Investor sentiment towards aluminium has turned increasingly bearish, but analysts believe the market may be underestimating the metal's underlying strength. Despite growing pessimism, resilient demand and historically low inventories could support higher prices, with analysts forecasting aluminium to reach USD 3,625 per tonne in 2027. Discussions with market participants have pointed to unusually negative sentiment towards the metal. However, analysts argue that the underlying supply-demand fundamentals paint a more constructive picture, challenging the prevailing pessimism surrounding the aluminium market. Their assessment follows Norsk Hydro's third-quarter financial results, which showed stronger earnings compared with the previous year but fell short of market expectations. The...
Guinea has emerged as a major driver of Africa’s export growth to China, with its bauxite shipments to the Asian market nearly quadrupling between 2018 and 2025. Chinese imports of Guinean aluminium ores and concentrates, consisting almost entirely of bauxite, increased from 38.2 million tonnes to approximately 149.5 million tonnes over the period. The surge has bolstered Guinea’s position in China’s bauxite supply chain, while the country advances its alumina refining capacity expansion plans. Trade figures highlight the importance of Guinea and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to Africa’s bauxite and copper exports to China, respectively. Between 2018 and 2025, the two countries added USD 25.77 billion to Chinese purchases from the continent, exceeding Africa’s overall net...
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Aluminium stands as an indispensable pillar in our modern world, driving the pulse of our global economy with its unparalleled versatility and sustainability. From powering aeroplanes to speeding up cars, its unique properties propel industries forward and shape the products we rely on daily, from beverage cans to smartphones. In the dynamic realm of aluminium production, the quest for sustainability is gaining momentum amidst significant challenges. The traditional Hall-Héroult cell technology, vital yet beset by external electricity supply issues, is at a crossroads. Rising demand, set to surge nearly 40% by 2030, underscores the urgent need for greener production methods. Innovation, however, remains constrained by the durability and affordability of essential materials, crucial for...
The previous trading day, LME aluminium opened at US$2,461 per tonne, reached a high of US$2,462 per tonne and a low of US$2,403 per tonne, and closed at US$2,416 per tonne, down US$44 per tonne, a decrease of 1.79 per cent. As per the reports on Tuesday, aluminium prices dropped to their lowest point in over three month due to concerns about oversupply. On the same day, both LME aluminium cash bid price and LME aluminium official settlement price contracted by US$27 per tonne or 1.12 per cent to settle at US$2,367.50 per tonne and US$2,377 per tonne. 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price slumped by US$31 per tonne or 1.25 per cent and US$31.5 per tonne or 1.27 per cent to clock at US$2,436 per tonne and US$2,436.50 per tonne. December 25 bid price and December 25 offer price also...
Los Angeles-based Pure Cycles has recently introduced its much-awaited aluminium gravel bike, the Adventure AL. This new bike has a frame constructed from custom-butted Super Light X6 alloy tubes and boasts progressive, adventure-ready geometry designed to enhance your riding experience. The alloy frame is paired with a one-piece carbon monocoque fork featuring a tapered carbon steerer. The fork includes internal routing for brake and dynamo hub power cables, various accessory mounts, removable fender mounts, and a 12 x 100 mm thru-axle. The 48/52 mm adjustable offset Flip-Chip on the fork allows riders to customize their handling. Additionally, the bike is equipped with a 180 mm front brake rotor. The Adventure AL is outfitted with a SRAM Apex 1 1x11 drivetrain, a tubeless-compatible...
Alupro, the aluminium packaging recycling organization, is sponsoring the 'Local Authority Leader of the Year' category in this year's Resource Hot 100 list. Now in its 21st year, this list honours the accomplishments of individuals spearheading positive transformations in the waste and resources sector. The 'Local Authority Leader of the Year' category highlights the crucial impact of the public sector and acknowledges those making substantial contributions within it. Along with 'Innovator of the Year' and 'Newcomer of the Year', it is one of three new categories for the 2024 list. It aims to highlight exemplary leadership in environmental stewardship. Voting is open online until 31 July, and the official Hot 100 list will be announced in September. Tom Giddings, executive director at...
Chinalco Institute of Materials and Southwest Aluminum have collaboratively developed a novel 6XXX aluminium alloy sheet. This new sheet, designed for automobile panels, features exceptional formability and superior surface quality. The 6XXX aluminium alloy sheet has passed batch verification for use in automobile tail cover inner panels and door inner panels by a leading Shanghai-based automotive manufacturer. This marks the beginning of its supply, paving the way for localised production of 6XXX aluminium alloy for panel inner panels. About the collaboration The Chinalco Institute of Materials and Southwest Aluminum have collaborated to address key challenges and successfully developed a high-formability, high-surface 6XXX aluminium alloy for automobile panels specifically designed for...
