revoking mining licenses, particularly Rocksure’s, in a strategic shift toward foreign partnerships. “No official valuation has confirmed that figure, suggesting the claim is a deliberate distortion meant to stir public discontent. Further...
In a notable development within the recycled aluminium sector, UK-based start-up Paragon Resources has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Siemens Energy, a global leader in energy technologies. The collaboration aims to commercialise an innovative hydrogen production process that leverages recycled aluminium reacting with water in the presence of a catalyst, highlighting the strategic integration of advanced technology in sustainable aluminium applications. Image source: siemens.co.uk Under the terms of the MoU, both organisations will collaborate to deploy and scale up a hydrogen production technology that operates without the use of fossil fuels, electrolysis or electricity. The process generates hydrogen gas and aluminium hydroxide, presenting a highly viable...
Stellantis, a multinational automotive corporation in the Netherlands, is bracing for a financial hit in the second half of 2025, expecting a Euro 1.2 billion (USD 1.4 billion) impact from new US tariffs as the global auto industry grapples with changing regulatory barriers and trade winds. After a relatively small Euro 300 million (USD 327 million) contribution in H1, the automaker believes the "real bite" will come as the new 25 per cent duties on imported cars and parts take effect (announced by President Donald Trump). Trade policies disrupt Stellantis’ North American operations Stellantis is exposed to tariffs primarily because of its large footprint in Canada and Mexico, which represented a sizable percentage of the 1.2 million vehicles sold in the US last year. While exemptions...
Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium prices saw modest gains on July 30 compared to the previous day, while inventories also edged up. The LME aluminium cash bid price rose to USD 2,610 per tonne, up 0.11 per cent from USD 2,607 per tonne on July 29. The cash offer price moved up 0.08 per cent to USD 2,611 per tonne from USD 2609 per tonne. The 3-month bid price climbed 0.27 per cent to USD 2,614 per tonne, while the offer price increased 0.27 per cent to USD 2,615 per tonne. Also read: Rio Tinto’s H1 2025 net earnings fall 22% amid tariff impact and higher capex For December 26 contracts, the bid price advanced 0.23 per cent to USD 2,658 per tonne from USD 2652 per tonne from the previous day and the offer price also gained 0.23 per cent to USD 2,663 per tonne. Meanwhile, the LME 3-month Asian...
Ireland's ambitious Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) has achieved a notable environmental milestone by collecting over 1.6 billion plastic bottles and aluminium or steel cans since being implemented nationwide in February 2024. The DRS has transformed Ireland's container recycling rate from 49 per cent to an impressive 91 per cent, ranking it among the fastest transformations of any European country. A behavioural shift powered by incentives The DRS implemented by Ireland in February this year is a seemingly simple model with a profound impact. Under the system, consumers pay a 15 to 25 cent (USD 0.22 to USD 0.37), refundable deposit on drinks sold in a single-use container with the Re-turn logo. When they return their undamaged containers back to somewhere over 2000 return points (which...
During the ACG Summer Conference held in late June 2025 at Ljubljana, Arturo Martorelli, Chief Commercial Officer at Gaula Closures, was unanimously appointed as the new Chair of the Aluminium Closures Group (ACG). He takes over the leadership from Franco Bove, who has held the position since the group's inception in 2011, marking nearly 14 years of service. During the same event, Patrick Broom was appointed as Vice-Chair. Globally led manufacturers of the aluminium closures and their suppliers, which represent 75 per cent of the global production, are brought together by the Aluminium Closures Group. The use of aluminium screw caps is seen mainly in the wine, spirits, mineral waters, oil and vinegar sectors. The core activities of ACG include market analysis, advancing recycling and...
