South Asia’s beverage-can manufacturing capacity continues to expand, with Bangladesh preparing to enter the industry through a USD 100 million aluminium beverage can plant while new and expanded facilities advance across India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. However, the planned Bangladeshi project still faces a key infrastructure hurdle: securing a gas connection before production begins. Chinese-owned Alu Hi-Tech Industries Ltd is developing Bangladesh’s first aluminium beverage can plant at Kaliakoir Hi-Tech Park in Gazipur, north of Dhaka. The facility is designed to produce around 1 billion cans annually, with approximately 90 per cent of its output earmarked for export markets. The company registered with the hi-tech park in 2024, when work on the project began. Construction has...
Europe’s recycled aluminium industry is an important component of the global secondary aluminium supply chain, with Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom (UK) representing key national markets. Production across the European region stood at nearly 6 million tonnes in 2023, supported by established scrap recovery systems, industrial recycling capacity and demand for recycled metal. Russia also contributes to the regional landscape through secondary aluminium production units concentrated in several industrial centres. According to AL Circle’s analysis in its report, “ World Recycled ALuminium Market Analysis Industry Forecast ”, the four countries present different market structures, from Germany’s substantial recycling capacity and Italy’s scrap-based production to the UK’s organised...
Grow with
AL Circle
A confluence of factors like increased retail sales in China, muted inventories, and surge in bauxite prices has propelled the LME aluminium benchmark price to USD 2,530 per tonne, marking a new high since the beginning of the second quarter of 2025. Image source: London Metal Exchange Retail sales in China have surged at an unexpectedly strong pace, indicating that economic uncertainty has had little to no dampening effect on consumer demand. Despite facing approximately 165 per cent tariffs on aluminium from the United States, China continues to maintain strong momentum in its retail sector. That’s not all. China’s improved purchase management index (PMI) for the aluminium processing industry to 49.8 per cent in May, recording an 8.7 per cent year-on-year increase, has contributed to...
Raminfo, the India-based technology solutions provider, has secured an INR 474 crore (US$56.75M) contract from Rajasthan Renewable Energy Corporation Ltd (RRECL) to design, supply, install, and maintain rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) systems totalling 73 MW. The solar panels will be installed on various state government buildings and affiliated establishments across Rajasthan. The project, to be executed under the Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM), includes end-to-end operation and maintenance (O&M) services for 25 years. Raminfo will oversee the project through its subsidiary, Raminfo Green Energy Pvt Ltd, which holds a 51 per cent stake. Beyond installation, Raminfo will also deliver long-term operation and maintenance services, ensuring optimal performance and reliability of the solar systems...
A celebratory mood hovers around Speira because it has upgraded its plants in Grebenbroich and Toging by placing the first of the four new recycling furnaces. The new furnace replaced the ageing units with state-of-the-art systems, with a total capacity of 25 tonnes. The objective? Recycling of "low grades" means heavily contaminated scrap and dross produced during the melting process. Image source: IndiaMART With the vision of upgrading the recycling plant with four new furnaces, Speira has invested EUR 11 million (USD 12.68 million), ensuring greater efficiency, H2-readiness and improved occupational safety. With it, Speira has successfully placed the first of the four furnaces in Grebenbroich and Toging, naming it Bernhard. The CEO of the German-Norwegian aluminium company, Einar...
Beiersdorf has completed the expansion of its production centre in Poznań, Poland, following a €300 million investment. The project has doubled the facility’s capacity and generated over 200 new jobs, positioning the Poznań site as one of the most strategic and advanced manufacturing hubs within the DAX Group’s global production network. The addition of six advanced, fully automated production lines and a cutting-edge microbiology laboratory boosts the site’s annual production capacity to 500 million units. Supporting Beiersdorf’s net-zero emission goal This initiative is also expected to support Beiersdorf’s wider sustainability strategy, which includes increasing the use of recycled aluminium in products like NIVEA and other packaging formats. A key step toward Beiersdorf’s goal of...
Canada played host to this year’s G7 summit, marking its seventh turn at the helm of the influential bloc. In addition to the heads of state from G7 member nations and the European Union, which also participates in the summit, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney extended invitations to several non-G7 leaders. Among them were Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who confirmed her attendance just days before the event following weeks of indecision, as well as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The high-level gathering was convened in Alberta, underscoring Canada’s renewed diplomatic posture under Carney’s leadership. “As vibrant democracies bound by deep people-to-people ties, India and Canada will work together with renewed vigour, guided by...
