AlCircle News Edited By "Staff Editor"
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Rajnish Khale, IREL: India’s rare earth push facing midstream gap despite rising strategic demand
In this exclusive interview, Shri Rajnish A. Khale highlights that India holds a strong position in rare earth oxide production but lacks a well-developed midstream value chain. While China continues to dominate globally, India is gradually advancing through policy support and strategic investments. Growing demand from EVs, clean energy and defence sectors is expected to drive progress, though supply chain gaps and resource challenges remain key hurdles. Shri Rajnish Arvind Khale joined the Board of IREL (India) Limited as Director (Marketing) with effect from 16th June 2023. He is a Gold Medallist in Textile Engineering from Maharaja Sayajirao University, Vadodara, Gujarat. He has also done a Master's in Business Administration in Marketing from the Faculty of Management Studies,...
Infinix launches NOTE 60 Pro with aluminium frame and Active Matrix LED display
Infinix has launched the NOTE 60 Pro in India, featuring an aluminium frame and a rear Active Matrix LED display, combining design and durability. The main highlight of the phone is the LED module integrated into the camera island, which comes with 288 individual LED pixels. This secondary display can show various notifications such as calls, messages, time and also weather updates, allowing users to access information without interacting with the main screen. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " The rear interface also supports interactive elements. Users can customise the visuals through Matrix Studio, while features such as Pixel Pets and also mini games like Star Blast add a fun layer to it. The LED...
Aughinish Alumina gathers $119 profit due to 50% revenue surge
The Aughinish Alumina refinery in Ireland has returned to profit due to the latest alumina price hikes. Its revenue rose sharply. This is the largest alumina refinery in Europe. It is operated by Limerick Alumina Refinery Ltd. (LARL). It is located in the Shannon Estuary. It has witnessed a sharp increase in revenue in 2024. The newly filed accounts for CY 2024 show that the company has recorded a profit of USD 119.36 million before tax. This is a remarkable turnaround for the company, as it went to a loss of USD 113.64 million in 2023. The swing shows an improvement of around USD 233 million year-on-year. The board of directors explained that the profits returned “primarily due to higher alumina market prices”. The refinery’s revenue increased by 50 per cent from 2023 to 2024. It was USD...
Malvern includes aluminium in recycling list for green bins
People living in Malvern are now able to recycle a couple of additional everyday items from their own homes, following an update from Malvern Hills District Council. From now on, aluminium foil can be placed in green recycling bins. This includes common items such as kitchen foil and foil food trays. Plastic tubes have also been added to the list, meaning things like toothpaste tubes no longer need to be thrown away with general waste. Both of these are items most households use regularly, so the change is expected to make a noticeable difference. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " These additions sit alongside the materials that residents have already been recycling for some time. Green bins continue to...
Vedanta reaches top-ever alumina and aluminium output in FY26 with strong metals show
Vedanta Limited reported its highest-ever production across several key businesses for the financial year ending March 31, 2026, showing strong overall performance. Alumina production jumped 48 per cent from last year to 2.92 million tonnes. Aluminium output hit a record 2.46 million tonnes, up 1 per cent. These numbers show Vedanta's place in aluminium and its work on more output and better operations. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " In its Zinc India business, mined metal hit a record 1.11 million tonnes, up 2 per cent from last year. Q4 production also rose, thanks to better ore quality and more output. Refined zinc production reached a record 851,000 tonnes for the full year, while fourth-quarter...
NALCO posts record performance with 11.2% uptick in alumina production and 30.7% in sales
National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) reported its highest ever performance in FY26, setting a record in production and sales across major segments, according to an exchange filing. The company recorded excavation of 7.701 million tonnes of bauxite and transported around 7.707 million tonnes, which is a 6.13 per cent year-on-year increase. Alumina hydrate production stood at 2.3 million tonnes, while calcined alumina output rose 11.16 per cent year-on-year to 2.275 million tonnes. Aluminium production remained steady, with output at 472,000 tonnes. NALCO also reported its highest-ever net power generation at 6,953 million units, alongside coal production of 4 million tonnes. On the sales side, alumina sales rose 30.74 per cent year-on-year to 1.446 million tonnes, marking the...
