AlCircle News Edited By "Staff Editor"
Gulf production recovery falters, China steps up as OCBC raises aluminium forecast to $3,150
OCBC has raised its end-2026 aluminium price forecast to about USD 3,150 per tonne from USD 3,050, citing a slower-than-expected recovery in Gulf production, although strong Chinese output is expected to continue offsetting supply disruptions. Three-month aluminium on the London Metal Exchange (LME) fell 0.9 per cent month-on-month in September to USD 3,214 per tonne as of September 29, remaining 2 per cent above OCBC’s third-quarter forecast of USD 3,150. The cash-to-three-month spread was broadly unchanged at a USD 7.40-per-tonne contango, compared with USD 7.60 at the end of August. The spread suggests limited urgency for immediate metal supply despite a continued decline in global exchange inventories. Gulf aluminium recovery loses momentum OCBC said aluminium production across the...
Novelis aluminum supply recovery clears way for higher Ford F-150 production
Novelis’ recovery of its aluminum operations in Oswego, New York, has helped restore supply for Ford’s F-150 pickup production, with the automaker now sourcing aluminum from the plant again as production ramps up. Ford CEO Jim Farley said the automaker is “fully recovered” from the supplier disruption and has been building F-150 pickups with aluminum sourced from the Novelis Oswego plant for around four weeks. The development marks a significant step in the recovery of the aluminum supply chain supporting Ford’s F-Series trucks. Novelis is a major aluminum supplier for the F-150 and Super Duty, with the metal used extensively in the vehicles’ construction. To know the aluminium casting demand forecast in the transportation sector, explore our report " Global Aluminium Casting Market...
European aluminium premium hits $574/t as potential US tariff cut raises Canadian supply fears
European aluminium premiums have climbed to their highest level in almost four months as the market weighs the potential impact of lower US tariffs on Canadian aluminium supplies. The front-month COMEX European duty-paid aluminium premium rose 10 per cent to USD 574 per tonne on October 1, Thursday, according to LSEG data. The premium, which is paid on top of the London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium price for physical metal, reached its highest level since June 8. Canadian metal flows drive European supply concerns The European premium has risen in recent weeks amid reports that the US could reduce its 50 per cent tariff on Canadian aluminium imports to 25 per cent. A lower tariff could make the US market more attractive to Canadian producers, potentially reducing the metal available to...
Vedanta Aluminium reviews legal options after Orissa High Court rejects bauxite policy challenge
Vedanta Aluminium Metal Limited is reviewing the Orissa High Court’s decision to dismiss its writ petition challenging provisions of the state’s bauxite linkage policy, with the ruling potentially affecting the company’s bauxite sourcing and costs. The policy governs the allocation of bauxite, a key raw material for aluminium production. Following the court’s decision, Vedanta Aluminium Metal is assessing the judgment and considering further legal options. The court order was uploaded to the Orissa High Court website on October 1, 2026, formalising the decision for market and regulatory stakeholders. While the company has not disclosed any immediate operational changes following the ruling, its review of possible next steps comes amid continued regulatory considerations around raw...
Hindalco moves alumina tenders to Metalshub in push for greater price transparency
Hindalco Industries is moving to structured digital tenders for spot sales of metallurgical-grade alumina in a bid to improve transparency, broaden market participation and strengthen price discovery in the global alumina market. The company is partnering with Metalshub for the initiative through its subsidiary Utkal Alumina International. The move comes as the alumina market continues to lack the transparent, transaction-based pricing mechanism available for aluminium. Hindalco said only around 10 per cent of the 55–60 million tonnes of alumina traded globally each year in the third-party market is sold through spot transactions, even though those sales can influence benchmark prices for a much larger volume of long-term contracts. Hindalco moves alumina spot sales to digital bidding...
BMW F 450 R brings 48 horsepower twin-cylinder power and lightweight aluminum engineering to India
BMW Motorrad has revealed the new F 450 R as a road-focused addition to its 450 range, with the motorcycle expected to arrive in India early next year. The new naked streetfighter combines a 420 cc parallel-twin engine with a lightweight chassis package that includes several aluminium components. The BMW F 450 R has a ready-to-ride weight of 175 kg, with its lightweight construction supported by an aluminium double-sided swingarm, cast aluminium 17-inch wheels and forged aluminium foot controls. The motorcycle uses a tubular steel space frame, with the engine serving as a load-bearing element. Up front, the F 450 R gets a 43 mm KYB upside-down fork, while the rear uses a KYB monoshock with adjustable preload and rebound. The Sport Suspension version additionally offers adjustable...
