AlCircle News Edited By "Prerana Pradhan"
Prerana Pradhan is a budding digital marketer with a strong interest in writing and creative strategy. While pursuing her MBA in Digital Marketing, she is uncovering new ways to connect aluminium with compelling content.
Steel & aluminium tariffs not included in US-Japan deal
Japan’s top trade envoy, Ryosei Akazawa, clarified on Wednesday in Washington that the recently announced US-Japan trade agreement does not waive or reduce the existing 50 per cent tariffs on Japanese steel and aluminium exports to the United States. Image for representational purposes “If you are asking whether the deal includes steel and aluminium, it does not,” Akazawa stated, underscoring that the substantial tariffs will remain in place. This clarification comes amid broader developments in the trade landscape, as the wider deal announced by President Trump and Prime Minister Ishiba slashes tariffs on Japanese auto and other exports to 15 per cent, down from an earlier 25 per cent threat. However, it explicitly excludes steel and aluminium, which remain under the harsh 50 per cent...
Crown Holdings recognised by Forbes as a net zero leader in 2025
Crown Holdings, Inc., a leading aluminium beverage can manufacturer, has been recognised by Forbes as the top packaging company on track to achieve net-zero carbon emissions. The recognition comes as part of Forbes’ third annual list of Net Zero Leaders, which evaluated 200 companies across various industries for emissions projections, risk management, financial strength, governance and organisational preparedness. Crown secured the 22nd spot overall, cementing its position as one of the top performers. Image credit: crowncork.com “Crown’s recognition as one of Forbes’ Net Zero Leaders for 2025 is truly a testament to the hard work and dedication of our global team members who are driving consistent, notable progress toward our sustainability goals,” said Timothy Donahue, Chairman,...
Sona Comstar forms joint venture with Jinnaite Machinery to manufacture EV components in China
Auto components major Sona BLW Precision Forgings (Sona Comstar) has signed a binding term sheet with China’s Jinnaite Machinery Co. (JNT) to establish a joint venture (JV) for manufacturing and supplying driveline systems and components to automotive manufacturers in China and globally. Image Credit: Sona Comstar As per the stock exchange filing on Sunday, Sona Comstar will invest USD 12 million, while JNT will contribute USD 8 million in assets and business during the first phase. The JV is slated to begin operations in the second half of the current financial year, marking a key milestone in Sona Comstar’s expansion into the Chinese electric vehicle (EV) market. “Sona Comstar, a leading global supplier of driveline solutions for various automotive segments, is strategically expanding...
CANPACK celebrates Okocim’s 180th anniversary with limited-edition cans
To commemorate Okocim Brewery’s 180th anniversary, CANPACK has partnered with the iconic brand to create a special limited-edition can collection. Featuring refreshed designs for flavoured non-alcoholic and low-alcoholic beer lines, the cans proudly display the anniversary logo and are now part of the brewery’s portfolio. Image credit: www.canpack.com Okocim, deeply rooted in Brzesko’s culture and history for nearly two centuries, continues to embody tradition through brewing techniques passed down through generations and flavours crafted with care. Since its founding in 1845 by Jan Goetz, Okocim has remained committed to using the finest barley malt, hops, yeast and water. Acquired by Carlsberg Group in 1996 and becoming part of Carlsberg Polska in 2001, the brewery has also pioneered...
Meadow taps aluminium to boost recycling in beauty sector
Sweden-based startup packaging firm Meadow has announced that its alliance with United States-based Ball Corp. will help “drive a shift away from linear packaging” by harnessing the “industrial capability” of Ball to “replace billions of linear containers” with aluminium packaging. Image credit: Meadow Founded in 2020, Meadow is targeting traditionally plastic-reliant sectors such as personal hygiene and beauty products with its aluminium packaging solutions. The company says its approach “leverages existing consumer behaviour rather than attempting to change it” and aims to “drive circularity at a global scale” through a versatile, cost-efficient and scalable system. This system uses aluminium cans as pre-filled containers for categories beyond the beverage sector. Meadow highlights...
Century Aluminium prices USD 400 million private offering of senior secured notes
Century Aluminium Company, an integrated producer of bauxite, alumina and primary aluminium products and the largest primary aluminium producer in the United States, has announced the pricing of its previously disclosed private offering of USD 400 million aggregate principal amount of 6.875 per cent senior secured notes due August 2032. The company also operates production facilities in Iceland, the Netherlands and Jamaica. The notes will be issued at par (100.00 per cent of their aggregate principal amount) and will pay interest semi-annually in arrears on February 1 and August 1 each year, starting February 1, 2026, at a rate of 6.875 per cent per annum in cash. Unless earlier redeemed or repurchased, the notes will mature on August 1, 2032. The transaction is expected to close on July...
