According to SMM statistics, as of September 17, aluminium billet inventory in major domestic consumption areas recorded 152,500 tonnes, down 500 tonnes from last Thursday (September 10) and down 5,000 tonnes from this Monday (September 14). The persistent upward trend in inventory since mid-August has shifted slightly, turning into a modest pullback from highs. On a Y-o-Y basis, inventory was approximately 17,500 tonnes higher than the same period in 2025, about 31,000 tonnes higher than 2024, and roughly 61,000 tonnes higher than 2023, with total inventory still at the highest level for the same period over the past four years. From the perspective of warehouse withdrawals, aluminium billet withdrawals during September 7–September 14 recorded 38,900 tonnes, up 2,800 tonnes W-o-W, ending...
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...
Grow with
AL Circle
On April 15, 2025, Steelforce Packaging, a global leader in metal trading and packaging solutions, announced its business expansion with the launch of a dedicated Aluminium Division. This move represents the company’s sustainable commitment and diversification goal in key global markets. The company also named the Global Director of Aluminum Business Unit. as Angelica Papageorgiou, demonstrating a promptness in its decision. Image source: LinkedIn The expansion of focus Consumers worldwide are increasingly seeking products that are sustainable and endlessly recyclable. This unmatched demand is only possible to be fulfilled by aluminium which is believed to be the future of the global packaging industry. With this launch, the company can now offer a full spectrum of metal packaging...
Jiangsu Dare Aluminum Industry Co., Ltd. has earned ASI Performance Standard V3 (2022) Certification for the manufacture of aluminium foil with main processes including rough rolling, middle rolling, coiling, finishing rolling, cutting, annealing and packaging at Jiangsu Dare Aluminum Industry Co., Ltd. located in Jiangsu Province, China. Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) today announced that Jiangsu Dare Aluminum Industry Co., Ltd. has been certified against the ASI Performance Standard V3 (2022). The facility has an annual output of 20,000 tonnes of aluminium foil and produces battery aluminium foil, power capacitor aluminium foil, and various types of packaging aluminium foil for the building, automotive, and packaging sectors. The ASI Certification program was developed through...
In response to India’s complaint to the World Trade Organization (WTO) on April 11 , labelling the US tariffs as safeguard measures, the United States countered by asserting that the tariffs were imposed on national security grounds, not as safeguards. Image source: Wikipedia The Trump administration office further justified its tariff move by stating that it was carried out under Section 232 of US trade law, which authorises the President to restrict imports that threaten national and economic security. The US government said, “The President imposed the tariffs on steel and aluminium pursuant to Section 232, under which the President determined that tariffs are necessary to adjust imports of steel and aluminium articles that threaten to impair the national security of the US.” Let’s know...
In a dramatic turn of events straight out of a crime thriller, the Sangareddy police cracked down on an aluminium theft racket that had been quietly siphoning aluminium electric wires from burgeoning seven different real estate sites. Yes, you heard it right! Sangareddy, situated in the northern part of the Indian state of Telangana, serves as the administrative headquarters of the Sangareddy district. On Wednesday, nine suspects were arrested in connection with a string of thefts that targeted construction ventures across Sangareddy and Sadasivapet. The arrests shed light on a coordinated operation that had eluded authorities until now, raising questions about security measures at infrastructure development zones. What followed was the recovery of nearly 778 kg of aluminium wire worth...
According to the customs data, in March 2025, China witnessed a 10.6 per cent decline in aluminium imports, including unwrought aluminium and aluminium products, year-on-year to 340,000 tonnes. Image source: IndiaMART In March 2024, China’s primary aluminium imports surged by 246 per cent year-on-year, reaching 249,000 tonnes. During the same period, imports of unwrought aluminium also rose by 89.8 per cent year-on-year. In 2024, Russia accounted for the largest share of China’s primary aluminium imports at 46.5 per cent, followed by India at 10 per cent. In the first quarter of 2025, China’s total aluminium and product imports amounted to 950,000 tonnes, whereas in the entire year of 2024, it stood at 3,747,070.84 tonnes. However, China’s Q1 imports reflect a 14 per cent decline compared...
