Iran has ruled out reopening the Strait of Hormuz until the United States meets seven conditions outlined in a June memorandum of understanding, prolonging uncertainty over a critical global energy shipping route as diplomatic efforts continue. Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said Tehran’s position remained firm, state media reported on October 4. Iran had presented a proposal during the United Nations General Assembly under which normal maritime passage through the strait could resume within seven days if its conditions were met. Washington responded to the proposal last week through Qatari intermediaries. “The position of the Islamic Republic of Iran is completely clear and firm, and the Strait of Hormuz will not be opened until our seven conditions, based on the...
Australia plans to give greater attention to critical minerals refining and processing under an updated strategy, as competition for investment grows and concerns over supply chains continue. Resources Minister Madeleine King said the revised strategy would guide the industry's next stage of development, with a focus on creating greater economic and strategic value from critical minerals. She said Australia would prioritise processing activities where it already has, or could develop, a competitive advantage. Australia is a major supplier of critical minerals, including rare earths used in defence and renewable energy. However, China dominates the refining stage of the supply chain. Western countries are seeking to expand their own processing capabilities and diversify supplies of...
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In October 2024, Guinean customs authorities suspended bauxite exports from Guinea Alumina Corporation (GAC), a subsidiary of Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), due to unresolved issues with the Guinean government, chiefly around concerns over GAC’s failure to progress on its commitment to build a domestic alumina refinery. As a result, GAC halted exports, and by early 2025, around 2 million tonnes of bauxite had accumulated at the port in Kamsar, unable to be shipped. Image for referential purposes only Located in northwestern Guinea, GAC operates a vast 690-square-kilometre mining concession that feeds directly into international supply chains, thanks to a dedicated rail link to its port at Kamsar. Since exports began in 2019, GAC has become a key supplier of bauxite, the primary ore for...
In movies and some places (sometimes in real life too), the number 13 might be the ultimate bad luck charm, but on the periodic table, this number represents one of the most sustainable and recyclable metals on earth – aluminium. Aluminium, the silent hero, is making its presence felt not only on the grounds but also in the sky. NASA's cutting-edge X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft, featuring mostly aluminium in its construction, has made a significant stride in its journey. The X-59 was put through its paces as its subsystems and flight computer were rigorously tested to ensure seamless coordination between hardware and software. This major milestone clears the runway for the X-59's highly anticipated first flight later this year, bringing the dream of quieter supersonic travel...
Alborz Pasargad Aluminum Company has made a significant leap forward in enhancing the durability and performance of aluminium profiles by introducing two cutting-edge nanostructured coating technologies. Certified at the nanoscale level, these innovations include a nanostructured anodised coating that boosts corrosion resistance and allows for high-precision printing with nanoscale patterns. This breakthrough marks a major advancement in functional and aesthetic aluminium surface treatments, setting a new standard for next-generation coatings in the industry. Wear and corrosion-resistant nanostructured anodised coating The wear- and corrosion-resistant nanostructured anodised coating is a breakthrough in surface protection, achieved through a meticulously controlled anodising process....
South32 Limited, a mining and metals company headquartered in Perth, Western Australia, has secured $4.4 million government funding to accelerate its carbon emission reduction efforts at Worsley Alumina Refinery, which will eventually bring the company close to its net-zero carbon emission goals by 2050. Image source: ARENA The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) said the funding would support South32 in conducting a pre-feasibility study to examine four investment options for partially replacing fossil fuel-based steam generation with renewable energy-powered systems at Worsley refinery. This shift will enable the company reduce direct carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels, leading to a more sustainable future. This funding is part of ARENA’s $400 million Industrial...
SINTEF’s Battery Technology group has reached a major milestone by successfully producing high-loading electrode rolls using sustainable materials like aluminium, a vital breakthrough in scaling up next-generation battery cell technology. This achievement marks a significant step forward for the EU-funded IntelLiGent project, which is focused on developing cutting-edge, high-voltage lithium-ion cells for the electric vehicles (EVs) of tomorrow. Electrode manufacturing remains one of the toughest challenges in expanding battery production and overcoming it is key to Europe’s ambition of building a self-sufficient, competitive battery industry. With this progress, IntelLiGent is helping pave the way toward a greener, more resilient future for European e-mobility. This achievement was made...
