Europe holds 10% of global aluminium extrusion demand, supported by Germany’s Constellium, France’s Hydro Extrusions & Italy’s Metra
Across Europe, aluminium extrusion has become closely woven into some of the region’s biggest industrial and construction markets. From automotive and transport to buildings and industrial applications, extruded profiles are finding demand across a wide range of sectors. This is reflected in Europe’s position in the global market: the region accounted for 12 per cent of global aluminium extrusion capacity, making it the second-largest regional contributor after China. At the same time, Europe represented 10 per cent of global aluminium extrusion usage, out of total global usage of 35.35 million tonnes . With production capacity and usage shares relatively close, Europe’s extrusion capacity and consumption are broadly at par. If we break down Europe’s 10 per cent share of global aluminium...
H1 2026 sees more renewable energy than ever: Here’s a region-by-region guide to renewable energy supply in the recent past
In the first half of 2025, humanity generated more electricity from renewables than from coal for the first time ever. What led to it? It was possible only because of two decades of falling solar panel prices, taller wind turbines, and governments finally treating clean power like an economic opportunity instead of a favour to the planet. But the renewable energy scenario cannot be portrayed as a single global story. To get the full picture, one has to connect dozens of regional stories moving at wildly different speeds. Some countries are already powered almost entirely by sun, wind and water. Others are still warming up. Here is a tour of how renewable energy supply looks across the world’s regions right now, and who is actually leading the charge. The global scorecard: Renewable energy...
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3-month raw material disruption in GCC may lead to a 1–1.25 MT shortage in primary aluminium production - here’s how
The Middle East’s rise as a global aluminium powerhouse has largely been driven by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Large, energy-efficient smelters across the region have enabled steady production growth and helped the Middle East secure a stronger foothold in the global aluminium market. Primary aluminium output increased from 5.8 million tonnes in 2021 to 6 million tonnes in 2022, reflecting a 3.14 per cent year-on-year rise. Expansion continued as production reached 6.2 million tonnes in 2023 and 6.3 million tonnes in 2024, marking growth of 2.35 per cent and 2.07 per cent respectively. However, momentum slowed in 2025, when output declined to 6.15 million tonnes, a 2.95 per cent drop from the previous year. The slowdown followed raw material supply crisis last year and is still...
India: Aluminium scrap import prices climb up w-o-w; UAE port activity hit by US-Iran conflict
India's imported aluminium scrap prices recorded a sharp week-over-week rise as of 10 March 2026, supported by gains in prices on the London Metal Exchange and ongoing geopolitical tensions, while domestic Tense scrap prices also remained firm amid tight local supply conditions. As per BigMint's assessment for CFR Nhava Sheva deliveries, US-origin Taint Tabor HRB 2-3 per cent scrap increased by USD130 per tonne w-o-w to USD2,580 per tonne, while UK-origin Wheel scrap rose by USD140 per tonne w-o-w to USD3,190 per tonne, reflecting continued firmness in imported aluminium scrap prices. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " LME aluminium sharp gains w-o-w Three-month aluminium closing prices on the London...
Assessing if aluminium is ready to take up copper’s share of demand in renewables, EVs and data centres
Copper and aluminium have long competed across a wide range of industrial applications. In many sector, these two metals can be used alternatively because of their few common traits like durability, conductivity, ductility, and corrosion-resistance. But at this moment, there is one factor that is tipping the balance in favour of aluminium – price it is. And the gap is not some hundreds of dollars but thousands. Taking the instance of the current market, aluminium is trading nearly USD 8,700 per tonne below copper. This price advantage is the reason for sectors like electric vehicles, renewable energy, and AI data centres to switch from copper to aluminium wherever technical standards allow. Price gap is increasing aluminium’s appeal This shift is taking placing even though aluminium...
Strait of Hormuz closure also questions the viability of primary aluminium production in the Middle East and here's why
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has been causing concerns for primary aluminium supply around the world. At the same time, it is also raising questions about the supply of raw materials to the Middle East, a region heavily dependent on imported primary aluminium raw materials, many of which pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Situation intensified after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical maritime shipping routes linking the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. For the Middle East’s aluminium industry, the closure raises a pressing question: how resilient is a major aluminium-producing region that depends heavily on imported raw materials? While the region accounts for roughly 8–9 per cent of global aluminium output, its smelters rely...
MYSTEEL: Middle East disruptions may lift China's alumina supply
Escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East since February 28 are likely to disrupt primary aluminium production there and cause additional alumina cargoes to be redirected to markets outside the region including China, according to Mysteel's recent analytical report on the commodity. The Middle East's six major aluminium-producing countries – namely Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman – have a combined primary aluminium capacity of approximately 6.92 million tonnes per year, accounting for about 9 per cent of global output, Mysteel learned. Given that producing one tonne of primary aluminium requires roughly 1.92 tonnes of alumina, total alumina demand from the primary aluminium sectors in these six countries is estimated at around 13.3 million...