PABC pushes ahead with $110M can plant in Afghanistan despite the border closure
Pakistan Aluminium Beverage Cans Limited (PABC) plans a USD 110 million beverage can factory in Afghanistan. This goes ahead despite trade issues from the Pakistan-Afghanistan border closure since October 2025. The company's latest annual report says the border shutdown has disrupted trade a lot. It's due to security problems across the border and ongoing military actions. This has blocked access to the main export markets like Afghanistan and parts of Central Asia for months. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " PABC noted that a large share of its export business depends on these markets, either directly or through transit routes passing via Afghanistan. The long border closure cut export amounts. It also...
EGA updates on Al Taweelah’s aluminium operations after the recent Iranian attack
Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) has provided an initial assessment of its operations following recent Iranian missile and drone attacks on its Al Taweelah site, one of the world’s largest aluminium production complexes. EGA said the Al Taweelah facility sustained significant damage as a result of the attacks at Khalifa Economic Zone Abu Dhabi. The site, including the smelter and casthouse, power plant, alumina refinery and recycling plant, was fully evacuated, with operations moved into emergency shutdown. In earlier coverage of the incident, AL Circle noted that the March 28 incident also affected other regional aluminium facilities, including Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), with both companies assessing damage while prioritising employee safety. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026...
Shinsho and Taguchi team up on low-carbon aluminium recycling
Shinsho Corporation and Taguchi Metals are concentrating on recycling aluminium into high-quality wrought alloys, due to increased demand for low-carbon materials. These two companies formed a partnership to build a supply chain for recycled aluminium. The aim is to supply manufacturers that need materials with lower carbon emissions, especially in rolled aluminium products. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " The project focuses on scrap produced wrought alloys. These alloys are used in higher-value applications but are more difficult to make from recycled material. Most recycled aluminium goes into cast alloys now. These can take more dirt and junk. The companies will use scrap from old cars and home...
Mr White’s gin adopts recycled aluminium bottles to target sustainable travel retail
Celebrity chef Marco Pierre White is all set to launch his auspicious brand in 100 per cent recycled aluminium bottles. His brand, Mr White’s Gin , will use post-consumer recycled aluminium as a sustainable choice to aim at capturing the global travel retail market. Marco developed this gin with Chris Sadler, a sixth-generation distiller. The product ‘London Dry Gin’ is now available in 50 ml recycled aluminium bottles. Marco developed these bottles by partnering with Sustainaholics. This strategic step is ideal for the distribution of the merchandise in airlines, cruise lines, rail operators, and hotels. Using post-consumer recycled aluminium as an alternative to traditional glass makes the packaging more durable. These single-use bottles can be recycled again to recover aluminium for...
India pushes recycling-led strategy for critical minerals security, says Kishan Reddy
India’s Union Minister for Coal and Mines, G. Kishan Reddy, has emphasised the importance of recycling for attaining self-reliance in the critical minerals sector. He urged the creation of a strategic approach for sustainable resource management during his recent visit to LOHUM Research and Development Centre and Lithium Cobalt refineries in Greater Noida, Delhi. He met the research team of LOHUM facilities on Wednesday, April 2, and discussed the development of sustainable policies to recycle and extract key minerals. He also reviewed the advanced recycling technologies designed to recover critical minerals from used batteries and electronic waste. Reddy praised LOHUM’s work in extracting lithium from recycled materials. Lithium is a versatile mineral added to aluminium to produce...
Indonesia’s bauxite supply may fall short as aluminium and alumina capacity expand
Indonesia’s bauxite, alumina and aluminium sectors are growing, but there are gaps between mining, refining and smelting. The United States Geological Survey data of 2026 shows Indonesia’s alumina production at about 1.2 million tonnes in 2024, rising to 1.5 million tonnes in 2025. Bauxite production is estimated at 9.9 million tonnes in 2024 and 10 million tonnes in 2025. Bauxite reserves are about 2.9 billion tonnes. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " At the same time, planned capacity expansion is much larger. Alumina capacity could increase from about 9 million tonnes to 29.8 million tonnes, while aluminium production could rise from 1.13 million tonnes to 14.9 million tonnes if all projects are...
