
The transition towards lower-carbon manufacturing is changing how companies evaluate aluminium and copper. Beyond availability and technical performance, buyers are increasingly examining the emissions embedded in the metals they purchase and whether reducing that footprint justifies a higher price. While low-carbon aluminium has developed into an established premium market, low-carbon copper remains at a developing stage, raising the loaded question: How much are buyers willing to pay for lower-carbon metal? Explore the production, demand and consumption forecasts of bauxite and alumina in our report: “ Global Bauxite & Alumina Market Forecast to 2036: Supply–Demand, Trade Flows & Price Outlook ” Why aluminium is further ahead Aluminium has had more time to establish a market for...
The EU aluminium scrap market could face disruption if proposed changes to the Waste Shipment Regulation (WSR) restrict access to major Asian recycling destinations, the Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) has warned. The Brussels-based association issued its response after the European Commission published a draft proposal on September 18 listing non-OECD countries authorised to receive certain non-hazardous materials from the EU . Excluding countries such as India , Malaysia and Thailand from authorised destinations for ferrous and nonferrous metals could weaken recycled material markets rather than strengthen Europe’s recycling capacity. Join the fourth edition of the webinar “Hedging for recyclers - Become an expert in 6 hours” by Jorge Dyszel. At the centre of BIR’s concern is...
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Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), a global aluminium-producing giant, faced headwinds in 2023. Despite navigating through volatile LME prices and fluctuating premiums, Alba reported a Q4 profit of BD23.4 million ($62.2 million), a 40.7% Y-o-Y decrease from a profit of BD39.4 million (US$104.9 million) for the same period in 2022. The 2023 full-year profit of BD118 million ($313.9 million) marked a 71.6% Y-o-Y downturn from a livid annual profit of BD416.2 million (US$1,106.8 million) in 2022. Alba's 2023 financial overview - Q4 2023 performance Alba's Q4 2023 profit reached BD23.4 million ($62.2 million), down 40.7% Y-o-Y. Earnings per share dropped from Fils 28 to Fils 17. Total Comprehensive Income fell to BD6.2 million ($16.5 million), a 74.6% Y-o-Y decline. For the entire year, Alba reported...

On Wednesday, February 14, both LME aluminium cash bid price and LME aluminium official settlement price dropped by US$10 per tonne or 0.45 per cent to settle at US$2,193 per tonne and US$2,194 per tonne. As per the LME data , 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price fell by US$10 per tonne or 0.44 per cent and US$11 per tonne or 0.49 per cent to settle at US$2,222 per tonne and US$2,223 per tonne. December 25 bid price and December 25 offer price slipped by US$5 per tonne or 0.20 per cent to clock at US$2,447 per tonne and US$2,452 per tonne. LME aluminium opening stock came in at 525100 tonnes. Live warrants and Cancelled warrants stood at 324350 tonnes and 200750 tonnes. LME aluminium 3-month Asian Reference Price declined by US$27.5 per tonne to stop at US$2,214 per tonne. SHFE price...

In the pursuit of a greener tomorrow, Tetra Pak has ignited a €40 million investment blaze to propel carton recycling in Europe. This visionary move unveils four remarkable projects, each a beacon illuminating the path toward a circular economy. Tetra Pak joins forces with Axjo Group in Sweden, orchestrating a symphony of innovation. Together, they envision a recycling line, a marvel capable of processing 10,000 tonnes of polyethylene and aluminium (polyAl). This endeavour aims to breathe new life into injection-moulded plastic products, from cable drums to storage boxes, weaving sustainability into everyday essentials. Tetra Pak's polyAl revolution – A chronology A Spanish collaboration between Tetra Pak and Trans Sabater amplifies polyAl recycling capacity from 3,000 to 10,000 tonnes...

Emirates Global Aluminium and the UAE's Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications office will promote the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) across the region's industrial sectors. The news came on Wednesday, February 14, after the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU). The agreement has been signed by His Excellency Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, and Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of EGA, at the World Governments Summit 2024 in Dubai. His Excellency Omar Sultan Al Olama expressed his opinion during the signing that digitisation through adopting AI applications is an imperative way to accelerate digital transformation in the UAE's vital industrial...

Hindalco Industries, a prominent player in the aluminium industry under the Aditya Birla Group, faces hurdles from the influx of low-cost aluminium foils due to recent policy changes. Satish Pai, Hindalco's Managing Director, sheds light on the company's strategies amidst this scenario. Hindalco Industries confronts a pressing issue as the removal of anti-dumping duties on aluminium foil paves the way for increased imports, particularly from countries benefiting from free trade agreements. Satish Pai highlights concerns regarding the impact on the company's packaging segment. Global dynamics and trade agreements Pai emphasises the implications of trade agreements, notably with the UAE, which facilitate duty-free imports into India. The involvement of intermediary countries like Thailand...

