Mexico’s expanding electric vehicle (EV) market is creating new opportunities across battery production, materials, charging infrastructure and electronics, as Chinese companies look to move beyond vehicle exports towards broader overseas supply-chain partnerships. Hong Kong could play a strategic role in connecting Mexican businesses with mainland China’s manufacturing capabilities, investment and research resources. According to the source commentary, Mexico’s EV market has evolved considerably over the past 16 years, with more brands offering vehicles across different price ranges and driving ranges, alongside the expansion of residential, corporate and industrial charging infrastructure. However, demand for EV purchases is growing faster than the capacity to maintain them,...
Hydro has begun construction of a new 5,900 metric ton indirect aluminum extrusion press line at its Cressona facility in Pennsylvania, backed by a $53.5 million investment aimed at modernizing production, expanding specialist extrusion capacity, and strengthening the company’s North American manufacturing operations. The groundbreaking took place on October 27, with operations expected to commence in the first quarter of 2028. The new press will replace equipment dating from the 1950s and introduce Industry 4.0 technology, advanced automation, improved energy efficiency, and enhanced safety performance. New press targets growing demand for specialist extrusions The investment comes as demand for indirect aluminum extrusions continues to grow across commercial transportation, automotive,...
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Phinix LLC, a St. Louis-based company specialised in providing product and process development, research and commercialisation, and marketing and manufacturing services for primary, scrap, secondary, and fabricated products, has reportedly launched its two-year project to develop a commercial process of removing iron and manganese from molten aluminium scrap metals, in a bid to enhance the quality and sustainability of recycled aluminium. Led by Phinix founder and CEO Subodh Das and supported by a group of secondary aluminium producers, industrial and academic research institutions, industry consultants, and component suppliers, this $1.8 million project is funded by the Remade Institute in Rochester, New York. It builds upon a 2024 Remade-funded R&D initiative, leveraging patent-pending...
Africa & Asia (ex-China) ranks as the world's third-largest alumina-producing region after China, Oceania, and South America, accounting for nearly 10 per cent of the world's output annually . In 2024, the region's share of global alumina production increased slightly to exactly 10%, up from 9.65% in the previous year. The contribution has grown in line with the increase in production volume from 13.014 million tonnes in 2023 to 13.859 million tonnes in 2024 , reflecting a Y-o-Y rise of 6.49 per cent, according to the data revealed by the International Aluminium Institute. Throughout 2024, Africa & Asia's (ex-China) alumina production stood between 1.12-1.19 million tonnes. There were only three months when production exceeded 1.2 million tonnes, such as in March, June, and December....
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology recently released the 2024 Green Manufacturing list. As per the list, two subsidiaries of Mingtai Aluminum, namely Henan Mingsheng New Materials Technology Co., Ltd. and Henan Mingtai Technology Development Co., Ltd, were recognised as "National Green Factories." Source- Mingtai Aluminum website The National Green Factory certification, organised by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, plays a key role in advancing the goals of "Made in China 2025" and the "Double Carbon" strategy. With this achievement, Mingtai Aluminum now boasts a total of four national green factories. It aims to drive industrial enterprises toward greener, more efficient, and low-carbon operations while enhancing resource utilisation and...
Technology and advancements are the backbone of progress, continuously reshaping how we live, work, and interact with the world. Both are like the invisible thread that connects the simplest tasks to the most extraordinary feats, shaping how we live, work, and explore, from the flick of a switch that brightens a room to the complex orchestration of a spaceship soaring beyond our atmosphere. It is the bridge between imagination and reality, transforming ideas into tools, machines, and systems that redefine human potential. Technological progress is accelerating solutions to global challenges, from artificial intelligence optimising complex data analysis to renewable energy breakthroughs reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. In materials science, for instance, innovations in aluminium...
The global transition to electric vehicles (EVs) is revolutionising the automotive industry, driven by increasing concerns over air pollution and stringent emission regulations imposed by governments worldwide. With the environmental imperative to reduce fossil fuel dependency, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) have gained substantial traction among consumers, with USD 4216.91 billion in 2024. This shift has also sparked a corresponding rise in the demand for lightweight materials such as aluminium in automobile manufacturing. One of the key factors accelerating the adoption of EVs is their lower maintenance cost compared to traditional petrol and diesel vehicles. The COVID-19 pandemic initially dampened the automotive market, with a sharp decline in...
