
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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Aluminium prices held steady this week, even as demand from clean energy projects and electric vehicles pushed higher. Normally, stronger demand and technological advances would draw out more supply but this time, the opposite is happening. China, which accounts for more than half of world output, is still holding its annual cap near 45 million tonnes to meet climate goals. In the first half of 2025, production came in at 21.8 million tonnes, close to that ceiling. High power costs and tougher regulations abroad have also slowed smelting expansion. Raw materials are adding to the squeeze. Alumina prices have hit record highs this year, doubling the cost of production. Russia’s Rusal has already trimmed as much as 500,000 tonnes in response. Also read: Global Aluminium Industry Outlook...

China's domestic bauxite supply remained low and prices stood at high levels. In a bid to maintain stable operation, some inland refineries purchased bauxite sourced from Turkey and Montenegro with elevated prices due to the decline in stocks of domestic ore. Image for representational purposes only In terms of seaborne bauxite, Guinea bauxite (45 per cent, Si:3 per cent) prices stood unchanged for more than two weeks after a slight rebound in early August. However, the price regained upward momentum due to the decrease in shipments and tonnage in transit. On the supply side, Guinea shipments saw a WoW increase last week, but were still at a low level due to the impact of the wet season and the disruptions in the AXIS Mining area. Mysteel data showed that Guinea's total bauxite shipments...

Hindalco Industries, the flagship of Aditya Birla Group, has always been at the forefront of upholding India’s status in the global industries supply chain. This time, the company has set up an investment of INR 586 crore (USD 71 million) to build an advanced aluminium extrusion facility at Kuppam in Andhra Pradesh. The new facility is solely aimed at manufacturing high-precision extruded aluminium parts used in the chassis of Apple’s iPhones. Image for representational purposes only As per the recent updates by Hindalco Industries, the new plant is likely to be set up by March 2027, generating over 600 jobs within the first four years of operations. Strengthening Apple’s manufacturing footprint in India Over the past couple of years, Apple has been trying to rely on India as a core...

The first five months of 2025 have brought a reshaping of the European Union’s export map for aluminium pipes and tubes (HS 7608). What had looked like a heavily US-driven trade in early 2024 has since shifted into a more balanced pattern, with the United States sharply pulling back, while Norway and Türkiye emerged as surprising growth engines. The numbers point to an EU industry that is adjusting to external shocks, diversifying its portfolio, and finding new anchors in regional and energy-linked markets. Image for representational purposes only Aluminium pipes and tubes, the good ideal for use where strength and corrosion resistance are required without additional weight, such as on aircraft wings or bike frames, have found their way into businesses across the globe. The manufacturing...

China Aluminum International Engineering Corporation Limited, a comprehensive service for aluminium and non-ferrous metal and allied industries, has announced its unaudited Interim Results for the first half of the 2025 on August 29. The audited result will be released in September 2025, which will be available on both the Hong Kong Exchanges and the company's websites. With the announcement made, the firm reflects on its core values and its ongoing commitment to maintain transparency and compliance with the listed regulations. This further enhances the resilience of the company, strengthening its position in the market, providing the stakeholders with healthy financial data and insights. By providing comprehensive solutions for the advanced metal technologies, sets of equipment and...

As of August 28, 2025, National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), a leading manufacturer of alumina and aluminium in India, has announced its plan to increase the production level of special-grade, value-added and fused alumina . Alumina is currently in high demand, especially for refractories and other areas. Currently, the alumina consumption is deemed to be nearly 4.5 to 5 million tonnes and NALCO expects the growth for alumina consumption in India to reach 8 million tonnes by 2030. For FY26, the firm has the capex plan to reach INR 1,700 crores (USD 204 million). With no plans for disinvestment in the present scenario, the company's CMD, BP Singh, has enunciated their strategy to expand its alumina refinery by 1 million tonne, which will be commissioned by June 2026. Furthermore, the...

