AlCircle News Edited By "Staff Editor"
US invests another $100m to secure last remaining domestic alumina refinery
The US Department of War has committed another USD 100 million to Atlantic Alumina Company (Atalco), taking total government investment to USD 400 million as Washington moves to protect the country's last remaining domestic alumina refinery and strengthen a critical defence supply chain. The United States is putting more money behind its domestic alumina supply chain as the Department of War (DoW) announced a USD 100 million follow-on preferred equity investment in Atalco through its Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment programme. The latest investment brings the department's total funding for Atalco to USD 400 million. More importantly, the government funding has helped attract substantial private capital. Atalco's existing backers have committed USD 350 million, with another USD 50...
The US needs more aluminium, but new smelters are years away
The US urgently needs more aluminium for its defence sector, but new smelters will take years to come online, while disruptions to high-purity aluminium imports have exposed a more immediate supply vulnerability. The United States is facing a growing aluminium supply challenge that is becoming increasingly important for its defence sector, as rebuilding domestic production capacity remains a long-term process and overseas supply disruptions threaten access to specialised metal. President Donald Trump recently said the US “desperately” needs more aluminium, highlighting the urgency facing a market that remains heavily dependent on imports despite efforts to revive domestic production. One of the most prominent new projects is the planned aluminium smelter in Inola, Oklahoma, a joint...
Century Aluminum stock jumps to $45.89, but GuruFocus flags 97% overvaluation
Century Aluminum shares rose 4.4 per cent to USD 45.89 on August 27, extending a strong 2026 rally, but GuruFocus' GF Value model puts the stock's estimated intrinsic value at just USD 23.25. Century Aluminum Co's stock is moving in two very different directions depending on which metric you look at. On August 27, shares of the US aluminium producer gained 4.4 per cent to USD 45.89, putting the stock up 17.1 per cent year to date and an impressive 102.2 per cent over the past year. Yet, despite the strong momentum, GuruFocus' valuation model considers Century Aluminum considerably overvalued at its current price. The platform's GF Value stands at USD 23.25, compared with the stock's USD 45.89 price. That represents a 97.4 per cent premium to its estimated GF Value, highlighting the gap...
Vedanta Aluminium shares rise as the group denies stake-sale speculation
Vedanta Aluminium shares gained 3.32 per cent after Vedanta Resources denied speculation that it planned to sell its stake in the aluminium business, while brokerages maintained bullish views on the stock. Vedanta Aluminium came into focus after its parent, Vedanta Resources, dismissed reports and market speculation about a possible stake sale in the company. The clarification also covered Vedanta Limited and other group businesses, including Vedanta Oil and Gas, Vedanta Power and Vedanta Iron & Steel. Vedanta Resources said it has no plans to sell its stake in any of these companies and remains focused on growth and value creation. The development came as both Vedanta Aluminium and Vedanta Limited recorded gains on the BSE on Wednesday. Vedanta Aluminium shares gain after stake-sale...
Oklahoma Primary Aluminum details 99% fluoride capture plan for proposed 750,000-tonne smelter
Oklahoma Primary Aluminum has outlined the environmental controls planned for its proposed aluminium smelter at the Tulsa Port of Inola, a project that could add up to 750,000 tonnes of annual primary aluminium capacity in the United States. The proposed facility is expected to create at least 1,000 permanent direct jobs, according to the company. It is also part of the broader effort to expand domestic aluminium manufacturing and reduce US reliance on imported primary metal, although the project remains under regulatory review. Speaking to a media outlet, Project Director Ziad Fares addressed concerns raised about fluoride emissions and the potential impact on nearby farms and ranches. When asked about whether the proposed smelter would be safe, He commented, “Absolutely, otherwise,...
China Hongqiao’s recycled aluminium efforts earn third consecutive Circular Economy Leadership Award
China Hongqiao Group Limited has received the Circular Economy Leadership Award at the 2026 Asia Responsible Enterprise Awards in Singapore in recognition of its work in developing recycled aluminium. Organised by Enterprise Asia, the award marks the third consecutive year that China Hongqiao has received the honour. The company has placed sustainability and circular economy practices at the centre of its strategy, aligning its efforts with China’s “3060” dual-carbon goals and its own “25·55” Climate Action Target, which aims to achieve carbon neutrality across its operations by 2055. Join the webinar by Alberto Monje Gama to learn about recycled aluminium, CBAM and trust China Hongqiao has been working on reducing emissions across its value chain through clean energy substitution,...
