Cano Water is expanding its aluminium packaging range in the UK with the launch of a new 473ml still water bottle in selected Waitrose stores from November. The lightweight aluminium bottle, a popular format in the US, is being introduced to the British market for the first time after more than five years of development and efforts to secure UK listings. The launch marks a new chapter for Cano Water, which has sold nearly 100 million cans over the past 11 years. The company has also secured a listing with foodservice wholesaler Brakes, extending the availability of its new aluminium bottle format beyond retail. Since its launch, Cano Water has avoided plastic bottles, positioning aluminium as an alternative to single-use plastic packaging. The new bottle is the format the team first came...
China’s exports of aluminium casks, drums, cans, boxes and similar container products (HS 7612) increased in the first half of 2026, with shipments rising in both quarters. Among the destinations listed, import trends varied, with some markets recording strong growth while others saw declines. Exports at a glance China exported 49,000 tonnes of aluminium products (HS 7612) in the first half of 2026, up 36.1 per cent from 36,000 tonnes in H1 2025 and 63.3 per cent from 30,000 tonnes in H1 2024. Exports increased in both quarters, with shipments reaching 27,000 tonnes in Q2, compared with 22,000 tonnes in Q1, a quarter-on-quarter rise of 22.7 per cent. China’s quarterly exports rise The country’s exports rose by 29.4 per cent year-on-year, from 17,000 tonnes in Q1 2025 to 22,000 tonnes in...
Grow with
AL Circle
Ayana Renewable Power, a major Independent Power Producer (IPP) in India, has made a significant achievement by signing a Power Purchase Agreement with Hindalco Industries Limited, the flagship company of the Aditya Birla Group. The agreement will supply 100 MW of round-the-clock (RTC) renewable energy to Hindalco's smelters in Odisha. The Ayana renewable project is supported by the National Infrastructure and Investment Fund (NIIF), British International Investment (BII), and Green Growth Equity Fund. The captive power project is a crucial milestone for Ayana as they aim to become a demand-driven energy solution provider and achieve their vision of becoming India's lowest-cost power supplier. Ayana is leveraging a unique blend of solar, wind, and pumped hydro technologies to achieve this...
Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) served as the sole arranger and lender on a $47 million and NGN5 billion fundraising package for the GZ Industries Limited group (GZI), providing a bespoke solution that positioned the firm advantageously for future development and expansion. GZI is Africa's biggest pure-play beverage packaging solutions supplier and a prominent maker and producer of premium-quality aluminium cans for numerous top global blue-chip beverage brands. "RMB delivered a multi-jurisdictional, multi-currency solution that meets the requirements of both shareholders and management and that will position the Group to cater to increased demand across the continent," said Chidi Iwuchukwu, Head of Investment Banking for Broader Africa at RMB. RMB, a subsidiary of FirstRand Bank Limited, is a...
According to the International Aluminium Institute (IAI), the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), consisting of regions like Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, has experienced stable growth in primary aluminium production this year, with 50 per cent of the total collection in 2022, already being produced in Q1 and Q2 of 2023. In June 2023, the total primary aluminium produced in GCC was 503,000 tonnes, which escalated by 16,000 tonnes Month-on-Month to reach 519,000 tonnes in July 2023. In Q1 2023, the aluminium production was 1.51 million tonnes, which increased on a Quarter-on-Quarter scale by 17,000 tonnes to accumulate 1.527 million tonnes in Q2 2023. Last year, the annual aluminium production in GCC was 6.074 million tonnes, with a Year-on-Year influx of...
Hydro has agreed to a three-year deal with Shell Energy to assist in decarbonising its UK operations. The arrangement is for an annual supply of 56 GWh of electricity and 144 GWh of gas to Hydro's UK operations. By implementing this contractual agreement, Hydro successfully reduced its Scope 2 emissions in the UK, resulting in a noteworthy reduction of about 11,000 tonnes of CO2 per year. Hydro will get renewable energy from the Rhyl Flats wind farm in Wales as part of the agreement. The power has a Renewable Energy Guarantee of Origin certification. The wind farm is located 8 kilometres off the coast of Llandudno and is the second biggest wind farm in Wales, with 90 MWh of installed capacity and 25 turbines. "We are always looking for new and innovative solutions to decarbonise our own...
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) manufacturing sector is undergoing a significant transformation as cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence and robotics are integrated into the workplace, often referred to as "Industry 4.0." This evolution is leading to a higher degree of interconnectivity, automation, and data-driven operations within the sector. This shift isn't merely enhancing efficiency and productivity; it also possesses the potential to support the GCC's endeavours towards economic diversification. Furthermore, it can position the region as a formidable contender in the manufacturing industry, opening up fresh employment prospects and fundamentally reshaping the area's economic landscape. The Gulf region's strategic positioning at the crossroads of Europe, Asia,...
