AlCircle News Edited By "Pratyusha Chatterjee"
A writer with 5+ years of experience in the communication industry, Pratyusha Chatterjee has indulged in content from the business, lifestyle, travel industries and more. Apart from news and content, Pratyusha is immensely fond of participating in cultural events and managing them.
Aluminium chip drying gets a rethink, and the cost curve bends sharply
As aluminium producers and auto component manufacturers grapple with the economics of in-house scrap recycling, the weakest link in many casting operations continues to be chip drying. Thermal dryers remain the default, despite well-known drawbacks such as high operating costs, heavy emissions, and increasing regulatory scrutiny. A recent installation by Retech Systems, part of SECO/WARWICK Group, offers a technical counterpoint. More importantly, a bottom-line recalibration. Image source: https://www.retechsystemsllc.com/ The shift revolves around a patented chip dryer system known as Thermofuge, which is being deployed inside the casting house of one of the company’s auto parts manufacturing sites. The system is not new to the market, wherein 18 units are already operational globally....
US Court sustains Chinese firm's aluminium foil duty escapade verdict: a precedent for global commodity exporters
On July 21, 2025, the US Court of International Trade delivered a decisive ruling in Hanon Systems Alabama Corp. versus United States, rejecting the plaintiff’s challenge and sustaining the US Department of Commerce’s final affirmative determination in its anticircumvention inquiry on aluminium foil imports from South Korea. For India and other major aluminium foil exporters navigating an increasingly enforcement-heavy global trade environment, this ruling is a signal flare of the future, wherein circumvention scrutiny is beyond intent, and about consequence. Image for representational purposes only The crux of the case At the heart of the case was the US Commerce Department’s 2023 determination that certain aluminium foil completed in South Korea using Chinese-origin inputs was...
India’s USD 1.5 trillion plan: Will heavy industries be the collateral damage?
India’s climate ambitions just received a reality check. But it is going to be one with a USD 1.5 trillion price tag. A new Deloitte-backed report has laid out the math for New Delhi’s decarbonisation journey through 2030, and the numbers are not for the faint-hearted. To meet its commitments under the Paris Agreement, including 500 GW of non-fossil capacity and major emissions reductions across sectors, India will need to unlock an investment corpus that is nearly half its current GDP. Image for representational purposes only But this isn’t just a green finance problem. This is a hard-asset dilemma. What India is being asked to build at unprecedented scale and speed sits at the intersection of policy ambition and industrial inertia. And that makes this not just a climate story, but one...
Capped, committed, and carbon-conscious: China’s aluminium sector’s industrial power unveiled
Once known purely for its unmatched production scale, China’s aluminium sector is undergoing a fundamental transformation, wherein growth is no longer measured solely in tonnes, but in energy efficiency, carbon accountability, and global influence. Despite mounting trade barriers and domestic production limits, the world’s largest aluminium ecosystem isn’t slowing down. Instead, it is recalibrating its priorities, positioning sustainability, automation, and innovation as the next growth drivers. Image source: Iran Alumina Company A shrinking export market, or is it a conscious withdrawal “According to Aize Consulting ’s monitoring data, the share of China’s aluminium and aluminium product exports to the US dropped from 12.17 per cent in 2020 to 9.70 per cent in 2024. With the escalation...
US strikes bilateral deal with Southeast Asia! EU exports face the heat, India watches keenly
As the United States deepens its bilateral trade ties with Indonesia and Vietnam, a lion’s share of European exports to these Southeast Asian economies faces a potential risk of trade dislodgment. According to a recent media analysis, around 10 per cent of the European Union’s total exports to these two nations are now under competitive threat due to newly signed preferential trade agreements between Washington and the two southeastern nations. Image for referential purposes only Scale of the potential disruption In 2023, the EU exported EUR 11.4 billion of goods to Vietnam (and imported EUR 47.7 billion), while trade with Indonesia stood at EUR 11.3 billion of export goods (and import of EUR 18.4 billion), as per Eurostat data. Based on a modelling assumption, if 10-12 per cent of that...
EU announces anti-dumping duties on Chinese fused alumina
The European Commission has officially announced imposition of provisional anti-dumping duties on fused alumina imports from China. This time, it is a move to resolve to protect Europe’s domestic industry from market distortions. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1456, adopted on July 17, 2025, delivers a stern warning to China’s state-backed industrial juggernaut: unfair trade practices will no longer be overlooked. Image for referential purposes only At the core of the Commission’s decision lies the recognition that fused alumina, rather commonly known as artificial corundum, derived from melting bauxite or aluminium oxide at over 2,000 °C, has been imported from China at dumped prices, causing material injury to the European Union’s domestic producers. The action follows a...
