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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Cymat Technologies Ltd. proudly talked about its inaugural order to supply AlusionTM stabilized aluminium foam panels for installation in the prestigious NEOM project, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's monumental endeavour backed by a staggering US$ 500 billion investment. Cymat's AlusionTM panels are set to play a crucial part in bolstering the aesthetic of the water park situated in the Sindalah district, the first region to be completed within NEOM. What is Saudi Arabia's NEOM project, and where does Cymat's expertise lie? The NEOM project, touted as the world's largest construction initiative, encompasses commercial, residential, recreational, and cultural domains. Acting as the gateway to this colossal development, Sindalah is poised to showcase the versatility and innovation of Cymat's...
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), renowned for its technological prowess, has unveiled a path-changing innovation in the realm of metal 3D printing—Liquid Metal Printing (LMP). The technology employs a graphite crucible containing molten aluminium deposited through a three-dimensional ceramic nozzle. This molten metal interacts with a layer of tiny glass beads, maintaining its form until it cools and providing necessary support. Unlike traditional metal printing systems that suffer from impracticality, LMP boasts remarkable speed and scale, enabling the rapid production of large-scale objects, such as furniture, in just a few minutes. Why is additive manufacturing one of the most hyped production methods? In recent years, 3D printing technologies have revolutionised various...
According to the data shared by the Japan Aluminium Association, aluminium rolled product shipments in 2023 declined year-on-year by 6.5 per cent, reaching the lowest point in the past 20 years. The shipment volume through the year totalled 1,707,547 tonnes, falling below the levels observed during the COVID-19 disaster and the Lehman shock period in 2009, when the shipment volume was 1.72 million tonnes and 1.74 million tonnes, respectively. Over the past six years, Japan’s aluminium rolled products shipment stood below 2 million tonnes. The downfall in Japan’s rolled product shipment in 2023 could be attributed to the slow production of construction materials and materials used for electronic communication equipment. The surge in automotive materials production, surpassing 200,000...
On Monday, January 29, Novelis Inc., the world-leading producer of flat-rolled aluminium products and the largest aluminium recycler, announced that it signed a new contract with Ardagh Metal Packaging USA Corp., under which the former would supply aluminium beverage packaging sheet. As per the report, Novelis' aluminium beverage packaging sheet will be used by Ardagh's production facilities in North America. This is the third major contract signed by Novelis in less than seven months for the beverage packaging market in North America. It testifies that the beverage packaging market is growing strong in North America. Steve Fisher, president and CEO of Novelis, said: "Finalising another meaningful customer agreement in North America is a testament to the strength of the beverage packaging...
Maaden Rolling Company (MRC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Maaden), has recently entered into a three-year supply agreement with Lucid Motors, a prominent US electric car manufacturer. The deal, formalized during the Future Minerals Forum, involves the provision of high-quality aluminium sheets with varying specifications. This collaboration underscores Madden's commitment to actively contributing to advancing the global energy transition. MRC, a company wholly owned by Ma'aden, boasts a production capacity of 460,000 tonnes annually. Its current manufacturing portfolio includes can sheets, end and tab stock utilized in beverage can production, and auto sheets tailored for the automotive industry. Headquartered in Newark, California, Lucid Group, Inc. is...
Alumex PLC, a luminary in the world of aluminium extrusion, celebrated the culmination of a stellar 2023 marked by triumphs and victories. The company clinched over 14 prestigious awards in the past year and solidified its role as a pioneer in sculpting the canvas of Sri Lanka's export realm. Alumex achieved significant recognition at the 25th Presidential Export Awards in 2023, securing the prestigious title of "Overall Emerging Exporter of the Year 2021/2022" and earning a merit award in the Light Engineering sector. This accomplishment stands as a testament to the company's steadfast commitment to excellence. Additionally, Alumex clinched the Silver award in the Machinery and Light Engineering Sector at the 31st NCE Exporter Awards, further solidifying its position as a notable player...
