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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Aluminium extrusion maker Alumex inaugurated its “Alum Transcend Space” in Kotte, Sri Lanka. The new centre will display advanced aluminium applications for architecture, construction, and industry. The facility was created to show how aluminium can be used for more than just doors and windows. It highlights solutions for modern interior and exterior design and supports sustainable building practices. Visitors can explore proprietary aluminium systems from internationally recognised brands, including AluK and Capral, giving architects, builders and homeowners access to global design and engineering solutions. To know the production, demand and consumption forecasts of aluminium casting, explore our report " Global Aluminium Casting Market 2026-2032: Plant Economics, Alloy Segmentation,...
FUCHS Lubricants Co., the world’s largest independent lubricant manufacturer, is pleased to announce the published Boeing BAC 5008 Sections 5-6 approval for ECOCOOL GLOBAL 1000, an advanced water-miscible metalworking fluid engineered for the demanding requirements of aerospace machining. Designed for high-performance operations involving titanium, nickel-based alloys, aluminum, and super alloys, ECOCOOL GLOBAL 1000 delivers the highest levels of innovative lubricity additives, optimal cooling, excellent wetting and cleanliness properties, low foam, and excellent biological control to provide long fluid life in challenging machining environments. ECOCOOL GLOBAL 1000 is free of boron, sulfur, chlorine, secondary amines, monoethanolamine (MEA), triethanolamine (TEA), and registered...
Canadian climate technology company Enervoxa is planning to establish a commercial-scale rare earth processing plant in India that would recover critical minerals from red mud, the aluminium waste residue generated during alumina refining. The company is exploring partnerships with Vedanta Aluminium, Hindalco Industries and state-run National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) for the project. According to Vandit Verma, Enervoxa Chief Executive Officer, the proposed facility would require an investment worth USD 250 million to USD 350 million, developed in eastern India, through a mix of strategic equity and project financing. To know the futuristic market and value proposition of red mud, explore the report A Comprehensive Analysis of Bauxite Residue (Red Mud): Sustainability, Resource...
Futures: The most-traded SHFE aluminium contract opened in the night session on July 27 at RMB 23,255 per tonne, hit a high of RMB 23,320 per tonne, a low of RMB 23,230 per tonne, and closed at RMB 23,275 per tonne, up 0.34 per cent from the previous close. During this period, prices inched higher within the consolidation range and ended with a bullish candlestick, holding above the short-term MA cluster of MA5 (23,240.47), MA10 (23,227.58), MA20 (23,196.05), and MA40 (23,223.35); the moving average system provided bottom support, while upside was capped by the medium- and long-term MA60 (23,339.00). The recent low of 22,875 served as effective support, and the market centre shifted steadily higher. Trading volume during the period was 64,858 lots, shrinking from the prior session, while...
LME aluminium prices recovered their upward trend on July 27, supported by higher alumina prices and continued declines in exchange inventories, indicating a firmer market compared with the previous trading sessions. The LME aluminium cash bid and offer prices increased on July 27. The bid rose by 0.52 per cent to USD 3,191 per tonne on July 27 from USD 3,174.5 per tonne on July 24 . The offer climbed 0.53 per cent to USD 3,192 per tonne from USD 3,175 per tonne. On July 27, the three-month bid gained 0.63 per cent. The bid increased to USD 3,180 per tonne from USD 3,160 per tonne, while the offer moved up 0.65 per cent to USD 3,181 per tonne from USD 3,160.5 per tonne. On the longer-dated contracts, both the Dec-27 bid and offer prices recorded a 0.71 per cent increase over the previous...
VBX has moved a step closer to developing its flagship Wuudagu Bauxite Project after signing a framework agreement with a major Chinese aluminium group that could deliver both project funding and a long-term bauxite offtake arrangement. The non-exclusive agreement, signed with the Hong Kong subsidiary of the Chinese aluminium producer, establishes a pathway for the parties to negotiate investment in the development and operation of the Western Australian project. Under the proposed arrangement, the Chinese group would purchase between 2 million and 3 million tonnes of bauxite per year, while also providing funding expected to cover a significant portion of the project's construction and commissioning costs. Funding linked to project development Investment commitments will be determined...
