India’s trade deficit with China crossed USD 100 billion in the first nine months of 2026 as imports continued to outpace exports, with aluminium trade data showing a widening imbalance in the latest available period. While India’s overall exports to China recorded strong growth between January and September, the value of its aluminium exports to the neighbouring country declined year on year through July, even as aluminium imports from China increased. Data released by China’s General Administration of Customs showed that bilateral trade rose 25.4 per cent to USD 144.45 billion between January and September 2026. India’s imports from China increased 23.3 per cent to USD 125.19 billion, while exports to China grew 40.7 per cent to USD 19.26 billion. Despite the rise in exports, the trade...
Guinea’s ambition to move beyond bauxite exports into alumina refining and aluminium smelting is running into a major electricity constraint. Producing about 1,000 MW of power at present, it needs another estimated 5,000–10,000 MW for industrialisation. While new alumina refineries could expand intermediate supply, the shortage of reliable electricity is likely to delay additional aluminium production capacity beyond 2030. The challenge emerges as aluminium traded at USD 3,008.5 per tonne, down 8.77 per cent over the month but up 8.43 per cent year on year. Guinea mined an estimated 150 million tonnes of bauxite in 2025, accounting for 34 per cent of global output of 440 million tonnes. Yet it produced only 360,000 tonnes of alumina, or 0.24 per cent of worldwide production of 150 million...
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The Federation of All India Aluminium Utensils Manufacturers (FAIAUM) and the Cable and Conductor Manufacturers Association of India (CACMAI) requested the Ministry of Mines to reduce the effective Customs duty on primary aluminium imports. They cited concerns regarding the current tariff structure, which is increasing raw material costs and affecting the competitiveness of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The industry bodies submitted a joint representation on July 14, urging the Ministry for an immediate rationalisation of the effective 8.25 per cent import duty on primary aluminium. Explore: The most comprehensive and forward-looking industry-focused report — Global Bauxite & Alumina Market Forecast to 2036: Supply–Demand, Trade Flows & Price Report India's aluminium tariff...
The London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium prices made a modest recovery on July 16. Cash price and futures contracts improved over the previous session’s figures, while the continued decline of opening stocks indicated market volatility. On July 16, the LME aluminium cash bid price edged up from USD 3,153 per tonne to USD 3,169 per tonne, reporting a 0.51 per cent improvement. The offer price moved from USD 3,153.5 per tonne to USD 3,170 per tonne, rising by 0.52 per cent. 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 The LME aluminium three-month contract bid as well as offer prices surged 0.51 per cent. While the bid moved from USD 3,150 per...
Sterling and Wilson Renewable Energy Ltd (SWREL) has reported its highest-ever Unexecuted Order Value (UOV) since the pandemic, closing the first quarter (Q1) of FY27 with an order pipeline of nearly INR 130 billion (USD 1.35 billion) . The milestone was supported by strong domestic EPC activity and a landmark international solar project in Egypt, highlighting continued growth in renewable infrastructure and the increasing use of aluminium-inclusive products like solar module frames, mounting structures, cable systems, battery enclosures and other EPC applications. The company also posted a 36 per cent year-on-year increase in profit after tax (PAT) during the quarter, while revenue from its operation and maintenance (O&M) business rose 40 per cent, indicating the expansion of its managed...
Rare earth minerals have moved from a niche group of metals to a strategically important resource that is vital to sectors from clean energy to consumer electronics, defence and advanced manufacturing. As demand rises and supply chains are dominated by a few countries, rare earths are being labelled critical minerals by governments around the world. Rare earths demand ties aluminium downstream industries more and more The downstream aluminium industry is also increasingly impacted by the rising use of rare earth magnets, particularly as aluminium continues to replace heavier materials in transportation, renewable energy and advanced manufacturing applications. The rare earths are a set of 17 chemically similar elements. Neodymium (Nd), praseodymium (Pr), dysprosium (Dy) and terbium (Tb)...
Novelis Korea has announced that Choi Min-young, the company's Director of Government Affairs, has been appointed the inaugural chair of the Aluminium Committee of the Korea Nonferrous Metals Association (KONMA). KONMA is an industry association that supports the development of South Korea's nonferrous metals industry and works to improve the competitiveness of its member companies. The Aluminium Committee was established this year to promote the sustainable development of the aluminium industry and address common priorities across the sector. According to Novelis, the committee will focus on developing policy recommendations, supporting supply chain stability and responding to evolving global trade and environmental regulations. It also aims to strengthen the competitiveness of South...
