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.
Metlen’s metal segment staggers in Q1, with aluminium reflecting over 2% degrowth
Metlen Energy and Metals has kicked off Q1 2025 with a striking surge in activity, posting total sales of EUR 1.50 billion (a 31 per cent upgrade on the EUR 1.143 billion generated in Q1 2024) steered forward by double-digit gains across Metals (an increase of 11 per cent), Energy (31 per cent growth) and a standout Infra and Concessions division (171 per cent). Energy output climbed 35 per cent to 3.1 TWh (renewables up 78 per cent to 0.6 TWh), while Metals production dipped marginally by 2.1 per cent to 58 thousand tonnes amid capacity realignments. The quarter also saw planned infusions of investor confidence, wherein Fairfax Financial’s EUR 110 million exchangeable bond will elevate its stake to 8.35 per cent, and a EUR 295.5 million commitment to an integrated bauxite-to-gallium...
Decision to restrict trade setup or export to US via India humbly resisted — Chinese enterprises wish otherwise!
In the recently held trade event, Canton Fair, in China, the nation’s businesses approached their Indian counterparts to help escape the tariff whip. In the past three months, China started off with witnessing a 10 per cent tariff and then the curve shot upwards to recently being whiplashed with a whopping 245 per cent tariff. And the ripple effect has started to hit other Asian countries as well. Image Source: https://www.angelone.in/ As revealed by Ajay Sahai, Director General of the Federation of Indian Export Organizations, at the Guangzhou-held Canton Fair, which is still on the event chart and is to conclude on May 5, several Indian firms were approached by Chinese companies to supply goods to their US customers. The arrangement here would be to supply the commodities under the...
Amazon’s ‘Bauxite I’ data centre to revive the former Alcoa Site in Frederick County
With an aim to boost Maryland’s tech infrastructure, Amazon Web Services (AWS) has been identified as the lead tenant for the ‘Bauxite I’ data centre project on the site of the former Alcoa Eastalco Works near Buckeystown. Image for representational purposes only The project, spearheaded by Rowan Digital Infrastructure, will transform the long-dormant 2,100-acre industrial site into a hub of digital activity. AWS plans to construct four highly equipped single-story buildings, covering nearly 777,000 square feet and delivering approximately 300 megawatts of computing capacity. As for Frederick County, Amazon’s investment will establish Maryland’s first AWS Availability Zone, expanding the company’s cloud footprint beyond its highly congested Northern Virginia operations. The data centre is...
With a growth rate of 2.6%, what happens when China’s aluminium production peaks?
For the past two decades, China has dominated the global aluminium landscape with unparalleled force. From producing just 4 million tonnes in 2004, the country now commands a staggering 43 million tonnes of primary aluminium smelting capacity, accounting for 60 per cent of the world’s total. But now, in 2025, the dragon appears to be nearing its limits. As China approaches its government-imposed production ceiling with a 2.6 per cent growth rate during the first quarter of the calendar year, a monumental shift is on the horizon — one that could recalibrate global supply chains, trade dynamics, and pricing structures. Image for representational purposes If China’s aluminium production growth rate progresses in a similar pattern, the national production will reach 44 million tonnes, just...
Trump-induced tariffs led to a 5% plunge in the global construction MMI
US President Donald Trump announced on April 16 a tariff escalation from the previously announced 145 per cent to a whopping 245 per cent that has evidently caught the global construction industry off-guard and, in turn, caused a ruffle in sourcing downstream (semi-finished) metals from the world’s largest aluminium-producing nation, China. Transnational builders are now in a rat race with the sudden slap of cost surges, which has reflected in a 5.41 per cent plunge according to MetalMiner’s April Construction Monthly Metals Index, tracking everything from H-beam steel to rebar. This AI-generated image is for referential purposes only Economists warn that the true sting lies in the unpredictability of the regime, deterring investment and complicating procurement strategies. Despite...
Detailed report: Why LME approved Hong Kong warehouses over Mainland China
In a recent development for the London Metal Exchange’s (LME’s) Asian strategy, the announcement of its approval of the first four warehouse facilities in Hong Kong in April 2025 floated in the trading market. These newly approved warehouses, operated by a trio of company pairs, are slated to commence storing LME-warranted metal within three months of the announcement. This expansion marks a notable step for the LME, particularly considering its acquisition by Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) in 2012. This AI-generated image is for referential purposes only The central question that arises from this decision is why the LME, who facilitate trillions of dollars in transactions annually across numerous approved metals, including aluminium, copper, and zinc, chose Hong Kong, a...