Tasmania’s Kings Outdoor Living embraces aluminium with Capral support for locally made shade and shelter systems
Tasmanian manufacturer Kings Outdoor Living is increasingly turning to aluminium as it expands its locally made shade and shelter products for schools, parks, sporting clubs, hospitality venues and homes. According to Capral Aluminium, the company has increasingly focused on local manufacturing to address the freight, handling and supply challenges involved in sourcing products from mainland Australia. Sam King, Kings co-owner, said, “With the Bass Strait freight cost, and complexity, and timing, and damage, we thought, ‘We should probably start making some of this stuff.’” The company initially manufactured many of its locally made products using steel. However, the weight of steel created practical challenges, particularly because Kings is involved in both manufacturing and installing...
17 presses, 100k sqm, 30+ years: Syntech Metals targets North America’s EV charging market
Chinese aluminium extrusion manufacturer Syntech Metals Limited is positioning its aluminium extrusion and thermal-management capabilities to serve the growing electric vehicle charging infrastructure market in North America. Higher power density, faster charging and demanding outdoor conditions are driving the need for more effective heat management. As EV charging systems handle higher electrical loads, thermal management has become an important part of equipment design. Syntech Metals is positioning itself as a manufacturing partner that can combine aluminium extrusion, thermal design, precision CNC machining, surface treatment and assembly, rather than simply supplying raw aluminium components. The company supplies customised aluminium thermal-management components, including...
Press Metal’s Q2 profit rises 42% as aluminium market boosts earnings
Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Berhad reported a 42 per cent increase in core profit after tax and minority interest for the second quarter of FY2026, as higher realised aluminium prices and lower alumina costs supported earnings growth. Core PATAMI, excluding a one-off associate-related gain, reached MYR 685.58 million (USD 170 million) for the three months ended June 30. Reported PATAMI rose 66 per cent year on year to a record MYR 801 million (USD 198.62 million), while revenue increased 12 per cent to MYR 4.69 billion (USD 1.16 billion). Higher metal prices support revenue The Malaysian aluminium producer said revenue increased from MYR 4.19 billion (USD 1.04 billion) in the corresponding quarter a year earlier, largely due to higher realised metal prices. Profit before tax climbed...
Aluminum Association backs ‘all-of-the-above’ supply approach after Trump says US ‘desperately needs aluminum’
The Aluminum Association has responded to President Donald Trump’s recent remarks that the United States “desperately needs aluminium,” with its President and CEO Charles Johnson calling for an “all-of-the-above” approach that expands both primary and recycled aluminium production while maintaining access to imported metal from reliable trading partners. Johnson said Trump was right about the need for aluminium in the US but argued that domestic production alone cannot meet current demand. “We need to build both primary and secondary capacity — coupled with smart, targeted trade enforcement — to win the future,” he said. The comments followed Trump’s remarks during a telephone rally for Oklahoma Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Mazzei. There he stated, “Selfishly, we need aluminium...
Kirin looks to recycled aluminium and renewable energy for lower-carbon packaging
Japanese beverage company Kirin is exploring greater use of recycled and low-carbon aluminium as part of its efforts to reduce emissions from packaging and move towards a more circular packaging system. The company is considering GHG-free aluminium produced using renewable energy, as well as lower-emission aluminium with a high recycling rate. It is also looking at the possible use of carbon-free aluminium cans. Aluminium, PET and paper are among the packaging materials covered in Kirin’s climate risk assessment. The company estimates that carbon pricing could add JPY 43.8 billion (USD 275.4 million) to packaging costs by 2050 under its sustainable scenario, which assumes a stronger global shift towards a low-carbon economy. To learn the future of aluminium in the packaging industry,...
Wells Fargo raises Alcoa price target to $68 as Middle East energy risks ease
Wells Fargo has raised its price target for Alcoa to USD 68 from USD 64, seeing potential upside for the aluminium producer even after its shares fell more than 40 per cent from their 2026 peak. Alcoa has had a volatile year. The aluminium producer's shares climbed more than 48 per cent between January and their year-to-date high on June 2, before losing more than 40 per cent from that peak. Despite the sharp pullback, Wells Fargo remains constructive on the stock. Following a meeting with Alcoa's chief financial officer, the investment bank raised its price target to USD 68, while maintaining an Equal Weight rating. With Alcoa shares trading at around USD 50 on August 25, the new target represents potential upside of roughly 36 per cent. It is also considerably above the broader Wall...
