Novelis is cutting roughly one-third of its workforce at its Kingston, Ontario, aluminium facility, with the company citing the impact of US tariffs on aluminium imported from Canada. The company is reducing its salaried workforce by 10 employees and temporarily laying off approximately 70 hourly workers, according to a statement issued by Novelis on Friday, September 18. The cuts affect roughly one-third of the facility's workforce. “These are difficult decisions that affect our colleagues and their families, and we are supporting those impacted through this transition,” Novelis said. Novelis pointed to the Section 232 duties imposed by the US on aluminium imported from Canada as the reason behind the workforce reduction. To know the global production, demand and consumption forecasts of...
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...
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Where companies fear losing rights and concessions, Lindian Resources, an Australian mining entity, is confident about its safety in the Guinean mining business. But where is this confidence stemming from? The answer lies in three nouns — Lelouma, Gaoual and Woula. Lelouma bauxite project, described as a ‘Tier 1’ bauxite project, is a recently secured (April 2025) Lindian Resources’ 100 per cent ownership project. It boasts a JORC-compliant Mineral Resource of 900 million tonnes at 45 per cent aluminium oxide (Al₂O₃) and 2.1 per cent silicon dioxide (SiO₂). The project aims to produce direct shipping ore (DSO), meaning it won’t require extensive processing. It’s strategically located near existing infrastructure, including a railway line and the Kamsar port. The Gaoual bauxite project,...
CANPACK SA, part of CANPACK Group, Inc., and a leading aluminium beverage can manufacturer, is launching an investment project in Bydgoszcz, Poland. The expansion project will significantly boost production capacity at the site, and planned spending exceeds USD 110 million. Image source: canpack Aluminium is preferred in beverage packaging due to its recyclability and durability. With a rising shift towards eco-conscious choices, aluminium helps brands reduce their environmental footprint. The expansion reflects aluminium’s increasing role in circular economy strategies. The investment plan covers expanding the plant’s infrastructure, acquiring advanced machinery, and upgrading existing production lines. This project will help CANPACK retain over 450 jobs and generate more than 100 new...
Amid challenging market headwinds, Hydro has announced the permanent closure of its Birtley extrusion plant in the United Kingdom. The Norwegian aluminium giant cited a sharp drop in demand and tightening recycling margins across the downstream aluminium sector as key drivers behind the decision. The plant, a longstanding part of Hydro's UK operations, is set to cease operations by the end of May, marking a significant shift in the company's regional footprint. The decision follows a detailed consultation process with employees and their representatives. The closure will result in approximately 100 redundancies. Hydro has expressed a strong commitment to supporting affected employees, including offering roles at its other UK sites and providing transition assistance for those leaving the...
According to China Customs, in April 2025, China exported 262,900 tonnes of alumina, up 101.6 per cent Y-o-Y; imported 10,700 tonnes of alumina, down 90.1 per cent Y-o-Y; and had a net alumina import of 252,200 tonnes in April. From January to April 2025, China's cumulative alumina imports reached 99,500 tonnes, down 90.6 per cent Y-o-Y; cumulative alumina exports reached 964,500 tonnes, up 74.7 per cent Y-o-Y; and cumulative net alumina imports stood at 865,000 tonnes. (Based on the 8-digit HS code: 28182000) In April 2025, some export orders concluded during the previous period when China's alumina export window was open were still being executed, and China's monthly alumina exports remained high. However, as May began, the impact of previous export orders was expected to further...
Today, SHFE aluminium fluctuated in the morning session, with its centre moving higher. From the perspective of spot market performance, social inventory destocking provided support for local spot premiums. Downstream enterprises purchased aluminium as needed amid high aluminium prices. Image for representational purposes only Specifically, trading in eastern China was moderate today. Limited arrivals provided strong support for prices. Overall, purchases were made as needed, and market transactions were concluded at prices ranging from the SMM average price to RMB 10 per tonne above it. Today, SMM A00 aluminium was quoted at RMB 20,310 per tonne, up RMB 100 per tonne from the previous trading day, with a premium of RMB 70 per tonne against the June contract, unchanged from the previous...
