
China’s bauxite imports continued to rise in the first nine months of 2026, with Guinea accounting for nearly 80 per cent of its total supply. Against this backdrop, Alurion Resources, an independent company following a demerger from Brazilian Rare Earths, is advancing its Amargosa Bauxite-Gallium Project in Bahia, Brazil, through infill drilling, bulk sampling and export-logistics studies, targeting a pre-feasibility study (PFS) by mid-2027. The company’s September 2026 quarterly activities report outlines plans to improve bauxite resource estimates, assess processing yields and evaluate export routes, as it works towards establishing a scalable direct-shipping bauxite (DSB) operation. Explore the production, demand and consumption forecasts of bauxite and alumina in our report: "Global...
Algeria has inaugurated a 300-megawatt-peak (MWp) solar power plant in El Oued Province, marking a major step in its renewable energy expansion. The El-Foulia solar photovoltaic (PV) plant, spread across 600 hectares in northeastern Algeria, is the country’s largest solar park to date and forms part of its 3.2-gigawatt (GW) national renewable energy programme. The project will feed solar-generated electricity into the national grid, helping meet rising power demand while reducing natural gas consumption for electricity generation. To learn about the market potential of aluminium dross, explore "ALuminium Dross Processing: Generation, Recovery & Strategic Roadmap" 300 MWp facility strengthens Algeria’s solar capacity The inauguration took place on October 26, 2026, in the presence of...
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In a strategic move poised to reshape the automotive HVAC segment, Tube Investments of India (TII) has signed a definitive agreement to acquire a 67 per cent equity stake in KCALtech System India (KCAL India), a subsidiary of South Korea-based KCAL Korea. This acquisition signals TII’s intent to fortify its position in the burgeoning automotive sector, with a particular focus on aluminium tubes and parts used in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems for automobiles. The investment is set to bolster KCAL India’s expansion plans, enhancing its manufacturing capabilities to meet the rising demand for automotive HVAC components. TII’s decision to target this niche aligns with its broader strategy of diversifying into complementary business segments, aiming to capitalize on...

On Monday, November 4, Chinalco and the Republic of Guinea-Bissau signed a framework agreement for cooperation on mineral resources at Guinea-Bissau's Ministry of Natural Resources. The signing ceremony was attended by Yang Renhuo, China's Ambassador to Guinea-Bissau. Guinea-Bissau is a tropical country on West Africa’s Atlantic coast that’s known for national parks and wildlife. The signing of this agreement marks a major milestone in the advancement of Guinea-Bissau's mining sector. The Ministry expressed hope that Chinalco will leverage its world-class technical expertise and commitment to environmental protection to achieve efficient and sustainable mineral development, thereby contributing to Guinea-Bissau's economic growth. Signing of the agreement Dong Jianxiong, Deputy General...

The largest integrated aluminium producer in South East Asia, Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Bhd reported a significant 31.4 per cent jump in net profit for the third quarter that ended Sept 30, 2024, reaching RM402.3 million, up from RM306.1 million in the same period last year. The robust performance was attributed to higher profit contributions from associated companies and rising aluminium prices. For the nine-month period ended Sept 30, 2024 (9MFY2024), Press Metal recorded a net profit of RM1.32 billion against RM893.88 million previously, while revenue rose 10.5 per cent to RM11.35 billion from RM10.27 billion a year earlier. This was mainly due to the improved metal price, stronger US dollar and higher quantity delivered compared to 9MFY2023. Despite improvements at the topline...

On November 4, the Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas (ABNT) introduced the first-ever technical quality standard for the aluminium beverage can industry. Known as ABNT NBR 17194 — Aluminum Packaging – Beverage Cans, this milestone establishes Brazil as a global leader in quality regulation for this sector. Image Source: FREEPIK About the new standard The new standard aims to enhance the safety and confidence of workers and consumers of aluminium-canned beverages. It provides comprehensive guidelines, ranging from fundamental concepts to detailed specifications. The standard outlines the visual, dimensional, and functional characteristics of aluminium cans and includes requirements for transportation, handling, storage, and packaging processes. With rigorous procedures,...

One month to go to 2025, and global aluminium producers have begun to offer new premiums to Japanese buyers for the first quarter of the New Year. And not much to our surprise, the premium offered for the March quarter is 31 to 49 per cent higher than the current quarter’s premium, anticipating a supply crunch in Asia following the 13 per cent tax rebate cancellation for aluminium semi-manufactured products by the Chinese government from December 1, 2024. Image Source: LinkedIn According to three sources involved in quarterly pricing talks on Friday, global aluminium producers have offered $230-260 per tonne of premiums to Japanese buyers versus $175 per tonne of premiums in Q4 2024. The premium is cost paid for primary aluminium shipments agreed to pay over the London Metal Exchange...

