Russian aluminium producer Rusal has reached an agreement with Ghana's state-owned Ghana Integrated Aluminum Development Corporation (GIADEC) to jointly develop bauxite mining and alumina refining projects, marking a significant step towards expanding the country's domestic aluminium value chain. Under the agreement, the projects will be implemented through two joint ventures in which Rusal will hold majority stakes. The proposed developments include bauxite mining operations with annual production capacity of up to 5 million tonnes and an alumina refinery capable of producing 1.2 million tonnes annually. The projects will target the Nyinahin bauxite deposit in southwest Ghana, where estimated resources exceed 100 million tonnes, according to Rusal. The agreement was announced during a...
Romania’s aluminium can recycling rate increased to 80.5 per cent in the first nine months of 2026, compared with 75 per cent in the same period last year, according to data published by RetuRO, the administrator of the country’s Deposit Return System (DRS), and analysed by Every Can Counts. The number of aluminium cans returned between January and September was 6.3 per cent higher than in the corresponding period of 2025. The return rate also improved to 85 per cent from 82 per cent a year earlier. Aluminium cans were the only packaging category to record growth in the first nine months of 2026, as the total number of deposit-bearing containers placed on the market declined by 2.4 per cent. The number of cans placed on the market increased by 2 per cent, while plastic and glass packaging...
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The International Organisation of Aluminium Aerosol Container Manufacturers, popularly known as AEROBAL, reveals its latest survey showing a significant increase in global deliveries from its members in the first half of 2024. According to the survey, the deliveries grew across all the major packaging industries, driven by strong demand, particularly from the cosmetic industry. Products like deodorants and hairsprays reported a growth of 7 per cent and 8 per cent, respectively, in aluminium container deliveries. The food sector also recorded a strong market, securing 12 per cent more aluminium containers in H1 2024 than in the corresponding period of the previous year. Deliveries to the pharmaceutical sector grew by around 3 per cent. AEROBAL suggests deodorants and perfumes are the...
On September 19, 2024, the UK embassy in Jakarta announced that Britain signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Indonesia to collaborate on critical minerals. Indonesia, the largest country in Southeast Asia and known for its vast mineral resources, will work with the UK to enhance policy dialogue, exchange technical knowledge, and foster expertise in key areas such as supply chain resilience, sustainable processing (both upstream and downstream), and the assessment of mineral criticality. The statement did not provide specific details regarding the agreement. With its abundant deposits of bauxite, tin, and copper, Indonesia is the world’s largest producer of nickel ore. The country strives to maximise the value of its mineral resources. The country is actively seeking to attract...
The previous trading day, LME aluminium opened at US$2,509 per tonne, reached a high of US$2,542 per tonne, a low of US$2,485 per tonne, and closed at US$2,522 per tonne, up US$15.5 per tonne, an increase of 0.62 per cent. On Wednesday, September 18, both LME aluminium cash bid price and LME aluminium official settlement price gained US$14.5 per tonne or 0.57 per cent to clock at US$2,519.50 per tonne and US$2,520 per tonne. As per the LME graph, 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price added US$8.5 per tonne or 0.33 per cent and US$7 per tonne or 0.27 per cent to settle at US$2,527.50 per tonne and US$2,528 per tonne. December 25 bid price and December 25 offer price moved up by US$2 per tonne or 0.07 per cent to settle at US$2,620 per tonne and US$2,625 per tonne. LME aluminium opening...
Apple, the American multinational company and technology giant, has recently launched its much-awaited iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus. Apart from its cool gadgets and electronics, Apple has always been known for sustainable measures to protect the environment. Making progress towards its goal of achieving carbon neutrality across the entirety of its manufacturing supply chain and all stages of product life cycles by the year 2030, Apple has successfully reduced GHG emissions for both its iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus with 128GB by 30 per cent compared to the projected business-as-usual scenario, as modelled by Apple. iPhone 16 contains 85% recycled aluminium This device features over 30 per cent recycled materials, including 85 per cent recycled aluminium in the enclosure, which has lowered...
In August 2024, China’s imports and exports of unwrought aluminium and aluminium products increased, suggesting an increase in domestic production and a gradual recovery in demand aligned with a ramp-up in overseas orders for Chinese aluminium semis. Overview of August imports According to the General Customs data, China’s unwrought aluminium and aluminium product imports in August saw a significant month-on-month hike of 7.69 per cent, while that on a year-on-year basis witnessed a growth of 1.9 per cent. As per the Customs data, China imported 280,000 tonnes of unwrought aluminium and aluminium products in August 2024, compared to 260,000 tonnes imported in July. Thus, the total imports in the first eight months of 2024 amounted to 2.58 million tonnes, up by 51 per cent from the...
