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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South32, a globally diversified mining and metals company, reported strong aluminium production figures for the half-year ended December 2024. The report strongly highlights the company’s focus on operational excellence and resilience amidst external disruptions. According to the company’s December 2024 Quarterly Report, total aluminium production increased by 5 per cent to 604 kilotonnes, compared to 575 kilotonnes in the corresponding period of the previous year. Image Source: https://www.south32.net/ Aluminium’s operational performance The increase in aluminium output was primarily driven by the improved performance of South32’s operations at Hillside Aluminium, Mozal Aluminium, and Brazil Aluminium. Hillside Aluminium in South Africa delivered robust results as the smelter operated...
Welcome back to another edition of Editor's Pick, where we bring you an exciting collection of comebacks, innovations, groundbreaking launches, and more. As 2025 begins to unfold, I can't help but wonder: Where did 2024 disappear to? Both November and December served as a pivotal moment for aluminium's end-user sectors—a time to reflect on the successes of the past year and lay the groundwork for a brighter, more sustainable future. What is that one thing that aluminium can't do? The question is a bit difficult to answer. Because aluminium is omnipresent – from our kitchen to the industries, aluminium's adaptability and sustainability have cemented its significance across diverse sectors, including automotive, construction, packaging, aerospace, and consumer electronics. The year 2024 has...
Metlen Energy & Metals, an Athens-listed group, has asserted a substantial investment of 295.5 million euros aimed at the development of an incorporated bauxite, alumina and gallium production line. Image Source: https://www.metlengroup.com/ The investment was approved on January 16, 2025, during the joint session with the enterprise’s Capital Allocation Committee (CAC) and is going to be for the historic Aluminium of Greece plant in Agios Nikolaos, Viotia. Evangelos Mytilineos, Metlen President and CEO stated: “Metlen’s decision to proceed with the implementation of a new, emblematic industrial investment for the production of bauxite, alumina and gallium strengthens Europe’s self-sufficiency in critical raw materials, as well as Greece’s strategic position on the world map. It also...
In 2024, the domestic alumina market experienced frequent disruptions. The supply gap of bauxite limited the increase in domestic alumina capacity, overseas alumina production cuts occurred, and the resumption of aluminium production in Yunnan was earlier than expected. During the dry season, no power rationing or production cuts were observed. Under the resonance of multiple bullish factors, the SMM alumina index price surged from RMB 3,154 per tonne at the beginning of the year to RMB 5,698 per tonne at year-end, marking a significant increase of 80.66 per cent. Q1: Domestic ore supply reduction, tight alumina supply drives price increase At the end of 2023, large-scale production cuts and suspensions occurred in bauxite mines in Shanxi. In Q1 2024, domestic ore production in Shanxi and...
On Monday, January 20, 2025, Australia’s prime minister Anthony Albanese declared an AU$ 2 billion (US$1.24 billion) investment strategy to foster the Australian aluminium production journey towards a greener future. Aluminium smelters transitioning to renewable power, with every tonne of the metal produced using renewable electricity over a 10-year period to 2036, is deemed to fall under the payment scheme of the funding. Image Source: https://gmk.center/ Albanes has shared that investing in the local aluminium industry is a ‘massive opportunity’ to create jobs and set Australia up for the future, adding, “We’ve got the resources, the workers, and the know-how -- the only thing we don’t have is time to waste.” The prime minister optimistically conveyed, “We are building Australia’s...
The recent counter-seasonal destocking of domestic aluminium ingots seems to be consistently reflected in the SHFE aluminium futures market. According to SMM statistics, as of January 16, 2025, the social inventory of domestic aluminium ingots stood at 440,000 tonnes, with 314,000 tonnes of domestically available aluminium inventory, down 15,000 tonnes from Monday and 19,000 tonnes from last Thursday. Notably, as of mid-January 2025, the current domestic aluminium ingot inventory has decreased by 1,000 tonnes compared to the 441,000 tonnes in the same period last year, marking a three-year low on a Y-o-Y basis. This has significantly boosted market confidence that the post-Chinese New Year inventory buildup may fall short of expectations. Coupled with the unexpected cooling of the US core...
