The supply question is becoming particularly relevant as North American extrusion demand becomes more diversified. Construction remains an important consumption base, but transportation, electrical and electronics, industrial applications and digital infrastructure are creating additional requirements for higher-performance aluminium extrusion profiles. The shift is also changing what buyers need from suppliers, with greater emphasis on precision, complex geometries, automotive-grade alloys and thermal-management capabilities. North American aluminium extrusion usage is estimated at 2.91 million tonnes in 2025 and is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 2 per cent . The region is therefore set for incremental demand, even as its extrusion supply chain continues to evolve. North America’s...
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...
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Imagine driving an electric vehicle (EV) without worrying about finding a charging station or running out of battery mid-journey. This vision is fast becoming a reality, thanks to an ambitious project in Sweden. It’s not just a technological breakthrough—it’s a bold step toward a fossil-free tomorrow. The country is building the world’s first permanent electrified highway, where EVs will charge seamlessly as they drive. Set to be completed by 2025, this game-changing e-motorway promises to eliminate range anxiety, transforming the way we think about electric mobility and paving the way for a sustainable, emission-free future. “If we electrify 20,000km of highways, that will definitely be enough. The distance between two highways is never more than 45km, and electric cars can already...
The City of Greenville, Mississippi, launched an aluminium can recycling initiative on April 22, 2025. The programme, in partnership with Every Can Counts, US, Washington and Replenysh, Los Angeles, aims to promote sustainability and increase the recovery of aluminium beverage cans. Image source: MRCTI Recycling aluminium reduces landfill waste, saves energy and minimises carbon emissions. It also conserves natural resources by lowering the need for virgin material extraction. This process supports the circular economy and helps fight climate change. The partnership of Every Can Counts, a non-profit, with the Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative (MRCTI) focused on can recycling awareness. Greenville Mayor Errick D. Simmons stated, “Thanks to the collaboration of MRCTI, Replenysh...
A recent study has found that three out of Australia’s four aluminium smelters face a serious risk of closure under proposed shifts in energy policy, a development that could shake the entire nation’s economy and threaten thousands of jobs. Why such a speculation? The federal opposition has pledged to construct seven nuclear power plants across five states if elected, arguing that their modelled plan could be 44 per cent cheaper than Labor’s renewable roadmap. This AI-generated image is for representational purposes only So, what could unfold if the Coalition forms government and pushes this nuclear initiative forward? Australia’s aluminium smelters are among the highest industrial energy users in the country. The Tomago smelter in New South Wales alone accounts for 12 per cent of the...
In celebration of Earth Day on Tuesday, April 22nd, the spirit of sustainability has taken a bold and artistic form in Preston’s Avenham Park. Every Can Counts (ECC), the non-profit organisation that promotes recycling of aluminium beverage cans has unveiled a striking new installation at the Avenham Park in Preston to highlight the importance of recycling. Created from more than 700 recycled drink cans, the '#EveryCanCounts CANvas' is a collaborative effort between the non-profit recycling initiative Every Can Counts and Preston City Council. The ‘CANvas’ was brought to life by local mural artist Shawn Sharpe, renowned for his vibrant work across the North West and his mural workshops for both children and adults in Preston. Shawn painted the Earth Day-themed artwork directly onto the...
Ball Corporation, the leading global provider of sustainable aluminium packaging for beverages, personal care and home products, and Beiersdorf, a global skincare company, won the Aerosols category at the CanTech Grand Tour Awards held on April 1, recognising their groundbreaking lightweight aerosol can made from 100 per cent recycled aluminium. Ball’s innovation was also honoured with a Specially Commended prize for its advancements in sustainability, further highlighting Ball’s continued commitment to pioneering sustainable packaging solutions and its leadership in driving circularity within the industry. Developed in collaboration with Beiersdorf, the innovation increased the recycled content of Beiersdorf’s NIVEA Men Black & White aerosol cans in Europe from 50 per cent to 100 per...
