AlCircle News Edited By "Staff Editor"
Not aluminium, but Xiaomi has replaced the traditional way aluminium is processed in the SU7 and SU7 Ultra
Xiaomi has changed the way aluminium is processed and integrated in its SU7 and SU7 Ultra, without replacing the material itself. A viral video misleadingly claimed the opposite, stating Xiaomi has replaced aluminium with a new metal. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " In reality, the advancement lies in the process engineering rather than in creating a new metal. Traditional aluminium castings require long and energy-intensive heat treatment to achieve strength, but Xiaomi has developed a different approach using an AI-based “Material Genome” method. This system tested millions of alloy combinations to identify one that can achieve high strength without heat treatment. As a result, the company has...
Nigeria signs $1.3B deal for an alumina refinery to curb Africa’s raw bauxite exports
Several African countries, including Nigeria, are increasing efforts to use their large bauxite reserves for industrial development. Governments and investors are shifting from exporting raw minerals to processing them within the country. In Nigeria, the government is planning to set up a large alumina refinery with a capacity of 1 million tonnes annually. The proposed facility has secured USD 1.3 billion in financing from the Africa Finance Corporation and the Solid Minerals Development Fund. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " Over a projected 20-year lifespan, the refinery is expected to produce 19 million tonnes of alumina and contribute an estimated USD 1.2 billion annually to its gross domestic...
Ports of Indiana expands aluminium handling with new bonded facility at Mount Vernon
中文翻译附于新闻末尾，敬请继续阅读。 The Ports of Indiana have opened a new bonded storage facility at their Mount Vernon port along the Ohio River, expanding their capabilities and enabling their first aluminium shipment. According to Ports of Indiana, the facility was developed in around six weeks to meet urgent requirements from aluminium buyers and sellers. The move comes at a time when the US aluminium market is seeing shifts in supply following the introduction of a 50 per cent tariff on all imported aluminium by the administration, including imports from US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) partners. With tariffs in place, some buyers have shifted towards imports from lower-cost producers such as Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. These shipments typically move through port systems instead of...
Malaysian aluminium product supplier to roll out $8M IPO to expand in semiconductor sector
AMS Advanced Material Bhd (AMSB) plans to expand in Malaysia’s semiconductor and electronics system integration (ESI) by raising RM32.77 million (USD 6.9 million) through an initial public offering (IPO) for its ACE Market listing on Bursa Malaysia scheduled for April 23, 2026. 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 ” Of the total funding, 24.73 per cent will be allocated to establish a licensed manufacturing warehouse in Penang, while 21.05 per cent will support the group’s aluminium architectural products manufacturing. “With Malaysia experiencing a boom in the semiconductor and ESI segment, this is the advantageous moment to raise funds and scale up...
EU duties on Chinese aluminium converter foil to expire in 2026
The EU-imposed definitive anti-dumping and countervailing duties ranging from 15.4 per cent to 28.5 per cent on products under CN code ex 7607 11 19 are expected to run until December 9, 2026. The EU duties on Chinese aluminium converter foil came into effect in December 2021, as an effort to address the unfair trade practices found through the investigation in October 2020. The investigation then led to a provisional duty in June 2021, before the final tariffs became effective, with the combined duty range between 16.1 per cent and 46.7 per cent. Don’t miss out- Buyers are looking for your products on our B2B platform Aluminium converter foil is an important product in the EU market, with an estimated value of about EUR 630 million. It is used across sectors like packaging and also in...
Japan Aluminium Association assesses US tariffs' impact on domestic market
The Japan Aluminium Association is looking into the possible impact of recent United States tariffs on Japan’s aluminium market. On March 12, 2026, the United States, under President Donald Trump, imposed a 25 per cent tariff on aluminium products under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " Earlier, the tariff applied to nine types of aluminium products, such as sheets, bars, tubes, wires, and foil. It has now been expanded to 123 categories, including products that contain aluminium. These include parts used in semiconductor equipment and aircraft products. Aluminium is widely used in industries such as automobiles, semiconductors, and electronics. It is also...