The luxury automotive brand Mercedes-Benz has revealed a concept vehicle that previews the German automaker's next family of upmarket small EVs. Titled the Concept CLA Class, the body and chassis of the fully battery-powered vehicle are built of CO2-reduced aluminium and CO2-free steel. As part of the company's Ambition 2039 , Mercedes-Benz wants to incorporate aluminium into its cars by 2030 with a carbon footprint that is 90 per cent lower than the European average. "The Concept CLA Class is the forerunner for an entirely new all-electric segment of entry-level vehicles at Mercedes-Benz. Our lightweight, in-house development features 800-volt electric architecture and a two-speed transmission, paired with a smartly packaged battery with excellent energy density," said Ola Källenius,...
Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) recently announced signing a significant framework agreement with Siemens Mobility, valued at more than five billion euros. The deal entails the delivery of up to 540 single-deck electric multiple-unit aluminium trains, which are expected to enter service in 2028. These trains are developed from the manufacturer's Mireo platform, a modular system that boasts low energy consumption and lightweight aluminium construction, making it an environmentally friendly choice. The Mireo platform is designed as a successor to the 'Mainline' variant of Siemens's Desiro EMUs. It can form trainsets between two and seven cars long, and the railcars can achieve a top speed of up to 160 kilometres per hour (99 mph). Interestingly, the first Mireo units were launched at the...
According to the Shanghai Metals Market data, 6063 aluminium billet inventories across China's five major consumption areas are recorded at 80,000 tonnes as of Monday, September 4, experiencing an increase of 10,400 tonnes or 14.94 per cent over the weekend. On a week-on-week basis, the inventories rose by 9,600 tonnes or 13.64 per cent from 70,400 tonnes. The above data also indicates that China's aluminium billet inventories reflected an interim drop of 1.14 per cent on Thursday compared to 70,400 tonnes on Monday, August 28. This Monday, Foshan contributed the highest to China's aluminium billet inventory growth, followed by Huzhou. To know in more detail, refer to the table below: In Foshan, aluminium billet inventories registered a hike of 6,700 tonnes over the weekend and 5,800...
Lindian Resources Limited has officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Compagnie des Bauxites de Guinée (CBG) to explore the possibility of supplying bauxite from its Gaoual project to augment CBG's annual bauxite production through a potential sales contract. The MOU outlines the following key objectives, emphasizing collaboration and exploration: Lindian and CBG will explore various methods of operating, processing, and transporting ore from the Gaoual project to CBG's infrastructure. The MOU facilitates the assessment of procurement, quantity/quality determination, selling prices, selling price adjustment mechanisms, penalties/bonuses, and payments between the Parties. Lindian commits to completing a Feasibility Study for the Gaoual project within two years, aligning...
PURe® aluminium windows and doors from Senior Architectural Systems have been selected for use in Birmingham's new Perry Barr residential development project. This is a significant project for the city, and Senior's low U-value systems have been chosen for three of the four plots in the first phase of the development. These plots are located on the former Birmingham City University Teaching Campus site. Senior has worked with two different project teams on the contract, partnering with Vinci and Duplus Architectural Systems on plot 7 and with Wilmott Dixon and Acorn Aluminium on plots 8 and 9. Each building has one and two-bedroom apartments, as well as ground-floor retail or leisure space, with all units boasting private or communal outdoor areas. Plot 7 is the largest in the first...
In July 2023, North America contributed 330,000 tonnes to the global primary aluminium production at 5.861 million tonnes, according to the International Aluminium Institute data. On a month-on-month calculation, North America’s primary aluminium output in July stood at 9,000 tonnes or 2.80 per cent higher than 321,000 tonnes, following a drop of 2.43 per cent in June from 329,000 tonnes. On an annual basis, North America’s output in July reflected a surge of 24,000 tonnes or 7.27 per cent from 306,000 tonnes. The average daily production of primary aluminium in July 2023 was 10,600 tonnes, slightly down by 100 tonnes from the previous month despite a rise in the monthly output. However, on a year-on-year basis, the output edged an increase of 7.07 per cent from 9,900 tonnes. In the first...