LME aluminium opened at US$2,517 per tonne, hit a high of US$2,539.5 per tonne, a low of US$2,505.5 per tonne, and closed at US$2,506.5 per tonne, down US$8.5 per tonne, a decrease of 0.34 per cent. On Tuesday, September 17, both LME aluminium cash bid price and LME aluminium official settlement price inched up by US$0.5 per tonne or 0.01 per cent to clock at US$2,505 per tonne and US$2,505.50 per tonne. As per the LME price graph, 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price moved up by US$1 per tonne or 0.03 per cent and US$2.5 per tonne or 0.09 per cent to stand at US$2,519 per tonne and US$2,521 per tonne. December 25 bid price and December 25 offer price added US$3 per tonne or 0.11 per cent to arrive at US$2,618 per tonne and US$2,623 per tonne. LME aluminium opening stock came in at...
The Public Enterprise Selection Board (PESB), a high-powered body constituted by the Government of India, has selected Brijendra Pratap Singh as the next Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD) of National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), a Schedule 'A' Central Public Sector Undertaking (PSU). Singh, currently the Director in charge of Burnpur and Durgapur Steel Plants at Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), was chosen from a pool of six candidates. His appointment is now pending requisite clearances and final approval from the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC). He is set to succeed Sridhar Patra, the current CMD, who will retire on October 31, 2024. Once the post becomes vacant, Singh will formally take over on expected from November 1, 2024.
Versalux, a pioneer in bringing state-of-the-art lighting systems to the Australian market, is scaling up its sustainability drive by adopting locally sourced low-carbon aluminium from Capral Aluminium, Australia's largest extruder and distributor of industry-leading aluminium products. Embracing Capral's low-carbon aluminium LocAl® represents Versalux's commitment to environmental stewardship and decarbonising commercial buildings to combat climate change. In addition, this move also sets a positive example for the lighting industry in terms of working towards producing sustainable products. Versalux has adopted Capral aluminium for two popular lighting products – INFINITI and VERSATUBE. INFINITI is a modern luminaire solution designed for mounting in long lengths. It is exclusively...
Ma'aden, Saudi Arabia's premier mining company, has reached an agreement to acquire SABIC's 20.62 per cent stake in Aluminium Bahrain (ALBA). This acquisition reflects Ma'aden's ongoing commitment to regional expansion and aligns with its ambitious goal to achieve a tenfold growth by 2040. The announcement follows the news that Ma'aden and Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) have agreed on non-binding Heads of Terms to explore the possibility of creating a global aluminium powerhouse in the region. Additionally, Ma'aden revealed plans to consolidate its aluminium business through a Share Purchase and Subscription Agreement with long-term partner Alcoa. Bob Wilt, CEO of Ma'aden, stated, "As we continue in our growth journey, the acquisition of shares in a highly experienced, well-developed regional...
Aston Martin, a British manufacturer of luxury sports cars and grand tourers, is set to advance its sustainability efforts with £6 million in funding from the UK Government for an innovative project focused on developing lightweight, sustainable aluminium castings for future vehicles. The luxury sports car brand has obtained funding for its Project PIVOT through the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC) following a competitive process. Project PIVOT is a collaborative five-partner research and development project led by an England-based aluminium supplier, Sarginsons, and supported by Aston Martin. This project seeks to achieve a new milestone in the global casting industry by modernising designs, reducing weight, and significantly curbing carbon emissions while producing cast aluminium....
The global mining and metal giant Rio Tinto has announced plans to develop Pongamia seed farms in Australia as part of a new biofuels pilot project to produce renewable diesel. The project will explore the potential of Pongamia seed oil as a feedstock for renewable diesel. This promising and innovative approach could position it as a cleaner alternative to conventional fossil fuels. The initiative seeks to assess whether Pongamia seed oil can meet Rio Tinto's future renewable diesel needs while fostering the growth of the biofuel industry in Australia. The company is in the final stages of acquiring around 3,000 hectares of cleared land near Townsville, Queensland, where it will establish farms to monitor seed growth and measure oil yields under local conditions. Rio Tinto has partnered...
