AlCircle News Edited By "Staff Editor"
MacBook Neo: Apple’s most affordable laptop with high performance and sustainable design
Apple Inc. recently introduced MacBook Neo, a laptop developed to provide the Mac computing experience at a comparatively lower price. Through this release, the company seeks to extend its hardware and software ecosystem to a wider group of users around the world. The starting price is INR 69,900 (USD 760), while students can purchase it for INR 59,900 (USD 651), making it the least expensive Mac laptop offered by Apple. Pre-orders opened after the announcement, and the device will become available on March 11. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " The laptop runs on macOS Tahoe, which includes several built-in applications and supports integration with the Apple iPhone. The operating system also allows...
Molson Coors to close one of its breweries by 2026 as part of operations restructuring
Molson Coors Beverage Company has unveiled plans to close down Sharp’s Brewery in Rock, Cornwall, and its national contact centre in Cardiff by the end of 2026 as part of a restructuring strategy at UK and Ireland operations. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " The move, subject to consultation, may affect around 200 roles if approved. The brewer stated that the Sharp’s site is no longer financially viable within its current brewing network, despite investment since the acquisition in 2011. Also Read: AI in canmaking: A tool to increase production performance At the same time, Molson Coors emphasised it remains committed to the Sharp’s brand portfolio, including its flagship Doom Bar ale, with production...
Trimet Aluminium’s Essen foundry reaches 10 million tonnes aluminium casting milestone
A significant production landmark has been reached at the aluminium foundry operated by Trimet Aluminium in Essen, Germany. On March 5, the facility recorded the casting of its ten-millionth tonne of aluminium, marking a major achievement for the site since it first began operations in 1971. The milestone batch was produced at casting table 216 and formed into extrusion billets. These billets have been supplied to long-standing customer Otto Fuchs, a manufacturer that converts aluminium into high-performance components used across the automotive industry, global aerospace markets, and a range of industrial applications. Reflecting on the achievement, Philipp Schlüter, Chief Executive Officer of Trimet Aluminium, described the production record as a clear demonstration of the site’s...
Public input invited for cleanup as Alcoa continues demolition of Intalco aluminium smelter
Alcoa and the Washington State Department of Ecology are currently expecting public feedback on the cleanup of the Intalco aluminium smelter located in Ferndale, Washington. Alcoa has started demolishing the large smelter facility, marking the end of any possibility of restarting aluminium production at the site and restoring the union jobs that were lost when the plant closed in 2020. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " The demolition of the Intalco smelter is a closure for the end of an important industrial period in the Pacific Northwest. It was the last operating aluminium smelter among the ten factories that once functioned across the region. The demolition began in the previous year, and Alcoa now...
Hindalco shares surge nearly 7% as aluminium prices rise amid Middle East supply disruptions
Shares of Hindalco Industries rose sharply by about 7 per cent on Thursday, March 5, 2026. The rise occurred as global aluminium prices went up due to supply disruptions in the Middle East. Because of this increase, Hindalco became one of the best-performing stocks in the Nifty 50 and the Nifty Metal Index. During the same trading session, the Nifty Metal Index also recorded a gain of more than 3 per cent. The increase in aluminium prices and the rise in the metal stocks were mainly linked to growing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, particularly tensions related to the US-Iran Conflict. The Qatari smelter Qatalum announced a temporary shutdown, while its shareholder Norsk Hydro declared a force majeure to its customers, indicating that production had been halted. This situation...
China signals shift in operational strategy of alumina refining and copper smelting
China has proposed a unique strategy to address structural balances in heavy industries. While the country intends to strengthen supervision and management in industries such as alumina, copper, coal, and chemicals, the authorities aim at reducing production in sectors like steel manufacturing and oil refining. Details of the plan were presented by the National Development and Reform Commission, which described the initiative as part of a broader attempt to improve the way industrial activity is regulated and organised. Rather than focusing solely on cutting capacity, policymakers are looking to guide production more carefully and establish clearer oversight mechanisms, particularly in sectors that provide core industrial raw materials. Also read: China’s alumina and aluminium output move...
