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.
Capral expands LocAl® range, powering Australia's shift to low-carbon aluminium solutions
The increasing environmental concerns are emerging in diverse sectors with the rising shift to low-carbon use. Similar action is seen within the global aluminium industry, where Capral, a leading provider of aluminium products and solutions across Australia, is on the road to launch new lower-carbon aluminium options. New innovation Capral is set to launch a new lower-carbon aluminium sheet offering this month, featuring an embodied carbon footprint of approximately six tonnes of CO₂ per tonne of aluminium. The sheets will be made available in standard two-and three-millimetre thicknesses, providing the market with an accessible, sustainable alternative for a wide range of applications. The enhanced LocAl® range will expand the range of sustainable supply chain solutions available to the...
Prysmian powers Europe's energy shift with smart grids, low-carbon cables & strong Q1
The accelerating energy transition is creating significant growth opportunities, with industry leaders adopting forward-looking strategies for long-term impact. In line with this trend, Prysmian Group, recognised globally for its power and telecom cable expertise, is driving a new phase of progress through advanced cable solutions, strategic collaborations and sustainable manufacturing practices. These initiatives not only align with Europe's decarbonisation objectives but also position the company as a key enabler in the integration of renewable energy, AI-powered smart grids and electric vehicles (EVs). Investments in focus Prysmian's recent investments and strategic projects highlight its critical role in advancing Europe's energy infrastructure. In 2024, the company secured a EUR 450...
Alberta Investment Management Corp joins top investors in Century Aluminum
Alberta Investment Management Corporation, a Canadian Crown corporation and institutional investor owned by the Government of Alberta, has recently acquired a new stake in Century Aluminum Company. The strategic move follows the company's Q1 2025 earnings announcement and its latest 13F filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Century Aluminum is a globally active metals and mining company engaged in the production of bauxite, alumina and aluminium. Image source: centuryaluminum.com Alberta Investment Management Corporation has acquired approximately 265,000 shares of Century Aluminum Company, representing an investment valued at USD 4.92 million. As of the end of the most recent quarter, this position accounts for roughly 0.28 per cent of the firm's total outstanding...
Tariff tensions rise as Canada-US trade deal remains uncertain
Canada and the US have been engaging in a tariff war for the past six months, and despite reports of "intense" negotiations in recent weeks, a comprehensive trade agreement has yet to be reached. A potential US-Canada trade agreement may still take several weeks to materialise, according to Ottawa's chief negotiator as of July 31, 2025. This statement followed Trump's decision to raise tariffs on Canadian imports from 25 per cent to 35 per cent for all goods not covered under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, despite his earlier August 1 deadline for reaching a deal. Canadian Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc held an extended meeting with the US Commerce Secretary, Howard Lutnick, on Tuesday evening upon arriving in Washington, followed by discussions with other senior White House officials....
Powering aluminium's green shift: Otto Junker & Neuman go electric
Otto Junker, a globally renowned manufacturer of advanced industrial furnace systems for the metal processing sector, has successfully concluded a key decarbonisation project at Neuman Aluminium's Strangpresswerk facility in Lilienfeld, Lower Austria. Dedicated to aluminium component production, the facility is actively advancing its transition toward sustainable manufacturing practices. Image source: otto-junker.com Both companies have successfully transitioned a gas-fired billet heating plant to electric heating, marking a significant milestone toward climate-neutral production. Previously, commissioned as a gas-fired convective billet heater until 2016, the plant has now been upgraded to the energy-efficient EcoJet system. With this transition, the facility can now heat its 8-inch...
Ferroglobe’s rebound depends on tariffs, tech gains and demand revival
Ferroglobe PLC, a London-based supplier of high-purity chemical and metallurgical-grade silicon metal for the aluminium and steel industries, reported a weak Q1 2025 performance, with revenue declining to USD 307.2 million, a 32 per cent drop year-on-year and an adjusted EBITDA loss of USD 26.8 million, primarily driven by falling prices and reduced volumes of core products. The management of Ferroglobe PLC views the current downturn as cyclical and maintains its full-year 2025 guidance for a positive adjusted EBITDA in the range of USD 100–170 million. Notably, recent trade protection measures, such as the steep US tariffs on ferrosilicon imports and anticipated EU safeguards on silicon metal, are expected to curb oversupply and support price stabilisation in the second half of the year....
