
South Asia’s beverage-can manufacturing capacity continues to expand, with Bangladesh preparing to enter the industry through a USD 100 million aluminium beverage can plant while new and expanded facilities advance across India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. However, the planned Bangladeshi project still faces a key infrastructure hurdle: securing a gas connection before production begins. Chinese-owned Alu Hi-Tech Industries Ltd is developing Bangladesh’s first aluminium beverage can plant at Kaliakoir Hi-Tech Park in Gazipur, north of Dhaka. The facility is designed to produce around 1 billion cans annually, with approximately 90 per cent of its output earmarked for export markets. The company registered with the hi-tech park in 2024, when work on the project began. Construction has...
Europe’s beverage-can market outperformed other regions in the third quarter, prompting Ardagh Metal Packaging (AMP) to accelerate its investment plans with two new production lines at existing facilities in the UK and Spain. Global beverage can shipments rose 2 per cent year on year in the three months to September 30, while Europe recorded 6 per cent growth, contrasting with a 1 per cent decline across the Americas. AMP announced the expansion alongside third-quarter results that exceeded its own earnings guidance, allowing the company to raise its full-year adjusted EBITDA outlook. Chief executive Oliver Graham said demand remained resilient across the company’s markets, supported by strength in key beverage categories and continued gains for cans within the wider packaging mix. The...
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Trade talks between Canada and the United States are slow. Still, Canadian Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc said this is not a concern ahead of the review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) this summer, despite US tariffs on Canadian goods, including aluminium and Canada’s January electric vehicle deal with China. LeBlanc said discussions with US officials are ongoing and “productive,” and there is no need to be pessimistic. He added that this is an improvement from last fall, when Donald Trump said the US had ended trade talks with Canada over Ontario government TV ads. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " Talks between both countries resumed earlier in March. This comes as US tariffs, in...

A packaging solution provider in India, AGI Greenpac, is now set to enter the high-growth aluminium can market. The firm will be investing nearly INR 1,200 crore (USD 144.6 million) for setting up the new facility in Uttar Pradesh. The operations will commence by October 2027. As shared with Packaging South Asia by the CEO of AGI Greenpac, Rajesh Khosla, this expansion marks a major milestone for the firm. This is because not only to diversify the revenue system but also to position themselves in meeting the rising demand from the beverage and beer sectors for developing sustainable metal packaging. The firm, at the same time, has also invested INR 700 crore (USD 84 million) for creating a new speciality glass manufacturing plant in Madhya Pradesh. The facility will be focusing on the...

Norton Motorcycles has taken a step towards its India plans, with the Manx R’s design now patented, hinting that the flagship supersport could make its way to the market in the future. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " The motorcycle is built around an aluminium monocoque frame and gets a single-sided swingarm, pointing to a clear focus on weight optimisation and performance. It uses semi-active Marzocchi suspension and runs on carbon fibre wheels, keeping it firmly in the track-focused space. Also Read: S trait of Hormuz disruption halts aluminium supply for EV production The Manx R first broke cover at EICMA 2025, where it was shown alongside the Manx street naked. Its styling follows a sharp,...

RPM International Inc. has finalised its acquisition of Kalzip GmbH, a company known for its aluminium roofing and facade systems, bringing the business under its Tremco Construction Products Group. The move adds to RPM’s presence in aluminium-based construction materials. Kalzip, based in Koblenz, Germany, works on aluminium solutions used in building envelopes and has delivered more than 1.2 billion square feet of such systems worldwide. Its past projects include the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu stadium in Madrid, the Children’s Hospital in Dublin, the Pickering GO Pedestrian Bridge in Canada and the LAX Train Station in Los Angeles. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " For 2024, Kalzip reported net sales of...

