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...
Grow with
AL Circle
Futures side: Today, the aluminium alloy 2609 contract opened higher and consolidated during the day session. It opened at RMB 23,020 per tonne in the morning session, reached a daily high of RMB 23,070 per tonne, and dipped to a low of RMB 22,925 per tonne during the session. It was last priced at RMB 23,005 per tonne, up RMB 135 per tonne or 0.59 per cent from the settlement price. After a brief surge at the open, it encountered resistance and pulled back, with the price continuing to consolidate below the moving average. It gradually stabilised and rebounded in the afternoon session. Trading volume was 3,768 lots, and open interest edged up by 59 lots. The tug-of-war between longs and shorts was intense, with significant resistance at the top and support at the bottom. Overall, it...
Norwegian aluminium producer Hydro delivered stronger financial results in the second quarter of 2026 as firmer aluminium prices, higher product premiums and improving recycling performance offset weaker energy production and currency headwinds. The company reported adjusted EBITDA of NOK 8.923 billion (USD 927.39 million), up from NOK 7.790 billion (USD 809.6 million) in the corresponding period last year. Adjusted earnings per share increased to NOK 2.2 (USD 0.23) from NOK 1.7 (USD 0.18), while free cash flow reached NOK 4 billion (USD 415.5 million). Hydro's 12-month adjusted return on average capital employed (RoaCE) stood at 10.9 per cent. Slovalco restart strengthens European capacity A key development during the quarter was the announcement on July 1 that Hydro will restart 75,000...
On April 7, 2026, the industry got what it had waited three years for: the European Commission priced carbon at the border for the first time. A CBAM certificate for the first quarter costs EUR 75.36 per tonne of CO2 equivalent, for the second EUR 75.28. Every tonne of aluminium entering the European Union now has two prices: one for the metal and one for its origin. The logic seems obvious from here: the dirtier the metal, the more the border charges, clean producers win, coal-based producers lose. That is how the mechanism was conceived and how the market reads it. Walk through the first-year rules with a calculator, however, and the picture turns upside down. A border built to see carbon does not yet see most of it - and so it rewards not the cleanest producers but the best-organised...
China, the largest producer of primary aluminium on the global platform, continues to raise its annual output despite maintaining a 45-million-tonne production cap. So, what's powering its industry's continued growth? In the January-June phase or the first half (H1) of 2026, China produced 22.34 million tonnes. Considering historical data, the figure has gone up year-on-year. H1 2026 – 22.34 million tonnes, up 2.24 per cent Y-o-Y from 21.85 million tonnes in H1 2025 H1 2025 – 21.85 million tonnes, up 2.59 per cent Y-o-Y from 21.3 million tonnes in H1 2024 A clear growth rate is visible over the years as China solidifies its position in the global aluminium production race. On the flipside, the yearly surge makes way for another vital question to the forefront – If the 45-million-tonne...
Alvance British Aluminium is carrying out a maintenance and investment programme at its Lochaber Power Station. The hydroelectric power station provides the renewable electricity required for the production of low-carbon primary aluminium at the Lochaber Smelter in Scotland. As part of the 2026 programme, all five generators at the power station are undergoing inspection and refurbishment. The work is being planned using a Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) process developed in partnership with engineering company Trillium to identify potential equipment risks and prioritise maintenance activities. The company said the maintenance programme is aimed at ensuring a safe, efficient and reliable power supply while supporting future aluminium production at the site. Explore why...
Minister of Investment and Downstream Processing and Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Rosan Roeslani stated that realised investment in bauxite downstream processing reached IDR 40.1 trillion (approximately USD 2.23 billion) during Q2 2026. This is a 193 per cent increase from IDR 13.7 trillion (USD 765 million) in the previous quarter. The minister said the surge was driven by the development of several bauxite processing facilities by both domestic and foreign investors. Rosan said, “Bauxite has taken first place for the first time, surpassing nickel” as the largest downstream mineral investment category. Investment in nickel downstream projects stood at IDR 29.4 trillion (USD 1.6 billion), followed by copper at IDR 16.7 trillion (USD 932 million), iron and steel at IDR...
