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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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...
Marumae Co., Ltd., a key producer of aluminium products like slabs, alloys, billets and high-purity aluminium ingots, has successfully acquired 100 per cent shares of Japan-based company KM Aluminium Co. Ltd. The acquisition agreement, initially signed on March 4, 2025, is coming into effect on April 8 with the commencement of share transfer process. Image source: Small Business Australia Marumae shall purchase a total of 13,062,703 shares with 130,627 of voting rights. Why did Marumae take over KM Aluminium? Marumae plans to secure a growth trajectory for its business in the semiconductor sector, and this acquisition will give it the perfect opportunity to tap into this field because KM Aluminium Co. deals in manufacturing and selling ultra-high purity aluminium products for aluminium...
The European Union (EU) received a suggestion on Monday from the Italian foreign minister Antonio Tajani that the supranational political and economic union of 27 members might want to contemplate delaying counter-tariffs announcement on US imports of aluminium and steel, which are to come into effect on April 9. Image source: https://multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/ “We could think about postponing them to April 30, but we certainly don’t oppose them,” Tajani said, adding, “We will support EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovi; this is clear. Let’s see if we can postpone them by a few weeks to have more time for dialogue.” Tajani’s statements came to the public post the Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni's and other distinguished members of the Italian government's warning caught attention...
Yazaki, a 17 billion USD legacy Japanese global auto parts giant, with presence in 46 countries, has expanded its India footprint with close to 1 million square feet across NCR, Hosur, and now Chennai. This has been done in collaboration with Horizon Industrial Parks, Blackstone’s logistics platform in India; known for its innovative plug and play manufacturing and warehousing facilities with over 50 million sq. ft. leasable area. Yazaki which employs around 3 lakh people worldwide and operates 12 plants in India has prioritised modernisation, sustainability and safety with this collaboration. Yazaki supplies wire harnesses to a majority of OEMs in India. This is Yazaki’s third plant with Horizon Industrial Parks. It is a built-to-suit manufacturing unit spanning 3.16 lakh square feet,...
The US produces a large quantity of beverage cans domestically. But, it isn't enough to cater to the country's need. Import takes up a large portion of the aluminium trade in the stance of the United States. And among these inbound trade comes the aluminium can which is an intergral part of America's gastronomy as well as beverage industry. As the new tariffs are part of an aggressive tariff policy by US President Donald Trump that has impacted the global system of international trade, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) announced the inclusion of two products to the additional 25 per cent Section 232 tariffs on aluminium-derived products. These products are classified as follows: HTSUS 7612.90.10 (empty aluminium cans) and HTSUS 2203.00.00 (beer). The newly added item in the list,...
During January-February 2025, the world's metallurgical-grade alumina production recorded an impressive increase of 4.41 per cent, reaching 23.015 million tonnes versus 22.043 million tonnes a year ago. In both January and February, the output increased Y-o-Y by 6.77 per cent and 1.89 per cent, totalling 12.149 million tonnes and 10.866 million tonnes, respectively. As per the data shown by the International Aluminium Institute, metallurgical-grade alumina production in February 2025 grew Y-o-Y from 10.664 million tonnes, despite a fewer operational day, with the daily average output reaching 388,100 tonnes versus 367,700 tonnes in February 2024. Thanks to China's expanded alumina refining capacity that drove the growth of global output, offsetting declines across all other major...
Milan Design Week is back with a bang and lots more exciting innovations to showcase in 2025. The renowned exhibition not only flaunts the latest trends from in and around the world but also serves as a premier platform for designers to showcase their unique ideas and innovations. "Design You Can Feel" exhibition With a similar motto, ASUS, a global technology leader, has come up with some exciting innovations showcasing its design philosophy. The Taiwanese multinational company has unveiled its all-new "Design You Can Feel" exhibition at Milan Design Week, offering a deep dive into materiality, craftsmanship, and artificial intelligence (AI) themes. Each April, Milan becomes a global stage for creativity, drawing in designers, luxury brands, and tech innovators alike. Now in its 63rd...
Maxwell Hazan, a renowned custom motorcycle designer, has unveiled the Ferrari HF355 motorcycle. This unique creation integrates a 3.5-litre Ferrari V8 engine into a bespoke aluminium frame. Crafted in Hazan's Los Angeles workshop, the project aims to blend Ferrari's automotive excellence with motorcycle engineering. Image source: rocketgaragemagazine Aluminium plays a pivotal role in the HF355's design. The custom-built frame leverages aluminium's lightweight and durable properties, ensuring structural integrity while accommodating the substantial Ferrari engine. This choice enhances performance without compromising safety. Maxwell Hazan's expertise is evident in the HF355's meticulous construction. His dedication to quality and innovation has garnered attention from enthusiasts and...
Taber Extrusions, a cornerstone of Arkansas manufacturing landscape has announced the groundbreaking ceremony for its major facility expansion in Russellville. The upcoming aluminium extrusion facility will feature the largest direct extrusion press in North America. The expansion was first announced in July 2024 at the USA Partnership Pavilion during the Farnborough Air Show, with Governor Sanders, Taber executives, and state officials in attendance. The company has consistently expanded its Russellville operations—adding fabrication capabilities in 2014, cutting-edge friction stir welding technology in 2019, and a Haas VF-12 CNC machining line in 2021. As part of this project, the company is investing $70 million into its Russellville operations, a move expected to generate 70 new jobs....
