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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US and Taiwan lock ‘arms’ agreement while China condemns and forewarns
The US State Department announced a vital defence agreement to Taiwan worth USD 11.1 billion. The arms deal was announced in a nationally televised press conference addressed by Donald Trump, President of the United States, on December 17. Upon completion, it would be the greatest sales package covering advanced equipment such as HIMARS and ATACMS, with a considerable amount of aluminium content in them, from the US to Taiwan, as well as plant a seed of doubt in the heart of China. Image for representational purposes only Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with 50+ reports across the value chain Still awaiting approval from the US Congress, the contract was announced by the Defence Security Cooperation Agency, which handles the sales of US foreign military. The aim is...
LME aluminium price trend: Historical context, 2025 market dynamics & 2026 price outlook
The LME aluminium price trend over the past 3 years shows a market rebounding from earlier weakness, trading within a varied price range and settling near a multi-year high by year-end. According to Westmetall’s LME aluminium cash price cache, 2025 kick-started with aluminium pricing of USD 2,500s per tonne, reached USD 2,685.50 per tonne by March 20, 2025, and was around USD 2,545 per tonne on August 1, 2025, amid tightening fundamentals and sustained supply concerns. LME primary aluminium cash price is closing in the year 2025 at around USD 2,800, with expectations of further increases in the coming year. Image for reference only Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with Global Aluminium Industry Outlook 2026 LME aluminium prices before 2025 Before entering 2025, LME...
Balanced export and domestic usage shape Turkey’s aluminium foil market; 2025 exports already topping 100kt
Turkey’s aluminium foil industry has expanded quietly but consistently over the past few years. Production increased steadily over the period, rising 26.3 per cent from 155.18 thousand tonnes in 2020 to 196 thousand tonnes in 2023, before recording a further 8.7 per cent year-on-year increase to 213 thousand tonnes in 2024. Roughly half of this output is shipped overseas, with the remainder absorbed by the domestic market. That balance has helped Turkey to become of the top exporters of aluminium foil in the global aluminium foil market which is valued at USD 38.55 billion in 2024 and forecast to grow at a 5.05 per cent CAGR through 2030. To access the data, download: Aluminium Foil and its End Uses Current Trends and Forecast till 2030 . Image source: AL Circle Foil export picture of...
FACE answers JRC for Circular Economy Act – observes problems and offers solutions
The European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) invited the Federation of Aluminium Consumers in Europe (FACE) to respond and offer clarifications prior to updating its June 2025 position paper on aluminium scrap. On December 12, FACE published a document based on a survey conducted across 7 value-chain companies. The questions addressed a vast spectrum of aluminium scrap in the European Union - starting from its availability, through circulation, to its quality. These are to be used in the preparation of the Circular Economy Act, with the primary focus remaining on aluminium in the sector of construction. Image for representational purposes only Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with 50+ reports across the value chain The document highlights concerns regarding...
US bauxite imports fall 17.6% in H1 2025 as alumina refinery closures take effect
US imports of crude and dried bauxite kept falling in the first half of 2025, continuing a downturn that has been building for several years. Total imports came in at 849 thousand tonnes in H1 2025, down 17.6 per cent from 1.03 million tonnes a year earlier. This followed another decline in 2024, when volumes had already dropped 14.2 per cent from 1.2 million tonnes in H1 2023, showing that the market has been shrinking step by step rather than seeing a sudden collapse. The rate of contraction picked up as the year passed by. This is because imports declined considerably in Q2. The imports during the Q2 of this year were 369 thousand tonnes compared to the Q1 performance of 480 thousand tonnes, a reduction of 111,000 tonnes or a QoQ decrease of 23.1 per cent. As per the USGS data, the...
CBAM compliance: A checklist for importers in the European aluminium market
As both the worldwide aluminium exporters and the EU-based importers must have realised in the meantime, CBAM knocks on the door and is no longer a distant regulatory concept. Here’s a CBAM checklist that distils the compliance pathway into five actionable steps published by the European Commission that will aide the EU importers and external exporters alike in following the CBAM regulation without having to pay undue penalties. Image for reference only Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with 50+ reports across the value chain The mechanism is on its way to have quarterly reporting, embedded-emission calculations (CBAM cost) and national oversight. Although aluminium producers outside the EU remain in the spotlight, a large share of legal responsibility rests equally...
