
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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On September 15, 2023, Huada Technology made an announcement regarding its plans to invest RMB 1.05 billion in a new energy and new material casting processing project. Under this project, the company will establish a wholly-owned subsidiary, Huaqi New Energy Technology (Jiangsu) Co., LTD., which will oversee the project's construction and implementation. This ambitious project will unfold in two phases, with a total expected investment of RMB1.05 billion. Upon completing all construction activities and attaining a production capacity of 60,000 tonnes, the project anticipates generating annual production and sales revenues exceeding RMB 2 billion. Huada Technology's project centres on the core activities of aluminium alloy casting, machining, and assembly preassembly. It aligns with the...
Lizhong Sitong Light Alloys Group, a China-based producer and seller of lightweight aluminium alloy wheels, has secured yet another contract to supply wheels. The new contract is with a leading new energy vehicle maker who will source aluminium alloy wheels from Lizhong for its upcoming Thai plant. Through this new deal, Lizhong is expected to generate RMB 68 million (US$9.3 million) of sales revenue, which will increase the company’s total estimated revenue to as high as RMB 1.7 billion (US$233.3 million), taking into consideration all other deals the pair signed recently. The earlier deals were for the carmaker’s domestic plants, with the delivery date set late this year. The upcoming Thai project is likely to start mass production in October 2024. Lizhong has not disclosed the client’s...

During the 2023 National Industrial Metrology Conference and the inaugural National Industrial Metrology Testing Alliance event held on September 13, the Metrology Department under the State Administration for Market Supervision and Administration unveiled the initial compilation of 118 outstanding achievements in industrial metrology. Among these achievements, five were attributed to the National Aluminium Industry Measurement and Testing Centre established by China's Southwest Aluminium. These contributions encompassed one breakthrough in measurement and testing technology, one innovative measurement and testing equipment, two novel measurement and testing methodologies, and one exemplary measurement and testing service case. In response to the obstruction of access to residual stress...

Alumobility, a worldwide non-profit association dedicated to promoting the use of aluminium in the automotive industry, is set to deliver a presentation highlighting the advantages of aluminium in producing lighter, safer, safer, more intelligent, and environmentally sustainable vehicles. This presentation will take place as part of the Aachen Body Engineering Days event , which is scheduled for September 19-20, 2023, in Aachen, Germany. On September 20, Alumobility's team of experts, including Thomas Rudlaff, Dr Thorolf Schulte, and Alexander Gaida, will present their research findings concerning the reduction of Body-in-White (BIW) complexity through the utilization of aluminium. Additionally, Alumobility will have a presence as an exhibitor at the event. Alumobility has recently...

On September 11, Baoxing County and Zhejiang Hanyu International Supply Chain conducted a signing ceremony for the smart industrial supply chain project at the comprehensive Service centre of Baoxing Industrial Park, Yaan Economic Development District. Chairman of Heyu Aluminium CAI Ruijun, County Party Secretary Luo Xianze, and Heyu Aluminium Duo Maoyuan General Manager attended the ceremony. CAI Ruijun recommended Baoxing County for their concern and assistance for corporate growth. Simultaneously, Heyu will establish a closer integration with the ongoing economic and social progress of Baoxing. This will include reinforcing collaboration in the aluminium recycling sector and enhancing the development of "Western Metal City" and other related areas. These efforts aim to provide...

An executive of Hindalco Industries Limited, Nilesh Koul, rightly pointed out at the Fastmarkets aluminium conference in Barcelona that India's aluminium industry future looks radiant amid a muted or downtrend global picture. Thanks to the infrastructure provided by the government, the Indian aluminium industry is growing to satisfy amplifying demand. India is already the world's second-largest aluminium producer and the third-biggest consumer, with demand set to grow double over the next demand, noted Nilesh Koul, CEO of the group's downstream business. India's advantage is the incredible availability of energy, which is the most critical input required for aluminium production. Mr Koul also shared at the conference that India would ramp up its metals consumption as China did. In this...

