In the first half (H1) of 2026, the US imported a total of 1.68 million metric tons of unwrought aluminum (HSN code: 7601), of which 16.96% was sourced from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). How has H1 2026 fared for the momentum of unwrought aluminum exports from the UAE to the US? Year-on-year cooling in trade can be noticed, largely owing to the temporary shutdown of the Emirates Global Aluminium’s (EGA’s) Al Taweelah smelter for repair and maintenance. Explore the production, demand and consumption forecasts of bauxite and alumina in our report: “ Global Bauxite & Alumina Market Forecast to 2036: Supply–Demand, Trade Flows & Price Outlook ” H1 aluminum trade snapshot: 2026 vs 2025 vs 2024 Comparing the H1 2026 figures of unwrought aluminum exported by the UAE to the US, a mixed result...
Norsk Hydro’s earnings outlook for 2027 is facing mounting pressure from falling aluminium premiums, rising operating costs and easing supply tightness in Europe, prompting Goldman Sachs to downgrade the Norwegian producer from ‘buy’ to ‘neutral’ and reduce its price target from NOK 100 (USD 10.71) to NOK 79 (USD 8.46). Goldman said weaker premiums and higher costs were making further earnings growth harder to achieve in 2027. The bank also lowered its core earnings (EBITDA) forecasts for 2026 and 2027 by 6 per cent each, citing lower aluminium prices and rising costs. The changing market conditions come as additional metal from the Middle East reaches the market and Indonesian aluminium supply expands faster than expected, easing European supply constraints sooner than Goldman had...
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Adani Group is planning a major industrial expansion in Odisha, with aluminium, mineral processing and energy infrastructure forming the core of its proposed investment roadmap. The group has outlined plans for two 3,000 MW nuclear power plants and an INR 800 billion (USD 8.38 billion) coal gasification facility, while also evaluating bauxite mining, an alumina refinery and an aluminium smelter. Together, the proposals point towards a broader industrial ecosystem built around Odisha’s natural resources and energy potential. To learn about the market potential of aluminium dross, explore "ALuminium Dross Processing: Generation, Recovery & Strategic Roadmap" Aluminium emerges as a key growth area The proposed aluminium expansion is among the primary elements of Adani Group’s Odisha...
Norsk Hydro has started increasing alumina production at its Alunorte refinery in Brazil after reaching a temporary agreement with gas supplier CELBA on terminal access. The restart follows approval from Brazil's oil, natural gas and biofuels regulator (ANP), allowing the company to become a self-importer of natural gas. Alunorte had temporarily reduced alumina production after CELBA notified the refinery of disruptions to natural gas availability. According to Norsk Hydro, the agreement provides temporary access to gas infrastructure while the company continues to work on a longer-term solution with the supplier. To know the futuristic market and value proposition of red mud, explore the report " A Comprehensive Analysis of Bauxite Residue (Red Mud): Sustainability, Resource Recovery and...
A new report by German industry organisation Aluminium und Umwelt im Fenster- und Fassadenbau (AUF), prepared in partnership with European Aluminium, highlights the progress of closed-loop aluminium recycling in Germany's building sector. The study focuses on aluminium scrap generated from windows, doors and façade systems, and examines how more material can be kept within the construction industry through recycling. According to the 28-page report, AUF collected 75,000 tonnes of aluminium scrap in 2023 through its recycling network. The organisation said its members include construction companies, window and façade manufacturers, system suppliers, demolition firms, architects and planners. The collection system is supported by “Seventeen environmental partners and processors, with a...
Aluminium prices have come under pressure after Norsk Hydro resumed higher alumina production at its Alunorte refinery in Brazil, easing concerns over raw material availability. The development followed a temporary production cut earlier this month due to gas supply disruptions and weighed on shares of Indian aluminium producers, which had benefited from higher alumina prices. Aluminium prices settled 1.73 per cent lower at INR 346.80 (USD 3.64), as improving supply prospects from the Middle East and the expected return of production at Emirates Global Aluminium's (EGA) Al Taweelah smelter also reduced concerns over supply shortages. However, losses remained limited by low global inventories and the recent disruption at Alunorte. To know the production, demand and consumption forecasts on...
The London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium price graph reported major declines of over 1 per cent across the pricing and contract segments on the August 13 close, continuing the trend reported at the August 12 session . The LME aluminium cash bid pulled back by 0.88 per cent day-on-day on August 13, down to USD 3,278 per tonne from USD 3,307 per tonne. The offer shifted to USD 3,279 per tonne from USD 3,307.5 per tonne, marking a difference of 0.86 per cent. Explore- Most comprehensive and forward-looking industry-focused report — Global Bauxite & Alumina Market Forecast to 2036: Supply–Demand, Trade Flows & Price Outlook On August 13, the LME aluminium three-month bid price contracted to USD 3,274 per tonne from USD 3,308 per tonne on August 12, reporting a 1.03 per cent drop. The offer...
