Spanish racing driverFernando Alonso has added a one-off Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse to his growing collection of rare cars. Known as chassis 8.100, the car is distinguished by bespoke aluminium bodywork that required more than 20 tonnes of aluminium to produce, along with dedicated CAD programmes developed by Bugatti. Its history is equally distinctive, being produced after an original customer pushed Bugatti to create something it had initially considered too expensive. For Alonso, the automobile fits closely with an approach to luxury he outlined in 2024 about choosing manufacturers that treat individual customers differently rather than simply producing cars in larger numbers. To know the aluminium casting demand forecast in the transportation sector, explore our report "Global...
China Rare Earth Group is in talks to acquire a controlling stake in Shenghe Resources, a move that could bring the Chinese rare earth producer under tighter state control while giving Beijing influence over Shenghe’s overseas holdings, including a stake in US rare earths company MP Materials. Two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that discussions between the companies have been underway since earlier this year. One source said China Rare Earth Group is seeking a controlling stake, although neither source knew when the acquisition could be announced or completed. If the deal goes through, China Rare Earth Group would take control of Shenghe’s interests in foreign companies, including its 3 per cent stake in MP Materials. The US rare earths company counts the US Department of...
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Novelis Inc., a global leader in sustainable aluminium solutions and the foremost company in aluminium rolling and recycling, has successfully tested hydrogen fuel to power a recycling furnace at its Latchford, Warrington plant in the UK. Image Source: Linkedln The tests involved installing new burners, regenerators, and furnace lining materials as part of a UK government decarbonisation initiative in collaboration with Progressive Energy, an independent UK energy company. Replacing natural gas with hydrogen in a melting furnace has the potential to cut CO₂e emissions by up to 90 per cent. About the project Prioritising safety, the hydrogen pilot project involved multiple test phases, blending hydrogen with natural gas in varying proportions (30 per cent to 100 per cent) to assess its...
MYTILINEOS Energy & Metals, now known as METLEN Energy & Metals, has entered into two long-term strategic agreements with global mining and metal giant Rio Tinto to strengthen its bauxite and alumina supply chain. Under the first agreement, Rio Tinto will supply METLEN with approximately 14.9 million tonnes of bauxite from the CBG mine in Guinea over an 11-year period, spanning from 2027 to 2037. This bauxite supply will complement METLEN’s existing production from its local mines in Greece, ensuring a stable and diversified raw material source. Under the second agreement, METLEN will supply Rio Tinto with 3.9 million tonnes of alumina from its expanded Agios Nikolaos refinery over an eight-year period, beginning in 2027. The agreement also includes an option for a three-year extension....
This week, the domestic bauxite market mainly remained stable. As of Thursday, the transaction price for bauxite with an Al/Si ratio of 5.0 and alumina content of 60 per cent in Shanxi, excluding VAT, for self-pick-up at crushing plants, was approximately RMB 640-670 per tonne. In Henan, the transaction price for bauxite with an Al/Si ratio of 5.0 and alumina content of 60 per cent, excluding VAT, for self-pick-up at crushing plants, was around RMB 570-610 per tonne. In Guizhou, the transaction price for bauxite with an Al/Si ratio of 5.5 and alumina content of 58 per cent, excluding VAT, for self pick-up at crushing plants, was RMB 510-550 per tonne; in Guangxi, the transaction price for bauxite with an Al/Si ratio of 6.0 and alumina content of 53 per cent, excluding VAT, for self...
In a major development, Larsen & Toubro (L&T), India’s largest listed infrastructure firm, has announced that its Minerals & Metals (M&M) business vertical has secured a significant order from Hindalco. The contract involves the engineering, procurement, construction, and installation (EPCI) of an 850 KTPA Greenfield alumina refinery plant in Odisha. Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has maintained a strong partnership with Hindalco for over three decades, serving as a key EPC contractor in its expansion initiatives across alumina, aluminium, and copper plants. This latest order reaffirms Hindalco’s confidence in L&T as a trusted partner in driving its ambitious growth plans. Meanwhile, L&T’s Metallurgical & Material Handling (M&M) vertical had previously secured a contract to establish an 8 MTPA...
