AlCircle News Edited By "Aranya Mondal"
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Citi tags Alcoa with a ‘Buy’ call on rising aluminium demand forecast
Citi has reinstated coverage of Alcoa Corporation with a buy rating and a USD 42 price target, to improve aluminium market conditions and the company’s consistent operating performance. Image for representational purposes. The stock, currently trading at USD 29.81, is viewed as undervalued based on Citi’s estimate of USD 1.9 billion in mid-cycle EBITDA, which equates to about 5 times earnings at mid-cycle and 6 times at spot prices. The bank forecasts second-quarter 2025 EBITDA at USD 393 million, aligning with market consensus. However, Citi notes that free cash flow remains a key concern, particularly at current aluminium prices. The company’s San Ciprián facility in Spain, which is undergoing restructuring and was recently affected by a nationwide power outage, is cited as a source of...
India’s aluminium revolution: A sixfold surge by 2047
At the International Conference on Sustainable and Responsible Mining, Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy unveiled the Aluminium Vision Document, signaling a strategic shift in how India views and manages one of its most vital industrial resources. Framed within the broader Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, the roadmap lays out an ambitious plan to increase aluminium production nearly sixfold by the country’s 100th year of independence. Despite being the world’s second-largest aluminium producer, India currently contributes only 6 per cent to the global output, underscoring a significant gap between capacity and potential. The new vision aims to bridge this gap not just by scaling production but by transforming aluminium into a central pillar of India’s sustainable development model. Building...
Dhruva Space to power Pixxel’s next-gen satellites with indigenous solar panels
Indian based full-stack spacetech company Dhruva Space has announced a strategic partnership with Pixxel, a satellite imaging startup, to supply space-grade solar panels for Pixxel’s next-generation high-resolution hyperspectral satellite constellation. Image for representational purposes As part of the agreement, Dhruva Space will work with Pixxel to integrate its advanced Solis+ solar panels into the upcoming fleet, enabling robust, high-efficiency power systems in orbit. The collaboration aims to power satellites designed for daily global revisit and high spectral fidelity, building on the success of Pixxel’s Firefly satellites, launched earlier in 2025, which delivered the world’s first 5- meter commercial hyperspectral imagery. Pixxel Founder and Chief Technology Officer Kshitij...
H&H Aluminium launches India’s largest solar frame plant
Gujarat-based H&H Aluminium Pvt Ltd has established India’s largest aluminium solar frame manufacturing facility in Rajkot with an investment of INR 150 million (USD 1.8 million. Located in Chibhda village and spread across 28,000 square meters, the facility has an annual production capacity of 24,000 tonnes. Image for referential purposes only The plant was inaugurated by Union Minister C.R. Patil (Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation) at an event in Ahmedabad. Trial production began in June 2025, and the company expects to begin full commercial operations within the next month. Once fully operational, the facility is projected to generate annual revenues of INR 700–750 crore and provide direct employment to 300 people. To meet global quality...
US auto sales climb as buyers rush to beat tariffs
US automakers Ford and General Motors reported a sharp rise in second-quarter vehicle sales, driven by a consumer rush to buy cars ahead of newly imposed tariffs on imported vehicles and parts. Image for representational purposes General Motors reported a 7.3 per cent rise in vehicle deliveries, reaching 746,588 units, driven by solid demand for pickup trucks, SUVs, and budget-friendly models. Ford outpaced GM with a 14.2 per cent sales increase, totalling 612,095 units, boosted by a widely popular employee pricing offer. The sales bump coincided with growing consumer concerns over price hikes due to the US government's 25 per cent tariffs on imported finished vehicles (effective April) and auto parts (effective May). However, White House officials introduced a two-year grace period and...
