AlCircle News Edited By "Staff Editor"
SAGA metals to acquire Wolverine REE project to expand rare earth portfolio
SAGA Metals Corp. has entered into an agreement to acquire the Wolverine rare earth project in Labrador from Catalyst Rare Metals Ltd., a deal that would give it full ownership of the asset. The project is about 50 km from Hopedale and covers a bit over 230 sq. km. Access is by air mostly, then helicopter. Not unusual for that region. The company has been adding different minerals to its portfolio over the past year, lithium, uranium, vanadium, and this one adds rare earths. CEO Mike Stier said it fits into supply chain needs for energy and defence, which is the usual angle companies are taking right now. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026" Geology is tied to the Flowers River Igneous Suite. Same broader...
New MXene composite extends aluminium battery life and cuts material loss
A team of researchers in Bengaluru is trying to fix a problem that has held aluminium batteries back for years, they don’t last very long. The work was led by Kavita Pandey from the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences, along with collaborators from Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence. Aluminium is often considered a potential alternative to lithium-ion batteries because it is widely available, low-cost and can store more charge per atom. However, its use has been limited by the way battery materials degrade over repeated charging and discharging cycles. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026" A lot of this comes down to the cathode material, usually vanadium oxide. It works, but not for long. In water-based...
BRP halts FY27 outlook as US tariff shift triggers $500M cost hit
BRP Inc. has decided to pause its full-year FY27 guidance after recent changes to US tariffs on steel, aluminium and copper imports. The shift came into effect on April 6 and changes how duties are applied. Instead of taxing just the metal content, the new setup applies a 25 per cent tariff on the full value of imported snowmobiles and most off-road vehicles. Earlier, the rate was higher, 50 per cent, but only on the metal portion. That difference matters. For BRP, it means a much bigger cost base. The company estimates the added tariff impact could go beyond USD 500 million for the rest of the year, before any adjustments or cost controls. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026" CEO Denis Le Vot didn’t sound...
Canyon Resources begins CEO search after Secker’s resignation Cameroon bauxite project nears production
Canyon Resources is looking for a new chief executive, with Peter Secker stepping down just as its key bauxite project in Cameroon moves closer to production. Secker hasn’t left immediately though. The company said he will stay on for the next few months to manage the transition, which comes at a pretty critical time for the Minim Martap project. The mine, set to be Cameroon’s first bauxite operation, is expected to begin production in Q2 2026, with initial shipments planned for Q3 2026. Secker, who took over in July 2025, has been closely involved in pushing the project forward to this stage. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026" His departure is being attributed to personal reasons, but the timing means the...
Chalieco signs EPC update for 1 million tonne alumina project in Indonesia
China Aluminum International Engineering Corporation (Chalieco) has announced that it has signed an updated EPC contract for a 1 million tonnes per year alumina project in Indonesia with PT Inalum. The project has now been split into two parts. The alumina plant was completed on February 11. The second part includes the tailings system. It started on March 1 and is expected to continue until June 30, 2027. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " The company said that if the project progresses as planned, it could support its financial performance. However, it also noted that there are several risks during execution and said it will manage these risks and provide updates when needed. Chalieco is expanding its...
Capral moves to electric furnace at Bremer Park to cut emissions and boost efficiency
Capral Aluminium is phasing out a decades-old gas furnace at its Queensland facility, replacing it with a fully electric system aimed at improving both efficiency and emissions performance. The upgrade will take place at the Bremer Park extrusion site, where a 40-year-old gas-fired log furnace is being swapped out for an electrically heated convection furnace. The system will also include induction heating and waste heat recovery, which together are expected to significantly change how the plant operates. One of the bigger shifts is energy efficiency. The new setup is projected to lift efficiency from around 20 per cent to over 90 per cent, while also cutting Scope 1 emissions. The project has received AUD 3.45 million (USD 2.32 million) in support from the Australian Renewable Energy...
