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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Europe’s pluckiest penny-pincher in the skies, Ryanair, has donned its boxing gloves this week and squared up to Boeing. In a letter to a senior US lawmaker, chief executive Michael O’Leary declared that if President Trump’s plan to impose tariffs goes ahead, Ryanair might just give Boeing the cold shoulder on its 330 737 MAX orders, worth over USD 30 billion on sticker price. Image Source: https://centreforaviation.com/ In what might be described as a strongly worded message, Ryanair’s chief executive, Michael O’Leary, penned a letter to a senior US lawmaker that essentially reads like a “it’s not me, it’s your president” note. “If the US government proceeds with its ill-judged plan to impose tariffs, and if these tariffs materially affect the price of Boeing aircraft exports to Europe,...
Asahi Beverages, a member of Asahi Group Holdings, has launched a state-of-the-art canning system at Yatala brewery in Queensland to meet the rising consumer preference for aluminium cans over stubbies. The $60 million production line can produce over two million cans per day, including popular brands such as Great Northern, Victoria Bitter, and Carlton Dry. With an annual capacity of 400 million cans, the new line marks a major expansion of the Yatala facility's capabilities. Located between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, Yatala is Australia's largest brewery. Sustainability remains a key focus for Asahi, which has committed to purchasing 40,000 MWh of renewable energy annually for eight years starting in 2023. "This new canning line is a major investment in south-east Queensland...
Driven mainly by pre-holiday restocking demand, and with the slower pace of arrivals since the second half of April, coupled with the temporary end of disruptions from imported supplies, the destocking of domestic aluminium ingot inventory accelerated again by the end of April, approaching the 600,000 tonnes mark, providing a certain degree of upward support for aluminium prices before the holiday. Image for representational purposes only According to SMM statistics, as of April 30, the inventory of aluminium ingots at major domestic consumption hubs stood at 614,000 tonnes, down 29,000 tonnes from Monday this week, with a destocking of 44,000 tonnes W-o-W from Thursday, and a decrease of 177,000 tonnes Y-o-Y, remaining at a relatively low level compared to the same period in the past...
On Thursday, May 1, the US aluminium giant Alcoa Corporation informed the media and stakeholders that its order book for the second quarter remains stable, despite US tariffs. CEO William Oplinger stated that the company has yet to observe any negative impact on bookings due to the tariffs; but could not give a positive outlook for the months to come, citing customer feedback that signals potential challenges ahead. Outlook under review amid tariffs and power outage In addition to the tariff pressure, Alcoa is now grappling with a new obstacle and that is power outage in Spain, which has disrupted operations at both its aluminum smelter and alumina refinery . The company is currently assessing the full extent of the operational and financial damage at its San Ciprián facility, the largest...
Uzbekistan and Russia have accelerated their collaboration in the aluminium industry, leveraging the 5th International Industrial Exhibition “Innoprom. Central Asia” in Tashkent as a launchpad for agreements on standards harmonisation, joint projects and cutting-edge materials such as aluminium-zirconium alloys. Image for representational purposes only (Source: https://oren.ru/) The potent partnership builds on over 650 existing joint ventures worth USD 67 billion, aligns with Uzbekistan’s robust 6.5 per cent economic growth in 2024, and taps into Russia’s industrial expertise across energy, transport and construction, promising to modernise infrastructure and boost regional supply chains. Expanding horizons At Innoprom Central Asia, Denis Manturov, First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia,...
In line with market development trends, SMM Information & Technology Co., Ltd. (SMM) meticulously organised the selection of the Top 20 High-Quality Suppliers in China's Secondary Aluminium Industry. The event aimed to identify a group of aluminium scrap suppliers and secondary aluminium alloy ingot traders with stable supply and excellent market reputation. By systematically reviewing the domestic secondary aluminium industry chain, the event sought to play a demonstrative and leading role, helping China's secondary aluminium industry reach new heights. After evaluation by an expert panel composed of relevant leaders in the metal industry, industry experts, and heads of upstream and downstream leading enterprises and related supporting enterprises, the nominated companies were scored by...
