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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Norsk Hydro has warned that the global aluminium market could face a deeper supply deficit if disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz continue, with prolonged constraints expected to tighten the availability of both raw materials and finished metal. Hydro President and CEO Eivind Kallevik said logistics through the Strait of Hormuz have deteriorated since hostilities between the United States and Iran resumed, affecting inbound raw material supplies and aluminium exports from the Gulf region. The Middle East accounts for nearly 10 per cent of global aluminium production, making continued disruptions a significant risk to the market. Hydro currently estimates the global aluminium market will record a 900,000-tonne deficit, but Kallevik said a prolonged conflict could widen the...
US-based semi-fabricated aluminium producer Kaiser Aluminum Corporation reported its strongest-ever second-quarter (Q2) financial performance for the period ended June 30, 2026, supported by higher aluminium prices, stronger conversion revenue and improved operating performance. The company also maintained its quarterly dividend at USD 0.77 per share. Financial highlights: Q2 2026 vs Q2 2025 The financial performance of Kaiser strengthened considerably over Q2 2026, surpassing the financial report of the corresponding Q2 2025. Net sales – USD 1.3 billion, up 52.7 per cent Y-o-Y from USD 789 million Conversion revenue – USD 437 million, up 21.1 per cent Y-o-Y from USD 361 million Operating income – USD 134 million, up 252.6 per cent Y-o-Y from USD 38 million Net income – USD 97 million, up...
Recent changes to US aluminium tariffs are likely to become a permanent feature of the country's trade policy rather than a temporary measure, according to analysts at ING, who say the changes point to a broader shift towards long-term protectionism. In a recent market note, ING's commodities team said the latest tariff adjustments reflect the US administration's continued focus on strengthening domestic aluminium production and improving supply security. Analysts believe these goals suggest that the current tariff regime will remain in place for the foreseeable future, contrary to expectations that trade restrictions could eventually be eased. Higher US aluminium prices expected to persist ING said the continued tariff regime is expected to keep US aluminium prices above international...
The most-traded SHFE aluminium 2609 contract closed at RMB 23,345 per tonne today, gaining RMB 85 per tonne, or 0.37 per cent. It opened flat and consolidated, dipped to a low of 23,230 before stabilising, then drifted higher, and closed near the session high, forming a full bullish candlestick with the price centre continuing to rise. Trading volume was 98,520 lots, up 47,464 lots from the previous candlestick, a significant expansion; open interest stood at 258,000 lots, up 132 lots from the previous candlestick, inching higher. Short-term moving averages all turned upward, forming a persistent support band.. SMM commentary : On the macro front, the US-Iran conflict continued to escalate. On July 17, US forces carried out further airstrikes against Iran, while Iran launched large-scale...
Guangdong Xingfa Aluminium Co., Ltd has achieved ASI Performance Standard V3.1 (2023) and Chain of Custody (CoC) Standard V2 (2022) Certification for the production of aluminium alloy architectural and industrial profiles, and related management activities at Guangdong Xingfa Aluminium Co., Ltd located in Guangdong Province, China. Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) today announced that Guangdong Xingfa Aluminium Co., Ltd has been certified against the ASI Performance Standard V3.1 and Chain of Custody Standard V2. The facility produces aluminium profiles for the building, electronics, machinery, rail transit, aerospace and shipbuilding sectors, using casting and extrusion processes operated across 12 casting machines and 37 extruders, with a production volume in 2025 of approximately...
The European Union's downstream aluminium trade reveals an interesting divergence. Why are exports continuing to strengthen while imports lose momentum? The latest trade data offers insights into shifting demand patterns, evolving trade flows, and the EU's growing role in global downstream aluminium markets. January-April 2026 import graph The EU's cumulative imports of downstream aluminium products during the first four months of the past three years are as follows: YTD 2026: 635,440.94 tonnes, valued at USD 3.26 billion (volume down 8.7 per cent; value up 1.2 per cent) YTD 2025: 695,728.55 tonnes, valued at USD 3.22 billion (volume up 9.9 per cent; value up 19.3 per cent) YTD 2024: 633,106.85 tonnes, valued at USD 2.7 billion January-April 2026 export graph The EU's downstream aluminium...