Vietnam has taken a major step towards building a self-sufficient aluminium industry after unveiling its first domestically produced primary aluminium ingots, a milestone that completes the country's bauxite-to-aluminium production chain and is expected to reduce aluminium imports by around USD 1.5 billion annually. The first aluminium ingots were unveiled at the Dak Nong Aluminium Smelter in Nhan Co Industrial Park, Lam Dong Province, making it Vietnam's first pilot facility to produce primary aluminium from domestically processed alumina. From bauxite to finished aluminium The project, operated by Tran Hong Quan Metallurgy Co., Ltd., allows Vietnam to process its own bauxite resources into finished aluminium products instead of exporting alumina for further refining overseas. The...
As global aircraft production accelerates and supply chain pressures persist, Airbus has added South Korea's SeAH Aerospace & Defense (SeAH A&D) to its aluminium supply network, making the company the first Korean materials supplier to secure a direct long-term agreement with the European aircraft manufacturer. The agreement, signed during the Farnborough International Airshow 2026, reflects a broader industry effort to secure reliable sources of high-strength aerospace materials as demand for new aircraft continues to outpace the availability of certified suppliers. Airbus secures future aluminium supply Under the long-term agreement, SeAH A&D will begin the quality certification process for its high-strength aluminium alloys during the second half of 2026. The materials are intended for...
Aluminium prices command the market's attention because they determine the value of the finished metal that carmakers, packaging manufacturers and construction firms ultimately buy. Yet one step up the supply chain, a quieter benchmark has spent the past three years doing something aluminium rarely does: moving on its own terms. Alumina, the intermediate product refined from bauxite and smelted into primary aluminium, surged past USD 800 per tonne in late 2024, lost more than half its value within months and, by mid-2026, was trading near USD 330 per tonne even as aluminium climbed towards multi-year highs. Traders focused solely on the LME aluminium price would have missed much of that story. The LME alumina price trend is where it began. Reading the LME alumina price trend through its...
Mercedes-Benz and Norsk Hydro have solidified their long-term partnership to accelerate the use of recycled aluminium across Europe. The initiative reinforces the automotive industry’s decarbonisation goals while reinforcing regional supply chains, thereby taking the EU a step closer to the Net Zero goals. As part of the expanded collaboration, Mercedes-Benz will become the first European automaker to use Hydro CIRCAL in serial production for its next generation of large electric vehicles (EV). The recycled aluminium contains at least 75 per cent post-consumer scrap, a significant increase from the previous minimum of 25 per cent. The material is produced from end-of-life vehicles, buildings and infrastructure through advanced recycling processes. To know the aluminium casting demand...
From wrapping leftovers to lining baking trays, aluminium foil is one of the most common items found in kitchens. Yet one small detail has puzzled home cooks for years: why does one side look shiny while the other looks dull? The answer isn't a special coating or a hidden cooking trick - it's simply science. It all comes down to the manufacturing process Aluminium foil starts out as large sheets of metal that are rolled repeatedly until they become incredibly thin—typically less than 0.02 millimetres thick. By the final stage, the foil is so delicate that it could tear if rolled on its own. To prevent this, manufacturers roll two sheets together at the same time. The outer surfaces are pressed against highly polished steel rollers, which leave them smooth and shiny. Meanwhile, the two...
The most-traded SHFE aluminium 2609 contract closed at RMB 23,195 per tonne today, down RMB 25 for a 0.11 per cent decline. Trading volume stood at 133,450 lots, with open interest at 251,167 lots, a daily decrease of 1,858 lots as open interest edged lower, reflecting signs of minor position squaring by both bulls and bears. Prices traded below the 5-day and 10-day moving averages, and settled beneath the 30-day and 60-day moving averages, with short-term moving averages forming a bearish alignment. After a sharp decline earlier, the price consolidated at lows and attempted a recovery, retreating after a rapid rise intraday with narrowing fluctuations, while bullish buying interest at lows stayed lukewarm. The 5-day and 10-day moving averages turned downward, and the 30-day and 60-day...
