AlCircle News Edited By "Staff Editor"
PA Resources secures $321.22M aluminium extrusion contract extension from First Solar
PA Resources Bhd has renewed its supply agreement with First Solar Inc, First Solar Malaysia Sdn Bhd and First Solar Vietnam Manufacturing Co Ltd to supply aluminium extrusion profiles used in the production of photovoltaic modules. The new contract is valued at RM1.31 billion (USD 321.22 million) and covers an 18-month period from July 2026 to December 2027. According to the company, it is the fifth supply agreement awarded by First Solar. In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, PA Resources said the contract is expected to improve operational efficiency through better production scheduling, material planning, workforce utilisation and logistics coordination. The company also expects the agreement to contribute positively to its earnings and net assets. Explore: The most comprehensive and...
Thrust Capital Partners acquires aluminium and titanium casting company Alphacasting
Thrust Capital Partners (TCP) has acquired Alphacasting Inc., a Quebec-based manufacturer of titanium and aluminium precision investment castings serving the aerospace and defence industries. Founded in 1991, Alphacasting manufactures high-complexity precision castings using a range of metal alloys, with a primary focus on high-strength aluminium. The company also states that it is the only Canadian foundry with titanium casting capabilities. Following the acquisition, Louis Marc Pinard, former Chief Operating Officer of AP&C (GE Aerospace), has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer of Alphacasting. He said the company has established a strong position in the precision casting sector and that the focus will be on operational excellence, long-term value creation and sustainable growth....
Impact Minerals receives R&D rebate for Lake Hope high-purity alumina project
Impact Minerals Limited has received a AUD 310,000 (USD 203,200) rebate under Australia's Research and Development Tax Incentive scheme for the financial year ended June 2025. The company said the funding will be used to advance its flagship Lake Hope High Purity Alumina (HPA) Project and support its investment in Alluminous Pty Ltd. According to Managing Director Dr Mike Jones, the project's unique mineralogy, together with its patented and proprietary processing techniques, enabled the company to recover a significant portion of its research and development expenditure through the incentive programme. The rebate will support ongoing pilot plant studies being carried out in collaboration with CPC Engineering and Edith Cowan University, which are focused on producing high-purity alumina...
Aluminium foil under roofs shown to reduce summer heat gain in buildings
Aluminium foil is gaining attention as a potential passive cooling solution after research found that a reflective layer installed beneath roofs can significantly reduce the amount of heat entering buildings during summer. As temperatures rise, roofs absorb large amounts of solar radiation, increasing indoor temperatures and placing greater demand on air conditioning systems. Researchers have found that installing a thin reflective aluminium layer beneath the roof can help reflect a substantial portion of this radiant heat before it reaches living spaces. A study by Stefano Fantucci and Valentina Serra, published in the journal Energy and Buildings in 2019, found that aluminium foil used as a radiant barrier reduced summer heat gain by 10 per cent to 53 per cent, depending on the...
USA Rare Earth produces commercial-grade rare earth oxides from recycled magnet scrap
USA Rare Earth has produced commercial-grade dysprosium (Dy) oxide and neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr) oxide samples from recycled rare earth magnet scrap at its Wheat Ridge, Colorado hydrometallurgical facility, marking a step forward in its rare earth processing operations. The company said the achievement makes it one of the few producers outside Asia capable of separating heavy rare earth elements at commercial grade. It also supports the development of an integrated rare earth supply chain serving industries including defence, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing. The Dy and NdPr oxide samples were produced from magnet swarf, the fine scrap generated during the machining and finishing of neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets. The recycled material was sourced from the company's...
Rio Tinto reports strong bauxite recovery in Q2, maintains 2026 production guidance
Rio Tinto reported a strong recovery in bauxite production during the second quarter of 2026, while maintaining its full-year production guidance across its aluminium business. The company produced 15.2 million tonnes of bauxite during the second quarter, up 14 per cent from the previous quarter but 3 per cent lower than the same period last year. For the first half of 2026, bauxite production totalled 28.5 million tonnes, a 7 per cent decline year-on-year. Rio Tinto maintained its full-year bauxite production guidance at 58-61 million tonnes. Chief Executive Simon Trott said the company's integrated aluminium business continued to perform strongly, supported by a recovery in bauxite production despite ongoing geopolitical uncertainty. Alumina production reached 2.0 million tonnes in the...
