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.
ALFED strengthens leadership with Emma Swann as Vice President
Designer, extruders, machine and finish custom aluminium profiles supplier, BOAL Extrusion UK's Managing Director, Emma Swann, has now been appointed as the new Vice President of the Aluminium Federation (ALFED), a non-profit organisation dedicated to representing and supporting the UK aluminium industry. With a rich background of experience, strong leadership, and a genuine passion for the aluminium industry, her appointment will take place at a time which shall aid both the sector and the broader UK manufacturing scene. Also read: India mandates BIS certification for aluminium products under QCO 2026 As a Vice President, she will be collaborating closely with the firm's CEO, Nadine Bloxsome and the President, Wendy Giles, from Amari Metals Ltd, along with the entire board of members. As...
Global aluminium sector records production milestones, extrusion growth and rising supply risks amid geopolitical tensions
The global downstream aluminium is shaped by infusing a blend of operational milestones, financial resilience, strategic partnerships and the ever-changing market dynamics. The global market is witnessing everything from production successes and investor activity to innovations driven by sustainability and shifts in geopolitical supply. This sector is a reflection of both stability and the pressures lurking beneath the surface. All these factors together indicate a market that’s not just looking for growth opportunities but also learning to adapt to various structural and regional challenges. Focusing on the growth, milestones & projects Trimet Aluminium’s foundry in Essen, Germany, has cast 10 million tonnes of aluminium since 1971, the time of its inception. On March 5, the landmark...
Alcoa plunges 11% as Iran conflict jolts global aluminium market and LME futures prices tumble
Alcoa, a global industry leader in bauxite mining, alumina refining and aluminium manufacturing, witnessed an 11 per cent fall in its early trading on Thursday. However, on the London Metal Exchange (LME), the aluminium futures dropped the largest since 2018. The decline is mainly owed to the growing tension regarding the global economic fallout from the ongoing conflict in Iran, leading to widespread losses in the industrial metals markets. Looking at the LME benchmark for three-month aluminium, a drop of 8 per cent, totalling USD 3,115 per tonne, was seen. This was before the price bounced back to USD 3,214 per tonne. Nonetheless, this directly implies that the gains that had built up since the start of the conflict in the Middle East had raised concerns about the stability of aluminium...
From peak to pullback: LME aluminium cash offer retreats from $3,400/t to $3,200/t as tensions ease and prices retreat
As we are aware that the current geopolitical tension has created a temporary halt to the passage of goods through the Strait of Hormuz, the London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium price soared to an all-time high. However, now the market is slowly but steadily witnessing a return to the range it was previously in. The LME cash bid moved down by USD 201.5 per tonne, shifting from USD 3,399.5 per tonne to USD 3,198 per tonne. The cash offer also changed by USD 200 per tonne, from USD 3,400 per tonne to USD 3,200 per tonne, where both the bid and offer reflected a 6 per cent change from the previous day’s close. Must read: Key industry individuals share their thoughts on the trending topics The downward trend continued at the longer-dated contracts, where both the LME 3-month bid and offer...
PPG highlights aluminium can recycling urgency with students on World Recycling Day
For the second time in a row, PPG participated in the national “Million Cans Recycling Contest.” This year, the packaging company in Pittsburgh collaborated with more than 100 second-grade students from the Environmental Charter School (ECS). The aim here was to help these students collect and recycle aluminium beverage cans to celebrate World Recycling Day. For the academic year 2025-25, these ECS students have collected above 30 thousand cans. The competition, The Million Cans Recycling, included 54 schools, which aimed at inspiring elementary students and getting their involvement in aluminium can recycling. The Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI) organised the initiative along with The Recycling Society, which unites elementary schools, scrapyards and aluminium can producers and...
Vedanta Aluminium’s Jharsuguda plant steps up safety game during 55th National Safety Month
India’s largest aluminium producer, Vedanta Aluminium, is celebrating the 55th National Safety Month at its massive plant in Jharsuguda. Due to this, the firm is celebrating via a variety of well-structured and engaging initiatives aimed at boosting workplace safety and nurturing a culture of shared responsibility among all employees. For this year, the firm is upholding the theme “Educate, Engage, and Empower to Enhance Safety,” where the month-long campaign aims at raising awareness. With this campaign, the firm is focusing on getting everyone involved and promoting proactive risk management throughout the entire organisation. Some key government figures, including Mr Swaroop Jena, the Deputy Director of Factories & Boilers and Ms Archana Das, the Assistant Director of Factories &...