In a recent forecast by Bank of America, analysts have projected a turbulent year ahead for the metals and minerals market in 2025. Bank of America is the second-largest banking institution in the United States and the second-largest bank in the world by market capitalisation, both after JPMorgan Chase. According to a Reuters report, the volatility will be driven by shifting trade policies, supply constraints, and fluctuating global demand, creating an unpredictable landscape for investors and industries. Aluminium and copper, two critical industrial metals, are expected to face notable price declines. Bank of America now predicts that aluminium prices will average $2,813 per tonne, a drop of 6 per cent from earlier projections, while copper prices will average $9,438 per tonne in 2025,...

OTTO FUCHS Technology Shenyang Co., Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Germany's OTTO FUCHS KG, has attained the ASI Performance Standard V3 (2022) Certification – Transitional (Principles 1-4). This certification recognises its commitment to sustainable practices in manufacturing automotive chassis components; including control arms, tie rods, and aluminium alloy parts for advanced braking systems, at its production facility in China. Image Source: ASI OTTO FUCHS Technology specialises in fully automated precision forging press lines, advanced machining lines, and digital production processes for developing, manufacturing, and machining automotive chassis components. The company focuses on producing aluminium alloy chassis parts, including control arms, tie rods, and components for...

According to the International Aluminium Institute survey, the world’s alumina production in October 2024 reached a new high in tandem with the growth across all the major producing regions. The daily average output also exceeded all the previous records, reflecting a month-on-month increase of 2.26 per cent. The monthly production stood at 12.61 million tonnes in October, up by 5.6 per cent from 11.94 million tonnes in September and 3.62 per cent more than 12.17 million tonnes in October 2023. This trend of monthly and year-on-year growth in alumina production is typical for this time of year. Historical data from the International Aluminium Institute (IAI) shows that global production of aluminium ore has consistently exceeded 12 million tonnes every October since 2022. Daily average...

On Tuesday, November 5th, Jing Xin, Chairman of Qinbao International Trade, led a delegation to Tianlin Baikuang Industrial Park in Baise City. The visit included a detailed inspection of the aluminium rod processing production line and the inauguration of the Qinbao International Trade aluminium product production base. During the visit, Qinbao International Trade also signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Guangxi Ruihong New Materials Technology Co., Ltd. to produce aluminium products worth RMB 3 billion. Image Source: Indiamart About the partnership This partnership capitalises on Qinbao International Trade's access to the electrolytic aluminium resources of Guangxi Tianlin Baikuang Aluminum Co., Ltd. Utilising a "virtual factory" model, the collaboration ensures seamless...

The Gumla district administration of Jharkhand, India, has taken swift action, culminating in filing an FIR against the offending mining company on November 28, 2024, reflecting a firm stance against illegal mining practices. The operation was led by the Gumla Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), which involved the Chainpur Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), the Gumla Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO), and the District Mining Officer. Their mission was supported by 40 police personnel and six surveyors tasked with measuring the extent of unauthorised mining. This multi-agency collaboration highlights the government’s commitment to environmental protection and regulatory compliance in the mining sector. Illegal mining depletes valuable resources, disrupts ecological balance, and deprives the...

AL Circle, the leading global digital platform for the aluminium value chain, is thrilled to announce the launch of the 28th edition of its highly anticipated e-Magazine, " Aluminium Industry: Focus Europe ." This latest issue is dedicated to exploring the evolving landscape of the European aluminium industry, a sector that plays a pivotal role in driving sustainable industrial growth and technological innovation. A deep dive into Europe's aluminium dynamics The European aluminium sector is undergoing transformative changes driven by sustainability, circular economy initiatives, and advanced technological integration. This edition of " Aluminium Industry: Focus Europe " highlights: Market trends and future forecasts: A detailed analysis of current market trends, trade challenges, and the...

