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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In Morocco, Chinese expertise plays a crucial role in developing the vehicle wheel industry, showcasing the strengthening economic ties between China and Morocco under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). One key project in this development is CITIC Dicastal's investment in Morocco, which has established the country's first aluminium alloy wheel manufacturing plant. This investment underscores the practical cooperation and cultural integration driven by BRI projects. Since 2018, Zhang Shiqi, the current project manager, has been the driving force behind the research and site selection efforts for the manufacturing plant under China's state-owned CITIC group. His leadership has been instrumental in constructing and operating the CITIC Dicastal Morocco factory, marking the largest Chinese...
The European Commission has recently approved a joint venture between Baoshan Iron & Steel (Baosteel), Baowu Aluminium, and Japan's Kobe Steel (Kobelco) under the EU Merger Regulation. This collaboration primarily focuses on the production of automotive aluminium sheets. In its review, the Commission concluded that the venture would not raise significant competition concerns within the European Economic Area, citing its limited market impact. The transaction was reviewed under the simplified merger procedure, which streamlines the approval process for mergers with minimal competition risks. According to an August 8 statement on Kobelco's website, Kobelco will hold a 50 per cent stake in the new company, while Baosteel and Baowu Aluminium will share the remaining half. The joint venture,...
Fairfax India Holdings Corporation announces that, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, it has entered into an agreement to invest INR 6,955 million (approximately $83 million at current exchange rates) for a 65.0 per cent interest in Global Aluminium Private Limited (“Global Aluminium”). The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2024. Global Aluminium is the third-largest aluminium extrusions manufacturer in India with in-house capabilities to produce anodised and powder-coated aluminium products. Its products have a wide range of applications, including in the architecture, renewable energy, automotive, and electronics and electrical industries. Global Aluminium is based in Hyderabad where it operates two plants. “We are...
Guizhou Aluminum New Materials Co., Ltd. (Gui Aluminum New Materials) has recently achieved a major milestone in aluminium foil production. The company has successfully manufactured double zero aluminium foil with a thickness of 0.006mm, width of 1700mm, weight of 17,760kg, and a roll diameter of 2321mm, all without a single breakage. This accomplishment demonstrates Gui Aluminum's advanced production capabilities and significantly boosts its market competitiveness. The ability to produce such large-diameter rolls of high-quality foil highlights the company's expertise in process control. It positions them well to meet the increasing demand for premium aluminium foil products. Building on this technological breakthrough, Gui Aluminum New Materials plans to leverage this success as a...
In recent developments across the upstream sector of the aluminium industry, significant changes and milestones have been reported. The upstream sector includes bauxite, alumina and primary aluminium. Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) has pioneered digital greenhouse gas emissions tracking in the UAE, enhancing transparency and aligning with national decarbonisation goals. Additionally, China's Ministry of Commerce has announced countermeasures against Canada in response to new tariffs on Chinese imports, including aluminium, electric vehicles, and steel, involving WTO dispute proceedings and anti-discrimination investigations. Indian Railways' East Central Railway (ECR) has experienced a notable increase in freight income in the first months of the 2024-25 financial year. In August 2024,...
Beijing has requested talks with Canada at the World Trade Organization, a global trade referee, accusing the latter on the ground of violating WTO rules by imposing 100 per cent tariffs on China-origin electric vehicles and 25 per cent tariffs on aluminium and steel. The news came on Friday, September 6, after China’s Trade Ministry said, “China lodged a request for consultations with Canada at the WTO regarding Canada’s additional tariffs on electric vehicles and steel and aluminium products.” The Ministry further said, “Canada has disregarded WTO rules and violated its commitments within the WTO by proposing to impose additional tariffs of 100 per cent and 25 per cent.” It is the second response from China this week, which has added a new twist to the dispute. On Tuesday, September 3,...