Samta Metals & Alloys, a subsidiary of India's Samta Group, is constructing an aluminium and copper recycling facility in the Atlantic Free Zone in Kenitra, Morocco. Image source: Flickr The company is investing USD 70 million in the development of the project within Morocco’s Atlantic Free Zone in Kenitra. Spanning 36,600 square meters, the eco-friendly plant is slated to commence operations by 2026, utilising renewable energy to produce its line of sustainable metal products. Also read: https://www.alcircle.com/news/new-50-million-recycling-facility-in-maryland-promises-to-boost-regional-sustainability-113906 Designed to align with Morocco’s circular economy objectives, the facility will have an annual processing capacity of 35,000 tonnes, targeting the recovery of approximately 19,200...
Aluminium prices in India nudged up 0.8 per cent to INR 238.9 per kilogram, buoyed by a chain reaction unfolding in China’s refinery landscape. But this isn’t just another pricing blip, and it’s a mirror to something deeper: the calculated routine of alumina supply, energy bottlenecks, and macro market muscle. As Chinese refineries go under the wrench and global production gears shift, the aluminium market is entering a new price reality, one which is calibrated not just by output but by strategic pause. Image for representational purposes only Maintenance or market masterstroke? From late March through April 2025, nearly 11.5 million tonnes of Chinese alumina capacity went offline for maintenance, according to Shanghai Metals Market (SMM). Far from a routine fix-up, this mass downtime...
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Australia (CCEP) has unveiled a cutting-edge canning line at its Richlands manufacturing facility in Brisbane, Queensland. Backed by a major $75 million investment, this new line isn't just impressive it's the largest and most efficient in CCEP's entire global network. With the power to produce up to 120,000 aluminium cans every hour, it marks a bold leap forward in speed, scale, and sustainability for the iconic beverage brand. Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) Australia relies on aluminium, especially in its iconic cans, as a key part of its packaging. As the world's largest Coca-Cola bottler, CCEP is leading the charge in sustainability down under, actively working to cut plastic waste and boost the use of recycled aluminium in its operations. This...
In April 2025, the world alumina production, including chemical and metallurgical-grade, totalled 12.407 million tonnes, reflecting a month-on-month downfall of 2.48 per cent from 12.723 million tonnes, found the International Aluminium Institute. Of the total alumina output, metallurgical-grade production volume was 11.614 million tonnes, which was also down by 3 per cent M-o-M from 11.974 million tonnes. Meanwhile, the chemical-grade alumina production in April 2025 registered an increase of 5.87 per cent from 749,000 tonnes to 793,000 tonnes. Even on an annual basis, the world’s chemical-grade alumina production grew by 3.12 per cent from 769,000 tonnes, and that of metallurgical-grade alumina output decreased by 3.83 per cent from 11.186 million tonnes. The output of...
YKK recently announced that it will now source only low-carbon aluminium alloy wire for its zippers. This transition is made possible through a partnership with Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. and Sumitomo Electric Toyama Co., Ltd., which will supply the sustainable aluminium material. Conventional aluminium smelting is highly energy-intensive and generates varying levels of CO₂ emissions depending on the energy source used. In contrast, the low-carbon aluminium chosen for this initiative is produced using renewable energy, resulting in less than four metric tonnes of CO₂ emissions per ton of aluminium ingots, significantly reducing the material's environmental impact. "Through these efforts, we aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to climate change mitigation by...
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has set his sights on transforming the state into a powerhouse for aerospace and defence industries. In a recent meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Naidu pitched an ambitious vision backed by a wish list of key projects aimed at catalysing this transformation. Naidu’s appeal marks a bold step toward positioning Andhra Pradesh as a future-ready defence manufacturing hub, tapping into national security priorities while boosting local industry and employment. Not only this, N. Chandrababu Naidu has also raised concerns over the stalled progress of Utkarsha Aluminium Dhatu Nigam Ltd (UADNL) a joint venture between Mishra Dhatu Nigam Ltd (MIDHANI) and National Aluminium Company Ltd (NALCO) over land dispute. The venture, envisioned...
