AlCircle News Edited By "Staff Editor"
Ukraine transfers seized containers from Mykolaiv Alumina Plant to ARMA for sale
A court in Ukraine has authorised the Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA) to take over and sell more than 3,000 specialised containers linked to the Mykolaiv Alumina Plant, concluding that continued storage would further reduce the assets' economic value. According to a ruling by the Central District Court of Mykolaiv, the seized property comprises 3,045 reusable textile containers used to transport bulk materials. The containers, owned by Russian company Novitni Tekhnologii v Perevozhennyakh, are valued at approximately USD 304,500, or more than UAH 11.1 million at the exchange rate applicable when they were seized. The containers were imported into Ukraine under a temporary import regime and were used at the Mykolaiv Alumina Plant. They have been treated as evidence in a...
European aluminium foil deliveries decline in Q1 despite signs of market stabilisation
European aluminium foil producers experienced a weak start to 2026, with total deliveries declining in the first quarter despite indications of gradual market stabilisation as the period progressed. According to the European Aluminium Foil Association (EAFA), total deliveries by its members reached approximately 225,000 tonnes during the first quarter, representing a 6.6 per cent decline compared with the same period last year. Shipment volumes also remained below average levels recorded before 2020. Within Europe, aluminium foil deliveries fell by 4.3 per cent year-on-year during the quarter. While demand remained subdued at the beginning of the year, March recorded an improvement over the previous two months, supported primarily by the flexible packaging sector. Stable or growing demand...
Adani-IHC aluminium project to be powered by Adani’s 4,000 MW captive capacity
The high-profile Adani-IHC aluminium project will reportedly draw electricity from a 4,000 MW captive power plant and a green energy component of about 400 megawatts for running 4 million tonnes per annum of alumina, 2 million tonnes per annum of aluminium and 1 million tonnes per annum of downstream production. This entire project will be a 50:50 joint venture between Adani and Abu Dhabi-based International Holding Company (IHC). The USD 11.5 billion-worth project in Odisha is seen as a strategic step by Adani to expand its position into the commodity space after an investment in a USD 1.2 billion greenfield copper smelter and refinery in Gujarat. The investment in aluminium comes as India works to expand domestic aluminium production. India produced about 4.2 million tonnes of aluminium...
Alcoa targets a larger aluminium, alumina and bauxite portfolio with the South32 acquisition
Alcoa will acquire South32's aluminium, alumina and bauxite business in a deal worth up to USD 5.6 billion, expanding its position across the aluminium value chain. According to Wood Mackenzie, the acquisition will raise Alcoa's aluminium smelting capacity by around 26 per cent and make it the world's largest equity-attributable bauxite producer. The consideration includes USD 3.1 billion in cash, about USD 1 billion in Alcoa shares through the issuance of approximately 17 million shares, around USD 750 million in assumed net debt and lease liabilities, and up to USD 750 million in contingent payments linked to aluminium and alumina prices through 2030. Cash flows from the assets will transfer to Alcoa from 1 April 2026. Wood Mackenzie estimates the portfolio is worth about USD 10.9...
Aluminium Association of India calls for stricter controls on aluminium scrap imports
India's aluminium industry is debating import duties and quality regulations for aluminium scrap. The Aluminium Association of India (AAI), which represents primary aluminium producers, has called for stricter controls on aluminium scrap imports and stronger quality regulations. The association has raised concerns that increasing imports of what it describes as substandard scrap could threaten investments worth more than INR 3 trillion (USD 31.5 billion). India currently levies a 7.5 per cent Basic Customs Duty on primary aluminium and 2.5 per cent on aluminium scrap. To learn about the autonomous furnace tending in aluminium cast houses from RIA Cast House Engineering, join the webinar Autonomous furnace tending in aluminium cast houses: Improving safety, productivity and yield The issue...
India strengthens green fuel exports with long-term supply deals to Japan
India is strengthening its position as a global supplier of green fuels following the signing of long-term offtake agreements between ACME Cleantech Solutions (ACME Group) and Japan's IHI Corporation for green ammonia and Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, Inc. for green methanol. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Renewable Energy Secretary Santosh Kumar Sarangi said India's green hydrogen sector is becoming commercially mature, with the country's clean fuels increasingly positioned as reliable exports that support the development of international green hydrogen and green ammonia value chains. Under the agreement with IHI Corporation, ACME will supply 405,000 tonnes of green ammonia annually. The arrangement is backed by Japan's Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme for low-carbon ammonia,...