Cymat Technologies Ltd. is pleased to announce that it signed a commercial agreement with Rio Tinto Alcan Inc on July 17, 2026 ("Rio Tinto") to facilitate the transfer of Rio Tinto's commercial customers of their proprietary aluminium metal matrix composites business ("MMC") to Cymat, as previously described in our press release dated June 24, 2025. MMC is ceramic particle-infused aluminium used primarily in the automotive and rail industries for light-weight components requiring extreme wear-resistance. Rio Tinto, who has been manufacturing and selling its proprietary MMCs for over 40 years, has decided to exit the business due to a strategic reorganisation. Rio Tinto is seeking a smooth and un-interrupted transition of this business for its long-standing customers. Cymat utilises this...
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba), the world’s largest aluminium smelter on one site, has launched its annual plant-wide Summer Safety and Health (S&H) Campaign under the theme "Safety by Choice, Excellence by Habit." Running until 29 July 2026, the Campaign reaffirms Alba’s commitment to strengthening its safety culture and promoting the health and wellbeing of its workforce, particularly during the summer season, through a series of awareness activities and events. Employees, contractors and workers will receive valuable information and practical guidance on key topics, including heat stress prevention, proper hydration and summer safety best practices, delivered by both internal and external safety specialists. During his opening remarks at the campaign launch, Alba’s Chief Executive...
The London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium market moved higher on July 21, with cash prices, futures contracts and longer-dated contracts all recovering from the previous session. The LME aluminium cash bid price increased from USD 3,155 per tonne on July 20 to USD 3,183 per tonne on July 21, reporting a 0.89 per cent rise. The cash offer price also moved up from USD 3,156 per tonne to USD 3,183.5 per tonne, gaining 0.87 per cent. The LME aluminium three-month contract recorded gains as well. The bid price rose from USD 3,147 per tonne to USD 3,170 per tonne, while the offer price increased from USD 3,147.5 per tonne to USD 3,170.5 per tonne, with both rising 0.73 per cent. Explore- Most comprehensive and forward-looking industry-focused report — Global Bauxite & Alumina Market Forecast to...
Futures: The SHFE aluminium daytime session closed at RMB 23,185 per tonne, up 0.56 per cent, with the price slightly above the MA5 (23,151.7) and MA10 (23,148.5) but still below the MA30 (23,329.33) and MA60 (23,960). Short-term moving averages provided support, while medium-term moving averages remained bearish. The MACD indicator showed DIF at -167.78 and DEA at -240.52, maintaining a golden cross. The histogram rebounded to 145.48 (from 129.39 the previous day), indicating that bullish momentum has recovered somewhat but remains limited. Trading volume shrank sharply to 49,200 lots, reflecting low market participation. The SHFE aluminium core trading range is recommended at 23,000-23,500. LME aluminium closed at USD 3,169.5 per tonne, up 0.25 per cent, with the price slightly above...
Construction work on Arctic LNG 2, Russia's flagship liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, is expected to restart after two heavy-load vessels delivered Chinese-made modules to the LNG Construction Centre in Belokamenka on the Kola Peninsula. The carriers completed a journey of nearly three months from Lusi Port in eastern China. After passing the North Cape in the Barents Sea on 16 July, the vessels anchored near the Rybachii Peninsula before entering Kola Bay two days later. During the voyage, both ships listed Kirkenes, Norway, as their destination, although their cargo was bound for the sanctioned construction facility in Belokamenka. One of the vessels, Bright Ocean (IMO 9830769), is itself subject to sanctions. Previously known as Hunter Star, the carrier transported similar cargo to...
China's appetite for liquefied natural gas (LNG) strengthened in June, with imports rising for a second straight month as the country built inventories ahead of higher summer electricity demand. Official customs data showed LNG imports reached 5.68 million tonnes in June, up 8.3 per cent from a year earlier. The increase follows a recovery that began in May after imports had fallen for three consecutive months between February and April, with April marking the country's lowest monthly LNG arrivals in eight years. Chinese buyers stepped up purchases from mid-April and have maintained stronger import levels since then, reversing the slowdown seen earlier this year. Middle East disruption tightens supply China's return to the spot market is expected to tighten global LNG availability at a...
