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.
AL Circle x Edgardo Gelsomino from Wood Mackenzie: “I am afraid aluminium supply in the coming years is not going to get greener”
Edgardo Gelsomino has been a Subject Matter Expert in aluminium at Wood Mackenzie since 2010. Before joining Wood Mackenzie, Edgardo worked for an aluminium producer other leading London-based research and consulting firms. His work has spanned the entire aluminium value chain, including carbon products and power, delivering both research studies and consulting assignments. In an interview with AL Circle, he has shared his valuable opinion on future aluminium prices, supply chain in the near-term, impact of China’s 45-million-tonne cap on the global industry, and CBAM implications. Read the interview below to get key insights into the near-term aluminium industry dynamics. AL Circle: Aluminium prices touched USD2,900/t in early November 2025, and after a short-lived correction, they...
UK aluminium squeezed by weak production, soaring demand, and high energy costs – What's the way forward? What UK Budget indicates?
The United Kingdom’s aluminium industry has two options ahead to survive - one is by remaining reliant on imported aluminium cast, rolled, extruded, or forged semi-fabricated products with little or no control over embedded carbon, and the other is by developing a domestic recycling-based supply chain aligned with circular economy principles and national net zero goals. Because over the years, almost all the UK’s primary aluminium smelters have shut their operations due to unbearable energy costs. The only remaining smelter is the one owned by Alvanche in Lochaber, capable of producing a small fraction (50,000 tonnes per year) of the UK’s growing aluminium need. UK aluminium demand vs production According to 2024 analysis, aluminium consumption in the UK domestic market was about 296,000...
One month to CBAM: what’s in, what’s out, who pays, and how the aluminium industry must prepare
When the European Union rolled out its Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) in 2023, a few energy-intensive industries felt the tremors more. Aluminium was one of them, while the rest were iron and steel, cement, fertilisers, hydrogen, and electricity industries. For them, CBAM appeared not just as another climate regulation but as a structural shift in its basic operational values. Apparently, CBAM is a bespoke tariff policy designed to target imported goods with high carbon emissions. But its underlying goal is also to introduce a level playing field in the domestic market by imposing the same carbon costs on importers that indigenous manufacturers pay under the ETS (Emissions Trading System). Among all the sectors caught in the net, aluminium and iron/steel are poised for the most...
Strong metal packaging market in North America and Europe reflects through Ardagh’s Q3 earnings
Ardagh Group, a global supplier of packaging solution, has turned in a solid set of numbers for the third quarter of 2025 ended September 30, riding on resilient demand for packaging across Europe and the Americas. Here metal packaging was star of the show overlooking glass that let Ardagh saw an uptick in Q3 performance. Metal packaging emerged as the star performer in Q3 For the three months ended September 30, the Group’s revenue resulted in USD 2,504 million in three months, up by 4.86 per cent from USD 2,388 million a year ago. While glass packaging in North America slipped 2.4 per cent, metal packaging held its ground with an increase of 8.4 per cent from USD 741 million to USD 803 million. Even in Europe, the revenue from metal packaging saw a staggering rise of 9.3 per cent from...
India aims for 68% renewable and nuclear power capacity by 2032 - what should aluminium smelters do about energy mix?
India is exactly in the middle of energy transition, with its non-fossil fuel capacity exceeding 50 per cent of the national power mix. By 2032, the aim is to achieve 68 per cent of renewable and nuclear power capacity of the total energy mix. With this, the wake-up call for energy-intensive industries becomes explicit that the adoption of renewable energy is no longer optional. Particularly for the aluminium industry, which is one of the most electricity-hungry industrial sectors, the implications are sharp, but the path is far from straightforward. India’s reliance on coal and why so Not judging, but Indian aluminium industry is still heavily reliant on coal-fired electricity for its operations. Reasons are many, such as the need for round –the-clock power supply. An aluminium smelter...
Maan Aluminium peaks 52-week high above INR 160, propelled by strong profit and capacity push
Maan Aluminium, an India-based manufacturer and trader of aluminium profiles, has reportedly advanced to a year-high in intraday trading, standing above INR 160 (USD 1.79). This peak follows back-to-back gains in the past three days from INR 132.41 (USD 1.48) on November 24 to INR 149.12 (USD 1.67) on November 27. Hence, until the moment, Maan Aluminium has recorded a hike of 21.5 per cent since November 24, delivering an 18 per cent return to shareholders. The report says the company opened the trading session this morning with a gap of 4.36 per cent, signalling robust buying sentiment in the market. Also, the company’s performance compared to its peers from other metal sectors by leading with a stock price above 4.81 per cent also indicates strength within the non-ferrous metals...
