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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Futures Market: Overnight, the most-traded AD2511 cast aluminium alloy futures contract opened at RMB 19,500 per tonne, surging rapidly after the opening bell to reach a high of RMB 19,630 per tonne. It then fluctuated rangebound after pulling back, with the overall trend showing a narrow rangebound fluctuation after the initial surge. The lowest point was RMB 19,440 per tonne, and it finally closed at RMB 19,560 per tonne, up RMB 90 per tonne or 0.49 per cent from the previous close. Trading volume was 6,725 lots, and open interest was 9,026 lots. Spot-Futures Price Spread Daily Report: According to SMM data, on June 16, the SMM ADC12 spot price was at a theoretical premium of RMB 605 per tonne over the closing price of the most-traded cast aluminium alloy futures contract (AD2511) at...
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba), the world's largest single-site aluminium smelter, has announced the promotion of Saleem Helal Ali Yateem to Acting Manager of casthouse services, effective 16 June 2025. Saleem joined Alba in 2008 as a Senior Mechanical Engineer and has since demonstrated unwavering dedication and exceptional technical expertise. He has been key in managing complex maintenance operations and leading major capital expenditure initiatives. Alba's Chief Executive Officer Ali Al Baqali said, "Saleem's journey is not just a promotion; it's a testament to a vision where the future is built by Bahraini hands and led by Bahraini minds. We are proud to see national talent rising to leading roles, armed with technical knowledge and the strategic foresight to navigate complex...
As a result of the ongoing geopolitical discord between Israel and Iran, the Indian aluminium industry (though not impacted directly) is feeling the rippling heat in pricing. In an unexpected turn of events, India’s aluminium price has slipped to INR 242 per kg, contemplating the global metal pressures exacerbated by currency swings and rising oil. Image for referential purposes only The chain of events unfolds to be in this order — Israel and Iran under a military clash, which has led to the latter region’s oil supply chain being disrupted. The Sensex (India) has then fallen 1300 points. As aluminium production is highly energy-intensive, notably smelting alone accounts for nearly 40 per cent of production cost. The Middle East, especially the Gulf region, is a major natural gas and fuel...
In a market increasingly ruled by emissions accountability, the LME has stepped forward with a landmark measure to align metals trading with the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). As of June 15, 2025, all listed aluminium brands are required to submit verified emissions data through LMEpassport, the exchange’s digital certificate system. Image source: https://www.consultancy.uk/ At its core, the initiative is about harmonising with Brussels. The LME emissions reporting form asks producers to disclose Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, tailored precisely to match EU CBAM standards. Reporting is mandatory for brands under Primary Aluminium, Aluminium Alloy, and NASAAC. Prior to the recent development, on May 1 2024, the LME released a consultation on the proposed...
Researchers in Denmark have set a new world record for converting sunlight into electricity using innovative transparent solar cells. These advanced window technologies not only let light pass through but also generate power, offering a promising breakthrough for renewable energy. This development could turn skyscrapers and office buildings into vertical power plants by transforming their windows into energy-producing solar panels. The CitySolar project marks a significant breakthrough in transparent solar technology, supporting Europe’s goal of making all new buildings nearly zero energy and fully decarbonising the building sector by 2050. Researchers from the University of Southern Denmark have developed solar panels by combining organic solar cells with perovskite material, achieving...
The Aluminium Federation (ALFED) has formally written to the Minister for Energy Security and Net Zero to demand urgent action on UK energy pricing - citing it as a critical risk to the competitiveness, sustainability, and resilience of the aluminium sector and wider UK metals manufacturing base. In the letter addressed to Baroness Curran, Minister of State at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), ALFED and the UK Aluminium Alliance outline the escalating pressure being felt across the supply chain, driven by UK industrial electricity costs that remain around 50% higher than those in key European manufacturing economies. ALFED’s intervention follows the recent Sustainability Strategy Day, where over 100 member businesses and stakeholders shared growing concerns about...
