Ford has produced more than 5,000 large aluminium unicastings at its Shelbyville Technical Center as it advances manufacturing preparations for the Fathom midsize electric truck, scheduled to launch in 2027. The castings are being used for process testing and prototype assembly at the company's Louisville Assembly Plant. The Fathom will feature two large aluminium unicastings that replace 146 individual structural parts, significantly simplifying the vehicle's architecture. Ford says the approach reduces vehicle mass and improves overall energy efficiency, while introducing a different method of assembling vehicles through its new Universal Production System. The two large structures form the front and rear sections of the vehicle. By consolidating numerous components into fewer castings,...
AMAG Group reported around a 59 per cent increase in earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) to EUR 181 million (USD 202 million) in the first nine months of 2026, compared with EUR 114 million (USD 127 million) in the same period last year. Revenue rose 16.4 per cent to EUR 1.3 billion (USD 1.4 billion) from EUR 1.1 billion (USD 1.2 billion) in the first three quarters of 2025. Net income after taxes increased about 142 per cent to EUR 82 million (USD 91 million), up from EUR 34 million (USD 38 million). The Austrian aluminium producer attributed its performance to strong operations at its Ranshofen site, higher shipment volumes in the Rolling Division, and attractive market conditions for its Canadian aluminium smelter interest, Alouette. Cost-efficiency...
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In March 2021, China’s aluminium wires and cables exports stood at 10,600 tonnes, reflecting a month-on-month decline of 4.1 per cent and year-on-year 61 per cent, found China customs data. The export value reached $27.374 million in the said month. In Q1 2021, China exported about 37,500 tonnes of aluminium wires and cables in total, which stood 32.7 per cent down from a year ago. China exported aluminium wires and cables primarily to 62 countries and regions in March 2021. They included South Korea, Brazil, Vietnam, and Cambodia. To South Korea, China exported 1810.9 tonnes, which accounted for 17 per cent of China’s total export volume. To Brazil, China’s export stood at 1757.6 tonnes, accounting for 16.5 per cent; while to Vietnam, export came in at 1044.3 tonnes, accounting for 9.8...
National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) has expanded its aluminium products and aluminium ingot prices with effect from Tuesday, April 27. This marks the third consecutive week of NALCO’s aluminium price hike. With the latest raise, NALCO’s aluminium wire rod price has come in at INR 208,550-212,900 per tonne, up by INR 3,800 per tonne from INR 204,750-209,100 per tonne on April 16. NALCO is selling its aluminium billets price at INR 208,500-211,150 per tonne, which has also reflected an increase of INR 3,800 per tonne from INR 204,700-207,350 per tonne over a week ago. The company’s aluminium ingot price is ranging between INR 205,050-208,550 per tonne with effect from April 27 compared to INR 201,250-204,750 per tonne on April 16. NALCO, like any other Indian aluminium producer,...
Oman’s economy countered a double shock in 2020, the covid-19 pandemic and the drop in oil prices. IMF projected that the country’s non-oil gross domestic product will grow by 1.5% in 2021 and could improve to 4% by 2026 if fiscal measures are successfully carried out. The oldest independent state in the Arab world registered an import volume of 25,863 tonnes of aluminium bar rods and profiles and the foreign revenue expended for the import was $75.52 million. The import for 2020 stood at 721 tonnes only and the expenditure remained at $2.57 million. However, when the import volume and expenditure of 2020 get footed with the existing two years, it displays 26,584 tonnes and $78.09 million respectively. Oman’s import of aluminium bar rods and profiles in 2018 was documented at 12,455...
On 26 th April 2021, located in the eastern region of France, Burgundy-Franche-Comté’s Regional Council held an unprecedented standing committee meet, organized over videoconferencing, where the exclusive resolution of this committee was to extend rescue aid for the MBF Aluminium in Saint-Claude. The 70 years old foundry, MBF in Haut-Jura is now confronting a plunge in production due to the shrink in the heat engine market and the Covid-19 pandemic, which is hitting hard on the automotive sector. The current owner’s financial and administrative management has steered to the drying up of the organization’s treasury and now it is being placed in compulsory liquidation on 27 th April 2021 by the commercial court. The situation is gloomy, as the future of the 284 employees hangs on the...
Canada’s aluminium crude metals and alloys exports to the United States stood at 185,000 tonnes in February 2021, reflecting a month-on-month increase of 19,000 tonnes or 11.45 per cent, according to the latest data shown by the US Geological Survey. In January, Canada exported 166,000 tonnes of aluminium crude metals and alloys, which stood 5,000 tonnes or 3.11 per cent higher than 161,000 tonnes in December 2020. On a year-on-year calculation, Canada’s aluminium crude metals and alloys exports to the US in February 2021 registered a hike of 40,000 tonnes or 27.59 per cent from 145,000 tonnes. Canada's total aluminium crude metals and alloys exports to the US during January-February 2021 amounted to 351,000 tonnes, up by 7,000 tonnes or 2.03 per cent from 344,000 tonnes during the same...