1914-2025: More than 100 years of America’s journey from primary smelting to modern circularity – and this is how tariff fits in
The United States shares a deep, long, and almost personal bond with aluminium as the metal has played a pivotal role in shaping up the nation’s manufacturing base while contributing about USD 228.31 billion to the economy. But at the same time, the industry in the US has weather many highs and lows. The country was once responsible for contributing more than 50 per cent to the world's primary aluminium supply and now it accounts for less than 1 per cent. But has this shift hurt the nation's backbone in the aluminium industry, has it carved out new pathways to sustain its legacy in the sector? Here’s a look at the century-long evolution of America’s aluminium landscape and what's reshaping it. The journey of aluminium industry in the United States back to World War I (1914-1918) when...
World alumina production aligns with demand forecast, with a 6% growth in Q3 2025
The world alumina production concluded the third quarter of 2025 with a positive trajectory, overcoming a soft September thanks to strong output in July and August when the volume reached an all-time high . Although primary aluminium production slowed, alumina output remained tightly aligned with consumption trends. Strong momentum keeps alumina output aligned with consumption According to the International Aluminium Insitute, the world alumina production volume in Q3 2025 amounted to 39.387 million tonnes versus 37.225 million tonnes, reflecting a Q-o-Q rise of 5.81 per cent. While metallurgical-grade climbed up from 34.937 million tonnes to 37.002 million tonnes, chemical-grade grew from 2.288 million tonnes to 2.385 million tonnes. Through the first nine months, the output also showed...
RUSAL's low-carbon aluminium: the silent force behind Russia-Turkey's strategic partnership
The trade relation between the Russian Federation and Turkey dates back to the 1990s, following the collapse of the Soviet Union. What began as an exchange of food, energy, and industrial goods has matured into a modern partnership defined by sustainability, technology, and green metal trade. And at the heart of this evolving relationship stands RUSAL, Russia’s major aluminium producer. How? Rusal’s low-carbon aluminium journey aligns seamlessly with Turkey’s green energy ambitions. As Turkey accelerates its energy transition and strengthens its manufacturing base, its need for sustainable materials surges. Aluminium, the metal of choice for mobility, construction, and clean energy technologies, is now a linchpin in Turkey’s industrial strategy. Turkey’s rising aluminium appetite: What’s...
US Aluminium Midwest Premiums hit record high – what drives the surge and who bears the cost?
On the evening of November 10, 2025, Aluminium buyers in the US physical market witnessed history unfold as the Midwest Premium surged to an all-time high of USD 1,950.15 per tonne , striking a sharp growth of 2.87 per cent overnight from USD 1,895.72 per tonne. The Midwest Premium, a surcharge on top of the London Metal Exchange (LME) price that reflects local delivery costs, logistics, and regional supply-demand dynamics, has become a direct casualty of US protectionist measures. Analysts attribute the latest spike to the combined effects of steep tariffs and mounting supply chain distortions, which have tightened domestic availability of the metal. Surges over several months However, this hike is not an overnight affair. The rally has been building steadily since the beginning of 2025....
Global bauxite upswing triggers exports, expansions and collaborations across the aluminium ecosystem – here’s what’s unfolding
The global bauxite market size is poised to grow at a CAGR of 2.7 per cent by 2032, reaching USD 19.6 billion. In 2024, the market size was USD 15.9 billion, and in 2025, it is expected to stand at USD 16.4 billio - still a USD 3.2 billion journey away from its projected peak. And as the numbers rise, so does the momentum across the industry. It unveils news projects, secures fresh investments, expands capacities, and even reshapes policies to align with the changing market landscape. The past week was a vivid reflection of this energy. Guinea ramped up its shipment volumes, Tianshan Aluminium expanded its footprint, and Metro Mining reaffirmed its steady march toward its 2025 shipment target.The wave of activity did not stop there. Riding on the same current of progress, alumina refiners...
Bigger capacity, greater impact? Assessing if Novelis faces a deeper fiscal blow from Oswego fire than Sierre flood
History has a way of repeating itself for Novelis; and this time, it has done so in barely a year. During the second quarter of FY2025, Novelis endured financial and operational stress due to a severe flood at its Sierre plant in Switzerland. Cut to Q2 FY2026, Novelis again finds itself in a similar situation due to a fire outbreak at its Oswego plant in New York. While the timing of the incident was just two weeks before the quarter-end, it reflected not much effect on its Q2 financial results. But Novelis and its parent company Hindalco are embracing a negative impact on cash flow by about USD 550-650 million for FY2026, which also includes an estimated adjusted EBITDA loss of USD 100-150 million - a figure that signals the gravity of the operational disruption. This image is only for...