Canada's aluminium extrusion industry is calling on the federal government to introduce trade protection measures, arguing that rising imports and US tariffs are placing increasing pressure on domestic manufacturers even as aluminium prices remain strong. Although aluminium has been one of the best-performing base metals over the past year, extrusion companies—which process aluminium billets into products used in construction, automotive, industrial equipment and other applications—say business conditions have deteriorated. Mike Flynn, President of Apel Extrusions Ltd., said the sector has already lost around 500 jobs since March 2025, representing about 12.5 per cent of its estimated 4,000-person workforce. He warned that another 800 jobs could be lost by the end of the year without...
Norsk Hydro operates an integrated aluminium business that spans the full value chain, from bauxite mining and alumina refining to primary aluminium production, extrusion, rolled products and recycling. The company also has a significant presence in renewable power generation, supporting the energy requirements of its aluminium operations. Its business model combines upstream and downstream operations, with mining and refining supplying raw materials for smelters, while finished aluminium products serve industries including construction, automotive, packaging and industrial engineering. This integrated structure enables the company to participate across multiple stages of the aluminium value chain. Norsk Hydro operates in the global aluminium and mining industry, where market conditions...
The European Commission has submitted an extensive list of export products to the United States, seeking lower import tariffs or full exemptions as both the European Union and the US continue implementing the Turnberry trade agreement reached last summer. Under the Turnberry tariff deal, EU eliminated its remaining tariffs on US industrial goods from July 1, while the US would maintain a 15 per cent tariff ceiling on most European exports. 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 The Turnberry agreement framework also allows the European Commission to suspend tariff preferences if the US continues to impose duties exceeding 15 per cent on...
SMEL Steel Structural Pvt. Ltd., a step-down subsidiary of Shyam Metalics and Energy Ltd., has commenced commercial production at its aluminium foil facility in Sambalpur, Odisha. The facility has an installed production capacity of 18,000 tonnes per annum (TPA) and is designed to manufacture premium-grade aluminium foil in thicknesses ranging from 6 to 40 microns. The company is investing around INR 800 crore (USD 8.30 million) in its downstream aluminium operations at Sambalpur as it expands its value-added product portfolio. Shyam Metalics also confirmed that its aluminium flat rolled products (FRP) facility remains on track for commercial production by September 2026. The plant will have an annual capacity of 60,000 TPA and will produce flat rolled products in thicknesses ranging from...
The Solomon Islands Government has expanded its investigation into bauxite exports from Rennell Island, confirming that former Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and other officials who held office during the period under review may be consulted as part of the inquiry. The investigation covers 33 bauxite shipments exported from West Rennell between 2017 and 2019. It would span the administrations of former Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela and the succeeding Democratic Coalition for Advancement (DCA) government led by Sogavare. Explore: The most comprehensive and forward-looking industry-focused report — Global Bauxite & Alumina Market Forecast to 2036: Supply–Demand, Trade Flows & Price Report Authorities review records dating back to 2017 According to the government statement, investigators...
Aditya Birla Group company Hindalco Industries is expected to remain in focus after Kotak Institutional Equities raised its recommendation on the company by two notches. It has shifted from 'Reduce' to 'Buy', highlighting improvement in earnings visibility with a more attractive valuation after the recent correction in the stock . Kotak has also made a slight revision of its target price to INR 1,120 (USD 11.63) per share from INR 1,100 (USD 11.42), implying an upside potential of 17 per cent (approx.) from the current market price. 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 Kotak believes several growth catalysts are coming together for the...
Canyon Resources has taken delivery of the first locomotives for its Minim Martap bauxite project in Cameroon. The mine is being developed by its subsidiary, Camalco Cameroon, which expects an initial fleet of seven locomotives and 160 wagons to transport 35,000 tonnes of bauxite a month. The company is targeting its first shipment in Q4 2026. The initial rail fleet will comprise seven locomotives and 160 wagons, providing a transport capacity of 35,000 tonnes per month. The first 60 wagons are expected to arrive from China in mid-August, while the remaining 100 wagons are scheduled for delivery later this year. Commenting on the development, Canyon Resources Managing Director Peter Secker said, “We are pleased to be making continual and rapid progress at Minim Martap as we work toward...