AEM's nano high-purity alumina approved for Zürcher Frères' advanced ceramics
Advanced Engineered Materials (AEM) has announced that its nanoparticle high-purity alumina (HPA) has demonstrated improved mechanical performance in zirconia-alumina ceramics, following laboratory testing conducted by Swiss ceramics manufacturer Zürcher Frères SA. According to AEM, the testing showed that ceramics produced using its nano HPA delivered higher hardness and fracture toughness compared with materials supplied by existing producers. Zürcher Frères described the performance of the ceramics as suitable for demanding applications requiring high mechanical strength and wear resistance. Following the evaluation, AEM and Zürcher Frères have signed an ongoing cooperation agreement under which AEM will become the exclusive supplier of nanoparticle HPA for Zürcher Frères'...
Aluminium prices rise on supply concerns and low LME inventories
Aluminium prices rose 0.40 per cent to settle at INR 339.80 (USD 3.57), supported by ongoing supply concerns and declining inventories on major metal exchanges. Inventories in London Metal Exchange (LME) warehouses remained at their lowest level since 2022, while stocks on the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) fell 4.8 per cent, reflecting continued demand for physical aluminium. Market sentiment was also influenced by renewed geopolitical concerns after fresh US strikes on Iranian targets, raising the possibility of supply disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route for aluminium exports from the Gulf region. However, expectations of improving regional supply and easing tensions in the Middle East limited further price gains. On the supply side, Emirates Global...
Aluminium foil reflector shown to improve Wi-Fi coverage and reduce signal leakage
Aluminium is widely used in everyday consumer products, from smartphones and laptops to food packaging and household aluminium foil. However, many consumers associate the metal primarily with lightweight construction, durability or packaging, while overlooking its broader engineering applications. There are also several misconceptions surrounding aluminium, including the belief that aluminium foil always weakens Wi-Fi signals or that the metal serves only as a protective casing in electronic devices. In reality, aluminium's conductivity and reflective properties make it useful in a variety of electrical, industrial and communication technologies. These characteristics have led researchers to explore new applications for aluminium beyond conventional manufacturing. Rather than simply...
India says higher Russian oil imports are part of long-term energy security strategy
India's Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has defended the country's rising imports of Russian crude oil, stating that the increase is part of a long-term strategy to diversify supply sources and safeguard energy security amid disruptions in West Asia. Responding to an editorial published by The Hindu, the ministry said the rise in Russian oil imports followed the disruption of shipments through the Strait of Hormuz after military strikes on Iran in late February 2026. According to the ministry, the closure affected nearly one-fifth of global oil and gas flows, while around 45-50 per cent of India's crude oil imports normally pass through the strategic waterway. The ministry said India increased the share of crude sourced from outside the Strait of Hormuz from 55 per cent to 70 per...
NALCO shares extend gains for third straight trading session
Shares of National Aluminium Company Ltd (NALCO) gained for the third consecutive trading session, rising 2.42 per cent to INR 363.80 (USD 3.82) at 12:49 IST on the National Stock Exchange (NSE). The stock outperformed the broader market, with the NIFTY declining 0.53 per cent to 24,082.60, while the Sensex fell 0.57 per cent to 77,176.37 during the session. Over the past year, NALCO's share price has surged 90.99 per cent, compared with a 4.42 per cent decline in the NIFTY and a 34.76 per cent fall in the Nifty Metal index. Despite the recent gains, the stock has declined 4.85 per cent over the past month. Explore: The most comprehensive and forward-looking industry-focused report – Global Bauxite & Alumina Market Forecast to 2036: Supply–Demand, Trade Flows & Price Outlook The Nifty...
China's H1 2026 aluminium exports climb 16.3%, led by 711kt record June shipments
China's exports of unwrought aluminium and downstream products reached a record high in June, according to official customs data released on Tuesday. Exports rose to 711,000 tonnes in June, the first time monthly shipments exceeded the 700,000-tonne mark. The volume was 12.5 per cent higher than 632,000 tonnes exported in May. During the first six months (H1) of 2026, exports of unwrought aluminium and aluminium products increased 16.3 per cent year-on-year to 3.4 million tonnes. According to Shanghai Metals Market (SMM), total exports during January-June reached 3.396 million tonnes. China's aluminium market remained characterised by weak domestic demand and strong overseas demand during H1. While higher aluminium prices continued to weigh on domestic purchases, exports of aluminium...