Bizongo, a B2B platform specialising in supply chain financing and integrated raw material procurement solutions like aluminium and steel, has entered the next phase of expansion with BizongoBuy and BizongoFin. Backed by Accel and IFC, the Series E-funded B2B e-commerce platform is strategically adopting the 'golden triangle' approach—integrating commerce, financing, and logistics, a model traditionally used in B2C—to drive innovation in the fast-evolving B2B space. Both BizongoBuy (raw material marketplace) and BizongoFin (embedded supply chain finance platform) will be expanded into new and larger businesses, followed by the appointment of a new CEO. Additionally, Bizongo has bolstered its senior leadership by appointing a Chief Technology & Product Officer and a Chief Financial...
On Tuesday, September 17, Century Aluminum, a global primary aluminium producer with operations in the United States, announced the resumption of normal shipping operations of alumina at Jamalco’s Rocky Point port after the completion of the repair work of damages caused by devastative cyclone Hurricane Beryl. The news came after Century’s President and CEO Jesse Gary said, “I want to thank our entire Jamalco team who rose to the occasion following Hurricane Beryl and successfully completed these repairs safely and with a disciplined focus on execution.” Century’s Jamalco alumina refinery was back to full operation within less than two weeks after recovering from the impact of Hurricane Beryl, which took place on July 3, bringing intense winds and heavy rains. In Iceland, Century Aluminum...
Chinese automaker BYD Co. has taken full control of its joint venture with Mercedes-Benz Group AG, marking the end of a 13-year partnership in China's electric vehicle (EV) market. BYD acquired the remaining 10 per cent of shares in the company that were previously owned by Mercedes-Benz, bringing the Denza premium EV brand entirely under BYD's ownership. The terms of the deal were not disclosed, and Mercedes-Benz representatives in China declined to comment. BYD sells around 3 million vehicles a year, making it the world's leading EV company. The dissolution of this joint venture comes at a time of escalating trade tensions between China and Europe. The European Commission is preparing to impose additional tariffs on Chinese EVs, with potential rates reaching up to 36.3 per cent. A vote...
Aluminium stocks at Japan’s three major ports – Yokohama, Nagoya, and Osaka decreased year-on-year, indicating persistent supply constraints in Asia. Compared to 360,700 tonnes at the end of August 2023, stocks in August 2024 recorded a sharp fall of 9.26 per cent, showed Marubeni Corporation, a major Japanese integrated trading and investment business conglomerate. Nonetheless, the stocks hovered above 300,000 tonnes, marking a month-on-month increase of 9.25 per cent from 299,600 tonnes. According to the data shared by Marubeni, Japanese aluminium stocks at the end of August 2024 stood at 327,300 tonnes. Stocks at three ports At Yokohama, aluminium stocks at the end of August 2024 stood at 152,000 tonnes, down by 8,000 tonnes or 5 per cent from 160,000 tonnes in August 2023. In...
Italy has extended its support to the European Commission's proposed tariffs on Chinese electric vehicle imports, said Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani in an interview on Monday, September 16, before meeting China's Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao. Tajani asserted, "We support the duties that the EU Commission proposes to protect the competitiveness of our companies." Minister Wang Wentao has visited Rome for discussions over the European Commission's proposed tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. He held talks with Tajani, but no statement from the Italian foreign ministry made direct reference to EV tariffs. Tajani said they discussed protecting intellectual property, trade in the agri-food sector, and investments. Wang will have another round of discussions with the European...
Canada is intensifying efforts to combat plastic waste by expanding Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs to address the nation's pressing environmental concerns. A 2018 World Bank report highlighted a stark reality: Canadians generate over 4 pounds of waste per person daily, more than double the global average. By 2050, this rate is projected to climb further. Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) reveals that Canadians discard over 3 million metric tons of plastic waste annually, with plastic packaging constituting half of this total. Alarmingly, only 9 per cent of this plastic is recycled. In response to these statistics and under the pressure of climate change, the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment advocates for significant reforms. The council strongly...
Akfa Aluminium, Uzbekistan's leading manufacturer of aluminium and PVC profiles, has reportedly received 'B+/B' long and short-term issuer credit ratings from S&P Global for demonstrating a stable outlook in the Central Asian market. In 2023, Akfa emerged as the largest producer of aluminium and PVC profiles in Uzbekistan and Central Asia, with a sales figure of UZS 4.3 trillion (approx. $347 million). The company, with its revenue and business size, controls 62 per cent of aluminium profiles market and 55 per cent of PVC profiles market in Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan, a Central Asian country, is gradually taking a key position in the world with its industrial developments. According to the survey revealed by the Institute of Macroeconomic and Regional Research (IMRI), industrial production in...