During the first half (H1) of 2026, Guinea exported a record 114.8 million tonnes of bauxite, marking a 15 per cent year-on-year increase. Meanwhile, sustained demand from China continued to drive shipments despite rising operating costs for smaller miners. The world’s largest bauxite exporter shipped 114.8 million tonnes in H1 2026. The figure, as per Guinea’s Ministry of Mines data and studied by Reuters, indicates the Y-o-Y rise from 99.8 million tonnes in the corresponding period of 2025. Explore the relevance of red mud in the sustainable aluminium industry in A Comprehensive Analysis of Bauxite Residue (Red Mud): Sustainability, Resource Recovery and Strategic Recommendations In the second quarter (Q2) alone, bauxite exports climbed 5.3 per cent Y-o-Y to 53.9 million tonnes,...
Mysteel's daily price assessment showed that the national average price for smelter-grade alumina with a minimum purity of 98.6 per cent dropped to RMB 2,748 per tonne, down RMB 2 per tonne compared to the previous day. The slight downward price trend can be attributed to the offering prices in two of China's five key alumina production regions. In Shanxi and Shandong, assessed prices for the same grade of alumina both declined by RMB 5 per tonne from the prior day, to RMB 2,775 per tonne and RMB 2,740 per tonne, respectively. In contrast, prices in Guangxi , Guizhou and Henan stayed steady at RMB 2,675 per tonne, RMB 2,780 per tonne and RMB 2,770 per tonne respectively. In the derivatives market, alumina futures on the Shanghai Futures Exchange showed slight volatility. The most-traded...
Opening up new avenues in the arena of interior and exterior designing and offering a host of innovative sustainable solutions for home-builders, architects and consultants, a new concept was introduced by Alumex, the market leader in the Sri Lankan aluminium industry, to Sri Lanka in the form of a dedicated space for exploring diverse usages of aluminium in modern lifestyles. Paving the path for Sri Lankans to enjoy a trend-setting experience, this new endeavor, the ALUM Transcend Space has been established to showcase the possibilities of aluminium beyond traditional doors and windows. It offers visitors a unique opportunity to experience internationally recognised proprietary aluminium systems from leading brands such as AluK and Capral firsthand. As the first knowledge hub of its kind...
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The carbon legislation trap: The CBAM Omnibus 2025 update has eliminated the zero-emission loophole for pre-consumer scrap. Secondary aluminium producers using primary factory off-cuts must now declare massive upstream carbon footprints, destroying their European export margins. The geopolitical squeeze: As the EU prepares to ban metal scrap exports, import-dependent nations face a catastrophic supply deficit. Indian aluminium recyclers are uniquely crippled by a 2.5 per cent Basic Customs Duty on scrap, creating an inverted duty structure that heavily favours zero-tariff ASEAN competitors. The zero-waste imperative: Environmental regulators are aggressively shutting down informal dross processors. To survive, the industry must pivot to AI-driven LIBS precision sorting...
Athens-based aluminium manufacturer ElvalHalcor’s newly issued shares have officially started trading on Euronext Athens on July 22. The shares were launched after the successful completion of the company’s recent share capital increase, which attracted strong interest from both institutional and retail investors. To mark the occasion, ElvalHalcor Chairman Konstantinos Katsaros formally opened the trading session alongside company executives, partners and representatives of Euronext Athens. Yianos Kontopoulos, Euronext Athens CEO, commented, “ The oversubscription of ElvalHalcor’s public offering and private placement demonstrates the strong response from both institutional and private investors and confirms the market’s confidence in the group’s growth strategy.” Kontopoulos noted that...
LME aluminium prices moved higher on July 22 compared with July 21, with gains recorded across the cash, three-month and December 2027 contracts, while exchange inventories continued to decline. The LME aluminium cash bid price increased to USD 3,204 per tonne on July 22 from USD 3,183 per tonne on July 21, up 0.66 per cent. The cash offer price also climbed to USD 3,205 per tonne from USD 3,183.5 per tonne, rising 0.68 per cent. The LME aluminium three-month bid price rose to USD 3,183 per tonne on July 22 from USD 3,170 per tonne on July 21, an increase of 0.41 per cent. The three-month offer price advanced to USD 3,185 per tonne from USD 3,170.5 per tonne, up 0.46 per cent. The December 2027 aluminium bid price increased to USD 3,117 per tonne on July 22 from USD 3,105 per tonne a day...