As the aluminium industry braces for 2025, it stands at the confluence of innovation, sustainability, and market transformation. The forthcoming "Global Aluminium Industry Outlook 2025" delves deep into the dynamics set to redefine the global aluminium landscape, equipping stakeholders with unparalleled insights to navigate the evolving terrain. The emerging landscape In 2025, aluminium's unparalleled properties—lightweight, recyclable, and durable—will underpin its critical role across major sectors. Automotive lightweighting for fuel efficiency, renewable energy infrastructure, urban construction, and advanced packaging solutions will amplify its demand. The industry's robust recovery, marked by primary production exceeding production by more than 2023 and secondary production reaching...
Etihad Rail, the developer and operator of the UAE National Railway Network, has introduced the region's first-ever "CO 2 Emission Avoidance and Reduction Certificates," an innovative initiative that highlights the environmental benefits of rail transport for its customers. This significant milestone reinforces Etihad Rail's role as a key contributor to the UAE's climate change agenda, aligning with the nation's Net Zero by 2050 Strategy through a transparent Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) framework linked to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The certificates - powered by EcoTransIT, a globally recognised tool for assessing the environmental impact of transport - quantify and validate the carbon savings businesses achieve by choosing rail over alternative transport...
On January 17, 2025, the India-headquartered Ashapura Minechem Ltd, a leading bauxite exporter, announced that its overseas subsidiary had signed a long-term memorandum of understanding (MoU) with China Railway. The agreement establishes a strategic partnership to collaboratively develop the bauxite deposit in Guinea's Kindia region. This strategic alliance reflects Ashapura's vision of expanding its footprint in the global bauxite market. It highlights the increasing importance of cross-border collaborations in the mining sector to meet global resource demands. In a regulatory filing, Ashapura Minechem stated, "We wish to inform you that the company’s overseas subsidiary has entered into a long-term Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with China Railway, a Global Fortune 500 Company, to...
As a leading global provider for industries operating in high-temperature conditions, Calderys continuously strives to improve its processes to deliver the best possible solution offering to its customers. In the field of cement-bonded refractory castables, no matter the industrial process, furnace dry-out is a critical challenge due to its duration; one that cannot be ignored. Following the completed installation of refractory lining, furnaces are unusable for up to several days to allow for dry-out, which necessarily halts operations. Calderys is targeting this directly by expanding its product offering in the CALDE® FD (Fast Dry) range. This solution has been developed to integrate smoothly within the Calderys product range. Crucially, CALDE® FD products provide customers with enhanced...
Midal Cables B.S.C., a manufacturer of aluminium rod and overhead electrical transmission cables and conductors, has received the Performance Standard V3 (2022) Certification from ASI for its environmentally-conscious operations at its Ashkar facility in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Image Source: Midal Cables The facility, with five casting lines, manufactures and exports aluminium wires, rods, and conductors for a wide range of industrial applications. It has an annual production capacity of 260,000 tonnes. The ASI Performance Standard V3 (2022) was launched in May 2022, defining 11 principles and 62 criteria under three sustainability pillars- Environment, Social, and Governance. The objective is to address pressing sustainability issues in the aluminium value chain, such as biodiversity,...
FEHRMANN MaterialsX is reshaping the future of academic research by offering universities specialising in material science free access to its AI-powered platform, MatGPT Classroom. This isn't just about speeding up research—it's about connecting academic breakthroughs with real-world industrial applications. What sets MatGPT Classroom apart isn't just its AI capabilities. It's the bridge we've built between the knowledge gained in university labs and the practical needs of the industrial world. Many researchers are frustrated, seeing years of work left in the confines of academic journals, never translating into societal impact. MatGPT Classroom addresses this disconnect by providing access not only to a vast array of public data but also to proprietary, industry-relevant insights that...