AMS Advanced Material limits aluminium price impact even during market volatility
AMS Advanced Material Bhd’s Managing Director Keh Teng Yang said rising aluminium prices have had a limited effect on the group’s profitability, supported by its contract-based business model as the company prepares for its ACE Market listing. The London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium price has moved above USD 3,400 (RM13,634) per tonne this year, driven in part by geopolitical tensions linked to the war in Iran. At the time of writing, prices have eased slightly to USD 3,254 per tonne, yet it records a year-to-date gain of about 8 per cent. “We negotiate pricing before placing orders. It’s a pass-through model, where any increase in aluminium prices is passed on to our clients,” Keh said. Also read: Alumina Ltd down 1.7%: heavy volumes push AWC among ASX’s most active stocks AMS Advanced...
Razer launches the Blade-16 gaming laptop with an aluminium unibody
Entering their lineup of gaming prowess is the new Blade 16 with several brand-new features. Razer has launched a new addition, the Blade 16, whose chief features are a 16-inch ultra-thin, QHD+ 240Hz OLED display, which also supports VESA HDR TrueBlack 1000 certification. This laptop is available with up to 64GB of LPDDR5 memory (9600 MHz), with an improved battery for extended usage and an upgraded Thunderbolt 5, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0 and an audio system which is powered by THX. The product is currently selling, starting at USD 3,500. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 across the value chain Each Blade laptop is made from a precision-milled, single block of T6-grade aluminium to create a rigid unibody chassis. A...
NALCO’s brownfield project hearing faces local opposition; company assures review of land acquisition policy
On Thursday, March 26, residents at Angul, Odisha, reportedly voiced their grievances at the hearing of NALCO’s (National Aluminium Company Limited) brownfield expansion project over land acquisition. They clearly stated that they would not transfer their land under the company’s existing policy. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " The public hearing on rehabilitation and resettlement was organised by the district administration at the Smelter Plant Training Centre of NALCO. According to the district administration, the hearing went in an orderly manner. Uday Kumar Mohapatra, Additional District Magistrate (Revenue), also reported that the process was smooth in presence of senior officials, including...
Ball Corp reports regional decline in recycled aluminium use in 2025
Ball Corporation reported a decline in the proportion of recycled aluminium used in its beverage packaging in several major markets in 2025, although improvements were observed in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia (EMEA), according to its annual report. At the global level, 74 per cent of the aluminium used in the company’s beverage packaging was sourced from recycled materials, which remained unchanged from the previous year. Declines were seen in North and Central America, where the proportion was down to 72 per cent, representing a decrease of three percentage points from 2024. In South America, it decreased by five percentage points to 73 per cent. In contrast, the EMEA region recorded an increase to 77 per cent, up eight points from the previous year. For the global aluminium...
VALCO in correspondence with investment partners to boost aluminium value addition in Ghana
The Volta Aluminium Company Limited (VALCO) is currently reaching out to prospective investors, said Kofi Arko Nokoe, Board Member of VALCO and Member of Parliament for Evalue-Ajomoro-Gwira Constituency . The plan is part of a larger strategy, supporting Ghana to decrease bauxite exports and utilise the ore in the domestic market to derive greater financial benefits. Even in January 2026, The Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) had firmly stated that the Ghana government would be pursuing a carefully structured strategic partnership to revive and expand the long-idled smelter VALCO, rejecting the speculation of its sale. On March 27, while addressing the media following meetings with prospective investors, Kofi Arko Nokoe, reconfirmed the search for partnerships...
Tianshan Aluminum slips 7.48%, yet fundamentals remain stable
Shares of Tianshan Aluminum Group Co. Ltd fell 7.48 per cent to an intraday low of RMB 16.01 (USD 2.21), compared to the Shanghai Composite’s 1.39 per cent drop. The stock has lost 13.32 per cent over the past week and is down 5.32 per cent on a monthly basis, reflecting near-term pressure. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 across the value chain Despite the recent slide, the company remains a strong long-term performer. This past year, the stock has gained 76.58 per cent, significantly outpacing the broader index’s 16.93 per cent rise. The company has reported positive earnings for five straight quarters. Its operating cash flow stood at RMB 6,405.24 million (USD 885.60 million). Key metrics remain steady, with return on...
