Germany’s aluminium foil export market is showing a shift after two years of steady recovery. The upward trend that had returned after the 2023 downturn failed to hold, with shipments slipping again even as some markets continued to show resilience in H1 2026. The change becomes clearer when the recent history is put together. Germany exported 151,000 tonnes in H1 2022, but the volume dropped to 138,000 tonnes in H1 2023, down 8.6 per cent. Exports then began to recover, reaching 141,000 tonnes in H1 2024, up 2.2 per cent, and 144,000 tonnes in H1 2025, an increase of 2.1 per cent, according to ITC data. In H1 2026, however, exports fell back to 140,000 tonnes, down 2.8 per cent year on year. The decline is relatively modest, but it marks a break in the recovery - raising the question of...
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...
Grow with
AL Circle
On Friday, August 16, the 3-month LME aluminium contract price opened at US$2,358.50 per tonne, with a high of US$2,374 per tonne and a low of US$2,338.50 per tonne, closing at US$2,368 per tonne, up US$12 per tonne. LME aluminium cash bid price and LME aluminium official settlement price suffered a loss of US$7.5 per tonne on Friday, August 16, after the prices increased and touched the US$2,300 per tonne level the previous day. However, marking a week-on-week increase of about 1.35 per cent, LME aluminium cash bid price and LME aluminium official settlement price closed the week at US$2,293 per tonne and US$2,293.50 per tonne, respectively. On the same day, the 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price clocked at US$2,342 per tonne and US$2,342.50 per tonne, down by US$7 per tonne and...
Walter has acquired PDQ Workholding LLC (PDQ), a Columbia City, IN-based workholding fixtures and tooling specialist. This strategic move bolsters Walter’s portfolio, particularly in workholding products, catering primarily to customers across the Americas. The acquisition aligns with Walter’s broader strategy to expand its footprint in advanced machining solutions and lightweight materials, particularly in key regions. By integrating PDQ’s expertise, Walter aims to enhance its early involvement in component projects, improve operational efficiency, and drive future cutting tool sales. Workholding is a crucial service performed in the manufacturing industry. It involves using specialized tools and equipment to hold and secure workpieces during machining operations. Additionally, this...
Recyclekaro, renowned for its leadership in e-waste and lithium-ion battery recycling, is launching CleanGreen Metals, an innovative marketplace focused on premium recycled metals. As a new subsidiary of Recyclekaro, CleanGreen Metals will cater to both B2C and B2B markets, offering a broad selection of high-quality recycled metals. The platform will feature an array of metals, including gold, silver, palladium, platinum, lithium, cobalt, nickel, aluminium , and copper. CleanGreen Metals is dedicated to combining superior quality with sustainability, aiming to provide high-purity metals while maintaining a strong commitment to environmental stewardship. CleanGreen Metals, a new subsidiary of Recyclekaro with its office in Mumbai, Maharashtra, will offer a range of precious metals,...
According to China Customs data, China’s unwrought aluminium and aluminium product imports saw a substantial increase of 11.1 per cent year-on-year in July 2024 to stand at 260,000 tonnes. The total imports, including primary metal, unwrought, and alloyed aluminium, in the first seven months of the year amounted to 2.3 million tonnes, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 60.6 per cent, showed the General Administration of Customs. However, compared to April 2024, China’s import volume of unwrought aluminium and aluminium products in July stood much lower than 380,000 tonnes. In the first four months, China’s total imports stood at 1.49 million tonnes, up by 86.6 per cent from the same period of the previous year. Till June 2024, China’s primary aluminium imports alone totalled 1.219...
China's economic momentum slowed in July as factory output growth eased to 5.1 per cent year-on-year, down from June's 5.3 per cent pace. This signalled tepid domestic demand and added to calls for additional policy support to sustain the country's uneven recovery. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) released the official figures on August 15, 2024, which fell short of the anticipated 5.2 per cent increase projected by a Reuters poll of 42 analysts. Despite the slowdown in industrial production, retail sales—a crucial measure of consumer spending—offered a glimmer of hope, rising 2.7 per cent in July, up from a 2.0 per cent increase in June. This exceeded analysts' expectations of a 2.6 per cent rise, suggesting that consumer activity may be gaining traction. However, fixed asset...
