Hindalco Industries has terminated its proposed USD 125 million acquisition of US-based speciality alumina producer AluChem Companies after extended delays in closing the transaction. The decision ends a deal announced in June 2025, although Hindalco says its speciality alumina expansion strategy remains firmly in place. Hindalco Industries has called off its proposed acquisition of AluChem Companies Inc., bringing an end to its planned USD 125 million entry into the US-based speciality alumina producer. The Aditya Birla Group's metals flagship and AluChem have jointly decided to terminate the Equity Purchase Agreement (EPA) following prolonged delays in completing the transaction. According to Hindalco's regulatory filing, the delays were beyond the control of either party. "The proposed...
The US September consumer confidence index plunged 6.7 points to 81.9, the lowest since 2014 and deteriorating across the board. The University of Michigan survey showed consumers' assessments of their current financial situation and that one year ahead both fell about 10 per cent, with high-price concerns continuing to brew. Inflation pressure showed no signs of easing. US Fed Governor Cook said AI demand growth, rising oil prices, and supply chain disruptions from Middle East conflicts would keep inflation under pressure, but gave no clear guidance on rate hikes. CME data showed the market-implied probability of a 25 bp rate hike in October had risen to 70.9 per cent, and the probability of a cumulative 50 bp hike by December reached 58.7 per cent. Tightening expectations strengthened...
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Deep-tech recycling business Metastable Materials, which specialises in lithium-ion batteries, has received seed funding led by Surge, Sequoia Capital India, and Southeast Asia's quick scale-up programme. Deep-tech VC Speciale Invest, Theia Ventures, and other angel investors participated. Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries are used in millions of automobiles worldwide, and demand is growing fast daily. So, the US$4.6 billion Li-ion battery recycling market is anticipated to increase at least five times by 2030 as businesses look for an appropriate approach to manage Li-ion batteries that have reached the end of their useful lives. Additionally, many countries, including the EU, want to enact legislation to ensure that batteries can be recycled or reused after their useful lives. However,...
The worldwide industry leader in designing and manufacturing electrical cable couplers, AusProof, introduced its new Aluminium Low Voltage Restrained Range of low-voltage cable coupler solutions a year ago. While its ex-certified stainless-steel range can be used in non-Ex environments, AusProof is always looking for ways to improve and advance its products to meet the needs of its customers. In this case, AusProof sought to address two key issues, firstly, the product weight reduction and then followed by the costs associated with using an Ex-certified product in a non-Ex environment. The Aluminium Low Voltage Restrained Range was released in 2022 by AusProof's Research and Development team. Specifically designed for use in non-ex operational sites such as metalliferous mining, open-cut...
LME aluminium opened at US$2,389 per tonne last Friday, with its high and low at US$2,420 per tonne and US$2,368.5 per tonne, respectively, before closing at US$2,417 per tonne, an increase of US$25 per tonne or 1.05 per cent. On Friday, March 31, both LME aluminium cash bid price and LME aluminium official settlement price slipped by US$7.5 per tonne or 0.32 per cent and 0.31 per cent to settle at US$2,336 per tonne and US$2,336.50 per tonne. 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price fell by US$11 per tonne or 0.46 per cent and US$12.5 per tonne or 0.52 per cent to stand at US$2,375 per tonne and US$2,375.50 per tonne. December 24 bid price and December 24 offer price dropped by US$12 per tonne or 0.46 per cent to peg at US$2,565 per tonne and US$2,570 per tonne. LME aluminium opening...
According to the Shanghai Metals Market survey, A00 aluminium ingot price has slipped by RMB 60 per tonne over the weekend ended April 3, 2023. Following the increase of RMB 90 per tonne to RMB 18,670 per tonne on March 31, the price has trended down to RMB 18,610 per tonne on April 3. The average prices are expected to range between RMB 18,590 per tonne and RMB 18,630 per tonne, with spot contract to be traded at a discount price of RMB 70-30 per tonne. Foshan has seen the highest fall for the day of RMB 70 per tonne to rest at RMB 18,730 per tonne, following the fall of RMB 60 per tonne in Wuxi, Tianjin, and Linyi to stand at RMB 18,605 per tonne, RMB 18,590 per tonne, and RMB 18,640 per tonne. In Chongqing and Gongyi, the primary aluminium ingot price has shrunk by RMB 50 per tonne and...
