
The Canyon Resources’ subsidiary has acquired 42.8 per cent of Douala Port Timber Terminal, adding a port interest to its existing railway stake as it develops a planned route for Minim-Martap bauxite. Camalco Cameroon is extending its position in the logistics network being planned for the Minim-Martap bauxite project, acquiring a 42.8 per cent stake in Douala Port Timber Terminal (TBPD). The investment adds a port-related interest to its existing shareholding in Camrail, the railway operator expected to form part of the project’s transport route. The acquisition was completed through a capital increase at TBPD, rather than the purchase of shares from existing shareholders. Camalco invested XAF 347.447 million (USD 604,000), subscribing to newly issued shares reserved entirely for the...
The aluminium industry is entering another phase of supply-chain repositioning. Across bauxite, alumina and primary aluminium, companies are investing in new resources, consolidating strategic assets and expanding processing capacity, while governments are increasingly treating domestic supply as a strategic priority. The latest developments from Australia, Guyana, Guinea, Indonesia, the US and India point to a market where resource security, processing location and control over supply chains are becoming as important as production growth. At the same time, new trading mechanisms and changing investment patterns are beginning to influence how aluminium and its raw materials reach the market. Bauxite supply expands, but securing the right tonnes is becoming harder In Western Australia, VBX...
Grow with
AL Circle

Recent data on the NPWD by the Environment Agency (EA) showed aluminium packaging recycling in the United Kingdom maintained its rising spree in Q3 2023, ended September 30. During the three-month period (July-September), aluminium packaging collection for recycling stood at 48,135 tonnes, up by 21 per cent year-on-year. The data further showed that of the total volume collected, 33,051 tonnes were recycled through kerbside, bring and on-the-go systems, which was 15 per cent higher than the previous year. The rest 12,950 tonnes were recovered from incinerator bottom ash (IBA), reflecting a 19 per cent rise compared to last year. To date in 2023, aluminium packaging collection in the United Kingdom totalled 137,275 tonnes, representing a 17 per cent increase from the corresponding period...

On December 8, the Shanghai Metals Market witnessed a slow boost in aluminium prices, with the SMM A00 aluminium ingot price gaining RMB 40 per tonne to rest at RMB 18,520 per tonne. The average aluminium prices have circulated between RMB 18,500 per tonne and RMB 18,540 per tonne. China’s central provinces all have witnessed escalating prices today, with the aluminium price rising the highest in Hangzhou by RMB 50 per tonne to close at RMB 18,520 per tonne. Other than that, areas like Gongyi, Foshan, Wuxi, Chongqing and Linyi have all experienced RMB 40 per tonne surge. Gongyi: RMB 18,630 per tonne Foshan: RMB 18,630 per tonne Wuxi: RMB 18,500 per tonne Chongqing: RMB 18,570 per tonne Linyi: RMB 18,620 per tonne Lastly, in Shenyang, the aluminium price soared by RMB 20 per tonne to...

LME aluminium opened at US$2146 per tonne yesterday, with its high and low at US$2156.5 per tonne and US$2131 per tonne, respectively, before closing at US$2131 per tonne, down 0.47 per cent. On Thursday, December 7, both LME aluminium cash bid price and LME aluminium official settlement price dropped by US$18.5 per tonne or 0.87 per cent to US$2,098.50 per tonne and US$2,099 per tonne. As per the London Metal Exchange (LME) live chart data , both 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price slumped by US$17 per tonne or 0.78 per cent to peg at US$2,139 per tonne and US$2,140 per tonne. December 24 bid price and December 24 offer price declined by US$17 per tonne or 0.74 per cent, reaching US$2,258 per tonne and US$2,263 per tonne. LME aluminium opening stock halted at 442500 tonnes. Live...

As the eleventh month of 2023 concludes, the global aluminium industry is shrouded in the persistent gloom of low indicative prices, primarily attributed to a subdued demand environment. Notably, industry leaders have pre-emptively acknowledged that the initial stages of 2024 are likely to mirror the current downcast conditions. Factors such as economic deceleration in the Western world, inflationary pressures, elevated bank interest rates, escalating energy costs, and geopolitical crises collectively contribute to the hesitancy within the aluminium sector. Consequently, numerous corporate executives have affirmed that order placements for the year 2024 are experiencing delays amid this challenging backdrop. On a positive outlook, the primary catalyst for aluminium demand in 2024 is...