Feasibility check: Strategy of powering Aussie aluminium production firms with nuclear energy nothing but a theory?
A recent study has found that three out of Australia’s four aluminium smelters face a serious risk of closure under proposed shifts in energy policy, a development that could shake the entire nation’s economy and threaten thousands of jobs. Why such a speculation? The federal opposition has pledged to construct seven nuclear power plants across five states if elected, arguing that their modelled plan could be 44 per cent cheaper than Labor’s renewable roadmap. This AI-generated image is for representational purposes only So, what could unfold if the Coalition forms government and pushes this nuclear initiative forward? Australia’s aluminium smelters are among the highest industrial energy users in the country. The Tomago smelter in New South Wales alone accounts for 12 per cent of the...
Q2 alumina prices likely to walk a rocky road with market turbulence and supply surge on the rise
The global alumina market has endured a dramatic roller‑coaster in early 2025, witnessing a severe price slump in the first quarter and a raft of fresh supply hitting the market in the recent weeks. While analysts now eye a price floor in coming months, forecast revisions evidently highlights the fragility of near-term price momentum. This AI-generated image is for representational purposes only As of April 16, the benchmark price for Australian alumina stood at USD 347.50 per tonne on a FOB (Free on Board) basis — the price that covers the cost of transporting the goods to the port and loading them onto the ship, with the buyer covering the cost from that point onwards. This price point represents nearly a 50 per cent drop from where it stood at the beginning of January. In comparison,...
India revives its ‘zero-for-zero’ push with US betwixt dangling BTA prospect
Just when we thought ‘zero-for-zero’ was gathering dust in the diplomatic archives, India is breathing new life into the idea, and this time, the country is refusing to take no for an answer. Indian industry is rallying for tariff-free trade on aluminium, steel, and autos through a proposed Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) with the United States. And aluminium, the often-overlooked metal powering everything from EVs to skyscrapers, is quietly hoping for its moment in the sun. Image Source: https://www.cfr.org/ According to a publication by India’s Ministry of External Affairs, officials suggested that the zero-for-zero offer could potentially aid in fast-tracking the proposed BTA between the bipartisan, which may, in turn, pave the way for rolling back the 26 per cent reciprocal tariff on...
“Minimalism and openness are key design trends on every customer’s checklist,” Ajay Balakrishna, Founder and CEO of Schon Doorways
Ajay Balakrishna, Founder and CEO of Schon Doorways, is an engineer by training, a passionate designer at heart and an entrepreneur by choice. With a deep-rooted passion for design innovation and engineering excellence, Ajay brings over a decade of experience in the architectural and building materials industry. In a chat with AL Circle, the business persona divulges about his inspiration, innovation and beyond. AL Circle: Let’s start by asking what inspired you to venture into the world of premium aluminium doors and windows and how the idea for Schon Doorways first came to life. Was there a particular gap in the market that caught your attention? Ajay Balakrishna: We observed that there is a gap in the Indian market, and that is precisely what became our inspiration for Schon Doorways....
UK aerosol industry sees resurgence in 2024 after a three-year stagnation
The United Kingdom aerosol industry marked a return to growth phase in 2024 after a three-years declining notion, with total production rising to 1.45 billion units, a 1.97 per cent increase over 2023. After a prolonged period of stagnation between 2021 and 2023, where production hovered around 1.44 billion units, this uptick signals renewed momentum for the sector. The figures, released by the British Aerosol Manufacturers Association (BAMA), are based on contributions from UK-based fillers and are considered a reliable snapshot of current market activity. Alike world trend, UK’s personal care aerosols continue to dominate, accounting for approximately 75 per cent of all fillings in 2024. According to retail sales data from Kantar World Panel, this category saw a 3 per cent increase over...
Canyon Resources moves up the deck in the Minim Martap bauxite project
Canyon Resources Limited, the Australian business operating in the bauxite mining vertical, has made quite a progress in the development of its Minim Martap Bauxite Project by implementing a two-stage development plan aimed at accelerating production and enabling the first bauxite shipment by 2026. Image Source: https://canyonresources.com.au/ Key advancements include securing a USD 123.96 million loan for the purchase of rolling stock, fetching government approval for the location of a rail facility, and making a forward-looking investment in CAMRAIL SA. These developments are expected to enhance operational efficiencies, strengthen supply chain relationships, and position the project for future growth, ultimately benefiting stakeholders and reinforcing the project's viability as a...
