Emirates Global Aluminium, the largest industrial company in the United Arab Emirates outside oil and gas, today announced a technology upgrade pilot at the company’s Al Taweelah smelter, which will further improve productivity and efficiency. The pilot upgrades to 13 DX technology reduction cells will be used to prove the performance of the new technology, called E40, before industrialisation across all 808 DX technology reduction cells at potlines 1 and 2 at Al Taweelah. If applied to all 808 reduction cells, EGA’s E40 technology has the potential to increase hot metal production from the two potlines by 67 thousand tonnes per year, while reducing net specific energy consumption and associated carbon dioxide emissions from power generation by approximately six per cent per tonne of...
Maaden’s aluminium business delivered a stronger Q2 2026 performance, with revenue rising 49 per cent year on year to USD 1.01 billion, supported by higher aluminium production and stronger realised prices. According to industry sources, Maaden’s aluminium business produced 242,000 tonnes in Q2 2026, while realised aluminium prices reached USD 3,915 per tonne, up 51 per cent. The combination of higher aluminium output and stronger realised prices helped drive the 49 per cent increase in Maaden aluminium revenue to USD 1.01 billion. The growth came alongside gains in both volume and pricing rather than from a one-off accounting effect. The stronger Q2 performance puts aluminium prices in focus for Maaden’s earnings. With realised aluminium prices reaching USD 3,915 per tonne, the company...
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Chinese automaker BYD Co. has taken full control of its joint venture with Mercedes-Benz Group AG, marking the end of a 13-year partnership in China's electric vehicle (EV) market. BYD acquired the remaining 10 per cent of shares in the company that were previously owned by Mercedes-Benz, bringing the Denza premium EV brand entirely under BYD's ownership. The terms of the deal were not disclosed, and Mercedes-Benz representatives in China declined to comment. BYD sells around 3 million vehicles a year, making it the world's leading EV company. The dissolution of this joint venture comes at a time of escalating trade tensions between China and Europe. The European Commission is preparing to impose additional tariffs on Chinese EVs, with potential rates reaching up to 36.3 per cent. A vote...
Aluminium stocks at Japan’s three major ports – Yokohama, Nagoya, and Osaka decreased year-on-year, indicating persistent supply constraints in Asia. Compared to 360,700 tonnes at the end of August 2023, stocks in August 2024 recorded a sharp fall of 9.26 per cent, showed Marubeni Corporation, a major Japanese integrated trading and investment business conglomerate. Nonetheless, the stocks hovered above 300,000 tonnes, marking a month-on-month increase of 9.25 per cent from 299,600 tonnes. According to the data shared by Marubeni, Japanese aluminium stocks at the end of August 2024 stood at 327,300 tonnes. Stocks at three ports At Yokohama, aluminium stocks at the end of August 2024 stood at 152,000 tonnes, down by 8,000 tonnes or 5 per cent from 160,000 tonnes in August 2023. In...
Italy has extended its support to the European Commission's proposed tariffs on Chinese electric vehicle imports, said Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani in an interview on Monday, September 16, before meeting China's Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao. Tajani asserted, "We support the duties that the EU Commission proposes to protect the competitiveness of our companies." Minister Wang Wentao has visited Rome for discussions over the European Commission's proposed tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. He held talks with Tajani, but no statement from the Italian foreign ministry made direct reference to EV tariffs. Tajani said they discussed protecting intellectual property, trade in the agri-food sector, and investments. Wang will have another round of discussions with the European...
Canada is intensifying efforts to combat plastic waste by expanding Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs to address the nation's pressing environmental concerns. A 2018 World Bank report highlighted a stark reality: Canadians generate over 4 pounds of waste per person daily, more than double the global average. By 2050, this rate is projected to climb further. Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) reveals that Canadians discard over 3 million metric tons of plastic waste annually, with plastic packaging constituting half of this total. Alarmingly, only 9 per cent of this plastic is recycled. In response to these statistics and under the pressure of climate change, the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment advocates for significant reforms. The council strongly...
Akfa Aluminium, Uzbekistan's leading manufacturer of aluminium and PVC profiles, has reportedly received 'B+/B' long and short-term issuer credit ratings from S&P Global for demonstrating a stable outlook in the Central Asian market. In 2023, Akfa emerged as the largest producer of aluminium and PVC profiles in Uzbekistan and Central Asia, with a sales figure of UZS 4.3 trillion (approx. $347 million). The company, with its revenue and business size, controls 62 per cent of aluminium profiles market and 55 per cent of PVC profiles market in Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan, a Central Asian country, is gradually taking a key position in the world with its industrial developments. According to the survey revealed by the Institute of Macroeconomic and Regional Research (IMRI), industrial production in...