GM halts EV output as aluminium-intensive models face demand slowdown
General Motors has temporarily halted production of several electric vehicles and laid off 1,300 workers at its Factory Zero plant in Michigan as demand for EVs, which are primarily made of an aluminium unibody, slows down due to market volatility. The EV market has been facing losses in billions of USD, according to an earlier Autoblog post. With many EV manufacturers facing loss in sales due to price surges in the aluminium sector, a Wall Street Journal report mentioned that many executives are thinking about completely shutting down production of electric vehicles. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " GM has idled operations at Factory Zero again while increasing production of heavy-duty pickup trucks at...
US to roll out tiered tariffs on aluminium and steel a year after Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ duties
The US is preparing to introduce a tiered tariff structure on steel and aluminium, marking one year since President Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs reshaped global trade flows. According to reports, the administration plans to retain 50 per cent tariffs on a wide range of products, with duties calculated based on the value of imported goods. Businesses continue to deal with changing trade policies, including the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), alongside rising energy costs due to the Middle East conflict. The aluminium market has been sensitive to tariff fluctuations recently and other current conflicts because of its reliance on global supply chains and imports. Higher duties have already caused...
Ireland reviews alumina supply chain after Aughinish plant linked to Russian aluminium flows
Ireland’s Taoiseach Micheál Martin has expressed concern over reports that alumina produced at the Aughinish plant in Co Limerick may be entering supply chains connected to Russian aluminium production. An investigation by The Irish Times, conducted with the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, indicated that alumina shipments from the facility are supplied to smelters in Russia, where the material is processed into aluminium and later traded through intermediaries. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " The development has drawn attention to Ireland’s earlier position of supporting exemptions for the Aughinish Alumina facility from sanctions, given its role in the European industrial supply...
Canada is not worried about slow trade talks: aluminium tariffs and China deal seen as no risk to USMCA
Trade talks between Canada and the United States are slow. Still, Canadian Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc said this is not a concern ahead of the review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) this summer, despite US tariffs on Canadian goods, including aluminium and Canada’s January electric vehicle deal with China. LeBlanc said discussions with US officials are ongoing and “productive,” and there is no need to be pessimistic. He added that this is an improvement from last fall, when Donald Trump said the US had ended trade talks with Canada over Ontario government TV ads. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " Talks between both countries resumed earlier in March. This comes as US tariffs, in...
Aluminum crunch sparks 11% rally in Constellium
Constellium SE (NYSE:CSTM) posted a positive performance on Wednesday, with its share price climbing 11.15 per cent to close at USD 27.32 per piece, as investors increased exposure to aluminium stocks. This move was driven by expectations of a potential supply shortage following an attack on two Middle Eastern producers earlier this week. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " Prices of aluminium further jumped to USD 3,583.50, as of April 1, 2026. Constellium SE (NYSE:CSTM) has authorised a share buyback programme of USD 300 million from May 21, 2026. The company’s rally came in tandem with peers such as Alcoa Corp and Century Aluminium, amid broader market optimism that a reduction in global aluminium...
Advanced aluminium alloy powder adds more strength and stability to DED additive manufacturing
A group of UK-based researchers has developed a new aluminium alloy powder that improves the performance of Directed Energy Deposition (DED) additive manufacturing. The study was published in the International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing by the UK-based experts. To know predictions and forecasts of how the Middle East crisis is and will be affecting the global aluminium industry, read the report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 ” The research explains the design of an aluminium alloy that enhances the strength of the conventional DED process. DED is widely used for fabrication, repair, and joining near-net-shaped components. This additive process is generally used in the biomedical, energy, and transport sectors. Conventional aluminium alloys often develop defects while...
