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Nilanjana Banerjee is a new leaf on this branch of AL Circle. is a spontaneous author and she writes on inspiration and purpose, not by design. Her penmanship is replete with sensitivity and depth.
Europe’s 9M 2026 aluminium production jumps to 5.56Mt as smelter restarts gain ground
As the global aluminium supply chain continues to swing between shifts and crunches, how has Europe fared on the production front in the 2026 year-to-date calendar? Substantially well, going by the output figures. Between January and September 2026, the European continent, including Russia, has produced a total of 5.56 million tonnes of primary aluminium, building a significant year-on-year growth chart. The nine-month growth chart Set against the same period of 2025, the first nine months of 2026 show a clear lift in output. From January to September 2026, Europe, including Russia, produced 5.56 million tonnes of primary aluminium, raising the annual growth rate by 5.69 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) over the 5.26 million tonnes produced in 2025. Explore the production, demand and...
$4b Oklahoma aluminum smelter’s civil works penciled in for Q2 2027 as Inola ballot looms
The proposed $4 billion Oklahoma Primary Aluminum (OPA) smelter, a joint venture between Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) and Century Aluminum, is targeting civil works in the second quarter of 2027, with first hot metal expected between mid- and late 2030. Realization of the 750,000-metric-ton project would render it the first new US primary aluminum smelter in nearly 50 years. However, local restrictions, environmental permitting and ongoing legal hurdles clouded its path towards maintaining the construction timeline. A local moratorium and an April 7 ballot sit on the same calendar. Explore the production, demand and consumption forecasts of bauxite and alumina in our report: “ Global Bauxite & Alumina Market Forecast to 2036: Supply–Demand, Trade Flows & Price Outlook ” A...
LME aluminium price rallies $3,078/t as Asian Ref Price gains 1.5% on October 27
The London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium price chart continued to rally, reporting gains over the October 26 close in the October 27 trading session across the pricing and contract segments. Asian Reference Price gained 1.5 per cent, while aluminium inventories continued to falter. The LME aluminium cash bid price gained 1.02 per cent on October 27, rising to USD 3,077.5 per tonne from USD 3,046.5 per tonne. The offer price surged to USD 3,078 per tonne from USD 3,047.5 per tonne , up 1 per cent day-on-day. Explore- Most comprehensive and forward-looking industry-focused report — Global Bauxite & Alumina Market Forecast to 2036: Supply–Demand, Trade Flows & Price Outlook The LME aluminium three-month bid as well as offer prices reported a 1.22 per cent rise. The bid surged to USD 3,062...
Rise and fall in LME aluminium prices: Cash jumps to $3,047.5/t as alumina dips 1.6%
The London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium price chart surged further in the October 26 trading session across the pricing and near-term contract segments compared to the October 23 close. Longer-dated contracts, inventories, and the alumina price, however, edged lower. The LME aluminium cash bid price gained 0.13 per cent on October 26, advancing from USD 3,042.5 per tonne to USD 3,046.5 per tonne. The offer price surged from USD 3,043 per tonne to USD 3,047.5 per tonne , up 0.15 per cent day-on-day. Explore- Most comprehensive and forward-looking industry-focused report — Global Bauxite & Alumina Market Forecast to 2036: Supply–Demand, Trade Flows & Price Outlook The LME aluminium three-month bid price reported a 0.27 per cent rise from USD 3,017 per tonne on October 23 to USD 3,025 per...
UAE aluminum exports to the US dip 9.8% Y-o-Y; Can EGA restart offset supply deficit?
In the first half (H1) of 2026, the US imported a total of 1.68 million metric tons of unwrought aluminum (HSN code: 7601), of which 16.96% was sourced from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). How has H1 2026 fared for the momentum of unwrought aluminum exports from the UAE to the US? Year-on-year cooling in trade can be noticed, largely owing to the temporary shutdown of the Emirates Global Aluminium’s (EGA’s) Al Taweelah smelter for repair and maintenance. Explore the production, demand and consumption forecasts of bauxite and alumina in our report: “ Global Bauxite & Alumina Market Forecast to 2036: Supply–Demand, Trade Flows & Price Outlook ” H1 aluminum trade snapshot: 2026 vs 2025 vs 2024 Comparing the H1 2026 figures of unwrought aluminum exported by the UAE to the US, a mixed result...
QAMCO’s 9M 2026 profit dips to $76m despite 27% higher aluminium selling prices
Qatar Aluminium Manufacturing Company (QAMCO), which holds 50 per cent of the Qatalum joint venture, reported a net profit of QAR 276 million (USD 75.88 million) for the nine months ended 30 September 2026. This marked a drastic 48 per cent year-on-year dip, despite a rise aluminium selling prices. Shipping constraints and reduced operational activity at its joint venture, Qatar Aluminium Company (Qatalum), weighed on production, sales and financial performance. The decline comes from tonnes, not price. The joint venture produced and sold far less metal because shipping constraints tied to the regional conflict reduced operational activity. Higher realised selling prices and lower operating costs partly offset the pressure on earnings, while its closing cash and bank balance, including...
