Saudi Arabia’s aluminium consumption could climb to as much as 1.8 million tonnes a year by 2030, as the Kingdom ramps up infrastructure and industrial development ahead of the 2034 FIFA World Cup. Ahmad Al-Alshaikh, executive vice president of Maaden’s Aluminum Business Unit, said demand is expected to reach at least 1.6 million tonnes annually by 2030, up from around 1 million tonnes currently. Consumption could potentially double over the next five to seven years, he said. Speaking on the sidelines of the Fastmarkets International Aluminium Conference in Budapest, Al-Alshaikh said construction of 15 new stadiums for the football tournament is helping to support aluminium demand, Reuters reported. Major exhibitions and preparations for the World Cup are also expected to contribute to...
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...
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Sustainability is now right on track with London North Eastern Railway (LNER) trains, which range between Scotland and London, offering new spirits by Dutch Barn Vodka, Farm Distillery's Y-Gin, and Scottish Common Ground Whiskey, all packed in a 100 per cent postconsumer recycled aluminium bottle. These collaborations share common values, all of which point to sustainability. Image source: linkedin.com Dutch Barn Vodka, well known for its ultra-smooth flavour, and Y-Gin, for its distinctive London Dry-style gin, champion Yorkshire's culinary heritage through a blend of botanicals and an eco-conscious twist. Meanwhile, Scottish Common Ground Whiskey is a new in-line spirit released by Brand Tap Group. These partnerships among the three companies demonstrate a commitment to sustainability...
Bangladesh successfully begins its photovoltaic (PV) solar module exports to the US-based CleanGrid Incorporation by collaborating with Dhaka-based Radiant Alliance Ltd to ship 64.6 megawatts (MW). Bangladesh, which used to be an importer, has now begun exporting. Is this an indication of a greater manufacturing structure and growing competitiveness in the global market? Radiant Alliance Ltd produces passivated emitter rear cell (PERC) and tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) modules using solar cells from Indonesia and Laos for its 6000 MW factory. This is the first consignment sent by the firm to the US-based CleanGrid Incorporation, which had ordered a total of 64.60 MW. Radiant Alliance assembled 100 W PERC and 200 W TOPCon for the 600 MW factory in Ashulia, near Dhaka, for order...
The UAE’s largest industrial firm, Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), announced the commencement of hot metal production at pilot reduction cells for EX, its next-generation aluminium smelting technology. With this, EGA has taken a pioneering step towards the goal that demands industrial innovation to be aligned with decarbonisation objectives. This development is noteworthy – not only for its technical advancement over DX+ Ultra but also for its long-term strategic goal of building the most self-sufficient, energy-efficient, and low-carbon aluminium smelter in the world by 2028. Image source: EGA EX is the tenth-generation smelting technology of EGA and is a daring combination of automation powered by AI, sustainability, and productivity. Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, CEO of EGA, said on this...
A recent webcast titled "From AI to Dynamic LIBS: How New Sorting Technologies Drive Growth in Aluminum Recycling," hosted by TOMRA Recycling in collaboration with Novelis, spotlighted cutting-edge advancements in aluminium recycling. The session underscored how increasing aluminium scrap utilisation can play a key role in reducing CO₂ emissions. Experts from TOMRA Recycling and Novelis explored the key challenges in aluminium recycling and how cutting-edge technologies such as X-ray Transmission (XRT), Dynamic LIBS, and deep learning are revolutionising sorting processes, improving scrap purity, and unlocking new market opportunities. Frank van de Winkel, Business Development Manager –Metal at TOMRA Recycling, commented, "We were delighted to welcome attendees from across the globe to...
Some Japanese aluminium buyers have settled third-quarter premiums at USD 108 per tonne, down sharply from USD 182 per tonne in the second quarter, in a deal that reflects muted domestic demand, rising port inventories, and broader market oversupply, according to sources directly involved in the negotiations. Image for referential purposes only The 41 per cent quarter-on-quarter decline is the second consecutive drop and the lowest quarterly premium since early 2024, underscoring Japan’s ongoing demand uncertainty across major end-use segments like transportation, construction, and packaging. Buyers gain upper hand as spot deals undercut producers’ offers Negotiations, which concluded last week, saw initial producer offers range between USD122 and USD 145 per tonne. However, Japanese...
