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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Geely Technology Group, a company affiliated with Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, has signed a bauxite supply agreement with Honbridge Holdings, China's automotive-focussed news platform Gasgoo reports. As per the set contract, Honbridge will be procuring bauxite and other relevant products from Geely with an annual purchase cap of up to RMB 300 million by December 31, 2025, and up to RMB 370 million each by December 31, 2026, and December 31, 2027. Tonbridge Holdings, which delved into the lithium-ion battery sector a decade ago in 2014, supplies products to multiple businesses under Geely Holding Group, among other electric vehicle manufacturers. The company has extended into ride-hailing services in France under the "CaoCao" brand, with nearly 300 LEVC TX new energy automotive fleet and...
Daiki Aluminium, a Japanese aluminium manufacturer specialising in producing secondary alloys used in high-pressure die casting, casting, and rolling, has reportedly seen a 5.6 per cent year-on-year rise in net sales during the first nine months of 2024, which ended December 31. But despite the increase in sales, the company's profit attributable to owners of parent stooped down by 39.5 per cent, indicating challenges faced by the company in maintaining positive profit margins. In the first six months of the year, Daiki's net sales were 3.8 per cent higher than the previous year, amounting to ¥ 137,147 million (US$903,793) versus ¥ 132,120 million (US$870,375). Profit attributable to owners of parent was ¥ 1,596 million (US$10,514) until September 30, 2024, compared to ¥2,585 million...
Glencore comes to headlines for its ‘blow for blow’ move! After losing its aluminium segment trader to Vitol, it reportedly replenishes its alumina trading segment with a new joinee from Guvnor. The latter entity’s alumina trader, Zach Mayer, is reportedly leaving his position to join Glencore Plc on May 1, 2025. Image Credit: https://www.glencore.com/ Gunvor has verified Mayer’s resignation, stating that he was leaving for personal reasons. The company has further added that the alumina book is planned to be taken over by Ulas Alkan. There has been no comment from either the prospective employer or employee on the matter. Gunvor primary trade revolves around energy products such as oil. It has recently extended its trading division into metals with anticipation of proven profitability...
Can you believe we're already in the second month of 2025? Time seems to be racing ahead, never pausing—much like aluminium, the metal that never stops. Welcome back to another edition of Editor's Pick, where we bring you the latest launches, innovations, and developments shaping the aluminium industry. In this edition, we look at some of the key events that unfolded in January 2025—a month that arrived like the first page of an unwritten book, filled with promise and edged with the golden glow of new beginnings. Are you interested in knowing about the end-user market and its potential landscape for 2025? Get your hands on AL Circle's latest report, "Global Aluminium Industry Outlook 2025" , and stay ahead of the curve. The aluminium end-use market in 2025 is shaping up to be a dynamic...
Swiss technology leader Bühler Group delivered its first megacasting solutions to Honda Motor Company Ltd., marking a significant step in the Japanese automaker’s electric vehicle (EV) production push. Honda has invested in multiple Bühler Carat 610 die-casting machines to ramp up manufacturing across its North American network and meet growing customer demand. One of these advanced casting cells is being used for research and development in Japan, while the rest will be deployed at Honda’s Anna Engine Plant in Ohio, USA. Honda is investing in growing its EV production operation in North America to strengthen its supply system and its ability to prepare for a continued increase in demand in the region. The company is establishing an EV Hub in Marysville, Ohio, which will begin production...
Rio Tinto, a British-Australian multinational company and the world’s second-largest metals and mining corporation, is experimenting with reducing energy storage costs in a bid to reserve abundant amounts of intermittent renewables to feed smelters with the seamless electricity supply they need. The company believes installing batteries at its Queensland aluminium smelter can play a crucial role in achieving the new goal. Last week, during the smelter visit, Rio’s chief executive for the aluminium business, Jerome Pecresse, firmly expressed his confidence in batteries to provide consistent power to the smelters even when the generation from solar and wind is low. Among various sustainability initiatives so far, the integration of batteries at Rio’s carbon-heavy aluminium smelters in North...
