Japan imported 1.36 million tonnes of downstream aluminium products in January–August 2026, down 6.2 per cent from 1.45 million tonnes in the same period of 2025. The latest figures show lower overall imports, with shipments from the UAE seeing the biggest decline among the five leading exporters listed, while imports from Australia also fell. Japan’s total imports decline Japan’s downstream aluminium imports stood at 1.36 million tonnes through August 2026, a drop of around 90,000 tonnes, compared to shipments in 2025 during the same period. However, annual imports remained broadly stable over the previous three years, rising from 2.11 million tonnes in 2023 to 2.12 million tonnes in 2024, an increase of 0.3 per cent. In 2025, imports edged up by a further 0.1 per cent to 2.12 million...
Alumil India, the fully-owned Indian subsidiary of Alumil Group, has successfully delivered advanced fenestration solutions for NICMAR University in Pune, transforming a precast campus vision into a functional, durable and future facing learning environment. The project required approximately three hundred windows within a tight timeline which was successfully delivered by Alumil India. The project deployed Alumil’s top-hung window systems combined with sleek mullions and glazing. “NICMAR University presented an opportunity to demonstrate how fenestration can become an integral part of both a building’s architecture and its performance. The project required us to respond to large openings, intensive daily usage, acoustic and weather considerations, safety, and the specific challenges of...
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According to the Shanghai Metals Market survey, China’s aluminium extrusion export volume, including HS codes 76041010, 76041090, 76042100, 76042910, and 76042990, amounted to 97,500 tonnes in June 2024, reflecting an increase of 6.47 per cent month-on-month and 9.14 per cent year-on-year. From January to June 2024, China’s aluminium extrusion export totalled 520,100 tonnes, up 11.61 per cent year-on-year. This increase is attributed to stronger overseas aluminium prices compared to domestic metals. Additionally, as the implementation of US sanctions on Chinese aluminium-extruded products is nearing, scheduled for Q4 2024, many companies are stocking up in advance, pushing up aluminium extrusion export orders in Liaoning and Hunan provinces. Among the top Chinese aluminium extrusion...
On June 28, Castor Aluminum (Chongqing) Technology began the trial production for its annual output of 1 million sets of lightweight, integrated moulding new energy auto parts project. Upon full completion of the project, the annual output value is anticipated to reach RMB 3 billion, generating RMB 100 million in annual tax revenue and creating 1,000 new jobs. About the project This project, located in the Chongqing (Wansheng) Inland Waterless Port Low-Carbon Industrial Park, involves a total investment of RMB 1 billion. It is being developed in two phases, covering approximately 220 mu with a total construction area of about 148,000 square meters. The facility will produce aluminium alloy subframes, battery trays, body structures, and other parts for new energy vehicles, catering...
The construction of the Fengshan Lake production support project, a graphene-coated carbon aluminium foil production base, has officially commenced. This project is a collaboration between Jiangmen Jiangfa Industrial Park Investment and Development Group Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Jiangmen Development Group's industrial park development and operation sector, and Guangdong Shengkai Metal Industrial Co., Ltd. The Fengshan Lake production support project, focused on producing graphene-coated carbon aluminium foil, is funded by Jiangfa Industrial Park Group through special funds from the provincial large-scale industrial cluster. The project entails a construction and equipment investment of approximately 500 million yuan. Upon reaching full production capacity, it is expected to generate an...
Bright Laser Technologies (BLT) recently unveiled two advanced additive manufacturing materials, including a high-strength aluminium alloy designed specifically for aerospace 3D printing applications. About BLT-AlAM500 The BLT-AlAM500 made its debut at TCT Asia earlier this year. It aims to address challenges such as cracking and low component density often encountered in selective laser melting processes. The Chinese manufacturer claims to have optimised process parameters for high-strength aluminium alloys, particularly targeting manufacturing large, intricate components with integrated structures. During the Shanghai event in May, BLT showcased several examples of thin-walled parts featuring internal cavities, including a bent tube, ventilation duct, and connecting pipe. These...
MA Aluminum Co., Ltd. has announced a strategic investment to double its production capacity for aluminium pipes with internally threaded surfaces, also known as torsion pipes. This expansion will address the increasing demand for high-quality aluminium piping in the air conditioning industry. The Japanese aluminium products manufacturing company will invest JPY 500 million (approximately $3.1 million) to establish a new torsion pipe processing line at its Fuji Works facility in Shizuoka. Scheduled to commence operations in November 2025, the new line will enhance the monthly production capacity from the current level of over 50 tonnes to more than 100 tonnes. This significant increase in production capacity reflects MA Aluminum Co., Ltd.'s mission to serve its clients better and meet the...
