AlCircle News Edited By "Staff Editor"
US pushes allies to pay more for critical minerals to cut reliance on China
The US is stepping up efforts to reshape how critical minerals are sourced, with its top trade official signalling that allies may have to accept higher prices if they want more secure supply chains. Jamieson Greer has told partner countries that reliance on low-cost imports has contributed to the West’s dependence on China, particularly in areas like rare earths. In conversations with allies, he has argued that a shift away from that model will come with added costs, something he described as a “national security premium”. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026" The idea being discussed goes beyond just sourcing changes. Washington is looking at forming a group of like-minded countries, including parts of...
NavPrakriti to invest ₹100M in Odisha critical minerals refining facility
Battery recycler NavPrakriti is setting up a greenfield critical minerals refining unit in Odisha with an investment of over INR 1000 million (USD 10.66 million), aiming to bring it onstream by FY29. Backed by its selection under the National Critical Mineral Mission, the plant will recover cobalt, nickel and lithium from end-of-life batteries. It is planned to handle about 5,000 tonnes a year, targeting high-purity output of critical and rare earth materials to support domestic supply and cut import dependence. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " Started in 2024 by Akhilesh Bagaria and Avnish Bagaria, the company already operates a lithium-ion recycling facility in Serampore, West Bengal, with 12,000...
Plastic to fuel conversion advances with new aluminium-based method
Oak Ridge National Laboratory researchers have developed a method to convert polyethylene plastic waste into fuel at temperatures below 200°C. The process uses a molten salt solution containing aluminium chloride. It breaks down plastic into smaller molecules that can be used as fuel. Around 60 per cent of the output is similar to gasoline, making it suitable for transport and industrial use. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " This approach uses much lower temperatures than existing methods. Most conventional processes require 450 to 500°C. The lower temperature reduces energy use and may make the process easier to scale for industrial use. The method focuses on polyethylene. This plastic is widely used...
Middle East tensions push developers to rethink design and sourcing strategies
Supply disruptions linked to the ongoing tensions in the Middle East are starting to show up in India’s real estate sector, with developers adjusting how they plan projects and source materials. Across the board, inputs like aluminium, steel, tiles and cement are becoming harder to manage, not always because of shortages alone, but because of price swings and delays tied to shipping and energy costs. That’s forcing companies to rethink both execution timelines and design choices. Visible changes are being made in procurement where, instead of relying on just-in-time supply, developers are now moving before time, sourcing materials sooner and working with multiple vendors to reduce risk. Longer buffers are also being built into project schedules. Kulmeet Shangari, Managing Director and...
Q2 2026 sees oversupply weighing on FOB Australia alumina prices
中文翻译附于新闻末尾，敬请继续阅读。 FOB Australia alumina prices are expected to remain under pressure in the second quarter of 2026 due to continued oversupply in the market. Demand for alumina weakened in late Q1 as smelter operations in the Middle East were disrupted by geopolitical conflict. Production cuts at aluminium smelters reduced alumina consumption, while refinery output remained largely steady. This created excess supply, which moved into the seaborne market. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " According to S&P Global Platts, FOB Australia alumina was assessed at USD 304 per tonne on April 15. The average price for Q1 was USD 306.91 per tonne, down 2.82 per cent from the previous quarter. Prices in China also...
Rio Tinto reports steady aluminium output in Q1 2026 despite disruptions in bauxite
Rio Tinto reported steady performance in its aluminium value chain in the first quarter of 2026, with mixed production volumes of bauxite, alumina and primary metal output Bauxite production was reported at 13.3 million tonnes, down 11 per cent year-on-year, largely flagged by the company towards weather complications in Australia. Heavy rainfall at Weipa early in the quarter, followed by Cyclone Narelle impacting both Weipa and Gove in March, weighed on output. The same factors also affected third-party shipments, which declined during the period. In contrast, alumina production rose to 2.04 million tonnes, up 6 per cent compared to the same period last year. The increase was mainly driven by the consolidation of Queensland Alumina Limited on a full basis, along with generally stronger...