World primary aluminium production growth eases to 1% in 9 months - hit by China's cap, high energy costs and much more
What is up with the primary aluminium production at the end of the third quarter 2025 - wonders many people, especially with China nearing its 45 million tonnes cap, Australia grappling with energy crisis, and North America shifting its focus to secondary aluminium. Till the end of June, the world primary aluminium production was found stable, although with a few random shifts in dynamics, standing at 36.5 million tonnes – up by 1.4 per cent from 36 million tonnes a year ago. Even the quarterly production climbed up the graph from 18.115 million tonnes in Q1 2025 to 18.377 million tonnes in 2025. Growth persists but at a cooler pace Now, it remains to be seen whether the trend will persist through Q3 or take a different course over the next three months. Ultimately, we will assess whether...
Recycled ALuminium outlook: demand surge, capacity race, and the policy forces shaping it all
Over the years, the global aluminium recycling market is on an upward trajectory, with recycled aluminium usage standing at 27.7 million tonnes in 2023 and 28.4 million tonnes in 2024, driven by the growing focus on sustainability, renewable energy and circular economy practices. AL Circle’s comprehensive industry focus report, titled: “ World Recycled ALuminium Market Analysis Industry Forecast to 2032 ”, highlights that by the end of 2032, the global aluminium recycling market size is poised to grow at a CAGR of 4.62 per cent from USD 107.05 billion in 2023 to USD 160.8 billion. Demand forecast in line with usage What is driving this growth? Certainly, the growing demand for recycled aluminium and renewable energy products. Rusal forecasts the incremental global demand for aluminium is...
Energy crisis or more – what will potentially decide the fate of Tomago aluminium smelter?
More than three years and the shockwaves of energy crisis in Australia are still being felt loud and clear. Caused by not one particular factor, the crisis began in the spring of 2022 (April-July) due to the spike in international gas prices, domestic plant outages, and weak renewable power generation. Beyond these, political allegations for mismanagement also take a centre stage as the present federal energy minister, Chris Bowen, blames the earlier Coalition Government for taking no precautionary measures for the impending crisis, while the latter claims the new Labor Government is incapable to handle the situation. But whoever or whatever is at the blaming point, the fact remains undeniable that this energy crisis has scorched Australia’s manufacturing backbone, especially aluminium....
China’s aluminium industry walks a fine line between construction slowdown and automobile strength
China’s manufacturing industry, which has been the world’s largest for fifteen consecutive years, appears to be sputtering in 2025, weighed down by global trade tensions and waning domestic demand. Yet amid the broader industrial slowdown, one segment has quietly kept the aluminium sector afloat and that is the country’s resilient automobile industry. Manufacturing momentum falters Accounting for nearly 30 per cent of global manufacturing value and 26 per cent of the domestic GDP, China’s manufacturing sector has long been the backbone of the nation’s economy. However, since early 2025, signs of fatigue have been unmistakable. The Purchasing Manager’s index (PMI) – a key gauge of industrial activity - started the year in contraction, standing at 49.1 in January, according to the data...
Aluminium’s real paradox – energy use vs carbon saving: uncover the role of recycling in this from our latest magazine
If there’s one mission that unites nations, industries, and communities across the world today, it is sustainability. Achieving harmony between environmental protection, social equity, and economic growth to ensure long-term co-existence between humans, nature, and industries has become an ultimate goal for global progress. And this shared vision is compelling governments and industries alike to rethink how they operate, produce, and consume. From clean energy mandates to carbon taxation, every global policy is designed to reduce the rising carbon footprint for our planet’s future. Certainly, heavy industries are under the environmental spotlight, and aluminium is one of them since it emits 3 per cent of the world’s direct industrial CO2 emissions. However, the industry, which is long...
A week of highs for the upstream aluminium industry – Prices, policies, and projects take the centre stage
Price, policy, and projects – the three Ps - have defined the pulse of the global upstream aluminium industry this week. The sector has been abuzz with record-high prices on the London Metal Exchange, strategic investments in bauxite projects, and reports of a potential full-scale restart of a major US-based smelter. Adding to the flurry, strategic acquisition involving a Brazil-headquartered firm has further intensified the global dynamics of the upstream industry. Meanwhile, renewed discussions among world leaders on bilateral trade measures like tariffs and free trade agreement have made this week the most consequential for the industry. Upstream Weekly by AL Circle Pvt Ltd Price & production On Thursday, October 9, the LME aluminium benchmark price hit a record-high of the year,...
