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.
Hongte Technology bets big on auto recovery with new aluminium die cast plant in Thailand
Guangdong Hongte Technology Co., Ltd., or simply Hongte Technology, popularly engaged in manufacturing precision die casting of aluminium alloys, has unveiled its sweeping expansion blueprint with €78 million investment funds that it plans to raise. The finances are planned to be deployed strategically across four areas, which include the construction of a Thai auto parts production facility (Phase I), a state-of-the-art research and development centre at headquarters, a technical upgrade at the Zhaoqing plant, and boosting working capital to navigate market shifts with greater agility. But why now amid the volatile global economy? It is only because of the recovery of the automotive industry that prompts Hongte Technology to fast-track its technological transformation and enhance...
US semi-finished aluminium exports climb 11% in Q1 2025 - Is South Korea the new China with startling supplies?
The United States’ dynamic transformation in aluminium trade landscape is very well reflected through its semi-finished product imports, specifically aluminium plates, sheets, and bars as they show both volume growth and evolving sourcing patterns in Q1 2025. Despite maintaining a modest 22 per cent share of the country’s total aluminium imports during the quarter, this segment displayed a notable increase in volume, reaching 324,000 tonnes, up 10.69 per cent from 292,700 tonnes in Q4 2024. Yet, this sequential uptick didn’t surpass the 339,000 tonnes imported in Q2 2024. However, it did outpace Q3 2024’s figure of 300,600 tonnes and marked a 10.97 per cent rise year-on-year from 292,000 tonnes, reinforcing the upward trajectory driven by policy anticipation and domestic demand. February...
World alumina production in May rebounds by 3% M-o-M , but with a dip in daily output
In May 2025, world alumina production recorded a slight rise month-on-month following a slump in April, but not without a twist. While total monthly output rose to 12.626 million tonnes, marking a 3 per cent increase, the daily average slipped slightly from 408,400 tonnes to 407,300 tonnes, according to the International Aluminium Institute (IAI). The decline in daily output is likely due to one fewer operational day in May’s calendar. Of the total alumina production in May, metallurgical-grade ore accounted for 11.841 million tonnes, making up 93.78 per cent of the total output, while chemical-grade output stood at 785,000 tonnes, contributing 6.22 per cent to the overall production. Notably, the growth in May alumina production was exclusively driven by metallurgical-grade ore, as...
Q1 2025: Thailand scooped up US aluminium scrap when rest of the world slowed down
While the United States witnessed a modest uptick in aluminium imports during Q1 2025, aluminium exports took a noticeable plunge. Not by a marginal 10,000 or 20,000 tonnes, but a steep 95,000 tonnes year-on-year. From 854,000 tonnes in Q1 2024, US aluminium exports (including scrap) shrank to 759,000 tonnes in Q1 2025, marking an 11 per cent annual decline. This decline, however, isn’t evenly spread across all aluminium product categories or destinations, and it raises questions about the underlying shifts in global aluminium trade dynamics. Exports across the board According to recent figures from the US Geological Survey, the fall in aluminium exports touched all categories - crude metal and alloy, semi-fabricated products, and even scrap, though to varying degrees. Crude metal and...
5-year countdown: How close is the aluminium industry to meeting the 2030 low-carbon goal?
A gentle but urgent reminder: the world has just five years left to meet the 2030 low-carbon target – a milestone set by high energy-intensive industries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 45 per cent from 2010 levels of approximately 43,420.56 megatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, aiming to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. This ambitious target is not an individual checkpoint but a vital stop on the journey to net zero-emissions by 2050. With the clock ticking, it is essential to track where exactly do the world’s carbon-heavy industries stand today? Are we on pace—or falling further behind? A report by the Mission Possible Partnership (MPP), which is a climate alliance dedicated to accelerating decarbonisation of the world’s heaviest-emitting industries,...
Get set to scroll an interactive e-Magazine ‘Aluminium China 2025 and Beyond’ – Your VIP pass to the future China market
When it comes to aluminium, China is not just in the game — it is the game. As the world’s top producer and consumer, the country has long been the heavyweight champion in the global aluminium industry, gracefully sidestepping every curveball - be it anti-dumping duties, steep tariffs, or even its own annual production cap. Through it all, the country keeps flexing its muscles with jaw-dropping innovation, insatiable demand, and next-level sustainability goals. And guess what? AL Circle is right into the action – with boots on the ground and eyes on the alloy! The team has participated in one of the biggest trade shows and B2B platforms ALUMINIUM China 2025 as a media partner. That’s not all - we have also rolled out an interactive magazine dedicated to the event - titled " Aluminium...
