Kaiser Aluminum is seeing stronger demand across aerospace, defence, packaging and semiconductor-related markets, with customer bookings extending into 2027. However, the aluminium producer’s latest results highlight a challenge: converting rising shipments and record conversion revenue into stronger profitability as planned outages, lower scrap utilisation and startup costs weigh on margins. The company reported third-quarter 2026 shipments of 300 million pounds, up from 270 million pounds in the same period last year, while conversion revenue climbed 25 per cent year-on-year to a record USD 439 million from USD 351 million. Net sales reached USD 1.21 billion. Despite the growth, adjusted EBITDA increased by only USD 3 million year-on-year to USD 84 million. A USD 29 million unfavourable...
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...
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The US-EU tariffs on each other’s automotive industry have already created a ruckus among the manufacturers, importers, and exporters of the same. A Swedish multinational automotive company like Volvo also could not escape the chaos and thus, appealed to the EU government to cut the tariff on US car imports after facing a loss of nearly USD 1 billion. Volvo cars CEO Hakan Samuelsson said the European Union should reduce duties on US car imports to get the same treatment from the US, especially when Brussels is working towards a trade agreement with Washington. He made a statement stating, "I think it's unnecessary, the European car industry does not need to have any protection from American auto builders" Backed by China's Geely, Volvo stands among the most impacted European automakers by...
The state-owned aluminium smelting firm, PT Indonesia Asahan Aluminium (Inalum), has reportedly urged the government to revisit the country's import strategy to strengthen the local market , in lieu of anticipated reduction in exports to the United States due to Donald Trump’s decision of doubling aluminium tariffs from 25 per cent to 50 per cent on May 30, 2025. Inalum, in particulr, expects about 30,000 tonnes of it exports to the US to be affected. “Inalum has been producing semi-finished products, which are then purchased by the domestic industry to be made into finished products,” said Melati Sarnita, Inalum’s President Director, during a parliamentary session on July 16, 2025. Domestic market: a lifeline amid global trade shifts Sarnita urged the Indonesian government to increase...
Aluminium prices on the London Metal Exchange (LME) edged lower across key contracts on July 17, with spot, 3-month, and December 2026 prices all registering modest declines. The LME aluminium cash bid price fell to USD 2,556.50 per tonne, marking a USD 11 drop or 0.43 per cent decline from USD 2,567.50 per tonne on July 16. The cash offer settlement price also dipped by 0.43 per cent, from USD 2,568 per tonne to USD 2,557 per tonne. In the forward market, the 3-month aluminium bid price stood at USD 2,560.50 per tonne, down USD 5.50 or approximately 0.21 per cent from USD 2,566 per tonne a day earlier. The 3-month offer price followed suit, decreasing by 0.23 per cent to USD 2,561 per tonne, compared to USD 2,567 per tonne on July 16. Longer-dated contracts also recorded a dip. The...
Sweden-based startup packaging firm Meadow has announced that its alliance with United States-based Ball Corp. will help “drive a shift away from linear packaging” by harnessing the “industrial capability” of Ball to “replace billions of linear containers” with aluminium packaging. Image credit: Meadow Founded in 2020, Meadow is targeting traditionally plastic-reliant sectors such as personal hygiene and beauty products with its aluminium packaging solutions. The company says its approach “leverages existing consumer behaviour rather than attempting to change it” and aims to “drive circularity at a global scale” through a versatile, cost-efficient and scalable system. This system uses aluminium cans as pre-filled containers for categories beyond the beverage sector. Meadow highlights...
Melbourne-based packaging company Onpack has partnered with emerging hydration brand Rippl to deliver a next-gen packaging solution that blends high-speed digital printing with fully recyclable aluminium cans, bringing sustainability and style together at scale. Using advanced direct-to-can digital printing, Onpack empowers Rippl with flexible, eye-catching packaging that supports high-mix, short-run production without compromising on quality or turnaround time. Founded in 2023, Rippl offers high-alkaline, mineral-rich still and sparkling water in sleek, slimline cans tailored for full custom branding. Targeting events, corporate settings, and retail activations, Rippl is redefining hydration where every can serves not just as a product, but as a powerful marketing canvas. “From day one,...