Iluka secures long-term rare earth concentrate supply from VHM's Goschen project
Iluka has entered into a long-term agreement with VHM Limited to purchase all planned rare earth concentrate production from the Goschen project in western Victoria, supporting feedstock requirements for its Eneabba rare earths refinery in Western Australia. Under the agreement, VHM will supply 146,000 tonnes of rare earth concentrate containing 86,000 tonnes of rare earth oxides over an 18-year period. On average, this equates to around 8,320 tonnes of rare earth concentrate annually, containing approximately 4,900 tonnes of total rare earth oxides. Iluka said the concentrate will complement feedstock for the Eneabba refinery, with production levels depending on the optimal blend of internal and external feedstocks as well as refinery processing capacity. The agreement also grants Iluka...
RCMP awards Ocean Pacific Marine $74.7M contract for aluminium coastal patrol vessels
Ocean Pacific Marine, based in Campbell River, British Columbia, has been awarded a USD 74.7 million contract to build three aluminium coastal patrol vessels for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). The aluminium patrol vessels are designed to operate at speeds of up to 28 knots with a range of 450 nautical miles. They can accommodate up to six personnel and are equipped for coastal security, diving and underwater recovery operations, as well as towing. The vessels will be built through a joint venture with Camarc Design, a Scottish naval architecture firm known for designing high-speed patrol vessels used by police, coast guard, naval and rescue agencies. The 27-metre vessels will be used by the RCMP to support law enforcement, search and rescue, and emergency response operations...
AMAG assigns group spokesperson role to Christoph M. Gabriel
AMAG Austria Metall AG has appointed Christoph M. Gabriel as Group Spokesperson, effective from mid-June. He will take on the new role in addition to his current responsibilities as Commercial Managing Director of the Metal Division and Head of Investor Relations and Issuer Compliance. Gabriel, 34, joined the Austrian aluminium company in February 2014. He has experience in financial management, capital markets communication and investor relations. He holds a degree in economics and has worked extensively in financial management and communication with national and international capital market stakeholders. He is also involved in several professional committees and industry networks. AMAG Austria Metall AG supplies cast and rolled aluminium products for industries including aerospace,...
US company Momentum Technologies recovers high-purity rare earth elements from recycled feedstocks
Momentum Technologies has achieved record purity levels in recovering rare earth elements (REEs) using its proprietary Membrane Solvent Extraction (MSX) technology. The Texas-based critical materials company recovered 99.9 per cent pure neodymium-praseodymium oxide from e-waste and magnet production waste, 99.5 per cent pure dysprosium from magnet production waste, and 99.5 per cent pure yttrium from mined feedstock at its demonstration plant in Carrollton, Texas. The MSX technology was developed in collaboration with the US Department of Energy and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. It is designed to recover and separate high-purity rare earth elements and battery materials from both primary and secondary feedstocks. High-purity rare earths are required for permanent magnets used in defence...
ToZero project demonstrates recycling of aluminium scrap into 3D printing powder
The ToZero (Towards Zero Waste in Aluminum BiW Manufacturing) project has demonstrated that recycled automotive aluminium scrap can be transformed into powder suitable for laser powder bed fusion (LPBF), supporting efforts to increase the use of recycled materials in additive manufacturing. Supported under Italy's Accordi per l'Innovazione programme, the project involved Valland, Politecnico di Torino, Politecnico di Bari and the Fontana Group, with Valland leading the additive manufacturing phase. The company developed LPBF processing parameters for recycled AA5083 aluminium powder and used the material to manufacture a structural automotive connection node known as the "Voletto". According to the project team, the recycled alloy was printed without hot cracking, while the finished...
Taiyo Yuden launches automotive-grade hybrid aluminium electrolytic capacitors
The ToZero (Towards Zero Waste in Aluminum BiW Manufacturing) project has demonstrated that recycled automotive aluminium scrap can be transformed into powder suitable for laser powder bed fusion (LPBF), supporting efforts to increase the use of recycled materials in additive manufacturing. Supported under Italy's Accordi per l'Innovazione programme, the project involved Valland, Politecnico di Torino, Politecnico di Bari and the Fontana Group, with Valland leading the additive manufacturing phase. The company developed LPBF processing parameters for recycled AA5083 aluminium powder and used the material to manufacture a structural automotive connection node known as the "Voletto". According to the project team, the recycled alloy was printed without hot cracking, while the finished...