LME aluminium prices ease on July 13; stocks and cancelled warrants continue to decline
Aluminium prices on the London Metal Exchange (LME) are continuing to drop since the previous close. While cash, three-month contracts and stocks reported declines, longer-dated contracts improved. The LME aluminium cash bid price stood at USD 3,138 per tonne on July 13, down 0.54 per cent from USD 3,155.5 per tonne on July 10 . The cash offer price also declined by 0.55 per cent to USD 3,138.5 per tonne from USD 3,156 per tonne. Likewise, the LME aluminium three-month bid price slipped by 0.24 per cent to USD 3,145 per tonne on July 13 from USD 3,152.5 per tonne on July 10. The three-month offer price decreased by 0.19 per cent to USD 3,147 per tonne from USD 3,153 per tonne. To know the long-term bauxite market forecast, book our report: “ Global Bauxite & Alumina Market Forecast to...
MRAI urges government to remove import duty on aluminium scrap
The Material Recycling Association of India (MRAI) has urged the Indian government to abolish the 2.5 per cent Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on aluminium scrap, arguing that the measure would support the country's recycling industry and strengthen the circular economy. In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the association said removing the duty would reduce raw material costs for recyclers and downstream manufacturers while improving their competitiveness in global markets. MRAI noted that India remains heavily dependent on imported aluminium scrap, with 80-85 per cent of the country's requirement being met through imports. It said uninterrupted access to imported scrap is essential to sustain domestic manufacturing and support the continued growth of the recycling...
Aluminium prices ease as EGA restarts Al Taweelah alumina refinery
Aluminium prices fell 1.6 per cent to settle at 338.45 after Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) restarted its Al Taweelah alumina refinery in the UAE following a shutdown of around three and a half months. EGA said the refinery is expected to reach 50 per cent of its production capacity within days and return to full technical capacity by the end of the year. The restart has improved expectations for alumina supply and reduced concerns over raw material availability. Although tensions in the Middle East have eased, recent incidents near the Strait of Hormuz continue to keep supply risks in focus. However, the refinery's restart had a bigger impact on market sentiment, leading to lower aluminium prices. Explore: The most comprehensive and forward-looking industry-focused report – Global...
Limerick mayor calls for forum as uncertainty continues over Aughinish Alumina
Limerick Mayor John Moran has called on the Irish government to establish a forum to improve communication with stakeholders as uncertainty continues over the future of Aughinish Alumina, Europe's largest alumina refinery. In a letter to Taoiseach and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Peter Burke, Moran proposed creating a forum involving workers, trade unions, suppliers and the wider community to help address concerns surrounding the refinery and prepare for any future decisions. The proposal comes as debate continues over whether the Russian-owned refinery should face sanctions after reports emerged in March alleging that alumina produced at the plant may have been linked to sanctioned manufacturers supplying weapons used in Russia's war against Ukraine. The Irish government...
BALCO warns stakeholders against cyber fraud and impersonation attempts
Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO), a subsidiary of Vedanta Aluminium Metal Limited, has issued a public advisory urging citizens, employees, business partners and other stakeholders to remain alert to cyber fraud involving the unauthorised use of the company's identity. The company warned that cybercriminals might register similar-sounding websites, domains and email addresses to BALCO’s name, brand, products and services in an effort to trick users into giving away sensitive information. BALCO says these fraudulent communication channels are usually used to steal confidential, personal, financial or commercial information, spread malware and commit other types of online fraud. The company clarified that it has no association with any unauthorised websites, domains or email...
Europe’s aluminium scrap market in Q1 2026: Exports outpace imports & Russia’s share continues to remain small
Europe remained a major supplier of aluminium scrap to the global market during the first quarter of 2026. Although discussions on retaining more scrap within the region continued, export volumes remained much higher than imports. Demand from overseas secondary aluminium producers, together with Europe's well-developed recycling industry, kept scrap moving out of the region throughout the quarter. Eurostat data (HS/CN 7602) show that the EU-27 imported 168,346 tonnes of aluminium waste and scrap from countries outside the bloc during January-March 2026. Imports remained almost unchanged during the first two months of the quarter. January imports stood at 54,817 tonnes, followed by 54,658 tonnes in February. Volumes increased slightly in March to 58,870 tonnes, making it the strongest...
