North American aluminum demand returned to growth in the first half of 2026, but the recovery has exposed a widening gap between market consumption and domestic production. Rising imports of semi-fabricated aluminum products, particularly sheet, have supported regional demand as shipments from US and Canadian producers continue to weaken. According to preliminary industry estimates, aluminum demand across the United States and Canada increased 3.5% Year-on-Year through June 2026, reaching an estimated 13.57 billion pounds (6.16 million metric tonnes), compared with 13.12 billion pounds (5.95 million metric tonnes) during the corresponding period of 2025. The improvement marks a reversal from the previous year's contraction, although imports rather than stronger domestic mill shipments...
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...
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Ma'aden Aluminium, Saudi Arabia's premier mining company, was successfully re-certified with the ASI Chain of Custody Standard V2 for its bauxite mining at the Al-Baitha Mine and its operations at Ras al-Khair industrial city, which encompasses alumina refining, smelting, and the production of ingots, billets, and slabs. The certification also extends to aluminium remelting and flat-rolled product manufacturing. Notably, all recertification conducted after June 1, 2023, must adhere to the updated 2022 ASI Chain of Custody Standard, which Ma’aden Aluminium has successfully transitioned to. The ASI Performance Standard V3 and Chain of Custody Standard V2, introduced in May 2022, elevate the expectations for responsible practices in the aluminium industry. The ASI Performance Standard V3...
Austria-based high-quality aluminium products supplier Hammerer Aluminium Industries (HAI) celebrated the inauguration of its new P61 extrusion press line and logistics centre at its headquarters in Ranshofen, Austria. The event, which drew guests from local government and business sectors, marked not only the unveiling of the state-of-the-art press line but also the successful conclusion of a €125 million investment initiative that the HAI Group embarked on in 2022. Image Source: Light Metal Age According to Light Metal Age, the new press line expands capacity and enables the production of highly complex aluminium profiles for the automotive sector. The recently completed €125 million investment package encompassed a diverse range of projects. About the new P61 press line The P61 line...
Societe Generale International has announced its decision to withdraw from the London Metal Exchange's (LME) open-outcry trading floor, known as the "ring," a move that has sparked concerns about the future viability of this historic trading venue. The LME, the world's oldest and largest market for industrial metals, confirmed the news on August 23, 2024. This departure leaves only seven members operating within the LME ring, a significant decline from its peak of around 30 members in the late 1980s. The ring, renowned for its iconic circle of padded red leather seats, has long been a hub for traders who engage in intense five-minute sessions using traditional hand signals to trade key metals such as copper, aluminium, zinc, lead, nickel, and tin. The daily prices on the LME trading floor...
The Australian Government has convened a panel of industry experts to guide the nation's metals sector towards a more sustainable future. The newly established Green Metals Advisory Panel comprises leaders from across the metals, finance, research, and decarbonisation industries. Key members of the panel include Mark Cain, CEO of the Australian Steel Institute; Paul Howes, National Managing Partner at KPMG; Marghanita Johnson, CEO of the Australian Aluminium Council; and Rebecca Tomkinson, CEO of the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia. The panel also features Jenny Selway, CEO of the Heavy Industry Low-Carbon Transition Cooperative Research Centre; Paul Farrow, National Secretary of the Australian Workers Union; and Steve Murphy, National Secretary of the Australian...
LME aluminium opened at US$2,475 per tonne, with a high of US$2,547.5 per tonne and a low of US$2,473.5 per tonne, closing at US$2,533.5 per tonne, up US$67 per tonne or 2.72 per cent. On Friday, August 23, both LME aluminium cash bid price and LME aluminium official settlement price gained US$28.5 per tonne or 1.15 per cent and US$28 per tonne or 1.13 per cent to clock at US$2,498.50 per tonne and US$2,499 per tonne. The LME aluminium price has shown growth for the fifth consecutive day. Overall, from Monday to Friday, the price has grown by US$129.5 per tonne or 5.46 per cent from US$2,369.50 per tonne recorded on Monday. As of Friday, both 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price added US$16 per tonne and US$16.5 per tonne to peg at US$2,508.50 per tonne and US$2,509 per tonne....
