In the first half (H1) of 2026, the US imported a total of 1.68 million metric tons of unwrought aluminum (HSN code: 7601), of which 16.96% was sourced from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). How has H1 2026 fared for the momentum of unwrought aluminum exports from the UAE to the US? Year-on-year cooling in trade can be noticed, largely owing to the temporary shutdown of the Emirates Global Aluminium’s (EGA’s) Al Taweelah smelter for repair and maintenance. Explore the production, demand and consumption forecasts of bauxite and alumina in our report: “ Global Bauxite & Alumina Market Forecast to 2036: Supply–Demand, Trade Flows & Price Outlook ” H1 aluminum trade snapshot: 2026 vs 2025 vs 2024 Comparing the H1 2026 figures of unwrought aluminum exported by the UAE to the US, a mixed result...
Norsk Hydro’s earnings outlook for 2027 is facing mounting pressure from falling aluminium premiums, rising operating costs and easing supply tightness in Europe, prompting Goldman Sachs to downgrade the Norwegian producer from ‘buy’ to ‘neutral’ and reduce its price target from NOK 100 (USD 10.71) to NOK 79 (USD 8.46). Goldman said weaker premiums and higher costs were making further earnings growth harder to achieve in 2027. The bank also lowered its core earnings (EBITDA) forecasts for 2026 and 2027 by 6 per cent each, citing lower aluminium prices and rising costs. The changing market conditions come as additional metal from the Middle East reaches the market and Indonesian aluminium supply expands faster than expected, easing European supply constraints sooner than Goldman had...
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Industrial Physics, a global leader in test and measurement solutions, has unveiled two state-of-the-art automated gauges aimed at boosting precision and productivity in metal packaging: the Torus Z606 Automatic Score Inspection Gauge and the Torus Z345 Automatic Color Inspection Gauge. The Torus Z345 is the world’s leading automatic colour and artwork inspection system featuring integrated X-Rite® technology. Engineered for decorated aluminium and steel beverage cans, it enables high-resolution colour scanning and inspection at precise, pre-defined checkpoints suitable for body diameter, straight-walled, and finished cans. Cans can be loaded in any orientation, either via an automatic in-feed conveyor or directly from the production line. A high-resolution colour-scan camera captures and...
Ball Corporation, a leading aluminium packaging provider, has teamed up with Açaí Motion, a Brazilian natural energy drink brand, to launch a new line of sustainable aluminium cans certified by the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI). These ASI-certified cans reflect a commitment to high environmental, social, and governance standards across the entire production chain from mining to final manufacturing. The certification supports transparency and responsible sourcing, empowering consumers to choose products that align with sustainable values. According to Ball, the cans are equipped with its exclusive internal coating technology, designed to preserve the beverage’s flavour and nutritional value while enhancing shelf life. This innovation meets consumer expectations and gives Açaí...
Pakistan Aluminium Beverage Cans Limited (PABC) concluded Q12025 (January to March) with net sales of Rs 4.65 billion, marking a modest 1 per cent Y-o-Y increase most importantly, avoiding a decline. The company also recorded a Y-o-Y surge of 4.29 per cent in its gross profit, arriving at Rs 1.445 billion from Rs 1.385 billion clocked during Q1 2024. In a market where Coca-Cola Pakistan and Pepsi-Cola International have seen mid-single-digit drops in domestic volumes, maintaining stable revenue reflects a noteworthy outperformance. Across the region, Western soda brands faced a 7 per cent sales downturn in the first half of 2024 due to ongoing geopolitical tensions. Market researcher NielsenIQ reported a 7 per cent decline for Western soda brands across the Middle East and South Asia in...
The Department of Energy has reversed its course, announcing the withdrawal of USD 3.7 billion in funding previously awarded to clean energy and manufacturing projects under the Biden administration. Image credit: energy.gov The decision affects 24 projects across sectors like advanced materials, industrial decarbonisation and chemical manufacturing. Recipients range from giants like Exxon Mobil and Kraft Heinz to startups like Skyven, Brimstone and Sublime Systems. Brimstone Energy, also working on low-carbon cement and alumina production, responded with cautious optimism. The startup emphasised its alignment with national priorities, particularly around boosting domestic critical mineral output. “Given our project’s strong alignment with President Trump’s priority to increase US...
