AlCircle News Edited By "Debanjali Sengupta"
Debanjali Sengupta is a passionate content writer with 10 years of experience in Business writing, Web Content writing, Blogging, Editing and Research. She is responsible for generating and editing content for AlCircle Newsletter and other online and offline content for enhancing the brand value and its visibility among global users.
Kaiser Aluminum sees a 5.4% growth in Q1 sales value, as higher LME aluminium prices offset drops in shipments
Kaiser Aluminum Corporation, an American aluminium producer specialised in highly engineered, semi-fabricated products, has announced its first quarter results of 2025 ended March 31, describing the period as a strong start to the year in terms of financial output amid an uncertain macroeconomic environment. Except for the aerospace product unit, Kaiser's all other business divisions supported the company in achieving an increased sales value of USD 777.4 million versus USD 737.5 million during the corresponding period of the previous year. Image source: Freepik Sector-wise sales, shipment, and revenue conversion In the packaging business unit, Kaiser Aluminum achieved net sales of USD 314.2 million and conversion revenue of USD 127.4 million in Q1 2025, compared to last year's net sales...
Primary aluminium production in Q1 2025 grows but at a lower rate– factors uncovered here
The International Aluminium Institute has revealed the world’s primary aluminium production for the first quarter of 2025, highlighting a year-on-year increase of 1.34 per cent. But if compared to the growth rate of last year, it is about a 3 per cent less. In Q1 2024, the world primary aluminium production was 17.869 million tonnes, up by 4.31 per cent from 17.131 million tonnes during the corresponding period of the previous year. Let’s delve into why global primary aluminium production experienced a slower growth rate in Q1 2025, examine the total output during this period, and assess whether it aligns with the industry’s outlook for the year. 1. Q1 2025 production In the first quarter of 2025, the world primary aluminium production was 18.108 million tonnes, compared to 17.869 million...
US aluminium at a glance: Primary output down 10%, scrap recovery up 5%, surplus 1.37 million tonnes & much more
The United States’ 2024 aluminium market has further demonstrated a clear shift from primary to secondary sector, as evidenced by a Y-o-Y drop in primary metal production and a rise in scrap recovery. According to the United States Geological Survey, the country’s primary aluminium production recorded a decline of 9.92 per cent from 750,000 tonnes in 2023 to 675,600 tonnes in 2024, while its scrap recovery increase by 4.83 per cent from 3.31 million tonnes to 3.47 million tonnes. Monthly production trend While analysing the monthly trend this year, it is observed that the United States primary aluminium production ranged between 52,000 and 57,000 tonnes, following a peak in the first month of the year amounting to 63,000 tonnes. Similarly, scrap recovery was mostly around 292,000 to...
Azerbaijan’s aluminium output grows 5.8% in Q1 2025, reflecting a positive domestic market
Azerbaijan, increasingly recognised as an emerging player in aluminium production but still a newbie now, produced 15,500 tonnes of aluminium (including semi-finished products) during the first quarter of 2025. That marked a 5.8 per cent rise compared to the same period last year, reinforcing its growing reputation as a budding hub for aluminium production. Image source: Britannica Based on the data available in many reports, the growth in aluminium production in Azerbaijan could be attributed to the increasing demand for rolled products, fuelled by the unprecedented scale of residential construction being carried out in the country, where a huge amount of aluminium profile is being used for glazing works. The increase in aluminium demand in Azerbaijan is evident from the previous year’s...
Trump government’s response to India at WTO: 'Tariff is for security, not safeguards'
In response to India’s complaint to the World Trade Organization (WTO) on April 11 , labelling the US tariffs as safeguard measures, the United States countered by asserting that the tariffs were imposed on national security grounds, not as safeguards. Image source: Wikipedia The Trump administration office further justified its tariff move by stating that it was carried out under Section 232 of US trade law, which authorises the President to restrict imports that threaten national and economic security. The US government said, “The President imposed the tariffs on steel and aluminium pursuant to Section 232, under which the President determined that tariffs are necessary to adjust imports of steel and aluminium articles that threaten to impair the national security of the US.” Let’s know...
India’s fertile ground for low-carbon aluminium draws Rio Tinto’s next green project - here’s a detailed look at it
India’s expanding renewable energy capacity and strong government support for sustainable manufacturing are drawing increased interest from global companies, including Rio Tinto. On Thursday, April 17, the global mining giant Rio Tinto announceda collaboration with energy transition solutions provider AMG Metals & Materials (AMG M&M) to develop an integrated low-carbon aluminium project in southern India. Rio Tinto and AMG M&M have reportedly signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU), which states both parties will jointly assess the feasibility of the project that will potentially produce up to 1 million tonnes of primary aluminium in a year and 2 million tonnes of alumina, both powered by 1.8–2.0 GW of solar and wind energy backed by pumped hydro storage, translating to 7–8 GW of clean...
