Bahrain’s aluminium wire exports continued to gain momentum in the second quarter of 2026, with shipments rising significantly compared with the corresponding periods of 2025 and 2024. The country exported 80,895 tonnes of aluminium wire in Q2 2026, taking its total shipments during the first half of the year to 143,518 tonnes. The export data covers aluminium wire under HS code 7605, excluding stranded wire, cables, plaited bands and similar products, electrically insulated wires and strings for musical instruments. Export volume registers strong Y-o-Y growth Comparing the quarterly figures, Bahrain’s aluminium wire export volume increased by 23.76 per cent Y-o-Y in Q2 2026, against 65,366 tonnes shipped during Q2 2025. The latest quarterly volume also marked a considerable rise from Q2...
India-based KEC International Limited is pushing ahead with Phase II of its aluminium conductor capacity expansion, even as a difficult second quarter dragged consolidated profit down. The Q2 FY27 investor presentation, dated November 2, lists the expansion as underway in its Cables & Conductors business, one of the few segments that grew in the quarter. The update comes over a year after KEC’s commissioning of the first phase of the plant in Vadodara in February 2025, marking an investment of about INR 600 million (USD 6.33 million). The company has not disclosed the capacity to be added, the investment or a completion date. Explore AL Circle’s report ALuminium Wires & Cables - Insights & Forecast to 2030 for insights into aluminium applications, industry developments and opportunities...
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Lightweight metals leader Alcoa today announced it has completed an expansion at its Tennessee facility dedicated to supplying aluminum sheet to the automotive industry. The plant will provide aluminum sheet to automakers that include Ford Motor Company, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and General Motors. “Automakers are demanding lighter, stronger materials that improve the performance of their vehicles and Alcoa is at the forefront of capturing that demand,” said Klaus Kleinfeld, Alcoa Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Through our capacity expansions in Tennessee and Davenport, and breakthrough technologies like the MicromillTM, we have cemented Alcoa’s position as the premier partner to the automotive industry as it turns to aluminum.” The $300 million project in Tennessee – which began...
In a recently published market research report, it is projected the global market for aluminium will grow at a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 5.65% from 2015 to 2020, to reach USD 147.13 billion by 2020. As per the report, rising demand for aluminium in emerging economies will be the main growth driver for aluminium systems market. Consumer preferences across emerging nations including China, India, Brazil, and other Southeast Asian countries are witnessing a vast change. This will eventually get transformed into money backed want for goods that are utilitarian, high on functionality and environment friendly. The market for aluminium systems in developing economies such as Europe and North America is observed to be matured due to the high disposable income of the people in these...
Ford is doubling down on the use of aluminum-bodied vehicles with the unveiling of the 2017 F-Series Super Duty pickup at the State Fair of Texas. The F-Series Super Duty lineup of pickups and chassis cabs is taking the same path as the F-150 in switching from a steel body to one made of aluminum. The frame continues to be made of high-strength steel. "It is the toughest, most capable Super Duty we've ever done," said Raj Nair, head of global product development. Chevy and GMC showcase 2016 pickups at Texas State Fair Ford took a risk when it converted the body and bed of the popular F-150 to aluminum, which required taking two assembly plants down for months and which dented sales in the final months of 2014 and well into this year as inventories of the new model slowly built up. But...
The Johannesburg-based Nampak Ltd., Africa’s largest maker of beverage cans, said it is considering an expansion to a drinks container plant in Angola as part of a program to generate more income outside its domestic market. In its new plan, the company is targeting 100 percent market share in Angola as the country’s buyers seek a local manufacturer in response to government policies for an import duty on the industry. Nampak supplies about 56 percent of the market in the southwest African nation, with imports accounting for the balance, Chief Executive Officer Andre de Ruyter told reporters. The Johannesburg-based company will probably see that market share increase as customers seek to avoid the looming import duty and source cans locally, Ruyter said. Nampak, which entered Angola...
The Aluminum Association has decided to approach the World Customs Organization (WCO) to seek a permanent solution to the problem of rising aluminum product imports from China. Further, the industry body has urged the US government to conduct bilateral talks with Chinese authorities in an attempt to reduce the flow of aluminum products from that country. Meantime, the association clarified that it has no plans to file trade cases as it believes in free and open trade between the two nations. According to Chuck Johnson, vice president of policy at the Aluminum Association, the US domestic aluminum industry is extremely concerned over the duty policy changes and export subsidies implemented by Chinese authorities, which ultimately has led to uncontrolled flow of goods into the US. Earlier...