The Indian public-sector integrated aluminium company National Aluminium Company Limited (Nalco) has reported significant progress in its production operations for the current fiscal year, achieving 97 per cent of its production capacity target as of August 16. The company’s GGM(Smelter) and EPO - Executive Director(S&P), S Subrahmanyam NERALLA, confirmed that 940 of the 960 pots at its smelter plant are operational daily, contributing to a total production of 0.17 million tonnes as of August 16, 2024. Nalco has set an ambitious production target of 0.46 million tonnes of aluminium for this financial year, aiming to replicate last year’s output. At full capacity, the smelter has 960 pots dedicated to aluminium production. With only a few months remaining in the fiscal year, Nalco is...
On August 6, Shenhuo Group officially inaugurated its Innovation and Development Research Institute and Renewable Energy Research Institute. These institutes will concentrate on advancing and utilising renewable energy, producing electrolytic aluminium in an efficient and low-carbon manner, promoting green, intelligent, and efficient coal mining practices and controlling mine disasters. They will also focus on researching and promoting new aluminium-based materials, fostering green, intelligent, and high-end technologies, and spearheading research and development in key core technologies and leading products. In recent years, Shenhuo Group has actively pursued an "innovation-driven" strategy, significantly increasing scientific research and application investments. This approach has...
As Indonesian President Joko Widodo prepares to step down this October after a decade in power, his final State of the Nation address on August 16, 2024, underscored a key element of his economic policy: resource nationalism. Throughout his tenure, Jokowi has sought to harness Indonesia's vast natural resources for domestic benefit. This stance has sparked both support and controversy on the global stage, connecting Indonesia significantly to the international community. One of the most notable aspects of Jokowi's policy has been the ban on the export of unprocessed mineral ores, beginning with nickel in 2020. This move aims to shift Indonesia from being a mere exporter of raw materials to becoming a hub for value-added processing, inviting international investors to participate in the...
Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) on August 16 announced the certification of Triangle's – Cycling Equipments, S.A against the ASI Performance Standard V3 (2022). The company, known for manufacturing aluminium frames for electric bicycles, utilises various aluminium components, including tubes, forgings, and castings. Their Agueda facility features an array of processes, such as welding, cutting, heat treatment, 3D laser cutting, ink machining, grinding, polishing, finishing, painting, hydroforming, bending, and strength testing. Additionally, the facility houses seven warehouses. The independent, third-party audit of Triangle's – Cycling Equipments, S.A. was carried out by DNV Business Assurance Services UK Ltd. The ASI Certification program, created through a thorough...
Aluminium is an essential component of the global economy. The rising demand for green metal clearly shows that no matter how many setbacks or blips come across, the market or the need for this green metal will never decrease. The upstream aluminium sector, encompassing bauxite, alumina, and primary aluminium recorded some important events. Top companies like NACLO, Century Aluminium, Ma’aden, ALRO and Hindalco released their financial results, reflecting significant growths. To begin with, Ma'aden, Saudi Arabia's premier mining company, announced a remarkable 160 per cent increase in profitability owing to a notable rise in sales volumes, particularly in primary aluminium and gold. ALRO reported a positive turnover of RON 1.697 billion, driven by stronger London Metal Exchange (LME)...
In June 2024, alumina production in South America reached its highest level in six months, totalling 1.045 million tonnes. This figure represents a 2.85 per cent increase from the previous month and a 19.29 per cent rise compared to June 2023. Notably, this production level reflects a sharp contrast to the lowest output of 876,000 tonnes recorded in June 2023 during the first half of the year. Maintaining an output above 1 million tonnes during April-June 2024, South America registered a total alumina production of 3.094 million tonnes, up by 2.82 per cent from 3.009 million tonnes in Q1 2024 and 10.26 per cent higher than 2.806 million tonnes in Q2 2023. South America’s total alumina production in H1 2024 was 6.103 million tonnes, an increase of 3.86 per cent from 5.876 million tonnes....
Radnor Hills and Ardagh Metal Packaging (AMP) have collaborated to create custom ‘infinitely recyclable’ aluminium canned water designed to keep golfers refreshed at major professional events this year. The canned water will be accessible to players, caddies, and marshals from fridges and specially branded water coolers positioned around the tees and practice areas at various events. The companies reported that players such as Rory McIlroy, Bob MacIntyre, and Tom Kim were seen with the cans at a press conference during the Genesis Scottish Open. According to Metal Packaging Europe, 76 per cent of aluminium beverage cans are recycled throughout Europe, making metal packaging the most recycled beverage container. The organization highlights that when metal products reach the end of their...
