
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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VBX is entering a new phase in the evolution of its flagship Wuudagu Bauxite Project, with the company moving beyond exploration after securing preliminary funding and offtake pathways while advancing the technical studies needed to develop the Western Australian asset into a producing bauxite mine. The transition comes as Wuudagu continues to build momentum through resource growth, improving project economics and commercial discussions, positioning the project closer to a fully funded development pathway. Funding marks next step towards development The latest milestone came after VBX signed a non-exclusive framework agreement with the Hong Kong subsidiary of a major Chinese aluminium group, creating a pathway for both project investment and long-term bauxite sales. Under the proposed...

Europe's efforts to build an alternative supply chain for critical raw materials have taken another step forward after Metlen signed a landmark long-term agreement to supply a leading US technology company with approximately 25 per cent of the annual gallium output from its planned production facility in Greece. The agreement, described by Metlen as the first major commercial gallium supply agreement between a European producer and a leading US technology company, will draw material from the company's planned Greek facility, which is expected to produce 50 tonnes of gallium annually from 2028. Gallium forms alloys with metals including aluminium, gold and silver, making it an essential raw material for artificial intelligence, semiconductors, advanced renewable energy infrastructure,...

Constellium has delivered its strongest quarterly operating performance despite economic and geopolitical uncertainty, prompting the aluminium products manufacturer to raise its full-year 2026 guidance and bring its 2028 financial targets within reach two years ahead of schedule. The record quarter was driven by stronger performance across all operating segments, supported by improving aerospace and transportation markets, supply shortages in North America's automotive rolled products sector, robust recycling operations in Europe and North America, and disciplined cost control. Record operating performance across businesses Second-quarter shipments totalled 381 thousand metric tonnes, down 1 per cent compared with the same period last year. However, revenue climbed 31 per cent year on...

India’s aluminium industry is expanding its manufacturing strength and its growing role in global industrial supply chains. This has been highlighted by the gaining momentum in India’s aluminium alloy exports to the global market. The increasing share of value-added products indicates the nation’s steady advancement in technology, quality and production capabilities. As of 2025, India exported a total of 1.2 million tonnes of unwrought aluminium alloy products to the global market. The export value for FY25-26 reached USD 1.29 billion. To know the production, demand and consumption forecasts of aluminium casting, explore our report “ Global Aluminium Casting Market 2026-2032: Plant Economics, Alloy Segmentation, Pricing Intelligence, Supply Chain Analysis & Strategic Recommendations ” The...

Alupro has launched its impact report for 2025. The Chain Reaction: Turning change into impact presents the latest results from its consumer engagement initiatives and explains how behavioural change is helping to turn everyday actions into lasting legacy. A key theme of this year’s report was the role of collaboration in driving progress towards achieving a truly circular packaging economy. Indeed, as the packaging sector navigates a complex period of regulatory change, collaboration between government and industry is becoming increasingly critical to bringing together the value chain and driving measurable national change. According to data presented within the report, the UK collected 150,684 tonnes of aluminium packaging for recycling in 2025, saving 1.3 million tonnes of carbon by...

Vedanta Aluminium has expanded its assistive support initiative across Jharsuguda and Sundargarh districts in Odisha, extending accessibility support to people with disabilities and elderly residents as part of its wider community development programme. The latest phase of the initiative covered Jamkhani, Girisima, Jharpalam, R&R Colony Mendra, Garjanjore, Bileimunda, Chhatabar and Ghogharpalli, where 19 wheelchairs were distributed to identified beneficiaries. Similar support had previously been provided in Kuraloi. 49 beneficiaries supported With the latest distribution, 49 beneficiaries have now received wheelchairs and hearing aids aimed at improving mobility, accessibility and participation in everyday life. Vedanta Aluminium Coal Mines CEO Amaresh Kumar said the initiative reflects...

