
Metlen Energy & Metals PLC is investing EUR 25 million in its recycled aluminium production facility EP.AL.ME. in Greece, targeting higher processing capacity and greater use of complex aluminium scrap streams. The investment will fund automated sorting, processing and melting equipment at EP.AL.ME., which Metlen describes as Greece’s largest independent recycled aluminium producer. The project will allow the facility to process more complex scrap, including post-consumer aluminium recovered from end-of-life products. The expansion will connect EP.AL.ME. more closely with Metlen’s Aluminium of Greece facility. EP.AL.ME. will manage the collection, sorting and pre-processing of aluminium scrap, while Aluminium of Greece will provide the production scale needed to incorporate recycled metal...
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...
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The previous trading day, the three-month LME aluminum contract opened at US$2,405.50 per tonne, reached a high of US$2,430 per tonne, a low of US$2,380 per tonne, and eventually closed at US$2,385.50 per tonne, down US$20 per tonne. It is the ninth day and counting, but the LME aluminium benchmark price shows no sign of improvement amid market surplus due to higher production and weaker demand. Over a week, the price experienced a sharp fall of US$93.50 per tonne. On July 18, the LME aluminium cash bid price shrank by US$ 28.50 per tonne, standing at US$2,334 per tonne, and the LME aluminium official settlement price contracted by US$28 per tonne to reach US$2,335 per tonne. The 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price also continued to decline, settling below the US$2,400 per tonne...

On Friday, July 19, China's A00 aluminium ingot price dropped by RMB 80 per tonne to settle at RMB 19,490 per tonne. The average price is expected to hover between RMB 19,470 per tonne and RMB 19,510 per tonne, with the spot contract price estimated to be traded at a discount of RMB 80 to RMB 40 per tonne. As per the Shanghai Metals Market (SMM) data, the prices have descended in all the regions, with the highest in Shenyang and Chongqing, where they have slumped by RMB 120 per tonne and RMB 100 per tonne. The price in Shenyang closed at RMB 19,450 per tonne and RMB 19,470 per tonne. On the same day, the A00 aluminium ingot prices in Gongyi, Wuxi, Hangzhou, Tianjin and Linyi contracted by RMB 80 per tonne to dock at RMB 19,400 per tonne, RMB 19,480 per tonne, RMB 19,490 per tonne and RMB...

In its 25th edition of e-Magazine, AL Circle proudly presents "Advanced Industrial Technologies in the Aluminium Industry" . This milestone edition promises to delve deeper into the cutting-edge innovations and transformative technologies reshaping the aluminium sector globally. The e-Magazine serves as a forum for industry leaders, innovators, and experts to share their insights, strategies, and visions for the future of aluminium technology. From sustainable manufacturing practices to breakthroughs in recycling and smart production methods, each topic in the publication aims to equip professionals with knowledge essential for staying ahead in this dynamic field. For industry professionals seeking to navigate the complexities of modern aluminium technologies, AL Circle's e-Magazine...

The Material Recycling Association of India (MRAI) has reportedly urged the government to waive the 2.5 per cent import duty on aluminium scrap, following the Aluminium Association of India's demand for a rise in the same tariff to 7.5 per cent . Although AAI and MRAI's appeals are contradictory, both have come ahead of the Union Budget 2024. MRAI has made the elimination request, highlighting the critical role of recycled aluminium in reducing carbon emissions and stimulating a circular economy. MRAI President Sanjay Mehta emphasised, "India's aluminium recycling industry plays a pivotal role in harmonising efforts to combat climate change and bolster environmental sustainability." He further asserted that recycling aluminium also reduces the usage of raw materials and protects natural...

Daisy Goddard-Dickinson, a year six student from St Nicholas CofE Primary School near Ripon, has secured first place in a national competition conducted by the Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation (Alupro). The competition, part of the 'Bin-fluencers' educational program targeting Key Stage 3 pupils to enhance recycling awareness, challenged students nationwide to design a unique recycling bin to encourage classmates to reconsider discarding their waste. Daisy's entry perfectly met the criteria with its creative flair, earning her the top spot. Judges were impressed by her imaginative approach, leading to her selection as the winner. As a reward, Daisy will have her winning design featured on a new recycling bin and receive an iPad. Additionally, her classmates will benefit from a...

