AlCircle News Edited By "Nilanjana Banerjee"
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.
Australia weighs $470m subsidy-backed power deal to keep Tomago smelter operational
Australia is negotiating a complex support package to keep the Tomago Aluminium smelter active. The push could lock taxpayers for up to a decade into annual subsidies of a minimum of USD 300 million. Owing to rising energy costs and a lack of affordable long-term renewable power, Australia’s largest aluminium smelter, the Tomago facility, faces potential closure by 2028. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 across the value chain Under the proposed deal, the federal government-owned Snowy Hydro would supply electricity to the smelter. In this structure, Snowy Hydro is likely to acquire renewable energy through long-term contracts at market rates and relay it to Tomago at a lower price, as the government covers the difference....
South32 pauses Worsley Alumina operations following an incident at the refinery
Peripheral operations have been paused at the South32-owned Worsley Alumina refinery near Collie, in Western Australia, after a contractor sustained injuries at the site around 4 am on March 14. Emergency services and first aid were administered to the injured 47-year-old worker at the refinery. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 across the value chain South32 released a statement announcing a temporary suspension of work that is not fundamental to the safety and stability of the refinery. “We are taking steps to understand what has happened and assisting the relevant authorities with their inquiries,” the company mentioned. The miner expressed “deepest sympathies” for the worker’s family and colleagues and provided...
India's push to localise the solar supply chain with ingot and wafer mandate from 2028
Striving for a circular economy and a sustainable future, India has decided to commission only domestically produced solar ingots and wafers for renewable energy firms, starting June 2028. Proposed by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), the strategy is aimed at reducing dependency on Chinese imports to develop an integrated value chain for a localised solar manufacturing ecosystem. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 across the value chain The policy extends the present ones requiring locally assembled solar panels in government initiatives. Previous regulations allowed imports of upstream components like wafers, cells and polysilicon, but the new policy aims to ensure domestic value addition. Additionally,...
AL Circle x Mario Conserva: EU aluminium scrap dilemma, export curbs and the push for industrial resilience
In this exclusive conversation with AL Circle, Mario Conserva highlights the growing strategic importance of aluminium scrap in Europe’s transition toward a low-emission and circular economy. He emphasises how rising scrap exports are weakening domestic industry competitiveness and calls for urgent action to secure secondary raw materials within Europe, stabilise prices, and ensure the region’s industrial resilience amid high energy costs and evolving geopolitical pressures. Mario Conserva, Secretary General of FACE and a veteran with over six decades in the aluminium industry, brings unmatched expertise as founder of METEF, leader of A&L Alluminio e Leghe, and a pioneering contributor with 800+ technical works. Recognised by the IAI as one of the 50 most influential global aluminium...
India mandates BIS certification for aluminium products under QCO 2026
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has recently introduced the Aluminium and Aluminium Alloy Products (Quality Control) Order (QCO) , 2026. It is a noteworthy regulatory step, aimed at enhancing safety, quality and standardisation in the aluminium industry. Issued on March 11, 2026, under Section 16 of the BIS Act, 2016, followed by its enforcement on March 13, the Order replaces the 2025 regulatory version. The Order indicates the Central Government’s statutory authority, backed by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), thereby giving it full legal enforceability to mandate compulsory certification. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 across the value chain Mandatory certification across key product categories Contained...
Guinea weighs bauxite export controls to stabilise prices amid global market volatility
中文翻译附于新闻末尾，敬请继续阅读。 Guinea, the world’s largest bauxite exporter, is considering measures to regulate production and exports in a bid to stabilise falling prices of the key aluminium raw material. The move comes as bauxite prices have nearly halved since early 2025, despite Guinea’s exports rising by over 25 per cent year-on-year to 183 million tonnes in 2024. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 across the value chain Policy aimed at curbing price decline Bouna Sylla, Minister of Mines and Geology, stated that the government is engaging with mining companies to limit output in line with approved plans. Elaborating on the objective, he said, “This policy aims to regulate bauxite production to prevent price declines, thereby...
