Aluminum investment has been spreading across the entire value chain, from primary smelting and alumina refining to recycling, rolling, extrusion and battery foil, building more integrated and higher-value supply chains. During the past 5 years, the US and Canada in North America and China in Asia have been grabbing headlines pertaining to the aluminum industry. These updates have involved growth stories or have shed light on volatile market situations. How have these headlines contributed to a greater picture for the benefit of the aluminum industries of the two continents? Between 2021 and 2026, major projects across North America and Asia have targeted new primary capacity, lower-carbon production, recycled aluminum and higher-value downstream products. But the investment pattern is...
Nautor Swan has unveiled new details and official renderings of its 43.5-metre Swan Alloy 44, the Finnish yacht builder’s first aluminium supermaxi, with construction now underway in the Netherlands. The yacht is being built at Gouwerok Shipyard, where hull and deck construction are currently in progress. Once this stage is completed, the vessel will move to Viareggio, Italy, for final outfitting, launch and delivery, which is scheduled for 2028. The project will also become the largest yacht ever built by Gouwerok Shipyard and its first all-aluminium supermaxi. Although construction is taking place outside Finland, Nautor Swan’s team will continue to oversee key aspects of the programme, including its design philosophy, performance studies and supply-chain coordination. The Swan Alloy 44...
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Macro perspective: Tensions between the US and Iran eased but major differences remain. Trump said negotiations between the two sides are underway, with the Strait of Hormuz expected to reopen on August 4; Iran and Oman reached a provisional agreement on a new shipping route, but emphasized it will not return to the pre-war state and denied a full reopening. China's central bank made clear that H2 monetary policy will be moderately loose and will step up counter-cyclical adjustments; US Fed officials offered mixed signals, with an overall hawkish bias, indicating rates could rise if inflation stalls. Fundamental side: Supply side, China's weekly aluminium production was basically stable this week, with the proportion of liquid aluminium up 0.19 percentage point W-o-W. Outside China,...
Aluminium prices expected to consolidate on a strong note in short term amid macro fundamental tug-of-war between longs and shorts PV aluminium extrusion: Within this week’s surveyed sample, PV frame enterprises primarily focused on executing orders on hand, with the industry’s operating rate remaining stable. Some top-tier players continued to stay high. During the week, the supply-demand pattern of downstream PV modules showed no significant changes. The August production schedule for PV module enterprises is expected to edge up M-o-M from July, providing a stable demand floor for the operating rates of PV frame enterprises. In the near term, the operating rate of PV frame enterprises is expected to continue stable operations. Raw material prices: During the period (August 3–August 6,...
The aluminium industry has entered a new race. It is no longer just about producing lower-carbon metal but about securing the scrap, infrastructure and policy support needed to keep circular supply chains competitive. For years, recycling has been one of aluminium's strongest sustainability advantages. Recycled aluminium requires up to 95 per cent less energy than primary production, making it central to global decarbonisation efforts. Yet the industry's priorities are evolving. The key question is no longer how much aluminium can be recycled, but who will control the scrap that makes recycling possible. Recent developments across Brazil, the United States, Europe, the Middle East, India and Australia point to the same conclusion. Governments are reassessing scrap exports, recyclers are...
The 14th International Bauxite, Alumina & Aluminium Conference & Exhibition (IBAAS 2026) is witnessing an exceptional response from the global aluminium fraternity, reaffirming its position as one of the industry's most significant international knowledge-sharing and business networking platforms. Scheduled to be held from September 9–11 2026 at Mayfair Hotels & Resorts, Jharsuguda, Odisha, the event is expected to attract about 350 delegates representing over 120 global companies and organisations. The conference has already received around 100 technical papers from experts, researchers and industry professionals, reflecting strong global interest in the latest developments across the bauxite, alumina and aluminium value chain. Technical discussions will focus on emerging themes such as...
Secondary aluminium raw materials: China’s domestic aluminium scrap market prices were relatively stable this week, while the scrap-to-primary price difference widened again amid scrap’s struggles to catch up. Price-wise, primary aluminium prices continued to rise, driven by macro sentiment and capital flows. As of August 6, SMM A00 aluminium closed at RMB 23,800 per tonne, a notable increase of RMB 170 per tonne from last Thursday, while aluminium scrap raw material prices showed limited overall fluctuations. Regarding the price spread, on August 6, the price difference between A00 aluminium and mixed aluminium extrusion scrap free of paint in Foshan was around RMB 2,240 per tonne, and the price difference between A00 aluminium and shredded aluminium tense scrap was around RMB 1,030 per...