Enhanced molten aluminium trade is a fruit of the dim billet market in H1’25
European aluminium billet manufacturers entered 2025 with caution, and by mid-year, that caution had hardened into sweeping production cuts. The billet market, once a bellwether for demand in construction, transport, and extrusion-heavy sectors, has weakened considerably in the first half of the year. In response, a notable shift has emerged: aluminium producers are pivoting towards enhanced molten metal trade as an alternative channel to absorb surplus capacity and meet more immediate domestic needs. Image for referential purposes only (source: https://www.syalons.com/) The strategic shift is not merely opportunistic. It’s a calculated survival tactic rooted in price pressures and vanishing demand. The billet problem Aluminium prices, both for primary and alloy grades, have fluctuated at...
Alcoa & Rio Tinto condemn Trump’s trade policy for $115-$321M added costs
Alcoa and Rio Tinto, two of the biggest aluminium players with significant operations in North America, are publicly challenging the very policy that once appeared to shield them. According to fresh revelations this week, Alcoa claims Trump’s aluminium tariffs have cost it USD 115 million in elevated raw material expenses during the ongoing year’s second quarter, while Rio Tinto has warned of “distortions” in the US market that are “undermining competitiveness rather than enhancing it.” Image for referential purposes only When former US President Donald Trump launched the Section 232 tariffs in 2018, cloaked in the language of national security, American aluminium producers cheered. The logic seemed straightforward. As the nation slapped a 10 per cent import tariff on aluminium, it would...
Market commentary: Aluminium foil is looking towards a $48.8 billion market by 2034
The global non-ferrous market size at present stands at USD 1.18 trillion (2024), which is poised to reach USD 1.75 trillion by 2033, shared Dr Anupam Agnihotri at the recently held International Conference for Non-Ferrous Metals, 2025. The metals leading the path of growth include Aluminium, Nickel, Copper and rare earth elements. Image for referential purposes only Amongst all these, from food trays to battery packs, the thin yet mighty aluminium foil has evolved far beyond its conventional kitchen connotation. Now, it’s spearheading a global packaging transformation, with the market projected to leap from USD 29.1 billion in 2024 to USD 48.8 billion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 5.3 per cent over the next decade. Behind these numbers lies a compelling story of industrial convergence,...
China’s bauxite shipments and seaborne cargoes review: Inpour surges, but shipments slide
As of mid-July 2025, China’s bauxite supply chain stands at a crossroads, flush with incoming cargo but showing signs of lagging shipments. The latest Mysteel survey, dated July 11, 2025, paints a contrasting picture of China’s bauxite trade dynamics, revealing a week-on-week increase in seaborne cargo volume, even as actual shipments to Chinese ports dropped dramatically. The story here is not just about numbers; it’s about timing, trade strategies, and potential implications for the aluminium supply chain. The latest survey captures this divergence vividly: while seaborne cargo volumes surged past 16.38 million tonnes, the volume of shipments received at Chinese ports plunged by over 1 million tonnes week-on-week. Image for representational purposes only Seaborne volumes climb, driven...
Is Guinea to be slapped with a lawsuit? EGA’s stance raises a question: What is the country’s bauxite reckoning?
GAC (Guinea Alumina Corporation), the bauxite mining wing operating in Guinea has had become extensively dependent on the African country’s bauxite resources. Supporting the statement is the number, wherein the company exported 10.8 million tonnes of bauxite in 2024 alone, a noteworthy volume contributing to both EGA’s own needs and the global aluminium value chain. A portion of this bauxite also went for the supplies of EGA’s Al Taweelah alumina refinery in Abu Dhabi. On July 3, the Guinean military junta finally cancelled Emirates Global Aluminium’s (EGA) mining contract, stripping Guinea Alumina Corporation (GAC) of its operating license. Today, we try answering the ‘why’ and add value-added context to the recent industry-impacting turn of events. Image for referential purposes only...
Aluminium, part of sector 232, not under reciprocal tariff. Then, what is? And, who pays for it?
“Tariff is the most beautiful word in the dictionary,” Donald Trump once declared. That wasn’t a throwaway line, but what seemed to be a transnational battle cry. Six months into his second term, the former and now current US President has turned the word into a policy instrument of unparalleled weight. And as of this week, the tariffs keep coming, swelling in scale, reach, and global consequence. Image for representational purposes only On July 9, Trump expanded his tariff net further , issuing formal notifications to seven new countries — Algeria (30 per cent), Iraq (30 per cent), Libya (30 per cent), the Philippines (20 per cent), Brunei (25 per cent), Moldova (25 per cent), and Sri Lanka (30 per cent) — warning that reciprocal duties on all goods from these nations will take effect...