On July 16, 2024, Rio Tinto announced its second-quarter production results, indicating growth in its aluminium and bauxite operations. According to Rio's quarterly report, aluminium production in Q2 stood at 824,000 tonnes, experiencing a 1 per cent growth Y-o-Y, owing to stable performance at all its smelters during the period. The steady sequential growth in Q2 aluminium production led to a 3 per cent rise in Rio's total aluminium output in six months, reaching 1.65 million tonnes. In Q2, ended June 30, Rio Tinto announced that its New Zealand Aluminium Smelters (NZAS) secured a 20-year power contract for the Tiwai Point Aluminium Smelter to enable it to continue producing high-purity, low-carbon metal, backed by renewable electricity. This arrangement is expected to further boost Rio...
During this week's Noosa Mining Investment Conference in Queensland, the Australian mining and exploration company Metro Mining will showcase the ongoing acceleration of operations at its Bauxite Hills Mine, situated north of Weipa. Commencing mining activities at the expansive 1,900 km 2 project in April 2018, Metro Mining swiftly shipped 2 million tonnes of bauxite to five major Chinese firms within its inaugural year. Following an expansion initiative in 2019, which increased annual capacity to 3.5 million tonnes, Metro Mining is now poised for further growth, targeting a capacity boost to 7 million tonnes annually. This rapid growth is a testament to Metro Mining's potential and is sure to attract the interest of potential investors. Recent reports indicate a robust performance, with...
According to a report by Mint, India's aluminium sector is advocating for increased import levies on aluminium and its scrap due to concerns about dumping by China, the Middle East, and ASEAN countries. Import duties on aluminium scrap to be raised In a budget proposal to the finance ministry, the Aluminium Association of India (AAI) has requested that the import duty on aluminium scrap be raised from 2.5 per cent to 7.5 per cent and has also called for a slight increase in the import tax on primary aluminium to 10 per cent. Raising import duties on aluminium and its scrap could help curb the spike in imports, which accounted for approximately 55 per cent of India's demand in FY24. According to Mint, the share of local manufacturers has decreased from 60 per cent in 2011 to 45 per cent in...
China’s bauxite imports in May 2024, following a peak in April, reversed and stood below 14 million tonnes. According to China customs data, the country imported 13.549 million tonnes, registering a month-on-month decline of 4.84 per cent from 14.2376 million tonnes and year-on-year fall of 4.63 per cent. China’s bauxite imports decreased in May after two consecutive months of increase. China’s total bauxite imports in the first five months of 2024 amounted to 64.1288 million tonnes, slightly up from the corresponding period of the earlier year. Mainstream sources of ores Guinea continued to be the top supplier, albeit with a lower volume of ores than the previous month. According to customs data, Guinea supplied 9.4174 million tonnes of bauxite to China, which edged a fall of 10.27 per...
On July 16, 2024, Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) marked a significant milestone by completing the design phase for its cutting-edge smelting technology, EX. This innovation represents a leap forward from EGA's DX+ Ultra technology, which is known for its efficiency in the global aluminium sector. The EX-reduction cells, larger than the DX+ Ultra, promise enhanced capabilities with increased amperage and improved current efficiency. This advancement is expected to boost production capacity by up to 22 per cent, underscoring EGA's commitment to pushing the boundaries of aluminium production. Designed with versatility in mind, EX offers two distinct variants: one prioritising productivity and the other aiming to minimise greenhouse gas emissions. This adaptability reassures stakeholders...
The United States has initiated discussions with Indonesia about joining a multinational partnership to improve Southeast Asia's environmental standards. Jose Fernandez, the U.S. Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, disclosed the proposal during his recent diplomatic visit to Jakarta. The Mineral Security Partnership (MSP) is comprised of 14 countries alongside the European Union. Its primary goal is to expedite the establishment of sustainable supply chains for critical minerals, leveraging financial and diplomatic support. Fernandez emphasised that joining the MSP could allow Indonesia to bolster governance and environmental practices within its mineral sector. Indonesia, renowned for its extensive mineral reserves, including bauxite, nickel, and...