$0.77 dividend till April 24 announced to be paid in May by Kaiser Aluminum
Kaiser Aluminum has declared a quarterly cash dividend of USD 0.77 per share. The dividend will be paid on May 15, 2026, to shareholders recorded as of April 24, 2026. The decision was approved by the company’s board as part of its regular return to shareholders. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " The announcement was made through a Form 8-K filing, along with an official press note. The company noted that the press release is not considered formally “filed” under Section 18 of the US Securities Exchange Act. Kaiser Aluminum also pointed out that forward-looking statements may involve risks. These include changes in market conditions, demand for aluminium products, and operational factors that could...
UBS upgrades Ford to buy, sees 23.4% upside despite being down 7% YTD
Ford Motor has faced pressure due to rising aluminium and gas prices, but Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS) says the concerns may be greater than actual risks. UBS upgraded Ford’s rating from neutral to buy and kept its price target at USD 15, suggesting about 23.4 per cent upside. The bank said investors are focusing too much on aluminium price increases. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " Ford uses aluminium in vehicles such as the Ford F-150. Aluminium prices on the London Metal Exchange have risen about 16 per cent since the Iran conflict began. During the same period, Ford’s shares have dropped about 13.7 per cent, and are down around 7 per cent so far this year. Also read: Rare earth magnet demand set...
Novelis and Infinitum renew aluminium recycling tie-up, focus shifts to scale and stability
Aluminium can recycling between Norway and the UK is set to continue at scale, with Novelis and Infinitum extending their long-running partnership. The setup is fairly straightforward but effective. Used beverage cans collected across Norway are sent to Novelis’ recycling plant in Latchford, where they’re processed and turned back into new cans. It’s one of those rare cases where the “circular economy” idea actually works in practice, not just on paper. For both sides, the extension is less about launching something new and more about making what already exists run better, especially when it comes to logistics, consistency, and material quality. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026" “This partnership...
Bridgnorth Aluminium unveils £15,000 grant scheme for Shropshire communities
A new funding initiative aimed at reducing rural isolation in Shropshire will see local charities and community groups benefit from a GBP 15,000 (USD 20,273) grant pot established by the UK’s last remaining aluminium rolling mill, Bridgnorth Aluminium. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026" The scheme, known as the Bridgnorth Aluminium Community Fund, will provide individual grants of up to GBP 5,000 (USD 6,786) to organisations working to improve wellbeing among people most vulnerable to loneliness across the county. Applications are set to open on April 13, 2026. Alongside this, an additional GBP 10,000 (USD 13,569) has been set aside to support charitable and community initiatives beyond the core fund. This...
Golkonda Aluminium files Q4FY26 compliance certificate with BSE
Golkonda Aluminium Extrusions Limited has submitted its quarterly compliance certificate to the BSE for the quarter ending on March 31, 2026, as required by SEBI’s Depositories and Participants Regulations. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026" This filing, issued by Golkonda’s Registrar & Share Transfer Agent Beetal Financial & Computer Services Pvt Ltd., is related to Regulation 74(5) under the SEBI (Depositories and Participants') Regulations, 2018. Beetal Financial confirmed that all securities received from depository participants for dematerialisation during Q4FY26 were verified and processed. It stated that the securities were confirmed to the depositories and listed on the stock exchanges where the...
China’s Henan Zhongfu plans $2B aluminium plant in Egypt’s SCZone
Henan Zhongfu Industrial is planning to invest about USD 2 billion to build an aluminium production plant in Egypt, according to an official statement. The plan was discussed during a meeting in Cairo between company chairman Cui Hongsong and Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly. Officials from the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) were also present. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " The plant will be built in East Port Said inside the SCZone. The project will cover more than 1 million square metres and is expected to create around 3,000 jobs. Cui said the investment forms part of the company’s broader international expansion strategy and reflects its confidence in Egypt’s industrial environment, as well as...