Ireland’s Aughinish Alumina is back on the news forefront as the government report based on its investigation has found no evidence that alumina produced at the refinery is being exported to feed the Russian defence sector . However, owing to complexities emerging from global supply chains, authorities could not conclusively rule out such a possibility. Therefore, the EU has not ruled out the potential of including alumina exports in the 21st Sanctions Package on Russia. Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin shared the findings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a meeting in Kyiv, where the two leaders discussed concerns surrounding alumina exports to Russia. While President Zelenskyy suggested Ireland examine whether alumina could be sanctioned under national legislation ,...
Brazilian Rare Earths (BRE) has moved a step closer to developing its Amargosa Bauxite-Gallium Project in Brazil after its newly created subsidiary, Alurion Resources Limited, raised approximately A$50 million (USD 24.5 million) through an initial public offering (IPO) in Australia. The company issued 47,619,048 fully paid ordinary shares at an offer price of A$1.05 (USD 0.74) per share, with the proceeds earmarked to accelerate development of the USD 119 million project. The funding will support land acquisitions, technical studies, environmental licensing, exploration activities, community programmes, safety initiatives and equipment purchases as Alurion advances the project. Shareholder-backed demerger clears path The IPO follows the demerger of the Amargosa Bauxite-Gallium Project...
Jamaica’s bauxite and alumina export earnings are expected to improve in 2026, even though the first quarter was weak. The government expects production to rise as repairs continue after Hurricane Melissa, and the aluminium industry is watching closely because bauxite is the raw material used to make alumina for aluminium smelting. According to the Jamaican Government's annual Form 18-K filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), export earnings from bauxite and alumina are projected to rise 24 per cent to USD 760 million in 2026 from USD 612.3 million in 2025. Even if achieved, earnings would remain below the USD 803.4 million recorded in 2024. The recovery is coming after a tough 2025, when Jamaica’s bauxite and alumina earnings fell 23.8 per cent, or USD 191.1 million,...
South32 has recognised exceptional costs of USD 117 million after the closure of its Mozal aluminium smelter in Mozambique , as an unresolved power deal impasse with the Mozambican government keeps operations stalled. The Mozal smelter, one of Africa’s largest aluminium producers with a 560,000-tonne annual capacity, entered care and maintenance on March 15 after negotiations over electricity tariffs failed. South32 has maintained that aluminium production is no longer commercially viable under the current power pricing structure, with electricity accounting for the plant’s highest operating cost. Explore: The most comprehensive and forward-looking industry-focused report — Global Bauxite & Alumina Market Forecast to 2036: Supply–Demand, Trade Flows & Price Report Mozal, a USD 2 billion...
Türkiye's aluminium import trends during January-May 2026 present a mixed picture, with lower import volumes but higher import values. Comparing the latest data with the previous two years provides insights into how the country's import mix has evolved and whether its downstream aluminium trade has maintained its share of total imports. Türkiye's cumulative aluminium imports (January-May) YTD 2026: 799,558.22 tonnes, valued at USD 2.9 billion (down 10.4 per cent in volume from YTD 2025, while import value rose 11.5 per cent) YTD 2025: 892,320.27 tonnes, valued at USD 2.6 billion (up 22.9 per cent in volume from YTD 2024, while import value increased 36.8 per cent) YTD 2024: 726,126.13 tonnes, valued at USD 1.9 billion Of the total aluminium imported by Türkiye during the January-May...
The Middle East updates on rising geopolitical tensions continue to fill the board. Still, aluminium prices have all the gains triggered by the Middle East crisis that began on February 28 this year. The London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium price chart recorded the three-month contract slipping back to USD 3,170.5 per tonne , slowly retreating to the range where it traded before the geopolitical tensions intensified. The market’s calm comes even as updates from the Middle East about disruptions at Gulf smelters report nearly 2 million tonnes of annual production removed from global supply chains. After reaching a four-year high of USD 3,855 per tonne at the close of June 2 , aluminium prices have retreated as traders increasingly believe higher exports from China and Indonesia can offset...