Constellium has officially inaugurated its new advanced recycling centre at its Neuf-Brisach facility in France. The €130 million investment, bolstered by the France Relance investment program, is a significant milestone for the company. It reinforces its presence in the automotive and packaging sectors while advancing its commitment to a circular and sustainable economy. The new centre will boost the plant's capacity to recycle automotive and packaging materials by up to 75 per cent, adding an impressive 130,000 tonnes to its operations. This expansion will also enable Constellium to increase the recycled content of its products, aligning with the growing demand for environmentally responsible materials in both the automotive and packaging industries. With this latest development,...
Canyon Resources Limited has reached a major milestone by signing the Mining Licence for its Minim-Martap Bauxite Project in Cameroon. This development comes shortly after the July 2024 Mining Convention's approval, highlighting Cameroonian authorities' strong backing. Canyon Resources' Chief Executive Officer, Jean-Sebastien Boutet, and the Interim Minister of Mines, Industry and Technological Development, Professor Fuh Calistus Gentry, attended the official signing ceremony. With the Mining Convention and Licence secured, Canyon Resources and its subsidiary, Camalco SA, are now authorised to mine and export bauxite and alumina from Minim Martap. The company is fully prepared to embark on a comprehensive pipeline of activities over the next 12 months, including developing port and rail...
On Monday, September 16, the LME aluminium benchmark price witnessed a leap of US$100 per tonne, reaching above US$2,500 per tonne after precisely three weeks. Only over a night, LME aluminium cash bid price and LME aluminium official settlement price shot up by US$100.50 per tonne and US$100 per tonne to stand at US$2,504.50 per tonne and US$2,505 per tonne, respectively. According to various analyses, the prices rose through key resistance levels – 1) lower inventories, 2) a weaker dollar, and 3) expectations that the US Federal Reserve will announce a bigger rate cut. With the latest cut, the LME aluminium benchmark price demonstrated a month-on-month increase of US$211.50 per tonne from US$2,293.50 per tonne. On the same day, the 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price arrived at...
Vedanta Aluminium, India's largest producer of aluminium, is actively addressing a breach of its process water storage facility at its Lanjigarh alumina refinery in Odisha, which occurred during the early hours of September 15, 2024, due to unprecedented rains in the area. This extreme weather caused elevated water levels and pressure in the facility's catchment area, which led to the breach. The facility, built to international standards, is regularly monitored through a combination of digital and manual tools, including sensors and satellite imagery. Vedanta officials immediately informed the state administration and mobilised its teams to manage the situation and minimise any impact. While no injuries or livestock losses have been reported so far, the water overflow has impacted...
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) has taken a major step towards reshaping the global aluminium landscape. In its meeting on September 16, 2024, the company’s Board of Directors approved entering into a non-binding agreement with Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Maaden) to begin due diligence on a potential business combination. This strategic partnership will position the merged entity as one of the world’s largest aluminium producers. The combination is set to deliver significant synergies, including expanded production capacity, a strengthened global presence, enhanced ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) performance, and improved energy security. By creating a vertically integrated aluminium giant, the collaboration promises to unlock substantial shareholder value, cementing its...
In the first half of 2024, the United States experienced a sharp fall of 39,000 tonnes or 11.50 per cent in its primary aluminium production compared to the same period of the previous year. The drop was consistent each month, averaging a decrease of 7,000 tonnes to 8,000 tonnes per month from January to June 2024. The United States' total production of primary aluminium through the first half of 2024 amounted to 339,000 tonnes versus 378,000 tonnes a year ago. In June 2024, the United States' primary aluminium production was 55,000 tonnes, down by 7,000 tonnes or 11.29 per cent from 62,000 tonnes a year ago. On a month-on-month basis, the output dropped by 2,000 tonnes from 57,000 tonnes. In the second quarter of 2024, the output amounted to 167,000 tonnes, down by 5,000 tonnes from...
