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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Mysteel's daily price assessment showed that the national average price for smelter-grade alumina with a minimum purity of 98.6 per cent stood at RMB 2,744 per tonne, remaining stable compared to the previous day. The steady price trend can be attributed to the offering prices in China's five key alumina production regions. In Shanxi, Shandong and Henan assessed prices for the same grade of alumina both kept stable from the prior day, to RMB 2,770 per tonne, RMB 2,735 per tonne and RMB 2,765 per tonne, respectively. Additionally, prices in Guangxi and Guizhou stayed steady at RMB 2,670/t and RMB 2,780/t respectively. In the derivatives market, alumina futures on the Shanghai Futures Exchange showed slight volatility. The most-traded alumina contract for September delivery edged up by 0.37...
Aluminium is often described as one of the most recyclable industrial materials, and the UK already has much of the infrastructure needed to support a circular aluminium economy. Collection systems are well established, recycling rates are strong, and remelting capacity exists across the supply chain. According to Nadine Bloxsome, CEO of the Aluminium Federation (ALFED), the challenge is no longer whether aluminium can be recycled, but whether the UK is keeping enough of the value created from that recycled material. One of the biggest issues is the way aluminium is still viewed. The term "scrap" often suggests waste, yet secondary aluminium has become one of the UK's most important raw materials, particularly as domestic primary aluminium production remains limited. ALFED estimates that...
Impact Minerals Limited (ASX: IPT) is pleased to advise that its 50 per cent-owned associated company, Alluminous Pty Ltd, has successfully achieved the first major technical milestone in its joint development program with New York-based battery technology company Charge CCCV LLC (C4V) (ASX Releases December 19th 2025 and February 20th 2026). The milestone marks the successful completion of the particle engineering phase of the program, during which Alluminous' High Purity Alumina was processed with C4V's proprietary dry particle engineering technology to produce material suitable for advanced lithium-ion battery separator coatings (Figure 1). Importantly, this independent test work confirmed that the engineered material retained its purity throughout the particle engineering process and...
China's solar power installations declined sharply in the first half of 2026 after record additions a year earlier, as the market adjusted to changes in the country's renewable energy pricing mechanism. According to an analysis by the China Photovoltaic Industry Association based on official data, China installed 72.07 GW of new solar capacity during January-June 2026, down 66 per cent from 212.21 GW in the same period of 2025. In June, new installations stood at 12.48 GW, a decline of 13.1 per cent year-on-year. The decline follows the unusually high installation levels recorded in early 2025, when developers rushed to connect projects before June 1, the date on which new wind and solar projects shifted from fixed feed-in tariffs to market-based electricity pricing. May 2025 alone...
Futures: In the night session on July 24, the most-traded SHFE aluminium contract opened at RMB 23,195 per tonne, reached a high of RMB 23,220 per tonne and a low of RMB 23,105 per tonne, and finally closed at RMB 23,205 per tonne, down 0.09 per cent from the previous settlement. During this period, after rebounding, prices consolidated at highs and closed with a small bearish candlestick. Prices moved within the short-term dense moving average range of MA5 (23,232.43), MA10 (23,220.90), MA20 (23,186.42), and MA40 (23,221.95). The moving average system formed bottom support, with only pressure above from the medium and long-term MA60 (23,345.74). The stage low of 22,875 provided solid support, and consolidation characteristics after the rebound were evident. Trading volume in this period...
The London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium price chart continued to record a declining trend across all the pricing segments at the close of the June 24 trading session. Only the alumina pricing segment showed consistency. The LME aluminium cash bid as well as offer prices eased by 0.59 per cent day-on-day. The bid reached USD 3,174.5 per tonne on July 24 from USD 3,193.5 per tonne on July 23 . The offer shifted to USD 3,175 per tonne from USD 3,194 per tonne. Explore: The most comprehensive and forward-looking industry-focused report — Global Bauxite & Alumina Market Forecast to 2036: Supply–Demand, Trade Flows & Price Report On June 24, both the LME aluminium three-month bid and offer prices reported a 0.68 per cent fall. The bid slipped to USD 3,160 per tonne from USD 3,181.5 per tonne...
