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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Rio Tinto has paused production at its SimFer project in Guinea after a contractual employee lost his life in an unfortunate incident on August 22. An immediate and detailed safety review has been initiated in collaboration with relevant authorities. The move underscores the company’s ongoing commitment to strengthening workplace safety across all its global operations, including its bauxite and aluminium portfolio. Safety an utmost priority now Rio Tinto Chief Executive Jakob Stausholm said, “We extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues impacted by this tragic event as well as the wider community. We will offer all the support we can at this very difficult time, and a thorough investigation will take place together with the relevant authorities to establish the...
As the recycling industry embraces digital tools to improve efficiency and transparency, Arcadia, California-based Doctor Scrap is seeing its metals identification and trading app gain strong traction worldwide. The platform has not only built a steady user base in North America but is also recording rapid adoption in international markets, particularly in the United States, the Middle East, and across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region. Image source: https://hzcdn.doctorscrap.com/develop-ai/ The app is described by the company as “a highly effective technological app that aims to assist businesses in the recycling industry”. It functions as both a price estimation tool and a global trading platform, enabling recyclers to match buyers and sellers more efficiently in...
In July 2025, China exported 229,400 tonnes of alumina, up 56.4 per cent YoY; imported 125,900 tonnes of alumina, up 78.2 per cent YoY; net import of alumina was -104,000 tonnes. Image for representational purposes only From January to July 2025, China's cumulative imports of alumina were 394,000 tonnes, down 68.6 per cent Y-o-Y; cumulative exports of alumina were 1.5727 million tonnes, up 64.3 per cent Y-o-Y; cumulative net imports of alumina were -1.1786 million tonnes. (Based on 8-digit HS code: 28182000) In July 2025, the portion of China's alumina exports to Russia accounted for 88.3 per cent of total exports. Russia remained the primary destination for China's alumina exports, with monthly export volume increasing to over 200,000 tonnes, setting a new five-year high. From January to...
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) held a felicitation ceremony on 25 August 2025 at its Oasis Hall to honour students who successfully completed the Company’s On-the-Job Training (OJT) Programmes held throughout the year. The ceremony was attended by Alba’s Chief Executive Officer, Ali Al Baqali, along with senior executives, who commended the students for their dedication and commitment during their OJT placements. 2025 has already seen unprecedented growth in OJT placements at Alba, with 300 trainees enrolled year-to-date – representing a 35 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2024. Notably, the number of year-to-date trainees in 2025 has already surpassed the total for the entire previous year, which recorded 280 trainees. Also read: Tariff woes, soaring alumina costs, and...
In a bold step to slash soaring power costs and fast-track its green journey, Ganesha Ecosphere, one of India’s leading plastic recyclers, has commissioned a 5 MW rooftop solar power system at its Telangana facility. Executed by Solluz Energy, the project will feature Trina 595 Wp solar modules, Sungrow inverters, and sturdy aluminium mounting structures for long-term performance. By tapping into the solar energy sector, the company will offset a large chunk of its energy demand, translating into annual savings of INR 51.5 million (USD 590,179) and a swift payback period of just 3.5 years. The system is projected to generate substantial cost savings while reducing the company’s carbon footprint and strengthening its commitment to renewable energy. It will also ease reliance on grid power,...
Insolation Green Energy, a fully owned arm of Insolation Energy, has kickstarted construction on a game-changing renewable project in Madhya Pradesh. The company is setting up a massive 4.5 GW solar cell plant alongside an 18,000 metric tonne aluminium frame manufacturing facility in the Power and Renewable Energy Equipment Zone at Narmadapuram. Spread across 45 acres and backed by a bold investment of INR 16 billion (USD 182.7 million), the project is set to strengthen India’s green energy ambitions. It also marks a new milestone for the company, its fourth manufacturing facility and the very first to rise beyond its home turf of Rajasthan. Manish Gupta, Chairman and Whole-Time Director at Insolation Energy, highlighted that the new facility will be a game-changer, substantially boosting...