On Monday, September 11, Novelis Inc., a prominent rolled aluminium manufacturer, stated that it had signed an anchor customer deal with Ball Corporation, guaranteeing to provide aluminium sheets for can manufacturing in North America. A truck transporting aluminium alloy rods from Schwab New Materials Company just completed its voyage, delivering the cargo to Jiaxin New Materials Company. This event demonstrates the company's capacity and preparedness to offer premium aluminium alloy products to its downstream clients regularly. Sudarshan Venu, Venu Srinivasan's son, was appointed the company's new Managing Director for five years. Sundaram Clayton, a well-known producer and supplier of automotive aluminium castings that the TVS Group oversaw, was renamed TVS Holdings earlier this year....

BEAMIT SpA and Constellium have joined forces to explore the possibilities of advanced aluminium solutions. With a focus on extensive research and development, the partners aim to optimise the properties and characteristics of aluminium for the Additive Manufacturing process. This collaboration promises to yield fantastic results and push the boundaries of what is possible with this versatile material. The goal of this partnership is to combine the expertise of BEAMIT and Constellium to advance the use of Additive Manufacturing and aluminium in various industries. The collaboration will involve the application of advanced design and engineering techniques, as well as cutting-edge technologies, to ensure the highest quality and performance of aluminium materials. Signing the letter of...

In an era where sustainability is at the forefront of every industry, aluminium has emerged as a versatile and indispensable material. Its lightweight, corrosion-resistant properties have propelled it into the limelight from aerospace to automotive, construction to packaging. However, behind the gleaming facade of aluminium's utility lies an intricate world of heat treatment, an indispensable process in the aluminium industry that shapes its properties and performance. Aluminium heat treatment increases the strength and hardness of a specific subset of aluminium alloys. To gain a deeper understanding of the heat treatment process and the present condition of affairs within the aluminium industry segment, AL Circle is delighted to announce the release of the 18 th issue of its e-Magazine ,...

Array Technologies has restored its ten-year alliance with Extruded Aluminum Corporation (EAC) with a US$35 million expansion project as the latter has been anointed with the responsibility to materialise one of the biggest aluminium presses in Michigan. Array Technologies is a solar tracker manufacturer from the USA, while EAC is a renowned aluminium extrusion specialist. The company, expanding its long-standing partnership with Extruded Aluminum Corporation (EAC) with a US$35 million investment plan, will introduce one of the largest aluminium presses in Michigan, which will further expand Array Technologies’ US manufacturing capabilities. EAC is known for manufacturing multiple recyclable extrusion products that contain recycled aluminium within their extrusions, including structural...

A significant collaboration has been established between Knest, the largest aluminium formwork company in India and the world's fastest-growing, and ABR Jeddah Contracting Co. from Saudi Arabia. The signing ceremony was held on September 11 as part of the India - Saudi Investment Forum 2023 during the G20 Summit in New Delhi. The MOU has received endorsement from important government and industry partners, including Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Investment, India's Ministry of Commerce & Industry, and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI). The aim of this strategic alliance is to establish an aluminium formwork factory in Saudi Arabia to enhance its supply in Saudi and other Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries. The alliance also seeks to promote knowledge...

Aluminium is a prevalent material employed across various aerospace applications, finding its place in a wide range of components, including aircraft fuselages and engine parts. Its remarkable strength, low weight, and corrosion resistance make it an exceptionally well-suited material for the demands of aerospace engineering. Aluminium aerospace extrusions refer to aluminium alloys that have undergone a shaping procedure known as extrusion. This process is chosen due to the malleability of aluminium alloys, allowing them to be easily heated and moulded into precise configurations. The applications for aluminium extrusions are diverse and encompass aircraft manufacturing, the creation of window and door frames, and the production of components for the automotive industry. Aluminium...