20% hike in the United States Q1 aluminium imports - UAE’s role signals trade rethink
A quarterly and annual jump in the United States aluminium imports during the first quarter of 2025 comes as no surprise – and here’s why. President Trump’s February 10 proclamation announcing steep tariffs on aluminium and steel imports, effective March 12, sparked a wave of anticipatory buying. US importers rushed to stockpile metal in the weeks ahead of the tariff deadline, setting off a temporary import boom. According to data from the US Geological Survey, aluminium imports surged to 1.6 million tonnes in Q1 2025, marking a 17.65 per cent jump year-on-year and a 20 per cent rise from the previous quarter. March alone saw a 35 per cent month-over-month spike, from 459,000 tonnes to 619,000 tonnes. Of course, Canada, America’s long-standing aluminium supplier, naturally played a...
Inside the US-India trade talks: any breakthrough on aluminium and steel tariffs?
Note: This is an AI-generated image for respresentational purpose All eyes are now fixed on the trade dialogue between India and the United States that kicked off on June 26. The stakes are high—not for a full-fledged trade deal, but for an interim agreement that could shift the course of escalating tariff tensions. The clock is ticking, as July 9 marks the end of the 90-day suspension period of Donald Trump’s retaliatory 26 per cent aluminium tariffs announced on April 2. Over the past three months, both nations have engaged in a flurry of bilateral exchanges to resolve the tariff deadlock, particularly surrounding aluminium and steel. India even took its grievances to the World Trade Organization, challenging Washington's move as blatant protectionism disguised as trade policy. Yet, all...
Ottawa reaches Rio Tinto with financial aid offer - support for tariff or billion-dollar investment?
According to a recent report, the Canadian government has entered into critical discussions with Rio Tinto to assess the financial support required to help the company overcome the crushing effect of the US aluminium and steel tariffs. Industry Minister Mélanie Joly, speaking on July 3 during her visit to Quebec's Saguenay region, confirmed that Ottawa is willing to provide liquidity support to safeguard jobs in Canada's aluminium sector. Businesses need liquidity, and we're ready to help - stated Joly during her meeting with local business leaders. The previous day, Minister Joly paid a visit to Rio Tinto's aluminium smelter in Arvida, Quebec, where she met with the company's leadership team, employees, and the union, and conveyed the Canadian government's message that its priority is to...
“We are extremely concerned by the sharp rise in scrap outflows driven by the fact that aluminium scrap is not subject to the same tariffs as other aluminium products, which are now subject to 50 per cent,” Kelly Roegies, Senior Communications Manager of the European Association
The AL Circle Team recently interviewed Kelly Roegies, Senior Communications Manager of the European Association, wherein she provided an overview of the current landscape of the European aluminium industry, highlighting the effects of US tariffs. In addition, she discussed the potential aluminium scrap crisis due to the US tariff exemptions on scrap imports, while also offering solutions to curb excessive outflow from the continent. According to her, the growing fear of losing scrap from Europe is justified. To know more of her insights and opinion, read the full interview below: AL Circle: Could you provide an overview of the current state of the European aluminium industry, particularly with regard to production levels, market demand, and overall consumption? Additionally, how have the...
Aluminerie Alouette bags 15-year hydro power deal – greener aluminium on the horizon
Electricity is one of the key inputs for an aluminium smelter, requiring around 13,000 to 17,000 kWh for one tonne (1000 kg) of production. So, the more electric supply, the better it is for any primary aluminium producer; and if it is a hydro or green energy supply, then the best it is for sustainability goals. Aluminerie Alouette Inc., a large aluminium smelter located in Sept-Îles, Quebec, Canada, partially owned by AMAG Austria Metall AG, has reportedly secured a long-term power contract from the state-owned Hydro-Québec, charting the path to greener production amp up. The news surfaced after the Alouette and Hydro-Québec signed a Memorandum of Understanding, agreeing on supplying 1,035 MW of electricity from January 1, 2030, to December 31, 2045. In addition, 50 MW, divided into two...
India-UAE advance aluminium and steel bilateral trade pact – CEPA at the core
At a time when global bilateral trade relations face mounting uncertainty, India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are moving into a new alliance centered on premium aluminium and steel. According to a report on July 2, Union Steel Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and UAE Economy Minister Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri met as part of a high-level engagement to advance India-UAE cooperation under the CEPA (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement) framework. The meeting was focused on joint development of high-grade aluminium and steel, which are vital for India’s growing automobile and strategic sectors. “We see clear synergy in jointly producing and trading high-quality steel and aluminium for use in sectors such as automobiles, mobility, and high-end manufacturing,” Shri Kumaraswamy said while...
