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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Alcoa, the leading producer of aluminium globally and the largest producer in the US, is at a crossroads. US tariffs on aluminium have triggered record high prices and raised flags about vulnerabilities not only in the US supply chain but also in Europe. Already, the company has faced a hit due to the impacts of US tariffs on prices and supply disruption. Besides, the increased volume of aluminium scrap flowing out from Europe has put Alcoa under the pressure of raw material shortages for recycling in its Spain facility, costing the company’s revenue. Margins under pressure Alcoa's earnings in Q2 2025 reflected good resilience. The revenue was USD 3.02 billion. This was an increase of about 4 per cent year-on-year. The net income increased to USD 151 million from USD 31 million. Earnings...
Calix Limited, an Australian company providing environmental technology solutions for industrial decarbonisation, has executed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with a leading aluminium company to co-develop its Zero Emissions Alumina (ZEAL) technology. Also, the firm has executed an agreement with the same partner to implement a pilot-scale material testing program and a pre-Front End Engineering Design (pre-FEED) study. As per the agreements, the Australia-based company will carry out the material testing program at its Technology Centre in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria, with the purpose of proving the viability of its ZEAL technology for the production of smelter-grade alumina from the feedstock of the Alumina Company. It will further retain complete ownership of all intellectual property...
Altech Batteries (ATC) has taken a giant leap forward in its clean energy journey, securing preliminary approval for a €46.7 million (USD 54.4 million) grant to power its groundbreaking CERENERGY® sodium-chloride solid-state battery project in Saxony, Germany. The green light comes from Germany’s Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy under the STARK program a national initiative designed to reinvent coal-dependent regions as hubs of renewable energy innovation. Stay updated with industry insights - Aluminium Foil and its End Uses Current Trends and Forecast till 2030 A game-changing moment for Altech The €46.7 million grant, covering 30 per cent of the project’s capital expenditure (excluding financing and working capital), will help fast-track the development of next-generation battery...
The UAE’s largest non-oil industrial enterprise and the top producer of ‘premium aluminium’, Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), has recently completed its debottlenecking expansion at its Al Taweelah refinery, which includes the establishment of a third ball mill, further boosting alumina output capacity to 50,000 tonnes per annum. Image source: https://media.ega.ae/ Also read: Ball Corporation offloads 41-point Saudi stake, retains minimal 10% strategic interest The entire project, spanning engineering and design through construction and commissioning, was successfully executed by EGA’s in-house team. Within a timeframe of 2.5 years and investing over 650,000 labour hours, EGA has finally achieved this milestone with zero lost time injuries. In this context, CEO Abdulnasser Bin Kalban has...
LME aluminium prices on September 2 reflected only marginal shifts across cash, 3-month and forward contracts, while stocks saw a modest decline. The LME aluminium cash bid price, on September 2, was recorded at USD 2,614 per tonne, up from USD 2,612 per tonne, replicating a difference of USD 2 per tonne or 0.07 per cent from the previous day. Simultaneously, LME aluminium offer price on the same day was seen at USD 2,615 per tonne, up from USD 2,612.5 per tonne, showing a difference of USD 2.5 per tonne or 0.09 per cent from the prior day. On the same day, 3-month bid price registered at USD 2,611 per tonne, which on the day before was seen at USD 2,609 per tonne, resulting in a total difference of USD 2 per tonne or 0.07 per cent. At the same time span, the 3-month offer price also...
On Tuesday, SMM ADC12 prices held steady at RMB 20,750 per tonne. Post-September regional tax rebate policies remain unclear, with thick wait-and-see sentiment prevailing in the secondary aluminium market. Tight raw material supply further bolstered firm producer offers on cost support. Demand side, approaching traditional peak season drove a slight recovery in downstream procurement, but high prices capped transaction volumes, leaving actual demand mediocre. 9.3 SMM Morning Comment on Cast Aluminium Alloy Futures: The most-traded cast aluminium alloy AD2511 futures contract opened at RMB 20,280 per tonne overnight, hitting a high of RMB 20,435 per tonne and a low of RMB 20,230 per tonne, before closing at RMB 20,405 per tonne, up 105 RMB per tonne (0.52 per cent) from the previous close....