Global beverage giant The Coca-Cola Company and leading packaging manufacturer Toyo Seikan have jointly received the Research and Development Category prize at the 49th Kinoshita Award, hosted by the Japan Packaging Technology Association. The recognition comes for their groundbreaking achievement in developing the world’s lightest, most innovatively designed can for the 185g Georgia-brand coffee, launched in April 2024. The award celebrates the duo’s success in reducing material usage by 13 per cent compared to conventional cans of the same size, reducing the can body weight from 7.0 grams to an incredible 6.1 grams. This remarkable feat was made possible by Toyo Seikan’s proprietary Compression Bottom Reform (CBR) technology, which enhances can strength while minimising aluminium use....
Crown Holdings, Inc. has announced the promotion of Gary Gavin, currently President of the company’s North American Beverage Can business, to President of the Crown Americas Division, effective July 1, 2025. In this expanded role, Mr Gavin will oversee Crown’s beverage can operations across North America, Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico, as well as its North American tinplate businesses, which include food and aerosol cans and metal closures. He will report to Djalma Novaes, Jr, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, and will remain based in Tampa. Gary Gavin joined Crown in January 2023 after a distinguished 29-year career at International Paper Company (IP), where he held a series of increasingly senior roles spanning sales, operations, and general management. Djalma Novaes,...
Impact Minerals appears poised to advance a major low-cost High Purity Alumina (HPA) project, following promising findings from a pre-feasibility study on its Lake Hope venture in Western Australia. The study suggests the project could rank among the world’s most cost-effective HPA producers. Situated approximately 500 kilometres southeast of Perth, Lake Hope boasts robust economic potential, with a net present value estimated at $1.165 billion. Lake Hope’s maiden ore reserve stands at 1.7 million tonnes, grading 26 per cent aluminium oxide, equating to 450,000 tonnes of contained alumina. “In just over two short years since acquiring the rights to the project, we have proven that Lake Hope’s unique natural feedstock, combined with a straightforward flowsheet, offers one of the most...
Solar energy stocks dropped sharply on Tuesday following the release of the US Senate’s version of President Donald Trump’s tax bill, which proposes a full phase-out of solar and wind energy tax incentives by 2028. Meanwhile, tax credits for nuclear, hydropower and geothermal energy remain intact for a longer period. Image credit: en.wikipedia.org The market reaction was swift. Shares of Enphase Energy fell over 17 per cent in premarket trading, First Solar declined around 12 per cent, Sunrun dropped more than 27 per cent and SolarEdge Technologies slid by 22 per cent. The proposed cuts are a major blow to the renewable energy sector, especially as these incentives had been central to former President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). However, the Senate bill is seen as a slight...
Despite the widespread awareness about sustainability, confusion around recycling persists among consumers in the United Kingdom (UK), further leading to undermined efforts in circular packaging. Aquapak's research shows that nearly 70 per cent of British consumers are unaware of the proper packaging to recycle. As per the report drafted by Recycling Magazine, out of five people, only one person reads the recycling instructions behind the packaging and the demographic for this. People between the ages of 25 and 34, one out of three people, which constitutes 31 per cent, read the instructions, and when the age group reaches 65 and above, it drops to 17 per cent of the demographic reading it. Regarding understanding the instruction provided, nearly 10 per cent of British consumers believe...
In the grand theatre of sustainable packaging, aluminium beverage cans have long occupied centre stage. They are hailed as icons of recyclability — endlessly reusable, energy-efficient, and economically viable. But how much of the aluminium in your next soft drink can is from recycled material? And by whose definition? Image for referential purposes only A new technical protocol released in 2024 aims to settle that debate. Titled “Guidance for Calculating Recycled Content in Aluminium Can Sheet (Version 1.0),” this industry-led initiative offers the first formalised methodology to quantify recycled content in aluminium can sheets. Developed by the Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI) and environmental NGO GreenBlue, with inputs from major players including Novelis, Ball, Constellium, and the...
