
Canada and China have extended a bilateral trade arrangement that links Chinese market access for Canadian agricultural products with Canada's access for Chinese steel and aluminum. The decision provides greater certainty for exporters on both sides as Ottawa seeks to expand its trade relationships beyond the United States. The extension, announced on November 4, 2026, will keep the existing arrangement in place until the end of 2028. It comes amid renewed efforts by the two countries to strengthen economic ties and address outstanding trade issues. For the aluminum industry, the agreement offers a clearer timeline for market access, while its agricultural provisions provide Canadian producers with greater predictability in one of their key export markets. Canada-China trade agreement...
Aluminium aerosol cans are significantly less likely to be recovered during recycling operations than conventional drinks cans, according to new research by waste intelligence company Greyparrot. An AI-powered analysis of waste streams found that aluminium aerosols recorded a sorting success rate of 68 per cent, compared with 85.3 per cent for drinks cans, highlighting the challenges faced by recycling facilities in recovering non-beverage aluminium packaging. The findings were generated through Greyparrot's Deepnest platform, which analysed 1.2 billion waste items across facilities in the UK, the US and the Netherlands, including 395,424 aerosols. The results were discussed during a recent webinar involving representatives from waste management company Biffa, packaging manufacturer Ball...
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Sustainability has become a top priority for the aluminium industry. From small to large scale, many companies are doing their bit to move towards a greener and cleaner environment. Anderson Valley Brewing Company (AVBC), a California-based brewery, announced they are shifting from glass bottles to aluminium cans, making the switch to the most environmentally friendly beer packaging conceivable. Recycling a can requires 90 per cent less energy than recycling glass bottles since aluminium is constantly recyclable. AVBC stated they would use aluminium cans with cardboard covers to pack the beer bottles. Additionally, by transitioning from glass to cans, AVBC lowered their trucking by approximately 60 per cent. This is because cans are lighter and transport more effectively. By enabling a...

Skoda has declared the launch of its first electric SUV (e-SUV), Enyaq iV, exclusively in New Zealand by 2023. The Enyaq is fully composed of green raw materials, like 13kg of recycled plastic, 40 per cent of recycled steel and 60 per cent of recycled aluminium. This will fall under the genre of three new EVs that Skoda is about to develop in the upcoming four years, boosting the company’s strategy of transforming 70 per cent of its European sales to electric vehicles. The general manager of Skoda NZ, Rodney Gillard, exclaimed with pride that Enyaq will commence a “decade of transformation.” “With the launch of Enyaq in 2023, we are aligning Skoda with our customers’ evolving needs and expectations – offering exceptional styling and an enhanced user experience. We know that Kiwi drivers,...

OZ Minerals, Boliden, and Rio Tinto will work together to develop new and innovative tailings management technologies, allowing the mining industry to reduce risk even further while extracting the materials needed for the energy transition from what was previously regarded as "waste." The three companies mentioned above will fund and support innovators striving to reinvent mining and processing to eliminate, minimize, reuse, or find value in mine tailings as part of the Think & Act Differently (TAD) incubator programme. The three organizations will also collaborate on more projects to boost production and achieve benefits like lower emissions and less waste. Michelle Ash, the Technology Executive at OZ Minerals, said, “We can accelerate technology much faster by working together. This...

The most-traded SHFE 2301 opened at RMB 19,140 per tonne overnight and then closed the night session at RMB 19,185 per tonne, down RMB 70 per tonne or 0.36 per cent. On Wednesday, December 7, both LME aluminium cash bid price and LME aluminium official settlement price slipped by US$10.5 per tonne or 0.42 per cent to settle at US$2,450 per tonne and US$2,450.50 per tonne. 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price shrunk by US$13.5 per tonne or 0.54 per cent to peg at US$2,476.50 per tonne and US$2,477 per tonne. December 23 bid price and December 23 offer price slumped by US$15 per tonne or 0.58 per cent to halt at US$2,538 per tonne and US$2,543 per tonne. LME aluminium opening stock clocked at 483575 tonnes. Live warrants and Cancelled came in at 224000 tonnes and 259575 tonnes. LME...