In a strategic blend of sustainability and community welfare in Odisha, India — Utkal Alumina International Limited (UAIL), a unit of Hindalco Industries under the Aditya Birla Group, has taken a step to ensure people in the area have a safe drinking water supply. The firm has inaugurated two Swajal water supply projects along with five solar-powered tube wells. Image source: IndiaMART The rising waterborne diseases and increased deaths from drinking contaminated water have come to the notice of the leading Indian business, and thus, UAIL has aggressively worked towards ensuring an adequate and safe water supply. Villages, especially in the remote areas of Odisha, such as Rayalaghaty and Kaliacanchera under the Kodipari Panchayat of the Kashipur block, usually depend on streams or open...
In advanced fields like aerospace and space exploration, materials must combine low weight, high functionality, and resilience to extreme temperature fluctuations. Shape-memory alloys are promising candidates, offering impressive strength, toughness, and the ability to recover from deformation due to their superelastic properties. Image Source: Nature / Research Paper However, achieving low mass and reliable performance at cryogenic temperatures remains challenging. A team of researchers, namely Yuxin Song, Shunsuke Sato, Sheng Xu and Inho Lee, have developed a newly developed shape-memory alloy specifically engineered to meet these demanding requirements. Composed of aluminium and titanium with a chemical composition of Ti₇₅.₂₅Al₂₀Cr₄.₇₅, this alloy features a low density of 4.36 × 10³...
Neoen Australia has officially announced the commissioning phase of its 350 MW Culcairn Solar Farm, one of the country’s largest solar initiatives. Located in the Riverina Murray region of southern New South Wales, the project marks a significant step in Australia’s renewable energy journey. Image source: solarreviews.com The solar farm, comprising nearly 760,000 panels and 100,000 piles across 1,000 hectares, is expected to be fully operational by 2026. Once complete, it will deliver an estimated 822,000 MWh of clean electricity annually, enough to power 160,000 homes. The project is also designed with the potential to integrate a battery energy storage system of up to 800 MWh. “It is time to start supplying our first electrons from this asset into NSW’s electricity network,” Neoen...
Mining conglomerate Vedanta Aluminium has embarked on a significant project worth INR 1,28 lakh crore (US$ 15.42 billion) to boost Odisha's economy. As per reports, the company plans to set up a 3 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) aluminium smelter along with a 4,900 MW captive power plant in Dhenkanal. This landmark project alone is expected to create around 30,000 jobs, further solidifying Odisha's standing as a global aluminium powerhouse. Seven other transformative industrial projects worth INR 1,51,239.50 crore(US$ 17.58 billion) in other sectors like chemicals, steel, textiles, and metal-based downstream industries, have been approved by the High-Level Clearance Authority (HLCA). These developments, spanning six districts, Dhenkanal, Ganjam, Jajpur, Keonjhar, Khordha, and Sambalpur,...
Last week, high-stakes trade negotiations between the United States and China reconvened in London, marking the second day of talks on June 10 at Lancaster House. After months of escalating tensions and retaliatory trade barriers, negotiators have emerged with what they called a 'framework agreement', a non-binding but symbolic structure meant to uphold the 90-day tariff truce struck in Geneva in May. While the framework itself lacks legal enforceability, it does offer a potential de-escalation route in a trade war that has shaken supply chains across critical sectors, including aluminium, electronics, defence, and electric vehicles. Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick confirmed the broad contours of the deal, suggesting that while headline tariffs...
In a bold move to tighten control over critical minerals and challenge China's dominance, India has directed IREL to suspend a 13 year old rare earth export agreement with Japan, Reuters reports. The directive, issued by the Indian government to state-run miner IREL (India) Ltd., marks a turning point in New Delhi's strategy to secure its domestic supply chain for high-tech and clean energy sectors. According to sources familiar with the matter, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal recently instructed IREL to stop exporting rare earth elements particularly neodymium, vital material used in powerful magnets for electric vehicle (EV) motors. The minister's remarks came during a meeting with leading executives from India's auto and manufacturing sectors, where the focus was squarely...
