AlCircle News Edited By "Trisha Hazra"
Trisha Hazra is a rising digital marketing enthusiast who is passionate about writing and content creation. She is pursuing an MBA in Digital Marketing and is on a journey to blend creativity and aluminium with strategic insights.
Mozambique’s Mozal smelter set for potential shutdown in 2026 – South32
Australia’s South32 is currently in talks with the Mozambican government about the future of Mozal, which is the largest aluminium smelter and a key industrial employer in the country. Even with these discussions underway, the company is preparing for a potential halt in operations starting in March, 2026. Recent development South32 has announced that it’s actively working with the Mozambican government, the Cahora Bassa Hydroelectric Plant (HCB) and South Africa’s Eskom, which buys electricity from HCB and supplies it to Mozal, to ensure that Mozal, the second-largest aluminium smelter in Africa, has enough affordable power. This facility, located just outside of Maputo, employs around 5,000 workers. South32, in its quarterly report released on Tuesday, October 21, noted that despite...
Electrical glitch forces Century Aluminum subsidiary to halt Iceland potline
Norðurál Grundartangi ehf, a wholly owned subsidiary of Century Aluminum Company, has temporarily paused operations on one of its two potlines due to an electrical equipment failure at its aluminium smelter in Grundartangi, Iceland. The company has assured that there were no injuries from the incident and they are currently working to evaluate the impact of the disruption and get production back on track. The company has announced that it is currently evaluating the situation and plans to provide more information during its quarterly earnings call on November 6. It is anticipated by the firm that insurance will help cover the losses from this incident. Additionally, it will be working closely with both customers and suppliers to reduce any disruptions to their business. As a top global...
5 years post-COVID, US auto sector yet again faces the crunch of tariffs and more
Nearly five years since the Covid-19 pandemic, which forced the US automakers to stop production, and now factories are hitting the same brakes once more. A shortage of domestic aluminium, restrictions on semiconductor exports and increasing tariffs are causing delays for key models, like Jeep SUVs and Ford’s high-end vehicles. Additionally, supply chain issues and geopolitical tensions are slowing down America’s auto industry, leaving us to wonder how long production can keep moving forward. Reasons troubling the US automotive industry The US automotive industry is facing a major setback due to a fire at Novelis, a leading aluminium supplier. This incident occurred last month at its facility in Oswego, New York and it is particularly concerning because Novelis provides a significant...
Transforming Guinea’s mining landscape: Winning International’s Simandou move
Winning International Group is a prime example of how a Singapore-based company can take advantage of the city-state’s strategic benefits to grow its operations far beyond Southeast Asia. Its Simandou mine, nestled in Guinea’s mountainous region, is poised to make a notable impact on the global iron-ore market. Why choose Simandou mine? The Simandou iron ore project in Guinea is set to make a big splash with around 1.5 billion tonnes of high-grade ore in its reserves, this project aims to ramp up to an impressive annual production capacity of 60 million tonnes within the next 30 months. To support this, there’s a plan to build over 600 kilometers of rail and port facilities, making it easier to transport the ore to global markets. The sheer size and infrastructure of this project are...
LME price drops to USD 2,773/t, another turn in the aluminium tide?
The London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium price has been showing a fluctuating movement. After a good rise in the price, it has again decline on October 20, 2025. The LME cash bid fell by USD 18 per tonne or 0.65 per cent, down from USD 2,789 per tonne to USD 2,771 per tonne. The decline continued in cash offer price when it went down by USD 16.5 per tonne or 0.6 per cent to reach at USD 2,773 per tonne. The 3-month bid reduced by USD 9 per tonne or 0.32 per cent and on Monday, October 20, it settled at USD 2,765 per tonne. Concurrently, the 3-month offer also declined by USD 10 per tonne or 0.36 per cent, down from USD 2,776 per tonne to USD 2,766 per tonne. To know more about the global primary aluminium industry 2025 outlook, read “ Global Aluminium Industry Outlook 2025 ” For the...
Shandong Hontron Aluminum stock jumps 7.2% amid market dip
Shandong Hontron Aluminum Industry Holding Co., Ltd. experienced a remarkable surge in its stock performance on October 15, 2025, reaching an intraday high even as the broader market faced a downturn. The company has demonstrated impressive annual growth, but it does grapple with some hurdles, including low profitability and concerns about management efficiency. Shandong Hontron Aluminum Industry Holding Co., Ltd. is a manufacturer and exporter based in China, specialising in a wide variety of aluminium products. It offers products like casting coils, cold-rolled coils, household foils, beer wrap foils, pharmaceutical foils, container foils and decorative foils, with exports spanning around 60 countries. The company, which was previously known as Shandong Hongchuang Aluminum Industry...