On Monday, April 21, 2025, Benchmark analysts reaffirmed their 'Buy' rating on American aluminium producer Kaiser Aluminum but lowered the price target from USD 100 to USD 74. As of 11:21 AM on April 23, the company's stock is trading at USD 55.95, marking a 37% decline over the past year. Image source: Kaiser Aluminum The reduction recommended on the current stock price of Kaiser Aluminum reflects a valuation of 9 times projected for the company’s value to EBITDA in FY25. However, the company's major sector of operation, the aerospace/high strength division, is expected to witness strong financial growth in the first quarter of 2025. For the rest of the year, the division, accounting for 36 per cent of sales and a significant portion of EBITDA, shall witness financial growth by an...
Capral Aluminium, one of Australia's leading aluminium extruders and distributors, has introduced a more flexible approach to meeting customer needs. This led to the launch of Shop.Capral, an online store designed to give customers greater visibility and easier access to Capral's Industrial Solutions aluminium range. The platform is open to all industrial clients, as well as general consumers and trade customers. Image Source- Capral Mark Murray, Capral's National Market Manager for Industrial Solutions, highlights the pivotal role of the company's online platform, Shop.Capral, in providing a dependable source of sustainable and high-quality aluminium. Operating nationwide, the online store provides customers with the option to pick up products from any of Capral's 28 locations, including...
The Stanford University research team has developed solar technology that generates energy long after the sun sets—even in moonlight, clouds, or rain. This may be a pivotal leap that could redefine the boundaries of renewable energy. Dubbed by many as "moonlight panels," this innovation directly challenges solar energy's long-standing limitation: its dependence on sunlight. For decades, scientists have grappled with the inconvenient truth that solar panels sleep when the sun does. However, a team led by Professor Shanhui Fan at Stanford has now seemingly cracked the code, utilising a natural thermodynamic process known as radiative cooling. The mechanism is elegantly simple but profoundly powerful. At night, surfaces naturally emit heat in the form of infrared radiation. On clear nights,...
In the heart of Gramercy, Louisiana, a silent struggle unfolds. Atlantic Alumina’s refinery, the last remaining alumina plant in the United States, is grappling with the heavy toll of shifting trade policies on metal, cars and dozens of foreign exporters. What was once a thriving symbol of industrial resilience now stands at the crossroads of uncertainty and with it, the lives of more than 550 workers hang in the balance. Image source: Atalco Atlantic Alumina, or Atalco, is the last operating alumina refinery in the US, between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. With 550 workers, the plant processes Jamaican bauxite into alumina, a white, sugar-like compound essential for making primary aluminium. Atalco supplies nearly 40 per cent of the nation's alumina needs. But despite its critical role,...
The global alumina market has endured a dramatic roller‑coaster in early 2025, witnessing a severe price slump in the first quarter and a raft of fresh supply hitting the market in the recent weeks. While analysts now eye a price floor in coming months, forecast revisions evidently highlights the fragility of near-term price momentum. This AI-generated image is for representational purposes only As of April 16, the benchmark price for Australian alumina stood at USD 347.50 per tonne on a FOB (Free on Board) basis — the price that covers the cost of transporting the goods to the port and loading them onto the ship, with the buyer covering the cost from that point onwards. This price point represents nearly a 50 per cent drop from where it stood at the beginning of January. In comparison,...
In the previous night session, the most-traded SHFE aluminium 2506 contract opened at RMB 19,765 per tonne, with a high of RMB 19,810 per tonne, a low of RMB 19,730 per tonne, and closed at RMB 19,755 per tonne, up RMB 10 per tonne or 0.05 per cent from the previous close. LME aluminium opened at USD 2,386.5 per tonne, with a high of USD 2,403 per tonne, a low of USD 2,372 per tonne, and closed at USD 2,390 per tonne, up USD 5 per tonne or 0.21 per cent. The General Office of the Jilin Provincial People's Government released the "Implementation Plan for the Special Action to Boost Consumption in Jilin Province" on April 22. It proposed that individual consumers who scrap eligible passenger vehicles and purchase new energy or fuel passenger vehicles that meet the vehicle purchase tax...