Bank of America lowered its price target for Airbus from EUR 259 (USD 300.62) to EUR 255 (USD 295.98), while maintaining a ‘Buy’ rating, citing rising aluminium supply costs. The price revision follows supply disruptions linked to strikes by Iran, which damaged aluminium plants in the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. The Emirates Global Aluminium plant in Al Taweelah, Abu Dhabi, and the Aluminium Bahrain facility were affected, with Alba stopping some deliveries after the attack. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " These two plants produced about 1.6 million tonnes each in 2025. Together, they account for about 4 per cent of global aluminium supply. Aluminium prices rose after the disruption. Prices...

Crown Holdings, Inc., an American multinational packaging company, has named Dr John M. Rost as its Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for the Asia Pacific and Transit Packaging. The new appointment will be effective from April 1, 2026. Currently, Dr Rost, for the Asia Pacific region and its base in Singapore, has been serving as the President. He, in the new Tampa, FL-based role, will be holding the responsibility for the Asia Pacific and shall be upholding the responsibility, including the company's global Transit Packaging operations. In this new role, Dr Rost will be reporting to Timothy J. Donahue, who holds the position of Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer at the firm. Also read: Strait of Hormuz disruption halts aluminium supply for EV production...

Cairo has officially opened its first monorail route, a 56.5 km corridor with 22 stations, launched in the presence of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. The system is expected to carry up to 500,000 passengers per day, adding a new high-capacity transit option to the city’s transport network. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026" For the project, Alstom delivered a fleet of 40 Innovia 300 trains, each made up of four cars, along with the Cityflo 650 signalling system operating at GoA4 automation. The scope of supply also covered switches, depot systems, platform doors, and communication and energy infrastructure. These trains were manufactured at Alstom’s Derby facility in the UK. From a design perspective, the...

Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) reduced aluminium output by 19 per cent and stopped some deliveries because it could not ship through the Strait of Hormuz. Qatalum stopped production after the gas supply was disrupted following attacks on the energy infrastructure. The conflict in the region has disrupted the supply of aluminium from the Gulf. Many smelters in countries like the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Qatar are unable to meet supply contracts or have reduced operations. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has blocked a major route for aluminium shipments. The Gulf produces about 9 per cent of the world’s aluminium, and this supply is especially important for electric vehicles, which use more aluminium than traditional cars. Aluminium is used in body structures, battery cases, and...

Xiaomi has changed the way aluminium is processed and integrated in its SU7 and SU7 Ultra, without replacing the material itself. A viral video misleadingly claimed the opposite, stating Xiaomi has replaced aluminium with a new metal. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " In reality, the advancement lies in the process engineering rather than in creating a new metal. Traditional aluminium castings require long and energy-intensive heat treatment to achieve strength, but Xiaomi has developed a different approach using an AI-based “Material Genome” method. This system tested millions of alloy combinations to identify one that can achieve high strength without heat treatment. As a result, the company has...

Entering their lineup of gaming prowess is the new Blade 16 with several brand-new features. Razer has launched a new addition, the Blade 16, whose chief features are a 16-inch ultra-thin, QHD+ 240Hz OLED display, which also supports VESA HDR TrueBlack 1000 certification. This laptop is available with up to 64GB of LPDDR5 memory (9600 MHz), with an improved battery for extended usage and an upgraded Thunderbolt 5, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0 and an audio system which is powered by THX. The product is currently selling, starting at USD 3,500. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 across the value chain Each Blade laptop is made from a precision-milled, single block of T6-grade aluminium to create a rigid unibody chassis. A...

Ball Corporation reported a decline in the proportion of recycled aluminium used in its beverage packaging in several major markets in 2025, although improvements were observed in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia (EMEA), according to its annual report. At the global level, 74 per cent of the aluminium used in the company’s beverage packaging was sourced from recycled materials, which remained unchanged from the previous year. Declines were seen in North and Central America, where the proportion was down to 72 per cent, representing a decrease of three percentage points from 2024. In South America, it decreased by five percentage points to 73 per cent. In contrast, the EMEA region recorded an increase to 77 per cent, up eight points from the previous year. For the global aluminium...