According to a report published on December 6, 2022, by the Swedish Defense Research Agency (FOI), Russian corporations pose a threat to the nation's security. There are 128 Russian-owned companies in Sweden, four of which are on the EU sanctions list, while one is on the US and UK blacklists. The Swedish Defence Research Agency, FOI, is one of Europe’s leading research institutes in defence and security. FOI is a government agency under the Ministry of Defence, and most of its activities are assignment-based. However, its client list includes the Swedish Armed Forces, the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration, Government Offices and the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency. The research, which the Stockholm government ordered, emphasises the security concerns of relying on Russian goods...

The increasing demand and use of aluminium across the globe in various industries like construction, packaging, and transportation shows that the incorporation of this silvery-white is widespread and evolving daily. The downstream segment also witnessed significant investments and enthusiastic purchases worldwide this year. New investments or projects not only open the doors towards improved business opportunities but also creates a scope for employment and an enhanced working environment. The downstream aluminium sector throughout 2022 has witnessed a limited but significant number of investments. Some of the top investments under the aluminium downstream segment in 2022 are: Jindal Aluminium: One of the largest aluminium extrusion companies in India, acquired an acquisition of INR 100...

Spanish automotive components supplier, Gestamp has purchased one-third of Gescrap, a scrap recovery and recycling enterprise. It explained that the reduction of mineral extraction from iron and aluminium would bring a definitive impact by discarding carbon emissions from the entire supply chain. Gestamp claims that this initiative would capacitate the company to run a proper circular economy and optimise them to make full use of recycled materials for its manufactured products. Gestamp has mastered the art of developing metal body or chassis parts, recycling and using 98 per cent of the waste yielded from its overall activities. The Spanish tier-one company proudly presides over 100 production facilities spread all across the globe. Gestamp has declared that this agreement with Gescrap...

Sustainability, or the urge to shift towards a greener environment, has become the need of the hour. Top companies and individuals, including the aluminium sector, are leaving no page unturned to shift towards this greener industry. Aluminium, also known as green metal, is considered one of the most environmentally friendly and sustainable metals. Eminent aluminium leaders and businesses are striving to create a sustainability roadmap for the sector in response to increased environmental awareness and an emphasis on carbon neutrality. Groups are taking steps to recognise their achievements. Global aluminium companies renowned for their innovations and who have set the trend in the manufacturing sector, like Norsk Hydro, Rio Tinto, Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), Constellium, Assan...

Lenovo has launched an innovative product, YOGA Paper, in the Chinese territory, more expensive than the contemporary e-readers of its time. Though the global release date has not been specified, the aluminium-bodied sustainable device is one of the most significant discoveries by Lenovo to date. The device has a 5.5mm density CNC machined aluminium chassis, which is strong and can be recycled when the YOGA Paper reaches the end of its life. The rugged aluminium chassis also has an allotted slot for the complementary stylus. With the world moving toward sustainability, many big brands are shifting to aluminium as their skeletal material. Lenovo is one of the flagbearers of the change because aluminium is infinitely recyclable and can be mended to form any shape. Lenovo YOGA Paper has been...

The European Union's politically independent executive arm, the European Commission, is planning to bring a proposal for a ban on new investments in Russia's mining sector as part of a new package of sanctions for the Russia-Ukraine geopolitical crisis. In accordance with our source, the prohibition on mining investment, which will have exceptions for certain products, is part of a ninth EU sanctions package that officials will discuss with member states next week and aim to reach an agreement on. Before the Russia-Ukraine conflict, foreign investment accounted for one-quarter of Russia's vast mining sector, producing commodities such as gold, iron ore, uranium and phosphates. It would be Brussels' first direct attack on Russia's metals sector, which it has previously avoided due to...

The Crewe community group consisting of 200 environment enthusiasts, has bagged a national recycling award for collecting over 200,000 aluminium beverage cans in the last ten years. The Crewe Clean Team, a 'committed' volunteer club, has been anointed by a Green Can Award from the non-profit organisation, Every Can Counts to uphold their positive contributions. The team carries on community litter-picking initiatives along the suburbs of Crewe and the surrounding local areas. They usually collect, separate and recycle aluminium. Since their foundation in 2012, the team has successfully collected and recycled more than thousands of cans diverting them from being dumped in landfills. They primarily focus on aluminium since it is infinitely recyclable and can retain the original properties...