LME volumes surge over 25% Y-o-Y in Q1 2026, driven by aluminium trading
Trading activity on the London Metal Exchange spiked up heavily in the first quarter of 2026, with volumes hitting record levels across key metals like aluminium. The exchange reported that overall average daily volume rose by more than 25 per cent year-on-year, marking its strongest quarter on record. Compared with the prior record quarter, volumes increased by 13 per cent. Aluminium was among the standout performers, alongside copper, nickel and lead, all of which posted new quarterly highs. Growth varied across metals, with increases ranging from 14 per cent for lead to as much as 140 per cent for nickel. “Over the quarter, LME [saw] three of its top five most busy days in terms of volume,” the exchange noted, reflecting heightened trading activity during the period. For the global...
Britons push for government action as UK aluminium recycling loses ground
A majority of people in the UK want the government to step in and support aluminium recycling, with concerns growing that too much of the material is being lost instead of reused domestically. A poll commissioned by Alupro and carried out by Yonder Consulting surveyed around 2,000 adults and found widespread support for action across the country. Support was strongest in Northern Ireland at 86 per cent, followed by Wales (81 per cent) and Scotland (75 per cent). In England, backing peaked in the East and South West regions, where 82 per cent of respondents said the government should encourage more secondary aluminium supply for domestic use. At the same time, about 58 per cent of those surveyed said they are concerned that the UK is losing too much aluminium. The aluminium sector in...
India's power equipment sector enters growth cycle on renewable push
India’s power equipment sector is moving into a multi-year growth phase, driven largely by the country’s expanding renewable energy pipeline and rising investments in transmission infrastructure, according to a report by JPMorgan Chase. The report points out that manufacturers of high-voltage (HV) equipment are moving through a long-term upcycle, as grid expansion keeps pace with a sharp rise in renewable capacity. At the centre of this is India’s plan to add 470 GW of solar and wind capacity over the next decade. The report highlights that large-scale transmission projects typically take three to five years to complete, providing strong multi-year revenue visibility for HV original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), even if renewable project commissioning timelines fluctuate. For the global...
China builds a green energy backbone across industry, AI and fuels
China has become a major driver of renewable energy growth after years of investment and new technology. Even as global oil markets face uncertainty, the country’s green energy sector continues to expand. Renewable energy is no longer just a backup. It is now being used as a main power source in industries and new sectors like data centres and artificial intelligence (AI). For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " In Inner Mongolia, wind and solar resources are widely used. The region holds about 57 per cent of China’s wind and 21 per cent of its solar potential. In the city of Holingol, aluminium production once depended on coal power; today, it uses wind energy managed through modern grid systems. In 2025,...
Bicycle and E-Bike market shielded from US metals tariffs
A significant policy shift in the United States has spared the cycling sector from potentially severe financial strain, following coordinated efforts across the industry. Concerns had been mounting over the possibility of a 50 per cent tariff being imposed on the steel and aluminium components used in bicycles, e-bikes, and frames. However, recent developments have brought relief. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 across the value chain The decision comes after a review of products listed under Section 232 steel and aluminium tariffs. Despite earlier proposals put forward by children’s bike manufacturer Guardian Bikes alongside an aluminium trade association, bicycles were ultimately excluded from the updated list. In...
Moggaro’s aluminium hybrid dive boat wins award for design and performance
Image credits: Moggaro Aluminium Yachts Spain-based Moggaro Aluminium Yachts has picked up recognition at The Baird Maritime 2025 Work Boat World Awards for its 16-metre hybrid aluminium dive boat, built for operations in Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea. The vessel stands out mainly for how it blends aluminium construction with hybrid propulsion, something that’s still not very common at this scale. It’s designed for dive tourism but built more like a commercial workboat, fast, efficient, and able to go the distance. On the power side, the diesel engines drive waterjets, while two retractable 15 kW electric outboards, supported by eight lithium-ion batteries, handle low-emission operation. The idea is simple: run silent and clean in ports or dive zones, then switch to diesel when range and speed...