On July 23, 2026, a delegation from Shanghai Metals Market (SMM) conducted an on-site visit to TRAN HONG QUAN METALLURGY Co., Ltd. (THQ) in Vietnam. The delegation included: Logan Lu, CEO of SMM Cason Lou, Director of Aluminium Processing, Marketing Department Lexi Chen, Key Account Manager for Overseas Information Sales Khai Yuen Chin, Senior Overseas Aluminium Analyst The two sides held in-depth discussions on the development of Vietnam’s primary aluminium projects, domestic aluminium supply capacity, supporting industrial infrastructure, and future market strategies. The visit also provided a clearer picture of the changes taking place across Vietnam’s aluminium industry. A new industrial landscape is gradually emerging—one built on resource advantages, driven by breakthroughs in...
The future of one of Africa's largest undeveloped bauxite deposits has entered a new phase of uncertainty after A2MP Investments launched a takeover bid for Canyon Resources, raising questions over whether the company's flagship Minim Martap project will proceed as originally planned. A2MP, Canyon Resources' majority shareholder with a 55.56 per cent stake, has launched an unsolicited off-market takeover offer of AUD 0.05 (USD 0.035) per share, valuing the Australian mining company at approximately AUD 103 million (USD 72.1 million). The offer represents a 42.5 per cent discount to Canyon's closing share price of AUD 0.087 (USD 0.061) on July 28. While the proposal centres on acquiring the remaining shares in Canyon, it also signals a potential shift in strategy for the Minim Martap...
Europe's duty-paid aluminium premium has fallen sharply from the highs recorded earlier this year as the supply concerns that dominated the first half of 2026 continue to ease. The Rotterdam in-warehouse duty-paid premium has dropped from its mid-May peak of roughly USD 600 per tonne to around USD 490 per tonne for the August contract, while the forward curve suggests the market could see further easing through 2027. The market has changed considerably over the past few months. Fears that the Middle East conflict could disrupt aluminium supplies have eased, more smelting capacity has returned, buyers have diversified their import sources and downstream demand across Europe remains weak. Together, these factors have gradually removed the geopolitical premium that had pushed physical...
Japan's aluminium market is facing another setback after major automakers suspended production following the 7.1-magnitude earthquake that struck the Kyushu region on Tuesday, July 28. The temporary shutdowns come at a time when demand for both primary and secondary aluminium was already subdued during the seasonal slowdown in automotive sales, further weighing on spot restocking activity. Although most market participants expect only a limited immediate impact on aluminium consumption, the disruption has added to an already bearish outlook for the sector. That is because the earthquake hit Kyushu, one of Japan's key manufacturing hubs for automobiles, semiconductors, electronic components and flat-rolled steel products, making the region an important source of aluminium demand. Major...
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The campaign imperative: The global aluminium extrusion sector is bifurcating. Facilities relying on historical intuition and manual trial-and-error are facing severe margin compression, while digital-first extruders are capturing record profitability. AL Circle’s Extrusion Campaign is actively tracking this transition. The Asian acceleration (die design): Driven by the need for massive scale, Chinese manufacturers pioneered Machine Learning Surrogate Models. By automating the minimisation of extrudate curvature, they have cut die design lead times from weeks to milliseconds. The European vanguard (advisory & automation): To combat high energy costs and labour shortages, European facilities initiated their digitalisation push early. They now lead the globe in AI-driven...
Futures: The aluminium alloy 2610 contract opened today at RMB 23,440 per tonne, with an intraday fluctuation range of RMB 23,420–23,545 per tonne, and closed at noon at RMB 23,520 per tonne, up 55 yuan from the settlement price, an increase of 0.23 per cent. Intraday futures drifted higher, with multiple shots up to test highs during the session, and overall trading remained firmly above the average price line. Trading volume for the day was 6,114 lots, while open interest increased to 18,342 lots, up 307 lots, with continuous fund inflows pushing the market higher. Spot: Today, ADC12 market quotes predominantly consolidated on a strong note, with the SMM ADC12 price edging up by RMB 50 per tonne. Primary aluminium prices still provided cost support, and enterprises' willingness to hold...