On Monday, July 15, LME aluminum opened at US$2,479.50 per tonne, hit a high of US$2,489.50 per tonne, a low of US$2,458 per tonne, and closed at US$2,460 per tonne, down by 1.18 per cent. LME aluminium cash bid price and LME aluminium official settlement price further decreased, marking the sixth consecutive day of fall. While the former descended by US$17.50 per tonne to settle at US$2,403.50 per tonne, the latter shrank by US$18 per tonne to US$2,404 per tonne. On a week-on-week calculation, the LME aluminium benchmark price shed off a substantial amount of US$71.50 per tonne, and on a month-on-month basis, the price suffered a loss of about US$61.50 per tonne, according to the LME graph. The continuous loss in LME aluminium benchmark price is attributed to the growing rise of...
Constellium SE announced the successful completion of its inaugural industrial-scale hydrogen casting at C-TEC, the company's main R&D centre. The casting was conducted in a 12-tonne furnace, adhering to stringent internal protocols. Quality monitoring included the use of Batscan™ technology, an inclusion detection tool for molten aluminium, and no quality impact from hydrogen combustion on the metal was observed. “The 12-tonne aluminium slab produced using hydrogen will be further processed at our Neuf-Brisach site in France for use in electric vehicles. This milestone is significant in our roadmap towards decarbonising our industrial activities, as we have begun exploring the performance of hydrogen as a substitute for natural gas at an industrial scale, provided that hydrogen is green,...
On July 12, the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) announced that Guangdong Betterlid Packaging Material had successfully obtained the ASI Performance Standard V3 (2022) certification. This certification applies to their manufacturing processes for aluminium alloy sheets and foils used in food packaging. The facility's operations encompass various stages, such as aluminium coil processing, which includes cleaning, coating, cutting, printing, and packaging activities. China Quality Mark Certification Group conducted an independent, third-party audit of Guangdong Betterlid Packaging Material Co., Ltd. In 2023, Guangdong Betterlid joined ASI as the new Industrial Users member. It is a prominent and competent producer of aluminium packaging materials and an integrated solutions provider....
ABx Group will showcase its rare earth and fluorine waste recycling advancements at the upcoming Noosa Mining Investor Conference in Queensland. The conference, which begins on July 17th, will feature ABx Group's presentation at 4 pm AEST. Dr Mark Cooksey, CEO of ABx, emphasised the company's focus on presenting "compelling" opportunities within its pipeline. The presentation aims to outline ABx Group's strategic initiatives and prospects in these innovative recycling sectors. Investors and industry stakeholders attending the conference anticipate insights into ABx Group's sustainable practices and technological advancements, which aim to transform waste management in the mining sector. Dr Cooksey said, "I am presenting at the conference to promote ABx to investors who may not have been...
Shanghai Baosteel Packaging has unveiled plans to establish a state-of-the-art aluminium two-piece can production facility in Vietnam's Long An province. Long An is a province in the Mekong Delta region of southern Vietnam. With an investment totalling around 525 million yuan, the facility is slated to achieve an annual production capacity of 800 million cans. This initiative is geared towards advancing their "internal and external linkage" strategy, optimising production layouts, bolstering customer support, and expanding service capabilities to penetrate the Southeast Asian market better. To facilitate this initiative, Baosteel Packaging intends to establish a new entity named Vietnam Hue Baosteel Can Longan Branch, operating under its wholly-owned subsidiary Vietnam Baosteel (Hue). The...
Reynaers Middle East (RME) is enhancing customer intimacy in more ways than one! In their latest campaign to strengthen relationships, Reynaers staff recently visited the Atlas Aluminium headquarters, bringing a delightful surprise. "We wanted to show Atlas Aluminium that we value them as more than just a client. By visiting their headquarters and engaging in conversation, we hoped to build a stronger foundation for our future partnership," said Isa Al Wadi, Area Manager (QBK-SE) at Reynaers Middle East. Starting with the presentation of Reynaers-branded chocolates, the team then engaged in friendly conversations with Atlas Aluminium employees. This personal interaction provided a unique opportunity to connect on a deeper, more human level, fostering camaraderie and collaboration. The...
Indonesia’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) said it would possibly ease some restrictions on bauxite ore exports, according to statements from ministry spokesperson Agus Cahyono Adi. This proposition followed discussions between ESDM Minister Arifin Tasrif and members of Commission VII of the House Representatives (DPR) related to possible relaxations they might bring in. According to Agus, the discussions took place last week, and concrete decisions still need to be taken. He also cited that the government had given three years of export relaxation for bauxite ores before President Widdo banned it, with effect from June 2023, to shore up the domestic processing of its mineral resources. By doing this, Indonesia wanted to replicate its success in nickel processing after...
