China’s national carbon market is scaling up rapidly, with annual trading volume reaching a record 235 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2025, up 24.36 per cent year-on-year, according to a report released at the China Carbon Market Conference 2026 in Wuhan. By the end of August 2026, cumulative trading volume since the market’s launch had reached 961 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent, while total turnover stood at RMB 65.7 billion (about USD 9.71 billion). A key development for the aluminium industry is the expansion of China’s national carbon market to include aluminium smelting, alongside power generation, steel and cement. As of 2026, 3,680 key emitters across these four sectors had been included in the market, collectively covering around 8.3 billion tonnes of CO₂...
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...
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The UC Rusal alumina train that derailed along the Bog Walk Gorge in St Catherine earlier this month has now been removed, with Jamaica’s National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) confirming minimal environmental damage. The incident, which saw three hopper cars tumble off an embankment into the gorge, raised immediate concerns because of its proximity to the Rio Cobre, an essential water source for local communities and agriculture. NEPA’s assessment and cleanup oversight NEPA reported that the alumina spillage was confined to the base of the embankment. It posed no toxic threat and did not affect water quality. Drone inspections and on-site checks confirmed there was no oil leakage, no fish kill, and no observable impact on aquatic life. The cleanup was carried out under NEPA’s...
The public comment period for a proposed air quality permit with Australian manufacturing firm Aluminium Dynamics, Inc., for its planned aluminium processing plant in Benson, Arizona, has come to an end. The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) had been accepting comments and questions about the proposed 174,000-square-foot facility on a 200-acre site. This facility is intended to operate 24 hours a day once approved, effective since July 16, 2025. Comments were accepted until midnight on August 21, 2025, via ADEQ's online comment portal or by e-mail. Project scope and operations As a subsidiary of Steel Dynamics, Aluminium Dynamics proposed a major recycling operation that would eventually process up to 300,000 tonnes of aluminium scrap a year. Once operational, the plant...
Lindian Resources has managed to raise A$ 91.5 million (USD 59.39 million) in funds and has made a dinal investment decision to fully develop Stage 1 of its high-grade Kangankunde Rare Earths Project in Malawi. The capital puts Lindian on track to become the world's next significant producer of rare earth elements (REEs) and other strategic minerals associated with the high-performance use of aluminium in the green energy revolution. Funds raised, process in progress The firm obtained commitments for its two-tranche round from new Australian and international institutional investors, with demand well in excess of the funds sought. The issue price of USD 0.21 per new share was a significant premium to the recent volume-weighted average trading price, reflecting strong market confidence in...
As of Thursday this week, the SMM alumina index stood at RMB 3,244.97 per tonne, down RMB 3.15 per tonne W-o-W. In Shandong, prices were reported at RMB 3,180-3,230 per tonne, down 15 per tonne W-o-W; in Henan, prices were RMB 3,180-3,270 per tonne, down 15 per tonne W-o-W; in Shanxi, prices were RMB 3,200-3,240 per tonne, down 20 per tonne W-o-W; in Guangxi, prices were RMB 3,300-3,380 per tonne, up RMB 10 per tonne W-o-W; in Guizhou, prices were RMB 3,300-3,380 per tonne, up RMB 10 per tonne W-o-W; in Bayuquan, prices were RMB 3,260-3,340 per tonne, down RMB 50 per tonne W-o-W. Overseas market: As of August 21, 2025, FOB Western Australia alumina price was USD 372 per tonne, with an ocean freight rate of USD 23.15 per tonne and a USD/CNY selling rate around 7.19. This price translates...
The recent expansion of United States tariffs on aluminium imports has increased the pressure on manufacturers who depend on the metal as a critical input. Wisconsin Aluminium Foundry (WAF), a century-old producer of aluminium and copper alloy castings based in Manitowoc, exemplifies how policy decisions made in Washington have had ripple effects on local economies. Image source: https://wafco.com/ On June 4 this year, tariffs on imported aluminium were doubled from 25 per cent to 50 per cent. By mid-August, the administration broadened its scope to include more than 400 derivative products containing aluminium or steel, according to the Bureau of Industry and Security. While these moves were designed to strengthen domestic production, their effect has been more complex for manufacturers...