Futures Market: Overnight, the most-traded ag2509 alumina futures contract opened at RMB 2,850 per tonne, with a high of RMB 2,864 per tonne, a low of RMB 2,838 per tonne and closed at RMB 2,852 per tonne, down RMB 32 per tonne or 1.11 per cent from the previous close, with open interest at 304,000 lots. Ore: As of June 13, the SMM Import Bauxite Index stood at USD 74.15 per tonne, down USD 0.2 per tonne from the previous trading day. The SMM Guinea Bauxite CIF average price was USD 74.5 per tonne, unchanged from the previous trading day. The SMM Australian Low-Temperature Bauxite CIF average price was USD 70 per tonne, unchanged from the previous trading day. The SMM Australian High-Temperature Bauxite CIF average price was USD 65 per tonne, unchanged from the previous trading day....
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba), the world’s largest smelter on one site, announces the successful migration to RISE with SAP Private Cloud Edition (PCE). This milestone, completed in partnership with SAP's Customer Success & Delivery (CS&D) team, advances Alba's digital transformation journey. This strategic move provides Alba with a modern, scalable, and high-performance digital platform. It will enable enhanced functionality, an improved user experience, and powerful analytics, all crucial for navigating the evolving industrial landscape. Commenting on this achievement, Ali Al Baqali, Alba’s Chief Executive Officer, stated: “Our migration to Rise with SAP Private Cloud is more than a technological upgrade; it's a strategic leap forward. This advanced digital infrastructure will not...
Sri Lanka-based Three Sinha Industries, specialising in the construction industry, particularly in steel and related products, has been recently honoured with the Best Inquiry Management System award at the prestigious INCO Awards. Hosted by the Institute of Incorporated Engineers of Sri Lanka (IIESL), the accolade was presented to Managing Director Manjula Ariyakumara during a ceremony held in Colombo. The company offers a wide range of services, including steel buildings and roofings, steel and aluminium fabrications, steel railings and others. What began as a modest venture has evolved into a leading force in Sri Lanka’s construction sector. Today, Three Sinha stands out for its commitment to quality, innovation, and reliability. Over the years, the company has garnered both local and...
Ovni, the French-built brand, is already turning heads for its newly launched all-aluminium 50ft centre boarder titled the Ovni 490. Designed by the renowned Mortain/Mavrikios team in collaboration with CBA, the yacht has been Crafted to meet what the French yard calls strong demand for a 50-footer with a pilothouse, this latest model marries rugged bluewater capability with refined, contemporary comfort. An all-aluminium centreboarder is a sailboat built entirely from aluminium and equipped with a pivoting centreboard instead of a fixed keel. This design offers key advantages - a shallow draft for exploring coastal and shallow waters, excellent resistance to impact and corrosion, and rugged durability ideal for long-distance cruising and off-the-grid adventures. Drawing inspiration from...
Four standout facilities of Ball Corporation, an American aluminium manufacturing company in Colorado, have received the prestigious award "Plant of the Year" in various regions across the globe. These regions include Paraguay and Manaus in South America, the Kettering plant in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and the Bowling Green facility in North & Central America. Image source: ball.com Three cheers for Paraguay & Manaus Paraguay continues to set the benchmark for the third time in a row by earning the Dream Team Award. The award was not only provided on the grounds of production but also by the people working within the facility and their dedication to meeting the purpose of all the aluminium cans made. Moreover, the Paraguay team believes quality is not something to set but...
As Indian and U.S. officials engaged in closed-door negotiations to finalise trade deals ahead of July’s tariff hikes, a parallel development added friction to an already delicate situation. The Trump administration formally rejected India’s request for consultations at the World Trade Organization (WTO)—its second such attempt—this time over the steep 25 per cent tariff on auto parts. Image source: vecteezy.com The juxtaposition of collaborative trade discussions and WTO resistance has triggered a wave of speculation about Washington’s real intentions. While on one hand, Trump has defended its position by citing national security grounds, which exempts the tariff from WTO jurisdiction, on the other, he has expressed his willingness to hold one-on-one discussions with India on the auto...
