US-based Strategic Bauxite Inc. is preparing to expand its refractory-grade bauxite operations in Guyana after acquiring Guyana-based First Bauxite LLC in July. The company’s plans were discussed during a recent meeting between US Ambassador to Guyana Nicole Theriot and Strategic Bauxite executives. The proposed investment is expected to expand mining and processing capacity in the country while strengthening the supply of refractory-grade bauxite. The expansion is backed by USD 85.5 million in US government equity funding through the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) programme, alongside USD 64.5 million in private-sector co-investment. Guyana mine and calcination capacity to expand According to the US Embassy, the combined USD 150 million investment will support an...
Germany has long been one of Europe’s key markets for aluminium extrusions. Germany’s aluminium extrusion market was valued at USD 3,787.5 million in 2025 and is projected to grow at a 5.8 per cent CAGR through 2030, according to various industry sources. A large share of the Germany’s aluminium extrusion demand comes from the automotive, construction and machinery sectors. While automotive applications include EV components, chassis parts and structural assemblies, construction demand is supported by renovation and infrastructure projects, particularly for energy-efficient windows and façades. Machinery and industrial applications further broaden the market for extruded aluminium. As demand evolves, extrusion plants are also looking for more efficient ways to produce and move profiles....
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In a strategic pivot highlighting both innovation and geopolitical foresight, global integrated aluminium producing firm Alcoa of Australia Limited, part of Alcoa Corporation, has announced a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) with Japan Australia Gallium Associates Pty Ltd (JAGA) to explore gallium recovery at one of its alumina refineries in Western Australia. JAGA is a venture between Sojitz Corporation and the Japan Organisation for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC), both key players in Japan's mineral supply strategy. Image for referential purposes only Gallium is a by-product of the refining of bauxite, is essential in semiconductors and has various aspects of defence. For now, China controls around 80 per cent of the gallium supply worldwide. In 2023, it put in place restrictions...
Swisstek Aluminium has committed to supporting Sri Lanka in achieving its 2030 renewable energy targets by providing advanced solar mounting solutions. As the nation accelerates its transition to clean energy, Swisstek offers modular, prefabricated systems specifically designed to endure Sri Lanka's diverse climate, from coastal humidity to high-wind zones. Sri Lanka is making significant strides toward its 2030 renewable energy targets, to generate 70 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources. The country is gradually shifting away from fossil fuels by expanding its solar, wind, and hydropower generation capacity. Manufactured from high-grade, corrosion-resistant aluminium, Swisstek's mounting systems are ideal for both residential and commercial use. They are compatible with a...
Euro Panel Products Ltd, the parent company behind EUROBOND - one of the leading Metal Composite Panel Brands in India, today announced its strategic move to migrate from the NSE Emerge, the SME platform of the National Stock Exchange, to the mainboard of both NSE and BSE. This marks a significant milestone in the brand’s journey, as Euro Panel Products Ltd became the first ACP manufacturing firm in India to be publicly listed on the mainboard of both NSE and BSE. Euro Panel Products Ltd was the first Indian ACP manufacturer to go public in December 2021, with an IPO issue price of INR 70. Since then, Eurobond (call sign) has made significant returns, making over 178 per cent returns to its investors. With tremendous potential with its robust growth in Y-o-Y financials, the future...
According to PMMI’s 2024 State of the Industry US Packaging Machinery Report, packaging machinery manufacturers are actively innovating to support aluminium and other eco-friendly materials, aiming to capitalise on the growing demand for sustainable solutions. This shift comes as sustainability becomes a defining force in reshaping the packaging industry. While the US continues to have less stringent packaging regulations than the European Union, leading companies across North America are increasingly embracing aluminium-based sustainable packaging solutions. Recognised for its recyclability, light weight, and relatively low environmental footprint compared to plastic, aluminium is playing a pivotal role as brands and manufacturers respond to mounting regulatory pressure and evolving...
Futures Market: On the night of last Friday, the most-traded cast aluminium alloy AD2511 futures contract opened at RMB 19,870 per tonne, with a high of RMB 19,890 per tonne, a low of RMB 19,800 per tonne, and closed at RMB 19,875 per tonne, down RMB 45 per tonne or 0.23 per cent from the previous close. Trading volume was 608 lots, and open interest was 8,447 lots, with bears mainly increasing their positions. Image for representational purposes only Spot-futures price spread daily report: According to SMM data, on August 1, the SMM ADC12 spot price was at a theoretical premium of RMB 120 per tonne over the closing price of the most-traded cast aluminium alloy futures contract (AD2511) at 10:15 a.m. Aluminium scrap: Last Friday, the spot price of primary aluminium fell by RMB 60 per...