Tajikistan approves draft MoU with UK to strengthen critical minerals cooperation
Potential partnership between Tajikistan’s Ministry of Industry and New Technologies and the United Kingdom to jointly extract, process, and develop critical minerals becomes more realistic as the former has passed a draft memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the UK government. This cooperation is aimed at strengthening supply chains for resources vital to the global energy transition, advanced technologies, and industrial developments, while overcoming the market vulnerabilities due to concentrated production in a few countries and the risk of supply disruptions. Also read: UK outlines bold 2035 vision for critical minerals security In light of this, Tajikistan and the UK are working together to diversify supply sources and encourage the creation of more sustainable global supply...
Why did Argentina end anti-dumping duties on Chinese aluminium foils, while the decision on aluminium tubes remains pending?
Argentina and China are deepening their aluminium trade ties, highlighted by Argentina's February 2026 decision to eliminate a 28 per cent antidumping duty on Chinese aluminium foil, reversing trade barriers from 2020. The Argentine Ministry of Economy issued Resolution 172/2026 to end the review of the anti-dumping measures of Chinese imports of aluminium foils. The review was closed because the time period had expired, and thus, the duties that had been in effect since 2020 were dismissed. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " China is one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of manufactured aluminium goods such as foil, sheets, and semi-finished products, which are often cheaper due to...
Snap, Luna and Matteo lead LINDAL’s aluminium aerosol focus at Paris Packaging Week 2026
At this year’s Paris Packaging Week, LINDAL Group introduced its visitors to three new additions to its aerosol dispensing portfolio. The Hamburg-headquartered dispensing specialist brought Snap, Luna and Matteo, each of which is designed to address distinct requirements across healthcare, personal care and home care categories. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " The company has positioned these launches as purpose-built solutions with aluminium at its core and shaped by specific end-use needs. Across all three products, the emphasis lies on practical performance, user protection, and customisation flexibility. Snap is designed for accurate nasal delivery. It has been developed as a precision spray head...
Indian aluminium stocks in focus as Qatalum halt sparks global supply concerns
Shares of National Aluminium Company (NALCO), Hindalco Industries, and Vedanta Limited may attract attention on Wednesday, March 3, following the announcement that Qatalum has stopped aluminium production. The suspension of production has created concerns about possible shortages in the global aluminium market. A fall in aluminium supply can create shortages in the market and push prices upward. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region is an important aluminium-producing area. In 2025, GCC countries collectively produced around 6.5 million tonnes of aluminium, accounting for nearly 8 per cent of total global primary aluminium production. As a result, any disruption in...
Alcoa appoints Emily Olson as Executive VP and Chief External Affairs Officer
Alcoa Corporation, alumina and aluminium producer has confirmed that Emily Olson will be the Executive Vice President and Chief External Affairs Officer of the company from April 6, 2026. In her new role, Olson will oversee the organisation’s external affairs and communications activities worldwide, including government affairs, corporate communications, stakeholder relations and stewardship of the Alcoa Foundation. Working alongside fellow executives, she will help ensure that engagement with policymakers, communities and partners supports the company’s broader commercial and long-term objectives. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 across the value chain President and Chief Executive Officer William F. Oplinger said this...
AL Circle x Andreas Würzer from Handtmann: “Aluminium die casting will continue to gain relevance as material substitution accelerates”
In an interview with Andreas Würzer, Global Director Technical Development at Handtmann, where has clearly stated that automotive will remain the primary demand driver for aluminium casting in the short and mid‑term, driven by electrification, structural lightweighting and the increasing adoption of integrated cast architectures. Also, material substitution will continue to drive the demand growth for aluminium die casting, according to Mr Würzer. Interestingly, even though passenger cars sell in Europe is likely to decline, the share of die cast aluminium per vehicle will continue to rise. To know more such interesting insights into the aluminium die casting market from Andreas Würzer, continue reading the interview. AL Circle: Can you tell us briefly about your products and services...