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C (Alba), the world’s largest smelter on one site, held its third quarterly Board of Directors’ meeting on Tuesday, 02 September 2025. Alba’s Chairman of the Board, Khalid Al Rumaihi, started the meeting with: “Uncertainty tests resilience and we’re rising to the challenge.” He further stated: “In a volatile market environment, our focus is clear: maintain consistency, drive operational excellence, and uphold cost discipline as we close out 2025 on a high note.” During the meeting, the Board reviewed and approved the minutes of the previous meeting held on 05 August 2025, and received comprehensive updates from the Executive and ESG Committee, Board Audit Committee, and Nomination, Remuneration, and Corporate Governance Committee on strategic matters, the Company’s...
The first half of 2025 marked a turning point for the global aluminium industry, arguably its most turbulent period in recent memory. The trigger was the United States’ imposition of steep tariffs on aluminium imports, a move that set off ripple effects across global supply chains. What began as a trade policy measure quickly escalated into a broader disruption, reshaping cross-border trade dynamics, injecting volatility into global aluminium prices, and diverging demand patterns from primary aluminium to aluminium scrap. Supported by stable supply chains, prices within a reach of USD 2,200 per tonne, and tariff exemptions, the demand for scrap has attained a new high. Thailand emerged as a new hotspot of aluminium demand, fuelled by its expanding automotive manufacturing sector, and thus...
Gujarat-based Finomax Scaffolding (I), one of the leading manufacturer, supplier, and exporter of aluminium formwork and scaffolding systems, is redefining industry benchmarks with its high-precision engineered solutions designed to meet global construction standards. The company has recently launched its much-awaited state-of-the-art aluminium formwork and scaffolding systems to speed up contemporary construction. The company aims to raise market awareness, empower professionals through training, generate quality opportunities, and establish itself as a pioneering leader in modern building technologies. Finomax’s Aluminium Formwork System is crafted using advanced facilities, integrating friction welding and robotics technology to deliver smooth, durable, and high-strength panels....
Terra Goyana Mining (TGM), one of the largest bauxite producers in Brazil, is leading the way with sensor-based sorting (SBS) technology in bauxite beneficiation, establishing a benchmark for mineral research, development, and commercialisation. TGM represents 5.5 per cent of Brazil's national output and operates within the Barro Alto mine in Goiás, with a commercial hub established at Goiânia and trade links maintaining their international relationships across South America, Europe and Asia. As a member of the Supergram group, TGM leverages vertical integration through Bautek (a calcined bauxite producer), thus achieving greater value capture in the supply chain. Locating its operations in Poços de Caldas in the State of Minas Gerais provides additional geographic coverage of the...
Alvance British Aluminium has boosted exports to the United States, capitalising on the newly introduced tariff framework. Its Fort William smelter has ramped up shipments to the United States, capitalising on the fresh tariff advantages unlocked by the US-UK Economic Prosperity Deal announced in May. Image Source: Alvance British Aluminium / Facebook With UK-produced aluminium now enjoying a clear edge over many global rivals, the smelter has redirected spot sales from its summer maintenance downtime straight into the lucrative US Midwest market, where premiums outstrip those in Europe. The strategy is already in motion - a third-party merchant has snapped up 1,000 tonnes, now making its way across the ocean to American buyers. Alvance confirmed its commitment to strengthening the...
National Aluminium Company (NALCO), an Indian government-owned company that mines bauxite, refines it into alumina and produces aluminium, experienced a notable surge in its stock price on September 2, 2025, along with the high trading volume and outstanding financial growth. NALCO's stock climbed 3.03 per cent during the Tuesday session, closing at INR 197.60 (USD 2.25). The counter experienced atypically high trading volumes, with a sharp increase in volume along with the price changes. It saw a significant increase in open interest today, indicating a greater involvement from the market. Open interest increased to 27,184 contracts from 24,219 or an increase of 2,965 contracts, or 12.24 per cent. Trading volume was very active, with 32,798 contracts traded during the session. Moreover,...