From tariffs to trade wins: Inside Alvance’s 10% production boost
Due to some recent changes in the United States’ tariffs, Alvance British Aluminium, one of the world’s greenest metal production plants, announced a 10 per cent production boost. The smelter is located in Fort William and exports nearly half of its output to the US after the tariffs were put in place last year. The boost, irrespective of the crisis, has been able to enter the US market because the UK is the only country to face a lower tariff. Previously, Trump imposed a 50 per cent global tariff on aluminium and steel imports, but the UK was the only country to receive a special reduced rate of 25 per cent. Trump's decision to raise tariffs on aluminium and steel imports was made with the intention of boosting domestic production. Irrespective of this action of increasing the tariff,...
SPIROL strengthens insert offering with lightweight aluminium solutions
Four new machined aluminium threaded inserts, designed for heat or ultrasonic installation into straight plastic holes, have been launched by SPIROL, a manufacturer of fasteners and components. The latest addition includes the Series INS19, INS20, INS29 and INS30, helping to enhance the existing brass product line and broadening the firm's range of threaded inserts, giving customers more options for material choice and performance optimisation. The inclusion of these newly aluminium threaded inserts is designed to accommodate the most common installation methods, such as moulded-in, post-mould (cold) press-in and heat or ultrasonic installation. Also read: After US tariffs, aluminium price surge due to Middle East conflict causing concern to Coca-Cola The heat and ultrasonic techniques...
China gains as alumina reroutes from the Strait of Hormuz disrupts the Middle East supply
The rerouting of the raw materials away from the Middle East is suggested to be benefiting the Chinese aluminium producers. This is because China is receiving a higher amount of alumina, the precursor refined from bauxite, due to the ongoing US-Israeli war with Iran. As a result, the country is facing a surplus and boosted profits at its smelters, where alumina is turned into aluminium. The supplies to the Middle Eastern producers are throttled due to the near-total shipping halt in the Strait of Hormuz, accounting for nearly 9 per cent of the global aluminium. According to an analyst with the Shanghai-based broker Zijin Tianfeng Futures Co., Chen Jingmin, said that alumina is now "being dumped" on the global markets. The alumina dumping is directly reflected in the price, where in...
Japanese aluminium buyers agree to $350/t Q2 premium amidst Middle East tension
For deliveries scheduled during the April-June quarter, Japanese aluminium buyers agreed to the payment of a USD 350 per tonne premium, which buyers will pay in addition to the current base price on the London Metal Exchange. At the end of February, global aluminium producers had suggested a premium of USD 220 to 250 per tonne for the buyers in Japan for April-June quarter (Q2 2026). That was already 13 to 28 per cent higher than the premium of USD 195 per tonne agreed for the previous quarter. Also read: Declining aluminium prices boost market procurement sentiment, premiums stabilise A few days later in mid-March, Rio Tinto, offered the premium of USD 350 per tonne to Japanese buyers, which was 40 per cent higher than the previous offering of USD 250 per tonne. Compared with the current...
Aluminium declines as the dollar strengthens, yet supply tightness lingers
After slipping by 1.1 per cent, the aluminium prices settled at INR 346.1, which is influenced by a stronger US dollar, with the future hope for further interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve seeming to be fading. Irrespective of the dip, aluminium prices were supported throughout the week, mainly because of the ongoing shipping disruptions linked to tensions in the Middle East. This has raised serious concerns about supply risks in global metal markets. On the supply side, the indicators show that the London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium inventories dropped to 445,300 tonnes, hitting the lowest point since July. On the other hand, the cash contract was trading at a USD 29 per tonne backwardation compared to the three-month contract, suggesting that near-term supply conditions are...
Tianshan Aluminum falls 4.21% in broader sell-off; performance tells another story
On March 16, Tianshan Aluminum Group Co., Ltd., a China-based aluminium sheet provider, experienced a drop in its stock price, sliding by 4.21 per cent to reach an intraday low of CNY 18.50 (USD 2.66). The decline is taking place against the backdrop of a wider market downturn, as the China Shanghai Composite index also fell by 0.82 per cent on the same day. Even with the current downturn, the aluminium sheet provider has been reflecting with positive performance metrics over different time periods. Must read: Key industry individuals share their thoughts on the trending topics Over the last year, the firm’s stock has shown a return of 98.3 per cent, which is deemed to far surpass the China Shanghai Composite, which only saw a 21.93 per cent increase. Year-to-date, the firm saw an...