Fifteen light metals-related symposia. Four invited keynotes by industry leaders. Three supplier technology sessions. Short courses led by expert instructors. One highly respected proceedings volume. These light metals programming highlights make the TMS 2025 Annual Meeting & Exhibition (TMS2025) a key gathering place for the world’s leading aluminium and magnesium industries and researchers. TMS2025—organized by The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (TMS)—will be held March 23–27, 2025, at the MGM Grand Las Vegas Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Light Metals Programming In total, TMS2025 will feature more than 100 symposia in ten technical tracks spanning the full range of materials science and engineering. The Light Metals topic track is made up of the following technical...
Premier Energies Ltd. announced its quarterly results for the period ending December 31 after market hours on Monday, February 3. The company demonstrated a significant improvement in its financial performance, with key highlights including a 12.2 per cent sequential growth in topline and a 35 per cent increase in EBITDA from the previous year's 17.3 per cent. The company's revenue increased by 140.6 per cent from last year to INR 1,713 crore. Margins also expanded, surpassing the INR 500 crore mark at INR 513.7 crore. Premier Energies had reported an EBITDA of INR 123 crore in the base quarter. The company had reported a net profit of INR 205 crore in the second quarter of FY2025. Net profit for the third quarter stood at INR 255.2 crore, which was aided by a jump in other income to INR...
India's ADC12 alloy market faced challenges in January 2025 as demand softened and prices hit their lowest level in nine months. BigMint's latest assessment shows that OEM-approved ADC12 in both Delhi and Chennai was priced at INR 208,000/tonne (t), a decrease of INR 1,000/t m-o-m. This decline reflects weaker demand from the automotive sector, particularly as major players announced price cuts for ADC12. For January settlements, automakers' ADC12 prices stood at INR 208,000/t, down INR 1,000/t from December 2024. While India's largest automaker reduced prices in January, this has had minimal effect on the local tags of ADC12 and raw materials, which remained stable. While the gap between scrap and ADC12 narrowed over the last few months of CY'24, it was firm in January 2025 at INR...
This week's hot topic: Production cuts or shutdowns in the aluminium processing industry during the Chinese New Year holiday; composite PMI falls below the 50 mark Forecast for next week: Fundamentals remain bearish, macro front lacks highlights; aluminium prices face resistance in the short term after the holiday Aluminium: Post-holiday aluminium ingot inventory buildup meets expectations; spot market trading gradually recovers Bauxite and Alumina: Spot Alumina Prices Continue to Decline; Bauxite Prices Drop Back Slightly Aluminium billet and profiles: Profile manufacturers accelerate resumption of work; post-holiday aluminium billet inventory approaches last year's high Secondary aluminium: The secondary aluminium market slowly recovers in the first week after the holiday; trading...
Trulite, a leading provider of architectural glass and aluminium solutions, has announced the acquisition of Insulite Glass headquartered in Olathe, KS with an additional facility in Pacific, MO. Insulite is a well-respected player in the glass fabrication industry. This transaction, effective January 31, 2025, strengthens Trulite's market position as a leading player in the North American glass and aluminium fabrication market and reflects Trulite's continued commitment to geographical and portfolio expansion. Both Trulite and Insulite view this acquisition as a significant opportunity for growth and collaboration. "This acquisition marks another exciting step for Trulite," says Kevin Yates, President and CEO of Trulite. "I want to personally congratulate Beau Guyette and the entire team...
Maan Aluminium, a well-known name in the aluminium extrusion industry in India, reported net sales of INR 182.09 crore (USD 20.82 million) in 3rd Quarter of FY25 ending December 2024, down 14.5 per cent Y-o-Y from INR 212.97 crore (USD 24.35 million) in December 2023. Quarterly net profit was also 59.01 per cent lower Y-o-Y from INR 7.44 crore (USD 907,317) in December 2023 to INR 3.05 crore (USD 34,887) in December 2024. the company’s EBITDA stands at INR 6.29 crore in December 2024, down 49.19 per cent from INR 12.38 crore in December 2023. Maan Aluminium’s earnings per share (EPS) decreased to INR 0.56 in December 2024 from INR 1.38 in December 2023. On January 28, the company faced substantial volatility, dipping to a new 52-week low of INR 107 amid a broader decline in the aluminium...