World primary aluminium production grows in May, with China, Africa, and North America touching 5-month high
According to the International Aluminium Institute (IAI), the world’s primary aluminium production in May 2025 trended up over a month, mirroring the pattern observed in the same period last year—but with a sharper pace of growth. While in May 2024, the world’s output had grown by 2.22 per cent month-on-month, this year, it increased by 3.3 per cent. From 6.044 million tonnes in April 2025, global output rose to 6.245 million tonnes in May, while the same period in 2024 had seen a climb from 5.913 million tonnes to 6.151 million tonnes. Thus, on a year-on-year calculation, the production volume in May 2025 was 1.53 per cent higher than in the same period of the earlier year. Nations with a 5-month high output – China leads, but how long? The production increased worldwide, but in some...
Behind the LME aluminium shortfall is Russia-China story with no easy fix
There was a time when LME aluminium inventory (opening stock) was at 1.47 million tonnes. Only four years ago in July 2021, Live Warrants were at 8,97,275 tonnes and Cancelled Warrants at 5,68,500 tonnes. Fast-forward four years, LME aluminium opening stock came in at 340,975 tonnes, marking a sharp fall of more than half. While stock loss is one concern, the other is the slim chance of stock build-up in the near future, due to which the LME aluminium benchmark price would remain on the upward trend. Already, by June 23, 2025, the LME aluminium 3-month official settlement price reached USD 2,584.50 per tonne, up by 6 per cent M-o-M from USD 2,448 per tonne, driven by decreased LME aluminium opening stock from 384,575 tonnes to 340,975 tonnes. Of the total 340,975 tonnes of opening stocks,...
US alumina imports surge as domestic output falters — a sign of growing reliance?
While bauxite imports to the United States show a steady course, alumina tells a different story. In the first quarter of 2025, US alumina imports reached 439,000 tonnes, marking a significant uptick both year-on-year and quarter-on-quarter. The data revealed a 24.7 per cent rise from the previous quarter (352,000 tonnes) and an even sharper 53.5 per cent leap compared to Q1 2024 (286,000 tonnes), signaling a marked shift in sourcing dynamics. The upward trajectory, which began in Q2 2024 with 325,000 tonnes, gained momentum through Q3 (378,000 tonnes), momentarily slowed in Q4 (352,000 tonnes), and rebounded strongly in Q1 2025. This pattern, when juxtaposed with falling domestic production, paints a clear picture: the US is becoming increasingly dependent on imported alumina. Brazil and...
Update from CEO: Waaree Energies not exiting from Odisha
Dismissing recent reports suggesting otherwise, Waaree Energies CEO and whole-time director Amit Paithankar has reaffirmed that the company’s integrated solar manufacturing facility in Odisha is progressing as planned, with no change in location. This statement comes in the wake of a regulatory filing on June 19, which indicated that Waaree’s board had approved a change in the location of its originally proposed project—initially slated for Dhenkanal, Odisha. The filing also noted that the company had begun exploring alternative sites with abundant renewable energy resources, listing Gujarat and Tamil Nadu as potential options. This development sparked speculation that Waaree was exiting Odisha . Further fueling doubts, the company’s revised manufacturing roadmap made no mention of...
Odisha stands to miss out on the opportunity to host Waaree’s integrated solar manufacturing facility
In a setback to Odisha's industrial aspirations, Waaree Energies, India's largest solar module manufacturer, has decided to shelve its plans for an integrated solar manufacturing facility in the state. The ambitious project, initially slated for Dhenkanal district, was to encompass the full solar value chain, including the production of ingots, wafers, cells, and modules under one roof. Image source: Waaree Energies In a regulatory filing on Thursday, June 19, Waaree stated that its original project location, outlined in the prospectus dated October 23, 2024, would be changed as approved by the board. Now, it is awaiting the approval of shareholders. "The company is experiencing delays in the execution of the project at the location specified in the Prospectus," said Waaree in a...
No G20 repeat at G7: Canada warns of tariffs on US aluminium and steel amid faltering trade talks
Following a disappointing outcome at the G7 summit, Canada has signaled to adopt a tougher stance against the United States, as a renewed trade standoff threatens to unravel years of economic integration under the USMCA. Initially, the G7 platform had reignited a hope for the cooperative spirit that led to the 2020 USMCA trade pact, often dubbed “NAFTA 2.0”, but eventually concluded without any resolution on escalating tariff tensions. As a result, Canada is preparing to implement further retaliatory measures against the US, responding to Washington’s planned 50 per cent tariff hike on Canadian goods scheduled to take effect on July 9, 2025. At the heart of the dispute lies the inability of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and US President Donald Trump to reconcile differences on...