In Russia and Eastern Europe, primary aluminium production during December 2023 stood at 345,000 tonnes, bringing the fourth quarter output to 1.02 million tonnes, according to the International Aluminium Institute. As per the data, the monthly production grew sequentially by 3.92 per cent from 332,000 tonnes, and the quarterly output increased by 2 per cent from 1 million tonnes. On a year-on-year basis, Russia and Eastern Europe’s primary aluminium production during December 2023 registered a slight growth of 2,000 tonnes from 343,000 tonnes, while the total output in Q4 amounted to the same volume. In the full year 2023, Russia and Eastern Europe’s primary aluminium output totalled 4.02 million tonnes, down by 1.47 per cent year-on-year from 4.08 million tonnes despite the growth in...

Danaos, a Greek-owned company led by John Coustas and renowned for its container ship fleet, has extended its presence in the dry bulk sector by acquiring additional Capesize vessels. The company, which already operates seven such vessels, has purchased two more, built-in 2010 and 2011, for a total of $52.8 million. These vessels, known as Xin Hang from Jiangsu Steamship and Guo May from Foremost, are scheduled for delivery in April and July 2024, respectively. Danaos Corporation stands out as a prominent entity in large-size containership ownership, operating independently. Its primary business model involves leasing these vessels to major liner companies under secure, long-term agreements at predetermined rates. Distinguished by its cutting-edge shipping technology and an extensive...

NASA, in collaboration with Redwire and NeXolve, has achieved a pivotal milestone in solar sail technology. The focus is on developing a sail made of a polymer material coated with aluminium, resembling aluminium foil, to propel spacecraft using the light of the Sun. Solar sails, akin to sailboats on Earth, capture sunlight using large sails, propelling the spacecraft forward. The NASA project incorporates four identical solar sail quadrants, each with a surface made of a polymer element coated with a thin layer of aluminium, measuring just two and a half microns in thickness. This combination creates a lightweight yet effective mechanism for capturing solar energy. Testing the unfurling capability – NASA's brilliance A recent test at the Redwire facility in Colorado marked a significant...

In 2023, Bühler sailed through a challenging and unpredictable global environment, achieving heightened profitability and enhancing its equity ratio. Leveraging its status as an innovative solution provider, the company capitalised on numerous opportunities, securing a larger market share amid shifts in its primary sectors. Revenue surged significantly in local currencies, while order volume slightly increased. Bolstered by a substantial order backlog totalling CHF 2.0 billion, Bühler stands strongly positioned for the year ahead in 2024. Stefan Scheiber, the CEO of Bühler, stated, "We are satisfied with the outcome of 2023 and have proved again that we are a reliable partner in this dynamic world." In 2023, Bühler demonstrated robust performance at the group level, achieving a slight...

India is witnessing a surge in imported aluminium prices this week driven by several factors, including a notable increase in futures, limited availability of material, and a positive shift in demand. Across various grades of aluminium scrap, prices have risen by approximately $25-35/t w-o-w. According to BigMint's assessment, Tense scrap of Middle East (UAE) origin has experienced a $20/t increase, reaching $1,720/t. Simultaneously, scrap prices from the US have seen a $30 per tonne (t) hike, now standing at $1,790/t w-o-w. Notably, the sellers have reported that Zorba 95-5 of UK origin is currently facing challenges in the Indian market due to the Red Sea incident. As a result, Tense Scrap is gaining preference among buyers. Furthermore, an indentor shared with BigMint that the prices...

AluK has recently added two notable members to its UK Board, with Paul Booth, a respected figure in the industry, assuming the role of R&D Director and James Schools, a seasoned manufacturing specialist, stepping in as Finance Director. Their appointments signify a significant boost for AluK, as they bring a wealth of experience and expertise that will be instrumental in driving the company's ambitious initiatives for 2024 and beyond in the realm of aluminium systems. Let us know about Aluk AluK is a global leader in aluminium construction systems. It is known for its engineering, distribution and design of aluminium windows, doors, and facade solutions. Founded over 70 years ago, AluK has become a significant player in the aluminium construction systems sector and currently runs...

