Macro perspective: Outside China, the US Fed raised interest rates by 25 basis points to 3.75per cent-4.00per cent as expected, the first hike since July 2023, with a unanimous FOMC vote. The dot plot showed one more possible rate hike in 2026, extending the period of high interest rates. As a result, US Treasuries saw heavy selling, the US dollar and real yields rose, directly weighing on the valuation of dollar-denominated nonferrous metals. Geopolitically, tensions in the Strait of Hormuz persisted, with Iran claiming the strait was under its "smart control," and a regional shipping security meeting originally scheduled in Oman was forced to be postponed, raising energy transport and risk premiums. Overall, macro sentiment was mixed. Fundamentals: Supply side, this week, China's weekly...
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...
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In a retaliatory move that’s reigniting transatlantic trade tensions, the European Union has announced a fresh wave of tariffs on USD 2.3 billion worth of American goods, a countermeasure to what it calls 'illegal' duties imposed by the US on EU steel and aluminium. This move comes nearly six years after former President Donald Trump first ignited the trade spat by levying steep tariffs on imported steel (25 per cent) and aluminium (10 per cent) in 2018, citing national security concerns under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act. While the Biden administration has sought to soothe trade relations, the EU’s patience appears to have worn thin. "The US has had ample time to remove these measures, which we believe are unjustified and in violation of WTO rules," said Valdis Dombrovskis,...
Following the successful launch of "Global Aluminium Industry 2025" in January 2025, AL Circle is proud to unveil the Lite Versions of the report—specially designed to offer sector-specific insights for professionals and businesses seeking targeted intelligence across the aluminium value chain. Available in four distinct formats, the Lite Versions provide deep dives into the following segments: Bauxite | Alumina Click here for TOC Bauxite | Alumina | Primary Aluminium (Upstream Sector) Click here for TOC Primary Aluminium | Recycled Aluminium Click here for TOC Downstream (Downstream – End User – Recycled) Click here for TOC These versions are crafted for ease of access, focused analysis, and sector-specific decision-making, empowering industry stakeholders with relevant data, market...
Valimet, based in Stockton, California, USA, has announced a non-binding agreement with APWORKS to produce Scalmalloy powder domestically through atomisation. Scalmalloy, a high-strength aluminium alloy specifically developed for additive manufacturing, is particularly well suited for various aerospace and defence applications. Scalmalloy is said to be the only alloy suitable for additive manufacturing that can effectively replace high-strength 7000 series aluminium alloys traditionally produced from plate or forging. With its low density, Scalmalloy offers exceptional strength-to-weight performance, making it highly competitive with even the strongest conventional alternatives. “In 2024, we were awarded a Phase I SBIR grant by the Defense Logistics Agency to support the atomisation of...
South Africa’s aluminium industry has breathed a communal sigh of relief following the announcement that aluminium will be exempt from the sweeping 30 per cent reciprocal tariffs unveiled by US President Donald Trump. The relief stems from a strategic carve-out for “critical minerals,” under which aluminium is classified, ensuring continued access to a vital export market for South African producers. On April 2, President Trump signed an executive order imposing reciprocal tariffs starting at 10 per cent on imports from most trading partners, with rates escalating to as much as 49 per cent for specific countries. However, Section 3(b) of the order explicitly exempts “certain critical minerals”, including aluminium, reflecting the administration’s recognition of America’s dependence on...
The Utkal Chamber of Commerce and Industry Ltd (UCCIL), Bhubaneswar in association with Business Standard conducted an workshop on “Metal and Downstream Industries” focusing on Aluminium, its Downstream and Ancillary, here on Tuesday. The programme of the evening was steered by Dr Prabodh Mohanty, President, UCCIL. The Inaugural Address was presented by Dr. Prabodh Mohanty, President, UCCIL who expressed his gratitude towards all the dignitaries of the evening who had come down to UCCIL this evening for a value adding session for the industrial fraternity of UCCIL. J K Rath, Vice President (Industry), UCCIL, gave the welcome address. President’s inaugural speech was followed by the first session starting with the address of Shashi Bhushan Upadhyay, Chief Business Officer, JSL, who summed...
Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) today announced that Terra Goyana Mineradora LTDA. has earned ASI Performance Standard V3 (2022) Certification for the planning, mining, transport and dry processing of bauxite at Terra Goyana Mineradora in Barro Alto Goiás, Brazil. The entity extracts and processes bauxite using dry processing methods, with an annual production of approximately 283,500 tonnes primarily serving the domestic metallurgy market. Its operations include crushers, vibrating screens, ore classifiers, and multiple storage yards, supported by maintenance workshops, laboratories, warehouses, a nursery for native seedlings, and a fleet of vehicles and equipment for mining and processing. The ASI Certification program was developed through an extensive multi-stakeholder...
Ohio-based aluminium billet and slab manufacturer Matalco Inc. is set to shut down its Canton, Ohio, facility this summer. This announcement is expected to impact the life of 71 employees, with layoffs beginning on June 6 and continuing over a period of up to 90 days. The company produces the billets and slabs using recycled aluminium. According to a letter dated April 8, 2025, submitted to the Ohio Office of Workforce Development, the plant will begin the closure process on June 6. The notice was issued in compliance with the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act, which requires companies with 100 or more employees to provide at least 60 days' advance notice before a plant closure or mass layoff involving 50 or more workers. The Canton site is one of seven...
The role of aircraft recycling in the circular economy Grasping the idea of circular economy in aluminium use The circular economy brings a fresh take on handling resources. It aims to shrink waste and stretch the reuse of materials. For aluminium, this approach packs a punch because the metal can be reused forever without wearing out. Old linear ways focused on grabbing resources, crafting products, and dumping them. In contrast, the circular economy pushes to keep stuff in use as long as possible. This path fosters greener habits by cutting the need to yank raw materials from the ground and easing harm to nature. Aluminium shines in this system. It can be recycled again and again while keeping its strength. This perk trims energy use and slashes greenhouse gas emissions compared to...
ABx Group’s subsidiary, Alcore, is making steady progress on its pilot plant project near the Bell Bay aluminium smelter in Tasmania. The company has partnered with BFluor Chemicals and Kempe Engineering to support this initiative. Regulatory steps are also moving forward, with Alcore receiving official environmental guidelines from EPA Tasmania for its environmental effects report. Key components for the facility, such as the oleum plant and bath reactors, have been ordered and are scheduled for delivery by year-end. The pilot plant will showcase Alcore’s proprietary technology to convert aluminium smelting waste into valuable industrial chemicals, including hydrogen fluoride. The pilot plant, situated at a leased site next to Rio Tinto’s Bell Bay smelter, is designed to convert hydrogen...
Emirates Global Aluminium, the largest industrial company in the United Arab Emirates outside oil and gas, today announced the launch of the third season of EGA Ramp-Up, the company’s flagship programme to empower the next generation of UAE entrepreneurs in line with the Entrepreneurial Nation strategy 2031. EGA Ramp-Up, supported by the UAE Ministry of Economy, offers expert insights, mentorship, intensive training and networking opportunities to entrepreneurs developing impact-driven and sustainability-focused businesses that will grow the economy and create new job opportunities. The first two seasons of EGA Ramp-Up attracted hundreds of aspiring entrepreneurs that have collectively created over 1,000 jobs. More than 35 per cent of the start-ups that participated in previous editions...
As recently shared by Aluminium Corporation of China, popularly known as Chalco (HKG:2600, SHA: 601600), in the first quarter of 2025, the multinational aluminium production company expects a lucrative profit between RMB 3.4 billion (USD 476 million) and RMB 3.6 billion (USD 504 million). This announcement reflects an increase of 53 per cent to 63 per cent remunerative growth if compared with the previous year. Image source: Companies History Chalco is a state-owned multinational aluminium company with its headquarters in Beijing, China. It solely focuses on the production and distribution of aluminium products. The company's shares are listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and Shanghai Stock Exchange as publicly traded companies. With the Q1 2025 financial prediction, Chalco is...
China’s ‘blow-for-blow’ strategy in response to the United States' 34 per cent reciprocal duty apparently leads to the addition of another round of tariff to the existing thread. On Tuesday, April 8, the US government threatened to impose an additional 50 per cent tariff on all Chinese products in retaliation, bringing the total tariff on China to 104 per cent. But this figure is not the full story. When accounting for the 25 per cent tariff on aluminium and steel imports that the United States imposed in March, the total tariff on China rises to a staggering 129 per cent. Image generated by AI for representational purpose The latest threat of a 50 per cent tariff is scheduled to take effect at midnight (CST time zone) on April 9, 2025, which was set as a deadline for China to reverse its...