Futures: The most-traded SHFE aluminium 2510 contract opened at 20,760 RMB per tonne during the night session, reaching a highest price of RMB 20,780 per tonne and a lowest price of RMB 20,695 per tonne, closing at RMB 20,705 per tonne. Trading volume was 4.8 lots, and open interest was 241,000 lots. LME opened at USD 2,607.5 per tonne, with a highest price of USD 2,611 per tonne, a lowest price of USD 2,607.5 per tonne, and closed at USD 2,609 per tonne. Image for representational purposes only Macro: (1) Li Chenggang, Vice Minister and International Trade Representative of the Ministry of Commerce, led a delegation to visit Canada from August 24 to 27, co-hosting the 28th China-Canada Economic and Trade Joint Committee with the Canadian side. Both sides agreed to continue leveraging the...

On August 28, aluminium prices on the London Metal Exchange softened slightly compared to the previous day. The LME aluminium cash bid price stood at USD 2,614 per tonne against USD 2,616 per tonne on August 27, marking a decline of 0.08 per cent, while the cash offer fell 0.11 per cent to USD 2,615 per tonne from USD 2,618 per tonne. The three-month bid slipped to USD 2,609.5 per tonne from USD 2,616 per tonne, down 0.25 per cent, and the three-month offer price moved to USD 2,610 per tonne from USD 2,616.5 per tonne, also lower by 0.25 per cent. Also read: Global Aluminium Industry Outlook 2025 For longer-dated contracts, the December 2026 bid price eased 0.26 per cent to USD 2,655 per tonne from USD 2,662 per tonne, while the offer price dropped to USD 2,660 per tonne from USD 2,667...

Aluminum Corporation of China Limited (Chalco) is a prominent player in the aluminium industry, primarily engaged in bauxite exploration and mining, alumina and primary aluminium production, and various related activities, has recently announced their H1 2025 financial results. In its latest earnings report for the first half of 2025, Chalco demonstrated strong financial performance, with a significant increase in operating revenue and net profit. The company reported a total profit of RMB 13.247 billion, reflecting a 2.16 per cent year-on-year growth, and a net profit attributable to shareholders of RMB 7.071 billion, marking a 0.81 per cent rise. Operating cash flow also saw a notable increase, reaching RMB 14.188 billion, up 5.24 per cent from the previous year. Key highlights from the...

RUSAL, one of the world’s largest aluminium producers has achieved stable production of Grade A7 aluminium using inert anode technology. This milestone marks a critical step toward the industrial implementation of this breakthrough process. Unlike conventional methods, inert anode electrolysis emits oxygen instead of carbon dioxide and significantly reduces unwanted impurities in the aluminium. Following extensive and successful trials, RUSAL has confirmed the operational stability of its proprietary industrial-scale inert anode technology. This process enables the consistent production of commercial-grade A7 aluminium (international equivalent: P1020). Stability at this level is the key requirement for transitioning from pilot testing to full-scale industrial deployment of a technology...

Indonesia’s decision to ban bauxite exports in 2023 has changed the map of alumina supply. Within a year, the country flipped from being a raw ore shipper to a net exporter of alumina in 2024, a shift that is now unsettling traditional producers in Australia and Brazil. Analysts believe Indonesia could add double-digit million tonnes of capacity by 2027. If that happens, the alumina market could tip from tight supply into surplus within two years. From ore to alumina Until the ban, most of Indonesia’s bauxite was sent to China. Today, that ore is feeding a string of new refineries at home. The result: more cargoes of alumina leaving Indonesian ports and fewer raw bauxite shipments abroad. The country’s location gives it another advantage. It sits close to China, the world’s biggest...

Apple, an American multinational corporation and technology company, faces a clash with the German court verdict, opposing the brand from advertising its Watch as a "CO2-neutral product" in Germany on Tuesday. This verdict was upheld after a series of complaints from various environmentalists, in the name of providing misleading information to consumers. Recently, as attributed in a statement from the regional court in Frankfurt, the American tech company promoted its latest Apple Watch online as "our first CO2-neutral product", claimed by an unfounded panel of judges, which further violates the German competition law. By referring to the court's ruling, a spokesperson from Apple commented, "broadly upheld our rigorous approach to carbon neutrality" and further declined to give any...