BYD's largest car carrier, the BYD Shenzhen, has made a powerful debut on the global stage, docking in Brazil just one month after setting sail on its maiden voyage. The massive vessel arrived at the Port of Itajaí, delivering 7,300 brand-new BYD new energy vehicles (NEVs) a major milestone in the company's international expansion. Towering at 219.9 meters in length with a beam of 37.7 meters, the BYD Shenzhen is a floating giant. Spanning 16 decks and capable of carrying up to 9,200 vehicles, it boasts a loading capacity equivalent to 20 football fields a true titan of the seas. Officially delivered on April 22 in Yizheng, Jiangsu province, the ship is the fourth car carrier in BYD's growing fleet, reinforcing the automaker's commitment to sustainable transport and efficient global...
AL Circle is pleased to announce the release of its comprehensive industry-focused market research report, "World Recycled Aluminium Market Analysis: Industry Forecast to 2032." This report study offers critical insights into the evolving landscape of the global recycled aluminium sector, a market that is increasingly vital in the global push towards decarbonisation, sustainability, and a circular economy. As industries worldwide prioritise low-carbon solutions, recycled aluminium has emerged as a cornerstone material, offering remarkable energy savings of up to 95 per cent compared to primary aluminium production while significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. AL Circle's new report delves into the key factors shaping this dynamic market, offering a detailed analysis of:...
When the European Union unveiled its Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), the ambition was clear: to build a fortress against carbon leakage, shield domestic industries from unfair competition, and incentivise global decarbonisation. It was heralded as the world’s most sophisticated climate tariff, with a complex, bold, and precise outline. Image for referential purposes only But as the legislation transitions from theory to implementation, a critical vulnerability has emerged. And it’s not in exotic energy systems or abstract accounting tricks. It’s in something far more mundane, yet deceptively potent — aluminium scrap. As for the current plan, CBAM creates a multi-billion-euro arbitrage opportunity for foreign aluminium producers. And the loophole is alarmingly simple. Both...
Alpha HPA has marked a landmark moment in the evolution of its Stage Two HPA (High Purity Alumina) First Project in Gladstone, awarding a flagship $20 million-plus concrete works contract to McCosker Contracting, one of the region's premier civil construction firms. This pivotal partnership places McCosker at the forefront of building the cutting-edge high-purity alumina facility, tapping into the company's deep local expertise and workforce. More than just a contract, this deal exemplifies Alpha HPA's unwavering dedication to championing local industry and driving economic growth in Gladstone. With McCosker's trusted team delivering every major concrete element, the project is poised to unlock significant regional opportunities — a powerful boost for the community and a bold step forward...
A leading Indian solar module manufacturer, Waaree Energies Limited, has announced an international deal to supply 586 MW of solar modules, valued at USD 176 million, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Waaree Solar Americas. An operator of utility-scale solar and energy projects in the United States has placed the order, with deliveries scheduled to begin in the financial year 2026-2027. Image source: IndiaMART The manufacturing of the booked solar modules will take place in the Waaree Solar Americas' Texas facility, which the company is setting up to serve the growing US market. This will not only expand the firm's presence within the US renewable energy sector but should also reflect on its revenue in the next financial year, given the company’s 78 per cent of revenue comes from solar...
India’s green energy transition is reaching a turning point, with private powerhouses Greenko, Adani Green Energy, and JSW Energy racing to lead the charge. These giants are now at the heart of the country’s bold push into pumped storage hydropower pipeline (PSH), an essential pillar in India’s clean energy future. The latest data from the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) reveals that Greenko, Adani Green Energy, and JSW Energy are poised to deliver nearly 66 per cent of India’s planned 51.24 gigawatts (GW) of pumped storage capacity by 2032. This ambitious rollout of long-duration energy storage marks a critical pivot in India’s decarbonisation strategy. The call for flexible, on-demand storage is surging as the grid becomes increasingly powered by solar and wind. Pumped storage...
The global aluminium and steel industries are in for another jolt as US tariffs take a sharp new turn. Just a day after a Federal Court ordered a halt to the implementation of tariffs, sending through global optimism, President Donald Trump reversed course dramatically. Not only did he secure a suspension of the court's ruling , but he also announced a doubling of tariffs on aluminium and steel imports, from 25 per cent to 50 per cent, effective Wednesday, June 4, 2025. What seemed like a moment of relief quickly turned into renewed uncertainty as celebrations over the court's block were cut short by the President's swift and unexpected escalation. Trump’s decision to doube tariffs - whimsical or strategic? While addressing a rally in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, President Trump reiterated...
