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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Australia has responded to the trade statement revolving around the country’s aluminium export. The nation’s trade minister, Don Farrell, proclaimed on February 13 that Australia’s surge in its aluminium supply to the United States, with Washington’s complete acknowledgement and approval, while addressing a hurdle to Canberra’s request for an exemption from US tariffs on aluminium and steel. However, this move has not been without controversy. Image Source: https://www.trademinister.gov.au/ Earlier this week, United States President Donald Trump stated he would consider an exemption for Australia from a 25 per cent tariff on steel and aluminium imports. Yet, one of his closest advisers soon after claimed that Australia was “killing our aluminium market”. The aluminium import from...
German metal recycling company Gerhard Lang Recycling GmbH has integrated an Autosort Pulse unit from TOMRA Recycling at its metals sorting facility in southwestern Germany. This installation is part of a research project supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action. Image Source- TOMRA website Previously, the Gerhard Lang Recycling team sold the mixed material to aluminium manufacturers immediately after shredding. With the installation of the Autosort Pulse, the company can now efficiently separate 5xxx and 6xxx series aluminium scrap by alloy family. Curious to know about such groundbreaking technologies? Explore AL Circle's latest content on technological advancements and innovations! KANAL project The KANAL project, short for Kreislaufsystem für...
Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI), a collaborative endeavour aimed at enhancing sustainability throughout the value chain, announced the successful ‘General Supporter’ membership certification to the first media house and marketplace AL Circle Private Limited. Abhimanyu Prakash, CEO of AL Circle, shared on a spirited note, “We are thrilled to join the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) as part of our commitment to sustainable and responsible aluminium production. By aligning with ASI’s rigorous standards, we aim to enhance our environmental, social, and governance practices, contributing to a more sustainable future.” The company is optimistic that this membership in ASI will bolster its dedication to transparency, innovation, and collaboration within the aluminium value chain....
Baotou Aluminum's high-purity aluminium division has achieved a significant milestone with the successful batch export of high-performance, high-purity aluminium products. This accomplishment sets a strong foundation for the company's first-quarter performance. These exports are primarily destined for the international high-end market, serving critical applications in electronic products, components, high and low-voltage electrolytic capacitors, high-performance wiring, and other advanced technology sectors. In recent years, Baotou Aluminum has actively implemented Chinalco Group's strategic directives, advancing digital transformation and technological innovation. The company has successfully developed 5N high-purity aluminium, expanding its market reach. Today, its aluminium packaging...
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China recently released the "2024 Green Manufacturing List Publicity," featuring three categories: green factories, green industrial parks, and green supply chain management enterprises. Yongjie Aluminum, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Yongjie New Materials, has been recognised as a national "green factory" for 2024. The company has actively developed green factories by establishing a comprehensive organisational and management framework, continuously seeking areas for improvement, and maximising the use of green energy to reduce carbon emissions. It has completed carbon footprint verification and certification for multiple products, consistently elevating its sustainability efforts. Significant progress has been made in infrastructure,...
National Aluminium Company Ltd (NALCO), an Indian public sector company with integrated and diversified operations in mining, metal and power, has reported a remarkable 232.83 per cent year-on-year surge in net profit, reaching INR 1,566.3 crore (USD 180 million) for the third quarter, compared to INR 470.6 crore (USD 54.12 million) in Q3 FY24. This impressive performance was driven by a 39.3 per cent jump in revenue from operations, which climbed to INR 4,662.2 crore against INR 3,347.6 crore in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal. At the operating level, NALCO's EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation) soared by an astounding 200.89 per cent to INR 2,327.6 crore (USD 267.68 million) in the third quarter of this fiscal, up from INR 773.8 crore...