Tariff tensions in focus: US–Canada aluminium ties ahead of August 1
As August 1 approaches, trade discussions between the US and Canada have shifted focus amid ongoing concerns over aluminium tariffs. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, speaking on July 31, 2025, acknowledged the financial strain faced by American manufacturers, particularly Ford Motor Company and signalled potential tariff relief for Canada's aluminium and steel industries. In June, Trump announced a tariff hike on global aluminium and steel imports, doubling the rate to 50 per cent. The move was justified on national security grounds, citing insufficient domestic production of the critical metals. The US and Canada are engaged in negotiations to resolve the ongoing aluminium and steel tariff dispute ahead of the approaching Friday deadline. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Mark Carney...
Alcoa delivers a steady ’24 dividend despite unforeseeable challenges
Alcoa Corporation, a prominent global aluminium producer, has once again demonstrated its financial resilience by maintaining a consistent quarterly cash dividend of USD 0.10 per share for both its common stock and Series A convertible preferred stock. Despite ongoing challenges such as falling aluminium prices, rising tariffs and global market uncertainties, the company's Q2 2025 earnings showcased strong operational performance and a robust cash position, reaffirming its shareholder-focused capital strategy. On July 30, 2025, the firm announced that its Board of Directors had declared the quarterly cash dividend. The dividend includes USD 0.10 per share on the company's common stock and a corresponding dividend on its Series A convertible preferred stock. Both are scheduled to be paid...
Siemens Energy partners with Paragon to scale recycled aluminium hydrogen tech
In a notable development within the recycled aluminium sector, UK-based start-up Paragon Resources has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Siemens Energy, a global leader in energy technologies. The collaboration aims to commercialise an innovative hydrogen production process that leverages recycled aluminium reacting with water in the presence of a catalyst, highlighting the strategic integration of advanced technology in sustainable aluminium applications. Image source: siemens.co.uk Under the terms of the MoU, both organisations will collaborate to deploy and scale up a hydrogen production technology that operates without the use of fossil fuels, electrolysis or electricity. The process generates hydrogen gas and aluminium hydroxide, presenting a highly viable...
Aluminium Closures Group appoints Arturo Martorelli as new Chair
During the ACG Summer Conference held in late June 2025 at Ljubljana, Arturo Martorelli, Chief Commercial Officer at Gaula Closures, was unanimously appointed as the new Chair of the Aluminium Closures Group (ACG). He takes over the leadership from Franco Bove, who has held the position since the group's inception in 2011, marking nearly 14 years of service. During the same event, Patrick Broom was appointed as Vice-Chair. Globally led manufacturers of the aluminium closures and their suppliers, which represent 75 per cent of the global production, are brought together by the Aluminium Closures Group. The use of aluminium screw caps is seen mainly in the wine, spirits, mineral waters, oil and vinegar sectors. The core activities of ACG include market analysis, advancing recycling and...
Guinea's capital, Conakry, occupies lion’s share of bauxite export in Q1’25
Himoinsa, a global leader in the design, manufacturing and distribution of power generation systems, has delivered a 24 MW power plant for a metallurgy facility in Kouriah, strengthening energy resilience in one of Conakry's key industrial zones. Why does it need mention in the export boom scenario of Conakry? As of Q1 2025, Conakry marks the highest contribution in Guinea's total bauxite export, mainly because of the presence of high-quality bauxite deposits in the region. Coupled with the ore presence, high-end mining technology plays an integral role. The setup of the power plant ensures elevated mining operations and ensures that Guinea's capital exceeds the previous shipment record in FY'25. Conakry has exported 48.6 million tonnes of bauxite in the first quarter of the fiscal year....
Ghana revokes Rocksure's lease. What's ahead in its mining strategy?
With Guinea revoking more than 129 licenses of the bauxite miners , Ghana is now following a similar step. Starting with a local firm, Rocksure International, Ghana has cancelled the bauxite lease worth USD 1.2 billion. The major cause behind the cancellation was the lease being ratified by the parliament. Under Ghana’s legal framework, a landmark 2019 Supreme Court decision, widely known as the “Exton Cubic ruling” established that any mining lease not ratified by Parliament is deemed legally void. This legal precedent empowered the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to formally notify Rocksure of the termination of its mining lease. After cancelling the lease of its local firm, Rocksure International, Ghana is currently seeking a partnership with international companies. The major...
