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,...
Grow with
AL Circle
The aluminium industry is at a crossroads. As the world races towards digitalisation, traditional manufacturing sectors—long bound by legacy processes—must either embrace this evolution or risk obsolescence. The launch of AL Circle’s latest e-Magazine, “Digital Transformation in the Aluminium Industry: Drivers & Changemakers of 2024” , comes at a pivotal time when automation, AI, and advanced data analytics are redefining efficiency, sustainability, and competitiveness in aluminium production and processing. Why should you read this? The aluminium industry, long reliant on traditional methods, is at a crossroads. Companies that fail to adapt risk falling behind in an industry increasingly driven by smart manufacturing and real-time data. This edition of the e-Magazine “Digital...
Amid the growing global demand for aluminium, Gulf producers' decision to halt fresh investments in 2025 has come as a bolt from the blue. The news came earlier this week after Mahmoud Al-Daylami, secretary general of the Dubai-based Gulf Aluminium Council, stated in an interview with Saudi Arabic daily Aleqtisadia , "I do not expect any new investments in expansions in the GCC smelters this year. Instead, they will concentrate on upgrading operational efficiency and performance, despite an expected 3 to 5 per cent growth in global output." Image source: Sohar Aluminium In his statement, he even highlighted that aluminium production in the six Gulf Cooperation Council countries grew significantly in 2024, reaching nearly 6.45 million tonnes. "Production by aluminium smelters in the GCC...
Quality Pack International Ltd. (QPC) plans to establish a vertically integrated aluminium beverage can manufacturing and non-alcoholic beverage filling facility in the Alat Free Economic Zone, Azerbaijan. Set to commence operations in 2025, the QPC factory represents a $211 million investment in Azerbaijan’s Alat Free Economic Zone. Image Source: Quality Pack International Ltd Designed as a regional production hub, the facility will cater to local and regional beverage brands, supplying empty cans and fully packaged beverages. The facility will manufacture and fill aluminium beverage cans in 250 ml, 330 ml, and 450 ml sizes, with an annual production capacity of 600 to 800 million cans and a filling capacity of 300 to 400 million cans, depending on size distribution. Beyond establishing...
Alumex PLC, Sri Lanka’s leading aluminium manufacturer, proudly introduced the ‘Capral Aluminium Urban Range’ at a prestigious launch event at The Kingsbury Colombo, attended by top architects, builders, fabricators, and dealers. Through a strategic partnership with Capral, Australia’s largest aluminium extruder and a globally renowned brand, Alumex has secured exclusive rights to manufacture and market Capral’s premium products in Sri Lanka. This collaboration brings world-class aluminium solutions to the country’s construction and design sectors, underscoring Alumex’s commitment to fostering economic growth with high-quality, innovative, and sustainable products. Renowned for its cutting-edge architectural aluminium systems, the Capral Aluminium Urban Range is crafted to meet the...
Sortera Technologies, Inc., a pioneering material sorting company utilising an upcycling platform driven by artificial intelligence, data analytics, and advanced sensors, has appointed Wall Street veteran Kenneth Leet as Chairman of the Board. Mr Leet, the first to hold this position, joins the company’s Board at a pivotal moment of phenomenal growth. With over three decades of leadership in the financial sector, Mr Leet’s extensive experience with industrial enterprises is set to play a vital role as Sortera embarks on its next phase of rapid expansion, including the establishment of additional sortation facilities to serve a diverse range of industries across the nation. “Kenneth is a well-regarded leader with an outstanding reputation and vast experience in investing and advising some...
The aluminium and energy business Norsk Hydro has come together with the world’s second-largest metal and mining company, Rio Tinto, intending to determine and estimate available carbon capture technologies for future implementation in the aluminium electrolysis process. The globally recognised entities have bound themselves into a partnership agreement, proferring each other with particular information exchange, outcomes and costs covering specific research and development (R&D) activities from lab tests with external suppliers to larger, on-site pilots, with the aim of creating improved benefaction of commercially practicable carbon capture technologies from pertinent suppliers. Hydro President and CEO Eivind Kallevik said, “Hydro is accelerating our ambitious roadmap to achieve...