Aluminium production at Mozal, Mozambique’s largest industrial operation, rose 12 per cent year-on-year to 265,000 tonnes in the nine months ending March 2025, supported by improved operational conditions and the successful execution of South32’s recovery plan following civil unrest after the October 2024 elections. Image for representational purpose According to data reviewed by Lusa, South32 linked the output rise to efforts aimed at “mitigating the impacts of civil unrest” in the country. While quarterly performance improved, full-year FY 2024 production dropped 9 per cent to around 314,000 tonnes from the last year, reflecting persistent challenges around energy supply. The document states, “Operational conditions in Mozambique improved during the first quarter of 2025, allowing the...
Gujarat-based aluminium casting manufacturer Swastika Castal is set to launch its initial public offering (IPO) on July 21, marking its debut on the capital markets via the BSE SME platform. Image for representational purpose The fixed price issue will be open until July 23, with the allotment of shares expected to be finalised by July 24. The company’s shares are scheduled to commence trading on July 28. Swastika Castal aims to raise INR 14.07 crore through the public issue of 21.64 lakh shares at a fixed price of INR 65 per share. The company plans to use INR 5 crore from the IPO proceeds for the purchase of plant and machinery and the construction of new facilities. An additional INR 5.5 crore is earmarked for working capital requirements, while INR 1.6 crore will be directed towards...
As of June 2025, global bauxite prices have declined, primarily due to reduced import volumes in China. At the same time, alumina refineries and ports have reported higher inventory levels, reflecting an oversupplied market. In response to ongoing global supply uncertainties, major Australian producers such as ABx and Rio Tinto are ramping up production. Looking ahead, bauxite demand is expected to rise through the remainder of 2025, driven by expanding infrastructure projects in emerging economies. The bauxite price in China shows a decline in June 2025, which was mainly due to the high imports from the big producing nations. Moreover, the region has also witnessed a decline in their overall domestic aluminium production by 3.23 per cent month-on-month, directly affecting its overall...
Globally, the race to decarbonise is heating up and aluminium is at the centre of this transformation. With China pledging that 30 per cent of its aluminium smelting will be powered by renewables by 2027, the pressure is mounting on other nations to step up. India, for its part, is not only in the race but is also hitting the accelerator. In 2024, India nudged its aluminium output slightly higher, reaching approximately 4–4.2 million tonnes. But this is just the beginning. Indian producers are charting an aggressive course toward both capacity expansion and carbon reduction. The “Big Four”—Vedanta, Hindalco, Nalco, and Balco have announced a collective investment of $5 billion to build 20 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030. The goal is clear, to shift aluminium production from its...
Alcoa and Rio Tinto, two of the biggest aluminium players with significant operations in North America, are publicly challenging the very policy that once appeared to shield them. According to fresh revelations this week, Alcoa claims Trump’s aluminium tariffs have cost it USD 115 million in elevated raw material expenses during the ongoing year’s second quarter, while Rio Tinto has warned of “distortions” in the US market that are “undermining competitiveness rather than enhancing it.” Image for referential purposes only When former US President Donald Trump launched the Section 232 tariffs in 2018, cloaked in the language of national security, American aluminium producers cheered. The logic seemed straightforward. As the nation slapped a 10 per cent import tariff on aluminium, it would...
Primary aluminium has long been the backbone of aircraft construction, valued for its unmatched combination of strength, durability, and low weight. Today, its role is expanding beyond performance, into sustainability. With the aviation industry under pressure to reduce its carbon footprint, recycled aluminium is taking centre stage in modern aircraft manufacturing. Image for representational purpose From next-generation commercial jets like the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 to legacy models such as the MD-11 and Lockheed C-5M Super Galaxy, the metal continues to shape the skies, now with a greener edge. The backbone of aircraft structures Primary aluminium's versatility and strength-to-weight ratio make it the ideal choice for the structural integrity of aircraft. Aircraft such as the...
Canyon Resources Limited (CAY), one of Australia's largest bauxite producers, has officially started construction of its Inland Rail Facility (IRF) at Makor, Cameroon - an important milestone in the delivery of its flagship Minim Martap Bauxite Project into production. The company is also upgrading the ore haulage access road, which will enable the high-grade bauxite to be transported from the mine to the IRF and on to the Port of Douala for export. Image for referential purposes only The commencement of construction is a crucial step forward, and the groundbreaking ceremony attended by senior government officials, community leaders, Executive Chairman Mr Mark Hohnen and investment company Eagle Eye Asset Holdings showed how significant this project is for the future of mining in...