ALRO celebrates 28 years on the stock exchange, market cap up 21x since listing
Romanian aluminium producer ALRO, a subsidiary of Cyprus-based Vimetco PLC, marked 28 years of trading on the Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB) and 60 years of uninterrupted industrial activity. Since its listing on October 16, 1997, ALRO’s market capitalisation has soared nearly 21 times and now exceeds RON 1 billion (USD 220 million). Image credit: BVB press release The company’s journey began with the production of Romania’s first batch of aluminium on June 30, 1965, at the Aluminium Plant in Slatina. Since then, more than 12 million tonnes of cast aluminium and 11 million tonnes of electrolytic aluminium have been produced in the country. Over its time on the stock exchange, ALRO has seen over 220,000 transactions involving more than 510 million of its shares, with a total value...
Locally sourced aluminium from Capral powers Volgren’s next-generation bus fleets
Volgren, Australia’s largest bus body manufacturer, is strengthening its commitment to innovation and sustainability through a long-standing partnership with Capral Aluminium. The collaboration ensures a reliable supply of high-quality, locally sourced aluminium that forms the backbone of Volgren’s bus body structures. Image credit: www.capral.com “There’s been a misunderstanding in some parts of the industry that, because we use the Co-Bolt gussets from Hess, all aluminium used in our buses comes from Switzerland, but our aluminium is all locally sourced from Capral,” said Yuri Tessari, Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Strategy at Volgren. “We only use HESS’ Co-Bolt technology that helps us to bolt and screw our structure together without the need to weld.” Since its founding in the...
“We have diversified into biomass pellets and green fuel to make our aluminium recycling process more sustainable. Our goal is to go completely green by the end of this year.” – Sudarshan Bagaria, CEO, Bagaria Aluminium Alloys Pvt. Ltd.
AL Circle: Could you please brief us about your journey in producing 1,100 tonnes of secondary aluminium per month at your facility? Sudarshan Bagaria: We started this journey in 2016, when we installed an aluminium plant and it started functioning in June 2017. At that time, we had never imagined that we would reach 1,100 tonnes per month. Starting from a small facility with only one furnace, we produced 100 tonnes in our first month. And thereafter, the journey continued because the automotive sector as well as the electrical sector were expanding. It reaches eight to 10 per cent minimum every year. Some companies are going by 20 per cent, 25 per cent also. This helped us create avenues with only one thing in mind: our quality. We achieved 1100 tonnes solely due to our quality, which we...
North Coast Brewing pops the top on cans
North Coast Brewing Company has officially joined the can revolution! For the first time, two of its iconic brews, Red Seal Ale and PranQster Belgian Style Golden Ale, are now available in sleek 12 oz aluminium cans. Image credit: linkedin.com This milestone marks the launch of the brewery’s brand-new in-house canning line, offering improved packaging flexibility and consistency. But it’s more than just a shiny update. With aluminium tariffs threatening to drive up costs globally, North Coast is doubling down on the metal for one big reason, i.e. sustainability. Aluminium cans aren’t just trendy, they’re eco-powerhouses. They’re infinitely recyclable, meaning every empty can has the potential to become another without ever losing quality. Their lightweight design reduces transport...
US on track for $300 billion in tariff revenue by year-end, says Treasury Secretary
The United States is on course to collect as much as USD 300 billion in tariff revenue by the end of 2025, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent revealed, highlighting the scale of President Donald Trump’s aggressive trade strategy. Speaking during a White House Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Bessent reported that the US has already secured approximately USD 100 billion in tariff income this year, with revenues accelerating due to sweeping new import duties imposed in the second quarter. Image credit: en.wikipedia.org According to Reuters, the latest measures include a near-universal 10 per cent tariff on all US imports and increased rates on steel, aluminium and automobiles. “So we could expect that that could be well over USD 300 billion by the end of the year,” Bessent said, outlining the...
Aughinish alumina project under survey by Environment Protection Agency
A Clare-based environmental group is calling on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reassess the potential ecological impact of a new development on the Shannon Estuary. The EPA recently granted Aughinish Alumina a new licence to extend its dredging operations near Foynes Port, permitting the dumping of dredged material at a newly designated site close to Foynes Island. Futureproof Clare has voiced strong opposition to the renewal of the permit, warning that it could result in the disposal of an amount of potentially contaminated muddy sand equivalent to 5,000 double-decker buses annually. Campaign spokesperson Sinéad Sheehan has urged the EPA to exercise greater due diligence in its oversight of the development. In response to a query from Clare FM, the EPA confirmed it had...