GALTCO a next-generation, world-class green aluminium production and industrial complex in Colombia is planning to set up a plant in Tolú, Sucre for the production of low-carbon aluminium. The project valued at USD 1.2 billion is expected to generate over 350,000 tonnes of low-carbon aluminium annually from the Gulf of Morrosquillo, positioning Colombia as a leader in green aluminium production with sustainable practices. Image Source - GALTCO (Andrés Rojas) Signing of MoU On Wednesday, January 29, the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the GALTCO Colombia Project was signed, marking a significant milestone for the country's aluminium industry. Both private and public signatories believe this transformative initiative will establish Colombia as a leader in green aluminium production,...
Ukraine has confiscated raw material worth 2.11 billion hryvnias (US$50.3 million) from Russian aluminium magnate Oleg Deripaska, reports Moscow Times. On Wednesday, January 29, 2025, the Sluzhba Bezpeky Ukrayiny (SBU) or the Security Service of Ukraine said that the incident ensued after two years of blocking their shipment. The security service has also disclosed that it seized close to 500,000 tonnes of bauxite and alumina that were stored at the Mykolaiv Alumina Plant, which Ukraine nationalised alongside other Deripaska-owned factories following Russia’s full-scale invasion. The ore was produced in Ukraine before Russia launched its invasion on February 24, 2022, mentioned the security service agency. Image Source: Wikipedia In early 2023, Ukrainian law enforcement, with the Security...
Hydro's aluminium recycling plant in Henderson, Kentucky, has been awarded $17.4 million in tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act to support advanced technology for the automotive industry. The investment will be directed towards the HyForge project, which will introduce innovative technology to the U.S. to cater to the expanding automotive market. Image Source: Hydro Announced by Hydro in May 2024, the HyForge project enhances automotive-focused production at the company's Henderson recycling plant. After a highly competitive selection process, the U.S. Department of Energy granted the funding through the Section 48C Qualifying Advanced Energy Project tax credit program, which evaluated over 800 projects across the U.S. About HyForge project The HyForge project is set to become...
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) has taken another stride to accomplish its decarbonisation goals with its newest discovery — an electric, battery-powered Aluminium Fluoride (AlF3) feeding vehicle. The pilot apparatus has been shaped into reality with the utilisation of an advanced vehicle from Techmo Car S.p.A. and is under evaluation in Reduction Lines 4, 5, and 6. A feeding vehicle in any aluminium smelter is crucial as it continuously supplies the essential raw material, alumina, to the electrolytic cells where aluminium is extracted, ensuring a stable and uninterrupted production process by delivering small, regular additions of alumina to the electrolyte, which is necessary for the ongoing electrolysis reaction to occur properly. Without this continuous feed, the aluminium production...
Rio Tinto has been committing towards a greener aluminium future in the past. Au contraire, the present brings a different reality where their dreams and goals are farfetched as their major wind project, an alternative to coal consumption for energy, seems to be slipping away. The recently re-elected Queensland LNP government has spurned the mining giant’s 1.4-gigawatt Bungaban wind farm, among other larger energy production targets. The state has the lowest percentage of renewable energy among all in Australia. Even if Labor’s target of 80 per cent renewable energy by 2030 had been implemented, the situation would not have changed significantly. However, the LNP’s intervention is likely to make the state even more of a laggard in this regard. It is this daunting prospect – and its...
The world alumina production saw a significant hike in 2024, withstanding the bauxite supply shortage compared to the growth in demand. China, the world’s largest alumina producer, saw a continued bauxite supply gap in 2024 yet exceeded expected production. That could be possible due to the significant profitability of alumina refineries, enabling them to accept high-priced bauxite and continue operations. Image source: Made-in-China According to the International Aluminium Insititute, the world’s alumina production totalled 147.047 million tonnes in 2024, reflecting an annual increase of 2.61 per cent from 143.313 million tonnes. Of the total output in 2024, metallurgical-grade alumina accounted for 93.95 per cent by producing 138.151 million tonnes, while chemical-grade accounted for...