A strategic collaboration has been formed between India's Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development and Design Centre (JNARDDC), Nagpur, and Japan's leading aluminium product manufacturer, Daiki Aluminium Industry Company Limited. The collaboration aims to strengthen the Indo-Japanese economic partnership and promote sustainable aluminium production. The two entities formalised their partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed at Daiki Aluminium's headquarters in Osaka, Japan. The MoU was signed by Goto Kazushi, Senior Managing Director of Daiki Aluminium Industry Company Limited, and Dr Anupam Agnihotri, Director of JNARDDC, with key figures including Fukushima Toshitake, Vice General Manager of Overseas Business Coordination at Daiki, R.N. Chouhan, Head of...
As a nation severely affected by the ongoing geopolitical crisis with its neighbouring country, Ukraine's Head of the State Property Fund, Vitalii Koval, believes that the Zaporozhye Aluminium Plant (Zaporizhzhia Aluminium Plant) will appeal to investors primarily as a site for industrial development. Vitalii Koval, a key figure in the State Property Fund, shared his insights, as reported by NikVesti. Koval stated that the State Property Fund cancelled the auction for the sale of the Zaporozhye Aluminium Plant (ZAP) after three unsuccessful attempts. Vitalii Koval said, "ZAP is certainly of interest to potential investors. Especially as a brownfield site with developed infrastructure. This opens opportunities to create new industries, contributing to the region's economic development."...
South Africa’s state-owned energy company Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd has reportedly launched electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure at the Eskom Academy of Learning (EAL) in Midrand as part of its long-term commitment to support the growth of the eMobility sector within South Africa and contribute to the nation’s broader goals of reducing carbon emissions. In collaboration with Gridcars, Eskom has installed ten EV charging stations across five sites nationwide. These sites include Brackenfell in Cape Town, Mkondeni in Pietermaritzburg, Tlhabane Customer Network Centre in Rustenburg, and Marathon Customer Network Centre in Mbombela. Each station has direct current (DC) fast chargers capable of delivering 60kW of power and dual alternating current (AC) chargers with 22kW of power,...
Foreign direct investment (FDI) in China has declined to its lowest level in three decades, according to official data released by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange in February 2024. The sharp decline highlights growing concerns among foreign corporations over China's increasingly stringent regulations and the impact of U.S. sanctions, as Nikkei Asia reported on February 19, 2024. In 2023, China's net FDI totalled a mere $33 billion, a staggering 80 per cent drop from the previous year. This marks the second consecutive year of decline, a significant fall from the peak of $344 billion recorded in 2021. Despite the dismal overall figures, the final quarter of 2023 saw a slight improvement, with inflows surpassing outflows by $17.5 billion. This modest recovery followed the...
The upstream sector of the global aluminium industry witnessed some important events this week. To begin with, LME aluminium price hit a 5-week high fuelled by the alumina shortage in China coupled with the weakening dollar that spurred fund buying. The price closed at US$2,435 per tonne after witnessing a growth of US$65.5 per tonne. The shortage of alumina, one of the key raw materials for producing aluminium, also created ripples in the China SMM market. China's domestic A00 aluminium ingot price had increased for the fifth consecutive day in tandem with the heightened price of the ore owing to tight supply and heightened demand. In July 2024, the world primary aluminium production saw a significant uptick, with strong output across all major metal-producing regions. According to the...
Alumobility, established in 2021, is a global collaborative network designed to promote the use of aluminium in the automotive industry. The ecosystem brings together leading aluminium producers—Constellium, Novelis, and Speira—with downstream technology partners and OEMs. "What we are trying to do is create a team of people with wide industry knowledge, including our technical partners, like Magna, Atlas Copco, and Fisher," said Mark White, technical director of Alumobility. Through joint project studies, Alumobility aims to develop innovative systems that enable the creation of lighter, safer, and more sustainable vehicles. In its first three years, Alumobility completed six major aluminium conversion projects, each demonstrating significant weight reduction while meeting or surpassing...
Ball Corporation partners with global beverage giants to advance sustainability in aluminium packaging as demand surges amid growing environmental concerns. According to a leading industry expert, global aluminium demand is expected to rise by 40 per cent by 2030, driven by its superior recyclability and lower carbon footprint compared to other packaging materials. Aluminium plays a crucial role in global food and beverage packaging, ensuring freshness and safeguarding contents. However, enhancing the recyclability of aluminium-containing food and drink packaging remains a significant global challenge that Ball Corporation is actively addressing. Aluminium is highly recyclable on its own, but when used in mixed packaging, it can impede the recyclability of many products, posing a...