US primary aluminium market volatility - Production declining, imports trimming, while Strait of Hormuz closure adds to supply disruptions
The US primary aluminium market is navigating a challenging phase as domestic production declines and imports tighten under higher tariffs. With smelter output under pressure and external supply becoming less predictable, concerns around supply stability have intensified. Uncertainty surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, through which a large share of Middle Eastern aluminium exports pass, adds another dimension to an already strained supply environment. Production data from 2025 provides a clear snapshot of how US primary aluminium output has moved over the year. During the first nine months of 2025, domestic production reached 497,000 tonnes, compared with 506,000 tonnes during the same period in 2024, reflecting a 1.8 per cent year-on-year decline. Quarterly figures further illustrate the...
Rio Tinto halts Japan aluminium premium negotiations on geopolitical risks
The decision was linked to heightened volatility in aluminium prices triggered by escalating regional tensions, the reports said. Rio Tinto has not publicly commented on the matter or indicated when talks may resume. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 across the value chain The premiums refer to the additional amount buyers agree to pay on top of the cash price on the London Metal Exchange (LME) for physical aluminium deliveries, Mysteel Global learned. Japan, one of Asia's largest aluminium importers, sets a quarterly benchmark known as the Japan premium for primary aluminium shipments to its main ports. On March 2, the LME three-month aluminium contract closed at USD 3,194.5 per tonne, up 1.74 per cent from the previous...
Strait of Hormuz closed, trade in disruptions, and crude oil price is on rise - what do they all mean for the global aluminium market?
The escalating tensions surrounding the US-Israel conflict with Iran percolating down to the entire Middle East have triggered economic shockwaves across the globe. Aluminium and oil sectors are particularly vulnerable, and for obvious reasons. The Middle East is a pivotal region in aluminium production and oil extraction and also controls the world trade of these two commodities through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most critical maritime shipping routes connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. Annually, the Strait of Hormuz handles an export volume of 5.14 million tonnes of primary aluminium, accounting for around 75 per cent of the region’s total production. Additionally, it serves as the passage for 20 to 21 million barrels of crude oil and petroleum...
AI in canmaking: A tool to increase production performance
Artificial Intelligence has reached a maturity level that allows it to generate real analysis and measurable gains in industrial operations. Yet, within the canmaking industry, its adoption remains slow, often due to a combination of cultural resistance, limited digital infrastructure, and the misconception that AI is a futuristic tool rather than an operational necessity. For an industry that operates at extremely high speeds and tight tolerances, AI is no longer optional, it is the next competitive edge. In this article for The Metal Packager, Luiz Siqueira, an independent consultant in industrial management, who previously worked as industrial director/COO at Brasilata, explores how AI can effectively collaborate with the management of can production processes, transforming...
2025 Global bauxite production stands at around 480MT - From Weipa to Paragominas, who’s powered the growth?
中文翻译附于新闻末尾，敬请继续阅读。 Bauxite is the primary raw material used to produce alumina and, ultimately, aluminium - a metal essential to modern infrastructure, transport, packaging and clean energy systems. From power transmission lines to electric vehicles and beverage cans, aluminium’s widespread use begins with stable and sufficient bauxite supply. Against this backdrop, the global bauxite market is entering 2026 with firmer fundamentals. AL Circle research estimates global bauxite production at 475–480 million tonnes in 2025, with output projected to rise by 6 per cent year-on-year in 2026. Demand across infrastructure, mobility, packaging and energy transition sectors continues to underpin this rise. To know more about the global primary aluminium industry 2026 outlook, book the report “...
Global aluminium scrap tracker 2025: A 41.7Mt backbone under pressure as demand rises 3.87%
If 2024 was the year aluminium demand normalised, 2025 is the year scrap becomes the pressure valve. Global cumulative aluminium consumption reached 100.8 million tonnes in 2024, with 28.4 million tonnes supplied by recycled aluminium. That share, already above 28 per cent, is not a marginal contribution. It is a structural layer of the market. And it sits beneath a primary system that is tightening rather than expanding. Primary aluminium production moved from 72.7 million tonnes in 2024 to 73.9 million tonnes in 2025, with a forecast of 75.3 million tonnes in 2026. On paper, that looks like growth. In reality, it is constrained growth. China is approaching its 45 million tonne capacity cap (whereas some speculate the primary production has exceeded 45 million tonnes in 2025 already),...
As global aluminium consumption heads towards 106.8 MT in 2026, What’s driving the growth - and which region leads the way?
What links electric cars, urban skylines, beverage cans and solar farms stretching across a desert? The answer is aluminium, which is steadily tightening its grip on the modern economy, and the numbers tell a story of consistent, broad-based expansion. Global aluminium consumption in the end user sectors rose from 96.92 million tonnes in 2023 to 100.8 million tonnes in 2024 - a year-on-year increase of about 4.0 per cent. The pace is moderate but firm. Demand is projected to reach 104.01 million tonnes in 2025, up another 3.2 per cent, before climbing to 106.8 million tonnes in 2026, a further 2.7 per cent rise. This is not a short-term spike. It reflects a structural shift driven by transportation, construction and the accelerating green transition that is embedding aluminium deeper into...