On Tuesday, February 13, both LME aluminium cash bid price and LME aluminium official settlement price continued to grow by US$16 per tonne or 0.73 per cent to settle at US$2,203 per tonne and US$2,204 per tonne, respectively. On a month-on-month basis, the LME aluminium benchmark price has recorded a surge of 1.3 per cent from US$2,175 per tonne. On the same day, 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price experienced a hike of US$18 per tonne to reach US$2,232 per tonne and US$2,234 per tonne. December-25 bid price and December-25 offer price increased by US$12 per tonne to close the day at US$2,452 per tonne and US$2,457 per tonne. The LME aluminium opening stock amounted to 525,225 tonnes on February 13 versus 525,250 tonnes on the previous day. Live Warrants and Cancelled Warrants...

Latvia, a country on the Baltic Sea between Lithuania and Estonia, has announced its achievement of an 80 per cent return rate since it launched a deposit return system (DRS) for drink container recycling made of aluminium, plastic or glass. Latvia launched a deposit return system (DRS) on February 1, 2022, with global reverse vending leader TOMRA Collection. TOMRA’s innovative reverse vending solutions keep bottles and cans in the loop of reuse and out of streets, oceans, and landfills. Within only thirteen months between the appointment of the local DRS operator and the full public launch of the system, Latvia’s landmark achievement reflects an efficient return scheme of used containers for recycling. The deposit return system in Latvia uses a return-to-retail model, where consumers...

On February 13, 2024, National Aluminium Company Ltd announced a nearly twofold increase in consolidated profit, reaching INR 470.61 crore for the December 31, 2023 quarter. Nalco's filing to BSE marks a substantial rise of around 83.6 per cent (Y-o-Y) compared to the consolidated profit of INR 256.32 crore reported in the October-December quarter of FY2022-23. In the same quarter last year, Nalco disclosed a net profit of INR 256.3 crore, as per a regulatory filing. The company reported a 1.5 per cent increase in revenue from operations, reaching INR 3,346.9 crore compared to INR 3,297.2 crore in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year. At the operational level, EBITDA surged by 66 per cent to INR 773.1 crore in the third quarter of the current fiscal year, compared to INR...

On Tuesday, February 13, Hindalco Industries Limited announced a strong double-digit growth in net profit for the third quarter of FY2024 ended December 31, 2023. As per the report, the Aditya Birla Group Company’s consolidated net profit soared 71 per cent year-on-year to amount to INR 2,331 crore, driven by robust performance across aluminium and copper business segments. Hindalco’s consolidated EBITDA was INR 6,322 crore, up 61 per cent year-on-year on account of lower input costs and strong operating performance. In the Indian aluminium segment, upstream business EBITDA for the quarter was INR 2,443 crore, up 54 percent Y-o-Y. Consolidated revenue for the third quarter of FY2024 was INR 52,808 crore – 1 per cent less than INR 53,151 crore a year ago. Revenue from the upstream segment...

Qcells, a prominent player in the U.S. solar panel manufacturing landscape, has forged a unique partnership with SOLARCYCLE, a cutting-edge solar recycling firm, ushering in a new era of sustainability. This collaboration is not only the first of its kind but also holds immense promise for the aluminium industry, emphasising a circular, clean energy supply chain. SOLARCYCLE, based in Odessa, Texas, stands out with its technology-driven solar recycling approach. With a focus on extracting over 95% of a solar panel's value, well above the industry norm of 50%, the company employs patented methods to efficiently recycle materials like aluminium, silver, copper, silicon, and low-iron glass. This forward-looking initiative aligns with Qcells' commitment to building a more sustainable clean...

VALCO, under the astute leadership of Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus-Glover, has embarked on a transformative journey by signing a crucial shareholder agreement with Daiichi Company. This collaboration heralds the birth of VALCO-DAIICHI ESC LIMITED COMPANY, a pioneering venture set to revolutionise the aluminium industry. VALCO, a stalwart in Ghana's aluminium industry, has partnered with Daiichi Company to establish VALCO-DAIICHI ESC LIMITED COMPANY. This new entity focuses on the production of cutting-edge LED light fixtures and bulbs. Benefits for Valco's aluminium business The collaboration adds significant value to Valco's primary aluminium, opening avenues for diversified revenue streams. This strategic move not only solidifies VALCO's market presence but also contributes substantially to...

Vedanta Aluminium has reportedly launched an e-commerce platform called Vedanta Metal Bazaar for primary aluminium product sales. The platform will facilitate buyers with a real-time shopping experience, providing AI-based price discovery, end-to-end visibility of purchases, and in-time delivery. As per the report, there are 750 aluminium products listed on Vedanta Metal Bazaar. Products include ingots, billets, foundry alloy, wire rods, rolled products, flip coils, hot metal, and in-house low-carbon aluminium Restora. In addition, the e-superstore also offers customised solutions tailored to the needs of the company's customer base. The platform is one-of-a-kind in the aluminium value chain, having integrated features. On a single platform, aluminium buyers can access product...