In May 2024, upstream aluminium production (primary metal and alumina) scaled up across Europe, driven by higher profitability for producers due to increased aluminium prices. Throughout May, the aluminium benchmark price on the London Metal Exchange rallied by 5.19 per cent, reaching US$2,677 per tonne from US$2,545 per tonne on April 30. Overview of primary aluminium production According to the International Aluminium Institute, primary aluminium production in both Western & Central Europe and Russia & Eastern Europe saw a significant month-on-month increase. While the production in Western & Central Europe saw a hike of 4.42 per cent to 236,000 tonnes, the output in Russia & Central Europe experienced an increase of 3.88 per cent to 348,000 tonnes. On an annual basis, Western & Central...

Spot prices for ADC12 aluminium alloy ingots (non-OEM) in Delhi NCR and Chennai remained steady week-over-week, with only a slight decline, according to BigMint's latest assessment. In the Delhi-NCR region, ADC12 spot prices were recorded at INR 212,000 per tonne ex-Delhi, matching the domestic Tense scrap prices, which settled at INR 180,000 per tonne ex-Delhi. Similarly, ADC12 prices were noted at INR 214,500 per tonne in Chennai on an immediate payment basis, excluding GST. Concurrently, casting scrap prices were INR 181,000 per tonne ex-Chennai. The current spread between Tense and ADC12 spot levels is INR 29,000-30,000 per tonne. Major automaker adjusts ADC12 prices India's leading automobile manufacturer has set the ADC12 August settlement prices at INR 222,000 per tonne, a slight...

The construction of the Fengshan Lake production support project, a graphene-coated carbon aluminium foil production base, has officially commenced. This project is a collaboration between Jiangmen Jiangfa Industrial Park Investment and Development Group Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Jiangmen Development Group's industrial park development and operation sector, and Guangdong Shengkai Metal Industrial Co., Ltd. The Fengshan Lake production support project, focused on producing graphene-coated carbon aluminium foil, is funded by Jiangfa Industrial Park Group through special funds from the provincial large-scale industrial cluster. The project entails a construction and equipment investment of approximately 500 million yuan. Upon reaching full production capacity, it is expected to generate an...

Bright Laser Technologies (BLT) recently unveiled two advanced additive manufacturing materials, including a high-strength aluminium alloy designed specifically for aerospace 3D printing applications. About BLT-AlAM500 The BLT-AlAM500 made its debut at TCT Asia earlier this year. It aims to address challenges such as cracking and low component density often encountered in selective laser melting processes. The Chinese manufacturer claims to have optimised process parameters for high-strength aluminium alloys, particularly targeting manufacturing large, intricate components with integrated structures. During the Shanghai event in May, BLT showcased several examples of thin-walled parts featuring internal cavities, including a bent tube, ventilation duct, and connecting pipe. These...

According to the Shanghai Metal Market (SMM) survey, China’s A00 aluminium ingot price has shed off RMB 190 per tonne from the previous day to reach the three-month low. As per the data, the domestic price has come in at RMB 19,570 per tonne, which is significantly down by RMB 570 per tonne week-on-week, attributed to the ongoing traditional off-season in the manufacturing sector, leading to weaker demand from downstream industries. In this backdrop, the increase in aluminium production, resulting in oversupply in the market, is adding up a cause for receded prices. The average prices are expected to range between RMB 19,55 0-1 9,590 per tonne, with the spot contract estimated to be traded at a discount price of RMB 70-30 per tonne. Region-wise price analysis The domestic price of...

According to the US Geological Survey, domestic primary aluminium production in the United States trended down in April 2024, recording a month-on-month drop of 3.51 per cent and a year-on-year decline of 12.7 per cent. Source: USGS The data from USGS indicates that the Y-o-Y drop in full-month output resulted from a dip in daily average production during April 2024, reaching 1,850 tonnes versus 2,100 tonnes in April 2023. However, on a month-on-month basis, the daily output in April mainly remained unchanged compared to 1,840 tonnes. The United States’ full-month primary aluminium production in April stood at 55,000 tonnes, compared to 57,000 tonnes in March 2024 and 63,000 tonnes in April 2023, reinforcing growing reliance on secondary aluminium sourced from scrap for producing end-user...