Power crisis bites Guinea’s aluminium ambitions; 75kt supply to wait until after 2030
Guinea’s ambition to move beyond bauxite exports into alumina refining and aluminium smelting is running into a major electricity constraint. Producing about 1,000 MW of power at present, it needs another estimated 5,000–10,000 MW for industrialisation. While new alumina refineries could expand intermediate supply, the shortage of reliable electricity is likely to delay additional aluminium production capacity beyond 2030. The challenge emerges as aluminium traded at USD 3,008.5 per tonne, down 8.77 per cent over the month but up 8.43 per cent year on year. Guinea mined an estimated 150 million tonnes of bauxite in 2025, accounting for 34 per cent of global output of 440 million tonnes. Yet it produced only 360,000 tonnes of alumina, or 0.24 per cent of worldwide production of 150 million...
Silgan and AIP strike $3.4b Trivium deal to create new aluminum packaging giant
Silgan Holdings and funds affiliated with American Industrial Partners (AIP) are set to acquire Trivium Packaging in an all-cash deal valued at approximately $3.4 billion. The transaction will combine Trivium’s aluminum and metal packaging operations with Silgan’s Metal Containers’ aluminum and steel segment and food and beverage flat cap closures businesses, creating Silgan Metal Containers and Closures (MCC), a global aluminum packaging business valued at $7.3 billion. Silgan will hold a 60% stake in the new entity, while AIP will own the remaining 40%. Operations will be concentrated primarily in North America and Europe. To learn the future of aluminum in the packaging industry, explore our report " ALuminium in Packaging: Consumer Trends and Market Dynamics " Deal structure and...
AL Circle Analysis: Guinea’s 150Mt bauxite cap, China’s import swings, US tariffs draw aluminium Q4’26
The global aluminium supply chain is facing a series of changes that extend from bauxite mines and alumina refineries to smelters, regional premiums and finished-metal trade. In 2026, the market’s direction is being shaped not only by production volumes but also by freight costs, export restrictions, shifting Chinese demand and tariffs. Developments across Guinea, Australia, China, Europe and North America point to a market where access to supply is increasingly as important as the availability of raw materials. Bauxite supply: Guinea’s cap meets a well-stocked China, but is it stable? Guinea remains central to the seaborne bauxite market, with its shipment connections to China demonstrating the importance of reliable logistics. A new sea-rail route has enabled a Guinea bauxite shipment...
Guinea targets 8Mt of alumina capacity by 2030: Can its power grid deliver 5k–10k MW?
After introducing its annual bauxite export cap at 150 million tonnes in June 2026 , Guinea is now accelerating its alumina refining ambitions, with three refineries under construction and a target of five operating by 2030. However, the country’s electricity generation of around 1,000 MW falls well short of the estimated 5,000–10,000 MW needed to support industrialisation, putting energy infrastructure at the centre of its bauxite-to-alumina strategy. Daouda Diakite, Senior Adviser to Guinea’s Minister of Mines and Geology, Bouna Sylla, outlined the plans at African Mining Week in Cape Town. The government aims to establish annual alumina production capacity of approximately 7 million to 8 million tonnes, with aluminium smelters envisioned as a subsequent step. To know the future market...
EU approves Germany’s power relief instrument: Could aluminium producers save €459m annually?
Germany’s aluminium industry could receive some relief from persistently high electricity costs after the European Commission, under the European Union (EU) approved the country’s industrial electricity price scheme for 2026–2028. The measure is intended to ease the burden on energy-intensive businesses, strengthen industrial competitiveness and support Germany’s position as a manufacturing hub. The stakes are particularly high for aluminium producers. Electricity can account for 30–40 per cent of primary aluminium production costs, making power prices a critical factor in operating margins and investment decisions. Explore- Most comprehensive and forward-looking industry-focused report — Global Bauxite & Alumina Market Forecast to 2036: Supply–Demand, Trade Flows & Price Outlook...
Alba at LME Week 2026: CEO Ali Al Baqali strengthens global aluminium industry ties
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) strengthened its engagement with the global aluminium and metals industry as CEO Ali Al Baqali led the company’s delegation to London Metal Exchange (LME) Week 2026 in London. The event provided an opportunity to connect with international stakeholders and discuss market trends, sustainability and global supply chain developments. The delegation attended the LME Metals Seminar on 19 October at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre. The seminar brought together more than 800 delegates and industry leaders to examine the macroeconomic outlook, metals market trends, sustainability and global supply chain dynamics. Explore- Most comprehensive and forward-looking industry-focused report — Global Bauxite & Alumina Market Forecast to 2036: Supply–Demand, Trade Flows &...