May 20, 2025: Hindalco Industries Limited announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended March 31, 2025, posting highest-ever revenue, profit after tax (PAT), and EBITDA. The results include the performance of both Hindalco and its subsidiary, Novelis, for the year 2025. Image source: Hindalco Industries Limited Hindalco – consolidated financial highlights In the last quarter of the financial year 2025, Hindalco’s revenue stood at INR 64,890 crore (USD 7.6 billion), bringing the full-year’s revenue to INR 238,496 crore (USD 27.86 billion). While the company’s Q4 revenue grew 16 per cent Y-o-Y, the full-year’s revenue rose 10 per cent. Profit after tax was INR 5,284 crore (USD 617 million) in Q4 FY2025, up by 66.5 per cent Y-o-Y from INR 3,174 crore (USD 371...
ADNOC and Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) have inked a landmark five-year supply deal worth $500 million (AED 1.84 billion), securing up to 1.5 million tonnes of calcined petroleum coke (petcoke), a crucial ingredient in aluminium production. Announced at the high-profile 'Make it in the Emirates' event in Abu Dhabi, the agreement highlights ADNOC's drive to power the UAE's industrial future and strengthen homegrown supply chains. This strategic partnership not only fuels EGA's aluminium operations but also reinforces the nation's vision of becoming a global hub for sustainable, value-added manufacturing. Under the new agreement, ADNOC Refining will meet at least 30 per cent of EGA's calcined petcoke needs directly from its Ruwais Refinery over the next five years. This move marks a...
Guinea, a West African country bordered on the west by the Atlantic Ocean, has an economy that is profoundly intertwined with its bauxite mining industry, which serves as a cornerstone of national economic activity, export earnings, and foreign investment. Recently (May 2025), Guinea announced the repossession of 51 mining licenses, including those for bauxite, citing non-compliance with development timelines and operational requirements. This includes licenses for companies like Kebo Energy SA and Emirates Global Aluminium, specifically due to their failure to fulfil commitments to build local alumina refineries. This serves as a strong warning to other major operators. But why is the country, whose economic development largely depends on bauxite trade, taking such an eccentric decision?...
Switzerland has reportedly banned the sale and import of Russia-origin aluminium in unwrought form, effective Thursday, May 15. The measure also extends to Belarusian aluminium, alongside new restrictions imposed on certain exports. This move by Switzerland is in line with the European Union's 16th sanctions package , introduced in February 2025, targeting imports of aluminium, military equipment, and all those vessels transporting Russian oil. The goal of the EU's sanctions was to undermine Russia's revenue streams and limit its ability to finance the war with Ukraine. Switzerland had implemented similar sanctions at the onset of the conflict three years ago. However, authorities observed Russian aluminium continued to enter the country indirectly, often routed through intermediaries...
A strategic partnership has been initiated in Chile between Corporación Nacional Del Cobre de Chile (Codelco) and Rio Tinto in an initiative to operate a high-grade lithium project within the region. As of May 10, 2025, both parties involved have signed a binding agreement, which is deemed to be the next step in this broader strategic partnership. Image source: riotinto.com The idea of this joint venture struck between the two firms first came into form back in 2022, where they signed an agreement for collaboration that has been made by focusing on their accumulated experience in designing, construction and operation of the underground mines. Fast forward to 2023, both companies exchanged information with each other, like mutual interest, objectives, electrification of mining activities,...
The L’OCCITANE Group, a certified B Corporation and leader in premium sustainable beauty and wellness, has named Adriana Nicolae as its new General Manager, Travel Retail APAC. In this dynamic role, Nicolae will be at the forefront of redefining the brand’s travel retail presence across Asia-Pacific, supported by the expertise and passion of the Group’s seasoned APAC travel retail team. Her leadership marks an exciting new chapter in L’OCCITANE’s journey to inspire beauty that goes beyond borders. Adriana Nicolae commented, ‘I am excited to lead our efforts in a dynamic sector that connects travellers with unique products and experiences. The APAC region is a strategic hub for travel retail with a rapidly evolving market landscape. I look forward to collaborating with our talented travel...
Aluminium dross, a once-ignored by-product of the aluminium industry, is now stepping into the spotlight. Formed as a thin, skin-like layer on molten aluminium during melting and processing, dross is the result of natural surface oxidation. For years, it was treated as industrial waste, routinely dumped into landfills. This not only posed serious environmental hazards but also led to the loss of valuable aluminium and other materials locked within the dross. But times have changed. Today, with sustainability high on the industry's agenda, dross is no longer an afterthought. It's become a focal point in the push toward a circular aluminium economy. Thanks to cutting-edge technologies, recovery rates now exceed 95 per cent, turning what was once a liability into a high-value resource....