HPQ Silicon Inc., a Quebec-based advanced materials engineering provider, has filed a provisional patent application for its latest innovative process developed by its France-based affiliate, Novacium SAS. The process is designed to transform black aluminium dross, a toxic by-product of aluminium recycling typically sent to landfills, into valuable resources. The waste-to-energy process will use black aluminium dross as a feedstock to produce green hydrogen and transform the remaining material into waste neutralisation and valorisation of the solid by-products. As rightly stated by Dr Oliver Moos, the Managing Director of Casthouse Engineering and Technology AG (CETAG) of Switzerland, this innovation has developed a promising approach to address critical materials like black aluminium...
Mixed-Up Cocktail Co. (Mixed-Up), the creator and producer of bold, Ready-to-Drink (RTD) aluminium canned craft cocktails, has announced the plan to expand its facility further in 2025. According to IWSR's RTDs Strategic Study 2024, demand for ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages grew by an average of 2 per cent, with Mexico seeing the highest growth at 8 per cent and Germany at 4 per cent. Image Source- Mixed-Up website In response to this demand, Mixed-Up successfully launched in Japan in late spring, with plans to continue growing its presence into 2025. Looking to capitalise on potential opportunities, especially in Japan, Mixed-Up is taking significant steps to support its growth in 2025. The brand has secured a 45,000 sq ft facility capable of producing over 20,000 cases of cocktails per...
India’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer, Hero MotoCorp, is intensifying its efforts in the electric vehicle (EV) space to capture a larger market share. The company, which launched its Vida brand in 2023, has been expanding its presence across the country, with a presence in over 116 cities and 203 touchpoints. Downstream product manufacturer, aluminium die-casted automotive parts manufacturer Sundaram Clayton (also known as TVS Holdings), is also in on its game-changing strategy to revolutionise the face of the electric vehicle market in India. Hero to establish independent electric vehicle unit Hero MotoCorp Ltd, one of India’s leading two-wheeler manufacturers, continues to intensify its efforts in the electric vehicle (EV) sector. With a market share in the mid-single digits, the...
February 4, 2025 – today is the day the United States' 25 per cent additional import tariffs on Canada, Mexico and 10 per cent on China are coming into effect. Already, the tariffs, even before being implemented, have brought several opinions from industry leaders on possible changes in market dynamics for the United States and the rest of the world. Jorge Eduardo Dyszel, a risk management consultant and expert in base metals and the London Metal Exchange, has weighed in on the situation. He suggests the United States importers will either need to pay the 25 per cent tariff or seek alternative sources for commodities like aluminium. He also warns that a reduced supply of aluminium could lead to higher premiums for US buyers, potentially resulting in a contango curve—an upward-sloping...
Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI), a collaborative endeavour aimed at enhancing sustainability throughout the value chain, announced the successful certification of Lizhong Group with the Performance Standard V3 (2022). Lizhong Group's Guangdong Longda Aluminum Industry Co., Ltd. facility, located in Guangdong Province, China, has bagged the certification for producing aluminium alloy ingots and cast aluminium alloy liquid. The certification was announced by the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI). The facility specialises in melting, alloying, and casting processes for aluminium alloys, with its primary products being cast aluminium alloy ingots and liquid aluminium alloy. The facility boasts an annual production capacity of 100,000 tonnes. The independent third-party audit of...
Bridgnorth Aluminium Limited, a leading name in the United Kingdom’s aluminium rolled products segment, came into the news for its whopping 2 million Pounds(£) in technical advancement at its 66-acre facility. The investment announcement initially came in October 2024. The company is the singular fully integrated aluminium rolling plant in the UK and employs 330 people in the county. Adam Hunter, Deputy General Manager of the company, has asserted that aluminium is key to the country’s clean energy transition, primarily in renewable energy, electric vehicles, and defence systems. Image Source: https://bridgnorthaluminium.co.uk/ He shared, “We are a key link in the supply chain for battery foil for the EV market, more of which will be required by the new gigafactories established or being...
The United States metal companies and companies that import metals for their product manufacturing are likely to turn to the Middle East and India for aluminium supplies as they seek to bypass the extensive tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, according to industry sources. Trump's planned tariffs—25 per cent on imports from Mexico and most Canadian goods, along with 10 per cent on Chinese goods—lack precise details but are set to take effect on Tuesday, rattling markets. Analysts note that US consumers rely on Canadian aluminium producers like Alcoa and Rio Tinto for over half of their imported supply, prompting concerns about finding alternative sources. Primary aluminium production: North America, GCC & India (in million tonnes) Source: IAI Aluminium is crucial for the transport,...