On December 7, the International Aluminium Institute (IAI), a global body that represents the world's leading producers of aluminium, announced a new initiative aimed at tracking and reporting on its member companies' progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This move is being launched at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai. The initiative has already garnered support from major players in the aluminium industry, including Hindalco Industries Ltd, Aluminerie Alouette, Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), Alcoa Corporation, Mitsubishi Corporation and Rio Tinto Aluminium. The IAI's new initiative is an important step towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting sustainability in the aluminium production industry. Under this initiative, the IAI has committed...

Alubar, a prominent maker of aluminium electrical cables in Latin America, was honoured with the Supply+ Award in the Excellence in Performance category at an event held in Rio de Janeiro in November. The inaugural edition of the award, organised by Transmissora Aliança de Energia Elétrica SA (Taesa), a prominent private conglomerate in the Brazilian electricity transmission sector, recognises suppliers for their significant contributions to the successful development, operation, and upkeep of transmission assets. This includes commendable practises in the domains of security, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards, as well as service provision. Taesa selected excellence in performance as criteria for which Alubar was honoured. The evaluation was based on performance in...

Kaiser Aluminum has submitted a patent application for an aluminium alloy sheet that incorporates no less than 50% recycled material in its composition. The patent application (Publication Number: US20230257853A1) was filed recently, describing an aluminium alloy sheet comprising recycled and non-recycled materials. The patent also encompasses the methods for manufacturing the alloy sheet and an aluminium package. This sheet boasts an ultimate tensile strength (UTS) range of 37 to 52 ksi and tensile yield strength (TYS) range of 34 ksi to 47 ksi. The alloy composition comprises a first component made from recycled material and a second component made from non-recycled material. Some of the salient features of Kaiser's patented aluminium alloy are: The aluminium alloy sheet has at least...

Vinca, a UK-based producer of canned wines, has introduced a new line of organic Italian wines in 187ml aluminium cans made by Ardagh Metal Packaging (AMP). The wine is made from organic grapes farmed on Sicily's west coast. Vinca's wines have won several honours in the UK, have been listed on British Airways and Planet Organic, and are currently exported to over ten countries worldwide. AMP's wine Can line is an eco-friendly, cutting-edge solution for the single-serve wine industry. Aluminium beverage cans are great for many reasons, including portability, safety, and the fact that they can be recycled indefinitely. From production to final consumption, the wine in AMP's airtight wine cans maintains its quality. The airline and hotel industries are also seeing a rise in the use of wine...

According to projections, the United States was expected to register a GDP growth of 2.4% in 2023, followed by a slight deceleration to 1.5% in 2024, before picking up marginally to gain 1.7% in 2025. As per the data released by Trading Economics, there has been an annual expansion of 5.2% in Q3 2023, higher than the predicted growth format. The latest Outlook report has projected a moderate global GDP growth of 2.9% in 2023, which is expected to slide down to 2.7% in 2024 before picking up to 3.0% in 2025. It is anticipated that Asia will continue to spearhead most of the global growth throughout 2024-25, just as it did in 2023. But what does this mean for the entire United States and its trade economics? AL Circle's Outlook report highlights a range of risks that could impact the global...

Vedanta Aluminium, the biggest aluminium producer in India, has been honoured with the prestigious 'Best Exporter Award' by the State Government at the 'Odisha State Export Awards' event. The award recognizes the outstanding performance of Vedanta Aluminium's smelter plant in Jharsuguda, which has been the largest exporter in the state for the fiscal years 2020-21 and 2021-22. The award was presented by Shri Pratap Keshari Deb, Minister of Industry, MSME, and Energy, Odisha. Vedanta Aluminium had previously received the same award for the fiscal years 2018-19 and 2019-20. Mr. Sunil Gupta, COO of Aluminium Business, expressed gratitude for the recognition, highlighting Vedanta's commitment to Odisha's socio-economic progress through significant contributions to GDP, employment, and quality...

As per the reports, the global aluminium flat-rolled products market is expected to increase between 2023 and 2030. It is projected to reach a readjusted size of USD 159,230 million by 2028, with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.8 per cent throughout the evaluation period. Based on AL Circle’s report, ‘Global Aluminium Industry- Key Trends to 2030,” extruded aluminium accounted for 32 per cent of global aluminium usage, followed by flat-rolled products at 25 per cent and castings at 23 per cent. Flat-rolled products (FRPs) and wire rods individually accounted for 25 per cent and 8 per cent. Among the end-use sectors, transportation drove the usage by accounting for 27 per cent of the total, followed by building & construction at 23 per cent, packaging at 15 per cent, and...