Boosting a legacy that stretches back 127 years? Well, it has been rightly done by the luggage brand, Rimowa, aligning rich history with smart strategies. By tapping into the design roots and aluminium craftsmanship, the Classic Aluminium Grid has been reintroduced by the firm in the market. This marks the right blend between the firm’s historical identity and that of the modern-day appeal. A limited-edition release, the firm has unveiled the Classic Aluminium Grid, making people turn their heads, especially for the design enthusiasts and the premium shoppers alike. Just because it is not another newly introduced product in the market, people are buzzing because it upholds the past and blends with modern thoughts. Created back in 1969, a hand-carry case marked the design inspiration for...

The Nothing Phone (4a) Pro sits in the mid-range segment, with a strong focus on its aluminium build. It features a 6.8-inch display (2800×1260), a 5,080 mAh battery, and is powered by the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 chipset, with base variants starting at 8GB RAM and 128GB storage. Design-wise, this is probably where the phone shines the most. The aluminium unibody makes a real difference. Both the frame and the back panel use aluminium, and it gives the device a sturdier, more premium feel compared to older models. The display is a 6.83-inch AMOLED panel with a 1260×2800 resolution and roughly 440 ppi. It supports a 144Hz refresh rate and can hit up to 5,000 nits of peak brightness. The device features a triple rear camera setup, comprising a 50MP main sensor, a 50MP periscope lens with 3.5x...

Leadrive Technology has moved into mass production of its EV0062 hybrid dual motor controller, bringing into focus a design that incorporates a dual-channel water-cooled aluminium capacitor to manage thermal performance under demanding conditions. The unit, confirmed on March 23, 2026, is being integrated into Schaeffler’s next-generation DHT assembly and will support both plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) platforms for a major European automaker.n Production has initially started with a plug-in hybrid platform, targeting multiple B-segment vehicles. The controller is designed to serve across both PHEV and HEV configurations, with a platform approach that enables more than 95 per cent parts commonality between the two. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026...

Brewers in India are grappling with rising costs and supply disruptions as a gas shortage-linked to geopolitical tensions around the Iran-US conflict-hits the supply chain. The shortage has pushed up prices of glass bottles and has also slowed aluminium imports used for cans. With gas supply tightening, some glass manufacturers have either cut back or temporarily stopped production. This has led to a roughly 20 per cent increase in glass bottle prices. At the same time, aluminium can suppliers have warned that supply could tighten further, just as the peak summer season approaches and beer demand usually picks up. Paper carton costs have also doubled, and other packaging materials are becoming more expensive. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “...

Global automakers are accelerating aluminium procurement as the ongoing Middle East conflict continues to disturb supply chains, disrupting production and trade routes, thereby raising concerns over near-term supply shortages and escalating costs. The situation has catalysed a wave of precautionary purchases. As the conflict advances towards a full month, executives from automakers and component suppliers observe that companies are building emergency reserves. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 across the value chain Shipping disruptions and regional exposure The Gulf Corporation Council (GCC) nations produce about 10 per cent of global refined aluminium, making the region an essential supply hub. Europe sources...

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has made ISI certification mandatory for aluminium utensils used in food and beverage applications, effective October 1, 2026. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " G. Bhavani, senior director and head of the BIS Coimbatore branch, said the move aims to ensure safety and quality. The mandate covers IS 1660:2024 for wrought aluminium utensils and IS 14407:2023 for aluminium beverage cans. Also Read: Aluminium anode EV battery achieves high efficiency and fast charging at -25°C Parameters under the standard include thickness, size, handle strength, load-bearing capacity and resistance to temperature variations. Aluminium utensils must also contain a minimum of 99.5 per cent...

A research team from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) performed a field evaluation of an aluminium-based lithium-ion battery designed for wide temperature ranges in Heilongjiang Province. At -25 °C, the battery attained more than 92 per cent discharge efficiency in practical urban driving and reached 90 per cent state of charge in around 20 minutes during charging at low temperatures. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " The battery uses an aluminium-based anode combined with alloying elements to broaden its range of operating temperatures. Laboratory results show performance consistency from extremely low to high temperatures (-70 °C to +80 °C). This evaluation marks the inaugural integration of this...