According to a report on August 23, 2024, Vedanta Aluminium has appointed Fabio Roberto Martins as the new CEO of the aluminium billet division. Martins will lead the unit in the new role, focusing on production optimisation and efficiency. Under Martins' leadership, Vedanta Aluminium aspires to become the world's largest billet producer by expanding its capacity to 1.2 million tonnes per annum. So, Martins is expected to drive and execute commercial activities and oversee operational management, ensuring a new high for the business. Martins has 26 years of experience in the aluminium industry. His association with Alcoa, where he held various leadership roles, including Director of Operations, is seen as instrumental in enhancing Vedanta's aluminium billet business. On the appointment of...
Ireland's Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) has seen impressive growth in its first six months. Re-turn, the scheme operator, announced that since its launch on February 1, Irish consumers have returned more than 347 million drink containers, including aluminium, plastic and others. By returning these containers through the scheme, consumers contribute to the collection of higher-quality recyclable material compared to dry mixed recycling. This dedicated separation process allows for the continuous recycling of aluminium and enables plastic bottles to be recycled up to seven times. Public support has steadily increased, with a significant rise in the number of bottles and cans being returned each month. In February, the scheme's first month, 2 million containers were returned, and by July, the...
Aditya Birla Group-owned Hindalco Industries announced in its annual general meeting on August 22 that it would invest $10 billion in capacity expansions. Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla distinctly outlined his plans for ongoing and near-term projects related to aluminium and copper smelters, including the Aditya flat-rolled product plant, a new alumina refinery in Rayadaga, and the Bay Minnette expansion in Novelis. Chairman said one of Hindalco's key expansion plans includes scaling up Aditya Aluminium smelter capacity by approximately 200,000 tonnes in Odisha, requiring a significant portion of power through renewable energy sources. In addition, Hindalco is establishing a greenfield alumina refinery in Rayagada, Odisha, with the first phase having a capacity of 850,000 tonnes and...
According to Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat, the future of large-scale mining in Guyana appears increasingly promising. On August 21, 2024, Minister Bharrat highlighted the resurgence of the mining sector, particularly in Region 10, where bauxite mining is experiencing a significant revival. This turnaround is boosting the local economy and generating much-needed employment opportunities for residents. Additionally, the manganese industry in Region One (Barima/Waini) is on an upward trajectory, with increased production and job creation, especially in the sub-districts of Matthew’s Ridge and Port Kaituma. Minister Bharrat encouraged more individuals to seize the growing opportunities in the mining sector, underscoring its potential to drive economic growth and development...
Overnight, LME 3M aluminium opened at US$2,482 per tonne, hit a high of US$2,531 per tonne, a low of US$2,466 per tonne, and closed at US$2,466.5 per tonne, down US$14.5 per tonne or 0.58 per cent. On Thursday, August 22, both LME aluminium cash bid price and LME aluminium official settlement price gained US$27.5 per tonne or 1.12 per cent and US$28 per tonne or 1.14 per cent to settle at US$2,470 per tonne and US$2,471 per tonne. As per the LME data, both 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price added US$15 per tonne or 0.60 per cent to settle at US$2,492 per tonne and US$2,492.50 per tonne. On the same day, both December 25 bid price and December 25 offer price ascended by US$10 per tonne or 0.38 per cent to halt at US$2,623 per tonne and US$2,628 per tonne. LME aluminium opening stock...
Hunan Xiangtou Light Materials Technology Co., Ltd (also known as Xiangtou Light Materials) has announced establishing a new production line in Changsha. With a total investment of around RMB 43.8228 million and an annual output capacity of 200,000 pieces of aluminium ceramic brake discs for passenger vehicles, the project is estimated to be completed within eight months. The project will include the following key components: An automated production line for manufacturing automotive disc bodies An automated production line for machining and testing automotive disc bodies A nitrogen gasification station Equipment foundations and civil engineering works Installation of production and auxiliary equipment Workshop internal pipeline networks and other mechanical, electrical, and piping systems...