PPG, the American Fortune 500 company and a global supplier of paints, coatings, and specialty materials has expanded its non-bisphenol A (BPA) HOBA internal coatings line with the introduction of PPG HobaPro 2848. Image Source: PPG Designed to meet the rising demand for packaging water, wine, and other beverages in aluminium bottles, this innovative solution is being showcased at Paris Packaging Week 2025 (PCD). It has also been recognised as a finalist in the event’s Aerosol and Dispensing Forum (ADF) Innovation Awards. PPG Hoba coatings PPG Hoba coatings are designed for aluminium bottles, monobloc aerosols, and collapsible tubes, providing superior internal protection. PPG HobaPro 2848 is a non-bisphenol, PFAS-NI, and non-phenolic internal liner, offering a durable, versatile, and...
Speculations of a phase-wise ban revolve around the European Union’s 16th sanction package against Russia as the date of implementation draws near. Russia, which has been at gunpoint since its invasion into Ukraine. Opposing the Russian Federation’s annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol in 2014, a political call by the Russian Federation to recognise Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts as independent entities (followed later by Kherson and Zaporizhzhia), and the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the EU introduced a series of trade-related restrictive measures (till date 16) known as sanction packages. The 16th sanctions package, circulated among member states this week, proposes measures that would cut approximately 15 banks off from the SWIFT banking system....
Accidents or fire incidents in the aluminium industry highlight the need to implement advanced technologies and stringent safety measures to mitigate such risks. Raising awareness is essential, especially in countries like India, where a larger workforce and limited adoption of modern technology increase vulnerabilities. Image Source:MiSUMi Mech Lab On Tuesday, January 28, a fire broke out at BRT Extrusions, an aluminium extrusions manufacturing facility in Niles. Investigators from the State Fire Marshal’s Office are examining a fire and reported that the fire started at the paint booth of BRT Extrusions. Emergency crews responded to reports of a large fire in the paint booth on N. Main Street just before 2:15 p.m. Fire Chief John Stevens stated that firefighters quickly extinguished the...
The Federal Government of Nigeria has launched a major initiative to revive the Aluminium Smelting Company of Nigeria (ALSCON), a key player in the country's industrial sector. Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shaiubu Audu, stated that the revival aims to reinvigorate the local economy, generate employment, and strengthen Nigeria's standing in the global aluminium market. Image Source: Federal Ministry of Information & National Orientation During his two-day facility tour of ALSCON in Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State, from Monday, January 27, to Tuesday, January 28, 2025, Prince Shaiubu Abubakar Audu underscored the critical importance of restoring the company to full operational capacity. ALSCON's revival He emphasised that the revival of ALSCON goes beyond aluminium production; it is...
Mining conglomerate Vedanta's dream project of 6 million tonnes per annum of alumina refinery and 30 lakh tonnes of aluminium smelter is coming to life, for which the budget is INR 1 lakh crore (US$11.55 billion). As per the report, the project's first phase is expected to be commissioned in the next three years, with further expansion plans in the pipeline. Image source: Vedanta Limited The news came after Vedanta's chairman, Anil Agarwal, announced the project plan at the Make in Odisha Conclave 2025, adding that it would strategically come up in the Rayagada district of Odisha to take advantage of the nearby bauxite from Vedanta's Sijimali bauxite mine, which is currently under development for exploration. In October 2024, Vedanta talked about this project for the first time during the...
Arrow Minerals Limited, an Australian Securities Exchange-listed company, has announced that it has secured firm commitments from institutional and sophisticated investors for a capital raise of approximately $7 million through a Placement. Arrow Minerals Limited is a dynamic exploration and development company dedicated to creating long-term shareholder value by uncovering and advancing economically viable mineral deposits in West Africa. *According to a survey by the Australian government, Australian firms have nearly tripled their commercial interests in Africa over the past few years. This expansion has been remarkable, with 48 companies and 143 new projects launched in 2010 alone. The continent now hosts more Australian mineral and resource projects than any other region, spanning...