The aluminium markets have just seen another twist in what’s become a long-running stocks carousel. But this time, the spin may be nearing its end. As reported by Reuters on August 20, over the past six weeks, a hefty 156 thousand tonnes of aluminium found its way into London Metal Exchange (LME) warehouses. Yet, this wasn’t fresh metal entering the system. It was almost exclusively a reclassification of existing off-warrant supplies already stashed away in Port Klang, Malaysia. Image for representational purposes only So, when you read ‘reclassification of existing off-warrant supplies’, it means the metal was already physically sitting in the warehouse (say, Port Klang in Malaysia). But it was being kept off the books in private storage deals. Now, some of that same aluminium has been...
In a significant move impacting the global bauxite supply landscape, Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), a leader in global aluminium production, has confirmed the complete cessation of its bauxite mining activities in Guinea, following the government's expropriation of its mining assets. The firm's Guinea Alumina unit will wind down its bauxite mining operations, along with associated employee and on-site service contracts, in the Republic of Guinea. Tracing back to May 2025, the Republic of Guinea has initiated proceedings to revoke EGA's mining license for the Guinea Alumina Corporation (GAC). This move follows a suspension of G AC's bauxite exports in October 2024 over customs duties concerns . It further includes the discussion upon finalisation, the revocation could significantly...
South Africa’s aluminium supplier Hulamin has slipped into the red, battered by a stronger-than-expected rand, surging energy costs, and a flood of cheaper imports squeezing margins. Adding to the blow, the company revealed plans to offload its struggling extrusions division, which racked up a R66.8 million (USD 3.67 million) loss in the first half of 2025. The shutdown strategy limited Hulamin’s ability to pass rising costs on to customers, forcing the company to build up a stockpile of finished goods to keep the market supplied. CEO Mark Gounder said this was the company’s top priority in the first half of the year managing the planned downtime without severely denting profitability. Even so, Hulamin reported a loss of 8 cents per share for the first half of 2025, with the bulk of the...
The global rare earth metals market is undergoing a major market shift, as US price interventions, Chinese export restrictions, and surging demand disrupt supply chains and compel countries to rethink their strategies. In mid-July, the US took a bold step to challenge China’s dominance in rare earths. The Department of Defence signed a multi-billion-dollar deal with MP Materials, guaranteeing a minimum price of USD 110 per kilogram for neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr) oxide. This figure is almost double the prevailing China-based market price of around USD 60 per kilogram. The move is designed to boost domestic production of key materials for EV motors, wind turbines, and defence systems. Analysts are calling it a game-changer, predicting that this new price floor will become a global...
Starting this August, Habitat for Humanity, a global non-profit organisation that partners with people to build affordable housing, sanitation facilities and more, have announced their acceptance of aluminium can donations via ReStore, a retail division of Habitat for Humanity in Chico, supporting sustainability initiatives and community development efforts. Habitat for Humanity's Butte County branch is leveraging the grant support attained from Novelis and Habitat International, aiding in launching an aluminium can collection initiative to advance recycling and repurposing efforts. A similar initiative has been previously taken by the non-profit organisation for its local branch in 2023, The Grand Island Area Habitat for Humanity (Gihabitat), which has won its second "Novelis Can Grant"...
South32, one of the world’s most prominent diversified miners, finds itself at a critical juncture. The company is caught between the looming silence of its Mozal Aluminium smelter in Mozambique and the fresh promise of growth from its Australian assets. Together, these developments illustrate the challenges and recalibrations shaping the future of one of the sector’s most closely watched players. The decision to suspend operations at Mozal after March 2026 is a sobering one. For months, the company wrestled with the question of whether Mozambique could guarantee the competitively priced and reliable electricity supply that smelting demands. With no resolution in sight, South32 conceded that running Mozal under the proposed tariffs would render the operation “internationally...
