AlCircle News Edited By "Staff Editor"
China eases aluminium shortage after Iran conflict, but pressure shifts to Western fabricators
China is helping cushion Western aluminium markets after production losses in the Gulf caused by the Iran conflict. Yet the export surge could come with a longer-term cost: more aluminium processing activity may shift from Western manufacturers to Chinese producers. China, the world’s largest aluminium producer, has increased exports of primary metal, alloy and semi-finished aluminium products as Western supply chains adjust to reduced Gulf output. The additional material has helped reduce the market’s immediate supply stress. Alloy and semis drive exports China’s export pattern is strongly shaped by its tax system. Primary aluminium exports face a 30 per cent tax, while aluminium alloy and semi-finished products, known as semis, can be exported at a zero tax rate. As a result, much of...
Women’s shelter gets billion-dollar “smelter” boost in hilarious mix-up
A women’s shelter in New South Wales has reportedly received an extraordinary financial boost after the Australian Government allegedly mistook it for an aluminium smelter. According to the humorous report, the government had recently approved AUD 2.5 billion (USD 1.76 billion) in taxpayer support for Rio Tinto’s Tomago aluminium smelter near Newcastle. When a women’s shelter later applied for AUD 2,500 (USD 1,760) in assistance, officials supposedly confused the two applications. The mix-up turned a modest request for support into a multibillion-dollar package because apparently, the difference between a shelter and a smelter is just one letter and several billion dollars. A very expensive misunderstanding In the report, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese explains that the wording of the...
Ardagh Holdings explores potential sale of Ardagh Metal Packaging, standalone operations may add $30m in annual costs
Ardagh Holdings, the controlling shareholder of Ardagh Metal Packaging (AMP), is preparing for a possible sale of the beverage can maker, according to a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Ardagh Holdings has instructed advisers to explore a potential transaction that could involve selling some or all of its indirectly held stake in AMP to a third-party buyer. Another option would be for Ardagh Holdings to acquire the AMP shares it does not currently own and then sell the entire company to a third party. To learn the future of aluminium in the packaging industry, explore our report " ALuminium in Packaging: Consumer Trends and Market Dynamics " A sale could also increase AMP's operating costs. The company currently receives administrative, corporate and other...
Russia’s LME aluminium inventory share close to 95%: Now the market tightens with falling production outside China
Aluminium’s return to backwardation on the London Metal Exchange (LME) is pointing to tighter near-term physical supply, as stocks continue to fall and production outside China declines. The market is increasingly focused on the availability of aluminium for immediate delivery rather than headline inventory levels. According to Natalie Scott-Gray, senior metals analyst at StoneX in London, LME aluminium stocks outside China are 95 per cent Russian-origin material. This means the headline stock figure does not necessarily reflect the amount of metal that Western buyers can readily access. This is because physical buyers in the US and Europe are prohibited from using this Russian aluminium, while many buyers in Asia are also choosing not to purchase it. To know the production, demand and...
Fred Stephan replaces Keith Harvey as CEO of Kaiser Aluminum, effective November 2026
Kaiser Aluminum Corporation has appointed Fred Stephan as its new Chief Executive Officer and President, replacing Keith A. Harvey, effective November 1, 2026. Stephan, 61, will also join Kaiser Aluminum's Board of Directors, increasing the board from nine to 10 members. His initial annual base salary will be USD 1.15 million, according to the company’s latest filing. His remuneration also includes a USD 3.8 million long-term incentive restricted stock unit (RSU) grant for 2026, along with a USD 2 million sign-on RSU grant. Stephan will also have an annual short-term cash incentive target of USD 1.44 million. From 2027, his long-term incentive target will be USD 4.43 million, with about half of the awards tied to performance. To know the production, demand and consumption forecasts of...
Toyota GR GT’s aluminium chassis is built to be driven hard
Toyota has opened up the GR GT’s chassis, and the most interesting part may be what happens if owners push the supercar too far on a racetrack. The GR GT is Toyota’s first vehicle with an all-aluminium body frame. It uses nine large aluminium castings connected to aluminium tubes and extrusions, creating a structure designed to be light, strong and rigid. The chassis was shown alongside the GR GT3 racing car at the 2026 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, giving spectators a rare look at the cars’ underlying structure. Why the chassis matters Most people notice a supercar’s shape, engine or badge first. But the chassis determines how the car behaves when it accelerates, turns and brakes. Toyota’s GR GT chassis uses large aluminium castings in important parts of the structure. These are...