The quota for aluminium packaging recycling has augmented consecutively in the third quarter, as the Q3 data presented by the Environment Agency in November states. The recycling rates are being monitored severely, with reports notifying that they might surpass the annual target. The duration between July to September 2022 witnessed an accumulated 37,815 tonnes of aluminium packaging being separated for recycling purposes. Aluminium scrap extracted via kerbside and on-the-go systems added up to almost 28,003 tonnes, whereas another 9,491 tonnes were retrieved from incinerator bottom ash (IBA), and about 322 tonnes were collected from auxiliary recycling drives. The annual collection requirement has been calculated to be 147,632 tonnes; therefore, an excess of 8,212 tonnes can be broadly...

Vedanta Limited continued to increase its aluminium ingot and aluminium product prices on Tuesday, December 6. The company expanded its aluminium ingot price by INR 4,500 per tonne or 1.96 per cent to sell the products at INR 233,750-264750 per tonne. On December 3, the price had settled at INR 229,250-260,250 per tonne after witnessing a growth of INR 1,500 per tonne. Aluminium billet price settled at INR 242,750 per tonne, up by INR 4,500 per tonne from INR 238,250 per tonne recorded on December 3. With the latest hike on December 6, Vedanta's aluminium wire rod prices also recorded a surge of INR 4,500 per tonne to halt at INR 241,250-248,750 per tonne. Vedanta hiked its aluminium ingot and aluminium products prices on December 6 in response to the growth in the three-month futures of...

LME aluminium opened at US$2,505 per tonne on Tuesday, with its high at US$2,529.5 per tonne before closing at US$2,500 per tonne, a drop of US$7 per tonne or 0.28 per cent. On December 6, Tuesday LME aluminium cash bid price and the LME aluminium official settlement price plunged by US$24 per tonne or 0.96 per cent, closing at US$2,460.50 per tonne and US$2,461 per tonne, respectively. The 3-month bid price saw a curtailing of US$25 per tonne or 0.99 per cent, settling at US$2,490 per tonne, while the 3-month offer price had a price shed of US$26.50 per tonne or 1.05 per cent, resting at US$2,490.50 per tonne. December 23 bid price and December 23 offer price both dropped US$24 per tonne or 0.93 per cent, stopping at US$2,553 per tonne and US$2,558 per tonne. LME aluminium opening stock...

The commercial manufacturing of aluminium cast alloys has begun at Gravita Togo SAU's new recycling facility, with an annual capacity of about 4,000 MTPA in phase 1. The company expects additional revenue of approximately INR 60 crore per year from the new capacity, with gross margins of roughly 26%. Additionally, the company established a reliable scrap collection network before opening the factory and has been sourcing scrap from Togo for the past three years. Similar facilities for recycling aluminium already exist for the corporation in Tanzania, Senegal, Mozambique, and India. This is consistent with the company's international goal of expanding its recycling operations. The Group has injected approximately INR 11 crores in the procurement and commissioning of the new recycling...

During last year's end, a brand new EXPERT K5 3650 machine was installed at PT Polyplex Indonesia to efficiently enhance the production rate of flexible packaging solutions. This machine is a successor to the prevailing EXPERT K5 3650 in the compound installed in 2019. Both machines help achieve all the BOBST flagship techniques ranging from Alubond, DarkNight and AlOx. The machines at the Indonesian site together utilise a 700m coating drum, a feature of the EXPERT K5 to ultimately reduce aluminium consumption with increased production rate and lower costs. This 700m coating drum is the biggest estimated pit used in the metal packaging industry. The Alubond process by BOBST is an integrated coating technology that provides chemical anchoring (chelation) of the primary aluminium particles...

On December 5, the International Aluminium Institute (IAI) published a report illustrating the recent contributions of the aluminium industry to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). The report also traces the estimated future grants to be orchestrated by the aluminium sector. Titled 'The Aluminium Industry's Contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals', the report evaluates currently performed jobs by the Institute, operations of enterprises active within the aluminium sector, the benefits of aluminium usage and other auxiliary initiatives. The report also talks about the industry's effect distributed along the 17 SDGs having a connection with definitive industry case studies and other additional materials. This can lay the ground for communication with...

Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden) is among one of the most swiftly evolving mining companies globally and the biggest multi-commodity mining and metals enterprise in the Middle East. During its participation in Arabal 2022, the company has promised to enhance the quality of the Middle Eastern metal market with active investments in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Important officials representing Ma’aden’s aluminium and smelter department took part in the three-day conference. They also proudly led panels while talking about various portions of the vast industry, swirling from sustainability in aluminium production and the contribution of technology in the entire sector. This move by the company will set a diverse set of rules in the aluminium value chain of Saudi Arabia, augmenting the...