Futures: SHFE aluminium settled at RMB 23,260 per tonne, up 0.35 per cent, with the price above the MA5 (23,162) and MA10 (23,165), but below the MA30 (23,303.17) and MA60 (23,932.08), indicating effective short-term moving average support but resistance from medium-term moving averages. The MACD indicator showed DIF at -145.53 and DEA at -221.46, maintaining a golden cross, with the histogram bars expanding to 151.86 (previous day 145.48), signalling continued strengthening of bullish momentum. Trading volume slightly expanded to 51,100 lots but remained at a low level. The recommended reference core operating range for SHFE aluminium was 23,000-23,500. LME aluminium settled at USD 3,181.5 per tonne, down 0.34 per cent, fluctuating between USD 3,180.5 and USD 3,191 during the day. The...
In June 2026, China's primary aluminium trade exhibited a pronounced divergence, marked by contracting imports and surging exports. Imports declined sharply in both volume and value, while their origins remained highly concentrated, with Russia retaining its firm lead as the top supplier. On the export front, Asian markets asserted clear dominance, with South Korea and India collectively accounting for nearly 80 per cent of total outbound shipments. Export volumes soared across the board, with dispatches to South Korea registering a month-on-month explosion. Total primary aluminium imports for June reached approximately 167,100 tonnes, reflecting a year-on-year decrease of 13.15 per cent and a month-on-month drop of 19.74 per cent. Cumulatively, imports for the first six months amounted...
Australasian Metals has returned encouraging results from bulk sampling at its May Queen South Bauxite Project in central Queensland, with composite samples confirming strong aluminium oxide grades ahead of the next phase of metallurgical testing. The company collected three bulk samples, each weighing more than 50 kilograms, from bauxite outcrops along a 20-metre strike. Each bulk sample consisted of 10 individual samples weighing between 5 kg and 6 kg. Analysis returned composite aluminium oxide grades of 39.5 per cent, 42.0 per cent and 43.8 per cent, while individual samples recorded grades of up to 58.7 per cent aluminium oxide. Australasian Metals said the latest results are consistent with bulk sampling undertaken at the project in 2015, providing additional confidence in the...
Steel Dynamics posted stronger second-quarter results for 2026, supported by higher steel prices, record shipment volumes and continued progress at its new aluminium flat-rolled business. The company reported revenue of USD 6.1 billion, up 33 per cent from the second quarter of 2025 and 17 per cent higher than the previous quarter. Net income climbed 79 per cent year on year to USD 534 million, while adjusted EBITDA reached USD 921 million. Diluted earnings per share came in at USD 3.69, slightly below analysts' expectations of USD 3.76, although revenue exceeded market forecasts by around 9.5 per cent. Aluminium business moves closer to profitability Steel Dynamics' aluminium division continued to gain momentum as production ramped up at its Columbus, Mississippi, flat-rolled mill....
Crown Holdings delivered higher second-quarter earnings as growing demand for aluminium beverage cans drove stronger shipment volumes across its global operations, encouraging the packaging manufacturer to upgrade its earnings outlook for 2026. The company reported diluted earnings per share of USD 2.23 for the quarter ended 30 June 2026, compared with USD 1.56 a year earlier. Adjusted diluted earnings per share rose 16 per cent to USD 2.49, while global beverage can volumes increased 5 per cent year on year. Net sales climbed to USD 3.668 billion, up from USD 3.149 billion in the second quarter of 2025. The increase reflected higher beverage can shipments worldwide, the pass-through of USD 395 million in higher material costs and favourable foreign currency movements worth USD 32...
Within the January-May 2026 timeline, a considerable year-on-year dip can be noted in Bahrain’s export of all the aluminium product categories , viz., unwrought, bars, rods and profiles, foil, pipes and tubes, plates, sheets and strip, tube or pipe fittings, and wire. January-May export comparison: 2026 vs 2025 vs 2024 As of year-to-date (January to May) 2026, Bahrain’s aluminium export trend has been like this: YTD 2026 – 454,329.83 tonnes, down 14.21 per cent Y-o-Y from the 529,558.27 tonnes in 2025 YTD 2025 – 529,558.27 tonnes, down 1.34 per cent Y-o-Y from the 536,744.35 tonnes in 2024 While the Y-o-Y difference between YTD 2024 and 2025 represents a minor dip, the YTD 2025-2026 depicts a staggering decline. Explore the extrusion segment of the global aluminium industry with The World...
