
Bell Bay Aluminium (BBA), Australia's oldest aluminium smelter, is reviewing its workforce and offering redundancies for a small number of positions, just over a month after receiving an AUD 200 million (USD 137.52 million) government support package aimed at securing the facility's future until at least 2031. Up to 10 roles are understood to have been affected by the review, although the smelter is expected to retain its existing workforce of approximately 550 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees. Some redeployment opportunities will also be available, while the positions identified are not understood to involve frontline services. The changes reportedly include some former participants in Bell Bay Aluminium's graduate programme. Rio Tinto, which operates the smelter near George Town in...
Atlas Metals Group plc has terminated its proposed acquisition of Universal Pozzolanic Silica Alumina Ltd (UPSA), ending a transaction first announced in June 2025, as the company shifts its acquisition focus towards lithium and graphite assets in Africa and South America. The natural resources and energy company said the decision followed recent due diligence difficulties and actions by UPSA representatives that it believes materially changed the merits and viability of the transaction. Atlas Metals is also seeking to recover material amounts owed to it by UPSA. The proposed acquisition was initially announced on June 17, 2025, with the signing of a conditional share purchase agreement (SPA) disclosed on September 10, 2025. However, the company has now decided to terminate the agreement,...
Grow with
AL Circle

The construction industry trade association of the United Kingdom, Construction Products Association (CPA) has alerted disquiet in regards to the inflation that will create a dent in the construction sector in the long term. According to CPA’s updated projections, the mounting price pressure encircling labour shortages, soaring material costs, sizable energy bills and the Ukraine war combined jeopardise the construction industry’s growth, especially in the final months of 2022. The pipeline of work and persistent demand should keep the industry buoyant at least through the third quarter, with an expansion of 2.8% projected for 2022, in comparison to the 4.3% growth that was estimated three months ago by the CPA. The CPA’s report reveals, “The soaring energy prices and product scarcity...

On Tuesday, April 3, LME aluminium cash bid price stood at US$2,911 per tonne, after experiencing a fall of US$127 per tonne or 4.18 percent. For the same day, LME aluminium official settlement price plunged by US$127.5 per tonne or 4.19 percent to peg at US$2911.50 per tonne. 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price had gone down by US$99 per tonne or 3.25 percent to come in at US$2,944 per tonne and US$2,945 per tonne. December 23 bid price and December 23 offer price had also slumped by US$90 per tonne or 3.06 percent to score at US$2,842 per tonne and US$2,847 per tonne. LME aluminium Opening stock was recorded at 577650 tonnes. Live warrants and Cancelled warrants settled at 387725 tonnes and 189925 tonnes. The LME aluminium 3-month Asian Reference Price shrank by 2.41 percent or...

The Finnish multinational consumer electronics company, Nokia’s budgeted smartphone C100 focuses on those consumers with low finances or the ones who are only bothered with a basic amenity that a smartphone is offering with an instant messaging system and occasional easy gaming. Now, this mobile handset has a removable back cover which signifies that the battery is also removable, while the phone is made of polycarbonate. Once the plastic cover is removed, the aluminium frame is visible, which makes the Nokia C100 a sturdy device. It is designed to prevent bending by having bulks which means this phone is durable. Nokia C100, with its 4000 mAh battery and durable body, is very easily an ideal backup phone. In the previous decade, Nokia lost its significance to mobile handset brands Apple...

CH Evensen Industriovner (C.H. Evensen) a subsidiary of Vow ASA (Vow) has successfully signed a €1.3 million agreement to drop-ship a preheating furnace for an aluminium manufacturer, which the company is yet to disclose the name. Henrik Wulff, the Managing Director of CH Evensen, said: “We are thrilled to supply one of the world’s leading aluminium producers with a state-of-the-art furnace. As CH Evensen’s technology is energy efficient, our solution is attractive from an environmental point of view. This contract demonstrates our attractiveness within industrial heat treatment.” CH Evensen is experienced in the art of developing, designing and producing industrial furnaces and accessories to be applied in a variable range of heat treatment techniques and implementations. By Q1 of 2023,...

On Tuesday, May 3, a stock rating agency upgraded Aluminum Corporation of China Limited, also known as Chalco, from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating. Earlier, on January 13, the Goldman Sachs Group had rated the stocks of Aluminum Corp. of China “sell” instead of “buy”, while on March 23, HSBC had upgraded the shares rating from a “reduce” to “hold”. Currently, the company has a ratio of 1:08, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74. Its 50-day moving average price is $14.86 and its 200-day moving average price is $14.51. Aluminum Co. of China has a twelve month low of $10.58 and a twelve month high of $23.90. It has a market cap of $7.70 billion, a P/E ratio of 9:12 and a beta of 1:59. Recently, hedge funds have also added or reduced their stakes in Chalco. For...