Chinese domestic thermal coal market closed last week (August 25-29) on a bearish note, as demand diminished seasonally despite lingering supply constraints. On Friday, Mysteel assessed 5,500 kcal/kg NAR thermal coal at RMB 695 per tonne (USD 97.5 per tonne) FOB northern ports with VAT, down RMB 7 per tonne from the previous week. Prices for 5,000 kcal/kg and 4,500 kcal/kg NAR grades also slipped RMB 18 per tonne and RMB 22 per tonne to RMB 615 per tonne and RMB 540 per tonne, respectively. Last week, chilling weather dented household power demand in North China, leading to a notable decline in coal consumption at utilities. But temperatures in the southern and eastern regions remained high, which, coupled with weak hydropower generation, continued supporting coal burns at high levels,...
Indian state-run firm National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) has embarked on an ambitious, if conservative, strategy to start manufacturing green alumina by 2030. Nalco intends to increase its renewable energy capacity, spending USD 178 million to install a 15 MW wind farm and an additional 200-300 MW renewable capacity, underpinned by power purchase agreements where necessary. Image source: https://nalcoindia.com/ Also read: Ball Corporation offloads 41-point Saudi stake, retains minimal 10% strategic interest Nalco Chairman & MD Brijendra Pratap Singh said, "What we are planning is... whatever alumina we are producing, the power requirement for that alumina is very low. We have our own wind power plants in Andhra, and we will have capacity in Tamil Nadu. So, we will be trying to...
July has historically been the strongest month for primary aluminium production, and 2025 was no exception. Global output exceeded 3.8 million tonnes, a month-on-month increase of 3.17 per cent. Although this marked a record high, the growth rate was slightly weaker than the 4.07 per cent recorded a year earlier. In total, global primary aluminium production reached 6.373 million tonnes in July, lifting year-to-date (YTD) output to 42.724 million tonnes, up 1.3 per cent from 42.177 million tonnes in the same period of 2024. The pace of growth, however, was slower than the 3.83 per cent rise during January–July 2024. Oceania & China behind the momentum dip While evaluating what dampened the momentum, a series of causes popped up. One among them was increased production costs due to surging...
Asia-Pacific, where labour is affordable, setup costs of plants are cheaper and regulations are more friendly for business owners and stakeholders, have grown to become the focal point of the aluminium industry in the past decade. But what seems like a regional jump is a fruit of longstanding geopolitical blips and economic volatility. From culture to couture, production to market capture, the west has led the game for centuries. But as we approach the half of the ongoing century, a single question nags the mind. Why is the east now replacing the west (for aluminium or not)? And the answer is simple — availability beats class. Image source: https://www.eurofound.europa.eu/ Also read: From €15.6B to €2.8B: Eurozone’s June trade surplus collapses under tariff pressure US economic fallout...
Canyon Resources has confirmed the significant economic potential of its Minim Martap bauxite project in Cameroon, after completing a definitive feasibility study (DFS). The Australian miner has also begun early works on the project, which started in July. The definitive feasibility study (DFS) outlines a Stage 1 capital expenditure of USD 96 million, with a pre-tax net present value of USD 835 million and a pre-tax internal rate of return of 29 per cent. Production & shipment capacity The firm is currently aiming for first ore production in the first quarter of next year, with the first bauxite shipments expected in the first half. Stage 1 of the project is designed for 1.2 million tonnes of annual capacity, with the possibility of expanding to a yearly capacity of 2.1 million tonnes...
As the years are passing, ALuminium is not only evolving as a metal but also becoming a hero that is making a comeback with a bang. From the surface of the moon to the inside of a smartphone, the metal with the atomic number 13 is redefining strength, sustainability and innovation in our world. Talking about comeback, one such example is the iPhone, about which we will discuss in detail a little later in the article. Now comes the question – WHY ALuminium and not any other metal? In today’s digital world, a smartphone is so much more than just a gadget; it’s an extension of our lives. The right phone isn’t just about flashy looks or clever folding tricks; it’s about finding that sweet spot where power, design, and comfort all come together. It should dazzle when you want it to, perform...
