According to data released by the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC), China's total primary aluminium imports reached 185,500 tonnes in August 2026, down 14.65 per cent year-on-year but up 0.16 per cent month-on-month. Total imports for January-August amounted to 1.66 million tonnes, a decrease of 3.41 per cent year-on-year. The 14.65 per cent year-on-year decline in August imports, coupled with a nearly flat month-on-month performance, indicates that imports have not collapsed but rather maintained a steady inflow. In August, China's total primary aluminium exports stood at 21,900 tonnes, down 14.53 per cent year-on-year and 30.48 per cent month-on-month. Cumulative exports for January-August totalled 167,500 tonnes, up 9.26 per cent year-on-year....
Vedanta Aluminium presented 24 technical papers and secured three Best Paper Awards at IBAAS 2026 in Jharsuguda, highlighting its work across aluminium smelting, alumina refining, sustainability, alloy development and resource recovery. The 14th International Bauxite, Alumina & Aluminium Conference and Exhibition (IBAAS 2026), held in Jharsuguda, brought together industry leaders, researchers, technology providers, policymakers and academics to discuss the future of the aluminium industry under the theme, ‘Global Aluminium Outlook 2030: Secure Resources, Efficient Energy and Value from Wastes’. Vedanta Aluminium’s participation covered a broad range of technologies and applications, including artificial intelligence, digitalisation, alumina refining, aluminium smelting, sustainability,...
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Tesla, a commendable force in electric vehicles (EVs), faces a disruption in its car production at the Gruenheide factory near Berlin. The halt, from Jan. 29 to Feb. 11, stems from the Red Sea crisis, with Iranian-backed Houthi militants targeting vessels, causing a shift in transport routes. This crisis has impacted Europe's largest economy, affecting the supply chains of various industries, including the EV sector. The Red Sea conflict has created considerable challenges for Tesla, which is heavily reliant on lightweight aluminium components from Asia, particularly China, for its EV production. The company's dependence on China for battery components transported to Europe through the Red Sea exposes it to constant production risks. Analysts, such as Sam Fiorani from AutoForecast...
Colorado-based beverage packaging giant Ball Corporation is set to close its aluminium can manufacturing facility in Kent (Rexam Beverage Can Company), as disclosed in a filing with the state of Washington. The closure, outlined in a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification on Dec. 28, is expected to lead to the termination of 121 jobs in the Puget Sound area starting Feb. 29. The decision to close the plant, initially revealed in a Nov. 1 earnings call, follows Ball Corp's failure to meet third-quarter sales targets, citing a slowdown in demand as one of the contributing factors. CEO Daniel Fisher explained during the call that the Kent closure forms part of a broader strategy to trim raw and finished goods inventory, anticipating savings of approximately $20 million for the company...
In the crucible of the aluminium industry, where molten dreams of progress and innovation are cast, Russia's juggernaut, Rusal, stands as an imposing titan beyond the shadow of China. A recent blaze at the Krasnoyarsk smelter, a pivotal bastion in Rusal's colossal arsenal, briefly threatened the symphony of production that yielded 3.8 million metric tonnes of aluminium in the annals of 2022. The Krasnoyarsk smelter, a colossus contributing a formidable 1.0 million tonnes to Rusal's grand tapestry, faced the tempest of a fire at its core—a transformer ablaze in the crucible of industrial progress. Three months prior, a similar inferno had danced upon the same stage, drawing attention to the precarious dance with fire that the industry occasionally engages in. Yet, in the face of adversity,...
Shandong Ganquan Import and Export Co., Ltd. stands tall as a powerhouse in the realm of aluminium and steel and has recently joined AL Biz, the world's 1st B2B online marketplace that connects millions of buyers and sellers across the entire aluminium value chain. Established in March 2010, the company has evolved into a prominent enterprise, focusing primarily on coating products, aluminium alloy processing, and producing diverse aluminium profiles. Comprehensive aluminium offerings Specialising in aluminium profiles, coils, foils, and plates, Shandong Ganquan Import and Export Co. boasts an extensive inventory spanning 1-series to 7-series aluminium alloys. Their offerings include: Pure aluminium plates. Alumina plates. Mirror aluminium plates. Brushed aluminium plates. Alloy hard...
China's average alumina spot price has expanded by RMB 7 per tonne, officially closing at RMB 3,334 per tonne, while the alumina price in Shandong has augmented by RMB 20 per tonne to rest at RMB 3,200 per tonne. The alumina price in Guizhou has levitated by RMB 15 per tonne to stop at RMB 3,315 per tonne, and the alumina price in Guangxi has ascended by RMB 10 per tonne to halt at RMB 3,370 per tonne. The CIF Index of Import Bauxite price has deflected US$0.10 per tonne to close at US$70 per tonne. Reason for the sudden alumina price surge The explosion at an oil terminal in Conakry, the capital of Guinea, caused a 30% jump in the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) price for the product that sits between bauxite and metal in the primary aluminium production chain. Guinea is a significant...