Yunnan Aluminum Co., Ltd. recently released its Q1 2025 performance report. According to the announcement, the company achieved a total revenue of 14.411 billion yuan in Q1, up 26.89 per cent Y-o-Y. The net profit attributable to shareholders of the publicly listed firm was 974 million yuan, down 16.26 per cent Y-o-Y. Image for referential purpose only Regarding the reasons for the company's revenue growth, Yunnan Aluminum stated that it was mainly due to the increase in sales volume and selling prices of aluminium commodities during the reporting period. Meanwhile, the operating costs increased by 33.38 per cent Y-o-Y due to the rise in raw material prices and sales volume of aluminium commodities during the reporting period. From the perspective of futures prices, the main SHFE...
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) has reportedly expanded its EternAl™ low-carbon range with the launch of ‘EternAl-AC’, a new line featuring verified carbon offsets from Alba’s own operational efficiencies. Image source: Alba Owing to features like carbon offset mechanism and a tiered carbon classification system spanning net-zero footprint (EternAl-ACO) to up to 4 tonnes CO₂e per tonne (AC4), EternAl-AC contributes directly to carbon reduction goals, helping customers with flexible, transparent low-carbon solutions providing clear and verified data. This new product range also enables customers to access traceable, third-party verified greenhouse gas (GHG) offsets originating from Alba’s internal sustainability initiatives. Also read: Alba, the first Middle-Eastern aluminium smelter,...
Futures market : Overnight, the most-traded alumina 2509 futures contract opened at RMB 3,149 per tonne, with a high of RMB 3,202 per tonne, a low of RMB 3,118 per tonne, and closed at RMB 3,128 per tonne, up RMB 33 per tonne or 1.07 per cent. Open interest stood at 347,000 lots. Image for representational purposes only Spot alumina: On Monday, inquiries revealed that some alumina was procured through tenders by aluminium plants in Xinjiang, with transaction prices ranging around RMB 3,400-3,450 per tonne delivered to the plant. In Shanxi, 10,000 tonnes of alumina was traded at RMB 3,150 per tonne, while in Henan, 2,000 tonnes was traded at RMB 3,000 per tonne. Ore : As of May 19, the SMM imported bauxite index was reported at USD 70.74 per tonne, up USD 0.33 per tonne from the previous...
In a week of proud announcements, Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) has unveiled two noteworthy investment decisions with an intent of sweeping diversification and localisation strategy, while simultaneously contending with mounting geopolitical pressure in its upstream supply chain. On May 16, EGA signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the UAE’s Tawazun Council and US-based RTX (formerly Raytheon Technologies) to extract and refine gallium, a strategic rare metal, at its Al Taweelah alumina refinery in Abu Dhabi. Once operational, this initiative would elevate the UAE to the second-largest global producer of gallium, following China, reinforcing its ambitions to become a central node in the critical minerals supply chain for semiconductors, defence systems, and next-gen...
Canyon Resources Limited has secured a substantial USD 24.5 million investment from its major shareholder, Eagle Eye Asset Holdings, following the exercise of 350 million options. This move will raise Eagle Eye’s ownership in Canyon to 54.7 per cent and strengthen the company’s cash position, enabling accelerated progress on the Minim Martap Bauxite Project. Image credit: canyonresources The Minim Martap project, located in central Cameroon, is a high-grade bauxite resource poised to become a key player in the aluminium supply chain. By focusing on direct shipping ore (DSO), the project aims to streamline the transition from raw bauxite to aluminium production, catering to the growing global demand for sustainable and efficient aluminium sources. In its financial year ending June 30,...
Rjukan is set to witness the upgrade of the hydropower production initiated by Hydro, a leading aluminium and renewable energy company. For the upgrade, the firm is initiating an impact assessment, which further includes submitting a new application for setting up a new hydropower plant. Image source: hydro.com With the upgrade of the hydropower, the region can benefit in various ways, including: Modernised power production with increased flexibility and pumped storage for the power system in Norway Providing up to 750 MW of upgraded capacity for maximum production and pumping Expected increase of up to 50 per cent of Mana River's gross annual production Optimises the current annual production of 3 TWh of power from the firm's existing plant in the region Reduced risk of floods during the...