The largest shareholder of Altech Chemicals Ltd Deutsche Balaton Aktiengesellschaft (Deutsche Balaton) has transformed 15,000,000 enlisted options which will expire on 31 st May 2022 with a conversion price of $0.08 each, for total proceeds of $1,200,000. Eminent shareholder, Delphi Unternehmensberatung Aktiengesellschaft (Delphi) for total proceeds of $921,543, has converted 11,519,296 listed options as a bonus. Iggy Tan, the Managing Director of Altech Chemicals exclaimed: "Altech is extremely pleased to have the support of these major shareholders at a very exciting time for the Company. Altech recently announced the outstanding preliminary feasibility study results for its Silumina AnodesTM battery materials project in Germany, which included a pre-tax NPV(8) of US$507 million, as...

According to a report last week, the ASI Board has revised its Performance and Chain of Custody Standards, supporting Guidance, Assurance Manual, Claims Guide and Glossary as By-Laws. This new version, to be formally launched around 19th May, is the outcome of a first major standard revision process since the launch of the ASI programme in 2017. The revised standards have finally been adopted by ASI after almost three years of Standards Committee and Working Group discussions, a multi-stakeholder development process, two rounds of public consultation and significant redrafting, and legal reviews. In the next 12 months from the launch, entities can choose to audit against the existing or revised standards but post that only 2022 standards will be applicable for ASI Certifications. The new...

Norsk Hydro, the Norwegian headquartered global aluminium producer, posted record quarterly earnings for Q1 on Tuesday, April 3. As per the reports, Hydro's adjusted EBITDA grew from NOK 9,011 million in Q4 to NOK 11,165 million in the first quarter of 2022. Higher all-in metal and alumina pricing, stronger extrusion margins and volumes, and improved energy performance all helped to boost adjusted EBITDA. Higher raw material costs negated some of this improvement. In the first quarter, net income from continuing operations was NOK 6,411 million. Net income from continuing operations includes a net foreign exchange gain of NOK 2,379 million, an unrealized gain of NOK 1,418 million on power and raw material contracts, and an unrealized loss of NOK 4,448 million on LME related contracts, in...

On 2 nd May 2022, the largest producer of primary aluminium in Brazil, Albras Alumínio Brasileiro S.A. (ALBRAS), which has been catering for the domestic and external markets with high purity ingots since 1985 will be procuring power from a new 438-MW solar power plant to supply its smelter in the state of Para, Brazil. The worldwide leader and investor in renewable energy sources Actis Group supported Atlas Renewable Energy in collaboration with Hydro Rein, the renewable energy solutions for more sustainable industries are establishing a joint venture to build the US$320 million (EUR 297million) Boa Sorte solar park in Paracatu, Minas Gerais. The solar plant will comprise over 800,000 bifacial modules. A bifacial solar cell (BSC) is a photovoltaic solar cell that can generate electrical...

Novelis Inc., the world’s leading flat-rolled aluminium products manufacturer and recycler, has reportedly broken ground to build a highly advanced recycling centre for automotive in North America. The project will have an annual casting capacity of 240,000 tonnes of sheet ingot, involving an investment of $365 million. The facility is expected to reduce the company’s carbon emissions by more than 1 million tonnes each year and to add about 140 new jobs in Guthrie. It will be located adjacent to Novelis’ existing automotive finishing plant in Guthrie, Kentucky, which currently employs 150 people and expects to grow to 190 over the next two years. Tom Boney, Executive Vice President and President of Novelis North America, said: "This groundbreaking marks a major milestone in our ongoing...

On Monday, May 2, a major fire had broken out at an aluminium production factory in Kampung Baru Balakong, Seri Kembangan in Malaysia. The reason behind the fire is still unknown, and no death or injuries were reported. As per the reports, two fire engines were needed to control the raging fire. The second fire engine arrived at the spot at 6:33 pm to assist the current firemen in putting out the raging fire. A total of 12 fire engines were present onsite as the fire was spreading to the nearby industries as well. Residents staying far away have reported sighting thick black smoke rising into the sky as the fire continues to burn. As per the reports, due to the low water current, rescue efforts were becoming difficult. Fire at aluminium plants is not something new. On Wednesday, April 20,...