Alumina Ltd down 1.7%: heavy volumes push AWC among ASX’s most active stocks
Alumina Ltd (ASX: AWC) concluded the session on March 27, 2026, at AUD 1.45 (USD 0.94), down 1.69 per cent from the previous day's value, with a significant increase in trading volume as buyers came back to the market. Roughly 206.21 million shares changed hands during the day, far exceeding the usual average of about 10.49 million, indicating heightened investor participation amid ongoing volatility in aluminium markets. The company was valued at around AUD 4.21 billion (USD 2.73 billion), with an estimated 2.90 billion shares in circulation. The spike aligns with recent fluctuations in aluminium prices and weakness in the basic materials sector. In contrast to the usual volume of 10.49 million shares, trading registered a relative volume of 19.66. For the global aluminium value-chain...
EU reviews alumina trade rules amid supply chain questions
The European Union (EU) has been discussing some changes around how its rules apply to aluminium and alumina trade, especially when it comes to how materials actually move across supply chains. At the moment, restrictions are in place for certain aluminium imports, but alumina, which is used to produce aluminium, is still being traded. This difference has started to raise questions about whether the current setup fully reflects how the industry operates in practice. One part of the discussion links back to the Aughinish Alumina refinery in Ireland. It is the largest alumina refinery in Europe; it processes bauxite into alumina, which goes into production. Some reports mention that a share of alumina from this facility has been supplied to Russian smelters, including those linked to Rusal....
Saudi finance minister warns of supply shocks, including aluminium, beyond post-COVID levels
Saudi Finance Minister, Mohammed Al-Jadaan, has cautioned that recent global supply chain disruptions are now exceeding the impact seen after the COVID-19 pandemic. He noted that ongoing geopolitical tensions could have wider economic consequences if they continue for an extended period of time. He pointed out that while oil markets often draw the most attention, the pressure is becoming more visible across key industrial sectors such as refined products, fertilisers, steel, aluminium and petrochemicals. At FII PRIORITY Miami 2026, Al-Jadaan said the current disruptions affecting global trade and logistics are “beyond what we have seen even post-COVID,” indicating that risks are building up even if it’s not fully visible in the market yet. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026...
Rio Tinto and the Australian Government’s $2B investment protects Weipa jobs and supports Aluminium supply chain
A USD 2 billion funding deal has been announced to support the Boyne aluminium smelter in Queensland. The deal is expected to secure jobs in Weipa, where Rio Tinto’s bauxite operations supply raw materials to the smelter. The investment involves the Australian government, the Queensland government and Rio Tinto. It aims to keep the smelter operating, support jobs and improve the state’s energy system. The Boyne smelter, located near Gladstone, is one of Australia’s largest aluminium plants. It is expected to continue operating until at least 2040. The funding will be provided over a period of 10 years. The deal is also part of the national “Future Made in Australia” plan. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026...
Middle East tensions disrupt aluminium imports; South Korean SMEs facing supply risks
The Middle East tension is affecting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in South Korea that depend on the region for aluminium and naptha. A report says these firms need support to manage raw material supply and exports. SMEs do not import much overall from the Middle East, but they depend on it for some key materials. According to a report by The Small and Medium Venture Business Research Institute, about 82.8 per cent of naphtha imports come from countries like Kuwait, the UAE and Qatar. Some aluminium products also rely on the region, including scrap (11.2 per cent) and non-alloy ingots (8.8 per cent). This creates a risk of supply problems. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " SMEs are also more...
Century Aluminum sees 41% SG&A rise from higher alumina and power costs, margins at 10.1%
Century Aluminum Company (CENX) has reported higher costs and expenses in 2025. Cost of sales increased by 10.9 per cent compared to the previous year. Selling, general and administrative expenses rose by about 41 per cent. Other operating costs also increased by more than 100 per cent. The main cost pressures came from key inputs like alumina, electricity and carbon products. These made up over 84 per cent of total production costs. Changes in energy and raw material prices have also added pressure. Equipment issues at the Grundartangi plant in Iceland affected the cost efficiency. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " Despite this, the company has worked to improve performance. It focused on cost control,...