Guinea has just made a move that could send tremors through global commodity corridors, cancelling from 50 plus to 129 mineral exploration permits in a single sweep. No clarifications. No negotiations. Just a decree from the military-led government aimed at “tightening control” over the West African nation’s mineral treasure trove. A senior official at the Ministry of Mines said the move was to free unused resources for other more potent investors. “We’ve simplified it by digitising the whole system, which can now be better controlled,” the official has disclosed to Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity. If you think this is just another bureaucratic reshuffle, think again. This is Guinea signalling that it’s done playing host to dormant licences and absentee investors. The...
On Sunday, Turkish authorities announced the initiation of an anti-dumping investigation into the import of specific Chinese-origin products, including solar panel junction boxes, sodium gluconate, and aluminium frames used in photovoltaic (PV) panels. The decision was formalised through the "Communiqués on the Prevention of Unfair Competition in Imports," issued by the Ministry of Trade and published in the Official Gazette, thereby coming into effect. According to the communiqués, the investigation was launched following applications from domestic manufacturers, supported by sufficient information, documentation, and evidence. The principles and procedures guiding the anti-dumping probe into these Chinese-origin products have now been officially established. It was determined that the...
In an era where aluminium innovation and sustainability are reshaping India’s construction skyline, Aluwind Infra-Tech Limited has firmly planted its flag as a growth engine with both financial momentum and strategic clarity. The Pune-based fenestration and façade solutions provider reported a stellar 51.59 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) revenue growth in the second half of FY25, backed by expanding operations, rising urban demand and a slew of forward-looking moves that signal its evolution from a project executor to an ecosystem builder. H2 FY25: Robust revenue, strong margins, strategic vision In the second half of FY25, Aluwind clocked INR 6.37 billion (USD 76.7 million) in revenue, up from INR 4.21 billion (USD 50.63 million) in H2 FY24. EBITDA also rose 37.63 per cent to INR 83.47...
The Republic of Singapore, a vibrant island nation and city-state in Southeast Asia, boasts a robust construction industry, driven by government initiatives, technological advancements, and a focus on sustainability. The sector spans commercial, institutional, industrial, and infrastructure projects, positioning Singapore as a regional leader in construction. Moreover, recent investments in renewable energy infrastructure to achieve a solar energy capacity of 2GW by 2030 further bolster the industry's growth in the construction sector. According to market research firms like IMARC Group and Next Move Strategy Consulting, Singapore’s construction market is projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.2 per cent from 2025 to 2033. Valued at approximately USD 31.18...
The government has reinstated benefits worth ₹18,233 crore ($218.8 million) under the Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) scheme for exports carried out by Advance Authorisation holders, Export-Oriented Units (EOUs) and units located in Special Economic Zones (SEZs). This decision marks a significant boost for the aluminium and mining sectors. The move follows formal appeals by key industry bodies, including the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), the Federation of Indian Mineral Industries (FIMI), and the Aluminium Association of India, urging the government to restore the benefits under the scheme. The RoDTEP scheme is aimed at reimbursing exporters for embedded taxes, duties, and levies that are not covered under any other refund...
In the first quarter of 2025, the global electric vehicle (EV) battery market experienced a considerable surge, with total installed capacity reaching 221.8 GWh, which is a 38.8 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2024. Today, we delve into the leading brands and their performance in 2025, which has aided in the surge against all odds. Country-wise, China has shoved South Korea and Japan in the sustainable battery race. China’s battery manufacturers lead the charge Chinese battery manufacturers have solidified their dominance in the global EV battery market: CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited): Maintained its position as the world’s leading EV battery supplier, with an installed capacity of 84.9 GWh, marking a 40.2 per cent year-over-year increase. CATL’s...
RX, the global powerhouse behind world-class events and the renowned ALUMINIUM exhibition in Düsseldorf, has unveiled an exciting new chapter for the aluminium industry, ALUMINIUM Arabia. Set to make its grand debut at The Arena Riyadh from 27 to 29 April 2026, this landmark event will spotlight the rapid rise of Saudi Arabia's aluminium sector. Recent research reveals that Saudi Arabia's aluminium market is on track to surpass US$3.6 billion by 2034, driven by a robust compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.4 per cent starting in 2025. Forward-looking government policies power this impressive growth focused on localisation, industrial innovation, and major infrastructure development, all of which are propelling the kingdom to the forefront of the global metals and manufacturing arena....