Gardaí investigate after suspect device defused at Limerick factory
Gardaí and army bomb disposal experts are investigating after a suspect device was defused near the Aughinish Alumina factory in County Limerick. Image credit: alustory.international-aluminium.org The device, found yesterday afternoon close to an oil tank at the facility, prompted a major operation involving the Defence Forces’ Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit. Controlled detonations were carried out to sever key components from gas cylinders, preserving significant forensic evidence for investigators. Gardaí were alerted to the device at approximately 3:30 pm, with the operation beginning shortly after 4 pm. A cordon was established, and the EOD team removed the device from the scene for further examination. Investigations are now underway to trace the origin of the device’s...
Metro Mining reports record 589,000 WMT bauxite shipments in June 2025
Metro Mining Limited has reported record bauxite shipments of 589,000 wet metric tonnes (WMT) in June 2025, marking a 16 per cent year-on-year increase. The milestone comes despite operational challenges caused by restricted drafts in the Skardon River, highlighting the company’s operational resilience. Image credit: business-humanrights.org The Australian miner, which operates the flagship Bauxite Hills Mine in northern Queensland, continues to make strides toward its 2025 shipment target of 6.5-7 million WMT. This performance builds on a strong growth trend, following previously reported record months and Metro’s all-time high shipment of 720 thousand WMT in August 2024. During a mid-month shutdown, Metro advanced critical maintenance work to optimise operations and improve future...
Rio Tinto-backed aluminium producer to invest $1.1 billion in Canadian project
Aluminerie Alouette, an aluminium manufacturer partially owned by Rio Tinto Plc, is set to invest up to USD 1.1 billion in upgrading its facilities in northern Quebec, according to sources familiar with the matter. Image credit: unctad.org The company has reportedly secured a new electricity supply agreement with Hydro-Quebec, the government-owned power utility, the sources said. They spoke on condition of anonymity as the details remain private. The planned investment is a positive development for an industry currently under pressure from US President Donald Trump’s trade policies. The White House has imposed 50 per cent tariffs on foreign aluminium imports, a move that is expected to impact US businesses reliant on the metal. For instance, Constellation Brands Inc., the beer and alcohol...
Alcoa closes sale of 25.1% ownership in Ma’aden joint venture for USD 1.35 billion
Alcoa Corporation has announced the successful closing of its sale of a 25.1 per cent ownership interest in the Ma’aden Joint Venture to the Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden), by a binding share purchase and subscription agreement. Through this transaction, Alcoa has received proceeds of approximately 86 million Ma’aden shares, valued at around USD 1.2 billion, along with USD 150 million in cash, which will be used primarily to cover related taxes and transaction expenses. Alcoa expects to record a gain of roughly USD 780 million in other income in the third quarter of 2025, and consistent with its practice for non-core asset sales, will reflect this as a special item. As stipulated by the agreement, Alcoa is required to retain its Ma’aden shares for a minimum of three years. It will...
The aluminium processing industry PMI drops 9.7 per cent in June ’25
The aluminium processing industry experienced a marked downturn in June 2025, with the composite Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) dropping to 40.1 per cent. This decline of 9.7 percentage points from May and 1.5 per cent year-on-year firmly placed the index in contraction territory below the critical 50-point mark. The drop signals a broad-based deceleration across all aluminium processing sub-sectors, driven by a complex set of challenges. Image Credit: unsplash.com A confluence of factors contributed to this downturn. Seasonal weakness was more acute than usual, intensifying the traditional off-season effect. Aluminium prices remained elevated at around RMB 21,000 per tonne, limiting the purchasing capacity of downstream sectors. Domestic demand weakened further due to sluggish cargo...
Vietnam’s gallium market gains momentum: Bauxite reserves signal strong growth potential
Vietnam’s gallium industry is gathering pace, supported by the country’s substantial bauxite reserves. While current production levels remain modest, government-led efforts are underway to enhance mining and smelting capabilities. Analysts project strong growth from 2025 to 2034, driven by advanced refining methods and increased international collaboration. Image credit: en.wikipedia.org Gallium, a silvery-white metal with a melting point of 29.8°C, plays a vital role in modern technology and is primarily extracted as a by-product of aluminium and zinc smelting. Due to its low concentration in natural ores such as bauxite, coal and zinc ore, recovery remains complex. The gallium value chain is divided into three key segments: upstream, involving resource extraction and smelting;...