This week, the operating rate of leading domestic aluminium downstream processing enterprises continued to decline, down 2.9 percentage points W-o-W to 57.4 per cent. By segment, only the primary aluminium alloy sector maintained its previous operating rate, supported by the liquid aluminium alloying ratio task, while other sectors saw declines, with the rate of decline expanding compared to earlier periods. Among them, the operating rate of aluminium extrusion enterprises dropped significantly, mainly due to the Chinese New Year break cycle, with enterprises in South China gradually halting production and implementing production cuts. The wire and cable sector recorded the second-largest decline, primarily affected by delayed end-user cargo pick-up, year-end enterprise inventory...
As global attention intensifies on sustainability and carbon neutrality, North America is setting ambitious targets aimed at achieving significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. The region aims to establish itself as a leader in the transition to a low-carbon economy. Aluminum, celebrated for its lightweight properties and recyclability, is positioned to play a pivotal role in this transformation, offering critical advantages across multiple sectors. However, achieving these objectives necessitates comprehensive efforts in establishing robust regulatory frameworks, advancing technology, facilitating energy transitions, and developing sustainable supply chains. The North American Aluminum Summit 2025 will explore aluminum’s vital role in carbon reduction, bringing together...
Since mid-to-late October 2024, imported bauxite prices have accelerated their rise, with bulk transaction prices surging from US$75-77 per tonne to a peak of US$128-130 per tonne. However, recently, spot alumina prices have accelerated their decline. As of this Thursday, aluminium smelters in north-west China tendered for 5,000 mt of spot alumina, equivalent to an ex-factory price of 3,800 yuan per tonne in Shanxi; in Henan, 8,000 mt of spot alumina were transacted at a price of 4,050 yuan per tonne. The profit margin for alumina refineries has significantly narrowed, putting pressure on the peak of bauxite prices, and suppliers' quotations have shown a certain degree of pullback. Image Source: Made in China For alumina refineries in Shanxi and Henan, according to SMM's simple...
This week, the upstream segment of the global aluminium industry has been under the spotlight, with significant developments spanning from bauxite extraction to primary aluminium production. The focus intensifies as the European Union is considering the release of its 16th sanctions package against Russia in February 2025, coinciding with the third anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. It remains to be seen how the European Union will manage the potential shortage of aluminium supply in its domestic market. On Thursday, January 16, the three major players in the Indian aluminium industry—Vedanta Limited, National Aluminium Company (NALCO), and Hindalco Industries Limited—saw their intraday stock prices rise by 2 to 3 per cent. One of the reasons for this price hike could be...
To meet the automotive industry’s growing demand for high-quality extrusions, a European manufacturer specialising in profiles for the automotive sector has integrated a Nitrex nitriding system into their production process. This addition optimises die treatment capabilities, improves operational efficiency, and enhances die and profile quality. The decision to invest in a Nitrex NX-815 batch-type nitriding system represents a strategic move to establish a modern die shop capable of nitriding extrusion dies weighing up to 500 kg (1,100 lbs). Replacing an outdated nitriding furnace, the advanced Nitrex system incorporates Nitreg® technology, renowned for its ability to extend die life and ensure nitriding consistency. These features are crucial for reducing die failures and maintaining an...
NALCO, one of India's leading mining and metals companies, raised prices of its primary aluminium ingots (P1020, 99.7 per cent) by INR 9,800/t ($113/t) on 14 Jan'25. Current prices are at INR 261,800/t ($3,023/t) compared to INR 252,000/t ($2,910/t) on 28 Dec'24. Prices are ex-works and exclude GST. At the time of reporting, aluminium futures on the LME stood at $2,584/t. India's primary producers increased aluminium ingot (P1020, 99.7 per cent) prices by up to INR 8,250/t ($95/t) compared to 11 Jan'25. Post-revision, Hindalco's prices were at INR 264,250/t ($3,051/t), up by INR 8,250/t ($95/t), and Balco's were at INR 263,250/t ($3,039/t), up by INR 2,250/t ($26/t). All prices are ex-works and exclude GST. At the time of reporting, aluminium futures on the LME stood at $2,585/t. Note:...