Bauxite flows face a Q4 slowdown as Guinea’s 150Mt export cap tightens supply
Global bauxite flows are expected to weaken in the fourth quarter of 2026 as China’s front-loading eases and Guinea’s export restrictions begin to constrain shipments . Despite a 2.8 per cent year-on-year rise in global flows in September, softer import requirements in India and the Arabian Gulf could limit demand, leaving China as the principal destination for seaborne bauxite but with little room for further growth. September flows hint at diverging regional trends Global bauxite flows reached 20.4 million tonnes in September 2026, up 2.8 per cent year-on-year, backed by higher shipments from Guinea. Month-on-month flows declined, in line with seasonal wet-weather conditions that typically restrict port movements. Guinea’s shipments to the market were more than 20 per cent higher than...
Ready, set, Ferrari! India-EU FTA puts Ferrari in the fast lane as orders more than double
Ferrari is accelerating its India expansion as anticipation builds around the proposed India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA), with the luxury sports carmaker reporting more than a doubling of orders ahead of the deal. Alongside plans to extend its dealership network to five cities, Ferrari is strengthening its India-focused team, customer engagement and personalisation services as expectations of lower import duties bring fresh attention to the country’s luxury car market. EU trade deal lifts demand expectations According to Ferrari’s senior leadership, orders from India have more than doubled in anticipation of the FTA, which is expected to come into force in early 2027, subject to the required approvals. The agreement is set to reduce import duties on European-made luxury cars from around...
LME aluminium price recovers on October 21: Cash gains 1%; stocks slip to 236,225t
The London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium prices improved in the October 21 session after a decline in the October 20 trading session . A gain of nearly 1 per cent was reported across the pricing and contract segments, while stocks recorded a consistent decline. The LME aluminium cash bid price gained 0.91 per cent day-on-day, up from USD 3,003 per tonne to USD 3,030 per tonne. The offer price edged up from USD 3,003.5 per tonne to USD 3,031 per tonne, rising by 0.92 per cent. Explore- Most comprehensive and forward-looking industry-focused report — Global Bauxite & Alumina Market Forecast to 2036: Supply–Demand, Trade Flows & Price Outlook On October 21, the LME aluminium three-month bid price climbed from USD 2,996 per tonne on October 20 to USD 3,024 per tonne, marking a 0.94 per cent...
243% rise in US-bound aluminium scrap: METLEN calls for a more competitive Europe
Europe’s aluminium scrap exports to the US have risen by 243 per cent, highlighting a growing concern over the continent’s access to strategic raw materials as it pursues recycling, decarbonisation and industrial competitiveness. Evangelos Mytilineos, Executive Chairman of METLEN, raised the issue, linking scrap outflows to the broader challenges facing European industry, energy security and strategic autonomy. Aluminium scrap outflows raise industrial concerns Mytilineos referred to the contrasting US tariff treatment of aluminium products, i.e., a 50 per cent tariff on primary aluminium, compared with zero tariff on scrap . With European aluminium scrap exports to the US increasing by 243 per cent, he questioned whether Europe could strengthen its industrial base while allowing valuable...
US produced 339kt aluminum in H1 2026: Can new projects change the outlook?
The US aluminum industry, through its troubled journey over the past four decades, has been holding on to its remaining active smelters to maintain domestic aluminum production. However, its production figures reveal how little ground it has regained. Stability has been a strong suit, with 339,000 metric tons produced in H1 2026, yet matching the volume recorded in H1 2024. With domestic primary production still constrained, the focus is shifting to whether the Century Aluminum’s Mt Holly restart and the proposed Oklahoma primary aluminum smelter can turn modest gains into a sustained supply revival. Explore the production, demand and consumption forecasts of bauxite and alumina in our report: “ Global Bauxite & Alumina Market Forecast to 2036: Supply–Demand, Trade Flows & Price Outlook ”...
LME aluminium price rises to $3,019/t as contracts, opening stocks dip on October 19
The London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium price chart continued to report gains over the October 15 close across the pricing segment on the October 19 trading session. Near-term and long-term contracts, however, registered an eased trend. The LME aluminium cash bid jumped from USD 3,013 per tonne to USD 3,018.5 per tonne, rising 0.18 per cent. The offer price moved from USD 3,014 per tonne to USD 3,019 per tonne, up 0.17 per cent day-on-day. Explore- Most comprehensive and forward-looking industry-focused report — Global Bauxite & Alumina Market Forecast to 2036: Supply–Demand, Trade Flows & Price Outlook The LME aluminium three-month bid contracted by 0.05 per cent to USD 3,010 per tonne from USD 3,011.5 per tonne. Meanwhile, the offer price reported no change from USD 3,012 per tonne....