An industry partner specialising in the production of heat exchangers purchased a semi-continuous furnace for controlled atmosphere aluminium brazing (CAB) from SECO/WARWICK to increase production capacity. The system is designed to increase the efficiency and quality of the heat exchangers with ribbed plate construction. The CAB system for semi-continuous operation is based on the cycle multi-stage division. The line includes: a drying furnace an inlet purging chamber a patented heating and brazing chamber an intermediate cooling chamber with an air jacket a direct final cooling chamber The product moves between stages in a horizontal position based on a continuously adjustable cycle time, depending on the load’s type and configuration. The semi-continuous operation mode ensures that...
On February 13, SMM A00 aluminium closed at RMB 20,510 per tonne, down RMB 30 per tonne, with a discount of RMB 30 per tonne against the February contract flat. The Henan-Shanghai price spread was RMB 140 per tonne, up RMB 10 per tonne. SMM Central China closed at RMB 20,370 per tonne, down RMB 20 per tonne. On February 13, SMM A00 aluminium (Foshan) closed at RMB 20,530 per tonne, down RMB 20 per tonne, with a discount of RMB 10 per tonne against the current month and RMB 20 per tonne against the next month. According to SMM statistics, the aluminium billet inventory in major domestic consumption areas stood at 300,400 tonnes, an increase of 5,900 tonnes compared to Monday. Around the Lantern Festival, downstream resumed production in an orderly manner after the holiday, and the...
According to SMM statistics, as of February 13, 2025, the social inventory of aluminium billets in China stood at 300,400 tonnes, an increase of 25,500 tonnes (9.3 per cent) compared to the first day after the holiday (February 5) and an increase of 76,900 tonnes compared to pre-holiday levels (January 27). Outflows from warehouses during the Chinese New Year period (January 27 to February 9) reached 17,100 tonnes, roughly higher than the same period last year. Currently, the aluminium billet inventory has surpassed 300,000 tonnes. SMM expects that, under the anticipation of the first traditional peak season for downstream demand in March and April, coupled with the gradual recovery of downstream operations to normal levels, the turning point for domestic aluminium billet inventory is...
The United States is one of the leading aluminium scrap exporters in the world. As per the United States Geological Survey (USGS) data, in November 2024, a total of 196,000 tonnes of aluminium scrap was exported from the US, which, when compared to Y-o-Y, reflected a significant surge of 20.24 per cent or 33,000 tonnes. For November 2023, the amount stood at 163,000 tonnes. The USGS data further revealed that from January to November (2024), a total of 1,920,000 tonnes of aluminium scrap was exported from the US. Y-o-Y comparison showed that for the same span of time in 2023 a total of 1,900,000 tonnes of scrap was exported, recording a modest year-to-date (Y-T-D) hike of 20,000 tonnes. Month-on-month (M-o-M), aluminium scrap exports in November recorded a substantial 12.64% growth...
The US President’s surprise move to impose a 25 per cent tariff on all steel and aluminium imports has sent shockwaves across global markets. However, industry experts have reinstated their trust upon Hindalco’s 100 per cent subsidiary Novelis, confirming that it is well-equipped to weather this storm. The 20-year-old Atlanta-based business has been owned by Indian metals company Hindalco Industries since 2007. Novelis, a major exporter of aluminium to the US, has made a recent USD 2.5 billion investment in a new plant in Alabama and is seen as a strategic hedge against potential tariff impact. Brokerage firm Nuvama says ‘the effect of tariff imposition, if it happens, shall be minimal on Novelis’s earnings’. The Hindalco management has indicated that any increase in aluminium prices due...
On December 4, 2024, President-elect Donald Trump announced that Peter Navarro, 75, will serve as Senior Counsellor for Trade and Manufacturing in his upcoming administration. In this role, Navarro will be responsible for advancing and effectively communicating Trump's Manufacturing, Tariff, and Trade Agendas, Trump stated in a series of posts on Truth Social. Navarro, a key trade advisor during Trump's first term, will once again play a pivotal role in shaping the administration's economic policies. Australia successfully negotiated an exemption when the first Trump administration imposed new tariffs on aluminium and steel imports in 2018. However, the US claims a verbal agreement was made, under which Australia pledged not to exploit its exemption by significantly increasing aluminium...
