Russia’s aluminium market could face a new competitive dynamic after Sual Partners signed a production-sharing agreement with state-controlled hydropower group RusHydro, potentially giving Sual access to up to 150,000 tonnes of aluminium from the Boguchany smelter in Siberia. The arrangement could challenge Rusal’s near 20-year dominance of Russia’s primary aluminium market, allowing Sual to target both domestic and overseas customers with the metal. The agreement, announced on October 15 during Russian Energy Week, provides for a production-sharing mechanism at the Boguchansky aluminium plant, which is co-owned by RusHydro. The arrangement could give Sual access to as much as a 50 per cent share of the smelter’s output, putting it in a position to compete directly with Rusal, its...
The Confederation of British Metalforming (CBM) has called for closer UK-EU relations, warning that proposed European industrial policies could affect British manufacturers supplying the aluminium, steel and automotive industries. Stephen Morley, CBM President and Chair of the Euroforge Automotive Sector, made the call at the organisation's autumn meeting in Munich. He said stronger cooperation between the UK and EU was important for protecting manufacturing jobs, investment and cross-border supply chains. He stated, “ We need to protect British industry, but we also need to recognise that the UK and European automotive sectors are deeply connected. What damages one part of the supply chain will inevitably affect the other. ” Join the fourth edition of webinar " Hedging for recyclers -...
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The first quarter (Q1) financial results of Norsk Hydro delivered a resilient operational performance, although with mixed financial results in the upstream segment of alumina. Alumina production at Alunorte in Q1 2026 improved year-on-year compared to Q1 2025 , with yield improvement and consistent availability of equipment. The aluminium segment improved with the reopening of capacities at the Norwegian smelters that were partially under controlled shutdown. These not only offset the production curtailments due to the Middle East conflict but also added a 2.7 per cent Y-o-Y increase in the primary aluminium segment's EBITDA. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 across the value chain Eivind Kallevik, President and CEO of...
The concern for new pressure for FY27 has been flagged by Vedanta Ltd., which is the result of the ongoing conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran. Due to this, aluminium production costs may push up by USD 50 to USD 100 per tonne in the first half of FY27. The firm raised this concern while projecting the annual aluminium production costs, which were deemed to be between USD 1,650 and USD 1,700 per tonne. Base metals prices saw an uptick in the quarter ending on March 31, mainly because of the supply disruption associated with the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The firm's aluminium, which is deemed to be one of the largest in India, is said to hold around 40 per cent of its revenue stream. Also read: Pallavi Bhatia joins Vedanta to lead HR for the aluminium division Firm’s AL...
After witnessing a slight ease on April 28, the London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium price again rose on April 29. However, the 3-month Asian Reference Price and the LME inventory continued to decline from the previous close. On April 29, the cash bid rose by USD 4.5 per tonne or 0.13 per cent, shifting from USD 3,599 per tonne to USD 3,603.5 per tonne. Similarly, the cash offer also rose by USD 4 per tonne or 0.11 per cent, rising from USD 3,600 per tonne to USD 3,604 per tonne. Don’t miss out- Buyers are looking for your products on our B2B platform The upward trend continued in the LME 3-month bid, increasing by USD 20 per tonne or 0.6 per cent, from USD 3,535 per tonne to USD 3,555 per tonne. Concurrently, the 3-month offer finally settled at USD 3,556 per tonne, up from USD 3,537...
Mykolaiv alumina refinery is set to be offered for privatisation in the fourth quarter of 2026, with a starting price of around USD 86 million, according to Ukraine’s State Property Fund. The announcement was made by Dmytro Natalukha, head of the State Property Fund, during a press briefing marking his first 100 days in office. The plant, once a key producer of alumina used in aluminium production, has remained largely idle since the outbreak of the full-scale war. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " Previously linked to Russian businessman Oleg Deripaska, the asset is part of a broader effort by Ukraine to divest confiscated or sanctioned properties and reintegrate them into the national economy....