Worldwide Aluminium shareholders back FY26 accounts and director reappointment with 99.86% support
Worldwide Aluminium Ltd held its 36th Annual General Meeting on September 30, 2026. Shareholders approved the company’s audited standalone financial statements for FY26, reappointed Parag Jain as a director and approved a special resolution on managerial remuneration. Shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2026, along with the Board of Directors’ and auditors’ reports. To know the global production, demand and consumption forecasts of aluminium extrusions, explore our report " The World of Aluminium Extrusions to 2035 " A separate special resolution approved managerial remuneration of more than 11 per cent of the company’s net profits, calculated under Section 198 of the Companies Act, 2013. Of the company’s 9,375 registered shareholders, 129...
Hydro appoints Hanne Simensen as new EVP for Bauxite & Alumina
Hanne Simensen will become Executive Vice President (EVP) for Bauxite & Alumina at Norsk Hydro, effective November 1, 2026, succeeding John Thuestad, who is stepping down after eight years in the role. Simensen joined Hydro in 1994 and has held several senior positions across the company. She has served as EVP for Aluminium Metal since 2024, following earlier roles as EVP for People & HSE, Senior Vice President (SVP) and Head of Aluminium Metal Commercial, and SVP and Director of Global Business Services. Explore the production, demand and consumption forecasts of bauxite and alumina in our report: "Global Bauxite & Alumina Market Forecast to 2036: Supply–Demand, Trade Flows & Price Outlook" She holds a Master of Management from BI Norwegian Business School. Thuestad, 66, has served as...
China Steel Aluminum to invest $32m in Taiwan's smart manufacturing plant
China Steel Aluminum, a subsidiary of China Steel, will invest approximately TWD 1 billion (USD 32 million) to build a smart manufacturing plant in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The investment was among two expansion applications approved by the Invest Taiwan Office on October 1, with a combined value of TWD 1.1 billion (USD 33 million). The new facility will be located in the Xiaogang District and focus on smart manufacturing and lower-carbon production. China Steel Aluminum, Taiwan’s largest manufacturer of aluminium rolled products, produces aluminium plates, sheets, coils and foil, as well as zinc alloy and hot-dip galvanised ingots. The investment supports the company’s shift toward high-end and low-carbon aluminium materials. The plant will integrate artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet...
US bauxite imports decline 14.5% in H1 2026 while volumes climb 6.9%
US imports of bauxite and other aluminum ores and concentrates fell 14.5% year-on-year to $68.46 million in the first half (H1) of 2026, according to Trade Map data. In terms of volumes, however, imports rose 6.9% year-on-year to 1.27 million metric tons, from 1.19 million metric tons in H1 2025. The decline in value followed a 5.7% increase during H1 2025. The H1 2026 import value was also 9.7% below the $75.77 million recorded in H1 2024, while volume was 8.3% lower than the 1.39 million metric tons recorded that year. US bauxite imports weaken in both quarters of H1 2026 Q2 2026 import volume increased 7.8% year-on-year to 643,950 metric tons from 597,195 metric tons. In contrast, import value reached $30.61 million in Q2 2026, down 10.7% from $34.28 million in Q2 2025 and 6.2% from...
Highway Roop acquires Chamundi to expand aluminium die-casting, machining capabilities
Highway Roop Precision Technologies Limited, backed by Carlyle, has completed the acquisition of Chamundi Die Cast Private Limited, an Indian manufacturer of complex, precision-machined aluminium die-cast components for automotive and industrial applications. The acquisition adds aluminium die-casting and precision-machining capabilities to Highway Roop’s existing forging and machining platform. The combined business will serve applications across steering, transmission, powertrain and electric vehicle components while expanding Highway Roop’s manufacturing footprint into South India. Chamundi’s capabilities complement Highway Roop’s existing strengths in forging and precision machining, allowing the company to offer a broader range of lightweight engineered solutions. Lightweighting has...
CanJET digital proofing ecosystem launches in North America for metal cans
X-Rite Pantone, Sun Chemical, and CMA Imaging have announced the commercial availability of the CanJET digital proofing ecosystem in North America, giving beverage brands, can makers, and packaging converters a way to match color and opacity directly on aluminum cans. The connected workflow combines CMA Imaging’s CanJET printing system, Sun Chemical’s extended color gamut inks, PantoneLIVE digital color references, and X-Rite measurement technology. The companies say the solution can reduce proofing iterations and accelerate design approvals before production. CanJET received a Bronze Innovation Award at METPACK 2026. The workflow is designed to provide a faster and more flexible alternative to conventional pilot-line proofing and prototyping. “On metal, matching a colour also means...