Aluminium has become a vital material in pharmaceutical packaging. It acts as a robust barrier against moisture, oxygen, and light—key environmental factors that can degrade the safety and effectiveness of medications. Ten Acres Pharmacy, led by sustainability champion Dr Sonya Frausto, is ushering in a new era of eco-conscious pharmaceutical care. As the first pharmacy in Sacramento to adopt Pillumina's durable, fully recyclable aluminium bottles, Ten Acres is setting a powerful precedent for local businesses striving to minimise waste and promote sustainability in healthcare. To know more about the use of aluminium in the pharmaceutical sector, get your hands on AL Circle's report on Packaging . Last year, over 7 billion prescriptions were filled in the U.S., but only 3 per cent of...
The judicial case against the bauxite and alumina company from Jamaica, West Indies Alumina Company (Windalco), against the 2019 fish kill incident in the Rio Cobre, was postponed on Thursday in the St Catherine Parish Court due to the unavailability of an attorney in the case. Image for representational purposes only and does not depict the original incident (Source: Wikipedia) When the proceedings were about to commence, the court was informed that Windalco’s representative lawyer, Jacqueline Samuels Brown, was not there to attend and represent, ultimately pushing the case back to September 11. In the meantime, in one recent noteworthy development, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) attained further details to the case. DPP Dwayne Green conveyed that the office had...
Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has entered into a Technology Transfer Agreement (TTA) with the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai, in a major move to boost India’s hydrogen production capacity. The partnership centres on the mixed-matrix membrane diaphragm technology, which will be used in electrochemical cell separator applications. The partnership between BHEL and BARC marks a significant step forward in achieving the goals of the National Green Hydrogen Mission. It underscores BHEL’s dedication to sustainable energy solutions while advancing the Government of India’s ‘Make in India’ initiative. As highlighted by psuconnect.in, this collaboration positions BHEL to play a vital role in India’s transition towards cleaner, self-reliant energy systems. Hydrogen is gaining...
India’s expanding renewable energy capacity and strong government support for sustainable manufacturing are drawing increased interest from global companies, including Rio Tinto. On Thursday, April 17, the global mining giant Rio Tinto announceda collaboration with energy transition solutions provider AMG Metals & Materials (AMG M&M) to develop an integrated low-carbon aluminium project in southern India. Rio Tinto and AMG M&M have reportedly signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU), which states both parties will jointly assess the feasibility of the project that will potentially produce up to 1 million tonnes of primary aluminium in a year and 2 million tonnes of alumina, both powered by 1.8–2.0 GW of solar and wind energy backed by pumped hydro storage, translating to 7–8 GW of clean...
In a recent comment, He Zhigang, Deputy General Manager of Henan Mingtai Al. Industrial Co. said that China’s producers are “numb to tariffs,” citing years of trade restrictions imposed by Western countries. He added that demand for the metal produced in China remains strong due to its competitiveness. “It just needs a bit of time to overcome this round of anti-dumping from the US,” Mr Zhigang said at the industry conference. But, where does such an upper-hand statement stem from? As a matter of fact, the numbers are volatile when it comes to trade (especially exports) for the Asian country. Image courtesy: The Project Twins (Image for representational purposes only) According to the data provided by the International Aluminium Institute, the estimated total primary aluminium production...
Saint James Iced Tea, the fastest-growing iced tea brand in the US, announced a major packaging expansion at the beginning of this month. The brand introduced 100 per cent recyclable aluminium bottles, besides its previous tetra packaging. This milestone highlights Saint James’ commitment to sustainable production, while continuing to offer the premium organic iced tea that defines its leadership in the category. Image source: saintjamesicedtea Aluminium bottles mark a significant step in Saint James’s end-to-end sustainability journey. Paired with ethically farmed ingredients from certified organic and fair trade sources, the aluminium bottle reduces energy use and embraces infinitely recyclable materials, helping to cut down landfill waste. The launch also introduces a refreshed label...
Futures: In the night session, the most-traded alumina 2509 contract opened at RMB 2,883 per tonne, with a high of RMB 2,895 per tonne, a low of RMB 2,852 per tonne, and closed at RMB 2,871 per tonne, down RMB 13 per tonne, a decrease of 0.45 per cent, with an open interest of 147,000 lots. Image for referential purposes only (Source: Britanica) Ore: As of April 17, the SMM imported bauxite index stood at USD 88.71 per tonne, up USD 0.01 per tonne from the previous trading day, mainly due to a slight rebound in caustic soda prices. The SMM Guinea bauxite CIF average was USD 88 per tonne, unchanged from the previous trading day. The SMM Australia low-temperature bauxite CIF average was USD 87 per tonne, unchanged from the previous trading day. The SMM Australia high-temperature bauxite CIF...