According to data from the US Geological Survey, the United States' imported 1.34 million tonnes of alumina in 2024, showing a slight decline from 1.36 million tonnes in 2023. This year-on-year dip occurred despite Australia emerging as one of the top suppliers of the ore to the US starting in the third quarter of the year. Quarterly performance: a mixed bag The United States’ alumina imports saw back-to-back growth in the second and third quarter of 2024, amounting to 325,000 tonnes and 378,000 tonnes, respectively. It was in Q4 when the import volumes decreased by 7 per cent Q-o-Q to 352,000 tonnes, offsetting the 16 per cent growth in the previous two quarters. Even on an annual basis, the imports in Q4 dropped by 2 per cent from 359,000 tonnes to 352,000 tonnes. Similarly, the imports...
Constellium SE, a global leader in the design and manufacturing of high value-added aluminium products, has reported robust financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025. Despite ongoing challenges, including reduced shipment volumes and lingering impacts from severe flooding in Switzerland, the company posted a solid increase in revenue and a strong rebound in net income. Revenue for Q1 2025 reached USD 2 billion, reviving by 16.2 per cent from USD 1,721 million in the previous quarter and marking a 5 per cent rise year-over-year. Net income amounted to USD 38 million, reflecting a significant improvement from a net loss of USD 47 million in Q4 2024, and up 73 per cent from USD 22 million in Q1 2024. Ajusted EBITDA in Q1 2025 was USD 186 million, up by 50 per cent from USD...
In the first quarter of 2025, Gränges AB demonstrated resilience and foresight despite coming across multiple obstacles, achieving record-breaking results despite facing a complex global market landscape. Gränges reported a significant 24 per cent increase in sales volume, reaching 151.6 thousand tonnes, up from 122 thousand tonnes in the same period the previous year. This surge was accompanied by a 15 per cent rise in adjusted operating profit, totalling SEK 409 million, marking the company’s strongest first-quarter performance to date. The profit for the period climbed to SEK 261 million, with diluted earnings per share increasing to SEK 2.34. Image for representational purposes only (source: https://www.granges.com/) Gränges’ CEO, Jörgen Rosengren, attributed the company’s strong...
As of Thursday this week, the SMM Alumina Index stood at RMB 2,895.93 per tonne, up RMB 4.29 per tonne W-o-W from last Thursday. In Shandong, prices were reported at RMB 2,820-2,880 per tonne, down RMB 10 per tonne W-o-W from last Thursday. In Henan, prices were reported at RMB 2,870-2,930 per tonne, up RMB 1 per tonne W-o-W from last Thursday. In Shanxi, prices were reported at RMB 2,870-2,930 per tonne, up RMB 10 per tonne W-o-W from last Thursday. In Guangxi, prices were reported at RMB 2,840-2,920 per tonne, down RMB 10 per tonne W-o-W from last Thursday. In Guizhou, prices were reported at RMB 2,930-2,970 per tonne, unchanged W-o-W from last Thursday. In Bayuquan, prices were reported at RMB 3,110-3,190 per tonne. Image for representational purposes only Overseas market: As of April...
IKD Co., Ltd. has achieved two ASI Performance Standard V3 (2022) Certifications with Provisional status for the manufacture of aluminium-containing parts for automotive use at their IKD Co., Ltd. facility, as well as their Ningbo IKD Technology Industry Development Co., Ltd facility, both located in Zhejiang Province, China. Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) today announced that IKD Co., Ltd. and Ningbo IKD Technology Industry Development Co., Ltd have each achieved certification against the ASI Performance Standard V3 with Provisional status. The facilities produce automotive precision aluminium alloy die castings, with processes including die-casting, deburring , fine machining, inspection, and packaging. The current annual production capacity of the IKD Co., Ltd. facility is 350...
In April 2025, Russian aluminium producer United Co. RUSAL (Rusal) publicly warned that it would pursue legal action against Germany after a German takeover of a bank disrupted a currency‐hedging deal. The bank in question was VTB Bank (Europe) SE – the Frankfurt-based subsidiary of Russia’s state-owned VTB Bank – which German authorities effectively took over in April 2022 amid EU sanctions on Russia. A German-appointed trustee later liquidated the bank (renamed OWH SE) in 2023, and by August 2024, its licence was revoked. This AI-generated image is used for representational purposes only Rusal says this sequence of events illegally expropriated its subsidiary’s rights under a hedging contract, culminating in a London arbitration award ordering Rusal to pay EUR 213 million to the bank’s...