Strong results amid market headwinds, Alcoa's Q2 2025 earnings reflect resilience worth noting. On July 17, Alcoa Corporation, an American-based leading aluminium manufacturer, posted its financial performance for the second quarter of 2025. This report represents the firm's strong operational performance with a subsequent increase in its cash deposits, irrespective of the lowered alumina and aluminium prices, with increased tariff costs. Image source: wikipedia.org Q2 in a nutshell In Q2 2025, Alcoa demonstrated strong operational performance, underpinned by robust aluminium production. The company also reported increased sales following the completion of its acquisition of a full 25.1 per cent ownership interest in the joint venture with Saudi Arabian Mining Company, Ma'aden, effective...
Rio Tinto, the world’s second-largest metals and mining corporation, posted a mixed yet overall strong operational performance in the second quarter of 2025, reporting year-on-year growth across bauxite, alumina, and aluminium production. Bauxite and aluminium output rose both compared to Q2 2024 and the previous quarter, while alumina production increased from a year earlier but edged down slightly from Q1 2025. Image source: Rio Tinto Production overview Bauxite production in Q2 2025 rose to 15.6 million tonnes, up 6 per cent from 14.7 million tonnes in Q2 2024. The figure also marked a slight increase from 15 million tonnes recorded in Q1 2025, signalling consistent quarterly growth. Alumina production reached 1.8 million tonnes in Q2 2025, reflecting an 8 per cent year-on-year...
On Wednesday, July 16, both LME aluminium cash bid price and LME aluminium official settlement price dropped by USD 26 per tonne or 1 per cent to halt at USD 2,567.5 per tonne and USD 2,568 per tonne. As per the London Metal Exchange (LME) data , both 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price slumped by USD 29.5 per tonne and USD 29 per tonne to clock at USD 2,566 per tonne and USD 2,567 per tonne. On the same day, both December 26 bid price and December 26 offer price dropped by USD 27 per tonne or 1 per cent to settle at USD 2,603 per tonne and USD 2,608 per tonne. LME aluminium 3-month Asian Reference Price fell by USD 3 per tonne to arrive at USD 2,577.5 per tonne. In contrast, LME aluminium opening stock gained 6,550 tonnes to settle at 423525 tonnes. Live warrants gained 6650 tonnes...
Century Aluminium Company, an integrated producer of bauxite, alumina and primary aluminium products and the largest primary aluminium producer in the United States, has announced the pricing of its previously disclosed private offering of USD 400 million aggregate principal amount of 6.875 per cent senior secured notes due August 2032. The company also operates production facilities in Iceland, the Netherlands and Jamaica. The notes will be issued at par (100.00 per cent of their aggregate principal amount) and will pay interest semi-annually in arrears on February 1 and August 1 each year, starting February 1, 2026, at a rate of 6.875 per cent per annum in cash. Unless earlier redeemed or repurchased, the notes will mature on August 1, 2032. The transaction is expected to close on July...
Guinea, also referred to as Guinea-Conakry, after its capital, Conakry, and the second-largest bauxite exporter in the world, is redefining its maritime and mining future with new regulations aimed at increasing national control and economic advantages. In July 2025, Bouna Sylla, Minister of Mines and Geology, stated that at least 50 per cent of all bauxite exports will require shipping under the Guinean flag. This is a clear sign of Guinea's drive for more value than just raw mineral sales. Maritime sovereignty with GUITRAM The formation of Guinéenne des Transports Maritimes (GUITRAM), a public shipping company which will be responsible for a lot of outbound logistics for bauxite, is a central part of this reform. Thus, Guinea is not just mining but moving its mineral wealth, reaffirming...
In a huge crackdown on illegal waste processing, the Malaysian government has raided an unlicensed e-waste factory in the Bukit Rambai industrial estate, confiscating about 300 tonnes of aluminium ingots worth an estimated RM2.1 million (USD 445,000). The raid spotlights an emerging and lethal trend whereby toxic electronic waste is imported illegally to be processed for precious metals. Details of the raid The raid on July 15 was the culmination of a multi-agency operation between the Royal Malaysia Police, the Department of Environment, and the Inland Revenue Board after a week-long surveillance. Within the unlicensed plant, authorities found stacks of aluminium ingots on pallets, smelted from an enormous collection of waste electronics. It might have been destined for China, where...
