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.
India Energy Week 2026 ends but sets the course for aluminium’s green transition
India Energy Week 2026, which concluded on January 30, has left the energy ecosystem with much to reflect on for the year ahead. The fourth edition of the 4-day conference reinforced a clear message and that was every industry, whether directly or indirectly connected to power, electricity, and fuel must now reassess its strategies in light of accelerating energy transition journey. And among all the industries, definitely aluminium takes a centre stage in this discussion, given its energy-intensive nature. Data indicates aluminium embodies total 186-211 GJ of energy per tonne, while primary aluminium production alone needs 13.5 to 17 MWh per tonne. At the same time, the industry is under mounting pressure to decarbonsie its ecosystem, with a near-term goal of bringing the carbon...
AL Circle x Karl Matthíasson: “Heading into 2026, energy costs will continue to be high and pressures for producers and recyclers will intensify”
With over 16 years of extensive experience in the metals industry, Karl Matthíasson is a visionary leader at the helm of DTE, a leading solution provider for molten metal processing, including aluminium. As a co-founder, CSO and the former CEO, his knowledge of the industry is central to DTE’s long term business strategy for growth and market normalisation. Karl's journey with DTE began as a joint co-founder, where he has played pivotal roles such as COO, CFO, and CEO. Instrumental in securing over USD 25 million in Seed and Series A funding and multiple grants, Karl was the driving force behind DTE's journey to commercial readiness. His strategic acumen laid the foundation for DTE's corporate strategy, business model, and overall development and his commitment to values is evident in the...
World primary aluminium production growth hits 5-year low in 2025 as GCC output weakens and China nears 45MT ceiling
Going by the world primary aluminium production trend since 2020, 2025 saw the slowest pace in half a decade, reflecting a structural shift rather than a cycling dip. According to the International Aluminium Institute, world primary aluminium production grew by only 1.06 per cent, a sharpest deceleration from the 3.24 per cent growth recorded in 2024. Between 2020 and 2023, the world primary aluminium production growth remained between 2.4 and 2.9 per cent, underscoring how exceptional 2025 proved to be. Yet despite this muted growth, 2025 became one of the most closely watched years for the aluminium industry, as it coincided with China nearing its long-anticipated 45‑million‑tonne production cap and a visible pivot across regions from primary production to recycling-led supply...
Rio Tinto’s 2025 scorecard: Record bauxite production despite uneven quarters reflects strong operational discipline
Resilient operational and financial performance defines Rio Tinto’s year-end report card for 2025. The London- and Melbourne-headquartered mining major closed the year with solid gains across its aluminium value chain, proving that deliberate strategy and disciplined execution are all it takes to offset market volatility and operational challenges. Rio Tinto’s broad-based improvement in production despite intermittent quarterly softness was primarily built on three core pillars: operational excellence, disciplined project delivery, and capital control. Rio Tinto Chief Executive Simon Trott said: “Our operations delivered exceptional production performance, both on a quarter-on-quarter and full year basis, as we leverage our strong foundation of operating excellence and project delivery...
Nearly 8MT aluminium is used in solar photovoltaic – what is happening to its circularity at end-of-life?
End-of-life management of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems is fast emerging as a challenge and a strategic priority for manufacturing industries worldwide. Especially, aluminium circularity is becoming a focal point considering the metal accounts for more than about 85 per cent of PV component materials like frames and mounting structures. Truth to be told, solar waste is a growing concern now with the rapid rise in PV installations globally. In 2024, global installed capacity exceeded 2.2 TW, with nearly 600 GW added in a single year. Going by the International Renewable Energy Agency’s (IRENA) estimation, around 1.7-8 million tonnes of waste are likely to be generated from PV modules by 2030, and that by 2050, is expected to soar to between 60 and 78 million tonnes, a substantial share...
Aluminium Vision 2047 vs Reality in 2025: Ambition, progress, and the gaps in between
To set the context of this piece, it is necessary to understand that India’s Aluminium Vision 2047 and Viksit Bharat are intrinsically aligned and they complement each other’s ambition. Truth be told, achieving the milestones outlined in the Aluminium Vision 2047 can place India on course to realise the broader objectives of Viksit Bharat. Ultimately, both the frameworks envision India as a self-reliant country in terms of robust manufacturing ecosystem, lower import dependence, high per capita consumption & Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and resource efficiency with a circular economy. The deadline for both Aluminium Vision and Viksit Bharat is also the same – 2047, the year India marks centenary of its independence. While there are over 2 decades to achieve the vision but early signs of...