Axaeon Enterprises and Sunstone Development have formed a joint venture to commercialise Axaeon's Lazar Continuous Carbon Baking Furnace (Lazar CCBF). The initiative will leverage Sunstone's expertise in supplying pre-baked anodes to the aluminium industry to support the successful rollout of the Lazar CCBF. A Continuous Carbon Baking Furnace is an industrial furnace used in the aluminium industry to bake carbon anodes, which are crucial for the electrolysis process. Unlike traditional batch methods, this furnace enables a continuous baking process, resulting in higher anode quality, lower production costs, and improved sustainability. "Axaeon's work to date makes us confident that the Lazar CCBF will fundamentally change the [carbon-baking] industry through its significant financial...
National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), a Navratna CPSE under the Ministry of Mines, Government of India, has broadened its product portfolio with the launch of its latest innovation, the IA90 Grade Aluminium Alloy Ingot. This strategic introduction is designed to meet the increasing and evolving demands of the automotive industry. The IA90 alloy was officially unveiled by NALCO's Director (Commercial), Sadashiv Samantaray, at the Smelter and Power Complex in Angul, in the presence of senior officials and technical experts. The mentioned alloy, known for its high strength, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance, is also suitable for use in electric vehicles (EVs), particularly in structural components and parts such as wheels. The automotive industry has emerged as a significant...
Top thermal coal importers China and India are significantly reducing their purchases from Indonesia, the world’s largest coal exporter, in favour of higher-energy coal from alternative sources. This strategic shift comes as a global decline in prices has made more energy-dense coal grades economically attractive. Image Credit: britannica.com Industry officials say that while high-calorific value (CV) coal is more expensive, it produces more energy per dollar spent. “Higher CV coal is more expensive, but produces more energy for every dollar spent at current prices. One million tons of higher CV coal can replace 1.2-1.3 million tonnes or even 1.5 million tonnes from Indonesia,” said Vasudev Pamnani, director at India-based coal trader I-Energy Natural Resources. In China, Indonesian...
Futures Market: Last night, the most-traded SHFE aluminium 2508 contract opened at RMB 20,340 per tonne, with a high of RMB 20,380 per tonne, a low of RMB 20,325 per tonne, and closed at RMB 20,345 per tonne. Trading volume was 42,000 lots, and open interest was 253,000 lots. Last night, LME aluminium opened at USD 2,567 per tonne, with a high of USD 2,569 per tonne, a low of USD 2,565 per tonne, and closed at USD 2,566 per tonne. Macro: (1) On Wednesday, as Trump announced that the US would hold talks with Iran next week, risk-aversion sentiment eased, and the market generally expected the US Fed to soon resume its interest rate cut cycle. The US dollar index ultimately closed down 0.27 per cent at 97.71 points. The benchmark 10-year US Treasury yield closed at 4.2920 per cent, and the...
Canned food producers in the United States are voicing growing concern over the disruptions caused by the country’s unpredictable trade policies. Andy Russick, a canned fruits and tomatoes manufacturer, has highlighted how rising tariffs have led to surging raw material costs, calling the strategy only a blunt tool to counter cheap Chinese imports. Previously, soft drink, beer and pre-packaged food companies had also echoed similar concerns. With heightened tariffs on aluminium and steel imports, questions are now mounting over the future direction of global packaging—are we heading towards more instability and rising costs in the supply chain? Before entering the trade war, the packaging sector faced challenges in imports of Chinese fruit cocktails, similar canned foods, and vegetables...
On June 5, 2025, the ALuminium Forum of Indonesia Critical Minerals Conference & Expo 2025, hosted by SMM Information & Technology Co., Ltd., with the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs as the government supporter, and co-organised by the Indonesia Nickel Miners Association (APNI), Jakarta Futures Exchange and Sxcoal, successfully concluded in Jakarta, Indonesia! The event brought together industry leaders, experts and corporate representatives from around the world to delve into key topics including global bauxite and alumina market analysis and outlook, aluminium supply chain and market dynamics, aluminium industry development in Indonesia and Southeast Asia, prospects for Indonesia's bauxite sector and global aluminium market trends and prospects. Melati Sarnita, Business...