Detroit automakers warn USMCA revamp could add billions in costs
Detroit automakers are preparing to argue to the Trump administration that proposed changes to the North American trade deal could add billions of dollars in annual costs and weaken their competitiveness against foreign rivals. US car companies are already absorbing tariffs on steel, aluminium, vehicle parts and vehicles imported from Mexico and Canada. Executives now fear that Washington’s proposals for the revised trade agreement could increase those costs further ahead of talks with Mexican officials next month. One of the most contentious proposals would require vehicles to contain at least 50 per cent US-made content to qualify for lower tariffs. Washington is also considering raising the overall North American vehicle-content requirement from the current 75 per cent level. Estimates...
Attempted theft of aluminium tubes highlights Matanzas infrastructure vulnerability
Authorities in Matanzas, Cuba, reportedly stopped two individuals from stealing eight aluminium tubes from the railing of the Matanzas Viaduct. The incident occurred on Wednesday, August 12, in the La Playa area. Police reportedly caught the suspects while they were removing the tubes from the bridge structure, preventing the theft and further damage to the railing. Officials did not disclose the individuals’ identities or specify whether they were formally detained. Authorities said they would face the appropriate legal proceedings. Part of wider infrastructure theft The attempted theft is the latest reported incident involving public infrastructure in Matanzas. Days earlier, an entire section of metal railing disappeared from another bridge in the city. The affected structure was not...
US tariffs encourage aluminium manufacturing, but Oklahoma smelter faces opposition
The US' push to rebuild its domestic aluminium industry has been underway for years, with tariffs playing a central role in the strategy. But as Washington tries to attract new smelting investment, opposition to a major proposed project in Oklahoma is raising questions about how easily the country can expand its aluminium capacity. The Section 232 tariffs, introduced in March 2018, were aimed at reducing US dependence on imported aluminium, which the government viewed as a national security risk. The policy also sought to revive idle smelters, attract new investment and strengthen the domestic supply chain. The policy was tightened in 2025, when the US raised aluminium tariffs to 50 per cent for imports from most countries, giving greater protection to domestic producers. To know the...
Royal Bank of Canada raises Kaiser Aluminum stake 98.5%: Earnings hit $5.53 per share
Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) increased its stake in Kaiser Aluminum by 98.5 per cent during the first quarter, according to its latest Form 13F filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). RBC bought an additional 11,769 shares, taking its total holding to 23,714 shares, worth about USD 2.86 million at the end of the reporting period. Other institutional investors also increased their holdings. Farther Finance Advisors raised its stake by 389.3 per cent in the fourth quarter, while Global Retirement Partners increased its position by 408.3 per cent. Parallel Advisors boosted its holding by 107.2 per cent in the first quarter. KBC Group also acquired a new position, worth around USD 44,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds now own about 99.29 per cent of Kaiser...
Azerbaijan looks to China for technology and investment to expand the region’s only primary aluminium production hub
Azerbaijan is looking to deepen its aluminium and metallurgical industry through potential cooperation with Chinese companies. Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov recently met with Xinjiang Joinworld Co., Ltd. to discuss joint projects, modern technologies, innovative solutions, know-how and the transfer of expertise. The talks are crucial because Azerbaijan already has an established primary aluminium industry. Azeraluminium is Azerbaijan’s primary aluminium producer. It has given the country an existing base to expand into more processed and higher-value products. The latest discussions appear to focus on strengthening these capabilities rather than simply increasing primary aluminium production. For Azerbaijan, moving further into products such as rolled aluminium, sheets, profiles,...
Philippine DTI proposes mandatory aluminium certification
The Philippines’ Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has proposed mandatory certification for selected wrought aluminium and aluminium alloy products manufactured through extrusion or cold-drawn processes. The draft department administrative order would require both local and foreign manufacturers to obtain a Philippine Standard (PS) quality and safety certification mark licence before selling or distributing covered products in the country. The proposal aims to ensure compliance with Philippine National Standards, strengthen product safety and support fair competition. Factory audits required The PS licence would be issued only after a satisfactory factory, plant or site audit and product-conformance testing. Licences would be specific to the manufacturing facility and, where...