Work has started on a new energy project in Kyrgyzstan’s Jalal-Abad region, where a mix of hydropower and solar generation is being developed with support from SINOMACH. The plan isn’t massive in scale, but it’s meant to address local shortages. One part of it is a 5 MW small hydropower plant, expected to generate around 20 million kWh a year. Alongside that, there’s a smaller 1 MW solar unit, which should add roughly 1.6 million kWh annually. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026" A ceremony to mark the start of construction took place on April 28, with regional officials present along with Akylbek Japarov, who is involved in overseeing the project. The total investment is estimated at USD 259.8 million, and...
Norsk Hydro has acquired a long-term electricity arrangement with Statkraft to provide power supply for its aluminium plants in Norway well into the next decade. The agreement starts from 2029, up until 2038. Over that period, the total volume adds up to 12.3 terawatt hours, out of which 8.8 TWh will be for NO2, and 3.5 TWh for NO3, to accommodate for varying power pricing across Norway. As per the agreement signed, Statkraft will supply 0.9 TWh annually in 2029 and 2030, while from 2031 to 2038, it will deliver 1.3 TWh per year For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026" Aluminium production depends heavily on electricity, and securing it early helps avoid cost swings later especially when energy markets have been...
Eskom and South32 have moved forward with a long-term renewable energy plan for the Hillside Aluminium smelter in KwaZulu-Natal, to keep it running past 2031. The proposed solution, currently under discussion, is expected to begin when the smelter’s existing electricity contract expires in 2031, subject to regulatory approvals. Both companies have formed a joint working group to explore ways to integrate competitively priced renewable energy into the national grid, supported by firming capacity within existing frameworks. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " The initiative is intended to enhance the competitiveness of the Hillside operation, support regional economic stability, and align with South Africa’s...
Guinea’s bauxite sector started 2026 on a strong note, with output and exports rising sharply in the first quarter, even as the government moved toward restricting shipments later in the year. Data from the mines ministry shows exports reaching about 60.9 million tonnes between January and March, up from 48.6 million tonnes a year earlier, an increase of just over 25 per cent. The surge appears to be largely tied to continued demand from China, which takes in more than 70 per cent of Guinea’s bauxite. According to SMM, in March alone, China imported 18.12 million tonnes of bauxite from Guinea , up 29.6 per cent M-o-M and 27.9 per cent Y-o-Y. Production has been on an upward trend for some time. The country, already the world’s largest exporter of the ore, recorded around 183 million...
Vedanta Limited appoints Pallavi Bhatia as Chief Human Resources Officer for its aluminium business to boost leadership in this key area. In her new job, Bhatia will be head of HR strategy for the aluminium unit. She will target talent growth, leadership training, staff involvement, and workforce change. She will also back the company's aims in expansion, output gains, and skills for the future. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " She brings nearly two decades of experience across manufacturing, industrial and consumer sectors. Her expertise includes talent management, industrial relations and organisational development in large operational environments. Also read: Nanshan Aluminium mentions profitability...
Norsk Hydro has accelerated its push into circular manufacturing by supplying low-carbon, recycled aluminium to the reECONIC project led by Mercedes-Benz Trucks. Based on the electric Mercedes-Benz eEconic platform, the initiative gathers over 30 partners to demonstrate the reuse of materials in closed loops without compromising performance or safety in commercial vehicles. It promotes circularity and sustainability in the value chain from sourcing to recycling end-of-life materials to produce low-carbon, recycled aluminium, playing a central role in the equation. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 across the value chain Executive Vice President of Hydro Extrusions, Paul Warton, mentioned, “The reECONIC project shows how...
The scrap sitting idle at a Recyclus battery recycling plant in Wolverhampton is being given a second look and, potentially, a second life, by Technology Minerals by reprocessing around 180 tonnes of previously treated battery material to enhance copper and aluminium recovery. This follows the installation of new equipment that is capable of isolating copper and aluminium as distinct outputs. In earlier operations, both metals were effectively incorporated into the broader recovery process, yielding little direct commercial return. Now, they are being pulled out cleanly and positioned as standalone revenue lines. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " The technical shift lies in how “black mass” is handled....