Alberta Investment Management Corporation, a Canadian Crown corporation and institutional investor owned by the Government of Alberta, has recently acquired a new stake in Century Aluminum Company. The strategic move follows the company's Q1 2025 earnings announcement and its latest 13F filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Century Aluminum is a globally active metals and mining company engaged in the production of bauxite, alumina and aluminium. Image source: centuryaluminum.com Alberta Investment Management Corporation has acquired approximately 265,000 shares of Century Aluminum Company, representing an investment valued at USD 4.92 million. As of the end of the most recent quarter, this position accounts for roughly 0.28 per cent of the firm's total outstanding...
Chinese alumina prices for spot sales remained largely stable across China's five key alumina-producing hubs on August 1, while futures prices declined further. Image is for referential purposes only Last Friday, Mysteel assessed spot prices for metallurgical-grade alumina with purity above 98.6 per cent unchanged in Shandong, Henan, Shanxi, and Guizhou provinces and in the Guangxi autonomous region, at a range between RMB 3,215 per tonne (USD 447.4 per tonne) and RMB 3,325 per tonne. Meanwhile, domestic alumina futures extended their declines the same day. The most-traded September alumina contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) dropped for the fourth consecutive trading day, sliding 2.86 per cent by the close of Friday's daytime trading session and losing a further 1.2 per cent...
The recent imposition of 25 per cent tariffs by the US on Indian exports has sparked concern among the Odia community in North America, with many professionals and entrepreneurs warning of significant economic repercussions. Members of the diaspora argue that the move is likely to increase inflation in the US, disrupt bilateral trade, and undermine India–US relations at a time when global partnerships are increasingly vital. Calling the decision “short-sighted,” Debashis Sahoo, associate professor of computer science, engineering, and paediatrics at the University of California, San Diego, likened it to a self-defeating act. “The tariffs remind me of Kalidasa's branch-cutting metaphor. Experts feel it will harm the US more than India,” he said. The tariffs, which raise the cost of...
Aluminium Industries (Ai), a Melbourne-based Australian manufacturer, has recorded an impressive 250 per cent surge in business growth after implementing the SYSPRO ERP system. SYSPRO Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software streamlines business and financial management with powerful, industry-focused solutions that automate core processes to drive efficiency and growth. Focused initially on aluminium supply, the Australian company expanded its footprint with the acquisition of Pivotech, a leading shower screen manufacturer. This growth highlighted the limitations of its existing finance software, QuickBooks, which lacked the capabilities to manage multiple business divisions effectively, prompting a strategic shift to SYSPRO for more robust, scalable operations. Aluminium Industries...
Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH, a Germany-based institutional investor, has bought a fresh stake in Kaiser Aluminum Corporation, a US-based manufacturer. This marks a new investment move in the world of speciality aluminium products. Image Source: Kaiser Aluminum According to official filings, the company acquired 26,355 shares of Kaiser Aluminum during the first quarter of 2025. This stake is valued at approximately USD 1.6 million, making them owners of about 0.16 per cent of the company. However, that is not all. Many other major players in the industry have been rethinking their investments in Kaiser Aluminum Corporation too. Here’s a look at the list of companies that are making significant investments in Kaiser, the US manufacturer. Wellington Management Group...
LME aluminium prices declined modestly on Friday, August 1, with both spot and 3-month contracts registering a downward shift compared to the previous session. The LME aluminium cash bid price fell to USD 2,544 per tonne, a 1.38 per cent drop from USD 2,579.5 per tonne on Thursday, July 31. The LME aluminium offer price also edged down 1.36 per cent to USD 2,545 per tonne from USD 2,580 per tonne the day before. Three-month aluminium prices mirrored this trend. The 3-month bid stood at USD 2,546 per tonne, down 1.36 per cent from USD 2,581 per tonne while the offer price fell 1.34 per cent to USD 2,547 per tonne compared to USD 2,581.5 per tonne on July 31. Forward prices for December 26 contracts also declined. The August 1 bid came in at USD 2,593 per tonne, down 1.22 per cent from USD...