California-based supplement brand youtheory, a member of the Jamieson Wellness family, has taken significant steps to protect marine life with its latest omega supplement and its eco-conscious packaging. The new Ocean-Friendly Omega capsules are derived from algae oil and will be packed in sustainable aluminium bottles, which youtheory's VP of Marketing, Cindy Sherman, describes as the "obvious choice" for an ocean-friendly, sustainable solution. Youtheory's sustainable move Similarly, when it came to packaging the product, youtheory aimed to go "above and beyond" in its commitment to protecting the ocean by eliminating plastic. Sherman points out that plastic often ends up in the ocean, posing a threat to fish and other marine life. The company's packaging criteria centred on three key...
The Aluminum Association has revealed some excerpts from Ducker Carlisle's report, "Building the Future: Trends in Aluminum Use in the U.S. Construction Market," which indicate a 9 per cent increase in aluminium usage within the building and construction (B&C) sector from 2022 to 2027. This growth is attributed to the shift towards clean energy and efforts to reduce carbon footprints. The report highlights that commercial buildings and clean energy applications like solar installations will primarily drive the growth of aluminium use in the coming years. In addition, federal infrastructure spending and emission reduction programmes supported by the Inflation Reduction Act will contribute to the increase in aluminium use across the building & construction sector. Every $100,000 in...
Inner Mongolia North Aluminum’s high-end aluminium plate and foil project with an annual capacity of 200,000-tonnes has finally entered the trail production phase. The project commenced construction in March 2023 and has successfully completed all pre-construction tasks. Inner Mongolia North Aluminum Co., Ltd. is constructing a high-end aluminium foil production project in the Huolingol High-Tech Development Zone. The project, which spans 300 acres, will have an annual output capacity of 200,000 tonnes and a planned total investment of 1.5 billion yuan. The main equipment includes aluminium plate foil production systems such as casting rolling, cold rolling, foil rolling, and colour coating units. The products primarily consist of battery foil, double-zero foil, decorative foil, and more....
GUNNA Drinks, one of the big players in the soft drinks market, has seen colossal success in business since they changed the packaging of immunity-boosting lemonade drinks from plastic to infinitely recyclable aluminium. As per the report, the brand has experienced a threefold rise in cash sales, which indicates a substantial market for sustainable aluminium packaging over single-use plastic bottles. Success has come following the widespread distribution of GUNNA Drinks’ Raspberry Lemonade 470 ml bottles and GUNNA Tropical Lemonade 470 ml bottles, growing from 77 to 134 stores and from 26 to 117 stores, respectively. In October 2023, Gunna Drinks shelved its new aluminium-bottled lemonades in co-operative stores across the Mid Counties of the United Kingdom. From October 1, consumers...
The latest data from the Shanghai Metal Market (SMM) shows a mixed performance in the aluminium market, with the price of A00 aluminium ingot seeing a significant increase today. As of August 16, the price of A00 aluminium ingot has skyrocketed by RMB 220 per tonne, or 1.15 per cent, from the previous day, reaching RMB 19,230 per tonne. This marks a recovery after two consecutive days of decline. Today's average prices are expected to range between RMB 19,210 and RMB 19,250 per tonne. The spot contracts are likely to be traded at a discount price of RMB 90 per tonne to RMB 30 per tonne, with an average discount of RMB 70 per tonne. This price increase contributes to a week-over-week gain of RMB 220 per tonne, rising from RMB 19,010 per tonne and closing the week on a positive note....
According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), China's primary aluminium production in July 2024 hit a more than two-decade high, with producers ramping up operations, particularly in Yunnan. China, the world's biggest aluminium producing country, churned out 3.68 million tonnes of primary aluminium, a 6 per cent increase year-on-year and the highest monthly output since at least 2002. The continued increase in the monthly production of primary aluminium in China could be attributed to new projects coming online in the northern region of Inner Mongolia in late Q2 2024, while smelters in other regions maintain strong production due to market profitability. Data from a Beijing-based aluminium consultancy, ALD, showed that the industry's average profit in June 2024 stood at about RMB...