From primary metal to autos: US tariffs redraw the EU aluminium map
What started as another round of US trade action in 2025 quickly turned into an aluminium problem for Europe. Washington moved to curb EU aluminium shipments under Section 232, but the EU chose not to answer with aluminium tariffs of its own. That left the adjustment one-sided. As US duties rose, European producers found themselves squeezed across the aluminium chain, from primary metal to processed and aluminium-containing goods. The turning point came on February 10, when the US announced a 25 per cent tariff on aluminium imports from the EU under Chapter 76 of the tariff schedule, covering unwrought primary aluminium such as ingots. The measures took effect on March 12, applying without quotas or exemptions. For European producers, the cost impact was immediate. Pressure intensified...
Scarce electricity and tariff pressure – what is the future of American aluminium?
The United States has been witnessing a collision between AI data storehouses and aluminium smelters, and a tug of war for electricity. All over the US, facilities are faced with electricity generation and transmission challenges. While choosing a customer to supply power, they are opting for the data centre as it can pay more with a rapid scale and also accept shorter terms. Consequently, aluminium smelting depends on a stable and affordable electricity supply. However, owing to the volatile and unstable flow of electricity (both conventional and renewable), aluminium has to bear the brunt of competitiveness erosion. Image for representational purposes only Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with 50+ reports across the value chain Primary aluminium smelting is highly...
Chinese alumina stocks climb to new high
As of December 11, total alumina stocks across the country’s 10 major ports, 44 alumina producers, 89 primary aluminium smelters, and rail yards or in transit under Mysteel’s regular tracking had reached 5.06 million tonnes, according to results of Mysteel’s latest survey. This represented another 1.1 per cent increase from the previous week and renewed the highest level since Mysteel began the survey in January 2022. The inventory buildup has now extended for 28 consecutive weeks since early June this year, Mysteel Global noted. Last week’s stock accumulation was primarily driven by rising in-transit stocks of domestically traded alumina, market watchers explained. Unloading congestion at some ports, coupled with adverse weather conditions in North China, slowed or disrupted highway...
Vietnam’s rare earth export ban – imitating China, developing import-substitution, or laying the foundation for energy transition
Vietnam is recently being portrayed as “following China’s playbook” on rare earths after it introduced a ban on exports. But if studied closely, they are structurally different with two distinct objectives. While China has restricted its rare earth exports, effective April 4, 2025, using licensing, quotas, and regulatory scrutiny to reinforce its dominance over a supply chain it already controls, Vietnam has put a complete ban, effective January 2026, to supporting its domestic industry that has struggled for decades to exploit its reserves. 中文翻译附于新闻末尾，敬请继续阅读。 China vs Vietnam - imitation of policy or inspiration? China still accounts for 70 per cent of the global rare earth supply, boasting 700 million tonnes of reserves. and an even larger share of processing and magnet manufacturing....
India’s bauxite output rises to 24MT in 2025, with exports up 67.6% and imports easing 31.1%
India’s bauxite exports today look very different from where they stood just a few years ago. This change in picture is due to higher production at home and a gradual easing of import dependence. In 2023, exports over the nine-month period (January to September) totalled 60.968 thousand tonnes, worth USD 0.79 million. Volumes were small, and overseas shipments were not a priority. A year later, that balance had shifted. Exports in January–September 2024 rose to 241.771 thousand tonnes, with value climbing to USD 5.76 million. That worked out to a 296.6 per cent increase in volume and a 629.1 per cent rise in value year on year. By 2025, the move was even more visible. Ministry of Commerce and Industry data shows exports of 405.232 thousand tonnes between January and September, generating...
Aluminium UBCs supply over 70% of can scrap globally, but metallurgy determines circularity, Innoval’s COP30 factsheet shows
The aluminium beverage cans linger to be one of the strongest proofs that the aluminium industry’s circularity is attainable at scale. Not in theory, but in practice. A recent white paper presented by Innoval at COP30 shows that the evidence lies purely in metallurgy, process control and measurable emissions outcomes. Image for reference only Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with 50+ reports across the value chain An Innoval spokesperson has said, “Can-to-can recycling is not only a technical success but a critical climate solution. By optimising metallurgy and processing, we can unlock real environmental benefits while maintaining quality.” Cans are not made from generic aluminium. They rely on two engineered alloys. One where the can’s body stock uses AA3104 and...
