The story of the aluminium industry is starting a chapter wherein scrap availability, recycling technology, trade policy, carbon costs and demand growth are becoming increasingly interconnected. From the US and Canada to Europe, India, New Zealand and China, recent developments show that the global aluminium supply chain is being reshaped on several fronts at once. These developments point to a changing aluminium business model: access to metal alone may no longer be enough. Quality of recycled feedstock, domestic processing capacity, carbon intensity, trade exposure and the ability to meet increasingly specific customer requirements could become equally important competitive factors. Join the fourth edition of the webinar “Hedging for recyclers - Become an expert in 6 hours” by Jorge...
According to SMM statistics, as of September 11, days of in-factory inventories at aluminium rod plants in China recorded 8.06 days, up 0.43 days W-o-W; the inventory ratio rose from 100.95 per cent to 102.86 per cent, up 1.91 percentage points. Looking at the trend over the past five weeks, inventories continued to consolidate at highs, with the inventory ratio staying above 100 per cent in the upper range for the year, as destocking and restocking alternated without a clear one-way trend. Over the same period, the combined operating rate of industry leaders in the aluminium rod sector recorded 72.50 per cent, down 0.46 percentage points W-o-W, pulling back slightly after stabilising at 72.96 per cent for three consecutive weeks, and overall remaining at low levels. The combination of...
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Crown Holdings, a global force in metal packaging, is forging ahead on its sustainability journey with the release of its 2024 Sustainability Report, ‘Built To Last.’ The report showcases the US-based company’s unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship, circularity, and responsible growth. From cutting carbon emissions and conserving water to minimising waste and enhancing workplace safety, Crown is making measurable strides across its operations. Central to this progress is its ambitious Twentyby30 program, which sets 20 concrete sustainability goals for 2030 including slashing Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 43 per cent from 2019 levels and transitioning to 75 per cent renewable energy. With investments in on-site renewables and off-site power purchase agreements, Crown is proving...
As of July 1, 2025, the European Commission has fired the starting gun on what could be one of the most consequential trade decisions for the European aluminium industry in recent years. The Commission has issued an official notice of impending expiry for the anti-dumping duties currently levied on aluminium extrusions imported from the People’s Republic of China. In turn, the retraction can conceivably trigger a sharp recalibration of regional manufacturing strategies and market dynamics. Image for representational purposes only Unless a formal review request is submitted by EU producers before the end of 2025, the anti-dumping measures will lapse at midnight on March 31, 2026, as stipulated in Regulation (EU) 2016/1036 and documented in Notice C/2025/3573, published in the Official...
Constellation Brands, owner of successful beer brands Corona and Modelo, has cited the heavy financial burden of aluminium tariffs as one of the reasons behind its disappointing first-quarter performance. The drinks giant fell short of Wall Street expectations both in terms of sales and profit, emphasising the rising cost pressures facing its flagship beer business, which heavily depends on imported Mexican aluminium cans. For the period ending May 31, 2025, Constellation had net sales of USD 2.52 billion, which was lower than expected at USD 2.55 billion. The company reported a comparable profit of USD 3.22 per share, which was less than expected at USD 3.31. Trump tariffs causing real damage Executives at the company were upfront in blaming the soft performance on trade policy. The...
Aluminerie Alouette, an aluminium manufacturer partially owned by Rio Tinto Plc, is set to invest up to USD 1.1 billion in upgrading its facilities in northern Quebec, according to sources familiar with the matter. Image credit: unctad.org The company has reportedly secured a new electricity supply agreement with Hydro-Quebec, the government-owned power utility, the sources said. They spoke on condition of anonymity as the details remain private. The planned investment is a positive development for an industry currently under pressure from US President Donald Trump’s trade policies. The White House has imposed 50 per cent tariffs on foreign aluminium imports, a move that is expected to impact US businesses reliant on the metal. For instance, Constellation Brands Inc., the beer and alcohol...
According to the International Aluminium Institute (IAI), the world’s primary aluminium production in May 2025 trended up over a month, mirroring the pattern observed in the same period last year—but with a sharper pace of growth. While in May 2024, the world’s output had grown by 2.22 per cent month-on-month, this year, it increased by 3.3 per cent. From 6.044 million tonnes in April 2025, global output rose to 6.245 million tonnes in May, while the same period in 2024 had seen a climb from 5.913 million tonnes to 6.151 million tonnes. Thus, on a year-on-year calculation, the production volume in May 2025 was 1.53 per cent higher than in the same period of the earlier year. Nations with a 5-month high output – China leads, but how long? The production increased worldwide, but in some...