Constellium N. V. has been awarded Gold level recognition by EcoVadis, an independent rating agency which specializes in sustainable development and performance monitoring. Constellium achieved the highest level of recognition for its results in corporate social responsibility practices in the environment, social, ethics, and supply chain sectors. Constellium ranked in the top two percent of suppliers assessed by EcoVadis in all categories. In the environmental section, Constellium joined the top one percent of performers in the “basic precious and other non-ferrous metals” group. The EcoVadis methodology is based on international sustainable development standards and is overseen by a scientific committee of experts to ensure reliable third-party assessment. “This accolade is a testament...
U.S. service centers’ steel and aluminum shipments declined during August, and though Canadian centers’ deliveries increased slightly, the year-to-year figures showed shipments declining even more significantly. Inventory positions declined only slightly for both metals in the United States and Canada. The results are drawn from the Metals Service Center Institute’s Monthly Activity Report, which records results for North American processors and distributors of steel and aluminum products. Service center shipments represent a substantial volume of the metals consumed by machine shops and fabricators, and the activities at those operations are a reflection of industrial activity in the North America. Aluminum shipments by U.S. service centers fell 4.7% to 131,800 tons from July to August,...
Portland Oregon – Sapa, the world leader in aluminum solutions, announced today it has completed an asset purchase agreement with Northwest Aluminum Specialties, Inc. to acquire its casting plant in The Dalles, Oregon. This facility brings Sapa's North American cast house network to a total of nine locations and provides additional strength to Sapa Extrusion's West region, including the Portland manufacturing plant. Under the terms of the agreement, Sapa has purchased the physical assets of the Northwest Aluminum Specialties casting facility including: plant, property, equipment, and inventory. The company looks to retain the majority of the more than 50 employees employed at the plant. "This asset acquisition provides us with vertical integration for our extrusion pressesand expands our...
The government of Binzhou City in China recently inked three agreements pertaining to aluminium projects in various parts of Shandong Province. The three projects include a prebaked anode project with 1.2 million tonnes per year (tpy) capacity in Huimin Country, a 60,000-tpy aluminium wafer and other aluminium alloy flat-rolling project in Zouping County, and an advanced aluminium alloy wheel project in Binzhou Economic & Technological Development Zone. The total investment for the projects is valued at around 3.1 billion yuan ($490 million).
Each of Sapa’s aluminium extrusion operations in North and South America stopped the presses on September 17 last week to celebrate their annual Health & Safety Day. Open to employees, their families and invited guests, Sapa’s Health & Safety Day is designed to celebrate and encourage a safe work environment by providing employees with training and information to improve on-the-job safety, as well as their own health and well-being. Sapa’s annual event – this year’s edition was the sixth – celebrates the standards that the company has set for the industry. The theme of this year’s day-long event was Start Safe. Work Safe. Leave Safe. “This annual event recognizes our commitment to the health and safety of our employees on an individual level. We understand the importance of education on...
Ford F-150, America’s top-selling vehicle for 33 straight years, will shed even more steel. Ford announced it would use aluminium from Alcoa’s new micromill in Texas to make more automotive parts for the best-selling F-150 truck, which is now about 25 percent aluminium after switching to the lighter metal. It plans to shed 700 pounds steel to improve mileage and comply with tougher federal emissions rules. Alcoa said its new next-generation aluminium alloys are more formable; so, they can be used for parts like fenders and inside door panels that have traditionally been made with steel. “Light-weighting enables us to design vehicles with great customer attributes – like the F-150, which can tow more, haul more, accelerate quicker and stop faster than the previous F-150, and is more...