Window Magic launches luxury aluminium fenestration range and experience centre in India
Window Magic has launched WM AURA, its new ultra-luxury aluminium fenestration range, while unveiling Window Magic Atelier, a dedicated luxury fenestration experience centre in South Delhi, marking a new phase in the company's expansion in India's premium construction market. The company said the Atelier is designed as an immersive destination for architects, developers, interior designers and homeowners, showcasing luxury doors, windows and façade systems through dedicated experiential zones featuring the brand's latest products and design capabilities. The launch of WM AURA has been developed in collaboration with a European specialist in advanced aluminium architectural systems, combining international engineering expertise with solutions tailored for the Indian market. Explore: The...
MQP to unveil aluminium grain refiner for high-performance applications at Aluminium China 2026
MQP will introduce its new Optifine 5:02 aluminium grain refiner at Aluminium China 2026, taking place from 8-10 July in Shanghai, as demand grows for cleaner aluminium used in aerospace and premium automotive applications. The company said the new grain refiner has been developed to meet increasing requirements for high-strength aluminium and superior surface quality, including applications requiring a mirror-like finish. Delegates attending the exhibition can learn more about the product at Stand 1C01. According to Matthew Piper, Technical Business Development Director at MQP, manufacturers are seeking grain refiners with significantly lower levels of inclusions, such as agglomerates and other local defects, to improve downstream processing and achieve higher-quality surface finishes....
US Customs to auction 12,000 tonnes of seized aluminium imported from China
The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will hold the second and final public auction of approximately 12,000 tonnes of seized extruded aluminium profiles on 23 July 2026 in Riverside, California, bringing to a close a nearly 10-year investigation into aluminium imports from China. The aluminium was seized in 2017 during an investigation linked to individuals or companies associated with China Zhongwang Holdings Ltd. Authorities alleged the material had been imported as non-functional aluminium shipping pallets to avoid US tariffs on semi-finished and finished aluminium products. According to CBP, the auction will include more than 160,000 aluminium "pallets" stored across 623 shipping containers, with the containers themselves also forming part of the sale. The aluminium is currently...
Canyon Resources strengthens governance ahead of first bauxite shipment
Canyon Resources Ltd has appointed Rory McGoldrick as a Non-Executive Director, effective July 2, 2026, as the company prepares to begin mining and targets its first bauxite shipment in the fourth quarter of 2026. McGoldrick has about 20 years of experience in the energy and resources sector. His background includes executive leadership, corporate advisory, corporate law and capital markets. He is currently Chief Executive Officer of Triangle Energy (Global) Ltd, where he oversees the company's oil and gas operations in the Perth Basin and the United Kingdom. He previously served as Chief Operating Officer and led the spin-out of the company's Philippines assets into Tetragon Energy Ltd. He is also part-time CEO of Winchester Energy Ltd, where he has worked on operational improvements...
Anheuser-Busch announces $20M investment in Missouri manufacturing
Anheuser-Busch has announced an investment of more than USD 20 million in its facilities in St. Louis and Arnold, Missouri, to expand production capacity and strengthen manufacturing operations. The investment includes upgrades to brewery and aluminium can manufacturing equipment to support growing demand for brands such as Michelob ULTRA and Busch Light. The company will also establish a new technical skills training centre at its St. Louis brewery to develop the next generation of manufacturing professionals. The centre will provide training in mechanical, electrical, digital and operational skills and will complement the company's existing Technical Excellence Centre. The investment is part of Anheuser-Busch's Brewing Futures initiative, under which the company plans to invest USD 600...
Press Metal's product mix and upstream integration expected to lift profit margins
Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Bhd is expected to strengthen its earnings in the coming years, with MBSB Research forecasting an improvement in net profit margins from 15.3 per cent in FY2026 to 16.6 per cent by FY2028. The research firm has initiated coverage on the company with a "buy" recommendation and a target price of RM9.78 (USD 2.40) per share, citing Press Metal's renewable-powered aluminium smelting operations, expanding upstream integration and exposure to long-term electrification trends. According to MBSB Research, Press Metal's competitive position is supported by its access to long-term hydropower at its Samalaju Industrial Park smelters in Sarawak, helping the company maintain stable production costs while producing lower-carbon aluminium. Electricity typically accounts...