Still shackled by tariffs: Why the UK missed the steel and aluminium deal deadline with the US
In a blow to Britain’s steel and aluminium exporters, the UK has officially missed the July 9 deadline to strike a deal with the United States over the continuation of punitive tariffs first imposed by the Trump administration in 2018. The breakdown in talks risks prolonging a trade dispute that many hoped would be resolved by now, leaving British metal producers disadvantaged and frustrated. Image for referential purposes only At the heart of the issue is a failure to agree on mutually acceptable terms for a deal akin to the ones the US struck with the EU, Japan, and other allies. While those nations secured tariff rate quotas (TRQs) that partially restored access to the American market, the UK remains stuck with Section 232 tariffs — 25 per cent on steel and 10 per cent on aluminium....
A surprising 209% share gain forecasted for Metro Mining by FY’26
Metro Mining Ltd (ASX: MMI), an Australian bauxite producer, is trading at AUD 0.056 per share (as of May 26, 2025). With a substantial discount against the consensus analyst target of AUD 0.17, the pricing hints towards a potential upside of 209 per cent , according to AInvest data. Shaw & Partners, which has been covering the company since 2023, maintains a ‘Moderate Buy’ recommendation, with its latest reaffirmation in February 2025. Image for representational purposes only (source: https://metromining.com.au/) Operational growth and output scale Metro’s production at its flagship Bauxite Hills mine in Queensland has expanded from approximately 3.5 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) in 2020 to 6 Mtpa in 2024. The company has outlined its goal of reaching a run-rate between 6.5 and 7 Mtpa...
Bauxite map 2024: Country-wise reserves and production metrics unveiled
As the global aluminium market braces for a new phase of industrial transition, driven by decarbonisation, electric mobility, and infrastructure growth, the mineral fuelling this surge is quietly building geopolitical weight. Bauxite, the primary ore for aluminium, is showing a reshaped reserve landscape in 2024, with fresh data from AL Circle's research highlighting strategic concentrations that could redefine global supply chains. As of 2024, five countries dominate the global bauxite landscape by reserve volume: Guinea, Australia, Vietnam, Brazil, and Indonesia. Together, they account for over 66 per cent of the world’s total reserves. However, when juxtaposed with actual production output, the picture becomes more complex. Global snapshot: 29 billion tonnes and counting As of 2024,...
Trump’s aluminium tax vs US beverage sector: Corona beer maker, Constellation Brands, lashes out
Constellation Brands, the beverage behemoth behind Modelo, Corona, and Pacifico, has publicly held Donald Trump’s reinstated aluminium tariffs responsible for its underwhelming Q1 2025 financial performance. And in doing so, it has flung a spotlight on a long-simmering trade policy issue with serious implications for the global aluminium packaging industry. For the first time in years, aluminium has moved from the quiet corners of the commodities trade into the earnings calls of Fortune 500 giants. Image for representational purposes only The company’s executive team revealed that aluminium tariffs will cost them an estimated USD 20 million in earnings this fiscal year alone, shaving 20 basis points off profit margins. The USD 20 million aluminium shock Constellation’s Q1 earnings missed...
Maharashtra aims for 30% EV by 2030! Confidence boosted as India ramps up production and trade
The Maharashtra government has unveiled an ambitious plan to make electric vehicles (EVs) account for 30 per cent of all vehicle registrations in the state by 2030. The announcement was made by Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, who emphasised the need for sustainable mobility solutions amid growing urban congestion and rising fuel costs. The state’s vision has been formalised in the Maharashtra Electric Vehicle Policy 2025, which introduces a series of financial and structural incentives to accelerate EV adoption across sectors. Image for referential purposes only To encourage early adoption, the policy offers a range of benefits, including road tax and registration fee exemptions, interest-free loans, and direct purchase subsidies. In fact, the country’s first 45-horsepower...
EU's China-focused anti-dumping measures to expire soon: Will it extend past 2026?
As of July 1, 2025, the European Commission has fired the starting gun on what could be one of the most consequential trade decisions for the European aluminium industry in recent years. The Commission has issued an official notice of impending expiry for the anti-dumping duties currently levied on aluminium extrusions imported from the People’s Republic of China. In turn, the retraction can conceivably trigger a sharp recalibration of regional manufacturing strategies and market dynamics. Image for representational purposes only Unless a formal review request is submitted by EU producers before the end of 2025, the anti-dumping measures will lapse at midnight on March 31, 2026, as stipulated in Regulation (EU) 2016/1036 and documented in Notice C/2025/3573, published in the Official...