The German multinational luxury automotive company Mercedes-Benz Group is bracing for a significant drop in earnings this year as it faces intense competition and fluctuating global demand. In response, the automaker is rolling out cost-cutting measures, aiming to slash production expenses by 10 per cent by 2027 while working closely with suppliers to lower material costs. Rising prices for key materials like chemical coatings and metals, including aluminium, have hit the company hard. Last year, its operating earnings hit 30 per cent, while the carmaking margin fell from 12.6 per cent to 8.1 per cent. The biggest blow came from its car division, where earnings plummeted by 40 per cent in 2024, largely due to sluggish sales in two of its most crucial markets: —China and Germany. The...
The European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) was introduced as a bold step in the fight against climate change. It is meant to prevent carbon leakage—where companies move production to countries with weaker climate policies—by ensuring that imported goods face the same carbon costs as those produced within the EU. In theory, this levels the playing field for European industries while pushing other nations towards greener practices. But there’s a problem: CBAM, in its current form, simply does not work for aluminium. Instead of protecting one of Europe’s most critical industries, it risks making it uncompetitive, increasing costs for manufacturers, and even worsening global emissions. Without urgent reforms, CBAM could do more harm than good. An aluminium industry on the...
Horn has expanded its DM range of polycrystalline diamond (PCD) cutting tools with newly developed mills designed for high-efficiency aluminium machining. These tools feature optimised cutting geometries that enhance chip control, minimise cutting forces, and deliver exceptional surface finishes. Image Source: Horn website With over 30 years of expertise in developing and manufacturing precision tools from ultra-hard cutting materials, Horn provides a comprehensive selection of PCD milling cutters designed for efficient and high-performance aluminium machining. Covering a range from simple end mills to advanced modular combination tools, the latest additions are engineered to address the specific challenges of aluminium machining, ensuring superior performance in chip formation, cutting...
This morning, the SHFE aluminium front-month contract fluctuated at highs near RMB 20,750 per tonne, slightly above the daily moving average. In the East China market, aluminium prices rebounded to high levels, with market sentiment dominated by a wait-and-see approach, leading to sluggish transactions. However, some suppliers remained optimistic about the market outlook, controlling their shipment pace and showing a clear sentiment to stand firm on quotes. The SMM A00 spot price was at a discount of RMB 60 per tonne to the SHFE 2503 contract, unchanged from the previous trading day, while SMM A00 aluminium ingot prices stood at RMB 20,690 per tonne, up RMB 90 per tonne from the previous trading day. In the central China market, although traders were optimistic about the market outlook...
Mining giant Rio Tinto (NYSE:RIO), a prominent player in the metals & mining industry with a market capitalization of USD 102.4 billion, has announced quite a few changes to its board of directors, with several members set to step down later this year. The string of changes was brought forth by the leading aluminium value-chain enterprise’s (among other businesses) chairperson Dominic Barton. Rio Tinto Chair Dominic Barton has conveyed, “As we reported last year, the size of the Board peaked at 14 Directors as we retained the expertise and experience of our longer-serving Directors during a transitional period as newer Directors familiarise themselves with the Group. That transitional phase is now largely concluded so we will make the following changes to the Board during 2025.” He has...
As a result, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is a technique that can be used for measuring and reporting greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories and monitoring and managing PFC emissions to drive process improvements and emission reductions. Image Source: ISCOBA PDF The aluminium industry is striving to reduce and eliminate greenhouse gas emissions. In response, the International Aluminium Institute (IAI) launched an initiative encouraging its members to track and publicly report their emission reduction efforts and progress as part of COP28 in 2023. These potent greenhouse gases significantly contribute to global warming due to their high efficiency in trapping infrared radiation. Thirteen major aluminium producers have endorsed this initiative, publishing their greenhouse gas...
Today, aluminium prices rebounded again. SMM A00 spot aluminium closed at RMB 20,690 per tonne, up RMB 90 per tonne from the previous trading day. Aluminium scrap market quotations were generally stable with slight increases. The quotation for baled UBC aluminium scrap rose by RMB 0-100 per tonne to RMB 15,150-15,950 per tonne (excluding tax), while shredded aluminium tense scrap was mostly quoted steadily at RMB 16,550-17,400 per tonne (excluding tax). Currently, most traders have resumed work and are actively shipping goods. The circulation of aluminium scrap in the market continued to increase, but due to the limited rebound in end-use consumption, price follow-ups appeared to lack momentum, and the price difference between primary metal and scrap slightly widened. In the short term,...