In a bid to be one of the most innovative beer companies in the world, Anheuser-Busch InBev has created the world's first beer and an entire marketing campaign that uses artificial intelligence. In celebration of Beck’s beer brand’s 150th anniversary, the global brewer said it used ChatGPT and Midjourney to design the beer, branding and marketing. InBev says the AI technology directed all editing and continued development until a final version was given, making Beck's Autonomous one of the "first completely machine-created beers in the world". Laura Salway, the Marketing Director of Beck, stated why the company decided to create the beer, “We’ve always been at the cutting edge of innovation in the beer world and thrilled to be releasing a limited-edition beer and marketing campaign made...
The Chinese alumina production capacity was approximately 76.6 million tonnes as of November 2022. AlCircle’s latest report ‘Global Aluminium Industry Outlook 2023’ states that the nation's alumina refineries used about 79 per cent of their capacity in November 2022 compared to 81 per cent in October 2022. Higher Covid infection rates in China during that time, production restrictions due to environmental issues, and lower operating rates contributed to the reduction. China is anticipated to have produced 6.7 million tonnes of alumina in November 2022, out of which 95 per cent of which was metallurgical quality. Australia is still the world's largest alumina exporter and the second-largest producer. The nation's production was projected to have increased from 20.1 million tonnes in...
Sustainability is the most important aspect of a greener and cleaner environment. The global aluminium industry is taking every possible step towards a more sustainable atmosphere. Many companies, from liquor brands to cosmetic ranges, are moving towards aluminium for their unique attributes. To begin with, The Body Shop, a highly respected brand with headquarters in the UK, had increased its sustainable refill push to include a brand-new flagship product, the Peptalk Lipstick. The Peptalk Lipstick from The Body Shop comes packaged in a refillable aluminium container that is entirely recyclable. The Australian parliament approved progressive climate laws on March 30, 2023, targeting the worst polluters in the nation and requiring, among other things, coal mines, oil refineries, aluminium...
The downstream aluminium sector has witnessed sensitive yet structured growth this week. International Aluminium Institute (IAI) launched the Aluminium Forward 2030 with some of the most prominent players in the aluminium sector, including Jaguar, Land Rover, cable manufacturers Nexans, aluminium innovation leader Gränges, and aluminium packaging providers Ball, Crown Holdings and Ardagh Metal Packaging. Samuel Abu Jinapor, Ghana’s Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, foresees a massive prospect for the downstream aluminium industry in the country to generate more employment opportunities. Aludecor has teamed up with the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN) to conduct rigorous R&D on the Fire Retardant properties of Aluminium Composite Panels to avoid accidents in public...
New Zealand-based Neutron Components launched its new lightweight and portable emergency bleed kit for quick hydraulic brake adjustments. The brake bleed package is an easy-to-use device. The kit comprises a tiny aluminium bottle that has been CNC-machined and has two threaded caps on either end. Except for SRAM's new DB8 mineral oil levers, which have a different thread, the smaller end has an M5 threaded nozzle that fits both Shimano and SRAM levers, and the larger end has a broader fill cap. Mineral oil-safe O-rings seal both sides tightly shut to prevent unintentional leakage. The kit contains H2.5 and T10 keys, the equipment needed to access the bleed port on your brakes. The M5 connector is the same type that you'll find on your home bleed kit and is compatible with both Shimano and...
Context and challenges of the industry The situation in terms of global climate change and greenhouse emissions represents a big challenge for our modern society – which requires both real actions and new solutions. More and more socially responsible groups and companies participate in this worldwide effort that also generates new opportunities. Aluminium recycling is one piece of the puzzle to achieve the goal of ensuring a greener economy. Some materials are more difficult to recycle than others. It is the case for some post-consumer parts from the automotive industry, which contains specific alloys less compatible with current recycling practices. Therefore, complementary solutions are required. Meanwhile, the industry is facing higher energy costs and this leads to increasing efforts...
The most recent banking crisis is allegedly eroding market trust, as evidenced by the decreased tonnage reported by UK non-ferrous traders, according to the Bureau of International Recycling (BIR). Seng Casin Electronics, a recycling business in Cambodia, started domestically manufacturing secondary aluminium from scrap aluminium that can be easily exported to China. Without using corrosive chemicals, high temperatures, or earlier sorting procedures, the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) has developed a novel method of recycling batteries that can recover up to 70% of the lithium. The National Environment Agency (NEA), headquartered in Singapore, launched the beverage container return program, which is scheduled to begin on April 1st, 2025. According to the Bureau of International...
