AlCircle News Edited By "Staff Editor"
Trek Bicycle to shift to low-emission aluminium in its production
Starting from October 2025, almost all the aluminium bicycle frames from Trek, Electra, and Diamant will be made out of aluminium. These aluminium would be mostly sourced from various renewable sources like recycled material. This initiative of Trek would impact over 1,000,000 bikes produced annually and is the largest carbon initiative in its history. This shift to the use of aluminium in the production of bicycles would be a significant step within the sustainability initiatives implemented by the cycling industry so far. From the year 2021, Trek has been investigating using low-emission aluminium. The company has been focusing on an aluminium sourcing policy to help its suppliers procure it. The aluminium frames for the company would be sourced to meet the present demand of...
Ragon Institute features a stone-inspired aluminium fin system by Payette for enhanced shading
In the heart of Kendall Square, a Boston neighbourhood known for its practical and distinctive architectural features, the new Ragon Institute medical centre has been built. Designed by acclaimed architecture firm Payette, the building makes a bold statement with its use of aluminium, not just for looks, but for function too. Its most striking feature is not the glass or structure, but a delicate layer of tapered aluminium fins that add visual interest, improve performance and quietly reflect a growing focus on aluminium’s sustainable future. Aluminium’s evolution: from industry to ideation More than a functional and utilitarian metal, aluminium in 2025 symbolises something more. With industries navigating the challenges of decarbonisation and circular design principles, aluminium is once...
Speira appoints aluminium industry veteran Johannes Steurer as new CFO
European leader in aluminium rolling and recycling, Speira, has appointed Johannes Steurer as its new Chief Financial Officer, effective from July 31, 2025. Steurer has formally become responsible for the company's finance, legal and IT teams this week, bringing considerable high-level experience from within the aluminium industry. Steurer, who is 41, has an impressive track record in the industry, most notably with Swiss-headquartered flexible packaging group Aluflexpack AG. He worked with the company as its CFO from 2012 before being made CEO in 2022. Track record of excellence During his time with Aluflexpack, Steurer played a key role in guiding the company's brand direction and progressing its value creation, internationalisation, and sustainability agenda. He is also responsible for...
Impact Minerals yet again as lowest-cost global HPA producer - Lake Hope's PFS released
Impact Minerals has once again confirmed its position as the lowest-cost global HPA producer with its recent release of a Pre‑Feasibility Study (PFS) for its Lake Hope High‑Purity Alumina (HPA) project in Western Australia. According to the PFS, the Net Present Value (NPV₁₀) is no less than AUD 1.165 billion (USD 746 million), a flat‑line CapEx of AUD 259 million (USD 167 million), and operating costs of ~USD 5,860 per tonne. However, it shows a potential of sliding below USD 4500 with the byproduct credits. Strategy meets scale: Impact Mineral’s vision for HPA growth Pilot plant & government-backed innovation A pilot plant is underway with CAD 2.87 million (USD 2.07 million) in UK‑PCRC funding, partnered between CPC Engineering and Edith Cowan University. The plant is focused on membrane...
Stellantis projects $1.4 billion blow from US tariffs in H2 2025
Stellantis, a multinational automotive corporation in the Netherlands, is bracing for a financial hit in the second half of 2025, expecting a Euro 1.2 billion (USD 1.4 billion) impact from new US tariffs as the global auto industry grapples with changing regulatory barriers and trade winds. After a relatively small Euro 300 million (USD 327 million) contribution in H1, the automaker believes the "real bite" will come as the new 25 per cent duties on imported cars and parts take effect (announced by President Donald Trump). Trade policies disrupt Stellantis’ North American operations Stellantis is exposed to tariffs primarily because of its large footprint in Canada and Mexico, which represented a sizable percentage of the 1.2 million vehicles sold in the US last year. While exemptions...
DRS hits 1.6 billion bottles and cans: A new page opens in Ireland’s recycling playbook
Ireland's ambitious Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) has achieved a notable environmental milestone by collecting over 1.6 billion plastic bottles and aluminium or steel cans since being implemented nationwide in February 2024. The DRS has transformed Ireland's container recycling rate from 49 per cent to an impressive 91 per cent, ranking it among the fastest transformations of any European country. A behavioural shift powered by incentives The DRS implemented by Ireland in February this year is a seemingly simple model with a profound impact. Under the system, consumers pay a 15 to 25 cent (USD 0.22 to USD 0.37), refundable deposit on drinks sold in a single-use container with the Re-turn logo. When they return their undamaged containers back to somewhere over 2000 return points (which...
