Chinese aluminium producers are planning a major expansion overseas, with at least 15 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of new primary smelting capacity announced or planned across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa. The expansion could push the global aluminium market into surplus , although tighter scrutiny from Beijing and concerns over project profitability may limit how much capacity is built. Around 2.85 MTPA of the planned capacity is already under construction or being brought into operation. This represents 3.8 per cent of the current global annual smelting capacity of 73.78 million tonnes. The new projects, combined with recovering aluminium output in the Middle East, are expected to change the global supply balance. Morgan Stanley forecast in July that the...
As the global aluminium supply chain continues to swing between shifts and crunches, how has Europe fared on the production front in the 2026 year-to-date calendar? Substantially well, going by the output figures. Between January and September 2026, the European continent, including Russia, has produced a total of 5.56 million tonnes of primary aluminium, building a significant year-on-year growth chart. The nine-month growth chart Set against the same period of 2025, the first nine months of 2026 show a clear lift in output. From January to September 2026, Europe, including Russia, produced 5.56 million tonnes of primary aluminium, raising the annual growth rate by 5.69 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) over the 5.26 million tonnes produced in 2025. Explore the production, demand and...
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New data from Sweden’s Deposit Return System (DRS) operator, Pantamera (Returpack), shows that over 2.8 billion PET bottles and aluminium cans were returned in 2024 — a 6 per cent increase from the previous year. On average, each person in Sweden recycled 271 containers. Pantamera reports that the system prevented more than 180,000 metric tons of CO₂ emissions in 2024. Image Source: Anders Ristenstrand / Pantamera (Returpack) According to the operator, Sweden’s deposit return rate reached 87.6 per cent last year, falling slightly short of the 90 per cent target. With a deposit increase introduced in January 2025, the goal is to boost recycling rates further and emphasize the importance of returning every bottle and can. The DRS is designed to ensure collected PET bottles and aluminium...
FIFCO USA, the parent company of Genesee Brewery, marked the grand opening of its new $28 million can line with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. This cutting-edge addition enhances production capacity and streamlines packaging for top brands such as Genesee, Labatt USA, Seagram's Escapes, and Lipton Hard Iced Tea. Image Source: Greater Rochester Chamber / X Spanning 78,000 square feet on Genesee Brewery's expansive 27-acre campus, the new can line has become a focal point of productivity. Engineered for maximum efficiency, it operates at an impressive rate of 1,500 12 oz. cans per minute, elevating production capacity to over 15 million cases annually. The versatile system also accommodates a range of packaging sizes, including 7.5 oz. cans, 12 oz. slim cans, and 16 oz. cans. "We are thrilled...
Austin AI Europe proudly represents Austin AI Inc., a pioneering innovator and manufacturer of sensor-based automated sorting systems since 2001. As the sole company holding intellectual property rights for the most advanced chemistry-based sensor sorting technologies—including LIBS, XRF, and THz—Austin AI is at the forefront of revolutionising recycling processes. The cutting-edge sorting solutions empower waste management companies to enhance efficiency, conserve energy, and reduce their carbon footprint, making a tangible impact on sustainability . By providing innovative technologies that align with circular economy principles, the company actively contribute to global environmental protection. Europe’s strong regulatory framework for environmental sustainability has driven growing...
On Monday, the CSIR-National Metallurgical Laboratory (NML) in Jamshedpur signed a landmark agreement with M/s Eyantram Waste Management Private Limited, Visakhapatnam. Under this collaboration, an e-waste recycling plant will be established through technology transfer which will specialise in processing waste printed circuit boards to recover valuable metals like aluminium (Al), copper (Cu) and gold (Au). Under this agreement, Eyantram Waste Management Private Limited will adopt the "Zero Waste" concept to reduce environmental pressure and enhance waste collection and disposal by bringing order to the unorganised sector. The eco-friendly technology will ensure proper waste management, contributing to a cleaner environment. Additionally, it will create job opportunities for unemployed...
In a move widely seen as a broader message to China rather than a direct trade dispute with Morocco, the European Commission has introduced substantial compensatory duties on Moroccan aluminium wheel exports. On March 14, the Commission issued Implementation Regulation No. 2025/500, imposing definitive countervailing duties on imports of certain aluminium road wheels originating in Morocco. Under the new ruling, Dika Morocco Africa faces a steep 31.45 per cent duty, while Hands8 is subject to a 5.60 per cent tariff. Industry experts interpret this decision as part of the EU’s larger strategy to address concerns over global trade imbalances and market distortions, particularly in sectors where Chinese influence looms large. The Moroccan Ministry of Industry and Commerce responded,...