From a macro perspective, the July US Fed meeting minutes showed that most policymakers believe the upside risks of inflation exceed the downside risks of employment, leading to a cooling of interest rate cut expectations, with market focus on the global central bank annual meeting this Friday. Affected by this, the US dollar rebounded slightly during the week, exerting some pressure on base metals; domestically, relevant meetings proposed that strong measures will be taken subsequently to consolidate the real estate market, with market sentiment leaning optimistic. Image for representational purposes only From a fundamental perspective, on the supply side, with the commissioning of a small amount of replacement capacity, production increased slightly; cost-wise, the full cost of domestic...
What if the cars of yesterday could power the cars of tomorrow? As the global race for raw materials accelerates and sustainability becomes the defining measure of progress, the automotive industry is rethinking how cars are built and unbuilt. Leading this reinvention, Mercedes-Benz and TSR Group are turning end-of-life vehicles into a treasure chest of resources, where aluminium, steel, copper, plastics, and glass will be recovered, refined, and used into the vehicles of the future. At the heart of this effort lies an ambitious urban mining pilot project of Mercedes-Benz and TSR Group GmbH & Co. KG, a partnership that was announced in 2024 with a strong focus on building a sustainable circular economy for end-of-life vehicles. “Our vision of sustainable mobility requires us to...
Apple is trading glass glamour for aluminium muscle in the iPhone 17 Pro and the industry is watching closely. A recent leak has provided a first look at the iPhone 17 Pro's production chassis, showcasing a significant design shift from previous models. Unlike the iPhone 16 Pro's glass-and-titanium build, the new chassis appears to be a milled all-aluminium frame with an integrated camera bump. The leaked image, shared by leaker Majin Bu, shows a chassis with a rear cutout designed to house a glass section around the Apple logo. This glass area would facilitate wireless charging, while the surrounding aluminium body offers improved durability. The integrated camera bump is notably larger and spans the width of the device, differing from the previous year's glass camera module attached to...
The US is suffering the consequences of President Trump doubling tariffs on the import of aluminium to 50 per cent, such as the increased costs and supply chain disruptions. But it is the demand which has not yet faced any hit. However, the nation is not really short of aluminium, according to industry professionals. More than USD 1 billion worth of aluminium from beverage cans, motor vehicles, electronics, and building materials is dumped in landfills annually. It is a lost opportunity when import costs are surging steeply. Recycling aluminium uses only a small fraction of energy and could offset the tariffs if recycling facilities were enlarged. Companies that are struggling with the tariffs The Trump administration increased tariffs on aluminium imports from 25 per cent to 50 per cent....
The European Union’s vaunted export engine is sputtering under the combined weight of tariffs, softer demand, and eroding competitiveness. June 2025 marked a dramatic turning point: according to ING’s latest analysis, the bloc’s seasonally adjusted trade surplus collapsed to just EUR 2.8 billion, down from EUR 15.6 billion in May. Eurostat’s official, unadjusted figures tell a similar story, showing the surplus narrowing to EUR 7.0 billion in June from EUR 20.7 billion a year earlier. Image source: https://wjjh.blog/ The headline numbers mask an even more telling shift. Exports from the single currency area rose a negligible 0.4 per cent year-on-year to EUR 237.2 billion, while imports surged by nearly 7 per cent to EUR 230.2 billion. On a monthly basis, exports contracted by 2.4 per...
China has formally sought dispute consultations at the World Trade Organization (WTO) over Canada's surtaxes and quotas on aluminium and steel products, the WTO announced on Wednesday, August 20. According to the WTO notice, the contested measures include a surtax applied through tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) on certain steel imports from non-free trade agreement (FTA) partners, including China. Beijing is also challenging a surtax imposed on goods containing steel or aluminium of Chinese origin. "We will not hesitate to act when our industries are threatened by unfair practices. These measures are a direct response to China's overcapacity and non-market behaviour, which are undermining Canada's steel sector and threatening Canadian jobs," said Huzaif Qaisar, a spokesman for Trade Minister...
According to Minister of Economy Gevorg Papoyan, Armenian exports to the EU posted robust year-on-year growth in July, driven by three key sectors in the first seven months of 2025 versus the same period last year. Based on the report put forward by Papoyan, the July 2025 data versus July 2024 reveals exports of finished food products rose 56 per cent, alcoholic beverages increased 20 per cent and aluminium products grew 35 per cent. As per the Minister of Economy, the projected growth was supported by government programs, which compensate EU customs duties on finished goods. The latest Armstat data shows Armenia’s trade turnover with EU countries reached USD 1.2 billion in H1 2025, marking a 9.5 per cent increase year-on-year. Exports rose 1.8 per cent to USD 286.8 million, with the...