Australian Metro Mining has released an update of the quarterly activities for the January-March quarter (Q1), delivering a mixed but operationally resilient performance throughout the timeline. Despite near-term cost pressures and seasonal operational constraints, Metro continues to position itself to benefit from tightening aluminium market fundamentals. Explore- Most comprehensive and forward-looking industry-focused report — Global Bauxite & Alumina Market Forecast to 2036: Supply–Demand, Trade Flows & Price Outlook Financial highlights The January-March financial quarter was shaped by seasonal disruptions, maintenance cycles, and evolving market dynamics across its bauxite operations. Compared year-on-year with the Q1 2025, the financial results of Q1 2026 are: Net cash used in...
India’s aluminium tariff regime, especially now in 2026, has become a regulatory fault line between upstream smelters chasing security, downstream processors absorbing cost pressure, recyclers fighting for cheaper feedstock and the country is trying to balance it all to keep a lid on inflation while building a strategic industrial base. A tariff to protect, but not to simplify At the centre of the debate is India’s differentiated duty structure. Primary aluminium under HS 7601 is charged at 8.25 per cent, scrap under HS 7602 at 2.5 per cent, bars, rods, profiles, plates, sheets and strips at 7.5 per cent, foil at 7.5 per cent-10 per cent, and finished structures and articles at 10 per cent. That means that the duty structure has created a constant friction point, because preferential...
The United States and the European Union have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on critical minerals, targeting stronger production, supply chain security and coordinated trade policies. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič formalised the agreement alongside a joint action plan. The move highlights concerns among Western economies over concentrated mineral processing, dependence on China (though was not named), and its implications for industrial resilience. Also Read: The critical role of critical minerals in shaping India’s future in energy and geopolitics Critical minerals serve as key components for semiconductors, electric vehicles and military weaponry, hence play a strategic role in geopolitics. Both the US and the EU share a...
The London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium prices continued to soften around the curve on the close of April 28. The cash and contract prices eased as inventories remained on a declining trend. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 across the value chain The LME aluminium cash bid eased 1.66 per cent day-on-day, down from USD 3,660 per tonne on April 27 to USD 3,599 per tonne on April 28, while the offer declined 1.69 per cent, shifting from USD 3,662 per tonne to USD 3,600 per tonne. The LME aluminium three-month bid price slumped from USD 3,587.5 per tonne on April 27 and settled at USD 3,535 per tonne on April 28, marking a 1.46 per cent decrease. The offer price recorded a decline of 1.42 per cent, moving from USD 3,588 per...
Construction of a 4-million-kilowatt new energy transmission project began on April 15 in Jungar Banner, located in Ordos, North China’s Inner Mongolia autonomous region, according to State Grid East Inner Mongolia Electric Power Co. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " The project is part of the Mengxi–Tianjin South ultra-high voltage (UHV) transmission corridor. It will run from the 500-kV Dalu Substation to the 500-kV Buertao Substation, and further connect to the 1,000-kV Ordos UHV Substation. The development includes two new 500-kV substations at Dalu and Buertao, along with 279 kilometres of transmission lines and 340 towers. The total investment for the project is RMB 1.94 billion (around USD 283...
National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO)declared that its Board of Directors will meet on April 30, 2026, to consider the declaration of a third interim dividend for the financial year 2025-26. The board meeting is scheduled for Thursday. The main agenda is focused on evaluating the proposed dividend payout. The final decision will be notified after the meeting. Shareholders are advised to follow official updates from the company for confirmation. NALCO has also introduced a key change in its dividend distribution process. The company will now use only electronic payment methods. Physical dividend warrants and cheques are now discontinued, following new regulatory rules. Shareholders will get payments straight via electronic bank transfers. Also read: Nanshan Aluminium mentions...
Nanshan Aluminium International Holdings Limited has released updates based on the unaudited Q1 2026 results of its controlling shareholder, Shandong Nanshan Aluminium Co Ltd. Nanshan Aluminium, which holds about 56.97 per cent of the company’s issued share capital, disclosed its quarterly performance in line with regulatory requirements. The financials are prepared under the People's Republic of China Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (PRC GAAP), which may differ from Hong Kong Financial Reporting Standards, potentially resulting in variations in future consolidated results. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " The update covered overseas alumina market shifts. Q1 2026 saw alumina prices swing big...