Vedanta awards INR 865 crore contract to Asian Energy Services
Asian Energy Services Limited (AESL), one of India's energy and mining services companies, has received an integrated service order of INR 865 crore (USD 104 million) from Vedanta Limited. With a duration longer than 57 months, this contract aims to provide integrated services primarily specialising in upstream oil and gas infrastructure services across its operational blocks, with a focus on Rajasthan, among India's other hydrocarbon regions. A strategic move amid India’s energy goals The agreement fits with India’s broader energy strategy, which is to reduce crude oil imports by 10 per cent and promote domestic hydrocarbon output. As part of that intent, companies such as Vedanta are increasingly investing in brownfield optimisation, integrated field management and O&M (Operations &...
300 TWh hydropower project in Tibet - what it means for China’s aluminium industry?
In a landmark move aligning economic ambition with climate strategy, China has commenced construction on the colossal Yarlung Zangbo Hydropower Project worth USD 168 million in Tibet. A massive clean energy initiative, this project is expected to reshape regional energy flows and significantly impact the aluminium industry by shouldering power supply responsibility with Yunnan. Powering a nation and its aluminium sector In Nyingchi, Premier Li Qiang announced the "project of the century", highlighting its strategic relevance for the nation. The five-dam complex along the Yarlung Zangbo River is expected to generate 300 terawatt hours (TWh) of power annually by 2035, which is greater than the UK's annual power consumption at present. The scope of this project, with a total estimated cost...
Heineken delivers robust profit performance through US tariff headwinds and market instability
At a time when the whole world is experiencing inflation, tariff changes and shifting consumer behaviours, Heineken N.V. stands out as an example of operational resilience and foresight. The Dutch brewing company has been operating in a challenging environment with increasing US tariffs on aluminium and steel packaged goods (including beer). However, the company continues to outperform its competitors, demonstrating that strategic dexterity and sustainability measures can effectively address persistent challenges in the beverage industry. Localised production: a smart tariff shield Heineken's minimal use of cross-border beer exports is key to its insulation from the US tariff storm. The company brews nearly 95 per cent of its beer in the same region where it is consumed. In the US, only...
MIND ID set to achieve 900,000 TPA of aluminium production capacity
Indonesia's state-owned mining holding company, MIND ID, is looking to ramp up its aluminium ambitions with a multi-stage, vertically integrated plan to transform the country into a centre for global aluminium production. MIND ID, through its subsidiary PT Indonesia Asahan Aluminium (Inalum), is set to increase national aluminium production capacity from 275,000 tonnes per annum to 900,000 tonnes per annum by 2029. Bridging the aluminium demand-supply gap According to Maroef Sjamsoeddin, President Director of MIND ID, the expansion is critical to narrow down Indonesia’s aluminium supply gap, which currently hovers around 1.2 million tonnes per year. “Domic aluminium consumption is expected to increase by around 600 per cent in the next 30 years, especially to support the electric vehicle...
Kemira to invest in Tarragona plant expansion, new line for aluminium chlorohydrate
Multinational chemicals giant Kemira has unveiled a major investment for the expansion of its production facility in Tarragona, Spain, with the addition of a new aluminium chlorohydrate (ACH) production line. The investment, with an outlay of USD 23 million, is aimed at responding to the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region for high-performance water treatment chemicals. The new cutting-edge plant will significantly boost Kemira's production capacity for ACH, a very cost-effective coagulant applied to many different water treatment applications. The new line is targeted to start production in early 2028, using technology already tested in the US and Poland. Demand is being fueled by stricter environmental rules, climate change and urbanisation. Sustaining the increasing appetite...
Rusal's alumina refinery in Limerick faces energy market suspension
The recent suspension of Aughinish Alumina from Ireland's ex-ante energy market on July 24, 2025, has brought to the fore the increasing dilemmas around geopolitical commitments and industrial continuity, even as the plant, Europe's largest alumina refinery, continues to operating, at least while its owner, the Russian Rusal, is becoming increasingly embroiled in the effect of sanctions arising out of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Enterprise Minister Peter Burke confirmed, “We’re working with the company, and that’s the key thing... We need to ensure that there is a pathway.” Despite being disconnected from the energy trading platform, a spokesperson for Eirgrid clarified, “Aughinish Alumina have not been taken offline and remains connected to the transmission system. EirGrid can confirm...