The downstream segment of the aluminium industry holds a pivotal position in the processing and application of aluminium—a versatile and lightweight metal renowned for its diverse uses. This sector is instrumental in serving various industries including automotive, aerospace, construction, packaging, and electrical. The expansion of this sector is propelled by a combination of innovation, sustainability, and the growing need for lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and environmentally friendly materials in contemporary manufacturing. This week, the global aluminium downstream segment witnessed a lot of important events. To begin with, Taural India, a leading integrated aluminium foundry on the global stage, is thrilled to unveil its strategic collaboration with Indian Railways, a pivotal...
During India's 75 th Republic Day celebrations at the police parade ground, Vizianagaram District, Andhra Pradesh, District Collector S. Nagalakshmi announced that the establishment of JSW Aluminium Limited's MSME Park in S. Kota mandal is poised to generate immediate direct and indirect employment opportunities for approximately 45,000 individuals. After hoisting the Indian national flag, she expressed optimism about the district experiencing rapid development through the introduction of new industries. The Collector announced that a substantial investment of INR 15,531 crore would be made to establish the sector across 985 acres. Emphasising the potential for brisk economic activity, she highlighted the forthcoming construction of new railway lines and highways that would benefit...
Xinhao Co., Limited, a prominent manufacturer specialising in Silicon Metal, Electrolytic Manganese Flakes, and Magnesium Ingot, has officially joined AL Biz, the world's 1st B2B online marketplace that connects millions of buyers and sellers across the entire aluminium value chain showcasing its commitment to excellence in production, sales, and export. With a sprawling 60,000-square-meter facility, the company has established itself as a key player in the industry. The diverse product portfolio of Xinhao Co., Limited includes metal silicon, electrolytic manganese sheets, metal manganese ingots, magnesium ingots, ferrosilicon, and calcium silicon. These high-quality products have found their way to more than 20 countries and regions, including Europe, the United States, Japan, South...
According to China customs data, China’s aluminium wheels exports amounted to 72,600 tonnes in December 2023, reflecting a month-on-month fall of 6 per cent but a year-on-year hike of 9 per cent. The total export volume through the year, thus, stood at 934,000 tonnes, up by 58,500 tonnes from the previous year. China’s top five export destinations The top five export destinations in December were the United States, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, and Thailand. Of them all, the United States was the highest importer, accounting for 28 per cent of China’s total aluminium wheels exports, followed by Japan, accounting for 23 per cent; Mexico, accounting for 11 per cent; South Korea for 9 per cent; and Thailand for 4 per cent. It is to be noted here that the gap in aluminium wheel export volume...
Jindal Aluminium, India’s largest aluminium extrusion company, has reportedly announced that it launched a new fabrication division to manufacture engineered aluminium products for the building and construction sector like interior and exterior architectural products, frameworks, windows and gates, appliances, furniture, exhibition displays, roofing and many more. The unit is equipped with cutting-edge machinery developed by an expert team of skilled employees with over a decade of experience in cutting, punching and operating four-axis machines. According to Jindal, this new division is another value-added offering after the launch of its environment-friendly power coating unit. The unit houses automated sawing machines, including the FOM Industries Mirage 600 and Panda 400, which would...
Texas A&M University-Texarkana and TCI Texarkana, Inc., operating as Texarkana Aluminum, Inc., have established a fresh academic collaboration enabling employees of Texarkana Aluminum to enrol in university courses at a reduced rate. The partnership was formally inaugurated by signing a Memorandum of Understanding on January 22, 2024, in a ceremony held on the Texas A&M University-Texarkana campus. “We are proud to add Texarkana Aluminum as a priority workforce partner. We will provide a pathway to degree attainment for their employees and collaborate directly with them to craft innovative curricula in Industrial and Metallurgical Engineering,” said A&M President Dr. Ross Alexander. As per the terms of the recent collaboration, every full-time employee at Texarkana Aluminum is entitled to...