Chinalco Institute of Materials and Southwest Aluminum have collaboratively developed a novel 6XXX aluminium alloy sheet. This new sheet, designed for automobile panels, features exceptional formability and superior surface quality. The 6XXX aluminium alloy sheet has passed batch verification for use in automobile tail cover inner panels and door inner panels by a leading Shanghai-based automotive manufacturer. This marks the beginning of its supply, paving the way for localised production of 6XXX aluminium alloy for panel inner panels. About the collaboration The Chinalco Institute of Materials and Southwest Aluminum have collaborated to address key challenges and successfully developed a high-formability, high-surface 6XXX aluminium alloy for automobile panels specifically designed for...
Constellium SE announced the successful completion of its inaugural industrial-scale hydrogen casting at C-TEC, the company's main R&D centre. The casting was conducted in a 12-tonne furnace, adhering to stringent internal protocols. Quality monitoring included the use of Batscan™ technology, an inclusion detection tool for molten aluminium, and no quality impact from hydrogen combustion on the metal was observed. “The 12-tonne aluminium slab produced using hydrogen will be further processed at our Neuf-Brisach site in France for use in electric vehicles. This milestone is significant in our roadmap towards decarbonising our industrial activities, as we have begun exploring the performance of hydrogen as a substitute for natural gas at an industrial scale, provided that hydrogen is green,...
Austria continues to face significant challenges in maintaining its competitive edge on the global stage. In the latest IMD World Competitiveness Ranking, the country has fallen again and is now in 26th place. This decline is attributed to several factors, including high energy prices, escalating labour costs, a shortage of skilled workers, and excessive bureaucracy. The future government must address these issues with determination and strategic vision as the National Council elections for the XXVIII legislative period approach. The Federation of Austrian Industries has outlined eight key measures that are vital for restoring Austria's status and elevating it to one of the world's leading and most competitive industrial locations: Calls for tax reduction It is recommended that the...
Yamaha Motor is set to establish a groundbreaking verification testing facility at its Morimachi Factory in Japan, featuring advanced melting and heat treatment furnaces powered by hydrogen gas. This ambitious project, scheduled to commence in 2025, aims to develop and validate cutting-edge technologies and methods for melting aluminium alloys using hydrogen gas. The facility will also conduct comprehensive verification tests on equipment and infrastructure. The Japanese mobility manufacturer, Yamaha Motor plans to complete the development of these innovative technologies by the end of 2026. The company targets using hydrogen gas for aluminium alloy melting and the heat treatment of cast parts. Starting in 2027, the company intends to gradually implement these advancements at its domestic...
Recent data from the Italian National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) reveal a slight uptick of 0.5 per cent in Italy's industrial production for May, marking a welcome but cautious recovery, as reported by ING Think. Adjusted for working days, however, production still falls behind last year by 3.3 per cent, indicative of ongoing challenges in the sector. Comparisons to pre-COVID levels underscore a more significant decline of 5.7 per cent. The positive momentum was driven by gains in consumer goods, intermediate goods, and energy sectors, buoyed possibly by lower energy costs benefiting energy-intensive industries like chemicals. In contrast, investment goods recorded another monthly decline, signalling continued fragility in capital spending. While these figures offer some optimism, it...
On June 18, 2024, Mingdao New Material and Delphi entered a strategic cooperation agreement to share resources and jointly develop the aluminium market for building applications, including honeycomb panels, aluminium veneers, and insulation panels. About Mingdao Aluminum At the meeting, Meng Fanlin, President of Mingdao Aluminum, emphasised that Mingdao Aluminum is a long-established aluminium processing enterprise with decades of market experience. The company has developed an integrated operation model that spans upstream, midstream, and downstream processes. In the architectural aluminium sector, they have a strong customer base and market share in niche markets for drawing aluminium, mirror aluminium, and pre-coated aluminium coils. The cooperation with Delphi Meng Fanlin highlighted...