Alongside aluminium, Rio Tinto strengthens lithium project for EV; inks a deal with ENAMI
Global mining giant Rio Tinto has signed a binding agreement with Chile's state-owned mining company, ENAMI, to jointly develop the promising Salares Altoandinos lithium project in the Atacama region, with a USD 425 million contribution. While the deal marks another major push into the booming lithium market , it also sends a powerful strategic signal about the interconnected future of critical minerals and the global aluminium industry, both of which are foundational to the electric vehicle revolution. Beyond aluminium, towards related minerals The agreement, announced Thursday, will see Rio Tinto acquire a majority stake and take the lead in developing the project, bringing its extensive technical expertise and capital to one of the world's most booming lithium regions. The critical...
Metal packaging coatings sector set for 5% CAGR through 2030
The global metal packaging coatings market is growing steadily with an estimated CAGR of around 5 per cent from 2020 to 2030 driven by increasing demand for premium, attractive and sustainable packaging. Recent insights show the future of this small but increasingly important market will continue to change as brands focus on premiumisation trends, especially in food and beverage. Premium appeal and functional fuel demand A rise in consumer desire for attractive packaging, with shiny surfaces, colours and shelf appeal to grab attention, has caused manufacturers to invest in new metal coatings such as aluminium. Not only do these coatings look good, but the ways they function are also vital to the success of the packaging. In particular, multilayer films that offer enhanced shelf life and...
Century Aluminum finalises $400 million private note offering for capital structure optimisation
Century Aluminum Company, a prominent US producer of primary aluminium, announces that the private placement of USD 400 million of 6.875 per cent senior secured notes due August 2032 has closed, solidifying the company's capital structure and extending debt maturity. The offering is viewed as a compelling opportunity to solidify the company's capital structure given current market conditions. Key financial details of the secured notes offering The notes were issued at par, or 100 per cent of the total principal amount, and will pay interest semi-annually starting on February 1, 2026. The net proceeds are about USD 395 million after deducting purchaser discounts, commissions and expenses related to the offering. Century has specified the purposes for the proceeds: to refinance its existing...
AL Circle in conversation with Tulip 3P’s CEO Priyank Jain on India’s Leading Wire & Cable Expo
Since its inception in 2015, the Cable & Wire Fair (CWF), organised by Tulip 3P Media Private Limited, has grown from a modest 3,000 sq. m. launch to a 35,000 sq. m. mega-expo. Featuring 500+ exhibitors from 20 countries and 15,000+ visitors from around 50 countries, the 6th edition (Nov 4–6, 2025), to be held with Tube & Pipe Fair (TPF) and Bharat Metal Expo (BME), includes two-day conference. Because of its deep industry understanding, the event is now a key gathering for India’s industrial development. Priyank Jain, CEO of Tulip 3P Media, recounts the development, goals, and influence of India’s premier wire and cable exhibition in this interview. AL Circle: How would you assess the wire & cable industry’s growth in connection with the fair? Priyank Jain: The Cable & Wire Fair is a...
BALCO initiates 'Quality Sankalp' programme for aluminium manufacturing excellence
Bharat Aluminium Company (BALCO), one of the largest Vedanta Aluminium subsidiaries, has launched its new 'Quality Sankalp' programme, a top-level programme to emphasise its commitment towards manufacturing excellence and world-class product quality. The programme, launched this week, aims at improving quality-oriented processes across the entire value chain, right from raw material sourcing to dispatch of finished aluminium products. A search for perfect quality control - the 'Zero Defect' goal "Sankalp", a Hindi word for a strong commitment or resolve, is a reflection of the renewed emphasis of the company in fostering a quality culture among all employees and business partners. The endeavour aims to fulfil and excel in the new top priority of customers in high-risk sectors such as...
Metro Mining achieves record Q2 2025 shipments, driven by 19% growth Y-o-Y
Australian mining firm Metro Mining has announced its performance result for Q2 FY2025, posting record bauxite shipments as well as solid growth in revenue and margin. The total volume of shipment increased by 19 per cent year-on-year, supported by a 41 per cent increase in FOB net unit revenue to USD 72 per tonne, showing an ever-improving operational profile at its flagship Bauxite Hills mine despite the challenges of market and weather effects. In May 2025, Metro Mining had shown a 26 per cent year-on-year increase in monthly bauxite shipments, amounting to 671,934 wet metric tonnes (WMT). Despite these great numbers, Metro's share price dipped 4.23 per cent to USD 0.068, but appears more consistent with overall market motion than any fundamental weakness related to the company. Per...