New leacher installed at the Bogoslovsky aluminium plant as part of ongoing upgrades
At a refinery in Krasnoturinsk, work is continuing to modernise existing processing systems, with a new piece of equipment now in use at the site. The facility, known as the Bogoslovsky Aluminium Plant, is part of RUSAL’s alumina production network. The latest addition is located in the section where bauxite is processed to extract aluminium oxide. This step is known as 'leaching', and it is crucial to alumina production because it determines how much usable material can be recovered, while the rest becomes residue. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026" The new unit is one of several planned improvements within what the company refers to as its fourth processing area, where outdated systems are being gradually...
TOMRA introduces AI-based FINDER™ for advanced metal recycling operations
TOMRA Recycling has launched a new metal-sorting system, FINDER™, to improve the recovery of non-ferrous metals, including aluminium, from complex waste streams. The system is modular. Operators can configure and expand sensors based on the material. It is designed to handle shredded end-of-life vehicles and electronic scrap. It separates aluminium, copper, brass, and stainless steel and also sorts printed circuit boards and removes insulated wires and non-metal materials. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " FINDER™ combines multiple sensor technologies. These include electromagnetic, near-infrared, and optical sensors. The system can classify objects more precisely in mixed material streams. It can clean...
Saudi Industry Ministry partners with Aluminium Arabia to boost sector growth
Saudi Arabia is sharpening its focus on aluminium and mining, with the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources taking on a strategic role at the next Aluminium Arabia event. The move reflects a wider push to expand industries beyond oil and to build a stronger manufacturing base in line with Vision 2030. The Ministry’s involvement is expected to bring greater attention to the aluminium sector, which has been identified as a key area for growth. Under the National Industrial Strategy, mining is projected to contribute around SAR240 billion (USD 64 billion) to the economy by 2030. Officials see aluminium as an important part of that ambition, not only for its export potential but also for its role in developing local supply chains. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book...
Constellium SE gains on strong aluminium automotive structures segment
Constellium SE (NYSE: CSTM) reported solid performance in its Automotive Structures & Industry (AS&I) segment, supporting overall growth in 2025. The company’s aluminium product portfolio remained a key driver of segment performance. Also Read: Constellium 2025 scorecard The segment recorded shipments of 202,000 tonnes during the year. Revenues increased 10 per cent year on year to nearly USD 1.6 billion, driven by higher shipment volumes and metal prices. The company said healthy orders for other extruded products after the recovery from the Valais flood supported the segment, although lower shipments of automotive extruded products remained a concern. Growing demand for automotive aluminium components, driven by popularity for energy-efficient vehicles, coupled with elevated aluminium...
U4 Marine Secures 24m Aluminium Catamaran and Dual 24m/22m Motor Yacht Contracts
U4 Marine, a shipyard in Turkey's Antalya Free Zone, has signed contracts for three new yacht builds. The projects include a 24-metre all-aluminium motor catamaran (U4801C), a 24-metre motor yacht (U4821), and a 22-metre motor yacht (U4721). All are due for delivery no later than the end of 2028. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " Details on the yachts are not public yet. U4 Marine stated it will share exterior and interior renderings, plus technical specs, once the design packages are complete. The yard focuses on custom motor yachts and catamarans, often using lightweight materials like aluminium and carbon for efficiency. Also read: Studies highlight aluminium’s potential as a safer alternative to...
Critical Metals Corp. appoints Thomas Mogensen as the new CEO of Tanbreez Mining, Greenland
Critical Metals Corp. has appointed Thomas “TYT” Mogensen as Chief Executive Officer of its subsidiary, Tanbreez Mining A/S. Mogensen has over 20 years of experience in finance, infrastructure, and natural resources, with a focus on Greenland and the Nordic region. He has worked on business development, financial restructuring, and large-scale project execution. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " He most recently served as Managing Director of Nalik Ventures A/S, a business development company owned by the Government of Greenland. During his tenure, the company moved from a DKK 88 million (USD 13.8 million) loss to a DKK 28 million (USD 4.4 million) profit. He also led a restructuring process, including a...
