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.
Why alumina is left out: A study unpacks the logic behind CBAM exclusion
The European Union’s hallmark policy in the view of equitable trade and environment protection—the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)—seems fair on the surface, as long as its framework remains focused on preventing carbon leakage and blocking the influx of cheap, high-emission goods into the domestic market. Under CBAM, a carbon price is levied on imported goods, aligned with the carbon costs EU producers incur under the Emission Trading System (ETS). That sounds like a just deal for domestic producers, ensuring a level playing field. But what about EU-headquartered companies that relocated their operations abroad to escape carbon taxes? Here's where the issue arises as these companies will be required to purchase certificates that reflect the carbon emissions embedded in their...
US bauxite imports slide 4% in Q1, with Turkey pulling back and Atlantic Alumina under pressure
The United States bauxite imports in the first quarter of 2025 recorded both annual and quarterly declines, highlighting the nation’s ongoing shift from primary aluminium production to a greater reliance on recycled materials. This strategic transition has reduced the demand for imported bauxite. According to data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS), Q1 2025 bauxite imports totalled 480,000 tonnes, marking a year-on-year decline of 4.2 per cent from 501,000 tonnes and lower than 500,000 tonnes brought in during Q4 2024. This decrease occurred despite a notable rise in imports from Jamaica, the United States' largest bauxite supplier. Imports from Jamaica surged to 429,000 tonnes in Q1 2025, up by 20.5 per cent from 356,000 tonnes in Q4 2024. However, this figure still marked...
Tariffs bite: US domestic B&C sector struggles with rising project costs as aluminium prices mount
Concerns over slowing business continue to resurface as the United States’ steep tariffs on aluminium and steel imports weigh heavily on domestic manufacturing industries. While the packaging sector has repeatedly raised red flags, the building and construction industry is now warning of mounting challenges amid the newly raised 50 per cent import duty — an issue that remained unresolved in the US-China trade talks held on June 11. Image source: Autodesk American real estate and construction companies are largely drawing attention to the potential financial strain that aluminium and steel tariffs could impose, using hypothetical cost projections to illustrate the impact. In a recent webinar, Sarah Vakili, Senior Director of Business Planning and Strategy at Skanska USA Building, one of...
3% aluminium stock rise in Japan, coupled with Q3 premium drop, signals market softening
Japanese general trading house Marubeni Corp reported that aluminium inventories at Japan’s three major ports (Yokohama, Nagoya, and Osaka) increased for the second consecutive month. As of the latest end of May data, the stocks rose to 331,000 metric tonnes, marking an increase of 3.3 per cent from April 2025. Continued increase in stocks in addition to premium drop underscores the ongoing weakness in aluminium demand in the Asian country. Moreover, the recent news reporting 0.2 per cent GDP shrinkage in Japan, albeit better than the initial estimation, further reflects the subdued market sentiment. How stocks moved M-o-M This month-on-month build-up started in April when stocks rose 3.4 per cent. In contrast, inventory levels in February 2025 saw a 3.5 per cent decline from the previous...
Here’s how Ghana is advancing its ambitious aluminium agenda; six new bauxite mining licences are in
The Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) has reportedly secured six new bauxite mining licences and achieved an essential milestone towards realising the country’s long-standing vision of building a fully integrated aluminium industry. Image source: Ghana Bauxite Company The news came on Thursday, June 12, after Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, Reindorf Twumasi Ankrah, confirmed the arrival of new mining licences that would help Ghana unlock its full mining potential of estimated 920 million tonnes of bauxite in three major locations - Nyinahin, Awaso, and Kyebi. “This is the foundation of a fully integrated aluminium value chain that begins in the soil and ends with high-grade aluminium products for global export.” Mr Ankrah aptly remarked, highlighting...
Donald Trump’s 50% tariff: A boon or blow for US aluminium companies?
As voices from aluminium associations across US trade-allied nations grow louder, one consensus is becoming clear that the United States’ decision to increase tariffs on aluminium imports to 50 per cent is unlikely to benefit its global partners. Now, whether this bold move by Donald Trump will favour his own domestic market or not is the pressing question that continues to divide the aluminium industry. The United States relies heavily on overseas suppliers for primary aluminium, downstream products, as well as scrap. Imposing such a steep tariff across these categories raises concerns over potential supply disruptions within the country, yet some US-based producers are betting on gains. Image source: X Century Aluminum, a primary aluminium producer, sees the tariff as an opportunity,...