In a bold move that merges high design with eco-conscious innovation, Ideal Standard has launched Alu+, a cutting-edge shower system crafted from 84 per cent recycled aluminium. Captured in a stunning video by Dezeen, this latest offering is a testament to how sustainability and luxury can effortlessly coexist. Crafted to reduce environmental impact without compromising performance, Alu+ features advanced water-saving technology that limits flow to just eight litres per minute for the hand spray and 12 litres for the overhead faucet. The system is entirely free from chrome, lead, and nickel materials often used in traditional fittings but flagged for their potential risks to water quality. Every plastic component is crafted from water-compliant polymers, while the packaging is recyclable...
Alfiniti, Inc., a leader in aluminium manufacturing, has expanded its production capabilities to support the fabrication of aluminium corona rings. These capabilities enable Alfiniti to produce components to customer specifications, utilising advanced techniques in bending, flattening, punching, sandblasting, and welding of aluminium tubes and flat bars. Key Facts: Expanded capabilities: Alfiniti can now fabricate aluminium corona rings in-house using bending, flattening, punching, sandblasting, and welding of tube and flat bar. Customer focus: All rings are produced in customer-supplied designs, with options for custom geometries, surface treatments, and sizes. “Our focus is on meeting our customers’ unique design needs,” said Steve James, Managing Director of Alfiniti. “By enhancing our...
In a blow to Australia’s aggressive multinational tax crackdown, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has abandoned its six-year-long legal fight with Alcoa over alleged transfer pricing abuses, marking a rare high-stakes defeat for Canberra in its broader battle against US corporate giants. With Alcoa now set to receive USD 107 million in tax refunds, the decision has reverberated through both the aluminium sector and the global tax justice landscape. Image for representational purposes only But beneath the surface of a billion-dollar ruling lies a deeper narrative, one that cuts across resource nationalism, transfer pricing frameworks, and a geopolitical tug-of-war over who gets to tax global profits in the age of cross-border supply chains. The dispute and what was at stake At the...
UP Fintech Holding Ltd., better known as Tiger Brokers, has roared into 2025 with a results sheet that not only redefines its growth narrative but signals a paradigm shift in how next-generation fintech platforms are competing for global capital and investor mindshare. For a company that began its journey as a cross-border brokerage, Tiger has now emerged as a full-stack wealth-tech player, integrating AI, crypto, derivatives, IPO syndication, and portfolio management into one sprawling global investment ecosystem. Image is for representational purposes only Revenue hits historic high For Q1 2025, Tiger clocked USD 122.6 million in total revenue, marking a staggering 55.3 per cent year-over-year (Y-o-Y) growth. More impressively, its non-GAAP net income hit USD36 million, up 145 per cent...
Environment over everything. Apple has made a secure transition from the use of two generations of premium titanium to aluminium for the production of its latest iPhone 17 Pro Max. Both the performance and the environmental implications are intensive, representing a strategic masterstroke reshaping the next-generation smartphone manufacturing process. Image source: zeera wireless Owing to Apple's commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2030, the transition to aluminium from titanium will have a more positive environmental impact than marginal performance. As per the report by materials science data, by incorporating aluminium, the company has reduced their carbon footprint by 67 per cent if compared with production using titanium. Irrespective of titanium providing a 6:1...
South Australia’s Nepenthe Wines is raising the bar on sustainable packaging with a smart, simple innovation featuring a fully recyclable tearaway cap across all its still wines. As a certified B Corp and proud member of Sustainable Winegrowing Australia, Nepenthe knows that small changes can drive big impact. The new cap design lets consumers easily separate aluminium from glass, boosting recycling rates and keeping valuable materials out of landfills. Following three months of rigorous testing to ensure product quality and storage standards, Nepenthe Wines has now introduced fully removable aluminium tearaway capsules across all its still wines. The change, timed to coincide with World Environment Day on 5 June 2025, marks a permanent shift in the winery’s packaging approach. “With...
For the second consecutive quarter, the premium offered by Japan’s primary aluminium buyers has further depleted, said two sources directly involved in quarterly pricing talks. Mirroring a similar20 per cent decline as seen in the previous quarter, the proposed premium for Q3 2025 has reached USD 145 per tonne versus USD 182 per tonne. This continued downturn marks not only the second straight quarterly decline within the year but also the second such drop in the past five years. After a strong start to the year, when the premium surged to USD 228 per tonne for the March quarter, representing a 30 per cent quarter-on-quarter increase, Japan’s aluminium premium has steadily weakened with each subsequent quarter. When compared to the Q1 2025 premium, Japan’s outbound trade premium for Q3...