From peak to plunge: What puts Australia alumina FOB price under pressure in 2025 and what it looks like in 2026
For over a year now, the Australian alumina market has rarely stayed out of the headlines. Sometimes due to capacity curtailment at refineries and sometimes because of the volatile Free On Board (FOB) price, which swung dramatically within a span of a year from as high as USD 700 per tonne in Q4 2024 to USD 317 per tonne in Q4 2025. Factors like freight rates and currency movements to investor sentiment pull at the price lever, yet the fundamental triad of production, demand, and supply plays the most critical role in directing the price movement. Australia’s benchmark role in the global alumina trade For being the world’s second-largest supplier of alumina after Guinea, Australia’s alumina FOB price is widely treated as a benchmark for long-term contracts, hedging strategies, and spot...
Oil, Energy Security, or Fiscal Relief - what Venezuela means for US
At the start of 2026, the Trump administration once again dominates global headlines—much as it did at the beginning of 2025. Then, the flashpoint was tariffs on aluminium and steel imports; now, it is the US military strike on Venezuela. In the early hours of January 3, 2026, around 2 a.m. local time, the United States launched a military operation codenamed Operation Absolute Resolve; and within the next few days, speculation over Washington’s motives and the broader consequences has intensified. Well, President Donald Trump has been unequivocal about the intent. Following the seizure of President Nicolás Maduro, Trump announced that the US would assume control of Venezuela to tap into the South American nation’s vast oil reserves. This move is quite a familiar geo-political pattern as...
LME aluminium contract crosses $3000/t as supply deficit deepens with China’s 45-MT cap, smelter cuts, and US tariffs
Tightened supply outlook and long-term demand bets have taken the three-month LME aluminium contract to USD 3,015.50 per tonne for the first time in more than three years, as of Friday, January 2, 2026. Perhaps, this is the beginning of price rally as projected by many market analysts for 2026. China’s self-imposed 45-million-tonne cap on primary aluminium production, trade restrictions driven by tariffs, and smelter shutdowns caused by prolonged energy crises have constrained global supply of the metal. Meanwhile, demand remains resilient, creating a widening gap that has set the stage for a price surge. Global deficit outlook strengthens price momentum Market intelligence projects a global deficit of around 2 million tonnes in 2026, sending the aluminium prices to an average of USD...
The other side of energy transition with rising solar waste – how circular economy matters
Who knew renewable energy, particularly solar, which itself is a cornerstone of the global energy transition and the most effective pathway to sustainability would trigger hazardous waste generation concern? The irony is hard to miss that as the world ramps up the share of renewable power in energy mix by deploying more of solar panels and wind turbines to chase sustainability goals, the risk of creating a new waste crisis grows. While more solar capacity is in line to be deployed, accounting for 80 per cent of the estimated 4,600 GW of new renewable capacity between 2025 and 2030, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) estimates around 1.7-8 million tonnes of waste to be generated from PV modules by 2030, and that by 2050, is expected to soar to between 60 and 78 million...
45MT cap in name only! China’s influence on the global aluminium market lives on through Asia
As China edges closer to its self-imposed primary aluminium production cap of 45 million tonnes, a set of billion-dollar questions is reverberating in air. Is the global market counting days for supply deficit? Will anybody step in to bridge the gap? If yes, then who can do so at scale? While these questions seem obvious, answers may appear to be far less aligned with prevailing assumptions. However, before exploring the possibilties, let us check how the market is already reacting to the early signals of supply deficit amidst steady demand growth. How is primary aluminium responding to today’s market condition? Already the rising demand and supply deficit is making its presence felt in prices. Primary aluminium on the London Metal Exchange has climbed to USD 2,932 per tonne (as of...
Fifteen years, over 95% recycling, 18MT GHG emissions avoided - Brazil turns aluminium cans into a climate asset
Brazil’s aluminium can industry is deeply interwined with the country’s economy and lifestyle, and this is not any recent development but the outcome of consistent, decades-long journey that began in 1989 with Latasa’s first factory in Pouso Alegre, Minas Gerais. Since then, there is no looking back! Through innovation, collaboration, and awareness, the South American country becomes a global leader in aluminium cans. And at the core of this lies sustainability. More specifically, Brazil’s ability to leverage aluminium’s defining advantage – infinite recyclability. As awareness of this attribute grew, aluminium cans gained wide acceptance as a preferred beverage packaging solution. In a decade, by 1999, the production of cans hit 10 billion units, and by 2009, it doubled to 20 billion...