Worldwide aluminium FRP usage is estimated at 24.1 million tonnes in 2022 and is expected to grow at about 2.4 per cent to reach 24.7 million tonnes by 2023. AlCircle's latest industry-focused report, 'Global Aluminium Industry Outlook 2023 ', reveals that China accounted for about 33 per cent, equating to 7.8 million tonnes of the total aluminium FRP usage in 2022. Europe and North America followed this at 22 per cent and 21 per cent respectively. Close to 11 million tonnes of aluminium FRP was used in various packaging applications in 2022. The transportation sector used about 3.7 million tonnes during the year. The report also unveils that during 2023, aluminium FRP usage is likely to be driven by demand from the packaging sector. Consumer preference for sustainable packaging,...
The Nalco-operated Panchpatmali bauxite mine achieved the highest-ever annual bauxite excavation rate since its inception. FY 22-23 has been reported with a figure of 75,50,670 tonnes, up from its previous benchmark of 74,14,100 tonnes in FY 18-19. Odisha's Bauxite mines are vital to NALCO's supply chain. On the Panchpatmali hills of Koraput district in Odisha, a fully mechanized opencast mine has operated since November 1985, serving feedstock to the alumina refinery at Damanjodi on the foothills. Bauxite occurs over the entire length of the Panchpatmali plateau, which spans over 18 km and covers an area of approximately 7,500 hectares. Bauxite reserves at Panchpatmali are estimated to be over 310 million tonnes, making it one of the country's largest. High-quality bauxite is available...
According to the Shanghai Metals Market survey, China’s social inventories of aluminium billet plunged by 9,600 tonnes week-on-week to settle at 158,400 tonnes as of March 30. The inventories extended downfall at a higher rate this week compared to a drop of 1,500 tonnes in the week ended March 23 . Some warehouses in east China stopped obtaining billet stocks, contributing to lower inventories. Besides, a generous amount of billet stocks directly arrived at downstream processing plants instead of social warehouses, which also contributed to the weekly inventory downfall. To know more about the current status of aluminium billet inventories across China, refer to the chart below: Wuxi and Huzhou were the two provinces this week that contributed to the fall of aluminium billet inventories....
The fourth high-speed Talgo train started daily commercial operation on the Cairo-Aswan line on March 29, 2023, according to an Egyptian Railway Authority (ERA) announcement. In 2019, the Spanish railroad magnates and the Egyptian Ministry of Transport agreed on a EUR 157 million deal that also required the delivery of six Talgo trains. The first Indian company to manufacture and produce solar panels in the USA will be Rayzon Solar, a prominent global manufacturer of solar panels based in India. The business wants to start producing 500MW in a nation like the USA and increase its manufacturing capacity in India to 2500MW. Twinfix, a leading polycarbonate and glass roof skylight systems manufacturer, has added a new item called Alu-Link-Panel to their line of goods. This sturdy aluminium...
In Russia & Eastern Europe, primary aluminium production during February 2023 stood at 310,000 tonnes, reflecting a month-on-month decrease of 9.88 per cent, according to the International Aluminium Institute. In January, the output was 344,000 tonnes, negligibly up from 343,000 tonnes in the previous month. Also, on a year-on-year calculation, Russia & Eastern Europe’s primary aluminium production recorded a decline of 4,000 tonnes or 1.27 per cent from 314,000 tonnes. In the first two months of 2023, the output in Russia & Eastern Europe totalled 654,000 tonnes, down by 1.36 per cent from 663,000 tonnes during the corresponding period of the previous year. Meanwhile, despite the monthly fall in Russia & Eastern Europe’s primary aluminium output during February, average daily production...
The world's leading industrial economy, Japan, has announced a ban on aluminium, steel, components for aviation, the space industry and drone exports to Russia in its latest sanctions on the Ukraine-Russia geopolitical crisis. Also, Japan forbade its business community from exporting different industrial goods such as balloons, gliders, unpowered aircraft and their components, parachutes, aircraft brake gear, equipment for ground-based flight training, drones and their components, optical systems for underwater and aerial photography, compasses and navigational equipment. April 7 is decided as the date for the measures to become effective. On March 31, 2023, the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Commerce declared a ban on Russia-bound exports of aluminium, steel, and aircraft,...
At this moment, the primary sector is the most vulnerable area in the aluminium value chain, with the global energy crisis at its peak and the Russia-Ukraine crisis causing enough turfs in the economic conditions. Last week, there were reports of China facing a recurring energy shortage in the southwest, due to which the world’s largest aluminium producer restrained its production in Yunnan Province, the core of south China’s aluminium industry. The Government of India announced the disownment of its remaining stake in BALCO, which is now partially owned by Sterlite Industries Ltd, a unit of Vedanta Ltd. The LME aluminium price grew US$33 per tonne to begin the week at US$2,298 per tonne and kept increasing gradually to halt at US$2,344 per tonne on March 30, with a US$46 per tonne spike...