US aluminium revival puts Alcoa, Kaiser and Century in focus
The US aluminium industry is showing signs of recovery after years of declining domestic primary production, with tariff support, new investment and the restart of idled capacity creating opportunities across the value chain. Century Aluminum’s Mount Holly smelter in South Carolina has returned to full production after the company restarted more than 50,000 metric tonnes of previously idled capacity. The restart lifted total US primary aluminium output by nearly 10 per cent and brought the plant back to a production level it had not reached since 2015. The revival is also being supported by proposed new projects. Century and Emirates Global Aluminium are advancing plans for a large smelter in Oklahoma, while Magnitude 7 Metals is seeking to partially restart its New Madrid operation in...
STG buys large aluminium stockpile from Radiant World as trader seeks cash
STG, a trading company funded by principals of US hedge fund Squarepoint, has bought a substantial volume of aluminium from Radiant World as the commodity trader sells inventory to raise liquidity, according to two industry sources. The exact volume purchased by STG and the price agreed for the transaction were not disclosed. However, sources said STG was acquiring a significant portion of the aluminium offered by Radiant. Radiant World declined to comment on the transaction, saying it does not discuss commercial matters. Squarepoint also declined to comment. Radiant holds up to 50,000 tonnes A source familiar with the matter estimated that Radiant held approximately 40,000–50,000 tonnes of aluminium across multiple locations, including Asia and Europe. The material was reportedly stored...
Norsk Hydro restarts Alunorte output after gas deal, expects $75 to 100 million Q3 hit
Norsk Hydro has started increasing alumina production at its Alunorte refinery in Brazil after reaching a temporary agreement with gas supplier CELBA on terminal access. The restart follows approval from Brazil's oil, natural gas and biofuels regulator (ANP), allowing the company to become a self-importer of natural gas. Alunorte had temporarily reduced alumina production after CELBA notified the refinery of disruptions to natural gas availability. According to Norsk Hydro, the agreement provides temporary access to gas infrastructure while the company continues to work on a longer-term solution with the supplier. To know the futuristic market and value proposition of red mud, explore the report " A Comprehensive Analysis of Bauxite Residue (Red Mud): Sustainability, Resource Recovery and...
Germany recycled 75kt of building aluminium scrap through AUF network in 2023
A new report by German industry organisation Aluminium und Umwelt im Fenster- und Fassadenbau (AUF), prepared in partnership with European Aluminium, highlights the progress of closed-loop aluminium recycling in Germany's building sector. The study focuses on aluminium scrap generated from windows, doors and façade systems, and examines how more material can be kept within the construction industry through recycling. According to the 28-page report, AUF collected 75,000 tonnes of aluminium scrap in 2023 through its recycling network. The organisation said its members include construction companies, window and façade manufacturers, system suppliers, demolition firms, architects and planners. The collection system is supported by “Seventeen environmental partners and processors, with a...
Alunorte production recovery by Norsk Hydro pressures Indian aluminium shares
Aluminium prices have come under pressure after Norsk Hydro resumed higher alumina production at its Alunorte refinery in Brazil, easing concerns over raw material availability. The development followed a temporary production cut earlier this month due to gas supply disruptions and weighed on shares of Indian aluminium producers, which had benefited from higher alumina prices. Aluminium prices settled 1.73 per cent lower at INR 346.80 (USD 3.64), as improving supply prospects from the Middle East and the expected return of production at Emirates Global Aluminium's (EGA) Al Taweelah smelter also reduced concerns over supply shortages. However, losses remained limited by low global inventories and the recent disruption at Alunorte. To know the production, demand and consumption forecasts on...
2A USA bets $32m on Auburn aluminium die-casting facility expansion
Italian aluminium die-casting company 2A USA will invest USD 32 million to expand its manufacturing facility in Auburn, Alabama, increasing its capacity to produce large and complex aluminium components for the North American heavy truck industry. The expansion is expected to create 50 jobs and strengthen the company’s ability to supply advanced aluminium parts made in the US. 2A USA is a Tier I automotive supplier, supplying components directly to vehicle manufacturers or major vehicle-system companies. The company is the North American division of Turin-based 2A S.p.A. Emphasising that the project reflects the importance of advanced manufacturing to the state’s economy, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey stated, “Advanced manufacturing is a pillar of Alabama’s economy and 2A USA’s presence and...