The Indonesian Navy has expressed strong objections to the planned USD 4.9 billion alumina refinery on Singkep Island in Indonesia’s Riau Islands province. Image for referential purposes only The project is being developed by China’s Tianshan Aluminium through its local subsidiary, Tianshan Alumina Indonesia, and has been granted National Strategic Project (PSN) status under the government’s mineral downstreaming agenda. The navy’s concerns stem from the project’s proposed location, which overlaps with a 400-hectare military training zone that has long supported operational readiness. The area has hosted major defence exercises, including the US-led Super Garuda Shield and joint amphibious drills with Australian forces. Navy spokesperson First Admiral Tunggul stated that the site remains...
Yongmaotai Automotive Technology, a Chinese manufacturer of aluminium alloy auto parts, has announced plans to invest CNY 450 million (USD 62.8 million) in a new factory in Mexico. The move aims to help its European and US clients navigate uncertainties in global trade policies. According to a statement released yesterday by the Shanghai-based firm, its two Singaporean subsidiaries will jointly establish a Mexican entity to finance, construct, and manage the facility. The project is expected to take approximately two years to complete, though further details were not disclosed. Yongmaotai Automotive Technology said the Mexico investment is aimed at mitigating the negative impact of shifting tariff policies on the supply chains of its European and US customers. The move is also intended to...
Harnessing a bold fusion of innovation, design, and stewardship, Lenovo is charting a transformative path in circular tech. Gone are the days when green credentials were mere afterthoughts, today, almost every Lenovo products and accessories is being reimagined through a circular lens. With the ambitious target of embedding closed‑loop recycled materials like aluminium, copper, etc., into 100 per cent of its PC lines by FY2026, the company is weaving sustainability directly into the DNA of its products. And this is what Lenovo’s FY2025 ESG Report highlights, pointing out an in-depth look at the company’s continued integration of environmental and social priorities throughout its global operations. It highlights initiatives in sustainable product design, circular economy practices,...
Hind Aluminium, a maker of aluminium and alloy conductors and aluminium wire rods, recently changed their evaluation to reflect a neutral posture in the face of operating performance issues. The company reported a steep year-over-year profit decline of 53.5 per cent, with Q4 FY24-25 profit after tax dropping to INR 4.01 crore (USD 467,706) – a sharp 38.4 per cent contraction over the past six months alone. Image source: Hind Aluminium Industries Limited (LinkedIn) In addition to the numbers, this company's negative EBIT to interest of -8.44 suggests that there are structural impediments to managing available debt vs financial stability. This changes the technical picture to go from a slightly bullish outlook to neutral. In the June quarter of FY2024-25, the company's net profit was INR...
No matter what age we purchase a car, everyone waits for the delivery to be completed and can go for the first drive. But what happens when this gets delayed beyond expectation? A similar backlash is faced by Xiaomi, a Chinese-based multinational corporation, for the delayed delivery of its YU7 electric SUV, which is reportedly over a year behind schedule. Is the company failing to meet the customer satisfaction level of other EV brands? Image source: mi.com The majority of Xiaomi's consumer base has reported delayed delivery of their YU7 electric SUV for an extended period of one year, without prior notification of the delivery issue. As of now, the consumer complaint count has exceeded 400, which the firm plans to address by a livestream after ramping up its production scale. The...
Guinea's bauxite exports witnessed a 39 per cent surge in Q1 2025, valued at 48.6 million tonnes, despite ongoing setbacks concerning the cancellation of the licenses of major operators. The majority of Guinea's bauxite in Q1 2025 was exported to China, where aluminium production further recovered, already reaching 18.59 million tonnes in the first five months of 2025. The current bauxite industry of Guinea According to the SMM report, Guinea's bauxite sector has received significant attention in recent years, with production reaching almost 137 million tonnes annually, alongside mining and infrastructure projects. Substantial contributions to this effort were made by Kebo Energy SA, GAC, EGA, Arrow Minerals, and Trans-Guinean Railways. Shortly, the Guinea military-led government began to...
Canyon Resources Limited recently announced that Peter Secker has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer, effective from July 1, 2025. Peter Secker has over 40 years of experience in global mining. He has previously served as a strategic advisor to the Minim Martap Bauxite Project of central Cameroon, a large-scale, high-grade bauxite deposit being developed by Canyon Resources. Source credit: Seetao Mr Secker is expected to guide Canyon through its transition from development to production of the first bauxite shipment, which is expected to commence in the first half of 2026. This particular development is expected to make a significant contribution to the aluminium industry by providing a reliable and high-quality source of bauxite, a key ingredient in aluminium production. The...