Al Arabia sets sights on 10,000-tonne of aluminium exports
Al Arabia Company for Manufacturing and Painting Aluminium is gearing up to ramp up its annual exports to over 10,000 tonnes with a strategic makeover. This transformation into a fully integrated industrial complex, complete with cutting-edge production lines and a range of expansion projects, has strengthened its competitive edge in both local and global markets. Tracing back to 2020 Chairperson and Managing Director Ibrahim Al-Batran shared that the company’s growth journey started in 2020. This came in with a significant chunk of his investments from Morocco to Egypt by acquiring the firm. This initiative was all about building a strong industrial player and boosting investor confidence in the Egyptian market. The Director further pointed out that the company has rolled out two new...
Aluminium reshoring hits energy wall as AI and data centres surge
The Trump administration's efforts to bring aluminium production back to the US are hitting a major roadblock, as fierce competition for energy resources is heating up, especially with the skyrocketing power needs of AI development and the growth of data centres. Aluminium is currently at the crossroads of several significant industrial and economic trends, with a hefty 50 per cent national security tariff in the US. Moreover, the metal is known for being energy-intensive, just as power costs are on the rise and it plays a crucial role in the world of electric vehicles and green energy technologies. Additionally, it's becoming more common in robotics applications and is essential as a heat sink material in the rapidly growing data centre industry. According to the Wall Street Journal,...
Chhattisgarh HC rules against BALCO: ITC on employee power supply blocked
The Chhattisgarh High Court has made a significant ruling regarding Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO), focusing on whether Input Tax Credit (ITC) can be claimed on the Compensation Cess charged on imported coal. The Chhattisgarh High Court has turned down BALCO's appeal, stating that the Input Tax Credit (ITC) for Compensation Cess can't be claimed for the electricity supplied to its employee township. The court made it clear that this kind of supply doesn't count as an activity done "in the course or furtherance of business" according to the Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) Act, 2017. BALCO, located in Korba, Chhattisgarh, stands out as a top producer of aluminium products. The company runs its own power plants and sources coal through imports, which means it incurs a GST...
Weekly downstream: Aluminium market pressure, new plants and alloys rewriting the rules
The global aluminium downstream industry reflects a vibrant character, with companies skillfully navigating through rough markets by making smart moves, innovating and expanding. From mixed results in quarterly reports and dividend news to exciting new facility launches and advanced alloy research, the aluminium downstream sector is a true testament to both resilience and reinvention. These developments underscore how major players are gearing up for long-term growth, even as they face shifting market challenges. Weekly Recap: Downstream AL sector by AL Circle Pvt Ltd Companies roaring through turbulent market Maan Aluminium’s stock is showing a bit of a mixed bag in the market right now. While short-term indicators hint at a slight recovery, the weekly trends are signalling a more...
Buyers push back; premiums slip: Japan’s Q4 aluminium market under pressure
Japan plays a vital role as a major aluminium importer in Asia; with the premiums it negotiates each quarter over the LME cash prices acting as a regional standard. However, it's rare for these negotiations to drag on for several weeks after the start of the quarter. The quarterly pricing talks between Japanese aluminium buyers and global producers have been dragging on longer than usual. Both parties are struggling to find common ground on primary metal shipments for the October to December period, confirmed by three industry insiders who are part of the discussions. Clash between the Japanese aluminium buyers and global suppliers Discussions between Japanese buyers and global suppliers, like Rio Tinto and South32, began in early September. Initially, producers suggested premiums to...
Frieze London 2025 embraces circular design with Hydro’s aluminium innovation
Hydro, teaming up with the architectural firm "A Studio Between", has provided a stunning recycled aluminium facade for Frieze London 2025. This project highlights Hydro's dedication to promoting circular aluminium solutions, demonstrating how sustainable materials can significantly enhance temporary architectural designs while encouraging reuse and extending the lifespan of aluminium in our built environment. The Frieze London art fair, taking place in temporary pavilions at Regent’s Park from October 15 to 19, is gaining ground towards sustainability by aiming to cut down on waste after the event. To support this goal, Hydro’s client, A Studio Between, chose circular aluminium for the façade design, which not only promotes material reuse but also helps lessen the environmental...