On August 20th, Sunstone Development announced the signing of a capital increase agreement with Geely Baikuang to jointly invest 290 million yuan into Tiandong Baikuang Santian Carbon Co., Ltd. Following the capital injection, Sun-stone Development will hold a 66 per cent stake, while Geely Baikuang will own 34 per cent. The funds will be allocated to constructing a 600,000-tonne prebaked anode production facility. About Sun-stone Sun-stone Development has consistently ranked first in China for anode exports over several years as a leading global manufacturer of prebaked anodes. Geely Baikuang, part of the Geely Science and Technology Group, is a major enterprise group involved in coal, electricity, electrolytic aluminium, alumina, carbon, aluminium deep processing, and ecological...
The name "FIN" represents "First in Newcastle," highlighting FIN Windows and Doors' pioneering role and longstanding presence in Newcastle's building industry for over fifty years. Dedicated to serving the Newcastle, Central Coast, and Hunter Valley regions, FIN Windows and Doors has built a solid reputation for delivering high-quality window and door products, becoming a trusted name in the local community. FIN & Capral aluminium FIN's enduring success is largely attributed to its longstanding partnership with Capral Aluminium. FIN's commitment to sustainability is evident in its operations and product offerings. Their collaboration with Capral has allowed FIN to incorporate LocAl® lower-carbon aluminium into their products, aligning with their broader goal of minimising environmental...
Metal recycling company Ecovery LLC has targeted to put into operation a secondary aluminium furnace with a 60,000-pound capacity at its processing facility in Loxley, Alabama, in September 2024. This furnace is Ecovery's second major capital expenditure project in 2024 and a second on-site rotary furnace. Earlier this year, Ecovery installed an X-ray sorting line to supply furnace-ready aluminium scrap to rolling mills in the Southeast and Midwest. Ecovery claims this new furnace will increase the company's melting capacity while enhancing dross processing and toll conversion services provided to customers. The company's CEO, Brack Norris, has shared that his family-owned business has diversified and expanded its operations several times in its 16-year journey. Originally, Ecovery used...
After surpassing 7 million tonnes in July 2024, China's metallurgical-grade alumina production continued its upward trajectory in August, showing a month-on-month increase of 0.67 per cent, according to the Shanghai Metals Market. On a year-on-year basis, the output in August registered a hike of 2.82 per cent. According to SMM data, China's alumina production in August 2024 stood at around 7.22 million tonnes versus 7.173 million tonnes in July. At the end of August, China's metallurgical-grade alumina capacity stood stable at around 100.6 million tonnes, with the operating capacity up by 0.81 per cent M-o-M. The operating rate was 84.63 per cent, compared to 83.5 per cent in July. From January to August, China's total alumina production amounted to approximately 54.686 million tonnes,...
Viva ACP, Asia's leading manufacturer of metal composite panels, has introduced advanced Aluminium Composite Panels (ACPs) designed to enhance the safety and performance of bus bodies in India. This initiative resulted from the stricter regulations the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways implemented for bus construction, emphasising improvements in passenger safety and vehicle quality. These new ACPs from Viva offer several advantages, including reduced vehicle weight, improved fuel efficiency, and superior overall performance. The lightweight panels also comply with the Ministry's latest safety standards, aiding manufacturers in meeting the updated regulations. As the Indian electric bus market is set for rapid growth, fuelled by government initiatives, Viva ACP's panels are...
China is already home to more than 80 million tonnes of alumina capacity. So much so that the industry is struggling to source enough bauxite to satisfy demand. So, it's not particularly good timing for new alumina refining capacity to enter the market, but that's exactly what's happening. Markets change, of course, but built capacity rarely does. So perhaps the proprietors of new alumina capacity are hoping that the price will remain high but with better sources of ore coming their way. The problem is that China has a capacity cap of 45 million tonnes on primary metal, which equates to almost 90 million tonnes of alumina. Right now, the Chinese are also supplying Russia, but that's not a sustainable market. Eventually, the war will end, and sanctions will finally be lifted. However, the...