Rio Tinto reported a mixed set of financial results for the first half of 2025, as softer commodity prices, surging capital expenditure, and steep US aluminium tariffs weighed on its performance. Image source: Rio Tinto The company reported net cash generated from operating activities of USD 6,924 million, down 1.9 per cent from USD 7,056 million in H1 2024, reflecting margin compression and elevated cost pressures. Free cash flow declined sharply to USD 1,962 million, a 31 per cent fall from USD 2,843 million a year earlier, primarily due to a significant rise in investment. Capital expenditure, including purchases of property, plant, equipment, and intangible assets rose to USD 4,734 million, up from USD 4,018 million in H1 2024. Sales revenue remained largely flat at USD 26,873...
Himoinsa, a global leader in the design, manufacturing and distribution of power generation systems, has delivered a 24 MW power plant for a metallurgy facility in Kouriah, strengthening energy resilience in one of Conakry's key industrial zones. Why does it need mention in the export boom scenario of Conakry? As of Q1 2025, Conakry marks the highest contribution in Guinea's total bauxite export, mainly because of the presence of high-quality bauxite deposits in the region. Coupled with the ore presence, high-end mining technology plays an integral role. The setup of the power plant ensures elevated mining operations and ensures that Guinea's capital exceeds the previous shipment record in FY'25. Conakry has exported 48.6 million tonnes of bauxite in the first quarter of the fiscal year....
A trade agreement between Japan and the US in July 2025 provided partial tariff relief, but ongoing challenges particularly in aluminium and auto parts continued to weigh on Japan’s manufacturing output. While services accelerated domestic demand, the country’s industrial base remained under pressure amid evolving global trade dynamics. The S&P Global Japan Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) fell to 48.8 in July, dipping below the crucial 50-point mark that separates growth from contraction. This marked a reversal from June’s 50.1, the first expansion reading in over a year. Economics Associate Director at S&P Global Market Intelligence Annabel Fiddes said, “Business activity across Japan's private sector continued to expand at the start of the third quarter, fuelled by...
With Guinea revoking more than 129 licenses of the bauxite miners , Ghana is now following a similar step. Starting with a local firm, Rocksure International, Ghana has cancelled the bauxite lease worth USD 1.2 billion. The major cause behind the cancellation was the lease being ratified by the parliament. Under Ghana’s legal framework, a landmark 2019 Supreme Court decision, widely known as the “Exton Cubic ruling” established that any mining lease not ratified by Parliament is deemed legally void. This legal precedent empowered the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to formally notify Rocksure of the termination of its mining lease. After cancelling the lease of its local firm, Rocksure International, Ghana is currently seeking a partnership with international companies. The major...
Vedanta Aluminium, known to be India's largest aluminium producer, is set to undertake the largest manufacturing capital expenditure of Q1 FY26 with a greenfield aluminium smelter project valued at INR 1.3 trillion (USD 15.64 billion) in Odisha. The investment reflects growing private sector confidence and underpins Vedanta's plans for a 3 MTPA smelter integrated with a 4,900 MW power plant set up near Kamakhyanagarin, Odisha's Dhenkanal district. Image source: linkedin.com Once operational, the project is expected to generate over 200,000 jobs and drive sustained economic growth in the region through the development of auxiliary industries, infrastructure improvements and enhanced logistics. In Q1 FY26, private sector investments totalled INR 3.5 trillion (USD 42.11 billion), with...
Constellium SE delivered a mixed financial performance for the second quarter and first half of 2025, as solid revenue growth was overshadowed by steep declines in profitability, margins, and cash flow. Image Source: constellium.com Constellium’s Q2 2025 revenue rose 10.5 per cent year-over-year to USD 2.1 billion, supported by favourable pricing, currency effects, and modest volume gains. Shipments increased 1.6 per cent to 384 thousand metric tons, driven mainly by strong performance in the Packaging & Automotive Rolled Products (P&ARP) segment. However, profitability deteriorated sharply. Net income fell 53.2 per cent to USD 36 million, and adjusted EBITDA dropped 37.3 per cent to USD 146 million, largely due to a significant swing in metal price lag, which shifted from a USD 45...