The Climate Change Commission has endorsed a campaign to end free carbon credits for companies like Methanex, Rio Tinto, and NZ Steel. In a letter released overnight, the independent body highlighted significant issues with the subsidy scheme after MPs sought its input on a 6,000-signature petition currently before Parliament. Image Source- FreePik Don't Subsidise Pollution petition The "Don't Subsidise Pollution" petition aims to stop the allocation of hundreds of millions of dollars in free carbon credits granted annually to manufacturers and exporters under the Emissions Trading Scheme. The free allocation scheme was introduced to prevent manufacturers of carbon-intensive products like steel, methanol, and cement from relocating production overseas to avoid emissions pricing. Lawmakers...
Alcoa Corporation has reportedly announced the fourth and full-year results of 2024, demonstrating a strong financial performance led by increased operations and high alumina and aluminium prices. Image source: Alcoa Fiscal performance In the fourth quarter, Alcoa's Q4 revenue was US$3,486 million, up by 20 per cent from US$2,904 million a quarter ago. In the entire year, the revenue amounted to US$11,895 million, experiencing an increase of 12.7 per cent Y-o-Y from US$10,551 million. The company's adjusted net income in the fourth quarter was US$276 million versus US$135 million in Q3. In the full year, it totalled US$296 million, compared to a net loss of US$405 million in 2023. Adjusted income per share was US$1.04 in Q4, and that in the full year 2024 was US$1.35. Alcoa's Adjusted...
As the world continues to navigate the complexities of vaccine safety and efficacy, one ingredient has found itself at the centre of a contentious debate: aluminium. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vocal advocate for vaccine safety reform, has repeatedly raised concerns about the potential health risks associated with aluminium in vaccines. “You wonder why a whole generation of children is allergic to stuff,” Mr. Kennedy said during a 2021 interview. “It’s because we’re inducing allergies, pumping them full of aluminium.” But, if it all were true, doctors, parents and researchers would not favour vaccines of such kind. Would they? And moreover, does science support such statements at all? A brief history of aluminium in vaccines The use of aluminium in vaccines dates back to the 1920s when...
The Life Science Centre, a vibrant science hub in Newcastle upon Tyne, has unveiled a new immersive exhibit dedicated to recycling. Created by the not-for-profit organization Every Can Counts, the Infinity Room installation offers visitors a unique and engaging experience. Image Source: Every Can Counts As Life celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, the award-winning science centre continues to inspire curiosity and excitement about the world. The Infinity Room highlights the importance of recycling drink cans while showcasing the infinite recyclability of aluminium, making it an educational and interactive attraction for visitors of all ages. Chris Latham-Warde, Programme Manager at Every Can Counts, stated, "The aim of the exhibit is to raise awareness of the infinite recyclability...
After a long wait of over two years for a bullish metal market, added with a recent push from the central government, the government of Odisha has given in on the approval of the proposal of the Steel and Mines department for the auction of 10 mineral blocks in the state. Among the ten blocks, the state government has nodded on the auction of four iron ore mines - Koira in Sundargarh district, and Roida-1, Putulipani and Jalahuri in Keonjhar district. These mine blocks lost their leasing tenure in 2021. Apart from these, a virgin mine, the Jhumka-Pathiriposhi West iron ore block in Sundargarh is put up for auction this time. The auction is also to feature two virgin bauxite blocks at Karlapat in the Kalahandi district and Nunapaimali in the Rayagada district. “The decision to go for...
The United States in 2024 further solidified its position as the world's largest economy, with resilient consumer spending driving its continued lead over China for the third consecutive year—at least by one key measure. According to data released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis on January 30, 2025, US GDP grew by 5.3 per cent in 2024 before adjusting for inflation. In contrast, China's nominal GDP expanded by 4.2 per cent, as reported by the country's National Bureau of Statistics a few days back. Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis Note: Annual GDP, unadjusted for price changes Nominal Gross Domestic Product (Nominal GDP) represents the total market value of all goods and services produced within a country's economy during a specific period. Unlike other GDP measurements, Nominal GDP...