The European Commission issued a statement of objections expressing concerns over Ball Corp's 4.4 billion-pound ($6.9 billion) purchase of Rexam Plc. This comes months after the regulators said the deal may increase the price of aluminum cans and bottles. Ball is likely to be asked sooner or later this month to offer adequate remedies, but for which the deal might run the risk of getting blocked. Statements of objections are standard practice in complex merger cases where no concessions have yet been made. The Ball-Rexam tie-up is the biggest takeover in metal and glass packaging, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Both Ball and London-based Rexam supply aluminium beverage cans to Coca-Cola Co. and brewer Anheuser-Busch InBev NV. The combined company will have about 22,500 employees...
United Company Rusal Plc, a leading aluminum producer, is setting up more joint venture with its Chinese partners in Russia to make high value-added, greener aluminum products. "Rusal has a clear advantage in aluminum technologies, and hydropower resources are abundant in Russia," Oleg Mukhamedshin, deputy chief executive officer of UC Rusal, said during the ongoing Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2015, or the Summer Davos, inDalian. "Chinese companies' strong edge in engineering and design and in other areas will help us develop high-end aluminum alloys at lower costs and less emissions," he said. The company, listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2010, has been dedicated to developing key value-added products, such as aluminum sheet and foundry aluminum alloy,for modernization...
A recently published tech report claims Samsung could be experimenting with a new aluminum-magnesium alloy for the upcoming Galaxy S7. It is unclear why the company wants to try a new metal material, though it may have something to do with Apple. Samsung already uses high-strength 6013 series aluminum in its current flagship devices. That is the same material included in cars and airplanes, so clearly durability is not an issue. Instead, the Galaxy-maker is apparently focused on how the Galaxy S7 will feel to the touch. The goal, as it is understood, is to produce a smooth surface like the iPhone with aluminum. Recently, Apple also upped its own design to 7000-series aluminum for the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus. It could be so that Samsung wants to follow in the footsteps of the tech...
Florian Krumbacher has been named Group General Counsel for Sapa AS. The appointment was effective September 1. Krumbacher had been serving as interim Group General Counsel since May 2015. He will report to President & CEO Egil Hogna and continue to be part of the Corporate Management Team. Florian Krumbacher"I am very pleased that Florian has agreed to take on the General Counsel role,” says Hogna. “With his broad international background and experience in both commercial and corporate law, he makes a valuable addition to the management team.” Krumbacher joined Sapa in January 2014 as General Counsel for the company’s Extrusion Europe business area. Prior to Sapa, he held similar positions both in Norway and Germany for Renewable Energy Corporation ASA, ADVA Optical Networking and...
Rexam has added two new can sizes to its Sleek® family, reaffirming its position as a leading global can maker with the largest range of can sizes in the industry. The new 400ml and the 473ml super sleek cans, both with 202 ends, are manufactured in Ejpovice, Czech Republic, and are available to customers across Europe. Providing a sophisticated and modern packaging solution, the 400ml can is an ideal shape and size for on-the-go consumption. The new 202 end on the 473ml offers Rexam’s customers a more convenient filling format and is available in addition to the existing 206 end. Speaking about Rexam's range extension, Marianne Freund, Marketing Programme Manager at Rexam says, “The new, tall and modern Sleek® can sizes were created in response to a developing beverage landscape – a...
According to a recently published market research report, the demand for doors and windows in the global housing market will increase at the rate of six percent approximately through 2019- a deceleration from the growth rate recorded in the 2009-2014 period. Value-wise the market size will cross $230 billion. Piggybacking this buoyancy the demand for downstream aluminium and aluminium products will increase providing traction to the entire aluminium value chain. In the report, reduced spending on building and construction in the Asia /Pacific region- the largest market for doors and windows, has been identified as the reason behind the declining demand for doors and windows. However, further recoveries in the housing markets of the US and Europe, the higher income areas, are expected to...
The first edition of the International Metal Technology (iMT) Taiwan- the only international exhibition in Taiwan dedicated to metal technology- will be presenting latest manufacturing technologies and high function products from 2-4 December, 2015 at Kaohsiung Exhibition Center. The Future of Manufacturing Driven by highly competitive manufacturers in other countries and mainland China, Taiwan’s metal product industry hopes to enhance the local sector’s innovative capabilities and create new advantages for its products in the global supply chain with the help of smart and fully networked manufacturing. Germany’s Industry 4.0 strategy has become a hot topic around the world, also in Taiwan where businesses are strongly focused on skills, innovation, and customization. Taiwan’s...