RIA Cast House Engineering GmbH is proud to announce the signing of a Frame Contract with global aluminium producer Norsk Hydro ASA. Under the agreement, RiA will supply state-of-the-art rail mounted Furnace Charging Machines and Furnace Skimming Machines to support Hydro’s cast house operations worldwide. Image source: RIA Casthouse This long-term collaboration marks a significant milestone in RiA’s commitment to delivering innovative, reliable, and efficient equipment to the aluminium industry. The robust and fully automated machines are designed to enhance operational safety and productivity in Hydro’s facilities worldwide. Prior to this agreement, Hydro had already acquired multiple machines from RiA over a 25-year period and the relationship was already very positive. This agreement...
The biggest announcement in the Industrial Strategy, the British Industry Supercharger expanded to give up to 90 per cent relief on electricity network charges, up from the previous 60 per cent,a significant milestone for over 7,000 energy-intensive businesses. For the aluminium processors and producers alone, energy is a high proportion of their operating costs. “Energy competitiveness is a defining issue for the aluminium sector. Without decisive support, producers and processors across the UK risk becoming globally unviable,” noted Nadine Bloxsome, CEO of ALFED. Image source: ALFED However, as Bloxsome also cautioned, “The Supercharger expansion is a major step forward, but we now need urgent clarity on who qualifies, how SMEs can benefit, and how this aligns with future emissions...
Alcoa's planned expansion of production in Pinjarra Alumina Refinery and bauxite mining at its current Huntly Mine in Western Australia's Darling Range has provoked a series of town hall meetings with the community, which start this week. The company is responding by citing its decades-long history of environmental management and policy reforms over the past few years as proof of its commitment to best-practice operations. Image source: wikipedia Alcoa's planned expansion of production in Pinjarra Alumina Refinery and bauxite mining at its current Huntly Mine in Western Australia's Darling Range has provoked a series of town hall meetings with the community, which start this week. The company is responding by citing its decades-long history of environmental management and policy reforms...
A symbol of Italian ingenuity and style on wheels, Fiat has always managed to grab the spotlight. Be it for their stylish outlook or for their comfort, Fiat has always tried to stand above people’s expectations. This time, the Italian automobile manufacturer has made headlines by becoming the first carmaker to incorporate PolyAl for its flagship Fiat Grande Panda. This clearly proves that the aluminium recycling market is not just booming but also coming up with endless possibilities. Each Fiat Grande Panda model includes PolyAl, a recycled composite extracted from the thin layers of polyethylene and aluminium found in everyday drink cartons. Derived from around 140 recycled beverage cartons, now cleverly repurposed into the car’s central console, dashboard, and interior front and rear...
Many associations in the European Union (EU) have urged the imposition of export duties on aluminium scrap, especially after a heightened demand from the US, following its exclusion from Trump’s 50 per cent tariff, it is led to a decline. Based on it, the EU’s carbon emission goals might be affected, especially with CBAM to be implemented within the next 6 months, creating tension in the secondary aluminium production. With Trump's 50 per cent tariff on imported aluminium and steel, European metal producers indicate a shortage in their scrap inventory, but surge in demand has inflated the prices. Owing to this, European Aluminium reached out to the European Union to impose export authorisation measures, which were there till the Covid pandemic. In the EU's push for reducing carbon...
Countries like India, among others, ask for a reprieve when exporting but impose tariffs on imports to safeguard their domestic industries. Could such practices complicate international trade dynamics or be perceived as ‘conflicted’ by global partners? A lot of questions cloud the mind when delving into such geopolitical and trading diplomacy. In today’s editorial, we break down, stance by stance, what has been happening and how these acts have impacted country after country in overall development for decades. Image Source: https://okcredit.in/ India’s economic diplomacy , a part of the foreign policy framework, has been marked by securing trade agreements, attracting foreign investments and strengthening bilateral and multilateral ties with key global players. And tariffs/taxes have...
Hydro Extrusions has once again earned recertification under the ASI Performance Standard V3.1 following a rigorous audit by DNV Assurance Services UK Ltd. With this, the ASI certification number for Hydro now rests at 74. This global recognition reinforces Hydro Extrusions' position as a leader in sustainable aluminium solutions. Additionally, over three-quarters of Hydro Extrusions' sites are already certified under ASI's Chain of Custody (CoC) Standard. Hydro Extrusions has once again earned recertification under the ASI Performance Standard V3.1 following a rigorous audit by DNV Assurance Services UK Ltd. With this, the ASI certification number for Hydro now rests at 74. Valid through the end of May 2028, this milestone highlights Hydro's continued commitment to the responsible...
