
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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The China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) opened in Beijing from November 28 to December 2 with great anticipation. It showcased various aluminium alloy materials that are suitable for automotive use and materials for power battery packs. Of particular interest was the exhibit by Chinalco Advanced Manufacturing Co., Ltd., which featured a range of aluminium materials for use in vehicles. An on-site staff member of Chinalco Advanced Manufacturing Co., Ltd asserted: "These aluminium materials for vehicles are primarily supplied to new energy vehicle enterprises. Today, many companies have come to inquire, expressing a desire to deepen technological and product cooperation with us." Chinalco Advanced Manufacturing Co., Ltd., being one of the earliest domestic enterprises to conduct...

Following a public announcement by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Henan Wanda Aluminium Industry Co., Ltd. was recently honoured with the "National Green Factory" for 2023. Since being named an Energy Carbon Management Demonstration Enterprise last year, the firm has received national recognition in green manufacturing. Green factories embody the capability to analyse and optimize the structure of production capacity, resulting in further reductions in production costs and the assurance of production quality. It serves as the central component of the green manufacturing system. It necessitates stringent criteria for efficient land utilization, environmentally friendly production methods, effective waste management, and the use of low-carbon energy in factory...

Background Though the industrial production of aluminium in a reduction cell was started in the 1850s, the computer control of reduction cells did not start until the 1960s. There are several systems used today, of which most are supplied as a package by the technology provider. There are, therefore, very few independent pot control providers, including smelter in-house developed systems. There are essentially no systems for pot technologies operating with less than 200 kA. Nevertheless, there are challenges that all primary aluminium smelters face that can be attenuated with an effective pot control system. The APC+™ system by MetSol is an effective solution. The Process Control System The ADVANCE PROCESS CONTROL PLUS (APC+™) system was developed by MetSol as a solution to three major...

The New Mexico Economic Development Department declared that two more companies, Coast Aluminum and Monti Inc., were awarded state economic assistance, boosting manufacturing expansions and creating jobs at New Mexico's international Borderplex in Santa Teresa. Coast Aluminum has laid the foundations for a 73,500-square-foot distribution centre in the Santa Teresa Binational Industrial Park, and the company distributes custom and in-stock aluminium materials and stainless steel, copper, brass and architectural metal products across multiple locations in the United States and Mexico. New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has prioritized investing in the state's international border to improve infrastructure and expand global trade as part of the state's efforts to diversify its...

In October 2023, the Japan Aluminium Association documented a 1.4 per cent decline in the dispatch of rolled aluminium products compared to the same period a year ago, reaching 149,462 tonnes. Production also decreased by 1.8 per cent, amounting to 151,570 tonnes. Despite a rebound in the sales of automotive materials, the demand for building materials and thick plates for semiconductor manufacturing equipment continued to show sluggishness. This signifies the 20 th consecutive month of reduced shipment volumes compared to the corresponding month in the prior year. Aluminium plate shipments experienced a 1.9 per cent decrease, totalling 90,534 tonnes, while production saw a 2.4 per cent reduction, reaching 93,799 tonnes. Conversely, canned material sales witnessed a notable surge of 7.6...

Elval, the aluminium rolling division of ElvalHalcor S.A. has reportedly purchased SMS group’s Viridis Energy & Sustainability Suite to install in its flat-rolled aluminium manufacturing plant in Oinofyta, Greece. Viridis Energy & Sustainability Suite is an integrated solution for energy, resources, and sustainability management, which effectively enhances the operational efficiency of an aluminium plant. Similarly, this will benefit Elval, optimising the plant’s overall production process while reducing carbon emissions. Elval and SMS share a common vision of sustainable and responsible industrial practices that bring them together. With the installation of two modules of Viridis Energy & Sustainability Suite – Virdis Performance and Virdis Grids, Elval will be able to practice...

Junjia Xinyuan, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Jinjia Co., Ltd., announced on November 22 that it intends to invest RMB 100 million in establishing a new company named Shenzhen Jinjia Juneng Technology. This new company will conduct research and development, manufacture, and sell composite aluminium foil. Simultaneously, by the Strategic Cooperation Agreement established between Jinjia Xinyuan and Shenzhen Houlang Laboratory Technology Co., Ltd., the two entities will engage in strategic collaboration about high-power magnetron sputtering equipment for the production of polymer/metal composite materials. Once Jinjia Juneng is founded, its primary responsibilities will include conducting the landing, pilot testing, and small-scale verification of the research and development outcomes. The...

Northwest Aluminium, one of the largest manufacturers of roofing & ventilation products in Ireland & the UK, has received the Nadcap NDT 18 Month Certification Cycle Reward. As per the official website of eAuditnet of the PRI (Quality Evaluation Association) certification, Northwest Aluminium has been awarded an 18-month certification cycle. This recognition fully acknowledges Northwest Aluminium's competence in maintaining the Nadcap non-destructive testing project. Non-destructive testing certification from Nadcap is required to deal with civil aviation vendors' entrances. Northwest Aluminium products can access the local and international civil aviation markets thanks to the Nadcap non-destructive testing special process certification audit. The Nadcap non-destructive testing...

Norway-based tech company El-Watch , known for providing wireless, online, and easy-to-use sensor systems (IoT), has been successfully onboarded by AL Biz , the world's first global marketplace that connects millions of buyers and sellers across the entire aluminium value chain. As the aluminium sector undergoes worldwide digital transformation, it is imperative to address the pressing demand for creative, efficient, and dependable solutions to overcome its issues. Their experience and one-of-a-kind solutions allow the global aluminium sector to embrace resilient technology that optimises operations, saves costs, extends machine and equipment lifespans, and assures resource sustainability. The products offered by El-Watch include : Cathode Bar Temperature Sensor Monitoring Engine Hour...