The widespread industrial deterioration cast a shadow over Q4 2023, as economic indicators suggested weak performance for the sector. Current sentiment data reveals no immediate signs of reversal, prompting concerns about sustained sluggishness. 2023 ended in a sluggish mode As reported by ING THINK, in November 2023, the sluggish phase in Italian industrial production intensified, as indicated by data from Istat. The seasonally adjusted figures reveal a notable 1.5 per cent monthly decline (contrasting with -0.2 per cent in October), surpassing initial expectations. The average year-on-year change from January to November 2023 reflects a 2.5 per cent decrease compared to the corresponding period in 2022. Present production levels are over 4 per cent lower than those observed in the...
LME aluminium opened at US$2,234 per tonne on Thursday, with high and low at US$2,252 per tonne and US$2,229.5 per tonne, respectively, before closing at US$2,235 per tonne, unchanged from the previous trading day. On Thursday, January 11, both LME aluminium cash bid price and LME aluminium official settlement price inched down by US$0.5 per tonne or 0.02 per cent and US$1 per tonne or 0.04 per cent to settle at US$2,202.50 per tonne and US$2,203 per tonne. LME aluminium 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price reflected no change and settled at US$2,244 per tonne and US$2,245 per tonne. December 25 bid price and December 25 offer price dropped by US$5 per tonne or 0.19 per cent to clock at US$2,500 per tonne and US$2,505 per tonne. LME aluminium opening stock came in at 560575 tonnes....
The recent downturn in the Indian aluminium scrap market can be attributed to a notable price decrease, primarily driven by a fall in futures contracts on the London Metal Exchange (LME). This decline results from limited transactions despite an increase in the number of improved offers. Many sellers who have returned from holidays are inactive, contributing to the overall market downturn. Moreover, the rising sea freight charges have adversely affected the market following the incident in the Red Sea. This additional factor has further compounded the challenges the aluminium scrap market faces. Pricing dynamics of aluminium wheel scrap According to a reliable source, the pricing dynamics of aluminium wheel scrap destined for India from the Western region exhibit variations among sellers....
Hydro is advancing its commitment to achieving zero CO2 emissions in aluminium production by implementing emission-free plasma technology in the Sunndal cast house. The Norwegian Government has provided soft funding for this innovative project, recognising its potential to significantly impact hard-to-abate industries globally. The traditional method of re-melting aluminium into new products involves an energy-intensive process requiring extremely high temperatures, typically reliant on fossil energy sources such as natural gas. However, Hydro is pioneering a breakthrough with new plasma technology that facilitates the electrification of this process. "We aim to change the game for aluminium production. Plasma technology is both high tech and future oriented. If we succeed with the pilot...
Aluminum is a premier choice for both structural prowess and aesthetic allure in constructing passenger ships, yachts, and expansive boats despite its heftier price tag than steel. The marine industry widely embraces aluminium sheets and extrusions, particularly in crafting high-speed ships and ferries. Some of the major advantages of using aluminium in marine transport vehicles include: Lightweight and corrosion resistant Fuel saving due to the metal’s lighter weight Enhances vessels' speed, capacity for larger payloads, and extends their nautical range Aluminum provides enhanced stability and manoeuvring capabilities Aluminum ensures prolonged lifespan and contributes to decreased maintenance expenses, resulting in reduced overall ownership costs over an extended period Aluminum...
On January 10, 2023, a senior government official stated that Saudi Arabia had initiated a $182 million incentive program for mineral exploration. This move is a part of the country's broader efforts to diversify its economy and reduce dependence on oil. The kingdom is actively pursuing the expansion of its mining sector to harness extensive deposits of phosphate, gold, copper, and bauxite. Future Minerals Forum While speaking at the Future Minerals Forum, Bandar Alkhorayef, the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, said, "This programme will de-risk investments in our exploration, securing to enable new commodities, greenfield projects and junior miners." During this week's industry event in Riyadh, agreements totalling 75 billion riyals ($20 billion) are anticipated to be...
A dramatic shift in the origin of aluminium stockpiled in the London Metal Exchange (LME) warehouses has taken place, with Russian metal now dominating the stocks. At the end of December 2023, a staggering 90 per cent of the aluminium stored in the LME was of Russian origin, according to the exchange's latest data. This marks a significant increase from less than 10 per cent before the Ukraine-Russia geopolitical crisis began to nearly 80 per cent at the end of November. The data reveals that the entirety of the increase in LME aluminium stocks in December came from Russian metal. This sudden surge raises questions about the potential impact on global aluminium supply chains and pricing, with potential implications for industries that rely heavily on the metal. The reasons behind this...