529m metal aerosol units sold in UK in 2025 as demand shifts across categories
UK aluminium and metal aerosol packaging sales reached approximately 529 million units in 2025, with strong growth in selected personal care, household and food applications offsetting declines in other categories, down from approximately 567 million units in 2016, according to data from the British Aerosol Manufacturers’ Association (BAMA), based on Euromonitor research. While the overall volume has declined over the decade, the figures point to a more mixed picture for the UK aerosol market. Several applications have recorded significant growth, with BAMA highlighting a positive pattern emerging since 2021 following the downturn during and after the pandemic. “Overall, we see a resilient performance in UK aerosol sales”, said Patrick Heskins, chief executive of BAMA. He noted that...
Aluminium falls 0.73% in India as supply recovery, China exports and stronger dollar pressure prices
Aluminium prices came under renewed pressure on October 1 as expectations of improving supply, stronger Chinese exports and a firmer USD weighed on the market. Aluminium settled 0.73 per cent lower at INR 340.65, while expectations of tighter US monetary policy added to the broader macroeconomic pressure. The decline comes as several aluminium smelters prepare to restart previously idled capacity, while others move ahead with expansion plans. These developments are raising expectations that global aluminium availability could improve in the coming months. China exports add to supply pressure China is emerging as another important factor for the aluminium market. Rising exports are partly offsetting supply disruptions in the Gulf, with August aluminium exports increasing 17.2 per cent...
DCM Shriram commissions 100 TPD aluminium chloride facility in Gujarat
DCM Shriram has commissioned a new 100 tonnes-per-day (TPD) aluminium chloride plant at its Bharuch facility in Gujarat, along with a 133 TPD calcium chloride plant. The new facilities mark the company’s move into downstream chemicals and aim to increase the use of captive chlorine from its chlor-alkali operations. The projects have moved from pre-commissioning trials to commercial operations as of September 30, 2026. The company said the facilities will convert chlorine generated from its existing operations into downstream chemical products. The 100 TPD aluminium chloride plant strengthens DCM Shriram’s presence in the domestic aluminium chloride market, while the calcium chloride facility represents the company’s entry into the calcium chloride business. To know the futuristic market...
Rio Tinto’s Bell Bay aluminium smelter secures five-year extension with $200m support
Rio Tinto’s Bell Bay aluminium smelter in Tasmania has secured a five-year extension, with federal and state governments providing a USD 200 million support package to keep the facility operating until the end of 2031. The agreement ends months of uncertainty over the smelter’s future, with its existing electricity supply agreement with Hydro Tasmania due to expire on December 31. Under the new arrangement, Hydro Tasmania will continue supplying power to Bell Bay through 2031, while government support will help maintain the smelter’s competitiveness. Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff said, “ The outcome we have today is the security of over 500 jobs at Bell Bay Aluminium. ” Explore the production, demand and consumption forecasts of bauxite and alumina in our report: " Global Bauxite &...
LME aluminium cash bid drops $22 to $3,203 as Asian reference price falls 1.38%
LME aluminium prices extended their decline on September 30, with cash and futures contracts moving lower. The Asian Reference Price also fell, while LME stocks remained broadly unchanged. Alumina Platts prices, however, rose sharply. The cash bid fell 0.68 per cent to USD 3,203 per tonne from USD 3,225 per tonne previously , while the cash offer declined 0.67 per cent to USD 3,204 per tonne from USD 3,225.50 per tonne. Three-month aluminium prices also weakened, with the bid down 0.71 per cent at USD 3,208 per tonne from USD 3,231 per tonne. The offer slipped 0.68 per cent to USD 3,210 per tonne from USD 3,232 per tonne. Explore the production, demand and consumption forecasts of bauxite and alumina in our report: " Global Bauxite & Alumina Market Forecast to 2036: Supply–Demand, Trade...
Caustic soda plant setup in India: How aluminium growth is reshaping demand, costs and opportunities
Caustic soda may not be the most visible ingredient in aluminium production, but without it, the journey from bauxite to alumina would look very different. The chemical, also known as sodium hydroxide, is a crucial reagent in the Bayer process, where it helps dissolve alumina-bearing material in bauxite and separate it from impurities. The dissolved material is then processed to recover alumina, which ultimately feeds aluminium production. That makes caustic soda more than just another industrial chemical. Its availability, price and efficient use can influence the economics of alumina refining and, by extension, the wider aluminium value chain. As India expands its alumina and aluminium capacity, the requirement for this chemical is also becoming increasingly important. For companies...