Tariff is a pro for North America’s optimistic demand projection for 2025; 2024 already shows a 3.4% growth, setting the stage right
North America (US and Canada), which is currently embroiled in the ongoing trade war, is otherwise a key aluminium market, with demand consistently reaching millions of pounds annually, primarily driven by semi-fabricated and mill product. Although the demand decreased in 2023 to 26,087 million pounds (11.83 million tonnes), it rebounded the next year to 26,969 million pounds (12.24 million tonnes), marking an annual growth of 3.4 per cent. The rise in demand was also evident in aluminium shipments, which increased in 2024 by 3.2 per cent Y-o-Y from 22,987 million pounds to 23,729 million pounds. According to the Aluminum Association’s report, the demand for aluminium semi-fabricated and mill product rose by 3.4 per cent, led by key sectors like automotive, packaging, and sustainable...
Goldman Sachs turns bearish on aluminium price for 2025 amid tariff impact
On Monday, April 14, Goldman Sachs revised its aluminium price forecast for 2025, adopting a bearish outlook due to the impact of newly imposed US tariffs on aluminium and auto parts imports. The investment bank now expects aluminium prices to average $2,000 per tonne in the third quarter of 2025 — a significant downgrade from its previous forecast issued just six months ago . While prices are anticipated to rebound slightly by December to $2,300 per tonne, this figure still falls short of the earlier projection of $2,650. At the time of the forecast release on Monday, aluminium was trading at approximately $2,392 per tonne on the London Metals Exchange (LME) as of 1300 GMT. In addition to revising aluminium price outlook, Goldman Sachs also shifted its global market forecast, now...
Q1 2025: Rio Tinto’s operational achievements on point with record-high bauxite production
Rio Tinto, the world’s second-largest metals and mining corporation, has reportedly demonstrated a positive start to 2025, achieving record-breaking quarterly bauxite output and setting a new monthly production high in March. Rightfully enough, Rio Tinto’s Chief Executive Jakob Stausholm said the company continued to deliver attractive growth in both operational and financial areas, generating substantial returns for shareholders and building a stronger and more diversified business. Production in focus In Q1 2025, Rio Tinto’s bauxite production reached 15 million tonnes, marking a significant Y-o-Y increase of 11.94 per cent from 13.4 million tonnes and a quarter-on-quarter decline of 3 per cent from 15.4 million tonnes. Alumina output was 2 million tonnes, up by 3 per cent Y-o-Y but...
7 years later, India yet again turns to WTO for consultations with the US over aluminium and steel tariffs
India has recently turned to the World Trade Organization, requesting consultations with the United States over tariffs imposed on aluminium and steel imports by the Trump administration in 2025. As a valuable trade partner of the United States, exporting between 100,000-200,000 tonnes of aluminium and aluminium products in a year had earlier also sought consultations with the US to discuss tariffs, back in 2018 when the US government first imposed 25 per cent tariff on steel and 10 per cent on aluminium, justifying the move as necessary for protecting its domestic industry under national security grounds. Seven years later, in February 2025, the US reaffirmed the flat 25 per cent tariffs on India's both aluminium and steel exports for an indefinite timeline. In response, India once again...
Ghana charts bold bauxite future with 6 million tonnes production target by GBC
Ghana is positioning itself to become a key player in the global bauxite industry while simultaneously developing a fully integrated aluminium sector. With an estimated 900 million tonnes of bauxite reserves primarily located in Awaso, Nyinahin, and Kyebi, the West African nation is committed to leveraging its natural resources to boost bauxite production and drive sustainable economic growth. In line with Ghana’s future roadmap, Ghana Bauxite Company Limited (GBC), jointly owned by Ofori-Poku Company Limited (OPCL) and the Government of Ghana, aims to achieve a production of 6 million tonnes of bauxte in a year by the end of 2025. Upgrading infrastructure and operational efficiencies would be the key requirement to attain the 6 million tonnes goal. GBC, by investing USD 122.97 million,...
Thailand seeks to strengthen US trade ties by cutting tariffs. Is it aiming to grow as a key aluminium scrap hub amid China’s retreat?
While many countries are retaliating against the United States with counter-tariffs, Thailand is taking a different approach - considering reducing existing taxes on American goods. But why? The goal is to boost imports from the US and, in return, secure a favourable trade deal from the Trump administration. Image source: Trends Research & Advisory Thailand is among the countries hit with a steep tariff rate of 36 percent—significantly higher than expected. Despite this, Deputy Prime Minister Pichai Chunhavajira stated the Thai government was in no rush to initiate talks with the US. Rather, they chose to wait until their proposals were prepared. Mr Pichai will now take the proposals forward for negotiations. The Thai government aims to establish a balanced trade relation with the United...
