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Aluminium extrusion market shrinks 29.8% as New Zealand rejects import protection
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Aluminium extrusion market shrinks 29.8% as New Zealand rejects import protection

New Zealand's Government has rejected calls for safeguard measures on aluminium extrusion imports, despite an official investigation finding that domestic manufacturers have suffered serious injury. The decision, accepted by Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Cameron Brewer on October 5, has prompted warnings from the Aluminium Extruders Association of NZ (ALENZ) that continued pressure could put local plants and thousands of jobs at risk. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) concluded that imports contributed to the industry's difficulties but were not the sole or primary cause of the injury. It recommended against imposing safeguards, citing the contraction in domestic demand, rising production costs and the potential for higher prices for downstream...

Aluminium ‘metal’ definition clarification: Why Indian Supreme Court’s 1981 ruling still stands strong
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Aluminium ‘metal’ definition clarification: Why Indian Supreme Court’s 1981 ruling still stands strong

In the course of the aluminium trade, a metal and a product made from that metal may share the same material, but they do not necessarily share the same commercial identity. Over four decades ago, the Supreme Court of India drew this distinction in a ruling that continues to offer an interesting perspective on the aluminium value chain today. India’s tax framework has since moved from the earlier state-level sales tax regime to the Goods and Services Tax (GST). Yet, the underlying question raised by the 1981 verdict remains relevant to an industry where primary aluminium, flat-rolled products and extrusions serve different markets and applications. The judgment offers a historical lens through which to understand how aluminium ingots and billets came to be distinguished, for the purposes...

Vietnam’s proposed aluminium export tax cuts draw VCCI support, with call for wider 0% rates
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Vietnam’s proposed aluminium export tax cuts draw VCCI support, with call for wider 0% rates

The Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) has welcomed Vietnam’s proposed cuts to aluminium export taxes but urged the Ministry of Finance to go further by reducing rates to 0 per cent for additional products. The move could help domestic producers clear excess inventory, ease cash flow pressures and improve competitiveness. The proposal comes as Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance prepares amendments to Decree 26/2023/ND-CP, which governs export and import tax rates. The changes aim to address difficulties businesses face amid volatile international markets, including aluminium producers seeking sales contracts for 2027. The draft decree proposes reducing the export tax floor from 5 per cent to 0 per cent for six groups of aluminium and wood products (76.01, 76.03, 76.04, 44.02,...

VMI Group raises aluminium winding wire capacity to 25,000 TPA
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VMI Group raises aluminium winding wire capacity to 25,000 TPA

Vidya Metal Manufacturing Company Private Limited (VMI Group) has increased its installed aluminium winding wire and strip capacity to 25,000 tonnes per annum (TPA), up from 18,000 TPA in early 2025. The expansion follows the commissioning of its new facility at Bandapur, Rajasthan. Abhinav Goyal, Group Director, VMI Group, said, “ Every distribution transformer, every solar inverter and every motor that India adds needs winding wire, and aluminium is the metal that lets OEMs grow without their raw-material cost running away from them. ” The group also produces around 12,000 TPA of copper products across its seven plants. The capacity expansion comes amid growing demand from transformer, motor, inverter and switchgear manufacturers in India, where aluminium is gaining ground as an...

Outdoor living market targets $215b as smart aluminium pergolas gain attention
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Outdoor living market targets $215b as smart aluminium pergolas gain attention

The global outdoor-living market is projected to reach USD 215 billion by 2027, with smart aluminium pergolas gaining attention among homeowners and commercial buyers across North America and Europe. Demand for outdoor structures that combine durability, low maintenance and technology-enabled features is growing as consumers increasingly seek to extend their indoor living spaces outdoors. The shift follows a post-pandemic change in how people use outdoor areas, with greater emphasis on creating functional and stylish spaces that complement indoor environments. Aluminium pergolas are emerging as one option for buyers seeking a combination of practical performance and contemporary design. To know the global production, demand and consumption forecasts of aluminium extrusions, explore our...

Century Aluminum reports $752m in Q2 net sales as output rises 6%
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Century Aluminum reports $752m in Q2 net sales as output rises 6%

Century Aluminum reported net sales of $752 million in the second quarter of 2026, up from $103 million in the previous quarter. Net income reached $249 million, while adjusted EBITDA was $327 million. Aluminum shipments totaled approximately 131,000 metric tons, up 6% quarter-on-quarter, following the Mount Holly expansion in the United States and the restart of Line 2 at the Grundartangi smelter in Iceland. Peter Tripkofsky, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Century Aluminum, said higher LME aluminum prices and regional premiums contributed $95 million to the increase in adjusted EBITDA in the second quarter compared with the previous quarter. Capital expenditure totaled $59 million in Q2, with $37 million for the Mount Holly expansion and Jamalco’s new TG4 power...

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