Taural India , a globally renowned integrated aluminium foundry, is excited to announce its partnership with Indian Railways, marking a significant milestone in India's journey toward self-sufficiency and technological advancement. The company has provided cutting-edge aluminium casting solutions for the recently revealed Amrit Bharat Express train in Ayodhya. As part of Taural India's dedicated indigenisation efforts, the production of customised aluminium Gear Cases for WAP5 electric locomotives has reached new heights. These locomotives, manufactured by Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW), the flagship production unit of Indian Railways, have seen a transformative shift by incorporating locally produced aluminium casting components. This initiative not only triumphantly supplanted the...
China’s aluminium wire and cable exports in December 2023 amounted to 17,000 tonnes, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 25 per cent and a month-on-month downfall of 9 per cent, showed China customs data. The value of the export was $50.14 million, down 8 per cent M-o-M and up 16 per cent Y-o-Y. The total volume of exports through 2023 was 191,700 tonnes at a value of $0.573 billion. The export volume registered an annual hike of 7.94 per cent from 177,600 tonnes, but the value stood at 0.072 per cent down. Jiangsu, Henan, and Hebei remained the top three Chinese provinces exporting aluminium wire and cables. In 2023, the provinces exported 131,500 tonnes, accounting for 68.61 per cent of the total exports. Jiangsu exported 71,300 tonnes, accounting for 37 per cent; Henan exported...
Asia-Pacific Technology recently concluded its 18th meeting of the 6th Board of Directors on January 12, 2024. During the meeting, the board reviewed and approved the Proposal on Signing the Investment Agreement and Venturing into Overseas Investments. The chosen site for this avant-garde project is the Anhui Xinwu Economic Development Zone, with a substantial total investment reaching an impressive RMB 2 billion. The construction of the project will be carried out in two phases, with the first phase comprising an annual output of 150,000 tonnes of lightweight aluminium for automobiles, along with manufacturing and R&D centres for 600,000 sets of lightweight parts. Upon completion of the project and its full-scale production, it is anticipated that the facility will have the capacity to...
Aluminium extrusion enthusiasts from over 50 countries are gearing up for the International Aluminium Extrusion Technology Seminar (ET Seminar) in Orlando, Florida, from April 30 to May 2, 2024. This premier event promises a dynamic experience, bringing together industry professionals for three days of learning, networking, and exploring the latest advancements in aluminium extrusion technology. ET '24 stands out as a comprehensive technical event, delving into every aspect of the aluminium extrusion industry. With over 100 technical sessions on the agenda, attendees can expect in-depth discussions on the latest trends, innovations, and challenges within the field. The seminar's commitment to excellence has garnered respect from industry insiders, making it a must-attend event for those...
Henan Foshan Aluminum Technology has recently joined AL Biz, the world's 1st B2B online marketplace that connects millions of buyers and sellers across the entire aluminium value chain. Henan Foshan Aluminum stands at the forefront of the aluminium industry in China and is recognised for its prowess in manufacturing and distributing top-notch aluminium products. Behind their success lies a robust manufacturing infrastructure equipped with state-of-the-art processing equipment. The company boasts 15 coil-rolled production lines, four sets of tension stretching machines capable of handling widths ranging from 1450 to 1850mm, press machines, double-sided milling equipment, cutting machines, recoiling machines, grinding machines, casting wells, and an impressive fleet of 15 annealing...
The ongoing geopolitical conflict between Israel and Palestine has hit the aluminium factories in Palestine in terms of production and profits. Muhanad Nairoukh, manager of one of the three biggest aluminium factories in the occupied West Bank of Palestine, has reportedly told Al Jazeera that the industry is near a halt. Effects of the conflict He says his company is operating at 40 per cent of its capacity, and production is reduced by 60 per cent. The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) estimated at the end of December 2023 that the economy of the State of Palestine shrank to $1.5 billion during the initial days of the conflict, equivalent to approximately $25m per day, excluding direct losses in properties and assets. As an effect of the geo-political crisis, the internal...