Not 104%, but 129%! Will China see additional 50% duty? Impacts spread across borders…
China’s ‘blow-for-blow’ strategy in response to the United States' 34 per cent reciprocal duty apparently leads to the addition of another round of tariff to the existing thread. On Tuesday, April 8, the US government threatened to impose an additional 50 per cent tariff on all Chinese products in retaliation, bringing the total tariff on China to 104 per cent. But this figure is not the full story. When accounting for the 25 per cent tariff on aluminium and steel imports that the United States imposed in March, the total tariff on China rises to a staggering 129 per cent. Image generated by AI for representational purpose The latest threat of a 50 per cent tariff is scheduled to take effect at midnight (CST time zone) on April 9, 2025, which was set as a deadline for China to reverse its...
Jan-Feb 2025: alumina production grows 4.4% worldwide, powered by China’s capacity expansion
During January-February 2025, the world's metallurgical-grade alumina production recorded an impressive increase of 4.41 per cent, reaching 23.015 million tonnes versus 22.043 million tonnes a year ago. In both January and February, the output increased Y-o-Y by 6.77 per cent and 1.89 per cent, totalling 12.149 million tonnes and 10.866 million tonnes, respectively. As per the data shown by the International Aluminium Institute, metallurgical-grade alumina production in February 2025 grew Y-o-Y from 10.664 million tonnes, despite a fewer operational day, with the daily average output reaching 388,100 tonnes versus 367,700 tonnes in February 2024. Thanks to China's expanded alumina refining capacity that drove the growth of global output, offsetting declines across all other major...
After Meghalaya, it is now Kerala with high-grade bauxite deposit; India truly becomes mineral-rich
India hogs the limelight in the global mining sector with back-to-back discoveries of natural resources like bauxite. After Meghalaya , it is now Kerala, a southern part of India, where the Geological Survey of India (GSI) has found the richest aluminium ore deposit, particularly in Karadukka in Kasaragod district, across about 150 hectares. Image source: Wikipedia According to a GSI survey, about 0.21 million tonnes of high-grade bauxite and 5.14 million tonnes of aluminous laterite are present beneath the surface of the region, meaning the area has significant potential to become a central hub for bauxite and alumina production, thanks to the aluminous laterite, which contains both iron and aluminium oxides. GSI also finds the available bauxite resources contain 40 to 45 per cent...
US-China trade war shows no sign of ending! China also slaps US with 34% tariff in retaliation
How much is too much? The growing chain of tariffs between the United States and its trade partners is expanding at an alarming rate while industries brace for the impact of escalating trade wars. Following the United States' announcement of reciprocal tariffs on what it called 'Liberation Day,' it's no surprise that other countries are starting to retaliate. China, one of the United States' major trade partners, who is already hit by a 45 per cent tariff and now the 34 per cent reciprocal duty, has roared back with the same percentage of tax on all American imports, starting April 10, 2025, intensifying a bitter trade war between the world's two biggest economies. This escalating conflict has been building for some time. It started when the US granted a 30-day reprieve to its North...
Brazil’s aluminium can sales hit historic 34.8 billion units – resultant of GDP, sustainability, advertising & more
In an interview with AL Circle, Mr Cátilo Cândido, Executive President of the Brazilian Association of Aluminum Can Manufacturers (Abralatas), highlighted that Brazil's robust and dynamic economy—particularly the rising purchasing power of its population—drives the demand for soft drinks and, consequently, aluminium cans. With a GDP of USD 2.17 trillion and a per capita consumption of 165 12-can packs annually, Brazil is home to the world's fastest-growing aluminium can market. In 2024, Brazil reached a historic milestone, with aluminium can sales in the beverage sector totalling 34.8 billion units. This achievement positioned the country as the third-largest aluminium can market globally, according to Abralatas. The growth rate averaged 7.6 per cent year-on-year, surpassing the 5 per...
New US tariff on aluminium cans, beer and automobiles: who will shoulder the burden between exporters and consumers?
As the world awaited the United States' reciprocal tariffs on April 2, 2025, President Donald Trump caught everyone off guard with a new move: a 25 per cent duty on imported beer & aluminium cans and assembled automobiles & car parts. This did not mean that Trump exempted his trade partners from reciprocal tariffs; rather, he simply added another surprise to the mix. As per the report, tariff on beer and empty aluminium cans will take effect on Friday, April 4, at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time, while cars and car parts will face the duty a day earlier. Already, this new tariff announcement has sent shockwaves through businesses worldwide, sparking speculation about the potential impacts on trade dynamics, price structures, and consumer sentiment. Concerns in the beer and can market In 2024, the...