According to General Administration of Customs of People's Republic of China (GACC), in June 2026, China exported a total of 485,000 tonnes of aluminium sheets, strips, and foil, rising 10.4 per cent month-on-month and 37.9 per cent year-on-year. Specifically, exports of aluminium strips, and sheets reached 354,000 tonnes, up 10.7 per cent month-on-month and 44.1 per cent year-on-year, while aluminium foil exports stood at 131,000 tonnes, increasing 9.7 per cent month-on-month and 23.7 per cent year-on-year. Overall aluminium semis exports continued to grow in June, with notably stronger-than-expected yearly gains, underscoring the international competitiveness of Chinese aluminium products. The figures also reinforce the ongoing destocking trend in domestic primary aluminium inventories...
Gaming hardware maker Wallhack has revealed its first gaming keyboard, expanding its product portfolio beyond gaming mice with the introduction of the Wallhack K-001. The company shared an early preview of the keyboard through its official X account ahead of its scheduled launch on July 24, 2026, showcasing a design centred on premium aluminium construction and Hall-effect switch technology. CNC aluminium body targets premium gaming market The Wallhack K-001 features a CNC-machined aluminium chassis, offering a rigid build designed to enhance durability and provide a solid typing experience. It has a compact 65 per cent layout, keeping the essential navigation keys while reducing the overall footprint to create additional desk space for mouse movement during gaming. The keyboard also...
Meiji Holdings is exiting its dairy business in China after agreeing to sell its drinking milk, yoghurt and business-to-business (B2B) operations to Shanghai AustAsia Food in a deal worth up to RMB 320 million (USD 47.2 million), marking a strategic shift towards higher-priority businesses, including chocolate. The transaction includes Meiji's dairy operations under Meiji (China) Investment, Meiji Dairies Tianjin and Meiji Dairies Suzhou. Before completion, Meiji will transfer the businesses into a newly established subsidiary, which will then be sold to Shanghai AustAsia Food, leaving the Japanese company with no ownership in the operations. The deal is expected to close on December 31, 2026, subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. China losses drive portfolio...
India accelerates transition toward circular non-ferrous economy Duty reform targets downstream manufacturing competitiveness India’s non-ferrous metals sector covering aluminium, copper, zinc, and lead is at a defining moment. As the country advances toward its Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, recycling is emerging as a critical pillar for supply security, cost efficiency, resource efficiency, and decarbonisation. While policy momentum is strengthening, structural gaps across scrap visibility, infrastructure, formalisation, and import dependence continue to limit the sectors full potential. EPR rollout to formalise scrap flows and improve traceability The rollout of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) under the Hazardous and Other Wastes Second Amendment Rules, 2024, effective April 2025,...
Aluminium scrap: This week, the aluminium scrap market stayed high while moving sideways, with overall limited price fluctuations. On July 23, SMM A00 spot aluminium prices closed at RMB 23,260 per tonne, up slightly by RMB 90 per tonne W-o-W. Regarding the price spread between primary aluminium and scrap, on July 23, the price difference between A00 aluminium and mixed aluminium extrusion scrap free of paint in Foshan was approximately RMB 2,100 per tonne, and the price difference between A00 aluminium and shredded aluminium tense scrap in Foshan was approximately RMB 780 per tonne, both remaining at historical lows. In terms of imports, according to customs data, China's aluminium scrap imports in June 2026 totalled approximately 132,800 tonnes, down M-o-M from 152,000 tonnes in May,...
The effects of the ongoing Middle Eastern conflict are now being felt beyond global shipping lanes, reaching supermarket shelves in India through a higher-priced Diet Coke. Supply disruptions affecting aluminium cans have prompted Coca-Cola to change its packaging strategy, illustrating how geopolitical tensions can quickly ripple through consumer goods supply chains. According to a Reuters report, commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for aluminium cans and related raw materials, was disrupted as the conflict intensified. The tighter supply forced Coca-Cola to source larger aluminium cans from Southeast Asia, increasing procurement costs. To manage those costs, the company has reportedly replaced its widely sold 300 ml Diet Coke cans priced at INR 40 with 330 ml...