QatarEnergy’s production suspension raises uncertainty over gas supply and aluminium operations at Qatalum
QatarEnergy, a state-owned Doha-based energy company controlling all of Qatar’s oil and gas operations, suspended its production of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and related products on March 2, 2026, at around 14:30 CET. The following day, around 12:00 CET, the company announced that it would also halt the production of several downstream products in Qatar. These products include urea, polymers, methanol, aluminium, and other industrial materials. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " As a result of reduced gas availability, Qatalum, one of the major aluminium smelters of Qatar, has initiated a controlled shutdown of its aluminium production. This shutdown began on March 3 and is expected to be completed by...
Nova Alumina expands beyond aluminium, begins automotive liquids production facility
Nova Alumina, an aluminium products manufacturer based in Bosnia and Herzegovina, has begun construction of a new facility dedicated to producing automotive liquids. The company announced in a social media post on Friday that the plant would manufacture essential fluids used in modern vehicle systems, including AdBlue, antifreeze, and windshield washer fluid. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " With this investment, Nova Alumina is branching into a new industrial segment as part of its strategy to diversify operations and strengthen its presence in international markets. Also Read: Nova Alumina appoints Zoran Stevanovic as the New CEO The company was established in 2023 by Gordan Pavlovic, owner of real...
Michael Doss joins Crown Holdings Board following a decade at Graphic Packaging
Crown Holdings has confirmed an addition to its boardroom, naming seasoned packaging executive Michael P. Doss as a director with effect from March 3, 2026. Following his appointment, the company’s board will comprise ten members. Doss brings decades of sector experience to the role. He most recently led Graphic Packaging Holding Company, where he served as president, chief executive, and director from 2016 until 2025. During his tenure, the fibre-based consumer packaging group pursued expansion initiatives and strengthened its market position through a series of strategic moves. Before stepping into the chief executive’s post, Doss had spent more than twenty years in senior commercial, operational and general management roles within the same organisation, shaping its manufacturing...
Nigeria signs $1.3 billion alumina refinery deal with AFC to boost mining sector
Africa Finance Corporation and the Federal Government of Nigeria have signed a deal to invest in three major mining projects. One of them includes USD 1.3 billion for an aluminium refinery project. This agreement was signed under the Solid Mineral Development Fund (SMDF), a sovereign investment fund designed to catalyse private sector-based growth in the mining industry. Under this agreement, both parties will carry out a geoscience mapping programme to improve mineral data and reduce exploration risks, encouraging more investors to participate in the sector. They will also create a joint investment vehicle to speed up exploration and mining development in Nigeria. The aim is to promote faster exploration, development, and eventual production from approved mining leases, particularly...
Capral Aluminium doors and windows shape a high-function community centre in Tonga
Newcastle has recently delivered more than just building materials - it has delivered safety to the vulnerable island community in Ha’Apai, where extreme weather is a constant threat. Fabricated in Newcastle and shipped across the ocean, windows and doors manufactured from special architectural-grade Capral Aluminium have travelled to Tonga for a new multipurpose community centre that serves as a safe haven for the community where they can congregate, celebrate, and seek refuge during inclement weather. The building has Capral Aluminium Urban 281 double-hung windows for its slimline profiles, neat appearance, and ease of operation while also being compatible with Amplimesh SupaScreen security screens made from 316 marine grade stainless steel, and Urban Plus 397 single hinged doors and...
Scientific innovation of aluminium-based compounds can act as alternatives to rare earths
Researchers at King’s College London have discovered a new form of aluminium which may offer a cheaper and more sustainable alternative to rare and expensive metals used in modern technology. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " The research was carried out under the leadership of Dr Clare Bakewell from the Chemistry Department, where her team developed highly reactive aluminium-based molecules that can break strong chemical bonds. They also identified new molecular structures that had not been seen before. An important result of the study is the first example of a compound called cyclotrialumane, containing three aluminium atoms arranged in a triangle. It is highly reactive but remains stable in different...