Material engineers at Purdue University have pioneered a method to produce ultrahigh-strength aluminium alloys tailored for additive manufacturing (AM). Leveraging the inherent plastic deformability of these alloys, the patented process marks a significant advancement poised to transform industries dependent on lightweight materials with exceptional strength. Researchers anticipate this innovation will redefine the capabilities of high-performance manufacturing. Image source - Purdue University, Anyu Shang Purdue researchers have developed intermetallic-strengthened aluminium alloys by integrating transition metals such as cobalt, iron, nickel, and titanium. Traditionally, these metals have been excluded from aluminium alloy manufacturing due to their tendency to become brittle at room...
Chart Industries has been chosen to provide its mid-scale modular liquefaction solution for Argent LNG’s upcoming liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility in Port Fourchon, Louisiana. This facility, with a capacity of 20 million tonnes per annum (MTPA), will utilise Chart’s innovative approach to liquefaction. Chart Industries is a leading global manufacturer of highly engineered equipment servicing multiple clean energy and industrial gas applications. Unlike traditional methods, which rely on single large trains, Chart’s modular mid-scale LNG solution achieves total plant liquefaction capacity through multiple identical trains. Chart’s IPSMR (Integrated Pre-Cooled Single Mixed Refrigerant) process technology and proprietary braised aluminium heat exchangers and cold boxes are central to...
According to the Shanghai Metals Market, domestic aluminium wire rod producers’ operating rate increased last week to meet backlogged orders. There were adequate inflows of State Grid orders through tenders in Qinghai, Jiangxi, Jiangsu, and Sichuan, leaving producers with ample orders on hand. The bid announcements in Jiangsu and Sichuan also included heat-resistant alloy stranded wire orders worth of total RMB 68.28 million. Thus, to meet these orders, China’s domestic aluminium wire rod producers ramped up their operations, leading their operating rate to 67.2 per cent. Last week, Chinese domestic aluminium wire rod prices remained steady, contributing to transactions improvement driven by destocking inventory accumulation at low prices to obtain cash flow. On Friday, June 28, the...
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is poised to make significant inroads across various European sectors, with smaller industries standing to benefit the most in the near term. While larger sectors may still need to be ready to implement AI fully, and some may never reach that point, the potential for productivity gains remains substantial, according to ING Think. ING suggests that the most immediate advantages will be seen in smaller sectors, where AI can be more easily integrated, and its impact is felt more quickly. These industries are likely to experience notable improvements in efficiency and innovation. On the other hand, larger sectors face more significant challenges in adopting AI technologies. The complexity and scale of these industries can hinder swift implementation, leading to...
Innovations that pave the way for a better future are crucial for advancing technology, improving quality of life, and addressing global challenges. An engineering research team at the University of Alberta (U of A) has discovered a new coating material comprising metals like aluminium and nickel that shows great potential for high-temperature applications, such as hydrogen combustion engines. Attributes of AlCrTiVNi5 Dubbed - AlCrTiVNi5, the newly developed alloy material is ideal for coating surfaces that endure high temperatures, such as those found in gas turbines, power stations, and vehicle and aeroplane engines. It also boasts superior thermomechanical properties, including high stability, low thermal expansion, fracture tolerance, and an exceptional combination of strength and...
According to the Shanghai Metals Market survey, China’s aluminium foil exports in May 2024 amounted to 130,100 tonnes, registering a month-on-month increase of 7 per cent from 121,600 tonnes. The May export volume also recorded an annual rise of 15 per cent. Among export destinations, India, Mexico, and Indonesia were the top three in May, followed by Thailand. To the top ten destinations, China exported 78,100 tonnes of aluminium foil, up by 6.26 per cent from 73,500 tonnes in April. China’s aluminium foil exports to the top ten destinations accounted for 60 per cent of the country’s total foil exports. For June and July, China has already received most of the orders for aluminium foil exports and put them into production. According to SMM estimation based on companies’ feedback,...
Chinalco Materials Institute, Chinalco high-end, and Chinalco Aluminum Foil's affiliated enterprises have recently received official authorisation from the China National Intellectual Property Administration for three patents related to microcrystalline aluminium foil. Microcrystalline aluminium foil Microcrystalline aluminium foil represents a new generation of aluminium products with a promising future. Characterised by fine grain, uniform structure, and outstanding overall performance, its streamlined preparation method offers significant advantages such as reduced processing steps, lower costs, and enhanced efficiency. These attributes not only promise extensive applications in the realm of new energy materials but also hold potential for various products, sparking optimism for the...