Italian aluminium die-casting company 2A USA will invest USD 32 million to expand its manufacturing facility in Auburn, Alabama, increasing its capacity to produce large and complex aluminium components for the North American heavy truck industry. The expansion is expected to create 50 jobs and strengthen the company’s ability to supply advanced aluminium parts made in the US. 2A USA is a Tier I automotive supplier, supplying components directly to vehicle manufacturers or major vehicle-system companies. The company is the North American division of Turin-based 2A S.p.A. Emphasising that the project reflects the importance of advanced manufacturing to the state’s economy, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey stated, “Advanced manufacturing is a pillar of Alabama’s economy and 2A USA’s presence and...
London-based water technology company Metal Morph has raised USD 944,000 in pre-seed funding to develop technology that recovers aluminium- and iron-based treatment chemicals from municipal and industrial wastewater. The round, announced on August 13, 2026, was co-led by Sustainable Ventures and Green Angel Ventures, with participation from Aqcelerator and Found Capital. Metal Morph will use the funding to advance its resource-recovery technology, support industry pilots and expand into European markets. The company’s process is designed to capture treatment chemicals that would otherwise be discharged into sewers, sent to landfill or spread on land, and return them to water-treatment operations. Recovering aluminium-based treatment chemicals Metal Morph’s technology is not recycling...
Fraunhofer IWU is developing lightweight aluminium foam sandwich panels that could help inland cargo vessels continue operating when low water levels force conventional ships to reduce their loads or risk running aground. The proposed shipbuilding structure could reduce vessel weight by approximately 30 per cent compared with conventional shipbuilding steel. During low-water periods, this could allow vessels to carry up to 30 per cent more cargo relative to their net weight, or transport the same cargo while navigating in shallower water. The approach could offer an alternative to two difficult choices facing European freight networks: deepening river channels, which can raise environmental concerns, or shifting heavy cargo to roads, which would increase pressure on already busy routes...
Hindalco Industries’ Baphlimali bauxite mine in Odisha has become the first bauxite mining operation in India to secure certification under the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative’s (ASI) Performance Standard V3.1 (2023). The certification was awarded to Utkal Alumina International Limited (UAIL), a Hindalco subsidiary that operates the mine in Rayagada district. It covers the planning, mining, processing, onsite crushing and conveyor transportation of bauxite from the Baphlimali operation. The mine has an annual production capacity of 8.5 million tonnes and supplies bauxite to Utkal Alumina’s refinery operations. Baphlimali is therefore a key link between Hindalco’s upstream mining activities and its alumina production. Utkal Alumina produces approximately 2.67 million tonnes of alumina...
Leading aluminium producer and exporter China has reported a 2025 trade trend where the trade indicator appears on a declining graph. The trade volume, inclusive of all aluminium products, dipped from 6.66 million tonnes in 2024 to 6.13 million tonnes exported in 2025. Out of the 2025 figure, aluminium bars, rods, profiles, pipes and tubes, and tube or pipe fittings accounted for 1.02 million tonnes or 16.64 per cent. Zooming in on the year-to-date figures, China’s export chart has been like this: YTD May 2026 – 408,773 tonnes, up 3.72 per cent Y-o-Y from 394,104 tonnes in YTD May 2025 YTD May 2025 – 394,104 tonnes, down 20.44 per cent Y-o-Y from 495,366 tonnes in YTD May 2024 The drastic dip can also be traced in China’s annual aluminium extrusion export volume, whereby China’s 1.02...
The wait is over. A day after reports that Australia’s largest aluminium smelter was on the verge of receiving a government-backed AUD 2.5 billion lifeline, the deal has now been formally announced. Tomago Aluminium has reached an agreement with the Australian Government and the New South Wales Government that secures a long-term power supply for the smelter through 2038 , removing the immediate threat posed by the expiry of its existing electricity contract in December 2028. The agreement also puts Tomago on a defined path towards 100 per cent renewable electricity from 2033, while the smelter itself has committed AUD 1.1 billion of investment through 2038. Tomago’s power uncertainty finally gets an answer As reported by AL Circle on August 12 , Tomago’s future had been hanging in the...