Maaden Bauxite and Alumina Company (MBAC), a subsidiary of Maaden, one of the world's fastest-growing mining companies, has entered into a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Emerge. Emerge is a joint venture between Masdar, a global leader in clean energy, and EDF Power Solutions, renowned for low-carbon, innovative solutions. Al Baitha Bauxite Mine moves towards sustainability Through this agreement, Emerge will spearhead the development of a solar power project designed to provide clean, renewable energy to the Al Baitha Bauxite Mine over the next 30 years. This initiative not only supports Saudi Arabia's energy transition but also contributes to the Vision 2030 objectives by reducing carbon emissions and fostering sustainable industrial growth. Ali Al-Qahtani , Executive...

The US heavy-duty truck industry, which is worth around USD 50 billion, is facing a combination of tariffs that give an advantage to cross-border competitors. The Trump administration’s Section 232 tariffs add a 50 per cent hefty duty on imported metals, including steel, aluminium and copper derivatives, and extra charges on non-USMCA components, driving up costs for US truckmakers like Paccar, headquartered in Bellevue, Washington. Image for referential purposes only Paccar estimated that tariff-related charges are going to be USD 75 million in Q3 2025. Mexico gains tariff advantage Rival companies like Daimler Truck and Traton sidestep much of this pain by producing in Mexico, where compliance with the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) provides duty-free movement. As Volvo’s North...

Renowned Mexican auto components manufacturer Nemak has acquired the automotive unit of GF Casting Solutions, a subsidiary of Swiss Industrial Group George Fischer. The Swiss industrial group is known for producing lightweight aluminium and magnesium components using metal casting technologies. Image for representational purposes only (Source: https://mexiconewsdaily.com/ The acquisition value is USD 336 million, but the deal is yet to clear regulatory clearance. Nemak has already made an initial payment of USD 160 million, financed through long-term credit lines, while the balance will be covered over the next five years through assumed liabilities and deferred payments. The acquisition of George Fischer is likely to bring Nemak an annual revenue of USD 707 million and USD 91 million in...

When the sustainability of a company matches its innovation, it makes the aluminium packaging lead the way. Vinca, the award-winning 100 per cent Italian canned wines, have debuted its Province-style pale rosé in an aluminium bottle, which is available across the north of England across multiple supermarkets for the end users. This debut of this elegant rosé aligns with the firm's active red and white wines in 750ml aluminium bottles. The niche to incorporate the Italian canned wines in aluminium is simple: to gain a low-carbon alternative, removing the use of traditional glass. The firm's use of 100 per cent post-consumer recycled (PCR) aluminium bottles indicates sustainability and lightweight, whereas the traditional glass offered only 60 per cent. Moreover, with the aluminium bottles...

Guinea exported 99.8 million tonnes of bauxite in the first half of 2025, a sharp 36 per cent rise from 73.4 million tonnes in the same period of 2024. That figure is almost equal to the country’s entire output in 2022. The rise is a result of strong run, with exports up 19.6 per cent in 2023 to 127 million tonnes, followed by another 14 per cent increase in 2024 to 145 million tonnes. What makes the latest surge stand out is the backdrop, Guinea is in the middle of political turbulence, a tightening grip on mining rights by the junta, and rising unease among investors. Export boom and China’s role The export boom has several drivers, but China is at the center. Roughly 60 per cent of Guinea’s ore goes to Chinese buyers, and Beijing’s aluminium production was up about 4 per cent in the...

Basin Energy has secured a binding agreement to acquire one of Queensland's most promising uranium and rare earth portfolios, situated near Paladin Energy's Valhalla uranium deposit and Red Metal's Sybella rare earth find. This acquisition paves the way for three exciting exploration models, each ready for drilling and offering significant potential for near-term discoveries. Extensive Paleochannel Network - Identified through AEM geophysical surveys, these uranium-prospective paleochannels lie adjacent to the uranium-rich Sybella Granite. As ancient river systems are buried beneath younger sediments, they often host uranium accumulations at redox boundaries. Granite-hosted REE potential - Comparable to Red Metal's major Sybella discovery, with auger drilling already delivering standout...