Alcoa Corporation has announced the successful closing of its sale of a 25.1 per cent ownership interest in the Ma’aden Joint Venture to the Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden), by a binding share purchase and subscription agreement. Through this transaction, Alcoa has received proceeds of approximately 86 million Ma’aden shares, valued at around USD 1.2 billion, along with USD 150 million in cash, which will be used primarily to cover related taxes and transaction expenses. Alcoa expects to record a gain of roughly USD 780 million in other income in the third quarter of 2025, and consistent with its practice for non-core asset sales, will reflect this as a special item. As stipulated by the agreement, Alcoa is required to retain its Ma’aden shares for a minimum of three years. It will...
Futures Market: Overnight, the most-traded cast aluminium alloy AD2511 futures contract opened at RMB 19,830 per tonne, peaking at RMB 19,935 per tonne and bottoming at RMB 19,810 per tonne before closing at RMB 19,880 per tonne. The settlement marked a RMB 55 per tonne or 0.28 per cent increase from the previous trading day, with trading volume at 2,670 lots and open interest at 8,964 lots, dominated by bullish position increases. Basis Report: SMM data shows that on July 1, the SMM ADC12 spot price maintained a theoretical premium of RMB 345 per tonne against the 10:15 AM closing price of the most-traded cast aluminium alloy contract (AD2511). Aluminium Scrap Sector: Primary aluminium spot prices remained unchanged from the previous trading day, with SMM A00 aluminium closing at RMB...
18 June, 2025 - Returning to BITEC, Bangkok from 17–19 September 2025, GIFA and METEC Southeast Asia will bring together industry leaders, decision-makers, and innovators to showcase new developments and solutions in foundry and metallurgical technology. As Southeast Asia positions itself as a resilient manufacturing hub amid global trade shifts, the co-located exhibitions provide a timely platform for knowledge exchange, business partnerships, and technology sourcing. Held in strategic co-location with the well-established specialist exhibitions of wire and Tube Southeast Asia, the four synergistic trade fairs will showcase some 400 exhibitors from 30 countries spanning the entire value chain — from casting, smelting, and metal processing to wire production, cable manufacturing, and tube...
California-based Brimstone is advancing plans to establish the first alumina refinery in the US in more than five decades, which is a major step toward restoring the domestic aluminium supply chain. The company has signed a letter of intent with Oklahoma’s Dolese Bros. Co . to supply raw material for the proposed Rock Refinery, which will co-produce smelter-grade alumina , Portland cement, and supplementary cementitious materials (SCM) . Image for representational purposes only Brimstone selected Dolese Bros following a competitive review of over 23,000 quarries across the country. In April 2025, primary aluminium imports fell by 20 per cent year-on-year to approximately 281,500 tonnes, down from 352,538 tonnes in April 2024. The rock for Brimstone’s refinery will come from Dolese’s...
Leicester-based manufacturer of UPVC and aluminium windows and doors, Unique Window Systems, has acquired AluFold Direct, the aluminium window and door manufacturer in Blackburn. Unique Window Systems already manufactures both UPVC and aluminium windows and doors from its 165,000 sq ft factory in Leicester but will expand its aluminium offering with the acquisition. The deal was advised on by Gunner Cooke, Freeths and Torr Waterfield. Joint managing director of Unique Window Systems, Sunil Patel, said: “We have already celebrated 20 years in business this year and have recently managed to increase our turnover to £45 million. But we know other companies are not faring so well. That is why we are particularly pleased to be able to acquire the business and assets of AluFold Direct in...
On Tuesday, July 1, Formosa Smart Energy (FSET) announced the completion of Taiwan’s first integrated demonstration line for recycling LFP batteries (Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries), uniting front-end physical crushing with back-end chemical extraction. As the global surge in energy storage systems and electric vehicles (EVs) leads to a growing number of retired batteries, recovering valuable metals like lithium, nickel, cobalt, aluminium, etc., through recycling has become an essential strategy for strengthening supply chain resilience and ensuring resource security worldwide. By establishing its own demonstration line, FSET has successfully produced battery-grade lithium carbonate suitable for direct use in lithium battery manufacturing. This achievement supports national policies...