The previous trading day, LME aluminium opened at US$2,415.5 per tonne, reached a high of US$2,424 per tonne and a low of US$2,397 per tonne, and closed at US$2,405.5 per tonne, down US$10.5 per tonne, a decrease of 0.43 per cent. On Wednesday, July 17, both LME aluminium cash bid price and LME aluminium official settlement price went down by US$5 per tonne or 0.21 per cent and US$14 per tonne or 0.58 per cent to settle at US$2,362.50 per tonne and US$2,363 per tonne. As per the LME price graph, both 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price slumped by US$18 per tonne or 0.73 per cent to clock at US$2,418 per tonne and US$2,418.50 per tonne. December 25 bid price and December 25 offer price slipped by US$15 per tonne or 0.57 per cent to dock at US$2,577 per tonne and US$2,582 per tonne....

The Government of Ghana, through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, has presented mining lease agreements for bauxite and lithium to Parliament for consideration. The Ministry submitted a lease agreement with Ashanti Bauxite Limited Company to mine bauxite in the Nyinahini Block 2 Area in the Atwima Mponua District of the Ashanti Region. A lease agreement with Barari DV Ghana Limited was also presented to explore lithium at Ewoyaa in the Central Region. The Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, laid these agreements before the House on behalf of the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources. The agreements seek parliamentary approval for mining activities in the specified areas. In response, Speaker Alban Sumana Bagbin referred the agreements to the Committee...

MA Aluminum Co., Ltd. has announced a strategic investment to double its production capacity for aluminium pipes with internally threaded surfaces, also known as torsion pipes. This expansion will address the increasing demand for high-quality aluminium piping in the air conditioning industry. The Japanese aluminium products manufacturing company will invest JPY 500 million (approximately $3.1 million) to establish a new torsion pipe processing line at its Fuji Works facility in Shizuoka. Scheduled to commence operations in November 2025, the new line will enhance the monthly production capacity from the current level of over 50 tonnes to more than 100 tonnes. This significant increase in production capacity reflects MA Aluminum Co., Ltd.'s mission to serve its clients better and meet the...

Hong Leong Investment Bank (HLIB) reportedly expects Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Bhd’s core earnings to increase by up to 20 per cent Q-o-Q and 60 per cent Y-o-Y in the second quarter of CY2024, led by higher prices of the metal. According to Hong Leong’s projection, the company’s Q2 earnings will range between RM480 million and RM500 million, resulting in the first half’s earnings surging by 51 per cent to RM897-RM917 million. This positive forecast is based on robust prices of global aluminium on LME, especially during the end of May, reaching RMB 2,677 per tonne on May 31, said HLIB, maintaining a “buy” call on Press Metal with an unchanged target price of RM6.51. Supported by the strong aluminium prices, HLIB considers Press Metal’s risk and reward profile favourable and is set to...

Mechatherm International Limited, a leading provider of bespoke industrial furnaces and aluminium cast house equipment, announces the retirement of its current Chairman, Andrew Riley, and the promotion of Chris Emes, currently serving as Director, to the role of Chairman effective June 30th, 2024. Andrew Riley has served as company Chairman for over three decades, guiding Mechatherm through periods of unprecedented growth, the introduction of many new technologies, and the challenges of a global pandemic. Under his leadership, Mechatherm has grown into a globally recognised name in the aluminium furnace industry. “I thank Andrew Riley for his successful tenure as Chairman since the early 90’s,” said Chris Emes. “We wish him well in his retirement and look forward to continuing...

During a visit to Custom Aluminum Products here this morning, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Illinois) expressed support for a trade case seeking to offset unfairly traded aluminum-extrusion imports brought by the U.S. Aluminum Extruders Coalition. Krishnamoorthi told 270 employees in a packed auditorium that companies like Custom should get relief from the federal government for unfairly traded aluminium extrusions from China and 13 other countries. The lawmaker thanked Custom’s CEO Steve Dillett for “fighting” on behalf of his workers and his industry but added, “He shouldn’t have to.” The Congressman is an important backer of the trade case in Washington, D.C., which is supported by the United Steelworkers union. He signed a letter by federal lawmakers urging the U.S. Commerce Department...

The Ministry of Ecology and Environment has reportedly issued a letter seeking public opinion on the revised import policies of secondary aluminium alloy and aluminium alloy raw materials and secondary copper and copper alloy raw materials. It is a revised version of the “Announcement No. 43” issued in 2020. The revised version has amended the policies for secondary aluminium alloy imports, taking into account the status and recent developments in the field. Once the revised policies are implemented, high-quality raw materials of secondary aluminium alloys, such as wrought aluminium alloy and secondary pure aluminium, will possibly be allowed for imports. The revised draft includes the categories of secondary aluminium alloy to be imported, inspection standards, and index requirements....