The aluminium technology company Gränges which has been driving the development of lighter, smarter, and more sustainable aluminium products and solutions are reported expanding its Newport, Arkansas, production facility to enable the production of battery cathode foil. In the transition to electric vehicles, such foil is a crucial component necessary for manufacturing lithium-ion batteries. Gränges will be making this foil for the first time in the United States. The investment comprises finishing and cleanroom equipment with commercial deliveries planned to begin in 2024. Commercial deliveries are anticipated to begin in 2024, including finishing and cleanroom equipment. The century-old innovative engineering company, Gränges is focusing on the battery cathode foil segment, depicting...

On Monday, May 2, Vedanta declared that it will outsource 380 MW of green power for an elongated period of time to feed its smelters. When active, this project will minimize the enterprises’ greenhouse emissions by 15, 00,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year. As per the company, 180 MW of this green energy will be for the Jharsuguda aluminium smelter in Odisha and 200 MW for the Bharat Aluminium Company (BALCO) at Korba, in Chhattisgarh. A power delivery agreement between Vedanta Ltd and Special Purpose Vehicles – counterpart of Sterlite Power Technologies Pvt Ltd (SPTPL) will ensure the exchange. Vedanta CEO - aluminium business Rahul Sharma stated, “This 380 MW renewable energy power delivery agreement for our aluminium smelters stands true to our mission of aligning the incentives of...

Mexico’s aluminium scrap exports to the United States stood at 17,100 tonnes in February 2022, reflecting a month-on-month increase of 11.03 per cent or 1,700 tonnes from 15,400 tonnes, found the US Geological Survey data. The exports in January were 700 tonnes or 4.76 per cent higher than 14,700 tonnes in December 2021. On a year-on-year basis, Mexico’s aluminium scrap exports to the US in February reflected a hike of 3,600 tonnes or 26.67 per cent from 13,500 tonnes. During January-February, Mexico’s scrap exports to the US totalled 32,500 tonnes, up 16.07 per cent or 4,500 tonnes from 28,000 tonnes. The United States’ total aluminium scrap imports in February came in 46,200 tonnes, only 500 tonnes less than in the previous month, and 3,900 tonnes or 7.78 per cent down from 50,100...

The Perth, Western Australia headquartered mining and metal company, South32 Limited has unveiled the accomplishment of acquisition of an additional 18.2% stake in the Mineração Rio do Norte (MRN) bauxite mine in the northern part of Brazil from Alcoa Corporation (Alcoa). However, the acquisition of the additional stakes excels the ownership of the mine to 33% and secures the bauxite requirements for South 32’s integrated aluminium supply chain in Brazil. On 6 th January 2022, the company formed by spun out of BHP Billiton, South32 disclosed the plan to participate in the resumption of the Alumar aluminium smelter in Brazil in cooperation with joint venture partner Alcoa, with its first production to be achieved in the June 2022 quarter. The Brazilian aluminium smelter will be powered by...

On Thursday, April 28, Ball Corporation and Sodexo Live! reported that their multi-year partnership will be expanded to bring millions of infinitely recyclable Ball Aluminum Cups™ to communities visiting major venues and events across the United States and Canada, advancing sustainability efforts in sports and entertainment. This campaign is in line with Sodexo's broader Better Tomorrow 2025 objective of making every day better, safer, and healthier for 75 million customers across the world. It consists of nine-strong pledges aimed at reinforcing the company's responsible conduct culture. Sodexo Live! venues presently contain millions of Ball Aluminum Cups that are available to fans across the United States and Canada. "We are a forward-looking company that is always seeking new ways to...

In a mutual decision, two senior executives at United Company Rusal International PJSC decided to acquire the U.S. facility of the Russian aluminium giant. Presently known as Rusal America, the unit will be renamed PerenniAL. Previous chief executive officer and president of Rusal America, Brian Hesse and once a senior vice president at the company, Andrey Donets are going to preside as the owners of Rusal America, as was confirmed by the former in an email. All the contracts belonging to Rusal America will automatically transfer to PerenniAL. PerenniAL will pick up the threads on Rusal’s metal. The company will also harbour aluminium from other suppliers. Both primary and secondary products such as billets, primary foundry alloy and slabs will be offered. This alteration in the course...

One of the leading commodity exchanges in Asia, IHOFX announced on 29 th April 2022, that the new Aluminium Premium Duty-Unpaid (Metal Bulletin) futures contracts were being traded in larger volumes this month. IHOFX or Incheon Option and Futures Exchange has successfully anchored into a path-changing technology for industries and with a developed infrastructure can provide the consumers with price-time allocation and a maker-taker pricing model. Hwang Eun, Head of Commodities and Global Markets, remarked: "We are pleased to see early support for our new Aluminium Premium Futures, which is an outgrowth of our existing suite of aluminium risk management tools. Based on the success of our premium futures, we worked closely with the aluminium industry to develop these contracts that enable...