
India's Diet Coke shortage in 2026 exposed an unexpected weakness in the country's aluminium industry. Despite being the world's second-largest primary aluminium producer, India struggled to ensure adequate supplies of aluminium cans when disruptions to Middle Eastern shipping affected imports of specialised can-sheet material. The episode highlighted a structural gap in the domestic aluminium value chain: producing the metal is one thing, but converting it into higher-value finished products is another. The shortage emerged during the summer drinking season, when Diet Coke became increasingly difficult to find on Indian shelves. Quick-commerce platforms reported limited availability as shipping disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict affected aluminium supplies through the Strait...
Tesla's ambitions for its Optimus humanoid robot extend well beyond factory automation, with the company envisioning a future in which robots could support vehicle servicing, logistics and even last-mile delivery. However, turning that vision into a commercially viable product will require more than advances in artificial intelligence and robotics. It will also depend on access to aluminium, critical minerals and the downstream manufacturing capabilities needed to produce increasingly sophisticated hardware at scale. Tesla has already taken an important step towards that ambition. On October 21, 2026, the company announced that Optimus production had begun on its high-volume manufacturing line in Fremont, California. Tesla described the units coming off the line as its first...
Grow with
AL Circle

Kalil Bottling Company, the leader in beverage distribution as well as a private bottler has been experiencing a major issue with their beverage cans supply. The distributing centre in El Paso, Texas revealed that it is becoming difficult for them to get aluminium for soft drinks cans in the past few months. According to John Kalil, the President of the company, “There’s a possibility that people will go shopping and not find what they want when they want it.” Mr Kalil also added that along with the need for the aluminium cans, the price for the aluminium cans includes the shipping and the cost of the import have also surged considerably. He further stated that the ‘Work from Home’ structure or the fact that people are spending more time at home, has led to the increased need for...

On Friday, September 24, Crown Holdings Inc. said that it selected a location in Mesquite, Nevada, for its upcoming Southwestern United States aluminium beverage can manufacturing facility. Located in the Mesquite Technology and Commerce Center, the facility will supply standard and speciality beverage cans to the customers serving a variety of categories like carbonated soft drinks, sparkling water, energy drinks, hard seltzers, beer and ready-to-drink cocktails. Crown Holdings expects this facility to support the growth of new beverage introductions in aluminium cans besides improving the company’s ability to serve existing customers in the Western United States. According to Timothy J. Donahue, President and Chief Executive Officer, "This investment, underpinned by long-term customer...

GZ Industries (GZ Industries Limited Nigeria and GZ Industries SA (PTY) Limited -South Africa) has joined Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) as the Production and Transformation member. After the joining, the total number of members in ASI will become 196. GZ Industries (GZI) is one of the leading manufacturers and producers of the best aluminium beverage cans. GZ I is known for using top class manufacturing processes. Not only this, the high-speed beverage line ensures that they continue to remain sustainable, efficient, and innovative operationally. Managed by a team of experienced and diverse people, GZI is known for utilizing the resources optimally, enabling them to stay alert, cost-effective as well as a respected supplier in the industry. According to James Judson, Group Chief...

On Thursday, September 23, Ball Corporation announced its plan to build a new aluminium beverage packaging plant in North Las Vegas, Nevada, US. The plant will have multiple lines and will expectedly begin production in late 2022. Ball expects the plant, when fully operational, will create nearly 180 manufacturing jobs. Ball also said that it would invest nearly $290 million in the new plant over multiple years. The plant will supply a range of innovative can sizes, which will be infinitely recyclable and economically valuable, to a variety of beverage customers, ensuring truly circular economy. Kathleen Pitre, president, Ball beverage packaging North & Central America, said: "Our new North Las Vegas plant is Ball's latest investment to serve accelerating demand for our portfolio of...

Aluminium cans are the most common part of our daily life. The aluminium cans that are used for storing beverages are formed in Russellville in Logan Aluminum. Around 50% of the aluminium sheet that is used for the beverage can market for the entire nation comes from Logan Aluminum. According to Paul Banks, the plant manager of Logan Aluminum, “We produce just a little over 2 billion pounds annually, so if you’re getting a 6 pack of Coke, Pepsi, or adult beverages, there’s a really good chance that half of that came right through Russellville Kentucky.” The work process inside the Lagon Aluminum is very interesting, with machines spinning and whirring as well as rolling out huge sheets of aluminium. “The thing about aluminium is that it’s one of the greenest packages ever made. We’re all...