Windalco representative missing from ‘fish kill’ hearing — rescheduled for September
The judicial case against the bauxite and alumina company from Jamaica, West Indies Alumina Company (Windalco), against the 2019 fish kill incident in the Rio Cobre, was postponed on Thursday in the St Catherine Parish Court due to the unavailability of an attorney in the case. Image for representational purposes only and does not depict the original incident (Source: Wikipedia) When the proceedings were about to commence, the court was informed that Windalco’s representative lawyer, Jacqueline Samuels Brown, was not there to attend and represent, ultimately pushing the case back to September 11. In the meantime, in one recent noteworthy development, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) attained further details to the case. DPP Dwayne Green conveyed that the office had...
Here’s why China’s aluminium trade confidence, despite repeated tariff lashes and export dip, is what it is…
In a recent comment, He Zhigang, Deputy General Manager of Henan Mingtai Al. Industrial Co. said that China’s producers are “numb to tariffs,” citing years of trade restrictions imposed by Western countries. He added that demand for the metal produced in China remains strong due to its competitiveness. “It just needs a bit of time to overcome this round of anti-dumping from the US,” Mr Zhigang said at the industry conference. But, where does such an upper-hand statement stem from? As a matter of fact, the numbers are volatile when it comes to trade (especially exports) for the Asian country. Image courtesy: The Project Twins (Image for representational purposes only) According to the data provided by the International Aluminium Institute, the estimated total primary aluminium production...
Aluminium prices sink below $2,400 amid US-China tariff clash
Aluminium futures remain under pressure, trading below USD 2,400 per tonne and holding near their eight-month low of USD 2,340 hit on April 9. The slump is an after-effect induced by escalating US-China trade tensions that have cast a shadow over global manufacturing. Following tit-for-tat tariff hikes where China imposed 125 per cent duties and blacklisted more US firms, and the US retaliating with 245 per cent levies and fresh threats, investor confidence has taken a hit. The trade war fallout has overshadowed supply concerns in the US, where existing tariffs are already straining domestic capacity. In China, output is nearing its 45-million-tonne cap, set to curb emissions, but slowing production hasn't been enough to lift prices as demand fears dominate the market. A couple of days...
Alcoa’s Q1 2025 performance displays stable 26% EBITDA growth amid first phase of tariff pressure
Alcoa Corporation delivered a robust financial performance in the first quarter of 2025, marking a sharp turnaround from the prior year and a solid improvement over the previous quarter. Net income more than doubled sequentially, driven by higher aluminium prices, effective cost management, and strategic operational decisions. Despite slight revenue contraction and new US tariffs on Canadian aluminium, Alcoa’s performance reflected operational resilience and smart capital moves. Alcoa posted a net income of USD 548 million (USD 2.07 per share) in Q1 2025, up 171 per cent from USD 202 million in Q4 2024 and a stark reversal from the USD 252 million loss in Q1 2024. Adjusted net income reached USD 568 million (USD 2.15 per share), showing a 106 per cent increase from the prior quarter....
Trump’s 245% tariffs (read 270%) on Chinese imports mean evident global trade disruption
In a bold move that has reignited trade tensions, former US President Donald Trump has imposed sweeping tariffs of up to 245 per cent on a wide range of Chinese imports. With the initial 25 per cent remaining in place, the total tariff to be paid by the aluminium and steel exporters from China shoots up to 270 per cent. This sharp escalation is nothing but a further intensification of the US-China trade war and is already sending ripples through global markets, manufacturing, and supply chains, with implications that extend well beyond the Pacific. Image for representational purposes only The decision, formalised through a White House fact sheet, targets critical Chinese exports, including those linked to high-tech industries. Among the materials affected are gallium, germanium, and...
Aluminium and alumina lift Canadian manufacturing sales in February, primary metals hit record high
Canada’s manufacturing sector posted modest overall growth in February, but the aluminium and alumina industry carried the weight. According to Statistics Canada, total manufacturing sales rose by 0.2 per cent to CAD 72.9 billion, the sector’s highest level since September 2023. The increase was almost entirely driven by a sharp rise in primary metal sales, which grew by 8.3 per cent to reach a record CAD 6.9 billion. The main driver is the strong domestic and international demand for Canadian aluminium and alumina. Industry data shows that non-ferrous metals, particularly aluminium products, saw notable gains in both volume and value. Canadian producers benefitted from increased orders across key export markets, including the United States, Japan, and South Korea. In the United States,...
