The Aluminium Federation (ALFED) has launched a new Reindustrialising UK Aluminium briefing, developed through its Trade Committee, setting out the immediate trade and industrial priorities facing the UK aluminium sector. The briefing comes as aluminium takes on increasing strategic importance within UK Government policy. Aluminium is recognised within the UK’s Critical Minerals framework and as a Growth Mineral, reflecting its importance to future UK manufacturing and economic growth. Government’s Critical Minerals Strategy describes critical minerals as foundational inputs to the Industrial Strategy’s growth-driving sectors. ALFED’s latest economic modelling estimates that the UK aluminium industry supports a wider economic footprint of £8.18 billion (USD 11.03 billion) in GVA and...
European Aluminium and the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) are calling on the European Parliament and the Council to make low-carbon aluminium eligible alongside steel under the proposed material-credit mechanism for vehicle CO2 standards. The joint industry statement focuses on the revision of Regulation (EU) 2019/631, under proposal 2025/0420 (COD). The two organisations want both materials covered by a single, technology-neutral mechanism with harmonised carbon-intensity thresholds and verification rules. They said the approach would give automakers greater flexibility in meeting regulatory requirements while supporting European markets for low-carbon materials. It would also allow vehicle engineers to continue selecting materials based on technical and economic...
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This week, the overall operating rate of leading domestic aluminium downstream processing enterprises rose 1 percentage point (ppt) w-o-w to 61.7 per cent, as the "September peak season" effect gradually emerged, with recovery trends improving across all sectors. The operating rate of primary aluminium alloy producers edged up 0.2 per cent to 56.6per cent, showing a slow recovery pace during the peak season, as the time-lag effect of policy support transmitting to end-use demand persists, with no clear positive factors driving a significant rise in operating rates. The operating rate of leading aluminium plate per sheet and strip producers surged 1.2 ppts to 68.6 per cent, benefiting from order volume growth in automotive and 3C sectors and a rebound in foreign trade, while higher...
Egypt and Bahrain are currently in discussions to jointly develop an alumina refinery, a project that will be co-owned by both nations. Alumina, or aluminium oxide, is a key feedstock in the production of aluminium. This initiative is part of a broader set of 22 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) signed by the two countries during an investment forum held in Cairo on Wednesday. The MoU for the alumina project was signed by the Egyptian Aluminium Company (Egyptalum) and Bahrain's Alba aluminium company. Also Read: Alba chooses Egypt for its first alumina refinery; here’s an explanation to why Egypt According to the agreement, the two parties will conduct a feasibility study for the construction of the alumina refinery in Egypt, according to a statement from Egypt's cabinet. Egyptalum, the...
Aditya Birla Group's subsidiary has shaken hands with automotive circular economy firm The Future is Neutral, an entity of the Renault Group and SUEZ that provides comprehensive circular economy solutions for the automotive industry, covering every stage of a vehicle's life, to drive innovative, sustainable solutions for end-of-life vehicles. The collaboration aims to transform the way decommissioned cars are managed, turning environmental challenges into new business opportunities. Sustainability is front and centre for the Aditya Birla Group; it's not just a box to tick for them. Novelis, its flagship in the metals sector, is taking real action, aiming for at least 95 per cent recycling in its automotive aluminium operations, speaking volumes about its commitment. By joining forces with...
India’s ambitious shift towards clean energy could face unexpected challenges from the weather. A new study led by UK meteorologists reveals that combined solar and wind generation can plunge during certain weather events, creating so-called “renewable energy droughts” lasting up to nine days. These droughts, the research shows, are most likely during the winter months between November and February. The study examined historical weather data between 1979 and 2022 to assess how India’s solar and wind grids might behave under different meteorological conditions. Periods when combined solar and wind output fell below a set threshold were classified as renewable energy droughts. Hannah Bloomfield, Academic Track Fellow at Newcastle University and one of the study’s authors, says such work is...
A strategic partnership has recently taken shape where Landscape Capital Management L.L.C., an investment management firm, has acquired a brand new position in the shares of the Ball Corporation in the first quarter, as reflected in most of the filings conducted with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The acquisition held 15,423 shares of the firm's total shares, which is valued at USD 803,000 in the current trading session. Multiple large investors have recently changed their positions in the company. Importantly, Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory L.L.C. purchased a new stake in the firm in the first quarter, for about USD 32,000. External shareholding Strengthening Families & Communities L.L.C. greatly expanded its position in the company during the first quarter by 72.4 per...