LME aluminium cash offer firms at USD 2,775/t with mixed stock signals
The upward trajectory of the London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium price was consistent on Thursday, October 16, when both the cash bid and offer rose by USD 22.5 per tonne or 0.88 per cent to finally settle at USD 2,774.5 per tonne and USD 2,775 per tonne, respectively. Concurrently, the LME 3-month bid and offer went up by USD 7 per share or 0.3 per cent, and each reached USD 2,755 per tonne and USD 2,755.5 per tonne. The upward movement was also seen in the LME December 26 bid and offer when the price surged by USD 5 per tonne or 0.2 per cent, climbing to USD 2,783 per tonne and USD 2,788 per tonne, respectively. To know more about the global primary aluminium industry 2025 outlook, read “ Global Aluminium Industry Outlook 2025 ” The LME aluminium 3-month Asian Reference Price on...
Rising 23%: Guinea’s bauxite shipments soar amid floods and red tape
As of the third quarter, Guinea's exports of bauxite, irrespective of natural calamities like heavy rainfall and regulatory headwinds, have surged by 23 per cent year-on-year. According to the report of the Ministry of Mines and Geology, the country's critical aluminium feedstock shipment also rose to 39.41 million tonnes, showing an increase of 7.41 million tonnes in comparison to the third quarter of 2024. Guinea, considered the globe's second-largest bauxite producer, produced an average of 13.14 million tonnes of bauxite in Q3 2025. This represents a dip of 19 per cent in comparison to the H1, mainly because of climate disruption, such as heavy rainfall. Heavy rainfall is a challenge for the bauxite mining industry as it plays havoc with the mine access, which results in slower port...
Bangladeshi research team explores aluminium nanotubes for early lung cancer detection
A team of researchers from Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) and several top international institutions has introduced an innovative theoretical model that utilises aluminium-based nanotubes. This exciting development offers a promising, cost-effective and non-invasive method for detecting lung cancer at an early stage. On October 7, a team of researchers shared their findings on a groundbreaking aluminium-derived nanotube model designed for the early detection of lung cancer, published in Scientific Reports (Nature). These scientists, hailing from Bangladesh, are also connected with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Florida Institute of Technology and the University of California. The researchers shared that with the success of...
A$2 billion green aluminium boost: What it means for Australian smelters?
Today, October 16, 2025, marks the start of consultations for the Albanese Labour Government’s impressive USD 2 billion Green Aluminium Production Credit. This significant investment is set to boost the Australian aluminium industry, helping to fortify local businesses and create jobs. Tracing back to January Australia is strengthening its aluminium industry with AUD 2 billion (USD 1.24 billion) investment , unveiled by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on January 20, 2025. This initiative is designed to assist aluminium smelters in their shift to renewable energy, providing production credits for every tonne of aluminium produced using renewable electricity over a decade, lasting until 2036. Rio Tinto, a major player in the industry, has shown strong backing for the plan, emphasising its...
LME’s new pricing framework for sustainable metals sparks market intrigue
The London Metal Exchange (LME) has just rolled out the next step in its mission to create sustainable metal premium pricing for brands that are LME-approved. As part of this exciting initiative, the Exchange is set to introduce a new entity under the HKEX Group in Dubai, which will serve as the pricing administrator. The firm has also put out a discussion paper that lays out its proposed pricing methodology. LME first noted its plans to look into sustainable metal premium pricing back in April 2025. Now, it has rolled out a comprehensive roadmap that details how it intends to approach sustainable metal premium price discovery. This framework puts a strong emphasis on standardisation and transparency as its core principles. It also underscores the crucial role of the pricing administrator...
Century Aluminum hits 52-week high to USD 33.25 yet faces profitability headwinds
Century Aluminum, a small-cap player in the non-ferrous metals sector, has seen some impressive stock gains recently, both over the past week and the past year. However, despite this positive trend, the company is still facing some strategic hurdles, such as a low Return on Capital Employed and declining profitability. The firm has recently reached a new 52-week high of USD 33.25 on October 13, 2025, showcasing its robust position in the non-ferrous metals industry. With a market cap of USD 2,184 million, a P/E ratio of 18.00 and a return on equity of 16.72 per cent, the company demonstrates effective management and consistent profitability. Share price movement Day-on-day Before the market closed on Tuesday, October 14, the firm's share price stood at USD 32.91. When trading kicked off...