Strategic trade-off at what cost? Alcoa’s USD38.9M penalty against 18-month bauxite mining allowance lifts concerns
Conflicts between governments and mining giants over environmental protection and conservation are hardly new, and for Alcoa, it stretches back at least a decade. The latest episode has unfolded in Western Australia, where the US-based miner (Alcoa) has clashed with the Australian Department of the Environment over bauxite extraction in the North Jarrah Forest, south of Perth. The dispute has even culminated in Alcoa agreeing to pay USD 38.9 million (AUD 55 million) penalty to clear 2100 hectares of land between 2019 and 2025 in the North Jarrah forest, south of Perth. Environment Minister Murray Watt confirmed on Wednesday, February 18, that this penalty charged is part of a remediation deal and that the money will go into conservation initiatives such as strengthening invasive-species...
Global aluminium extrusion leaders 2025: Top producers with their output capacity and expansion plans
Aluminium extrusion begins with a heated billet pushed through a precision steel die under intense pressure. What comes out can be something as simple as a rod or tube - or as complex as a structural component for an aircraft or a crash-management system in a vehicle. Its appeal lies in a rare mix of strength, light weight and design freedom, which is why extrusion continues to sit at the centre of modern manufacturing. Across Europe, North America, India and the Gulf, extrusion players are adjusting capacity, investing in downstream capabilities and fine-tuning operations to stay aligned with demand that is increasingly specialised rather than purely volume-driven. The top extrusions companies are listed below: Hydro Extrusions Hydro Extrusions is one of the industry’s largest players by...
Global aluminium capacity to grow 4.58% with an additional 20.9 Mt coming by end-2026
中文翻译附于新闻末尾，敬请继续阅读。 Though a plethora of speed breakers hit the aluminium industry in recent times, global primary aluminium operating capacity is set to rise sharply. SMM, through one of its recently held webinars, projects an increase of about 20.9 million tonnes by the end of 2026, taking total operating capacity to roughly 77.16 million tonnes, with Indonesia among the largest incremental contributors. Global primary aluminium production in 2025 grew marginally to approximately 73.78 million tonnes, up from 73.01 million tonnes in 2024, representing a 5-year low in growth rate. China, holding a 45 million tonne capacity cap, operated at nearly 97 per cent capacity (approx. 43.9 million tonnes) in 2025, limiting global growth, with the market facing continued supply deficits. The...
Is the aluminium coffee capsule recycling racing to gain the same traction as the aluminium cans? Everything you need to know…
Recycling of aluminium coffee capsules, in France, is rapidly increasing with the right public awareness and behaviour towards reusing, reflecting both progress and persistent challenges in sorting practices. A survey of 1,977 users taken between November 20 and December 9, 2025, revealed that a quarter of participants make use of aluminium coffee capsules. The Associationpour le Recyclage des Capsules en Aluminium (ARCA), a French initiative, ensures 100 per cent of aluminium coffee capsules are recycled and is looking to measure the factors in aluminium capsule sorting practices for understanding the current challenges and push recycling further. Numbers showing where the recycling of coffee capsules stands A market research analyst from FMI deems that the recycling systems of the...
A 5-year high production of world alumina tells just the opposite story than primary metal – here’s the insider
The world alumina production in 2025 tells markedly different story thanprimary aluminium. While the primary metal clocked the weakest growth rate in recent years, alumina registered the strongest five-year leap. According to the International Aluminium Institute (IAI), the world alumina production gained 5.07 per cent Y-o-Y in 2025 as against a 1.06 per cent increase in the world primary aluminium output . In the preceding years, the global alumina production growth rate majorly ranged between 2-4 per cent from 2021 to 2024. The acceleration was led overwhelmingly by metallurgical-grade alumina, the feedstock for aluminium smelters. As far as chemical-grade is concerned, it grew by 3.15 per cent in 2025, which, however, was not the highest growth in past five years. In years like 2021...
China to lift domestic coal output to offset Indonesian supply crunch?
On February 9, the China Coal Transportation and Distribution Association (CCTDA) revised its forecast for China's coal imports during 2026 to 465 million tonnes, down from 480 million tonnes projected just three weeks earlier. The adjustment was mainly linked to Indonesia's newly-announced plan to slash coal output. China is Indonesia's largest coal importer. To know more about the global recycled aluminium industry 2026 outlook, book the report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 ". Although Jakarta has yet to finalise the policy, authorities have indicated that in an effort to boost state revenue, 2026 production could be cut to around 600 million tonnes from 790 million tonnes in 2025, as Mysteel Global reported. Indonesia expects that paring back supply will cause coal prices to...