The Klang Royal City Council (MBDK) has fined a factory in Sungai Kapar Indah, Malaysia, a total of RM3,000 (USD 630) for generating smoke and dust pollution. The facility is known for processing aluminium scrap into ingots. Following an inspection by the Klang Royal City Council (MBDK) on Tuesday (Sept 2), a factory that sorts, cleans, and shreds scrap aluminium before melting it into ingots was found to have breached multiple by-laws. On Wednesday (Sept 3), MBDK issued three compounds against the operator. MBDK Corporate Communications Department director Norfiza Mahfiz confirmed the action following ongoing public grievances. According to MBDK Corporate Communications Department director Norfiza Mahfiz, the Health Department fined the factory under By-Laws 17 (MBDK) 2007 for failing to...
The Italian cycling brand, Miche has unveiled its new X2 RD chainrings, built on a simple idea: don’t waste a single watt of rider effort. The chainrings combine CNC-machined AL 7075-T6 aluminium with a 3K carbon structural layer, a mix that delivers a rare balance of lightness, stiffness, and responsiveness. Image for respresentational purpose This fusion creates a chainring that is exceptionally rigid yet lightweight and highly responsive, enabling every pedal stroke to be transformed directly into speed. The design also guarantees full compatibility with cranksets both with and without power meters, ensuring that cyclists can achieve peak performance in any setup. Two versions of the system Compatibility was a key part of the design. The X2 RD works seamlessly with cranksets with or...
Rubix Resources has recently signed a non-binding agreement with Nyos Metals and Yoro Metals to leverage the bauxite projects of Cameroon and the Republic of Congo. This is quite a major step, especially when Rubix is all set to expand its portfolio in untapped bauxite mines across Central Africa. A deep dive into the projects The deal involves two licence applications – one in Cameroon and the other involving six contiguous concessions in Congo. Practically, this is going to encompass about 3000 square kilometres of bauxite mines. Sources said these two regions are highly prospective but have been unexplored so far, especially due to no improvement in terms of exploration work post-1960s. In this context, Rubix certainly wins a significant first-mover advantage, thus offering the company...
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• Transformation of the Rhine plant progresses • Expansion of storage areas for scrap cans completed Neuss, 5 September 2025 – Anyone travelling east on the A 57 motorway is familiar with the four 85-metre-high chimneys of the former aluminium smelter at Rheinwerk in Neuss. Daniel Rinkert knows the 300-metre-long halls, where primary aluminium was smelted using enormous amounts of energy, from his many visits. Now the SPD member of the Bundestag from Grevenbroich was back, but the electrolysis furnaces had disappeared – replaced by partition walls for huge storage boxes. This is transformation you can touch, the very concrete change from a linear to a circular business model. “Speira has moved away from energy-intensive primary production. This decision was inevitable in light of...
As of Thursday, the SMM alumina index stood at RMB 3,168.46 per tonne, down RMB 57.66 per tonne w-o-w. Prices in Shandong were quoted at RMB 3,100-3,140 per tonne, down RMB 40 per tonne w-o-w; Henan at RMB 3,140-3,180 per tonne, down RMB 40 per tonne w-o-w; Shanxi at RMB 3,100-3,180 per tonne, down RMB 45 per tonne w-o-w; Guangxi at RMB 3,240-3,300 per tonne, down RMB 40 per tonne w-o-w; Guizhou at RMB 3,250-3,310 per tonne, down RMB 30 per tonne w-o-w; Bayuquan remained flat w-o-w at RMB 3,210-3,290 per tonne. Overseas market: As of Sep. 4, 2025, FOB Western Australia alumina was priced at USD 368 per tonne, with ocean freight rate at USD 22.55 per tonne and USD per CNY selling rate around 7.16, translating to a domestic mainstream port selling price of approximately RMB 3,240.48 per...
India’s aluminium industry is under pressure as cheaper plastic alternatives like UPVC products replace aluminium in many uses. The industry body Aluminium Extrusion Manufacturers Association of India (ALEMAI) has urged the government to step in, encourage more domestic aluminium consumption, and safeguard the interests of small manufacturers. “Aluminium products, including window frames, kitchen items, doors, roofs, and automotive parts, are being replaced by UPVC at an alarming rate,” said Jitendra Chopra, president of ALEMAI. He also added that government-backed promotion of UPVC is derived from crude oil. It contradicts India’s Paris Agreement commitments on cutting emissions. India’s aluminium extrusion industry has the capacity to produce 3 million tonnes annually but currently...