In a recent breakthrough for industrial decarbonisation in the Global South, Brazil has secured USD 250 million in international climate financing to steer its transition to low-carbon manufacturing for five major focus sectors. The announcement, which was made by the Climate Investment Funds (CIF) under its Clean Technology Fund, anoints Brazil as a frontrunner among emerging economies in charting a sustainable path for hard-to-abate sectors such as aluminium, cement, steel, chemicals, and fertilisers. Image for referential purposes only The funding will attract the formulation of a comprehensive investment plan led by Brazil’s Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade and Services (MDIC). The plan will map out sector-specific interventions, financing instruments, and policy measures to...
BMW stole the spotlight once again at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este, where its Motorrad division pulled the wraps off the jaw-dropping RR concept, a glimpse into the future of the brand's next-generation superbike. Built with performance at its core, the RR concept is as much about speed as about striking presence. What truly capture attention are the exposed carbon fibre and aluminium elements, reflecting BMW's ambition to set a new standard in lightweight construction. Every component, from the frame to the sculpted aluminium tail, has been optimised for performance and efficiency. BMW has revealed that the bike is powered by a water-cooled inline four-cylinder engine, the same powerhouse used in motorcycles competing in the FIM Superbike World Championship. Delivering over 227...
The United States bauxite imports in the first quarter of 2025 recorded both annual and quarterly declines, highlighting the nation’s ongoing shift from primary aluminium production to a greater reliance on recycled materials. This strategic transition has reduced the demand for imported bauxite. According to data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS), Q1 2025 bauxite imports totalled 480,000 tonnes, marking a year-on-year decline of 4.2 per cent from 501,000 tonnes and lower than 500,000 tonnes brought in during Q4 2024. This decrease occurred despite a notable rise in imports from Jamaica, the United States' largest bauxite supplier. Imports from Jamaica surged to 429,000 tonnes in Q1 2025, up by 20.5 per cent from 356,000 tonnes in Q4 2024. However, this figure still marked...
The low-calorie beer market is experiencing remarkable growth, fuelled by consumers seeking healthier alternatives that still allow for enjoyment and celebration. From 2022 to 2024, the segment surged by 95.1 per cent, compared to a modest 2.8 per cent rise in regular beer sales, according to GlobalData. This growing preference for low-calorie options ranks among the top 10 consumer priorities, signalling a major shift in habits. Enter Gunnen, a pure malt low-carb beer designed to disrupt the category. With a forward-thinking concept tailored to evolving consumer expectations, Gunnen is poised to redefine the beer experience. Packed in an eye-catching aluminium can produced by Ardagh Metal Packaging (AMP), the cans feature thermochromic ink that changes colour when the beer reaches its...
Over the past four years, Alubar has successfully reduced its energy costs by over 15 per cent, with projections indicating a total reduction of 24 per cent by 2024. This significant improvement stems from the company’s strategic shift to purchasing energy directly from Brazil’s free energy market. By moving away from sole dependence on the regional distributor, as required in the captive market, Alubar gained the flexibility to negotiate directly with energy generators across the country. This approach lowered costs and enabled the company to choose energy sources that better reflect its environmental commitments while continuing to pay only for the use of the local distribution network. Alubar is one of the leading Brazilian manufacturer of aluminium electrical conductors and one of the...
Shares in VBX, a new entrant in Australia’s bauxite sector, traded higher on its ASX debut following a successful USD 10 million IPO, owing to the strong investor confidence in the company’s promising Wuudagu project in Western Australia. Image credit: rawmin.com Listed under the ticker VBX, the stock opened trading and quickly climbed 15 per cent to reach USD 0.69 by June 17, 11:11 am. The IPO attracted several institutional investors, including Deutsche Balaton, Lowell Resources Fund and Terra Capital, reflecting market enthusiasm for the company’s strategy and asset base. VBX is the sole developer of the Wuudagu bauxite project, located in the remote Kimberley region of northern WA, around 15 km west of Kalamburu. The project hosts a 59 Mt reserve, boasting a high-grade specification...
Alufold Direct Limited, an aluminium door and window manufacturer based in Blackburn, UK, has been facing financial difficulties for some time now, during which a potential sale of the business ultimately fell through. Attempts to secure alternative funding also failed, leading the directors to conclude that the company could no longer continue operating in its current form. As a result, most of the 100 employees working at the aluminium door manufacturing company were laid off, typically due to restructuring, downsizing, or financial difficulties. Mark Hodgett, joint administrator and partner at FRP, said, "Alufold Direct is a recognised player in the UK aluminium fenestration market, but unfortunately, the business became increasingly constrained by liquidity pressures." The company...