On February 12, 2025, the most-traded SHFE aluminium 2503 contract opened at RMB 20,610 per tonne, with a high of RMB 20,690 per tonne and a low of RMB 20,520 per tonne, closing at RMB 20,575 per tonne, down 0.48 per cent. Trading volume was 96,000 lots, and open interest was 159,000 lots. On the macro front, the EU intensified sanctions, and the US imposed tariff pressures. In the short term, the global aluminium market will undergo structural adjustments due to policy impacts, requiring continuous attention to the dynamics of EU-US trade policies and changes in demand from major consumer markets. The previous day, the Shanghai municipal government held a meeting with foreign financial institutions to promote high-level financial opening-up, providing some confidence to the financial...
Coca-Cola is reportedly considering raising prices of its aluminium-packaged products to offset the impact of tariffs, aligning with earlier predictions that the US-imposed 25 per cent tariff on imported aluminium would ultimately drive up consumer product costs. The US-origin soft drink company is also exploring the possibility of partially replacing aluminium with plastic for its beverages, developing a more cost-effective packaging strategy ahead of the tariffs set to take effect on March 12, 2025. Image source: Coca-Cola The news surface this morning after Coca-Cola CEO James Quincey stated: “If the price of aluminium increases because of the tariffs, the company may opt for more plastic bottles (PET) to counterbalance higher costs.” Sustainability efforts at risk Replacing aluminium,...
The United States’ aluminium sector is facing an existential crisis, with the number of operational smelters dwindling to just four. Despite the 25 per cent tariff on steel and aluminium imports introduced by the Trump administration, the primary aluminium industry remains in decline, struggling with high energy costs and competitive pressures from overseas—particularly China. Tariffs and the reality on the ground Trade groups representing US steel and aluminium producers have welcomed decisive trade actions, including tariffs, arguing they are necessary to counter unfair competition. However, the CEO of the Aluminum Association has acknowledged a harsh reality, “There is not enough smelting capacity in the United States to supply the growing aluminium industry with the input materials it...
Volkswagen Group's Centre of Excellence Battery and Volkswagen Emden's Press Shop have closed the material loop for aluminium in battery housings for the first time in a groundbreaking pilot project. Image Source: Volkswagen Linkedln page Novelis & Volkswagen Group In collaboration with Novelis, a global leader in aluminium recycling, aluminium from MEB pre-series battery cases undergo shredding, sorting, and alloy identification. The material is then transformed into coils and repurposed for new components, such as the outer door panel of the Volkswagen ID.7. Novelis is proud to collaborate with Volkswagen Group on this groundbreaking initiative, showcasing the potential of aluminium recycling. By transforming battery housings into high-quality flat-rolled aluminium for new car...
The newly re-elected President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, on February 10, 2025, signed executive orders to enforce a 25 per cent tariff on aluminium and steel imports starting March 12, 2025, under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, escalating a long-anticipated trade war despite warnings from Europe and China. The orders eliminate specific exemptions from the duties, broaden their coverage to include more products and increase the tariffs on applicable aluminium goods from 10 per cent to 25 per cent. President Trump implemented Section 232 duties on steel and aluminium products in 2018, during his first term in office. The European Union promptly pledged to respond with decisive and proportionate countermeasures. Australian media reported that US...
Groundbreaking designs have demonstrated that aluminium components used across various transport modes can be made nearly 50 per cent lighter without sacrificing strength. Coventry-based casting firm Sarginsons Industries has unveiled new designs showcasing a significant breakthrough in automotive lightweighting. However, did you know that the global aluminium castings consumption is on a steady rise and is expected to reflect a 3.36 per cent growth in 2025? To learn more, get your hands on AL Circle's recently curated report, "Global Aluminium Industry Outlook 2025," which provides more information about the industry. About the technology These designs are the initial outcomes of the Performance Integrated Vehicle Optimisation Technology (PIVOT) project, led by Sarginsons in...