Africa & Asia’s alumina production growth persists - April sees 4.5% jump with Indonesia a key driver
In April 2025, while most countries and regions witnessed a month-on-month decline in alumina production, there was one region that stood out as an exception and that was Africa & Asia (ex-China). According to the International Aluminium Institute, alumina production in Africa & Asia (ex-China) during April was 1.173 million tonnes, up by 4.45 per cent from the previous month’s 1.123 million tonnes. Production insights IAI data further indicates that Africa & Asia’s alumina output in April marked the second consecutive monthly rise, following a 7.36 per cent increase in March. In April, the growth extended but recorded relatively modest rate than the earlier month. As a result of increase in monthly output during April amid sluggish global alumina production, Africa & Asia’s (ex-China)...
Relief with a catch: Europe sees scrap leakage risk in US tariff exemptions
Note: This image is AI-generated and for representation purpose only The Trump Administration’s latest aluminium tariff hike to 50 per cent has triggered renewed concern among traders and manufacturers over a further shift in trade dynamics to a point where export markets may face a deepening blow. European aluminium producers are neither immune to this strain as worries linger over an increasingly fragile trade environment and fear grows for the further destablisation of trade relations between the two key economic partners. But more than tariff hike, what currently causes sleepless nights to the European aluminium industry is tariff exemption on scrap. Earlier, during the implementation of 25 per cent tariff effective from March 2025, the United States duty exemption on scrap already...
Europe’s primary aluminium output in first four months tracks last year’s rhythm, only volumes varied
Europe, including Russia, recorded a 2.2 per cent year-on-year growth in primary aluminium production during the first four months of 2025, driven by consistent growth in almost every month barring February when the output was 537,000 tonnes this year, compared to 540,000 tonnes in February 2024. Interestingly, the production pattern in 2025 closely mirrored that of the previous year, following a similar trajectory—dipping in February, rebounding in March, and tapering again in April – yet concluded the first four months with a rise from 2.26 million tonnes to 2.31 million tonnes, according to data releaved by the International Aluminium Institute. This increase was particularly due to a stronger growth momentum in production through April 2025 compared to the previous year. For instance,...
India’s bauxite production keeps growing despite the rising inbound shipments; April output tops 2 million tonnes
India is set to retain its position as the world’s second-largest primary aluminium producer, with a record-breaking monthly output in the opening month (April) of FY2025-26. Provisional figures indicate strong year-on-year growth in both primary aluminium and its core raw material (bauxite). While bauxite output soared with a double-digit jump, aluminium production posted a modest rise, underscoring an overall impressive growth trajectory in India’s metal and mining industry. Raw material first In April 2025, production of bauxite rose 13.9 per cent year-on-year from 1.87 million tonnes to 2.13 million tonnes. During FY2024-25, the country produced 24.7 million tonnes of bauxite, securing its place as the world’s fifth-largest producer after Guinea, Australia, China, and Brazil....
After Guinea setback, EGA turns to Ghana: strategic shift or coincidence?
Following the initiation of bauxite mining revocation by Guinea, Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) now eyes Ghana to explore fresh bauxite-related opportunities. According to a report on June 4, the UAE-based aluminium major has inked an agreement with the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) to assess the feasibility of bauxite exploration in the West African country. What’s in the deal? Under the agreement signed with GIADEC, EGA aims to explore Ghana’s estimated 920 million tonnes of bauxite reserves in Ghana, spread across Nyinahin (700 million tonnes), Kyebi (160 million tonnes), and Awaso (60 million tonnes). Despite this vast potential, Ghana currently produces just 1.5 million tonnes annually. Beyond exploration, EGA will also examine the potential for...
Manufacturing and export activities slow in Asia’s Big Three - Trump tariffs in the crosshairs
Already strained by the United States’ 25 per cent import tariffs, East Asian economies like China, Japan and South Korea are now bracing for even higher uncertainty as Washington eyes a steep 50 per cent duty. Reports show that all the three economic powerhouses experienced subdued export orders and manufacturing activity in May, just as signs of stabilisation had begun to emerge. Both South Korea and Japan’s PMI recorded contraction, hovering at 47.7 and 49.4, respectively, attributed to weakening global demand, with many citing US tariffs and rising cautious buying sentiment as key drags on production and order volumes. South Korea’s export struggle deepens amid US tariffs Evidently bearing the brunt of intensifying US trade policies, South Korea is seeing cracks in its export-driven...