ALFED has named Mechatherm's Sales Director, Mark Allen, its new President, succeeding Mike Dines as his term concludes. Mark will assume a leadership role on the ALFED board, contributing to the organization's progress until the end of 2025. As the UK aluminium industry's voice, ALFED represents over 150 members spanning the entire supply chain. Ensuring a well-rounded and expert representation across all facets of the aluminium sector is crucial for the ALFED board. Mark, a seasoned professional with over 25 years of experience in the aluminium industry, is set to bring his wealth of knowledge to the ALFED board as the new President. Currently leading a successful sales team at Mechatherm International Limited, Britain's largest global aluminium furnace supplier, Mark has played a...

The South Korean multinational automotive manufacturer Hyundai Motors is reinforcing its commitment to green transportation by allocating $1.52 billion towards establishing an electric vehicle production facility in Ulsan, South Korea. This strategic move contrasts with the decisions of competitors such as General Motors, Ford, and Honda, who are scaling back certain electric vehicle initiatives due to perceived fluctuation in demand, as a global news agency reports. The substantial investment by Hyundai appears well-positioned for success, considering the growing traction of electric vehicles in the global market. In 2022, electric vehicles accounted for 10 per cent of new car sales worldwide, marking a significant increase. The New York Times highlights that the market share of electric...

In the construction industry, ‘scaffolding’ is constantly used in daily operations. Scaffolds, typically temporary structures, serve as elevated work platforms for various construction tasks. Scaffoldings refer to the specific materials or components used to construct these towers, providing a stable platform for workers engaged in construction, repairs, and painting on building surfaces. The construction industry is fiercely competitive today, and traditional options like galvanized steel scaffolding are becoming less practical. Steel, while durable, is prone to rust and is heavy, making transportation and erection labour-intensive. Recognising the need for smarter solutions, leading construction companies are increasingly turning to lightweight and corrosion-resistant aluminium...

LME aluminium opened at US$2165.5 per tonne yesterday, with its high and low at US$2169.5 per tonne and US$2140 per tonne, respectively, before closing at US$2141 per tonne, down 1.13 per cent. The LME aluminium live price chart , on December 6, registered a downward trend, with the LME aluminium cash bid price and the LME aluminium official price losing US$4 per tonne or 0.19 per cent to officially close at US$2,117 per tonne and US$2,117.50 per tonne. If we consider December 2022, the average LME price, according to Westmetall, was US$2,394.88, which fell by US$261.15 per tonne or 10.9 per cent to lock at US$2,133.73 per tonne during December 2023. The average LME aluminium price recorded in January 2022 was US$3,003.08 per tonne, and it has fallen short by US$367.08 per tonne or 12.22...

On Thursday, December 7, China’s A00 aluminium ingot price has fallen by RMB 80 per tonne to clock at RMB 18,480 per tonne. The prices have dropped in all the provinces, with the highest in Gongyi and Foshan, where it has dipped by RMB 100 per tonne to clock at RMB 18,590 per tonne. In Hangzhou, the domestic aluminium ingot price has dipped by RMB 90 per tonne to settle at RMB 18,470 per tonne. As per the Shanghai Metals Market (SMM) data, the prices in Wuxi and Chongqing have slipped by RMB 80 per tonne to peg at RMB 18,460 per tonne and RMB 18,530 per tonne. In Linyi and Shenyang, the A00 aluminium ingot prices have decreased by RMB 50 per tonne, RMB 60 per tonne to come in at RMB 18,530 per tonne, and RMB 18,580 per tonne. Only in Tianjin has the price decreased by RMB 40 per tonne to...

Vedanta Aluminium, a business of Vedanta Limited and one of the world’s leading producers of aluminium, conducted the third technical masterclass on innovation and efficiency within the extrusion sector last week. The session, titled ‘The Metallurgy of Extrusion’, led by a globally acclaimed extrusion expert and technical advisor Mr Jonathan Pangbom, attracted almost 200 participants from all over the world, including registrations from the US, UK, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Spain, Mexico, Qatar, UAE, Portugal, and so on. The masterclass provided in-depth knowledge on new product development, applications, current market trends, and technical advancements in the aluminium extrusion industry. Vedanta Aluminium is India’s largest producer and exporter of high-quality aluminium...

In an interview, Tajikistan Ambassador to Korea Salohiddin Kirom advocated for a strategic partnership between South Korea and Tajikistan. Tajikistan's "Green Economy Development Strategy 2023-2037" aims to optimise natural resource use, enact regulatory reforms, attract investments, introduce modern technologies, boost global collaboration in the green economy, and double renewable energy production by 2050. Tajik Aluminum Company (TALCO) has already established itself as one of the top global producers of "green aluminium." Tajikistan views the production of "green aluminium," copper, and lithium as advantageous for investments in electric vehicle manufacturing. With abundant natural resources, vast hydropower potential, and mineral reserves, Tajikistan is well-positioned to help South...