Vedanta reports record alumina output in Q1’FY26 with 9% yearly growth
Vedanta Limited, an Indian metal giant has reported a robust operational performance in the first quarter ending June 30, 2025, with a particular highlight on its aluminium value chain. The highlight of the quarter was record alumina production at its Lanjigarh refinery, which reached an all-time high of 587 thousand tonnes. This marks a 9 per cent increase year-on-year and a sharp 36 per cent rise compared to the previous quarter. The growth in alumina output was primarily driven by Vedanta’s expansion of its refining capacity at the Lanjigarh facility in Odisha. The company recently enhanced the plant’s annual capacity from 2 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) to 3.5mtpa. This capacity upgrade, along with improved raw material availability and operational efficiencies, enabled the company...
ALFED and Chartered Institute partner to boost UK aluminium’s global trade strength
The Aluminium Federation (ALFED) has announced a strategic partnership with the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade, aimed at bolstering the UK aluminium sector’s international trade and technical capabilities. Unveiled during ALFED’s House of Lords lunch last week, the partnership marks a pivotal moment for the UK aluminium industry as it faces both emerging opportunities and critical challenges. Attended by industry leaders, parliamentarians, and government officials, the event served as a platform to highlight the aluminium sector’s role in building sustainable, competitive, and resilient supply chains for the future. Among the key issues discussed were the need to support the UK’s Net Zero ambitions, retain the economic value of secondary aluminium within the UK, and...
US and Europe secure rare earth deal with China, pushing India to prioritise domestic production expansion
China’s move to restart rare earth exports to the US has eased pressure on American industries after nearly two months of restrictions. While some European firms have also secured limited export licenses to avoid production disruptions, India despite being a major importer of Chinese rare earths has not been granted similar relief. Image Source: ip-quarterly/Thorsten Kirchhoff China’s export ban, imposed on April 4, 2025, as a response to US tariffs, disrupted global access to critical rare earth materials such as scandium. Though used in small amounts, scandium is vital for producing high-performance aluminium-scandium alloys, which play a key role in electric vehicles, electronics, and defence industries. China’s Ministry of Commerce said, “China will approve the export application of...
China’s aluminium push in Indonesia faces naval land objections
The Indonesian Navy has expressed strong objections to the planned USD 4.9 billion alumina refinery on Singkep Island in Indonesia’s Riau Islands province. Image for referential purposes only The project is being developed by China’s Tianshan Aluminium through its local subsidiary, Tianshan Alumina Indonesia, and has been granted National Strategic Project (PSN) status under the government’s mineral downstreaming agenda. The navy’s concerns stem from the project’s proposed location, which overlaps with a 400-hectare military training zone that has long supported operational readiness. The area has hosted major defence exercises, including the US-led Super Garuda Shield and joint amphibious drills with Australian forces. Navy spokesperson First Admiral Tunggul stated that the site remains...
Brimstone advances first US alumina plant in 50 Years to boost aluminium supply chain
California-based Brimstone is advancing plans to establish the first alumina refinery in the US in more than five decades, which is a major step toward restoring the domestic aluminium supply chain. The company has signed a letter of intent with Oklahoma’s Dolese Bros. Co . to supply raw material for the proposed Rock Refinery, which will co-produce smelter-grade alumina , Portland cement, and supplementary cementitious materials (SCM) . Image for representational purposes only Brimstone selected Dolese Bros following a competitive review of over 23,000 quarries across the country. In April 2025, primary aluminium imports fell by 20 per cent year-on-year to approximately 281,500 tonnes, down from 352,538 tonnes in April 2024. The rock for Brimstone’s refinery will come from Dolese’s...
India’s exports hit $824.9 billion in FY25, but aluminium drops 10.79%
Despite India’s exports reaching a record USD 824.9 billion in FY 2024–25, aluminium exports declined sharply by 10.79 per cent, revealing sector-specific challenges amid an otherwise strong trade performance. Image for representational purposes only According to the Ministry of Commerce, total exports grew 6.01 per cent year-on-year, rising from USD 778.1 billion in FY 2023–24, driven primarily by robust growth in services and non-petroleum merchandise exports. The overall surge in India’s exports was supported by a 13.6 per cent rise in services exports, which reached a record USD 387.5 billion, and a 6 per cent increase in non-petroleum merchandise exports, which hit an all-time high of USD 374.1 billion. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman acknowledged the resilience of Indian...