India assesses potential $4.6 billion export hit from US 50% aluminium and steel tariff—how real is the threat?
As soon as the news broke about the US President Donald Trump’s decision to double aluminium and steel tariffs from 25 per cent to 50 per cent, effective from June 4, 2025, major producers and exporters of aluminium and steel worldwide began assessing the implications of the double-whammy, steep tariffs. India, being a country among the top 10 aluminium exporters to the United States , has assessed that its metal exports worth USD 4.56 billion would face headwinds. A report by the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) warned that Indian exports would become more expensive in the US market, potentially reducing their competitiveness and affecting overall trade volumes. GTRI said "For India, the consequences are direct. In FY2025, India exported USD 4.56 billion worth of iron, steel, and...
Trump doubles aluminium and steel tariffs to 50% - how long will it last amid global pushback and renegotiation calls?
The global aluminium and steel industries are in for another jolt as US tariffs take a sharp new turn. Just a day after a Federal Court ordered a halt to the implementation of tariffs, sending through global optimism, President Donald Trump reversed course dramatically. Not only did he secure a suspension of the court's ruling , but he also announced a doubling of tariffs on aluminium and steel imports, from 25 per cent to 50 per cent, effective Wednesday, June 4, 2025. What seemed like a moment of relief quickly turned into renewed uncertainty as celebrations over the court's block were cut short by the President's swift and unexpected escalation. Trump’s decision to doube tariffs - whimsical or strategic? While addressing a rally in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, President Trump reiterated...
For Q3 2025: High stockpiles and muted demand cut Japan aluminium premium again
For the second consecutive quarter, the premium offered by Japan’s primary aluminium buyers has further depleted, said two sources directly involved in quarterly pricing talks. Mirroring a similar20 per cent decline as seen in the previous quarter, the proposed premium for Q3 2025 has reached USD 145 per tonne versus USD 182 per tonne. This continued downturn marks not only the second straight quarterly decline within the year but also the second such drop in the past five years. After a strong start to the year, when the premium surged to USD 228 per tonne for the March quarter, representing a 30 per cent quarter-on-quarter increase, Japan’s aluminium premium has steadily weakened with each subsequent quarter. When compared to the Q1 2025 premium, Japan’s outbound trade premium for Q3...
‘Stop tariffs’, orders US Federal Court – but reverses it within 24 hours: Why the sudden U-turn?
Yet another dramatic twist has unfolded in the US tariff corridor! Within just 24 hours, the same US Federal Court delivered two starkly opposite rulings. In one moment, the court struck down Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs, deeming them unjustified and labelling them as mere safeguard measures not rooted in genuine national security concerns. The other moment, it repealed the verdict, effectively reinstating the tariffs. After even commenting that the tariffs “exceed any authority granted to the president”, this unprecedented move by the US Federal Court arrives as a big surprise for the entire global trade communities. What exactly did the court say? The US Court of International Trade delivered the judgement this week that Donald Trump wrongly used the presidential authority under the...
Turkey’s solar strategy at a crossroads: Will anti-dumping move on Chinese aluminium frames hurt more than help?
Sunday’s report on Turkey initiating anti-dumping probe into Chinese aluminium solar frames imports make both the global aluminium and solar industries wonder 'WHY', given the nation’s growing solar energy capacity. In only two and half years, Turkey’s solar energy capacity surged by 102 per cent and reached 19.6 GW by the end of 2024, surpassing the 2025 target ahead of time. Against this backdrop, Turkey’s decision to target China, a key supplier of aluminium solar frames, comes as a surprise. China – dominant supplier under scrutiny China remains Turkey’s largest exporter of aluminium photovoltaic (PV) frames. In 2023, China alone exported 280,000 tonnes of solar frames, accounting for 76 per cent of Turkey’s total imports. This, according to Turkey, is undercutting local...
Green tech + renewables can slash Australia’s carbon emissions by 98% — South32 backs the shift with $4.4M funding
South32 Limited, a mining and metals company headquartered in Perth, Western Australia, has secured $4.4 million government funding to accelerate its carbon emission reduction efforts at Worsley Alumina Refinery, which will eventually bring the company close to its net-zero carbon emission goals by 2050. Image source: ARENA The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) said the funding would support South32 in conducting a pre-feasibility study to examine four investment options for partially replacing fossil fuel-based steam generation with renewable energy-powered systems at Worsley refinery. This shift will enable the company reduce direct carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels, leading to a more sustainable future. This funding is part of ARENA’s $400 million Industrial...