What if every bottle you returned helped build a cleaner, greener future? That’s exactly the vision the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) brought to life with the launch of its ambitious Bottle Return Scheme in 2023. In collaboration with Sparklo, its strategic oversight partner and cleantech leader, the initiative has sparked a city-wide shift in sustainability—recovering over 2,000 tonnes of bottles and amassing a remarkable 23 million recyclables in 2024 alone. Out of this, 18,000 kg were aluminium, and 544,000 kg were plastic. Maxim Kaplevich, Founder and CEO of Sparklo, said, “The partnership with EAD exemplifies the success of government-private sector collaboration. With EAD’s unwavering support, we have expanded the RVM network, contributing directly to Abu Dhabi’s...
The Federation of Indian Mineral Industries (FIMI) has urged the Indian government to extend the RoDTEP scheme to aluminium exporters, highlighting the financial stress faced by domestic producers. FIMI has submitted the request to ensure a level playing field in global markets. Image source: iStock The RoDTEP scheme offers refunds on embedded central, state and local taxes that are not currently reimbursed through other means. Until February 2025, aluminium units operating under Advance Authorisation (AA), Export Oriented Units (EOUs), and Special Economic Zones (SEZs) were eligible. The scheme aims to support export competitiveness by offsetting unclaimed taxes. The call for extension comes after the Aluminium Association of India (AAI) stressed the importance of this benefit. FIMI...
Alcoa’s San Ciprián complex was thrown into turmoil by the massive power outage that swept across Spain on April 28, hitting both the aluminium smelter and alumina refinery hard. “Alcoa’s San Ciprián complex was impacted by the widespread power outage across Spain. As a result of the outage, both the refinery and smelter at the complex were affected. The company is conducting a thorough assessment of the facility to determine the full extent of the operational and financial impact,” the company confirmed in a recent statement. The catastrophic event has shaken businesses, enthusiasts, and investors alike as the impact of what looks like just a power cut can curtail millions of dollars’ worth of business for the company and the nation. Image for representational purposes only The blackout...
Alumex PLC, Sri Lanka’s leading manufacturer of aluminium extrusion products, has strengthened its commitment to supply chain excellence by entering into a strategic partnership with the Institute of Supply and Materials Management (ISMM). This collaboration was officially established through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with Alumex PLC Managing Director Pramuk Dediwela and ISMM President Jayantha Gallehewa in attendance. Under the MoU, ISMM will grant institutional membership to Alumex, while Alumex will extend priority access to ISMM students by offering internships and job placements. These opportunities will enable students to gain practical experience in supply chain management within Alumex’s advanced manufacturing environment. Alumex PLC Managing Director...
Hydro has reportedly announced the first quarter results of 2025 where it has shown positive effects of alumina and all-aluminium prices on its financial performance during the period. However, higher raw material costs, lower extrusion volumes and margins, and lower alumina sales volumes have offset the result to an extent, said Hydro. Here are the key takeaways from Hydro’s Q1 results: Strong upstream results, driven by bauxite and alumina’s record performance Suffered from economic uncertainty and risk of low demand due to tariff Bearish extrusions outlook due to uncertain markets, leading Hydro to adjust portfolio and cut costs Recycling executing on hot metal cost improvements, one-third of 2030 target to be realised in 2025 Financial performance review In the first quarter of 2025,...
In 2026, the release of production from already commissioned projects and the commissioning of new projects are expected to further increase the supply of imported bauxite in China. China's bauxite supply is expected to shift to a surplus, with prices fluctuating around USD 70 per tonne. On the cost side: Under pessimistic expectations of an increased supply of imported bauxite, bauxite may present a tight balance in 2025. Image for representational purposes only Guinea's bauxite supply accounts for nearly half of China's total bauxite supply, but Guinea's bauxite supply is affected by numerous uncertainties, such as the rainy season, strikes, and government decrees. Under pessimistic expectations, the increase in Guinea's bauxite shipments is expected to be around 25 million wet metric...