Apple orchestrated an airlift of five planeloads of iPhones and other products from its manufacturing hubs in India and China to the United States over a span of just three days in late March. The reason behind the move? A swift manoeuvre to sidestep impending US tariffs. This fast-paced, decisive operation aimed to bypass the probable imposition of the 10 per cent reciprocal tariff to be imposed by the Trump administration, which was to take effect on April 5, in addition to the existing 25 per cent tariff on steel and aluminium. As the brand had no intention of a price hike, by accelerating shipments, Apple sought to maintain its retail prices globally without passing on the tariff-induced costs to consumers. Image for referential purposes only To establish short-term stability amidst...
According to SMM statistics, domestic aluminium production in March 2025 (31 days) increased by 3.7 per cent Y-o-Y and 11.2 per cent M-o-M. Domestic aluminium operating capacity increased M-o-M, mainly due to the gradual resumption of production at aluminium smelters, with some resumptions in February already yielding output. The proportion of liquid aluminium at domestic aluminium smelters rebounded to normal levels, with the industry's liquid aluminium proportion increasing by 3.2 percentage points M-o-M and 0.15 percentage points Y-o-Y to 74.2 per cent. Additionally, due to losses, some downstream billet plants in Guangxi reduced production, leading to a decline in the liquid aluminium proportion at some local aluminium plants by the end of the month. Based on SMM's liquid aluminium...
India hogs the limelight in the global mining sector with back-to-back discoveries of natural resources like bauxite. After Meghalaya , it is now Kerala, a southern part of India, where the Geological Survey of India (GSI) has found the richest aluminium ore deposit, particularly in Karadukka in Kasaragod district, across about 150 hectares. Image source: Wikipedia According to a GSI survey, about 0.21 million tonnes of high-grade bauxite and 5.14 million tonnes of aluminous laterite are present beneath the surface of the region, meaning the area has significant potential to become a central hub for bauxite and alumina production, thanks to the aluminous laterite, which contains both iron and aluminium oxides. GSI also finds the available bauxite resources contain 40 to 45 per cent...
Constellium has announced the successful completion of the ISA3 Research and Development (R&D) project. Launched in 2021, the initiative focused on advancing lightweight automotive design by developing next-generation aluminium components that are lighter, more cost-effective, and highly recyclable. Carried out in collaboration with Renault Group, the ESI Group, the Institut de Soudure (Welding Institute), and the University of Lorraine, the project received financial backing from the France Relance program. “The innovations achieved through this collaboration demonstrate the transformative potential of aluminium to support the decarbonization of the automotive industry while delivering cost benefits,” said Ludovic Piquier, senior vice president of Manufacturing Excellence and chief...
Rimowa has partnered with Berlin-based eyewear specialist Mykita to create co-branded sunglasses, with the first styles launching on April 10. Anodised aluminium—Rimowa's signature material will be utilised in the Heritage series of co-branded sunglasses, which are available in square, aviator, and panto styles. Image Source: Rimowa This marks Mykita's first foray into working with aluminium, diverging from its usual materials of stainless steel, acetate, and Mylon. The rigid metal brings added structural stability to the frames, while the silver and black aluminium rings introduce a bold and distinctive design detail. Cologne-based Rimowa stands out in the luggage industry as one of the few brands that manufactures 100 per cent of its cases at its own facilities in Germany, the Czech...
Among end-user products made of aluminium, cans and bottles are one category affected by the US tariffs; PC cases and graphic cards are another facing challenges due to tariff implementation on Chinese aluminium imports from March 12, 2025. Image source: Medical Buyer PC makers were already affected by the initial 20 per cent tariff on Chinese aluminium imports. It was a surprise when they learnt about Trump’s additional 25 per cent tariff, making them pay more on a shipment of PC cases made of aluminium. In the process of PC construction, aluminium is deemed to be a fundamental material for casing as well as in manufacturing different components of GPU (Graphics Processing Unit). With these newly imposed tariffs, the overall production costs using these materials shall rise, resulting in...
Aluminium giants, among other metal businesses in India, reportedly plan to expand rapidly and vigorously to support domestic demand. The transformation in business strategy for these metal producers comes as two major factors weigh in — the US tariff creating international price volatility and India’s domestic market touching the demand sky. Aluminium and steel companies alike face the headwind of a 25 per cent tariff imposed on all aluminium and steel imports to the US. Producers like Vedanta, Nalco, and Hindalco are thus tallying a reroute through trade in the domestic market, eyeing the scope of withholding any potential business deterioration. Key players like Vedanta, NALCO, and Hindalco are realigning their trade priorities to cushion any fallout from the tariff-led international...
Designers Sabine Marcelis and Daniel Rybakken are among the talents showcasing aluminium-based furniture and home decor at Hydro's R100 exhibition during Milan Design Week 2025. Organised by the aluminium and renewable energy company Hydro, the exhibition was built entirely from 100 per cent post-consumer aluminium—including all objects, podiums, and display structures. The exhibition featured five design pieces, all developed under a self-imposed constraint: everything, from sourcing the aluminium scrap to producing the finished designs, had to occur within a 100-kilometre radius. This local-first approach underscored the feasibility and beauty of sustainable design at scale. Hosted at Capsule Plaza – Spazio Maiocchi in Milan ( from April 7 to April 13), R100 built upon the momentum of...
In the dynamic industrial landscape of India, heavy industries such as aluminium, steel, and cement are on the brink of a renewable revolution. Traditionally reliant on captive coal generation, these sectors now face a transformative 20 GW solar open access opportunity, a prospect that promises to slash production costs and reduce carbon emissions by up to 29 million tonnes annually. For instance, the steel sector alone, which contributes around 9.4 GW to this market, could see production costs drop by up to 10 per cent in setups like standalone arc furnaces, thanks to a shift from expensive grid power to open-access solar. Meanwhile, cement and aluminium, despite their ongoing reliance on captive coal, add another 11 GW to the potential. Aluminium, a cornerstone of India’s power sector,...