Chinese and Japanese aluminium stocks gained on Wednesday after Norsk Hydro announced that its Alunorte alumina refinery in Brazil had reduced production to 50 per cent of capacity because of disruptions to its natural gas supply. The move added to concerns over raw material availability in an already tight aluminium market. The announcement lifted aluminium prices and supported shares of major producers. In Hong Kong, China Aluminum Corp. rose 2.46 per cent, while its Shanghai-listed shares gained 1.02 per cent. Tianshan Aluminum climbed 3.33 per cent, Yunnan Aluminum added 1.06 per cent, Shandong Nanshan increased 1.64 per cent, and China Hongqiao gained 1.58 per cent. In Japan, UACJ rose 3.35 per cent, while Daiki Aluminium gained 0.38 per cent. To know the futuristic market and value...
Aluminium is increasingly getting caught in the fallout from the Middle East conflict. What began as a disruption to two of the region’s critical shipping routes - the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab - is now affecting aluminium production, shipments and prices. The pressure is particularly significant for the Gulf, home to some of the world's major aluminium producers, and is beginning to expose the supply risks faced by major importing markets such as the US. Why the Strait of Hormuz matters for aluminium The scale of the aluminium exposure becomes clear from the volume of metal that normally moves through the Strait of Hormuz. The route handles around 5.14 million tonnes of primary aluminium annually, equivalent to approximately 75 per cent of the region’s total production. Hormuz...
The global aluminium extrusion market is entering a sustained growth phase, driven by construction, transportation, renewable energy and advanced manufacturing. This overview covers market structure, segmentation, cost drivers and the strategic trends expected to shape the industry through 2035. For the full dataset covering capacity, production, consumption and country-level trade flows by alloy, temper, finish and end-use, readers can access AL Circle’s report, “ The World of Aluminium Extrusions – Industry Forecast to 2032 ” or speak to our research desk . The market at a glance Building and construction remains the largest end-use sector, accounting for around 55 per cent to 56 per cent of global extrusion consumption, with applications ranging from fenestration and curtain walls to...
Activated alumina continues to play an important role in industrial gas drying as manufacturers across sectors such as petrochemicals, electronics, pharmaceuticals and general manufacturing look for more reliable ways to remove moisture from process gases. Shanghai Joozhou New Materials Co., Ltd. said its activated alumina products are designed for applications where low moisture levels are needed to help reduce equipment corrosion, protect production systems and improve operating efficiency. According to the company, activated alumina is used in compressed air systems, air separation units and natural gas processing, where conventional cooling and mechanical separation alone cannot achieve the low moisture levels required for sensitive industrial operations. The material adsorbs water...
Aluminium prices fell after Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) reaffirmed its timeline to restore full production at the Al Taweelah smelter by the first quarter of 2027, easing market concerns over supply from the Gulf. The AL Taweelah smelter is currently operating at 18 per cent capacity. It was damaged on March 28, when strikes on the Khalifa Economic Zone in Abu Dhabi forced an emergency shutdown. The update eased concerns over aluminium supply. Benchmark three-month aluminium on the London Metal Exchange (LME) fell 1.7 per cent to USD 3,308 per tonne after EGA confirmed the smelter remains on track to return to full production by the first quarter of 2027. The company said, “Basic utilities have been restored across the site, with natural gas and electricity availability projected to...
Canada's aluminium import trends in 2026 point to different trajectories for its two key Western suppliers. The United States remains Canada's main source of imported aluminium, although shipments have continued to fall. At the same time, aluminium exports from the European Union have been moving higher, even if they are still well below US volumes. The latest trade figures show how Canada's sourcing pattern is changing this year. US aluminium trade declines The United States exported 110,166.32 tonnes of aluminium to Canada during January-May 2026, compared with 169,305.50 tonnes in the same period of 2025 and 203,403.73 tonnes a year earlier. The decline follows the broader trend seen in annual exports, which dropped from 449,626.34 tonnes in 2024 to 331,049.36 tonnes in 2025 (fell 26.4...
The London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium price chart reported major declines of nearly 2 per cent across the pricing and contract segments on the August 12 close after an improvement was noticed on the August 11 session . The LME aluminium cash bid eased 1.93 per cent day-on-day on August 12, down from USD 3,372 per tonne to USD 3,307 per tonne. The offer shifted from USD 3,373 per tonne to USD 3,307.5 per tonne, representing a difference of 1.94 per cent. Explore- Most comprehensive and forward-looking industry-focused report — Global Bauxite & Alumina Market Forecast to 2036: Supply–Demand, Trade Flows & Price Outlook On August 12, the LME aluminium three-month bid price slipped from USD 3,373 per tonne on August 11 to USD 3,308 per tonne, marking a similar 1.93 per cent drop. The...