LME aluminium cash offer slips to $3,426/t while future contracts continue to rise
After a disruption in the LME closing prices for March 16 which resulted in producing the figures using LME’s standard waterfall procedures, March 17 saw the London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium prices continue to slip. The declining trend began on March 16 after the aluminium prices surpassed USD 3,500 per tonne on March 12 amid the geopolitical tensions surrounding the Middle East and the Strait of Hormuz trade corridor. LME cash bid eased to USD 3,425 per tonne on March 17 from USD 3,439.5 per tonne on March 16 , recording a difference of 0.42 per cent. The cash offer settled at USD 3,426 per tonne, slipping from USD 3,440 per tonne, down 0.41 per cent day-on-day. To know more about the global primary aluminium industry 2026 outlook, book the report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook...
Hindalco eyes higher aluminium exports amid Middle East supply disruptions
Hindalco Industries Limited expects its aluminium exports to rise in the coming months as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, resulting in the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, disrupt regional supply. Managing Director Satish Pai said that the company plans to increase shipments to Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, leveraging supply gaps created by the ongoing conflict in the region. While Hindalco already exports to these markets, as noted by Pai, “the macro situation is West Asia has given us headroom to export more to these regions.” Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 across the value chain At present, the company exports around 25 per cent of its total aluminium output of approximately 1.3 million tonnes annually. The...
Hindalco shares gain over 2% on strong outlook for aluminium extrusions amid Middle East tensions
Shares of the Indian aluminium manufacturing company, Hindalco Industries Limited, rose by around 2 per cent in the Indian stock market, reflecting improved investor confidence in the company’s growth outlook. The development follows a positive update shared by Hindalco on March 16, whereby the Aditya Birla subsidiary denied the production halt of its aluminium extrusion segment . Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 across the value chain The ongoing US-Israel and Iran conflict has disrupted supply and transit through the Strait of Hormuz, affecting 60 per cent of India's LPG imports, sourced through the Hormuz corridor. However, with the clarification regarding the production halt notice, Hindalco Industries shares have seen...
South32 pulls the plug on Mozal aluminium smelter operations after power deal impasse
Unable to secure a long-term, affordable electricity supply , South32 has placed the Mozal Aluminium Smelter near Maputo, Mozambique, on care and maintenance, effective March 15, 2026. The move effectively brings 25 years of primary aluminium production at the site to a conclusion. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 across the value chain The step has been taken despite six years of negotiations with the Government of Mozambique , Eskom and other stakeholders regarding future power arrangements for the aluminium smelter beyond March 2026. While the facility remains idle, South32 expects to incur one-off costs of estimated USD 60 million, as well as current annual care and maintenance expenses worth approximately USD 5...
Mozambique seeks negotiations to keep the Mozal aluminium smelter from complete closure
The Government of Mozambique is seeking negotiations to prevent a permanent shutdown of the Mozal Aluminium Smelter. Owned by South32, Africa’s largest aluminium smelter, Mozal is to suspend operations from March 15, owing to unsustainable electricity costs. As the smelter is a key pillar of the country's economy , in addition to causing disruptions in aluminium supply across the world, the deadlock is likely to cause massive unemployment. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 across the value chain Government spokesperson Inocêncio Impissa stated that authorities would welcome the continuation of operations at the smelter . Open to discussions aimed at keeping the facility active, he said, “It would always be good to have...
Alba begins controlled shutdown of 3 reduction lines amid Strait of Hormuz disruptions
Aluminium Bahrain BSC (Alba), the world’s largest aluminium smelter operating on a single site, has initiated a controlled and safe shutdown of Reduction Lines 1, 2 and 3. These lines account for approximately 19 per cent of Alba’s total annual production capacity of 1.62 million tonnes. The shutdown is a precautionary measure amid supply and transit disruptions at the Strait of Hormuz , intended to safeguard operational continuity and optimise the use of available raw material inventories. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 across the value chain With temporary suspension of operations at these lines, Alba will focus production on Reduction Lines 4, 5 and 6, allowing the smelter to allocate strategic raw materials more...