Waldaschaff Automotive Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V. has achieved ASI Performance Standard V3 (2022) with Provisional status for the development and production of lightweight systems, steel and aluminium components and parts at their facility in San Pedro del Monte, León Guanajuato, Mexico. Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) today announced that Waldaschaff Automotive Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V. has been certified against the ASI Performance Standard V3 with Provisional status. The facility produces lightweight systems of steel and aluminium components and parts for the automotive industry, including battery cases, crash management systems, structural components, door components, and tailgate structures. The ASI Certification program was developed through an extensive multi-stakeholder...
In a significant move towards achieving India's climate goals, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has set greenhouse gas (GHG) emission intensity targets for individual companies across four key industrial sectors—aluminium, cement, chlor-alkali, and paper. This landmark initiative marks a shift towards sector-specific accountability and data-driven climate action. These targets apply to 13 aluminium producers (including Vedanta and Hindalco), 186 cement companies, 30 chlor-alkali units, and 53 paper manufacturers. The emission intensity goals are set for the fiscal years 2025–26 and 2026–27, using each company's 2023–24 production levels as the baseline. For instance, Vedanta, listed first among the aluminium producers, reported a production volume of...
Industry leaders, environmental specialists, and policymakers convened in Muscat on Tuesday for the second Aluminium Recycling Forum, organised by Sohar Aluminium in partnership with the Environment Authority. The forum hosted two high-level panel discussions that explored the key challenges and emerging opportunities in aluminium scrap recycling. The first session focused on the operational and regulatory barriers encountered by recyclers, collectors, and industry stakeholders while also showcasing how regional industries are embedding recycling into their wider sustainability frameworks. The discussion also delved into how evolving regulations in Oman could more effectively support recycling logistics and ensure regulatory compliance. Additionally, they assessed how trade policies and...
Just when we thought ‘zero-for-zero’ was gathering dust in the diplomatic archives, India is breathing new life into the idea, and this time, the country is refusing to take no for an answer. Indian industry is rallying for tariff-free trade on aluminium, steel, and autos through a proposed Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) with the United States. And aluminium, the often-overlooked metal powering everything from EVs to skyscrapers, is quietly hoping for its moment in the sun. Image Source: https://www.cfr.org/ According to a publication by India’s Ministry of External Affairs, officials suggested that the zero-for-zero offer could potentially aid in fast-tracking the proposed BTA between the bipartisan, which may, in turn, pave the way for rolling back the 26 per cent reciprocal tariff on...
Rising criminal activities have created tension among Ghana’s scrap dealers, leading to lower returns across the scrap metal industry. This gave a nudge to the scrap dealers to take up the issue to the government with the demand to implement stringent regulation to mitigate the current issue. The scrap dealers blame the current situation of the Ghana scrap metal industry on a lack of oversight leading to loopholes by the government which enabled the criminals to invade the scrap trade process. Due to these criminal activities infiltrating the scrap metal industry, many businesses have witnessed a tarnished reputation and functionality within the operating market. Moreover, Ghana's scrap dealers have also claimed that the nation's scrap business has been struggling for a long time to...
India Government is reportedly initiating a bilateral trade talk with the United States to address the 25 per cent tariff concern on aluminium and steel exports, scheduled on April 23, 2025. The move follows India’s approach to the World Trade Organization, arguing the Trump administration’s tariff move was a safeguard measure rather than genuine national security concerns. Image source: Adobe Stock India's complaint at WTO Seven years after the initial dispute, India once again approached the World Trade Organization, requesting consultations with the United States over tariffs reminiscent of those imposed in 2018. At that time, the US had introduced a 25 per cent tariff on steel and a 10 per cent on aluminium, citing national security concerns as justification for protecting its...
As the global aluminium industry continues its pursuit of sustainability and resource circularity, AL Circle is proud to announce the launch of the updated version of its industry-focused research report, “Aluminium Dross Processing: A Global Review,” on this year’s Earth Day — a symbolic moment that underscores our shared responsibility to protect the planet. For decades, aluminium dross — a by-product of molten aluminium oxidation — was treated as industrial waste, often sent to landfills, leaching toxins and losing valuable metal content. But today, the landscape is changing profoundly. Industry leaders, researchers, and technology developers are revolutionising how we think about and process dross. The updated version of the AL Circle report is a testament to this transition — from...