In a serendipitous turn of events, French scientists have uncovered what is believed to be the world’s largest deposit of natural, or ‘white’, hydrogen beneath the Lorraine region. This monumental discovery holds the potential to revolutionise the global energy landscape, positioning France at the vanguard of the burgeoning hydrogen economy. Image for referential purposes only The revelation emerged during research conducted by the GeoRessources laboratory and the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS). A massive reserve of natural hydrogen was found beneath Folschviller’s soil in the Moselle region. The finding is being praised as a game-changing juncture in the clean-energy resolution. As per a recently released report, researchers from the GeoRessources laboratory and...
A new standard in energy conservation has been unlocked! A Lithuanian start-up, Tukas EV, is setting a new standard in achieving higher sustainability in energy conservation by introducing its all-new HR Bank EV exercise bike. This innovation, made by using recycled aluminium, can convert kinetic energy into electricity. Image source: TukasEV With the generations to come and their demand for sustainable products, the start-up’s innovation, HR Bank EV exercise Bike, fits the clamour well. The start-up designed the HR Bank EV exercise bike with the aim of making use of the kinetic energy produced with frequent pedalling to generate electricity. Kinetic energy refers to the energy that an object has because of its speed and mass. In this case, kinetic energy produced due to pedalling is...
Arrow Minerals has announced a significant maiden mineral resource estimate for its Niagara bauxite project in Guinea, positioning it for a scoping study later this year. The resource totals 185 million tonnes with an average grade of 42.3 per cent aluminium oxide and 2.7 per cent silicon dioxide. Image Source: S Purohit (@subhapurohit) / X Within this, higher-grade zones include 138 million tonnes at 44 per cent aluminium oxide and 2.8 per cent silicon dioxide, with a premium subset of 48 million tonnes grading 48.2 per cent aluminium oxide and 2.6 per cent silicon dioxide. The Australian exploration and development company has conducted 173 drill holes across three target areas, covering 2,048 meters, revealing a bauxite zone with notably low silica content, a characteristic typical of...
Nanshan Aluminium International Holdings, backed by commodities giant Glencore, faced a muted debut on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, reflecting broader concerns over declining alumina prices. Shares of the Southeast Asian alumina producer opened by climbing as much as 1.1 per cent in early trading but later retreated, slipping 1 per cent to HK$26.35 apiece by 10:27 a.m. local time. The company, a subsidiary of China’s Nanshan Group, intends to utilise the IPO proceeds for production expansion in Indonesia and general corporate purposes. Alumina prices soared to record highs in 2024, more than doubling amid supply chain disruptions from Jamaica to Guinea, Australia, and China. However, a surge in new production capacity has since triggered a sharp price correction, dampening investor...
Global brokerage UBS has placed a bullish bet on Shyam Metalics Limited, predicting a 35 per cent upside from its previous closing price. The firm has maintained a ‘buy’ rating on the stock, setting a target price of INR 1,175 (USD 13.73) per share, compared to its last close at INR 869.3 (USD 10.16). So, what’s driving this optimism? UBS highlights two key factors : One is the anti-dumping duty boost. Shyam Metalics stands to benefit significantly from the Indian government’s anti-dumping duty on Chinese aluminium foil imports. As India’s second-largest aluminium foil manufacturer, the company is well-positioned to capitalise on this move. And the other is the increased production capacity. With additional aluminium foil capacity coming online, UBS expects Shyam Metalics to generate an...
Nottingham-based planning consultancy Nineteen47 has successfully guided UK-based aluminium trade extruder Garnalex in obtaining approval for a new 350,000 sq ft manufacturing facility in Ashfield. With offices in Nottingham, Sheffield, and York, Nineteen47 played a key role in preparing a hybrid planning application, which involved coordinating a comprehensive environmental impact assessment and providing 3D visualisation services. Image Source: Company website The approved development covers 1,000,500 sq ft across a 23.75-hectare site. Phase one will see the construction of the new factory, while phase two will accommodate further Garnalex facilities. Upon completion of both phases, the project is expected to generate over 1,000 jobs. Roger Hartshorn, founder of Garnalex, said,” We’re...