In early trading, the operating centre of the SHFE aluminium 2608 contract was higher than the same period of the previous trading day. Affected by weak end-use demand, overall market purchasing today was mainly for essential restocking. Due to the rise in aluminium prices, some traders showed increased willingness to sell, but overall purchase willingness was limited. Mainstream transaction prices were mainly at parity to a premium of RMB 10 per tonne against the SHFE aluminium August contract. Today, the selling sentiment index in east China was 3.16, up 0.08 from the previous session; the purchasing sentiment index was 3.00, unchanged. The recurring US-Iran conflicts disrupted the rise in SHFE aluminium prices during the night session. Today, traders and downstream processing...

Australia's Andromeda Metals has moved a step closer to commercialising an alternative route to high-purity alumina (HPA), commissioning its pilot plant to transition from laboratory-scale production to a continuous manufacturing process using Great White kaolin as feedstock. The milestone marks the company's next phase in developing HPA outside the conventional aluminium feedstock route. The pilot programme, scheduled to run through the third quarter of 2026, is expected to generate commercial-grade 4N HPA samples in the second half of the year for customer qualification while providing engineering data for future feasibility studies. Unlike traditional HPA production, which typically relies on aluminium metal through the alkoxide process, Andromeda's proprietary technology uses refined...

Rio Tinto reported a strong first half of 2026, with its aluminium business remaining one of the company's key earnings drivers alongside copper and lithium. Together, the three commodities contributed more than 50 per cent of the Group's underlying EBITDA during the period. The miner posted an underlying EBITDA of USD 14.8 billion, up 28 per cent year-on-year, while free cash flow increased 75 per cent to USD 3.8 billion. Underlying earnings rose 43 per cent to USD 6.85 billion, allowing the company to declare an interim dividend of USD 3.4 billion, up 43 per cent from a year earlier. Rio Tinto said its aluminium operations maintained strong performance during the first six months of the year, with primary aluminium production remaining steady at 1.68 million tonnes. Higher output from...

Paradeep Phosphates Limited (PPL) is planning to invest INR 2.5 billion (USD 26.18 million) in the set-up of a greenfield aluminium fluoride (AlF₃) plant at its Paradeep complex worth. The project’s approval marks the company’s entry into industrial chemicals while strengthening value addition from existing operations. The new facility, with a projected annual production capacity of 15,000 tonnes, will utilise hydrofluorosilicic acid (HFSA), a by-product generated during phosphoric acid production, to manufacture aluminium fluoride, a critical raw material used in aluminium smelting. To learn about the market potential of aluminium dross, explore “ ALuminium Dross Processing: Generation, Recovery & Strategic Roadmap ” By converting a low-value by-product into a high-value industrial...

Lanka Aluminium Industries PLC and the Sri Lanka Institute of Architects (SLIA) have jointly organised a full-day factory tour for architects at the company's aluminium extrusion plant in Ekala, Ja-Ela, as part of efforts to strengthen technical knowledge of aluminium systems used in construction. The visit was conducted under the 'Specification Writing for Architects' programme launched by SLIA President Dilumini De Mel, who accompanied a group of senior architects during the tour. During the visit, participants were given an insight into aluminium extrusion processes and product applications. Lanka Aluminium Industries said it will continue conducting similar programmes for government institutions to promote greater awareness of aluminium extrusion-based products and solutions,...

National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) has approached the BSE and the National Stock Exchange (NSE) seeking a waiver of penalties imposed for non-compliance with board composition requirements under the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015, maintaining that the lapse arose from circumstances beyond the company's control. The state-owned aluminium producer received communications from both stock exchanges on May 27, 2026, informing it of a penalty of INR 5,31,000 (USD 5,548) each, including 18 per cent GST on a basic fine of INR 4,50,000 (USD 4,702), for failing to comply with Regulation 17(1) of the SEBI (LODR) Regulations during the quarter ended March 31, 2026. Together, the penalties amount to INR 10.62 lakh. The issue was subsequently reviewed...