Vedanta's $15.6B aluminium bet in Odisha to reshape global smelting landscape
Vedanta Aluminium, known to be India's largest aluminium producer, is set to undertake the largest manufacturing capital expenditure of Q1 FY26 with a greenfield aluminium smelter project valued at INR 1.3 trillion (USD 15.64 billion) in Odisha. The investment reflects growing private sector confidence and underpins Vedanta's plans for a 3 MTPA smelter integrated with a 4,900 MW power plant set up near Kamakhyanagarin, Odisha's Dhenkanal district. Image source: linkedin.com Once operational, the project is expected to generate over 200,000 jobs and drive sustained economic growth in the region through the development of auxiliary industries, infrastructure improvements and enhanced logistics. In Q1 FY26, private sector investments totalled INR 3.5 trillion (USD 42.11 billion), with...
Hydro partners with Hertwich Engineering to enhance aluminium recycling in Spain
Hydro Aluminium has placed an order for a batch homogenisation plant to enhance operations at its recycling facility in Spain, marking another strategic advancement in the global aluminium recycling sector. The plant will be supplied by Hertwich Engineering, a company known for its expertise in energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable technologies. Image source: hertwich.com The scope of supply includes three batch homogenisation furnaces, two integrated cooling chambers, a billet saw, an ultrasonic testing station and a packing station. The addition of these homogenisation furnaces, supported by an optional step cooling system, will enable Hydro to manage frequent temperature fluctuations within its recycling operations efficiently. Gerold Keune, managing director of Hertwich,...
Indian metal sector: stock price dynamics under review
The Indian metal sector has experienced notable fluctuations in stock performance over recent weeks, with key players like NALCO, Vedanta Aluminium and Hindalco showing mixed trends across different timeframes. A closer look at their stock price movements reveals underlying market sentiments and evolving dynamics within the sector. Week-on-week analysis When the market opened on July 22, 2025, NALCO's stock was priced at INR 196.47 (USD 2.35) and closed marginally lower at INR 196.45 (USD 2.35), indicating stable performance. However, by July 25, the stock touched a high of INR 199.35 (USD 2.39) before retreating to close at INR 193.50 (USD 2.31), marking a 2.93 per cent decline. The downward trend continued and as the market closed on July 28, the share price had further declined to INR...
Vdeal System secures order from NALCO to boost plant power systems
The Indian aluminium sector continues to strengthen its domestic momentum with a strategic collaboration. Vdeal System Limited, a specialist in electric panels, industrial automation, process instrumentation and industrial IoT solutions, has secured a significant order from National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), India’s leading integrated bauxite, alumina, aluminium and powder producer, for the supply of a TTA panel. The partnership will see the electrical equipment manufacturer supplying auxiliary Type Tested Assembly (TTA) panels to NALCO’s plant power system under a domestic contract valued at approximately INR 1.63 crore (USD 196,386). The order is scheduled for completion by January 21, 2026. This collaboration not only supports the operational efficiency of NALCO but also...
Bandit9 redefines bespoke motorcycle engineering with limited-edition aluminium-clad Ducati 821
For those who see motorcycles not just as machines but as masterpieces, the Bandit9 x Ducati 821 is your next rideable obsession. Initially commissioned by a San Francisco-based collector, this project reflects a deep appreciation for Van Daryl Vincente Villanueva, the Founder and Design Chief of Bandit9 and his visionary approach to motorcycle design, marking a refined evolution of the atelier’s craftsmanship and a redefinition of two-wheeled engineering. Image source: bandit9.com Built upon the foundation of the discontinued Ducati Monster 821, the latest creation reimagines the original naked motorcycle through a distinct, monolithic design language. Every panel and surface has been meticulously redesigned and handcrafted, resulting in a seamless, sculptural form. The body features...
For eco-savvy adventurers: JFA Yachts’ aluminium hybrid explorer set to make waves soon
JFA Yachts has released a construction update on its 50.5-metre hybrid explorer project, confirming that the vessel is currently in the outfitting phase, well in advance of its scheduled launch later this year. This development represents a significant milestone in the company's ongoing innovation in hybrid yacht engineering. Image source: jfa-yachts.com Designed by Humphreys Yacht Design, the all-aluminium hybrid explorer showcases advanced naval architecture and exterior styling. A key highlight of the vessel is its extensive tender and toy handling capabilities. According to HYD Co-Director Tom Humphreys, "We took a highly integrated approach to the design, striving to marry all the technical, functional, and Client-specific requirements with a rigorous naval architecture effort to...