Premium American water brand Kopu is providing a turnkey sustainability solution for the luxury hospitality industry, enabling major hotel groups like Hyatt, Hilton, and Marriott to replace problematic glass and plastic bottles with elegant, infinitely recyclable aluminium packaging and a built-in recycling program. Image source: https://media.licdn.com/ For decades, the water service in high-end hotels has been dominated by imported European brands in heavy glass bottles. While theoretically recyclable, glass presents immense practical challenges in hospitality settings. “Hospitality bottled water over the last 40 years has been dominated by three imported European brands, all bottled in a different hemisphere and shipped to the U.S. in glass bottles, most of which are destined for...
Canada and the US have been engaging in a tariff war for the past six months, and despite reports of "intense" negotiations in recent weeks, a comprehensive trade agreement has yet to be reached. A potential US-Canada trade agreement may still take several weeks to materialise, according to Ottawa's chief negotiator as of July 31, 2025. This statement followed Trump's decision to raise tariffs on Canadian imports from 25 per cent to 35 per cent for all goods not covered under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, despite his earlier August 1 deadline for reaching a deal. Canadian Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc held an extended meeting with the US Commerce Secretary, Howard Lutnick, on Tuesday evening upon arriving in Washington, followed by discussions with other senior White House officials....
Mexico has secured a 90-day delay on the implementation of new 30 per cent US tariffs on selected imports, following an agreement between US President Donald Trump and Mexico’s President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum. The extension, however, is conditional on Mexico’s commitment to address a broad range of non-tariff trade barriers that have long strained bilateral economic relations. While the delay offers short-term relief, several existing tariffs remain firmly in place. These include a 25 per cent levy on products linked to fentanyl and unauthorized migration, another 25 per cent on automobiles, and a steep 50 per cent tariff on steel, aluminium, and copper. Additionally, the 17.09 per cent countervailing duty on Mexican tomatoes has not been lifted. As part of the agreement, Mexico has...
According to SMM data, the average tax-inclusive full cost of China's aluminium industry in July 2025 was RMB 16,261 per tonne, down 1.7 per cent M-o-M and 5.8 per cent Y-o-Y. During the period, alumina prices were boosted by macro policies such as "anti-rat race" competition, but due to the low absolute price at the beginning of July, the monthly average alumina price in July fell M-o-M, and its cost-supporting effect became evident in August. SMM data showed that the monthly average SMM alumina index in July was RMB 3,157.76 per tonne (June 26 - July 25), and the weighted average cost of alumina in China's aluminium industry fell 2.8 per cent M-o-M in July. The average spot price of SMM A00 aluminium was approximately RMB 20,725 per tonne (June 26 - July 25), and the average profit of...
Scrap Management Industries (SMI), a ferrous and non-ferrous metal recycler firm located in Kansas City, USA, has expanded its footprint in the Midwest. It has acquired two highly operational recycling facilities, both in Kansas - the 12th & Haskell Recycle Centre in Lawrence and the East Wilson Recycle in Ottawa. These recent acquisitions are SMI's eighth and ninth locations and fit well with the company's overall strategic direction towards viable, scalable recycling solutions to promote more sustainable futures. Enhancing regional efficiency while advancing the circular economy SMI President and CEO Jerrit Burgess said, “This acquisition aligns with our long-term growth strategy and reinforces our commitment to providing sustainable, efficient and responsible recycling solutions.” The...
As the automotive industry races toward sustainable mobility, one major challenge persists: the heavy use of rare earth materials in electric vehicles (EVs). These materials, widely used in motors and batteries, come with significant environmental costs, including global warming and ozone layer depletion. But a breakthrough from UK-based environmental engineering firm Ricardo promises a cleaner path forward. Image for representational purpose The company has unveiled a prototype electric propulsion motor, dubbed the Alumotor , which eliminates the need for rare-earth magnets and replaces copper with aluminium without compromising efficiency or performance. A new approach to EV design While EVs are often seen as eco-friendly, their reliance on rare earths and critical raw materials...
Otto Junker, a globally renowned manufacturer of advanced industrial furnace systems for the metal processing sector, has successfully concluded a key decarbonisation project at Neuman Aluminium's Strangpresswerk facility in Lilienfeld, Lower Austria. Dedicated to aluminium component production, the facility is actively advancing its transition toward sustainable manufacturing practices. Image source: otto-junker.com Both companies have successfully transitioned a gas-fired billet heating plant to electric heating, marking a significant milestone toward climate-neutral production. Previously, commissioned as a gas-fired convective billet heater until 2016, the plant has now been upgraded to the energy-efficient EcoJet system. With this transition, the facility can now heat its 8-inch...