The aluminium downstream sector plays a critical role in the processing and utilisation of aluminium, a versatile and lightweight metal with a wide range of applications. From automotive and aerospace to construction, packaging, and electrical applications, it delivers tailored solutions that address specific market needs. As per data, the first half of 2025 has thrown up a telling contrast within the aluminium value chain. On one side, global trade in semi-finished products such as bars, rods, and profiles revealed significant headwinds. On the other, the downstream markets for sheets, foils, and cans continued to grow steadily, underscoring the shifting dynamics in how aluminium is produced, traded, and consumed. Let’s have a look – Downstream Weekly by AL Circle Pvt Ltd To get more...
On Thursday, the national average spot price for smelter-grade alumina with over 98.6 per cent purity slipped by RMB 14 per tonne (USD 2 per tonne) from Wednesday to RMB 3,187 per tonne, extending its decline for a third straight working day, Mysteel's daily price assessment showed. The price drop stemmed from reduced trading prices and seller quotations across the country's five major alumina production bases. Among those, the sharpest on-day fall was in Shandong province, with average prices there dropping by RMB 20 per tonne to RMB 3,110 per tonne. Prices in Shanxi and Henan provinces decreased by RMB 15 per tonne each from the prior day to RMB 3,125 per tonne and RMB 3,150 per tonne, respectively, while those in Guizhou province and the Guangxi autonomous region both slid by a smaller...
Whether it's in skyscrapers or innovative electronics, metals are the foundation of modern industry. Aluminium is noted for its relatively low weight and its significant energy inputs in production. Recycling aluminium saves considerable energy when compared with primary aluminium, but the automotive industry is facing a new challenge. With the transition towards electric vehicles accelerating, existing practices for recycling end-of-life car scrap may no longer be sufficient. Historically, automobile recycling has been a reliable source of aluminium , with the major portion of it going back into engine blocks in newer combustion vehicles. However, with the end of engines, it raises the question of what will happen with all of the scrap? If there aren't avenues for car manufacturers to...
At the start of September 2025, primary aluminium is trading on the London Metal Exchange at a fairly narrow range of USD 2,591.75 per tonne to USD 2,606 per tonne. While primary aluminium prices influence global trade dynamics, the downstream market of sheets, foils, and cans demonstrates the metal’s broader economic significance across packaging, construction, transport, and consumer industries. Aluminium sheets is considered as one of the most common rolled forms of the metal. Light, durable and resistant to corrosion, they are cut into body panels for cars, roofing and cladding for buildings, and even kitchen appliances. Foil takes on a different role. Thin and ductile, it wraps food, protects medicines and, more recently, lines lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles. Cans,...
Canada is preparing to announce long-awaited support measures for its aluminium, steel and agricultural sectors, as trade frictions with the United States intensify. Industry Minister Melanie Joly commented that targeted relief for aluminium companies will be rolled out soon in the following days. The package aims to cushion producers against the uncertainty created by US tariffs. She added that Ottawa would also back the steel sector as it seeks to pivot away from US markets, though specifics were not revealed. Image for representational purposes only Get in-depth insights from — Aluminium Foil and its End Uses Current Trends and Forecast till 2030 In parallel, Prime Minister Mark Carney’s office confirmed that canola farmers, who were hit by Chinese tariffs, will soon see fresh support....
Among many countries being affected by the United States’ steep aluminium and steel tariffs, South Korea claims to be one of them. The country that was once an important trade partner of the United States, back from 2007 with the signing of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), is now one of the major victims of the United States’ latest protectionist measures. Firstly, the implementation of 25 per cent duty was enough to blow the country, while the subsequent hike by another 25 per cent has proved to be the final nail in the coffin. Being a significant aluminium and steel exporter to the United States (valued at USD 851 million in 2024), South Korea says it has taken a major hit on its economy due to Donald Trump’s tariff regime. Its exports to the US in the month of August slid 12 per cent...
Bosnian aluminium producer Nova Alumina has announced a leadership change as part of its evolving corporate journey. The company confirmed that Radislav Filipovic has been appointed CEO, succeeding Zoran Stevanovic, who has taken up the role of transport minister of Bosnia's Serb Republic. Image source: https://www.facebook.com/photo/ Filipovic is a well-known name at Nova Alumina; he has served as deputy CEO since May 2024. With over 25 years in the aluminium industry, Filipovic brings continuity and technical knowledge at an opportune time for the company’s growth. Nova Alumina was founded by businessman Gordan Pavlovic and his Pavgord Group in 2023. Pavgard soon became a significant player in the industry after acquiring Alumina, Bosnia's largest exporter, in 2024. The main production...