A cargo ship, a carbon-intensive vessel or typically a dirty oil guzzler, has onboarded a new green, clean technology to the open seas. Cargill and BAR Technologies have embarked on a pioneering venture as they launch the BAR Tech WindWings in collaboration with Yara Marine. This revolutionary innovation is now underway on the open seas, undergoing testing. This technology promises to introduce state-of-the-art wind propulsion to the world of commercial shipping, marking a historic first in the industry. The Pyxis Ocean, the pioneer vessel to undergo a retrofit with cutting-edge WindWings technology, has embarked on its voyage from China, aiming high in its mission to facilitate the maritime industry's journey towards decarbonization. Agribusiness giant Cargill charted the Mitsubishi...
LME aluminium opened at US$2,206 per tonne on Friday, with its high and low at US$2,260 per tonne and US$2,206 per tonne, respectively, before closing at US$2,237 per tonne. The LME aluminium live price chart on September 1 witnessed growing aluminium prices, with the LME aluminium cash bid price and the LME aluminium official price gaining US$18.50 per tonne or 0.85 per cent to officially close at US$2,183.50 per tonne and US$2,184 per tonne, respectively. London Metal Exchange graph showed that the 3-month bid price and the 3-month official price have spiked by US$30 per tonne or 1.36 per cent to close at US$2,233.50 per tonne and US$2,234 per tonne. The December 24 bid price and the December 24 official price have both increased by US$23 per tonne or 0.97 per cent to settle at US$2,375...
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has achieved a significant breakthrough in lunar exploration! Their recent report reveals that the moon rover, equipped with the highly advanced Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) instrument, has successfully detected the presence of aluminium, along with other elements, in the southern pole region of the Moon. Overall, this discovery is truly remarkable, and we can't wait to see what other exciting findings will come from the continued exploration of our incredible Moon! Collaboration between Bang & Olufsen and Ferrari has resulted in a new collection of headphones and speakers that celebrate the shared values of precision, simplicity and aluminium. The range is united by a striking red colour that links it unmistakably to the...
The software developer CoreTechnologie (CT) has recently developed a novel bicycle using 3D-printed aluminium components and ordinary carbon tubing, resulting in a lightweight and cost-effective design. CT software developers coupled self-designed, 3D-printed aluminium (AlMgSi10) connection pieces with Carbonforce machine-made, incredibly light carbon tubes. The tubes were joined using high-strength two-component glue commonly used in aerospace. “In addition to the casual design and the driving pleasure, the super-light bike from Core Technologie put an incredulous smile on the testers’ faces when they lifted it,” stated visionary and CT Managing Director Armin Brüning. From idea to ready-to-drive prototype, the project was accomplished in two months. The CT team improved and developed...
In Europe (incl. Russia), alumina production during July 2023 stood at 549,000 tonnes, reflecting a month-on-month hike of 24,000 tonnes or 4.57 per cent, found the International Aluminium Institute (IAI). In June 2023, the output stood at 525,000 tonnes, which was, however, down by 35,000 tonnes or 6.25 per cent from 560,000 tonnes. On a year-on-year calculation, alumina production in Europe (incl. Russia) edged a sharp fall of 144,000 tonnes or 20.78 per cent from 693,000 tonnes, according to IAI data. In the first seven months of 2023, alumina production in Europe (incl. Russia) totalled 3.705 million tonnes, down by 29.04 per cent from 5.221 million tonnes during the corresponding period of the last year. This drastic fall in Europe’s alumina output could be attributed to slow...
Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) in Odisha has provided special grade MDN-250 (maraging steel) for different Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) space missions such as Chandrayaan, Gaganyaan, and Aditya L1. Maraging steel is high-quality steel composed of metals like aluminium, nickel, cobalt, molybdenum and titanium. It is manufactured using the vacuum melting process. As per the reports, maraging steel plates are utilised in ISRO's PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) and GSLV (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle) missions. The statement said that rolling maraging steel needs extremely strict process conditions. In general, greater-strength steels have lower flexibility, and vice versa. However, maraging steel is essential because it has exceptionally high strength (up to 5-6 times...
According to Japan Metal Daily, the loading price (base price) of aluminium ingots equipped with large strings, which serves as a crucial indicator for determining the prices of Japanese rolled aluminium products available in retail outlets, has been firmly set at JPY 390 per kilogram (equivalent to $3 per kilogram) for the period spanning from October to December 2023. Notably, this price remains unaltered when compared to the preceding quarter (July-September). It is significant to mention that the base price had experienced a continuous decline for four consecutive quarters, commencing from a value of JPY 480 during the July-September 2022 period. However, it appears that this downward trend has temporarily stopped. The pricing dynamics of rolled aluminium products, including plates...