Power and economic obstacles nudge Venezuela’s aluminium industry downhill
The once prominent aluminium producer in Latin America, Venezuela’s aluminium industry has experienced a dramatic decline over the past decade, largely due to persistent electricity shortages, ageing infrastructure and prolonged political and economic instability. The sector, which once produced hundreds of thousands of tonnes of primary aluminium annually, now operates at only a fraction of its installed capacity. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 across the value chain Structure of the Venezuelan aluminium value chain The aluminium industry of Venezuela is managed by the state-owned Corporación Venezolana de Guayana (CVG), which oversees the country’s integrated aluminium and steel operations. Its aluminium assets include...
Middle East tensions drive LME aluminium prices above $3,500 while stocks continue to dip
The Middle East tensions continue to drive the London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium prices. March 12 witnessed the LME aluminium cash price soar and surpass the USD 3,500 mark. Similarly, 3-month contracts reported gains, while exchange inventories continued to slide. The LME aluminium cash bid price rose from USD 3,465 per tonne on March 11 to USD 3,516 per tonne on March 12, increasing by 1.47 per cent. The cash offer price climbed from USD 3,467 per tonne to USD 3,516.5 per tonne, up 1.43 per cent day-on-day. The 3-month contract followed a similar trend. The LME aluminium 3-month bid as well as offer price recorded a gain of 1.45 per cent. The bid price edged up from USD 3,442 per tonne on March 11 to USD 3,492 per tonne on March 12, while the offer price rose from USD 3,444 per...
Hydro approves: Qatalum to maintain 60% aluminium production amid reduced gas supply
Norsk Hydro has confirmed that aluminium production at the integrated aluminium complex Qatalum, Hydro’s joint venture with Qatar Aluminum Manufacturing Company QPSC (QAMCO), will continue at around 60 per cent capacity. The announcement followed the initial announcement of a controlled shutdown of aluminium production on March 3. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 across the value chain The controlled halt was announced after Qatalum’s gas supplier QatarEnergy warned of a potential suspension of gas supply. However, it has been confirmed that gas deliveries will continue at reduced levels until further notice, allowing the smelter to maintain operations at roughly 60 per cent capacity. The update has come amid geopolitical...
Tredegar posts robust Q4 growth as FY2025 net income reaches $33.5m
Tredegar Corporation reported a significant improvement in its financial performance during the fourth quarter Q4) that ended on December 31 and full year of 2025. The report combined performances of the company’s two segments of Aluminum Extrusions and High Performance Films. This was supported primarily by stronger aluminium extrusion operations and disciplined cost management, despite demand challenges in segments. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 across the value chain Tredegar reported consolidated sales of USD 184.1 million for Q4, marking a notable increase from USD 154 million recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2024. The company posted net income from continuing operations of USD 14.5 million during the...
Trump thanks India and Reliance for supporting US oil refinery project
US President Donald Trump has thanked India and Reliance Industries Limited for supporting a landmark investment to build the first new oil refinery in the United States in almost five decades. Posting about it via an update on Truth Social, Trump announced that the oil refinery is part of a USD 300 billion investment plan to be built at the Port of Brownsville in Brownsville, Texas. A byproduct of oil refining, petroleum coke (petcoke) is a necessary raw material for producing carbon anodes used in the aluminium smelting process. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 across the value chain The aim of the project is to provide a boost to America’s energy production and expand economic partnerships with international investors....
Aluminium wire trade report: 10 leading exporters in the global market
Global aluminium wire exports continued to show resilience in 2025 (as of data collected till October), reinforced by increasing demand from the power transmission, renewable energy, automotive and construction sectors. Aluminium wire remains widely used in electrical infrastructure due to its high conductivity, lightweight properties and cost advantage. This trend has reinforced the role of several key exporters that supply aluminium wire and conductor products to international markets. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 across the value chain According to the data of UN Comtrade, as of October 2025, countries, namely Canada, India, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Norway, Italy, Indonesia, Poland, Turkey and Hungary, emerged as...