Scottish Chemical Industries, founded by Mr Kamal Khandelwal in 1985, has immensely contributed to the aluminium foundry industries. It is one of the world's largest manufacturers and exporters, certified with ISO 9001 & 14001, and has been providing high-quality products to the Aluminium, Steel, Copper, and Brass foundry industry for over 35 years. The founder and Managing Director, Mr Kamal Khandelwal, established the company with a single product - hexachloroethane. Since then, the company has grown and expanded to include five manufacturing plants in Mumbai and two in China. Some of the services provided by the company are: SCI provides technical support and consultancy to various industries Offers a wide range of products used in foundries of different materials Deals with various...

On November 26, the Gulf Ministry of Industry and Commerce announced the initiation of an anti-dumping investigation against aluminium products imported from China. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Technical Secretariat Office is conducting the investigation against allegedly unfair trade practices of aluminium sheets, coils, and strips, specifically coated or pre-coloured flat or granular rectangular (including square) sheets originating from China. The investigation starts following a complaint lodged by the regional industry to the Technical Secretariat Office to determine if China’s aluminium imports into the Gulf countries are affecting the indigenous aluminium industry. The objective is to safeguard the national metal industry from allegedly detrimental trade practices. The...

The downstream aluminium sector has been a witness to major developments this week, with the leading aluminium producer in Romania, Alro S.A., investing $4.22 million in two projects to improve the quality of their flagship products, including aluminium alloy plates by implementing new machinery. During its session on November 22, 2023, the Supervisory Board of AMAG Austria Metall AG announced the appointment of Dr. Helmut Kaufmann, aged 60, as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective from January 1, 2024. Dr. Kaufmann will continue in his current role as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) concurrently. In a win for the US aluminium extruders, the US International Trade Commission (USITC) has found that the American aluminium extrusions industry is being materially injured or...

The most eminent aluminium producer in Romania, Alro S.A., has proposed investing US$4.22 million (3.86 million euro) in two respective projects focused on checking the quality of the firm's flagship products like aluminium alloy plates. On November 23, the Romanian aluminium producer implied that they were aiming to install two new inspecting solutions for aluminium alloy plates so that product quality could be determined. This was revealed by the firm during a filing at the Bucharest Stock Exchange. Alro also illustrated that these new machines would be fundamental in automatically scanning both surfaces of the aluminium plates for any discrepancies in shape, texture or quality. The company is optimistic that the additions would let them achieve the highest industry standards. The CEO...

The Federation of Aluminium Consumers in Europe (FACE) is of the opinion that the European Union's twelfth package of sanctions on Russian aluminium will harm Europe's economy more than Russia's. In response to the report last week that European Union (EU) countries are contemplating imposing new sanctions on Russia , banning aluminium product imports, FACE said that the European Commission added aluminium to the 12th package of sanctions without considering the possible consequences. FACE's Secretary General, Dr Mario Conserva, commented: "Adding aluminium products to the twelfth sanctions package proposal is not a great demonstration that the EU has a strategic compass: it will not help accelerate the end of the war in Ukraine, it will further redirect Russian low carbon supplies, that...

During its November 22, 2023 session, the Supervisory Board of AMAG Austria Metall AG announced the appointment of Dr Helmut Kaufmann (60) as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective January 1, 2024. Dr Kaufmann will continue in his role as Chief Operating Officer (COO) concurrently. This transition marks the succession of the current CEO, Gerald Mayer, who is set to depart the company on December 31, 2023. Dr Kaufmann's contractual term is standard, spanning three years and concluding on December 31, 2026. Simultaneously, Claudia Trampitsch (46) has been designated as the incoming Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of AMAG Austria Metall AG following the approval of the Supervisory Board during today's meeting. Mrs Trampitsch, who has served as the Head of Group Accounting at AMAG since 2015...

Aluminium foil shipments from European rollers were impacted in Q3 2023 by sluggish demand for foil products owing to high inflation and interest rates worldwide. According to the survey carried out by the European Aluminium Foil Association (EAFA), Q3 shipments amounted to 191,000 tonnes, down by 20.08 per cent from 239,0000 tonnes during the corresponding period of the previous year. Total foil shipments (both domestic and overseas) by European rollers during the first nine months of 2023 amounted to 636,000 tonnes – 12.9 per cent less than in the previous year. Thinner gauges, used mainly for flexible packaging and household foils, continued double-digit declines, reflecting 19 per cent drop in domestic shipments and almost 40 per cent in exports. Year-to-date shipments of these gauges...

In December last year, a US$250 million incentive package was allotted for Lotte Aluminum Materials USA by the Elizabethtown City Council, which is at present being revised for an ordinance of US$450 million. The Kentucky-based aluminium sheets and foil manufacturer has surpassed the prerequisite amount to construct its plant at the T.J. Patterson Industrial Park, and this incentive revision is in adherence with that. The move would authorize the sale and issuance of up to $450 million of the city's industrial building revenue bonds for the company. City Attorney Ken Howard confirmed that this bond would not affect the bonding capacity of the city or its bond rating. The City Attorney Ken Howard exclaimed about the action in a statement released beforehand: "The industrial revenue bond,...

The signing ceremony for the lightweight auto parts manufacturing base project was conducted on November 14 between Wangjiang Economic Development Zone and Anhui Guleichi Circular Economy Industrial Park Co., Ltd. The first stage primarily involves the production of aluminium ingots, aluminium rods, aluminium water, copper ingots, copper rods, and lightweight automotive components, among other items. The project's overall investment amounts to RMB 3 billion and will be executed in three stages. Following the implementation of formal production processes, the annual output value is projected to reach RMB 1.5 billion, accompanied by an annual tax payment of RMB 150 million. During the subsequent stage, the available open area inside the Andal Automobile project will be used to construct a...