On 25 th April 2021, Marc Fesneau, serving as Minister Delegate for Relations with Parliament and Citizen Participation, met the union representatives from Alvance Wheels (CFDT, CFE CGC, UNSA), in the process of judicial liquidation. The State of France had undertaken to stand beside the employees of rattled businessman Sanjeev Gupta’s aluminium wheel plant in Diors for three months so that a solution can be worked out. Minister Marc Fesneau delivered the details of the measures taken: “It is a loan guaranteed by the State so that the structure can operate until the period of the first observation which is in June. Therefore, approximately two million euros will be allocated by the State to ensure the cash flow. It is an emergency loan that makes it possible to preserve the essential, the...
In March 2021, China exported 58,000 tonnes of aluminium extrusion, which reflected a 2 per cent month-on-month decline and 22 per cent on year, according to the latest customs data. The year-on-year downfall is analysed as an outcome of the lower exports due to the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the boosted export volume in March 2020. The opening of the export window due to the slump in domestic aluminium prices amplified the March 2020 aluminium extrusion export by 244.8 per cent month-on-month. In March 2021, Chinese aluminium extrusion producers had to reduce export orders to the European Union as the latter levied anti-dumping duties on Chinese aluminium extruded products. They instead focused more on the domestic market and other major exporting countries. According to the customs...
ALVANCE Aluminium Duffel BV, a manufacturer and supplier of aluminium rolled products for end-use industries, including Architecture & Design, Automotive and Industrial applications, has joined ASI as a new Production and Transformation member, bringing the total number of ASI Members to 124. ALVANCE Aluminium Duffel has state-of-the art technology, including the widest Automotive cold rolling mill in Europe and a CALP-line (Continuous Annealing Line with Pre-Treatment). The facilities produce rolled aluminium for building facades to automotive body sheet. The plant employs around 1.000 people and annually produces 200.000 tons of high-value aluminium rolled products. “ALVANCE Aluminium Duffel BV, previously already ASI member as Aleris Aluminum Duffel BV, continues to join ASI because of...
Novelis is showcasing its portfolio of cutting-edge automotive aluminium at Auto Shanghai 2021. The company is aiming to implement China’s first world-class closed-loop recycling system in Zhenjiang, to meet customers’ sustainability targets. “China’s national strategy of “Carbon Neutrality by 2060” is empowering Novelis to further strengthen its own ambitions to achieve net carbon neutrality by 2050 or sooner and reduce its carbon footprint by 30 percent by 2026.” China’s automotive market is witnessing growth at a rapid rate despite ongoing pandemic. Sustainable and aluminium solutions from Novelis’ are helping key traditional automakers and electric vehicle start-ups launch new products. On January 2021, Novelis completed the expansion of the Changzhou plant for its new heat treatment...
The Southeast Asian nation, Vietnam, onward 25 th April 2021 will impose anti-dumping duties of 4.39%-35.58% on aluminium products imported from China. According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, “The anti-dumping duties will apply to certain extruded aluminium products produced by 18 Chinese companies, with the tax rate depending on the Chinese producer.” The ministry had already imposed anti-dumping duties of 2.49%-35.58% on aluminium products of 16 Chinese companies in October 2019. “The Chinese firms’ dumping activities had seriously hurt domestic aluminium producers, some of whom had to halt production and lay off large numbers of workers”, stated the ministry. The ministry added: “In some cases, the aluminium, which had already been blocked by other countries with trade...
The Danish aluminium and metal supplier Alumeco, providing aluminium solutions for the metal-consuming industries are experiencing a fierce battle for raw materials, which has also risen in prices. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the balance of demand and supply. Since May’20, the price of aluminium has soared by 55%, while the price of copper has risen by 80%. Jakob Jespersen, Sales Director, Alumeco, said: “We are reluctant to disappoint our customers, but the risk has become greater and greater in recent times when the battle for deliveries of everything from aluminium and copper to brass has exploded.” “A very chaotic situation exists at the moment. There is a total imbalance in supply and demand. This has made it very difficult for us to keep items on the shelves and we risk...