On Thursday, January 11, China’s A00 aluminium ingot price dropped by RMB 110 per tonne to halt at RMB 19,100 per tonne, with the spot contract price expected to be traded at a premium price of RMB 0 to RMB 40 per tonne. The average prices may stand between RMB 19,080 per tonne and RMB 19,120 per tonne. In Foshan, the domestic aluminium ingot price has dropped by RMB 120 per tonne to clock at RMB 19,140 per tonne. As per the Shanghai Metals Market (SMM) data, the prices in Gongyi, Wuxi and Hangzhou have slipped by RMB 110 per tonne to peg at RMB 19,040 per tonne and RMB 19,100 per tonne, respectively. In Chongqing, Tianjin, and Linyi, the A00 aluminium ingot prices have also experienced the same drop of RMB 110 per tonne to arrive at RMB 19,100 per tonne and RMB 19,150 per tonne. In...
In a significant development for the aluminium sector, Henan Huawei Aluminium Co., Ltd. has recently joined AL Biz, the world's 1st B2B online marketplace that connects millions of buyers and sellers across the entire aluminium value chain, showcasing its prowess as a prominent manufacturer of aluminium sheets, coils, plates, and foils. Established in 2001 as a privately owned enterprise, the company is situated in Huiguo Town, renowned as the aluminium capital of Henan Province, China. Product portfolio: Boasting an impressive production capability, Henan Huawei Aluminium specialises in manufacturing a wide range of aluminium alloys , focusing on the 1, 3, 5, 6, and 8 series. Particularly noteworthy is their expertise in the production of 5-series alloys. The company's product lineup...
LME aluminium opened at US$2,243.5 per tonne on Wednesday, with high and low at US$2,258.5 per tonne and US$2,230.5 per tonne, respectively, before closing at US$2,235 per tonne, a drop of US$7 per tonne or 0.31 per cent. On Wednesday, January 10, both LME aluminium cash bid price and LME aluminium official settlement price grew by US$4 per tonne or 0.18 per cent to settle at US$2,203 per tonne and US$2,204 per tonne. 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price dipped by US$2 per tonne or 0.08 per cent to clock at US$2,244 per tonne and US$2,245 per tonne. December 25 bid price and December 25 offer price went down by US$3 per tonne or 0.11 per cent to settle at US$2,505 per tonne and US$2,510 per tonne. LME aluminium opening stock came in at 561825 tonnes. Live warrants and Cancelled...
At CES 2024 in Las Vegas, Samsung took centre stage to emphasise its unwavering commitment to sustainability, echoing the familiar mantra of "reduce, reuse, recycle." In a dedicated segment of its keynote address, Samsung showcased a holistic approach to resource circularity, spanning the design, usage, and eventual recycling of its devices. Notably, the tech giant incorporated recycled materials into flagship products, such as utilising recycled fishing nets in the Galaxy series, recycled plastic in TVs, and recycled aluminium in bespoke refrigerators. Inhee Chung, Samsung's VP of corporate sustainability, highlighted the company's initiative, stating, "We start by incorporating recycled materials into some of our most loved products." She revealed that recycled plastic constituted 14%...
According to the Shanghai Metals Market data, China’s aluminium production in the last month of 2023 (31 days) registered a month-on-month increase of 2.12 per cent and a year-on-year rise of 3.6 per cent to reach 3.562 million tonnes. However, the average daily domestic output dropped by 1,400 tonnes to 114,900 tonnes. The shutdown of electrolytic cells in Yunnan producing no aluminium liquid could be attributed to the daily production fall. But domestic aluminium operating capacity grew slightly month-on-month in December. China’s total production of aluminium from January to December 2023 came in at 41.513 million tonnes, beating the previous year’s record-high output of 40.2 million tonnes. Aluminium ingot production in the entire year was approximately 12.6 million tonnes, down by...
After a year of cautious deployment and comprehensive promotion, the Loufan Mine of the Shanxi Branch of Chinalco completed the acceptance examination and was chosen as one of Taiyuan's third batch of municipal green mining projects. Between November 10th and 11th, 2023, a team comprising 23 experts from various bureaus, including the Natural Resources Bureau, Finance Bureau, Emergency Bureau, Environmental Protection Bureau, Urban Construction Bureau, etc., conducted a thorough evaluation and acceptance of the establishment of the Loufan aluminium mine in Taiyuan. After conducting on-site verification and consulting relevant materials, the expert group meticulously assessed and scored various facets of Loufan Aluminum Mine's operations. This encompassed considerations such as...