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AL Circle x Dr Mandy Glew from Ball Corporation: “Global demand for aluminium cans is projected to grow steadily to 470 billion units by 2026”
Dr Mandy Glew serves as President of Beverage Packaging EMEA and Asia at Ball Corporation. She holds a wealth of experience with over two decades of expertise in commercial operations, sales, marketing, and manufacturing within the FMCG industry. AL Circle: Ball Corporation has just celebrated the 90th anniversary of the beverage can. How has this segment evolved over the decades, and where do you see the potential ahead? Dr Mandy Glew : From the first steel can in 1935 to today’s aluminium format that can be recycled endlessly, the beverage can has transformed the way we consume drinks. Over the decades, it evolved from a simple container into a highly engineered, design-rich and sustainability-led packaging solution. Today’s cans deliver unmatched functionality – from lightweighting and...
AL Circle X Göksal Güngör from EAFA Roller Group: “Packaging will continue to be the primary driver of demand for aluminium foil in Europe”
In conversation with Göksal Güngör, the newly elected Chair of the Roller Group at the European Aluminium Foil Association (EAFA), wherein the industry veteran outlines a clear roadmap for the Association’s next phase. Güngör, who also serves as General Manager of Assan Alüminyum , emphasises innovation and sustainability as his top priorities in the new role. In this interview, he has shared his aluminium foil market projection for 2026, while highlighting the key sectors that he expects to drive the trajectory in Europe. AL Circle: As the newly elected chair of the European Aluminium Foil Association, what will be your first priority in steering the continent’s foil industry toward its next phase of growth? Göksal Güngör: As the newly elected Chair of the Roller Group within the...
Vietnam’s rare earth export ban – imitating China, developing import-substitution, or laying the foundation for energy transition
Vietnam is recently being portrayed as “following China’s playbook” on rare earths after it introduced a ban on exports. But if studied closely, they are structurally different with two distinct objectives. While China has restricted its rare earth exports, effective April 4, 2025, using licensing, quotas, and regulatory scrutiny to reinforce its dominance over a supply chain it already controls, Vietnam has put a complete ban, effective January 2026, to supporting its domestic industry that has struggled for decades to exploit its reserves. 中文翻译附于新闻末尾，敬请继续阅读。 China vs Vietnam - imitation of policy or inspiration? China still accounts for 70 per cent of the global rare earth supply, boasting 700 million tonnes of reserves. and an even larger share of processing and magnet manufacturing....
AL Circle x Patrice L’HUILLIER from Nimba Mining: "We are targeting China and India, which are the major bauxite consumers for alumina production”
Patrice L’HUILLIER is a seasoned mining & metals executive with more than 30 years’ global experience in project development & operations across the resources sector. He has led development, and operation of projects in France, Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Africa and Canada, with expertise across a range of commodities including bauxite, aluminum, iron ore, copper, cobalt and manganese. As COO of multiple publicly listed companies over the past two decades, Mr L’Huillier has extensive experience of operations management covering exploration, mining, metallurgy, and putting several greenfield projects into production. Patrice L’Huillier has graduated from Ecole Nationale des Ponts & Chaussées, Paris, France. AL Circle: Nimba Mining Company has made an impressive debut, shipping 200,000...
AL Circle x Benjamin Pope from Sortera: “Scrap is necessary to support a competitive aluminium market”
Benjamin Pope’s career spans over 20 years in the metals industry, with a concentration in non-ferrous materials, primarily aluminium. His experience encompasses the full spectrum of aluminium products, including billet, flat-roll, secondary ingot, and various scrap streams, all within the context of supporting the automotive industry. This hands-on experience in the buying and selling of aluminium has given him a deep understanding of the industry’s processes and a robust network, enabling him to introduce and implement new technologies aimed at improving aluminium circularity. AL Circle: Looking back at 2025, how would you characterise the aluminium recycling landscape and its defining trends? In what ways has the industry transformed amid rapid technological breakthroughs? Benjamin...
Aluminium Fluoride’s dual reality - indispensable to aluminium, burdensome to producers
Aluminium fluoride (AlF3) has long been a critical ingredient in aluminium production – vital for efficient electrolysis yet scrutinised for its environmental and economic costs. On one hand, it is a necessity, on the other, a dilemma. Functionally, aluminium fluoride is a cornerstone of the Hall–Héroult process as it reduces electrolyte’s melting point from ~2000°C to <1000°C, cuts energy consumption, increases the bath’s conductivity, and helps dissolve alumina into the electrolyte. In short, this additive allows for efficient electrolysis of alumina (Al₂O₃) into molten aluminum metal. But its utility comes at a cost, both literally and environmentally. The price of aluminium fluoride, although varies by purity and supplier, typically ranges between USD 1,000 and USD 1,800 per tonne in...