Arcade of Aluminium, one of Sri Lanka's leading suppliers and traders of premium aluminium extrusions and accessories, including products from Alumex, serving the construction and industrial sectors, recently marked a milestone by successfully hosting its 15th annual get-together under the theme "Champions of Arcade." The event recognised long-standing customers and key suppliers, appreciating their continued trust and support, while celebrating a shared journey of collaboration and progress towards greater milestones in the aluminium industry. The firm's managing director, Arcade of Aluminium, in the annual get-together, conveyed to the stakeholders about the company's growth journey, starting from its humble beginnings with a five-member team in 2010 to becoming a trusted market leader...
Futures: On Friday night, the most-traded AD2511 contract for cast aluminium alloy opened at RMB 20,170 per tonne, with a low of RMB 20,170 per tonne and a high of RMB 20,320 per tonne, closing at RMB 20,285 per tonne, up RMB 110 per tonne or 0.55 per cent from the previous close. Trading volume was 1,077 lots, and open interest was 8,110 lots, mainly due to an increase in long positions. Image for referential purposes only Spot-futures price spread daily report: According to SMM data, on August 22, the theoretical premium of the SMM ADC12 spot price over the most-traded AD2511 contract's closing price at 10:15 AM was RMB 260 per tonne. Aluminium scrap: On Friday, the spot price of primary aluminium rose by RMB 30 per tonne compared to the previous trading day, with SMM A00 spot closing...
China imported 20.06 million tonnes of all types of bauxite in July, higher by 34.2 per cent from the same month last year and by 10.7 per cent from June, according to the latest data from the country's General Administration of Customs (GACC). For the first seven months, total bauxite imports reached 123.3 million tonnes, marking a surge of 33.7 per cent from last year's January-July period, the GACC data showed. Guinea remained China's largest bauxite supplier for the seventh month, accounting for 79.5 per cent of July's total by shipping 15.94 million tonnes. The volume was higher by 19.6 per cent from June and by 52.7 per cent from a year earlier. The on-month increase was mainly attributed to accelerated bauxite shipments in mid-May ahead of the West African country's rainy season,...
Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Bhd continues to benefit from supply constraints, easing input costs, and its low-carbon edge. Maybank Investment Bank (Maybank IB) Research has reaffirmed its “buy” rating on the company, lifting its target price (TP) by 12 per cent to RM6.34 per share from RM5.64, valuing it at 25 times earnings for the financial year ending Dec 31, 2026 (FY26). Operational performance & market overview Maybank IB Research noted that plant utilisation rose to 96–97 per cent in the second quarter of 2025 (2Q25), following the full restoration of operations at Samalaju in March 2025 after the September 2024 fire incident. While geopolitical risks could temper demand, the research house highlighted that slower supply growth of 1–1.5 per cent in 2025, compared to 3.2 per cent...
With a demand for the immediate opening of bauxite mines, the residents of Kalahandi, a district in Odisha, led by Lanjigarh Anchalik Vikash Parishad (LAVP), have set up a large-scale rally this Friday, August 22, 2025. The motto of the rally was securing local livelihoods and catalysing regional development. Local leaders rallied against policy paralysis For quite some time, there has been widespread frustration regarding the inaction over resource utilisation. It was more evident from the demonstration led by LAVP president Sridhar Pesnia and supported by community leaders, including the Lanjigarh Block vice-chairman, Zilla Parishad members, tribal elders and transport associations. Protestors in the rally further pointed out that Kalahandi’s own resources remain untapped due to...
London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium prices posted slight gains on August 22 compared to the previous session. The LME aluminium cash bid price climbed to USD 2,588.5 per tonne from USD 2,570 per tonne from August 21, while the cash offer price increased to USD 2,589 per tonne from USD 2,570.5 per tonne, reflecting an uptick of about 0.72 per cent. Three-month contracts also moved higher, with the bid price reaching USD 2,586.5 per tonne and the offer settling at USD 2,587.5 per tonne, marking gains of approximately 0.60 per cent and 0.62 per cent respectively. Forward prices for December 26 delivery edged up as well, with the bid at USD 2,637 per tonne and the offer at USD 2,642 per tonne, both rising by around 0.53 per cent. The LME aluminium three-month Asian Reference Price stood at...