Jamaica’s alumina export value increased by 25.9 per cent, totalling US$447.3 million during the first nine months of 2024. This growth has contributed to a 17 per cent rise in Jamaica’s overall export revenue from the mining and quarrying sector to US$500.7 million. In the first quarter of 2024, Jamaica’s alumina export value was US$132.2 million versus US$89.2 million during the corresponding period of the previous year. In the next quarter, Jamaica’s earnings from alumina exports grew further, contributing to a 27 per cent boost in mineral export revenues. But despite the steady rise in Jamaica’s alumina export value, the Caribbean country’s domestic export value through the first nine months of 2024 fell 10.8 per cent to US$1,360.5 million, caused by a sharp contraction in re-exports...
Karoline Leavitt, Press Secretary, White House, publicly declared on Friday, January 31, in a news briefing that the US would begin imposing 25 per cent tariffs on goods imported from Canada and Mexico and a 10 per cent tariff on imports from China starting February 01. Whereas just ahead of implementation, after much negotiation and last-minute diplomacy, US President Donald Trump has made a late-night declaration to a 30-day pause agreement on his 25 per cent tariff imposition against Mexico and Canada. The decision came as the US president conversed with his counterpart in Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum. He also exchanged telephone messages with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. It pulled the American neighbours back from the verge of a potentially raging trade war. However, the 10...
Ensuring cutting-edge technology and next-level experience to customers, the India-based Chinese smartphone manufacturer Realme has decided to release an upgraded version of its already available Note 60 in Philippines. As per realme’s website the upgraded version will also include dynamic RAM expansion of upto 12 GB, leading to a total of 18GB RAM. Source- realme website Already available in Philipines, the upgraded version will be available in a more powerful 6GB/128GB edition, apart from the 4GB/64GB (PHP 4,999 SRP) and 4GB/128GB (PHP 5,999 SRP) variants. This upgrade provides larger RAM, enabling faster app loading and improved multitasking. Aluminium die-cast structure Apart from this, the other features like durable die-cast aluminium structure, reinforced glass-coated protection...
Here's an update about the share purchase and subscription agreement signed between Alcoa and Ma'aden on September 15, 2024. On February 4, 2025, the General Authority of Competition (GAC) approved Ma'aden to acquire Alcoa's 25.1 per cent ownership in Ma'aden Aluminium Company (MAC) and Ma'aden Bauxite and Alumina Company (MBAC). According to a previously published report, Ma'aden will purchase Alcoa's shares in MAC and MBAC for $1.1 billion and get full ownership and total operational and management control of the bauxite and alumina company as well as the aluminium firm. The approval of GAC marks the fulfilment of one of several customary conditions for this type of transaction. The deal is anticipated to be finalised by the first quarter of 2025. This strategic acquisition of Alcoa's...
Aluminium is set to be the standout performer among London Metal Exchange (LME) base metals in 2025, with analysts predicting a supply shortfall this year that could drive prices higher. According to the latest Reuters January base metals poll, analysts expect zinc, copper, and tin to see higher average cash prices in 2025 than in 2024. On the flip side, nickel remains the clear bearish bet. After plunging nearly 22 per cent in 2024, no one anticipates a reversal, with oversupply projected to persist through this year and into the next. Reuters January 2025 poll of base metals analysts Source: Reuters base metals analyst poll median forecasts While supply dynamics will play a key role in determining winners and losers, global economic uncertainty continues to overshadow the broader...
Futures Market: Before the holiday, the most-traded alumina 2505 futures contract opened at RMB 3,586 per tonne, reached a high of RMB 3,628 per tonne, a low of RMB 3,570 per tonne, and closed at RMB 3,606 per tonne, up RMB 20 per tonne or 0.56 per cent. Open interest was 95,800 lots, down 2,105 lots. Industry Dynamics: According to SMM statistics, as of January 27, domestic aluminium ingot inventory in major consumption areas stood at 492,000 tonnes, up 32,000 tonnes W-o-W; aluminium billet inventory in major consumption areas was 222,800 tonnes, up 22,800 tonnes from last Thursday. SMM data shows that in January 2025, the average tax-inclusive full cost of China's aluminium industry was RMB 19,989 per tonne, down 5.3 per cent MoM but up 27 per cent Y-o-Y, mainly due to the sharp...