IMF has revised the GDP growth projections for Italy to 3% in 2021 and 3.6% in 2022, in its January 2021 update of the world economic outlook. The European nation with a long Mediterranean coastline recorded export of 3453 tonnes of aluminium powder and flakes during 2018-19 and the revenue earnings that occurred for the export was $6.08 million. The export for 2020 remained at 1394 tonnes and the earnings stood at $2.77 million. However, when the export volume and earnings of 2020 get assorted with the existing two years, it denotes 4847 tonnes and $8.85 million respectively. Italy’s export of aluminium powder and flakes in 2018 was documented at 1684 tonnes and the earnings accounted for $2.26 million, whereas, in 2019, the export saw growth by 5.04%, as the export volume rose to 1769...
Vedanta Limited has raised its aluminium products and aluminium ingot prices by INR 3,750 per tonne with effect from Friday, April 23. Hence, the company is now selling its aluminium wire rod price at INR 213,250-220,750 per tonne compared to INR 209,500-217,000 per tonne on April 20. Vedanta’s aluminium billets price has come in at INR 213,750 per tonne as of April 23, up by INR 3,750 per tonne or 1.79 per cent from INR 210,000 per tonne. The company’s aluminium ingot price has also been grown by INR 3,750 per tonne to INR 205,750-218,750 per tonne on April 23. Vedanta links its aluminium products and aluminium ingot prices to the three-month futures of aluminium on the London Metal Exchange, which after April 20 increased by US$ 49.50 per tonne to US$ 2,373.50 per tonne as of Thursday,...
Novelis announced that aluminium manufacturing facilities in Europe has received the Performance Standard and Chain of Custody Certification by the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI). The certification of seven European plants in Sierre, Switzerland; Göttingen, Nachterstedt Recycling, Nachterstedt Rolling, Germany; Latchford, UK; Pieve and Bresso, Italy strengthen Novelis’ ability to meet the demand for independently certified, sustainable aluminium. "Receiving ASI certifications for both the Performance Standard and the Chain of Custody for seven further sites represents an important next step in Novelis' long-standing commitment to sustainability, transparent reporting and customer-focused achievement," said Emilio Braghi, Senior Vice President & President Novelis Europe. "This...
Aluminium billet inventories in China have decreased relatively slower this week on April 22 by 2,500 tonnes or 1.5 per cent from the previous week, found the Shanghai Metals Market. Data shows the inventories across the five major Chinese consumption areas have come in at 162,800 tonnes. Last week on April 15, the inventories fell by 15,800 tonnes to come in at 165,200 tonnes. Slower decrease in billet inventories this week could be attributed to the upswing of aluminium prices, resulting in a resistant purchase among downstream consumers. The chart below indicates the current status of aluminium billet inventories across China in more details: In Changzhou, aluminium billet inventories have decreased 2,800 tonnes week-on-week to stand at 16,400 tonnes on April 22, while the stocks in...
The aluminium technology company that drives the development of lighter, smarter and more sustainable aluminium products and solutions, Gränges has showcased that sustainability is a strong driver and enabler in long-term competitiveness and value creation. In March 2019, Gränges floated sustainability targets to 2025 and since then advancement has been achieved towards many of these. Gränges is now upgrading selected sustainability targets to reflect the stronger than anticipated development in the sustainability performance as well as to meet the increased interest and expectations from customers and other stakeholders. The targets revealed Gränges’ efforts to further incorporate sustainability across the company and the value chain, executed through the company’s five sustainability...
Slovakia has encountered sustained and steady GDP growth since its inclusion into the European Union in 2004, except for the financial plunge of 2008-2009 and the Eurozone crisis of 2011-2012. The Slovak economy in recent years had returned to growth, powered by the return of internal and European demand. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and the global crisis it caused pushed the country into a heavy recession in 2020, with GDP estimated to have dropped by 7.1% due to a sharp shrink in investments, low foreign demand and a rapid drop in private consumption. The IMF forecasted a growth of 6.9% for 2021, followed by 4.8% in 2022 when GDP should return to its pre-crisis income level. The landlocked country in Central Europe has registered the importation of 1546 tonnes of aluminium tubes and...
Aluminium Stewardship Initiative has announced that it has certified Henan Zhongfu High Precision Aluminium Products Co., Ltd. against Performance Standard certification for casting and rolling activities in Henan, China. The plant produces aluminium can body stock, can end stock, can tab stock, and aluminium foil stock that are widely applied in the fields of food, beverage, and other product sectors. ASI says that it has certified Henan Zhongfu High Precision Aluminium Products Co., Ltd. for responsible production, sourcing, and stewardship of aluminium. Fiona Solomon, Chief Executive Officer at ASI, said: “We warmly congratulate Henan Zhongfu High Precision Aluminium Products Co., Ltd. on achieving ASI Performance Standard certification for their remelting, casting and rolling...