India is at the centre of global trade discussions after reports suggested that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had issued a circular enabling BRICS nations to settle 100 per cent of their trade in Indian Rupees (INR). Analysts argued that such a shift could weaken the US dollar’s dominance in international trade and strengthen BRICS’ collective bargaining power. Though there is no such official mandate for BRICS to conduct all trade in rupees. Instead, several outlets noted that the RBI has relaxed norms by allowing banks to open Special Rupee Vostro Accounts (SRVAs) without prior approval, a move aimed at promoting INR-based trade at a time when US tariff measures continue to create uncertainty for BRICS countries. The latest circular, issued on August 5, 2025, builds on an earlier...
The flagship recycling facility, that has started operations in Magdeburg, targeting the recovery of valuable metals, including aluminium, from waste incineration, is prepared for harsh conditions. Run by Mitteldeutsche Schlackenunion (MDSU), it is now the biggest and most advanced bottom ash treatment plant in Germany. Image source: https://www.winkelmanengineering.nl/ Commissioned in late 2024, this site is built to process up to 90,000 tonnes of incinerator bottom ash annually. However, the current throughput is around 60,000 tonnes, which is likely to increase at the operational scale. The launch of this bottom ash recycling facility is a business imperative. The bottom ash, which was considered a waste byproduct before, still comes with a huge volume of non-ferrous metals such as...
The global aluminium industry stands at a critical juncture where efficiency, sustainability, and resource recovery are shaping new business priorities. As per recent business market research, the aluminium sector — formed of primary aluminium smelters, secondary aluminium facilities, and downstream processing plants — generated an estimated 4.78 million tonnes of dross in 2024. Source: AL Circle This figure reflects the inescapable byproduct of aluminium melting, but it also highlights opportunities for resource recovery and value creation. Aluminium dross generation: Regional market analysis China, the world's largest producer of aluminium, continues to dominate global dross output as per rule, accounting for nearly 47 per cent of total generation in 2024. The Rest of Asia-Pacific...
At its 66th Annual General Meeting, Hindalco Industries Ltd, the metals flagship of the Aditya Birla Group, announced plans for approximately USD 10 billion in global investments over the next five years, spanning aluminium, copper and speciality alumina, Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla informed shareholders. The metal flagship's expansion strategy features significant projects in India and abroad, including an INR 18,000 crore (USD 20.63 billion) capex in FY25, deemed as the highest in nearly a decade. As of now, the company is among the leading global players in aluminium, copper and speciality alumina and is embarking on an ambitious growth trajectory, as attributed by the Chairman. Moreover, the company is also boosting the upstream capacities with nearly 180,000 tonnes expansion at the...
China exported a total of 1.57 million tonnes of alumina, including metallurgical-grade and other types, during January-July 2025, shooting up by 64.3 per cent from the same period last year, according to new data released by the country's General Administration of Customs (GACC). Image source: https://www.renwa-abrasive.com/ In July alone, Chinese alumina exports reached 229,448 tonnes, marking a 56.4 per cent year-on-year jump and a 34.2 per cent on-month increase, the GACC data showed. Most of the July shipments from China were supplied to Rusal, a Russian aluminium giant based in Moscow, according to market insiders. Russia, Oman, and South Korea ranked as China's top three export destinations last month, accounting for 88.3 per cent, 4.8 per cent, and 2 per cent of total exports,...
Futures: The most-traded AD2511 cast aluminium alloy futures contract opened at RMB 20,130 per tonne, hit a low of RMB 20,105 per tonne, and reached a high of RMB 20,240 per tonne overnight, closing at RMB 20,220 per tonne, up RMB 95 per tonne or 0.47 per cent from the previous close. Trading volume was 926 lots, with open interest at 8,014 lots, mainly driven by an increase in long positions. Image for referential purposes only Spot-Futures Price Spread Daily Report: According to SMM data, on August 21, the theoretical premium of the SMM ADC12 spot price over the most-traded AD2511 futures contract (closing price at 10:15) widened to RMB 315 per tonne. Aluminium scrap: On Thursday, the spot primary aluminium price increased by RMB 160 per tonne compared to the previous trading day, with...