Hyundai Motor Group has reached a tentative wage agreement with its labour union, elongating their strike-free negotiation streak to five successive years. Hyundai plans to adopt “hypercasting” technology to improve the manufacturing process and make lighter aluminium car bodies. The technology can produce bigger aluminium car parts than the existing manufacturing process that makes aluminium components separately. The company and the labour union have signed a special agreement to transform manufacturing plants in Korea into a key production base for future mobility. Tesla has already adopted the same technology called Giga Press. The world’s third-largest carmaker will apply the hypercasting technology in 2026 after setting up the manufacturing plant. Hyundai is presently in talks with...

Zhaofeng Tiancheng Aluminium Company, a part of the Huayang Group, has recently achieved a significant milestone as its production and sales both surpassed 10,000 tonnes. In the month of August, Zhaofeng Tiancheng Aluminium Company experienced a surge in production and sales, with a remarkable output of over 10,600 tonnes of cast-rolled strip and sales nearing 11,000 tonnes. These figures mark an all-time high for both production and sales. Throughout the year, Zhaofeng Tiancheng Aluminium Co., Ltd. remained steadfast in its commitment to achieving a profitable year. The company embraced benchmarking management practices, unlocked its internal potential, and diligently pursued refined operational strategies while closely monitoring the execution of various tasks. Every department within...

A programme was held on September 8 in Hailing District to begin construction on 16 major industrial project spaces with a planned total investment of RMB 13.68 billion. The Kangqian GIS aluminium alloy intelligent production line project, located in the new energy industrial park, is among the participants with a planned investment of RMB 1 billion. The project aims to increase intelligent transformation investment by creating an intelligent benchmarking workshop and building a digital, green production system, resulting in improved product stability and production efficiency. The project is expected to produce 150,000 aluminium alloy parts annually. Hailing District has been focused on high-quality development tasks this year, creating a large project, a large industry, and a large...

SECO/WARWICK, a manufacturer of industrial furnaces for metal heat treatment, proves that heavy industry can be green. For years, SECO/WARWICK has been trying to actively protect the environment, not only by sorting waste, installing photovoltaic panels, saving water, introducing electronic document circulation, or involving its partners in the SECO/ECO idea. The Group is the Winner of the Social Responsibility Program Leaders and the Emblem in the category of ECO Company 2023, once again proving that care for the natural environment is in its DNA. SECO/WARWICK primarily implements innovative, ecological technologies that allow users to make proactive upgrades in equipment that protect the environment in the energy, aviation, automotive and recycling industries. Thus, it makes the world a...

Last Friday, September 8, the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) agreed to roll out the first anti-dumping and countervailing sunset review of aluminium foil imported from China. The objective was to determine whether removing the existing anti-dumping and countervailing measures on Chinese aluminium foil imports would cause injury to the domestic industry. According to the final ruling, the existing anti-dumping and countervailing measures would remain effective, with all five ITC commissioners voted to ‘Yes’. On March 28, 2017, the Department of Commerce first announced an anti-dumping and countervailing investigation into imported aluminium foil from China. Less than a year later, on February 27, 2018, the US Department of Commerce put the duties into effect on Chinese...

In June 2023, the United States exported 2,090 tonnes of aluminium plates, sheets and bars to the Republic of Korea, witnessing 1,980 tonnes or 1800 per cent Year-on-Year influx from 110 tonnes recorded in June 2022. This shows a massive increase in US export rates to Korea, as per the USGS official site. In May 2023, the export rate of aluminium plates, sheets and bars to Korea was 2,450 tonnes, which dropped by 360 tonnes or 14.69 per cent on a Month-on-Month scale. Also, in March 2023, the total export to Korea was 2,460 tonnes, which shrunk by 370 tonnes or 15.04 per cent Quarter-on-Quarter to reach the amount in June. Similarly, if we consider the import rate of US aluminium plates, sheets and bars from the Republic of Korea, it can be seen that in June 2023, it was 9,470 tonnes,...