General Mamadi Doumbouya, leader of the Guinean junta, is set to lay the foundation stone for the construction of a major alumina refinery in collaboration with Chinese firm SPIC International Investment and Development (Guinea) Co., Ltd., as per local sources reported from ground zero. The foundation stone will be laid on March 26, 2025, in Boffa, specifically in the Koundindhé district, Tougnifilidy sector, within the Douprou sub-prefecture. The project site is currently in its preparatory phase. Initially slated for March 22, the ceremony has been rescheduled to March 26 due to organisational adjustments. The ambitious refinery project stems from an agreement signed in December 2023 between Guinea’s Minister of Mines and Geology, Bouna Sylla, and SPIC. Once completed, the facility will...
Delivery of the first four Type D all-electric, zero-emission, purpose-built BEAST school buses has been successfully conducted by GreenPower Motor Company Inc. to its West Virginia dealer. This has been done under Round 2 funding of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Clean School Bus Program (CSBP) for the Kanawha Country School District. Image source: GreenPower Motor Company Nano BLAST buses are developed with a standard 118kWh battery pack ranging up to 140 miles. It has the capacity to hold 24 passengers featuring a seamless aluminium body made of extruded aluminium ensuring corrosion resistance, all thanks to Constellium. The fully flat floor design enables adjustable track seating without wheel wells in the passenger area, while the elevated floor keeps students out of the...
Aluminium might hold the atomic number 13, but with a lot of supportive data in my pocket, I can confidently say that in the world of tech and innovation, it’s a certified lucky charm. As the past decade as well as the century has witnessed, this lightweight powerhouse has been the cornerstone in societal development — from the construction to the transport segment and beyond, making breakthroughs that are sleek, sustainable, and downright futuristic. As we progress on the path of 2025, the base metal has already made its way into sculpting jaw-dropping architecture for high-speed transport and next-gen electronics. Aluminium is at the heart of the revolution, and here’s a selective array of innovations and progression updates that I would like to share with the world that took place in...
In the first two months of 2025, the world's primary aluminium production represented a year-on-year increase of 0.85 per cent, amounting to 11.88 million tonnes, which was significantly offset by declines M-o-M, according to the International Aluminium Institute's data. Following January when the world output was 6.235 million tonnes, slightly down by 0.30 per cent from 6.254 million tonnes, the production in February reached 5.645 million tonnes, further down by 9.46 per cent M-o-M. Fewer operation days likely contributed to the decline, even though daily production slightly increased from 201,100 tonnes in January to 201,600 tonnes. Alongside, reduced output in some of the primary aluminium-producing regions played a critical role in the overall drop for February. Even on a...
Sohar Aluminium and the University of Technology and Applied Sciences (UTAS) in Sohar have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support the equipping of the university's Advanced Technology Laboratory. The signing ceremony took place under the patronage of His Excellency Dr Said bin Hamad Al Rubaie, President of UTAS. Under the agreement, Sohar Aluminium will finance the procurement of technical equipment and devices to enhance the Advanced Technology Laboratory at the University of Technology and Applied Sciences in Sohar. The lab will have a smart interactive whiteboard, fully integrated computers featuring the latest systems, and additional laboratory equipment and facilities. The Advanced Technology Lab is dedicated to fostering innovation and research in key areas, including...
Chem-Trend, a mold release products company, has introduced Chem-Trend SL-10187 to meet the rigorous demands of high-pressure aluminium casting. Designed to enhance performance and operational efficiency, the release agent offers improved biostability, delivering a superior finish and greater uniformity in aluminium injection molded parts. The product also facilitates faster and more efficient heat exchange during casting. Its exceptional levelling and spreading properties ensure consistent metal flow and optimised application of the release agent. According to Chem-Trend, these benefits contribute to shorter cycle times, increased productivity, and more efficient dilution of the release agent. Additionally, enhanced weld protection boosts part quality while reducing downtime required for...
FUCHS Lubricants Co., one of the world's largest independent lubricant manufacturers, announced the appointment of Megan O'Meara as the new President of FUCHS North America, effective February 10, 2025. In this pivotal role, O'Meara will lead North American operations and oversee core functions, including sales, marketing, technical, product management, IT, and digital transformation. As a supplier of innovative lubrication solutions covering almost every industry and application, including aluminium, FUCHS has developed a special range of products for cleaning and protecting aluminium that meet all requirements. These products are designed and formulated for parts from both machining and stamping processes. Bringing over 20 years of leadership experience, O'Meara is renowned for her...