In a strategic move to solidify its position in the global mining sector, PT Aneka Tambang (Antam), a member of PT Mineral Industri Indonesia (Persero) or MIND ID, a government-owned holding company, has earmarked a significant capital expenditure (Capex) of $723 million (Rp11.46 trillion) over the next five years. The investment will focus on accelerating exploration efforts in gold, bauxite, and nickel, key commodities in Indonesia’s mineral landscape. Antam’s General Manager, Abdul Bari, emphasised the company’s commitment to sustainable growth, noting that Antam will maintain its exploration budget at over 1 per cent of total production income. This prudent strategy ensures that the company remains at the forefront of resource discovery and extraction while balancing its financial...

China's aluminium plate, sheet and strip exports trended up in October 2024, both monthly and annually. According to China customs data, the export volume in the said month stood at 300,300 tonnes, reflecting a Y-o-Y hike of 34 per cent and a M-o-M rise of 4 per cent. Image Source: Mingtai Aluminium Of the total exports, 177,600 tonnes were destined for China's top ten export destinations, accounting for about 59.16 per cent of the total export volume. In descending orders, the top ten destinations included Mexico, Vietnam, Canada, South Korea, Thailand, the United States, Australia, Indonesia, Brazil, and Malaysia. Mexico, the highest importer of China's aluminium plate, sheet and strip, secured 40,690 tonnes of product in October 2024 for US$3,308 per tonne. Vietnam, the second-highest...

Saint-Gobain Ceramics & Plastics, Inc. has officially filed a petition seeking to impose antidumping and countervailing duties on sol-gel alumina-based ceramic abrasive grains imported from China. The move is aimed at addressing what the company claims are unfair trade practices that have impacted the U.S. abrasive grain market. According to the petition, the investigation will focus on specific ceramic abrasive grains made from at least 94 per cent aluminium oxide (Al₂O₃) and potentially mixed with compounds such as titanium dioxide, silicon dioxide, and zirconium dioxide, among others. These grains, known for their advanced crystalline microstructure and superior abrasive capabilities, differ significantly from conventional fused grains. The grains in question come in various shapes,...

Cliantech Solutions, a leading supplier of solar module manufacturing equipment, has secured a multi-gigawatt order from solar PV module producer INA Solar. This partnership is set to boost production capacity and address the increasing demand for solar energy solutions. The collaboration marks a significant move towards enhancing efficiency and scalability in solar module manufacturing, supporting global renewable energy objectives. To cater to the increasing demand, INA Solar is ramping up its solar module production capacity to multi-gigawatt levels, solidifying its role as a key player in India's green energy transition. The company is also establishing new manufacturing facilities for solar cells and aluminium frames to support its growth. Last month, INA Solar secured INR 402 crore...

In a decisive statement on November 27, 2024, the Odisha state government categorically dismissed allegations that it plans to permit bauxite mining in the ecologically sensitive Gandhamardan Hills, spanning Bolangir and Baragarh districts. As published on the website of DrugControl Media Services Odisha's Gandhamardan Hill range, known as the "ayurvedic paradise," has been designated a "biodiversity heritage site." Odisha, an eastern state in India, holds a prominent position in the country's aluminium industry thanks to its vast bauxite reserves. As the largest bauxite-producing state, Odisha contributes nearly 50 per cent of India's total bauxite output. This significant resource base has been instrumental in positioning India as a leading global player in aluminium manufacturing, with...

The chip melting furnace at the Kassel foundry, operational since June 2024, marks a major advancement in the recycling process. This innovative furnace is set to lower energy consumption by approximately 3,250 MWh annually, significantly cutting operating costs and minimising environmental impact. Moreover, it will reduce CO 2 emissions by over 1,400 tonnes per year, substantially contributing to climate target achievements. Image Source: Volkswagen AG Kassel plant About the on-site melting process Recycling all aluminium chips generated at the Kassel plant back into the casting process represents a key milestone in advancing circular economy practices and sustainability. This innovative on-site melting process significantly reduces energy consumption by approximately 3,250 MWh annually...

Aluminium Stewardship Initiative has presented Chain of Custody (CoC) Standard V2 (2022) Certification to South32 Worsley Alumina for mining and alumina refining operations at its Boddington Bauxite Mine and Worsley Alumina Refinery in Collie, Australia. The certification also acknowledges the associated port facility in Bunbury, Australia. Boddington Bauxite Mine produces 18.8 million tonnes of bauxite annually, and Worsley Alumina Refinery churns out about 4.6 million tonnes of alumina. South32 Worsley Alumina acquired the ASI CoC Standard Certification after meeting all the standards required to create a Chain of Custody for material produced and processed through the value chain into diverse downstream sectors. The CoC Standard Certification also confirms that the company adheres to...