On Monday in Luxembourg, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen formally put a “zero‑for‑zero” offer on the table. The EU would eliminate its tariffs on US cars and other industrial goods if Washington reciprocates by dropping its own levies to zero. The proposal comes just days after President Trump announced a 20 per cent tariff on virtually all remaining EU imports and a 25 per cent rate on steel, aluminium and autos, a move Brussels says threatens integrated supply chains on both sides of the Atlantic. However, US President Donald Trump has declined the offer and stood by his previous decision, stating to reporters at the White House, “The European Union has been very, very bad to us; they don’t take our cars, like Japan in that sense, they don’t take our agricultural...
In a bold leap toward the future of sustainable mobility and energy storage, Toshiba Corporation has introduced its latest advancement in lithium-ion battery technology—a new SCiB module specifically designed for use in electric buses, electric ships, and stationary energy systems. Engineered to meet the growing demand for high-power, rapid-charging applications, the new lithium-ion module features an innovative aluminium baseplate that delivers twice the heat dissipation of existing models. Scheduled for commercial release in mid-April 2025 across both Japanese and international markets, this next-generation battery module delivers approximately twice the heat dissipation performance of Toshiba’s existing modules. The new SCiB module represents a major leap forward in battery innovation...
Aldi is shaking things up in the wine aisle with the launch of its very first own-label aluminium wine bottle in the UK, making a bold move away from traditional glass. The new packaging will hit shelves on April 14, 2025, marking a big step forward in the supermarket’s sustainability journey. Image source: Aldi The aluminium metal is lightweight, fully recyclable and more durable than glass, not to mention it chills quicker, making it both eco-friendly and convenient. Aldi’s debut wine in this format is the Costellore Pinot Grigio, a light and refreshing Italian white, bottled in the UK in partnership with Broadland Drinks. The 75cl aluminium bottle weighs nearly 75% less than a glass bottle and comes in at an affordable £5.99. According to Aldi, this new format supports their wider...
The Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) has strongly criticised the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) over the disappearance of more than 1,000 containers of imported electrical cables. AGI described the situation as “most unfortunate” and possibly violating Ghana’s local content laws. In a strongly worded statement signed by AGI CEO Seth Twum-Akwaboah and released on April 5, 2025 AGI expressed deep frustration over ECG’s actions, particularly the import of aluminium conductors that Ghana is fully capable of producing domestically. The Association condemned the move as not only unnecessary but also damaging to the growth and sustainability of local industry. Even more alarming, according to AGI, are widespread rumours that a significant number of these imported containers have...
The operating rate of leading domestic aluminium downstream processing enterprises dropped back slightly by 0.8 percentage points W-o-W to 62.6 per cent, ending an eight-week consecutive increase, and fell by 0.6 percentage points Y-o-Y. By sector, the operating rates of primary aluminium alloy, aluminium plate/sheet and strip, aluminium extrusion, aluminium foil, and secondary aluminium alloy generally pulled back, with only aluminium wire and cable maintaining stable operations. Current downstream consumption showed divergence, with strong support from power grid construction and PV installation demand. Orders on hand for wire and cable enterprises exceeded expectations, and the PV frame sector maintained full production due to new electricity price policies and the pullback in...
The Ogun State Government, in partnership with Neveah Limited—an indigenous company—is set to establish an aluminium recycling plant projected to generate over $150 million in annual revenue for the state. According to the company's Chief Executive Officer, Mr Lawal Ibidapo, the facility is also expected to contribute approximately 2.5 per cent to Nigeria's total non-oil exports. Mr Ibidapo disclosed this on Monday while speaking to journalists following a closed-door meeting with Governor Dapo Abiodun at Okemosan, Abeokuta. The Chief Executive Officer praised Governor Dapo Abiodun for fostering a business-friendly environment in Ogun State, noting that the decision to site the aluminium recycling plant in the Gateway State was strategic, given its proximity to Lagos—Nigeria’s financial...