According to the preliminary data from Statistics Poland (GUS), a government executive agency charged with collecting and publishing statistics related to the country's economy, population, and society, at the national and local levels stated that Poland recorded GDP growth of 10.90% Y-o-Y in Q2 2021 and this depicts the largest single increase since such records began in 1995. GUS also confirmed a previous estimate that inflation hit 5% year-on-year in July, which equals the highest level since August 2001. The economy of a nation that has been dominated for decades by three leading industries: agriculture, manufacturing and mining, Poland imported 31,399 tonnes of aluminium household articles during 2019-20 and the revenue expended for the import accounted for $144.34 million. Poland’s...

The economic freedom score of Finland is 76.1, making its economy the 17th freest in the 2021 Index. Finland’s overall score has increased by 0.4 points, majorly due to improvement in the government spending score. The Finnish economy continues to reap its results from high levels of economic freedom. The third most prosperous country in the world, Finland exported 23,886 tonnes of aluminium cans during 2018-20 and the revenue generated from the export counted to $89.02 million. Finland exported 4295 tonnes of aluminium cans in 2018 and the earnings generated from the export was $16.18 million, whereas, in 2019 the export unveiled a sharp growth of 144.61%, as the export volume escalated to 10,506 tonnes and the earnings also leapt to $36.98 million. In 2020, Finland recorded 9085 tonnes...

Budweiser Brewing Group, the UK arm of AB InBev along with three other leading aluminium companies has come together to launch a can using the lowest carbon footprint for Budweiser Brewing Group, the UK arm of AB InBev. The three companies are RUSAL the largest producer of low carbon aluminium in the world, ELVAL one of the leading aluminium rolling company and CANPACK the global manufacturer of aluminium beverage cans. The initiative will lead to the production of around 5 million cans with the lowest carbon content for Budweiser. The cans will be 440ml and will be produced using the latest inert anode aluminium technology. This technology works by using renewable electricity. The 440ml cans will come with the lowest ever carbon content for the AB InBev group in Europe and is expected to...

General Sherman, the largest tree in the world is being covered with a huge aluminium sheet to protect it from the dangerous wildfire in the jungles of California. Located in the giant forest of Sequoia National Park in Tulare County, in the U.S. state of California General Sherman also known as the Giant Sequoia or Sierran redwood belongs to the redwood species which is endemic to California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains. The Giant Sequoia is one of the largest trees in the world with an average height of about 80 metres, with the trunk measuring around 7 to 8 metres in diameter. Around 2,000 species of the General Sherman tree can be found in the National Park. The ragging wildlife has made the park officials worried about the protection of the largest tree in the world. The largest tree in...

On 17th September 2021, an innovative company highly specialized through its revolutionary technology, A3 Surfaces launched its first plant in the industrial park of Haut-Saguenay. The company is known for marketing antimicrobial anodized aluminium. For the Saguenay Company, this initiative will open a new way for the international deployment of their technology. The inauguration happened at the new factory in front of the audience from the political background, industrial figures, famous tennis player Félix Auger-Aliassime, the official ambassador of the Saguenay SME and 11th racquet in the world. Other famous people like the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing of Quebec, Minister for the Saguenay, Lac-Saint-Jean region, as well as Lucie Lecours. The inauguration also had Rio Tinto...

The International Organisation of Aluminium Aerosol Container Manufacturer (AEROBAL) has announced the winners of the recently held state-of-the-art aluminium aerosol cans competition. The award was presented by a panel of nine journalists from industry magazines to the cans that were new and creative in terms of sustainability, marketing, design, and printing. The first position under the “Sustainability” category was awarded to the aluminium can from Cien Deo, which is produced by Tubex, a German can manufacturer and the winner is being described as, “the first aluminium aerosol can printed with an eco-friendly and sustainable printing ink.” According to AEROBAL, the ink used on the container of the sleek deodorant is GMOs free, as well as soybean or coconut oils, minerals, palm and all...

The corona crisis has sceptically strained the packaging industry including aluminium in Uttar Pradesh’s Gautam Budh Nagar district. In accordance with the entrepreneurs of the industry, the prices of essential raw materials like aluminium foil have escalated by 70% during the pandemic and freight charges of overseas nations has also increased five times high. Kulmani Gupta, the President of the Noida chapter of Indian Industries Association (IIA), said: “At present, there are over 800 packaging units operational in Gautam Budh Nagar, providing jobs to over 20,000 people.” “Packaging is an integral part of many industries, including readymade garments, automotive, home appliances, electrical components, printing, grocery and handicrafts. Most raw materials, such as aluminium foil are used...