The European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) entered its definitive regime on January 1, 2026, turning what had been a reporting exercise during 2023-2025 into a mechanism with an eventual financial liability. Aluminium sits alongside iron and steel, cement, fertilisers, electricity and hydrogen among the sectors covered. The European Commission fixed the CBAM certificate price at EUR 75.36 per tonne of CO₂ for Q1 2026 , followed by EUR 75.28 per tonne of CO₂ for Q2 . The prices are calculated from the weighted average auction clearing price of EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) allowances. Four quarterly prices will apply during 2026 before the system moves to weekly pricing from 2027. That does not mean every tonne of imported aluminium simply attracts its total carbon...
Quaker Houghton has strengthened its position in the aerospace manufacturing sector by securing Boeing BAC 5008 approval for its Hocut 4260 metalworking coolant, expanding its portfolio of certified solutions for machining aluminium alloys and other high-performance aerospace materials. The approval reinforces the product’s suitability for critical aerospace production, where manufacturers require high-performance coolant technologies that improve machining efficiency, extend tool life and comply with stringent environmental standards. Jonathan Dilley, Global Director of Aerospace and Defence at Quaker Houghton, stated, “Earning Boeing’s BAC 5008 approval is a significant milestone for Hocut 4260 and a testament to the fluid’s consistent performance in the most demanding aerospace...
Former industrial sites across Kentucky, including an aluminium smelter, are being repurposed as hyperscale data centres as developers seek locations with existing high-capacity power infrastructure to support artificial intelligence (AI) projects. One of the most prominent examples is the former Century Aluminum smelter in Hancock County, which stopped production in 2022 after more than 50 years of operation because of high electricity costs. The closure resulted in the loss of more than 600 jobs, but the site's 482 MW grid connection capacity remained intact. That existing power capacity has now attracted hyperscale data centre developer TeraWulf, which acquired the property earlier this year. The company plans to convert the former aluminium smelter into a 482 MW AI-focused data...
Whether it's a soft drink, an energy drink or an imported beer, aluminium cans are increasingly becoming the packaging of choice. New market data analysed by Bank of America (BofA) shows the material continues to gain market share, while glass packaging loses ground across several beverage categories, reflecting changing consumer preferences and packaging trends. According to BofA's analysis of Nielsen scanner data for the week ended July 25, 2026, non-alcoholic beverage volumes rose 0.7 per cent during the latest four-week period, with aluminium cans outperforming other packaging formats. Aluminium can volumes increased 2.6 per cent year-on-year over the latest four weeks, while maintaining positive growth of 1.3 per cent over 13 weeks and 2.2 per cent over the past year. In comparison,...
Century Aluminum has reported record second-quarter (Q2) 2026 financial results, backed by stronger aluminium prices, increased shipments and higher production driven by the completion of the Mt Holly restart and the recovery of operations at its Grundartangi smelter. The robust quarterly performance also lifted the company’s first-half (H1) earnings well above the corresponding period last year, indicating improved market conditions and operational execution. Explore: The most comprehensive and forward-looking industry-focused report — Global Bauxite & Alumina Market Forecast to 2036: Supply–Demand, Trade Flows & Price Report Financial performance comparison: H1 2026 vs H1 2025 Combining the first and second quarters, Century Aluminum reported H1 2026 with gains by wide margins in...
Less than two months after beginning its journey as an independent listed company, Vedanta Aluminium is raising about ₹13,500 crore (USD 1.62 billion) from a consortium of Indian banks to refinance inherited debt, marking its first major financing initiative since the Vedanta Group's demerger. According to people familiar with the matter, Axis Bank has signed a loan agreement worth ₹5,500 crore (USD 658.3 million) with Vedanta Aluminium Metal Ltd., while HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank will jointly lend about ₹8,000 crore (USD 84.04 million) . Axis Bank is expected to launch the process, with the participating lenders subsequently distributing a portion of the financing. The loan carries a tenure of six-and-a-half to seven years, with interest rates expected to range between 7.9 per cent and 8...
Brazil's aluminium industry is facing a growing shortage of scrap as exports to Asia, particularly China, continue to increase, raising concerns over domestic recycling, decarbonisation and future competitiveness. Aluminium recycling plays a key role in reducing emissions, with recycled aluminium requiring up to 95 per cent less energy than primary production. However, Brazilian producers say increasing exports of aluminium scrap are making it more difficult to secure raw materials for domestic recycling. According to the Brazilian Aluminium Association (Abal), around 80 per cent of Brazil's aluminium scrap exports are now shipped to Asia, while China accounts for nearly one-quarter of the country's total scrap exports. Shipments have increased by 590 per cent since 2022, reflecting...