Valkyrie has entered the aluminium gaming keyboard segment with the launch of the Cyber68, a new model that replaces the increasingly popular Hall Effect magnetic switches with analog optical switches while pairing them with a CNC-machined aluminium chassis. The keyboard is scheduled to be showcased in greater detail at ChinaJoy 2026, where the company is expected to announce its remaining specifications. Rather than following the current trend of magnetic switches, Valkyrie has opted for an optical sensing system built around a U-shaped reflective sensor. The company says the setup delivers Rapid Trigger accuracy of up to 0.01 mm, enabling the keyboard to register even the slightest key movement during fast-paced games. Performance is another area Valkyrie is targeting. The Cyber68...
Red mud, the highly alkaline by-product generated during alumina production, could become a valuable source of iron and low-carbon construction materials if processed through an integrated recovery route, according to a new review examining advances in green metallurgy and sustainable cement technologies. The study argues that coupling iron extraction with the production of cementitious materials offers a practical pathway for reducing waste, lowering carbon emissions and improving resource efficiency across the aluminium industry. Aluminium industry's waste challenge continues to grow The review notes that global red mud (RM) stockpiles have now exceeded 4 billion tonnes, with the production of every tonne of alumina generating roughly one to two tonnes of the residue. China alone...
Seven years after Section 232 tariffs first shielded US aluminium producers, America still imports 60 per cent of the primary aluminium it consumes. That single statistic, buried in the US Geological Survey’s 2026 Mineral Commodity Summary, is the uncomfortable backdrop to President Trump’s latest move. On July 20, Trump signed a proclamation directing the Commerce Secretary to build an incentive programme around the existing aluminium tariff regime, alongside an executive order tightening critical mineral sourcing rules for defence contractors. The headlines called it tariff policy. The real question is narrower and more interesting: can a tariff discount , offered only to companies that build new smelting capacity, do what a decade of tariff walls could not? Why America still cannot...
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) has recorded 48 million safe working hours without a Lost Time Injury (LTI), reaching the milestone on 16 July 2026 as the company intensifies workplace safety measures for the summer season. The achievement reflects Alba's continued efforts to maintain a safe and healthy workplace for both employees and contractors. Coinciding with the milestone, the company has rolled out its annual plant-wide Summer Safety and Health (S&H) Campaign under the theme "Safety by Choice, Excellence by Habit." The programme will run until July 29, 2026 and focuses on keeping the workforce safe during the hottest months of the year through awareness activities and practical guidance. Employees, contractors and workers will receive information from internal and external safety...
Today, the most-traded SHFE aluminium 2609 contract closed at RMB 23,160 per tonne, edging up 0.56 per cent intraday. Trading volume was 204,700 lots, significantly higher than the previous 113,000 lots. Volume expanded during the rally and contracted on the pullback, indicating limited willingness to chase prices higher, with heavy selling pressure from trapped longs overhead. Open interest was 261,900 lots, up by 572 lots, with divergence among funds widening slightly and the tug-of-war between bulls and bears intensifying. No one-sided capital exit signal emerged. The 5-, 10-, 20-, and 40-period moving averages were intertwined, and prices consolidated tightly around these averages, exhibiting a classic box-type consolidation pattern. SMM comments: Macro front, the US-Iran conflict...
A research team at Purdue University has developed a new cobalt-aluminium (CoAl) alloy that has the potential to solve one of the major limitations of intermetallic materials, their tendency to break under stress. The newly developed material showed a strength of up to 10 times that of steel with the ability to deform without breaking. This research, published in Science Advances, could help the development of next-generation turbine engines in which materials are required to withstand extreme temperatures. Solving the brittleness problem Intermetallic compounds have long attracted interest for their high strength, excellent heat resistance and ability to withstand long-term mechanical stress. These properties make them suitable for components used in aircraft engines, gas turbines,...