The President of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader, has announced considering expanding the country's mining operations with the help of U.S. Army engineers, focusing on the extraction of rare earth elements. Speaking at an event in New York, Abinader emphasised the nation's rich reserves of gold, silver, nickel, and bauxite, noting that rare earth elements—critical to high-tech industries—are often found within bauxite deposits. He underscored the importance of adhering to global mining standards, referencing the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), which the Dominican Republic adopted in 2016. The president pointed out that rare earth elements are essential for today's technology-driven world, making their exploration a priority for our country. He added that his...
Gränges Powder Metallurgy SAS, located in Saint-Avold, France, is investing in a new post-processing line for producing aluminium powders for Additive Manufacturing (AM). The line will feature ATEX-certified sieving, homogenising, and packing equipment within a closed workspace to ensure optimal safety and cleanliness. It is expected to be fully operational by the first quarter of 2025. With over three decades of experience, Gränges Powder Metallurgy specialises in high-performance aluminium alloys through inert gas atomisation. The company is renowned for its Dispal range of low-thermal expansion AlSi alloys, widely used in the semiconductor and precision optics industries. In addition to Dispal, Gränges produces standard AlSi10Mg powders and custom aluminium alloys tailored to specific...
Ducab Metals Business, the largest metal manufacturing company in the UAE and a subsidiary of the Ducab Group, is striding towards business expansion to meet the increasing demand for aluminium across the globe by doubling its production capacity from 55,000 tonnes per annum to 110,000 tonnes per annum. This expansion aligns with the UAE’s diversification efforts outside the non-oil trade and its long-term goals to lead the global industrial manufacturing sector. Ducab Group’s chief executive officer, Mohammad Almutawa, said: This expansion increases our ability to meet global demand, adds value to the ‘Made in the Emirates’ brand, and increases our international competitiveness, while driving sustainable business growth and building resilience in industry.” Mohamed Al Ahmedi, CEO of DMB,...
Metro Mining Limited has significantly increased throughput rates at its Bauxite Hills operation in Western Australia. One of the biggest reasons was commissioning two new Cat 992 Wheel Loaders and installing a new screening system. The company introduced a new apron/wobbler feeder screening circuit in May, marking a key step in its expansion strategy. The integration and optimisation of the expansion are already yielding results, with Metro achieving a record monthly shipment of 720,000 tonnes (wet) in August 2024, a 13 per cent increase from July and a 29 per cent rise compared to July 2023, which AL Circle has already reported on September 6, 2024. This milestone came despite a two-day shutdown for conveyor belt replacements at the barge loading facility and planned transhippers...
On September 6, 2024, the A00 aluminium ingot price in China, as reported by the Shanghai Metal Market (SMM), ended the week with a dwindle in price by RMB 90 per tonne, following a slight decrease the day before. The price settled at RMB 19,210 per tonne, increasing the month-on-month price by RMB 460 per tonne from RMB 18,750 per tonne. The average price of A00 aluminium ingot is hovering between RMB 19,190 per tonne to RMB 19,230 per tonne, while the spot contract is likely to be traded at a discount price of RMB 40 per tonne to RMB 0 per tonne with an average of RMB 20 per tonne. Additionally, the price of low-carbon aluminium has settled at RMB 20,082 per tonne, degraded by 86 per tonne. High-purity aluminium (99.99%) and (99.996%) have also slipped by RMB 100 per tonne to peg at RMB...
On Thursday, LME aluminium opened at US$2,392 per tonne, with a high of US$2,410 per tonne, a low of US$2,363 per tonne, and closed at US$2,378 per tonne, down US$21.5 per tonne, a decrease of 0.90 per cent. On Thursday, September 5, both LME aluminium cash bid price and LME aluminium official settlement price inched down by US$1.5 per tonne or 0.06 per cent to clock at US$2,365.50 per tonne and US$2,366 per tonne. As per the LME graph, 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price moved down by US$5 per tonne or 0.20 per cent and US$6 per tonne or 0.25 per cent to settle at US$2,381 per tonne and US$2,382 per tonne. December 25 bid price and December 25 offer price slipped by US$5 per tonne to halt at US$2,493 per tonne and US$2,498 per tonne. LME aluminium opening stock came in at 836925...