This week, the operating rate of leading Chinese aluminium downstream processors fell to 61.1 per cent, down 0.2 percentage points W-o-W. The off-season effect deepened, putting broad-based pressure on various sectors. Aluminium plate/sheet and strip, aluminium wire and cable, and aluminium foil kept operating rates stable, providing bottom support, while primary aluminium alloy led the decline, and aluminium extrusion and secondary aluminium moved lower this week. The operating rate of primary aluminium alloy dipped 0.6 percentage points to 59.0 per cent, as off-season order releases were insufficient and downstream purchase willingness was weak, with both supply and demand sides softening. Downward pressure remains in the short term. The operating rate of aluminium plate/sheet and strip...
Macro Front The US-Iran conflict continues to escalate, maintaining disruptions to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Regional geopolitical risk premiums persist and supply uncertainties linger. The US CPI monthly rate turned negative for the first time in six years, dampening market expectations of an imminent US Fed rate hike and easing marginal constraints on the nonferrous metals sector. Fundamentals In markets outside China, production resumptions and new capacity for aluminium outside China continue to ramp up as planned, sustaining market expectations that global aluminium supply will shift from tight to loose in the long term and persistently limiting upside room for aluminium prices. However, ongoing Middle East shipping risks continue to stir concerns that regional raw material...
Ardagh Metal Packaging (AMP) reported stronger second-quarter earnings, supported by improved profitability in Europe despite a slight decline in global beverage can shipments, and raised its full-year adjusted EBITDA guidance. The company posted revenue of USD 1.71 billion for the quarter ended June 30, 2026, up 18 per cent from USD 1.46 billion a year earlier. On a constant currency basis, revenue increased 16 per cent, reflecting higher input cost pass-through to customers and favourable volume and product mix. EBITDA exceeds guidance Adjusted EBITDA increased 14 per cent year on year to USD 240 million, exceeding the company's guidance range of USD 210-220 million. On a constant currency basis, adjusted EBITDA rose 13 per cent, primarily due to improved input cost recovery. Following...
The US Federal Reserve has kept the interest rates unchanged, keeping the benchmark federal funds rate at 3.50-3.75 per cent for the fourth consecutive meeting. The decision, approved unanimously in a 12-0 vote by the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), was widely expected by financial markets and keeps the benchmark rate at its lowest level since November 2022. At first glance, the decision appears to be a routine policy hold. But for the aluminium industry, it offers a clearer picture of the economic environment shaping demand, production costs and metal prices. The Fed's decision signals that inflation remains a concern, particularly as rising energy prices have altered expectations for monetary policy. Earlier this year, markets anticipated one or two rate cuts in 2026, but those...
For the people in the aluminium casting industry , the metal is the single largest line on the cost sheet. So, when aluminium moves, casting moves with it and in 2026, aluminium is moving in ways the industry has rarely seen. Tariffs, regional premiums and the evolving energy costs have pulled the price a US foundry pays sharply away from the price a foundry in Asia or Europe pays for the same tonne of metal. In 2026, numbers like price, tariff, premiums and so on are deemed crucial for the aluminium casting market. With these numbers, it becomes easier for the aluminium caster to decode what is happening, why and what it means for anyone who is actively engaging in buying, selling or investing in the market. Also read: Aluminium casting market holds 23% of downstream consumption: What...
The global aluminium industry is increasingly tying growth to decarbonisation, supply security and circularity. North America is prioritising stronger scrap recovery and domestic supply chains, Europe is balancing scrap retention with climate goals under CBAM, while Asia is driving demand through rising scrap imports, recycling expansion and carbon-focused policy reforms. Across all three regions, aluminium scrap, clean energy and carbon competitiveness are emerging as key pillars of long-term industrial strategy. North America: The US The Aluminum Association has urged US policymakers to adopt a comprehensive strategy combining domestic primary production, recycling, affordable energy, trade enforcement and scrap export controls to build a stronger, more resilient aluminium supply chain....