The Swedish automotive manufacturer Polestar has released its fourth Annual Sustainability Report, highlighting notable progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, advancing the Polestar 0 project, and enhancing transparency and material sustainability. Since initiating carbon footprint measurements in 2020, the company has achieved a 24.7 per cent reduction in emissions per vehicle sold. Key drivers of this progress include the expanded use of low-carbon aluminium across all models, improved battery manufacturing processes, the adoption of 100 per cent renewable electricity in vehicle production, and more efficient logistics supported by increased use of biofuels on select maritime routes. Launched in 2021, the Polestar 0 project set out as an ambitious moonshot goal to develop a...
One metal consistently stands out in a world navigating towards decarbonisation, resource efficiency, and circularity: Aluminium . Lightweight, endlessly recyclable, and a strategic material across sectors, aluminium is now central to global sustainability transitions—and the recently published study ‘Global Downstream, End User and Recycled Aluminium Industry Outlook 2025’ by AL Circle is the definitive framework for what's next. This study isn't just another market overview. It's a ‘Must-Read Report of the Year’ —a strategic compass for executives, policymakers, and planners across the downstream, end-use, and recycling sectors. If your business touches aluminium, you need this on your desk. Downstream dynamics: Aluminium demand on a steady climb According to the report, global...
ItalPresseGauss (IPG), a leading player in die-casting equipment and technologies, announces its new chapter as an independent entity. Following a recent strategic review of Norican Group's various businesses, it was decided to streamline its technology portfolio with a different organizational setup. Consequently, ItalPresseGauss will separate from the rest of the Norican Group and transition to independence through a management buyout (MBO). While the company will now be independently managed, it will continue to benefit from the backing of Altor - the same owners that have supported the company this far through Norican Group. This strategic move will give IPG more agility, flexibility, and autonomy to drive innovation, accelerate decision-making, and better serve its customers. The...
Aluminium futures remain under pressure, trading below USD 2,400 per tonne and holding near their eight-month low of USD 2,340 hit on April 9. The slump is an after-effect induced by escalating US-China trade tensions that have cast a shadow over global manufacturing. Following tit-for-tat tariff hikes where China imposed 125 per cent duties and blacklisted more US firms, and the US retaliating with 245 per cent levies and fresh threats, investor confidence has taken a hit. The trade war fallout has overshadowed supply concerns in the US, where existing tariffs are already straining domestic capacity. In China, output is nearing its 45-million-tonne cap, set to curb emissions, but slowing production hasn't been enough to lift prices as demand fears dominate the market. A couple of days...
North America (US and Canada), which is currently embroiled in the ongoing trade war, is otherwise a key aluminium market, with demand consistently reaching millions of pounds annually, primarily driven by semi-fabricated and mill product. Although the demand decreased in 2023 to 26,087 million pounds (11.83 million tonnes), it rebounded the next year to 26,969 million pounds (12.24 million tonnes), marking an annual growth of 3.4 per cent. The rise in demand was also evident in aluminium shipments, which increased in 2024 by 3.2 per cent Y-o-Y from 22,987 million pounds to 23,729 million pounds. According to the Aluminum Association’s report, the demand for aluminium semi-fabricated and mill product rose by 3.4 per cent, led by key sectors like automotive, packaging, and sustainable...
Fagerhult, the sustainable lighting company has announced the use of extruded aluminium profiles made with 75 per cent recycled content from end-of-life products. This material is now integrated into high-volume product families—where it can have the greatest impact. The move is expected to lower Fagerhult’s carbon footprint by approximately 225 tonnes of CO₂e annually. The change applies to products sold in larger volumes. Models such as Notor 65, Notor Recessed, Notor 36, Fjord, Vil, Multilume Hydro, and Sentra are now manufactured using recycled aluminium. This initiative is part of Fagerhult’s ongoing, systematic sustainability efforts and marks a significant step toward reducing Scope 3 emissions—those indirect greenhouse gas emissions associated with purchased materials. Fagerhult’s...