LME aluminium cools despite Hormuz tensions, cash offer drops to $3,440/t, while longer-dated contracts climb
On March 16, the London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium price, even after being amidst the war and supply crunch due to the temporary closure of the Strait of Hormuz, after days of an upward rising trend, has calmed down. However, at the longer dated contracts, the LME price seems to continue its upswing. Both the LME cash bid and offer inched down by USD 80 per tonne or 2.3 per cent, where the bid shifted from USD 3,519.5 per tonne to USD 3,439.5 per tonne. At the same time, the cash offer changed from USD 3,520 per tonne to USD 3,440 per tonne. Must read: Key industry individuals share their thoughts on the trending topics A similar trend is seen in the LME longer-dated contract, where the 3-month bid rose by USD 70.5 per tonne or 2 per cent, shifting from USD 3,485.5 per tonne to USD...
MoEFCC scientist inspects NALCO’s Panchpatmali bauxite mines, reviews environmental compliance
At the Panchpatmali Bauxite Mines, part of the National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), nestled within the Mines and Refinery (M&R) Complex in Koraput, Odisha, a field inspection was conducted. This was conducted by Shri M. R. Prasad, a scientist from the Regional Office of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in Bhubaneswar. Conducting the field inspection was completely aimed at taking a clearer look at key operational areas and the environmental management practices in place at the mining site. Moreover, while on the visit, a thorough assessment of the mining operations was conducted to ensure they align with environmental regulations and legal requirements. Also read: Middle East disturbed: 350 dry bulk vessels restricted, 9% of global aluminium at risk &...
Hindalco refuses the notice of the halt of its aluminium extruded production
On March 15, Sunday, Hindalco, the Indian aluminium manufacturing company and a subsidiary of the Aditya Birla Group, refused to the notice of its aluminium extruded production halt, which was surfaced on the same day. Before this revelation by the Indian aluminium firm, a notice was seen by Reuters and two other sources that it is halting its extruded aluminium output because of the current shortage of gas due to the ongoing supply disruption in the Middle East. On March 11, a notice by the Aditya Birla Group-owned metal producers declared that it is a "force majeure" for all its extruded aluminium customers due to the limited supply of gas. This product is in high demand for its effective use in electric vehicles, solar panels, electronics and especially in construction. However, in a...
Recycled AL & Sustainability update: Plant fire, low-carbon cable trials, recycling gains and major global expansions
The aluminium sector is currently juggling a variety of challenges and recent developments, from unexpected operational hiccups to strategic investments and innovations aimed at reducing carbon emissions. Recent news highlights everything from plant incidents and sustainability achievements to technological advancements, infrastructure tests and shifts in the global market. Major events and partnerships are also showcasing the industry's commitment to circularity, electrification and cleaner production methods. All these changes illustrate how companies throughout the value chain are adapting to new regulatory demands, shifting supply dynamics and ambitious decarbonisation targets. Uncertainties requiring attention A fire broke out because of an equipment explosion at the Novelis...
AAI warns of export strain as it asks DGFT to exempt aluminium from RoDTEP cuts
The Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) at the Ministry of Commerce & Industry has been reached out by the Aluminium Association of India (AAI), asking them to remove aluminium and its products from the recent government notification. This took effect immediately, slashing the Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) rates by 50 per cent. The industry organisation mentioned that aluminium production facilities within Advance Authorisation (AA) holders, Export Oriented Units (EOUs) and the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) were included in the RoDTEP scheme until February of this year. With the current global trade uncertainties, the AAI has emphasised the pressing need to extend the RoDTEP scheme’s coverage for exports from aluminium producers situated in AA, EOU and...
Aluminium at the core: iCaur details 03T engineering as T03 and V23 near South Africa debut
iCaur, the new-energy brand from Chery, before the official launch in 2026, chalked out insights about the engineering, testing and manufacturing processes behind its 03T compact SUV. The 03T will touch down in Mzansi later this year and requires a rigorous quality and durability testing program. This program is designed to mimic a variety of tough conditions, from extreme cold and heat to humidity, dust and rough terrain. According to iCaur, these tests assess everything from corrosion resistance and power system performance to sealing integrity, body rigidity and the long-term stability of materials. What makes aluminium the pick? The 03T’s design focuses on a robust aluminium body structure, crafted using a mix of MIG arc welding, self-piercing riveting (SPR), flow-drill screw (FDS)...