NALCO’s announcement of INR 30,000 crore (USD 3.45 billion) investment in aluminium business expansion brought to the public by Union Minister of Coal & Mines and Parliamentary Affairs, Pralhad Joshi, is its first major capex in recent times, including setting up an INR 17,000 crore (USD 1.95 billion) aluminium smelter capacity. State-owned Navratna PSU, National Aluminium Company (NALCO), has chalked out a distribution plan for its progressive INR 30,000-crore expansion plan , marking its first massive capital expenditure in contemporary times. The development project is set to conclude by FY30, with an INR 17,000-crore investment in an additional aluminium smelter construction and noteworthy projects in mining and downstream product manufacturing. Global mining leader Rio Tinto Canada...
Sundaram-Clayton Ltd (SCL), a leading automotive components manufacturer, announced that its Board of Directors has approved the sale of its aluminium die-casting businesses at the Hosur plant to third-party buyers. The decision was made during a board meeting on Wednesday, February 19. Image Source: SCL website Updates about the transaction As disclosed to stock exchanges, the company will divest both high-pressure and low-pressure aluminium die-casting operations at the Hosur facility. However, key details of the transaction, such as the final deal structure, the identity of the potential buyer, and the sale consideration, remain undetermined. The Chennai-based company, formerly Sundaram-Clayton DCD Limited, informed BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India that it would...
China's National Energy Administration has released statistics on power generation and clean energy power generation in 2024, and the transition is impressive. China's aluminium industry is gaining a huge advantage when it comes to moving to clean energy. We are all familiar with the success story in Yunnan province. Despite recurring problems with drought, hydropower in that province is supporting several million tonnes of primary aluminium capacity. But that wasn't where the biggest growth was in 2024. Guangxi province recorded an improvement of 40 per cent over 2024, with hydro, wind and solar all contributing. Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia also saw increases of over 25 per cent. Yunnan province saw a growth in clean energy of 15 per cent. Apart from hydro, wind power is picking up in...
In the overnight session, the most-traded alumina 2505 futures contract opened at RMB 3,449 per tonne, reached a high of RMB 3,449 per tonne and a low of RMB 3,408 per tonne, and finally closed at RMB 3,420 per tonne, down 0.87 per cent. Open interest stood at 158,000 lots, an increase of 1,424 lots. Regarding spot alumina prices, on February 18, SMM alumina was quoted at RMb 3,329 per tonne, down RMB 2 per tonne from the previous trading day. Ore Market: As of February 18, the SMM Imported Bauxite Index was reported at USD 98.23 per tonne, flat compared to the previous trading day. The SMM Guinea Bauxite CIF average price was USD 97 per tonne, also unchanged from the previous trading day. Industry Updates: 1. On February 18, transactions of 84,000 tonnes of alumina were recorded in...
The Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) recently tested a technology that harnesses sunlight instead of traditional engines. A solar sail is a large, lightweight sheet that captures energy from photons—tiny particles of light emitted by the sun. As these photons strike the sail, they generate thrust, much like wind propelling a sailboat. This allows a spacecraft to travel through space indefinitely without the need for fuel or conventional propulsion systems. Source- KARI KARI's newly developed solar sail spans 10 meters and is crafted from an exceptionally lightweight material. It surpasses the size of NASA's 2023 solar sail and features a specialized film coated with aluminium. Designed for efficiency, the sail's deployment system is highly compact, allowing it to be folded into a...
Constellium, the Paris-based aluminium business, has determined to increase a minimum price of USD 0.15 per pound for all flat-rolled products shipped in the US, owing to the recent market conditions and revolving economic drivers. The price increase is to be effective immediately after announcements, as per the contracts’ appropriation. As a result, select products may require higher increases. The global manufacturer of aluminium rolled products, extruded products, and structural parts based on a large variety of advanced alloys counts close to 12,500 employees worldwide and operates more than 28 manufacturing sites in North America, Europe and Asia. It also holds a research and development unit in China. In a recently conducted survey, unforeseen consumer demand, elevated trade...
Apple has continually evolved the materials used for its high-end iPhone frames, transitioning from aluminium to stainless steel, titanium, and back to aluminium. Innovation and sophistication perfectly define Apple, the American tech giant celebrated worldwide for its cutting-edge gadgets and electronics. Image Source: macworld.com However, according to a recent investor note from GF Securities analyst Jeff Pu, obtained by MacRumors, Apple may revert to aluminium for most of its iPhone 17 line-up. Pu predicts that the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max will feature aluminium frames, while the rumoured iPhone 17 Air will stand out with a titanium frame. This shift would mark a significant change for the Pro models, as both the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro feature titanium...