Europe's second-largest carmaker, Stellantis NV, is standing firm against potential efforts by the European Union to delay the implementation of stricter emissions regulations scheduled for next year. The company's stance signals a brewing conflict with other manufacturers who may favour postponing the environmental targets. As the EU mulls adjustments in the face of ongoing industry pressures, Stellantis' position underscores the carmaker's commitment to meeting the climate goals on time, setting up a potential divide within the automotive sector over the future of emissions policy in the region. Stellantis's Chief Executive Officer Carlos Tavares said, "It would be surreal to change the rules now." Moreover, Tavares added, “Stellantis has prepared EVs and has established the ability to...
The United States bauxite imports in the second quarter of 2024 decreased year-on-year in response to a lower demand for raw materials on account of reduced output of primary aluminium during the same period. According to the United States Geological Survey, the United States' bauxite imports fell 28 per cent Y-o-Y, while primary aluminium production dropped 12 per cent in Q2 2024. The annual drop in the United States Q2 bauxite import volume also led to a fall in the total imports through H1 2024. From 1.2 million tonnes in H1 2023, the United States bauxite imports decreased to 1.03 million tonnes in H1 2024, reflecting a 14.17 per cent Y-o-Y fall. In Q2 2024, the United States bauxite imports stood at 527,000 tonnes, down by 28 per cent from 733,000 tonnes in Q2 2023. However, on a...
According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), China’s aluminium production in August 2024 stood firm, marking an annual growth of 2.5 per cent. Attributed to solid profits due to increased aluminium prices, smelters in the domestic market scaled up their production to 3.73 million tonnes during the said month. According to NBS, the output volume marked a two-year high. However, the daily average production dipped month-on-month from 122,333 tonnes to 120,322 tonnes, based on Reuters’ calculation. The strong output this year was due to increased operations by smelters in some of the main Chinese primary aluminium production hubs, especially in Yunnan where metal output rose due to ample hydropower supply. For the interim period, prices in the Chinese domestic market fell due to...
On Friday, September 13, the LME aluminium benchmark price continued to grow for the fourth day in a row and exceeded the US$2,400 per tonne level. The LME graph movement suggests the LME aluminium cash bid price and LME aluminium official settlement price increased by US$14 per tonne and US$14.50 per tonne, respectively, to close the week at US$2,404 per tonne and US$2,405 per tonne. With the latest rise, the LME aluminium benchmark price recorded a month-on-month increase of 4.86 from US$2,293.50 per tonne. 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price stood at US$2,421 per tonne and US$2,421.50 per tonne, marking a growth of US$11.50 per tonne from September 12. December-25 bid price and December-25 offer price ascended by US$11 per tonne to reach US$2,522 per tonne and US$2,533 per tonne,...
On September 15, 2024, Alcoa Corporation announced that it had entered into a binding share purchase and subscription agreement with Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden). Under this agreement, Alcoa will sell its entire 25.1 per cent ownership stake in their joint venture to Ma’aden for approximately $1.1 billion. The transaction includes roughly 86 million Ma’aden shares, valued at $950 million based on the 30-day volume-weighted average share price as of September 12, 2024, along with an additional $150 million in cash. The joint venture, established in 2009 as a fully integrated mining complex in Saudi Arabia, now consists of two entities: the Ma’aden Bauxite and Alumina Company (MBAC), which operates the bauxite mine and alumina refinery, and the Ma’aden Aluminium Company (MAC),...
John Slaven, CEO of Vedanta Aluminium, has submitted his resignation from the post, effective September 30, 2024, according to an exchange filing on September 14. Slaven, who took on the role in October 2023, is stepping down citing personal reasons. However, the company has not yet named his successor. John Slaven brings over three decades of expertise in the metals, mining, and modern manufacturing industries. Before joining Vedanta Aluminium, he held the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Alcoa, where he was responsible for the company's Bauxite, Alumina, and Aluminium operations. He has also held prominent executive roles at BHP Billiton, The Boston Consulting Group, and The De Beers Group of Companies. Earlier in his career, he served as a...
Every Can Counts, a prominent non-profit organisation working to raise awareness about the importance of aluminium cans recycling, has made a significant impact at festivals across the UK and Ireland by helping attendees recycle over 100,000 aluminium cans. This marked a Y-o-Y increase of 59 per cent while raising awareness about the importance of recycling. Over the past few months, 62 ambassadors from the non-profit organisation participated in numerous events, including the Download Festival, the Red Bull Soapbox Race, the Stendhal Festival, 2000 Trees, and the Latitude Festival. At each event, the team employed creative methods to collect aluminium cans, such as custom-designed recycling backpacks, striking cage installations, and festival-themed voting bins. Ambassadors at Download...