Imagine it is the final trading week of December 2031. A cargo vessel loaded with Guinean bauxite is approaching a Chinese port after weeks at sea. An aluminium smelter in the Middle East is preparing to price its next monthly shipment to an automotive customer in Europe. A commodity trader in Singapore is rolling forward a hedge linked to the London Metal Exchange (LME), while a bank in London is calculating the value of aluminium inventories pledged as collateral under a trade finance facility. Thousands of kilometres apart, these activities appear unrelated. Yet they all depend on one common factor: whether the LME is open for business. To many outside the metals industry, the LME’s trading calendar is simply a schedule of exchange holidays and trading days. However, for aluminium...
Hydro Extrusion USA will close its aluminium extrusion facility in Delhi, Louisiana, next year, with operations scheduled to end on April 1, 2027. The closure will result in the loss of 226 jobs, according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) filed with the Louisiana Workforce Commission in June. The layoffs are expected to take effect on March 31, 2027. The Delhi facility is one of two extrusion plants in the United States that Hydro plans to shut down. The second plant is located in the City of Industry, California. Together, the closures will affect around 350 employees. Hydro said, “Both sites face low capacity utilisation and require significant capital investment to meet operational standards.” As part of the restructuring, production from the two plants will be...
Postle Aluminum Co. has announced plans to install two new aluminium extrusion presses at its new 230,000-square-foot facility in Howe, Indiana. The expansion will increase the company's extrusion capacity and support existing customers, new business opportunities and OEM partners. The expansion includes a 10-inch extrusion press and a 7-inch extrusion press, both of which will be installed at a new 230,000-square-foot facility in Howe, Indiana. According to the company, the project is intended to support existing customers, expand into new markets and strengthen supply for original equipment manufacturer (OEM) partners. Mark Smith, president of the company, said, “We’re making this investment now to ensure we have the capacity, capabilities and reliability to support their growth without...
In the aluminium casting industry, every decision, be it a new investment, adopting new technology or upgrading the cast house, always carries a cost. The most cost pinch is faced when a decision is made without having reliable access to market intelligence. Various factors are reshaping the aluminium cast house, such as electric vehicles (EVs), reshaping the component design and mega-casting is rewriting manufacturing economics. Moreover, for the casting industry, the recycled aluminium is becoming a strategic advantage rather than just a sustainable initiative. In addition to this, factors like rising energy costs, raw material volatility and the evolving OEM expectations are also continuing to squeeze the margins. Therefore, navigating through such a market, relying on historical...
London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium prices edged lower on July 15 compared with the previous trading day, while exchange inventories also registered a decline. The LME aluminium cash bid price stood at USD 3,153 per tonne on July 15, down 0.50 per cent from USD 3,169 per tonne on July 14. The cash offer price fell to USD 3,153.5 per tonne from USD 3,171 per tonne, a decline of 0.55 per cent. The LME aluminium three-month bid price eased to USD 3,150 per tonne on July 15 from USD 3,167 per tonne on July 14, marking a 0.54 per cent decrease. The three-month offer price also slipped 0.54 per cent, from USD 3,167.5 per tonne to USD 3,150.5 per tonne. Further along the forward curve, the December 2027 bid price declined to USD 3,085 per tonne from USD 3,103 per tonne, down 0.58 per cent. The...
PA Resources Bhd has renewed its supply agreement with First Solar Inc, First Solar Malaysia Sdn Bhd and First Solar Vietnam Manufacturing Co Ltd to supply aluminium extrusion profiles used in the production of photovoltaic modules. The new contract is valued at RM1.31 billion (USD 321.22 million) and covers an 18-month period from July 2026 to December 2027. According to the company, it is the fifth supply agreement awarded by First Solar. In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, PA Resources said the contract is expected to improve operational efficiency through better production scheduling, material planning, workforce utilisation and logistics coordination. The company also expects the agreement to contribute positively to its earnings and net assets. Explore: The most comprehensive and...