USA Rare Earth to acquire Serra Verde Group in $2.8B deal
USA Rare Earth is moving ahead with the acquisition of Serra Verde Group in a deal that comes out to roughly USD 2.8 billion based on the current share price. The structure is a mix, about USD 300 million in cash, with the rest coming through newly issued shares. The timeline, for now, points to closing sometime in the third quarter of 2026, assuming regulatory clearances go through. Serra Verde is not a long-running mine, its production only started in 2024, but it’s already being positioned as one of the few sources outside Asia that can supply all the key magnetic rare earths at scale. That includes Nd, Pr, Dy and Tb, along with yttrium. There’s also a long-term offtake piece tied to it. A vehicle backed by US government-linked funding and private capital has signed on for 15 years,...
ABB to supply systems for Norsk Hydro hydropower project supporting aluminium production
ABB has been selected to deliver control and electrical systems for the Illvatn pumped storage hydropower plant being developed by Norsk Hydro in western Norway, supporting the company’s aluminium production. The contract, booked in the fourth quarter of 2025, covers a range of systems including control, monitoring and electrical equipment, although financial details have not been disclosed. The Illvatn project itself is a significant one for Hydro. It is the company’s largest hydropower investment in over 20 years, with a total framework of around USD 265 million, and an estimated net cost after tax of about USD 127 million. Once operational, the plant is expected to deliver a net increase of 107 GWh of renewable power annually, with gross output rising by around 210 GWh. The additional...
Vedanta’s share price nears 52-week high despite minor price dip
Vedanta Ltd. was among the most actively traded stocks by value on April 20, 2026, even as its share price declined slightly. The stock recorded a traded volume of 28,30,805 shares, with a total value of about INR 2198.9 million (USD 23.65 million). It opened at INR 782.95 (USD 8.42), which was also the day’s high, and fell to a low of INR 772.05 (USD 8.30). It closed at INR 778.40 (USD 8.37), down 1.03 per cent from the previous close of INR 787.50 (USD 8.47). For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " The stock remains close to its 52-week high of INR 791.15 (USD 8.51), indicating that prices have stayed relatively strong over the past year. However, the day’s fall came after a run of 12 consecutive sessions of...
Enkei Wheels India files FY2025 report, details capacity and market trends
Enkei Wheels India Limited has filed its annual report for FY2025, giving a snapshot of where the business stands and what it’s planning next. The company, set up in 2009, makes aluminium alloy wheels for both two-wheelers and passenger vehicles. It operates out of Pune and is part of the larger Enkei Corporation group. In terms of capacity, the numbers are fairly straightforward. The plant can produce about 120,000 two-wheeler wheels a month and 130,000 for four-wheelers, with a painting line that handles roughly 170,000 wheels. The broader auto market was still growing in 2025, which helps. Data from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers shows total vehicle sales at 5.517 million units, up 5.5 per cent year-on-year. That makes it five years in a row of growth. For the global...
El Yam Aluminium outlines market trends shaping modern pergola solutions
Outdoor spaces are being thought about rather differently than they were a few years ago. What was once treated as an afterthought, somewhere to place a table or provide a bit of shade - is now often designed with the same care as an interior. El Yam Aluminium’s latest update reflects that shift, using its experience in aluminium pergolas to illustrate how expectations are changing across both private and commercial projects. Don’t miss out- Buyers are looking for your products on our B2B platform A clear takeaway is that the function alone is not enough anymore. The shade structures serve as a practical role but are highly expected to contribute to a part of the overall character of a space. A pergola or shaded walk area may define a seating area or simply make an outdoor setting feel...
Studies highlight aluminium’s potential as a safer alternative to lithium-ion batteries
As the push grows to find safer and more affordable options beyond lithium-ion batteries, aluminium is gaining attention as a possible alternative. Aluminium is being studied for batteries because it is cheap, widely available, and can store more energy than lithium. Each aluminium atom releases three electrons during reactions, compared to one in lithium. This allows more efficient energy transfer. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " Although their voltage is lower at about 2.65 volts compared to 4.0 volts for lithium-ion batteries, they offer much higher theoretical energy density, around 1060 Wh/kg compared to 406 Wh/kg. Aluminium can release three electrons during reactions, while lithium releases only...