From aluminium to semiconductors, Piyush Goyal pitches India to Japanese industry
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has met senior executives from Japanese companies in Osaka, pitching India as an investment and manufacturing partner across semiconductors, electronics, aluminium, paints and coatings, and sports goods. The meetings formed part of Goyal’s four-day Japan visit, where he led India’s largest-ever business delegation to the country. The trip focused on encouraging Japanese companies to expand manufacturing, technology partnerships and supply-chain investments in India. Focus on electronics and aluminium Goyal met a delegation led by Katsumi Azuma, president and chief executive of ROHM Co. Ltd., to discuss potential cooperation in semiconductor and electronic-components manufacturing. India has been developing its semiconductor and electronics...
Alurion begins PFS field programme at Amargosa bauxite-gallium project
Alurion Resources has started infill drilling and bulk-sample trenching at its Amargosa Bauxite-Gallium Project in Bahia, Brazil, as the newly listed company advances the asset toward a targeted mid-2027 pre-feasibility study. The field programme marks a shift from defining the project’s resource base to gathering the technical, metallurgical and logistics data needed to assess a potential direct-shipping bauxite operation. Alurion is also holding preliminary, non-binding discussions with alumina and aluminium groups in Brazil, China and the Middle East on possible offtake and partnership opportunities. Drilling targets PFS resource upgrade The programme includes 203 auger drill holes for 2,436 metres, 20 diamond twin holes for 800 metres and up to 16 bulk-sample trenches across the...
New Belagavi Plant Strengthens Hindalco’s Specialty Alumina Strategy
Hindalco Industries has commissioned India’s first superfine precipitated aluminium trihydrate, or PPT ATH, plant in Belagavi, Karnataka, adding domestic production of a specialist material used in halogen-free fire-protection applications. The new facility has initial annual capacity of 30,000 tonnes and is intended to supply growing demand from the wire-and-cable sector, polymer insulators, thermal insulation, composites, paints and electric-vehicle applications. Hindalco says the plant can be expanded to 60,000 tonnes as the domestic market grows. Focus on fire-safe cables Superfine PPT ATH is used as a flame-retardant filler in halogen-free flame-retardant, or HFFR, cables. In a fire, these materials are designed to help slow flame spread and suppress smoke without releasing halogen...
Bhoruka Extrusions: From Mysore factory to global aluminium-profile markets
Aluminium extrusion is a widely used manufacturing process that turns aluminium billets into precisely shaped profiles for buildings, vehicles, solar systems, electrical equipment and industrial machinery. Its relevance comes from aluminium’s low weight, corrosion resistance, conductivity and recyclability, while extrusion allows manufacturers to create complex sections for a specific use. Industrial aluminium extrusion profiles can also be tailored to customers’ required dimensions, alloy composition and functional requirements. This makes extrusion relevant for uses such as electrical enclosures, transport components, solar structures and equipment where reducing weight or improving corrosion resistance is important. In India’s aluminium value chain, Bhoruka Extrusions Private Limited...
Vedanta Aluminium eyes next growth phase on higher volumes and lower costs
Motilal Oswal has maintained its “buy” rating on Vedanta Aluminium Metal, saying production growth, lower costs and a bigger share of value-added products could support a multi-year expansion in earnings. The brokerage has set a target price of INR 540 (USD 5.67) per share, implying potential upside from the stock’s recent level of about INR 451 (USD 4.73). Vedanta Aluminium shares were trading higher in Wednesday morning deals after gaining about 3 per cent over the previous week. Growth outlook drives bullish call Motilal Oswal expects Vedanta Aluminium’s revenue, EBITDA and profit after tax to grow at compound annual rates of about 11 per cent, 18 per cent and 23 per cent, respectively, between financial years 2026 and 2028. The brokerage’s investment case rests on rising aluminium...
Bridgnorth Aluminium targets growth in North America under new GM
Bridgnorth Aluminium has appointed Ilias Avgerinos as General Manager to lead a new expansion push after investment and operational upgrades returned the UK aluminium producer to round-the-clock production. Avgerinos takes charge as the company targets growth in North America and newer markets including electrification, energy storage and defence. He replaces Gerhard Trilling following a difficult period for the business, which says it has restored full operational performance within two years and built an order book worth more than GBP 300 million (USD 408.83 million). “This is a very exciting time to be joining Bridgnorth Aluminium, a company I know well after sitting on the board since 2024,” explained Ilias. “We are the UK’s only coil aluminium rolling mill and play a critical role in...