Metal Packaging Europe (MPE) has expanded its membership with the addition of ALLTUB and TUBEX as new corporate members, while Eastman has joined as an associate member, further strengthening the association's expertise across the metal packaging value chain. ALLTUB and TUBEX bring extensive experience in aluminium aerosol cans, tubes and related packaging solutions, while Eastman adds expertise in specialty materials, resins and coatings that support performance and innovation in metal packaging. According to MPE, the new members enhance its representation across the value chain and reinforce its efforts to advance a competitive, innovative and circular future for the European metal packaging industry. The latest additions also reflect MPE's ongoing strategy over the past year to broaden...

Amcor has achieved ASI Performance Standard V3.1 (2023) Certification with a focus on Material Stewardship for the purchase, processing, delivery and sales of aluminium-based flexible packaging material primarily for the food and pharmaceutical industries at their facility in Złotów, Poland. Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) today announced that Amcor Flexibles Złotów Sp. z o.o. has been certified against the ASI Performance Standard V3.1 (2023). The facility produces aluminium-based flexible packaging materials, including aluminium lids and push-through foil, for the home and personal care, tobacco, pharmaceutical, and food packaging sectors, using printing, laminating, bag making, UV printing, slitting and die cutting processes. The annual production capacity is approximately 11–12...

One of Africa's largest undeveloped bauxite deposits has moved a step closer to global markets, with CAMALCO preparing to launch rail transportation from its flagship Minim Martap project in Cameroon. The milestone removes a critical logistics hurdle ahead of commercial production and positions the country to emerge as a new supplier in the global bauxite trade. The Cameroonian subsidiary of Australia's Canyon Resources has signed a rail operations agreement with Camrail, paving the way for bauxite to be transported from the Minim Martap mine in the Adamawa Region to the Port of Douala through the country's existing railway network. The agreement forms a key part of the project's mine-to-port logistics strategy, enabling future exports of one of the world's largest untapped high-grade...

India's aluminium scrap importers are looking beyond the Middle East for supplies after several Gulf countries imposed a ban on aluminium scrap exports from June 10, disrupting shipments from one of the country's key sourcing regions. The restrictions have prompted importers to explore alternative suppliers in Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia as they seek to secure raw material for India's secondary aluminium industry. Aluminium scrap is the primary feedstock for secondary aluminium production, which supplies metal to the automotive, electrical, construction, packaging, consumer durables and engineering sectors. India depends heavily on overseas supplies, with around 80 per cent of its aluminium scrap requirement met through imports. To know the aluminium...

Beverage giant Coca-Cola Company has acknowledged losing market share in India during the April-June quarter (Q2). Rising aluminium and PET packaging costs, coupled with supply constraints, disrupted its pricing strategy in one of its most important end-use markets. Although Coca-Cola reported stronger-than-expected global quarterly earnings and raised its full-year outlook, India emerged as one of the weaker performers in the Asia-Pacific region. Learn about the future of aluminium in the packaging industry from our report “ ALuminium in Packaging: Consumer Trends and Market Dynamics ” Coca-Cola observed that the biggest setback occurred in the INR 11-40 (USD 0.11-0.42) price segment, where consumers typically choose drinks based on affordability rather than pack size. Higher raw...

Marking World Nature Conservation Day, Vedanta Group, one of the world's leading metals, oil & gas, critical minerals, power and technology conglomerates, reaffirmed its commitment to nature-positive growth by generating and utilising nearly 400 crore (4 billion) units of clean energy during FY2025-26. This has contributed to 3.6 crore tonnes of cumulative avoided carbon emissions since FY2020-21, equivalent to taking nearly 80 lakh passenger vehicles off the road for a year. Through its integrated ESG strategy, Vedanta is accelerating decarbonisation while advancing responsible water stewardship, ecosystem restoration and biodiversity conservation, supporting India's climate and environmental ambitions. Clean energy Nature conservation begins with reducing environmental impact. During...