China's Jan-Nov primary aluminium output rises 2.5% YoY
In November alone, the national primary aluminium output also rose by 2.5 per cent from November 2024 to reach 3.79 million tonnes, the NBS data showed. However, the result was slightly lower by 0.2 per cent from October, Mysteel Global calculated based on official statistics. Demand from downstream automotive and power storage sectors continued to underpin primary aluminium consumption in November, market analysts said. Automotive aluminium consumption stayed robust last month, supported mainly by the launch of new vehicle models and steady automobile production and sales, as reported. Meanwhile, demand for the material from the power storage sector also improved. Around 11 provinces recorded newly commissioned energy storage projects during the month, Mysteel noted. Also read: Aluminium...
EU’s EV policy whiplash: Ford CEO worried about European automotive future
Ford CEO, Jim Farley has expressed his concern that the shifting EV rules and industrial policies as imposed by the European Union (EU) are highly steep and extremely stringent, leaving no room for flexibility or realistic approach for the European automakers to the market. He warns the European Commission against undermining its own automakers and jeopardising the future of the European automotive industry. Image for representational purpose only Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with 50+ reports across the value chain The EV landscape of Europe is shaped by ambitious environmental goals and equally stringent directives that are being thrust upon the European market of automobiles. These range from CO2 targets to End-of-Life vehicles regulations. Corporate Average...
Energy market fault lines intensify in 2026 as AI, geopolitics and climate pressures converge
S&P Global Energy Horizons says the coming year will expose the strain within the world’s energy and sustainability systems, as governments and industries try to navigate rapid technological change, shifting geopolitical alliances and mounting climate risks. The report points to a world moving at different speeds. The US is setting its own priorities as artificial intelligence expands at a startling pace. Europe is trying to balance competing policy goals, and China is pushing further ahead in clean technology, drawing more of the global market into its orbit. A surge in electricity demand from AI is placing heavy pressure on grids, business models and environmental targets. Whether countries can make headway will depend heavily on how quickly they can expand and modernise network...
As Fastmarkets embeds CBAM into billet premiums, how do aluminium traders calculate costs?
We were all happy when we heard about the scrap exemption from the CBAM regime. But instead, it turned out to be a two-edged sword. If an EU business imports scrap and manufactures secondary aluminium, it will have to pay the tax for the secondary aluminium manufacturing, in accordance with the ETS system. If the business decides to import secondary aluminium, it still has to pay for CBAM. So, is shelter from tax a mere illusion for European aluminium businesses? Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with 50+ reports across the value chain From January 1, 2026, Fastmarkets will include the European Union’s (EU’s) Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) costs in its secondary aluminium billet premium, DDP Europe (MB-AL-0383) and primary 6063 extrusion billet premium,...
Lithium market dynamics: Supply-demand tensions and evolving price trends amidst global and domestic shifts
Since November, driven by strong demand from the energy storage sector, downstream material manufacturers have been operating at historically high utilisation rates, leading to a widening monthly supply gap for lithium carbonate. Prices surged significantly, with futures rising from around RMB 80,000 per tonne to over RMB 100,000 per tonne, marking substantial volatility. However, recent signs of slowing weekly destocking, coupled with rumors of the potential reopening of CATL, have slightly tempered bullish sentiment, and prices have re-entered a range-bound consolidation phase. At this juncture, market outlook diverges significantly. This article will analyse key market contradictions based on recent supply and demand data from industry surveys. Supply Side: In November 2025, the...
Aluminium Fluoride’s dual reality - indispensable to aluminium, burdensome to producers
Aluminium fluoride (AlF3) has long been a critical ingredient in aluminium production – vital for efficient electrolysis yet scrutinised for its environmental and economic costs. On one hand, it is a necessity, on the other, a dilemma. Functionally, aluminium fluoride is a cornerstone of the Hall–Héroult process as it reduces electrolyte’s melting point from ~2000°C to <1000°C, cuts energy consumption, increases the bath’s conductivity, and helps dissolve alumina into the electrolyte. In short, this additive allows for efficient electrolysis of alumina (Al₂O₃) into molten aluminum metal. But its utility comes at a cost, both literally and environmentally. The price of aluminium fluoride, although varies by purity and supplier, typically ranges between USD 1,000 and USD 1,800 per tonne in...