Aluminium foil provides a complete blockade to light, moisture and aroma. Hence it extends the shelf life of foodstuffs, care products or medicines. In the present day, it is available in every conceivable market, comprising sterile beverage cartons, sachets, pouches, lids, wrappers, blister and strip packs and foil containers. The Japanese economy returned to moderate growth in Q2 2021, 0.3%, Q-o-Q following a -0.9% contraction in Q1. The key indicators like the goods and services exports, consumer and business spending and business confidence were all up in Q2, however, the recovery was hindered by ongoing restrictions on economic activity due to the COVID related state of emergency in major cities across Japan. The nation with a large and highly advanced manufacturing sector, Japan...

Nimir Industrial Chemicals Limited, an Oleo Chemicals and Chlor Alkali manufacturing company in Pakistan, has made an announcement to invest Rs1.25 billion to start an aluminium cans production facility. According to a bourse filling, “[The] board of Nimir approved an investment of Rs1.25 billion for setting up a production facility to manufacture various types of aluminum cans for aerosol products. This will be a backward integration to the company’s state –of-the-art aerosol filling plant; and an investment of Rs190 million for the installation of Sulphate Removal System at Chlor Alkali Plant to reduce the operating cost.” Nimir Chemicals is also known for producing hydrochloric acid, noodles, caustic soda, soap, glycerine, sodium hypochlorite, stearic acid and distilled fatty acid....

The economy of Switzerland grew by 1.8% in Q2 and stronger household consumption played a vital role as the easing of Covid-19 restrictions succoured reversed earlier declines. In June 2021, the Swiss government raised its economic growth. It expects that annual GDP growth will attain 3.6%, up from its 3% forecast in March 2021. However, Switzerland still counters a distressed fourth wave of Covid-19. The finance ministry has cautioned that further waves of the virus could develop significant risks to public finances and economic recovery. The Central European nation driven by the economy of manufacturing industry, Switzerland imported 2768 tonnes of aluminium stranded wire during 2019-20 and the revenue it expended for the import accounted for $8.60 million. The Swiss import of aluminium...

Compressed gas is another way to obtain mechanical energy storage. So, when a piston is used to compress a gas, energy is stored in the gas and can be released later by reversing the movement of the piston, hence pressurised gas is, therefore, an energy store. However, it can release energy that can be used to perform useful work and the common compressed gases are propane, nitrogen, chlorine, helium, and oxygen. Aluminium cylinders have an excellent static resistance and the engineering can withstand the stress of refill multiple times. The largest country in South America and Latin America, Brazil imported 563 tonnes of aluminium compressed gas cylinders during 2019-20 and the expenditure counted for the import was $8.35 million. In 2019, Brazil traded 275 tonnes of aluminium containers...

In 1971, the Gulf region’s first aluminium ingot was produced at Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), hallmarking the initiation of a program of industrial diversification that was both bright and enterprising. The high strength to weight ratio makes aluminium a vital structural material for multiple usages. The Kingdom of Bahrain imported 6098 tonnes of aluminium structures during 2018-20 and the revenue expended for the import by the nation on the Persian Gulf was $27.22 million. Bahrain’s import of aluminium structures in 2018 was recorded at 2015 tonnes and the expenditure accounted counted to $8.60 million, whereas, in 2019, the import displayed growth of 50.86%, as the import volume rose to 3040 tonnes and the expenditure also escalated to $12.91 million. The importation of aluminium...

The billion-dollar global automotive enterprise headquartered in India, Mahindra with the continuation of its ‘Freedom Drive’ unveiled XUV700, a truly distinguished vehicle. Mahindra’s ‘Freedom Drive’ is a concept to observe the XUV700, which will travel across 20 cities in India in a convoy of 80 vehicles distributed in all four east, west, north and south regions. The XUV700 is available in all Aluminium Diesel engines and also gasoline variants with New Generation 6-speed Manual and Automatic Transmission options. On 4th September 2021, from the Mahindra Research Valley in Chennai, the XUV700 convoy was flagged off for the glorified journey. The vehicle launched with a vigorous positive response. The luxurious and avant-garde exterior of the XUV700 tenders an aerodynamic design.