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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World alumina production aligns with demand forecast, with a 6% growth in Q3 2025
The world alumina production concluded the third quarter of 2025 with a positive trajectory, overcoming a soft September thanks to strong output in July and August when the volume reached an all-time high . Although primary aluminium production slowed, alumina output remained tightly aligned with consumption trends. Strong momentum keeps alumina output aligned with consumption According to the International Aluminium Insitute, the world alumina production volume in Q3 2025 amounted to 39.387 million tonnes versus 37.225 million tonnes, reflecting a Q-o-Q rise of 5.81 per cent. While metallurgical-grade climbed up from 34.937 million tonnes to 37.002 million tonnes, chemical-grade grew from 2.288 million tonnes to 2.385 million tonnes. Through the first nine months, the output also showed...
NBS: China's Jan-Oct primary aluminium output rises 2 per cent Y-o-Y
In October alone, China produced 3.8 million tonnes of the light metal, up by a small 0.4 per cent from the same month last year, the NBS data showed. The figure was lower by 0.2 per cent from September, Mysteel Global's calculation based on the NBS statistics showed. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with 50+ reports across the value chain The NBS October figure closely matched preliminary data emerging from Mysteel's survey, which showed that the 89 Chinese smelters under its regular monitoring produced 3.8 million tonnes of primary aluminium last month, up 3.3 per cent on month. Most primary aluminium smelters continued steady operations in October, supported by a further improvement in profitability across the domestic industry, which climbed to a more than...
Europe’s aluminium sector under strain; Premiums, smelter disruption and CBAM tighten the market
Europe’s aluminium market is being squeezed from three sides at once: soaring premiums, a major smelter shutdown and the countdown to CBAM. Together, these pressures are tightening supply, inflating costs and reshaping trade flows across the continent as 2025 draws to a close. Premiums surge as supply tightens across Europe The first sign came from the premium market. By November 2025, Europe’s duty-paid premium had climbed to USD 324.38 per tonne, after touching a nine-month high of USD 330 per tonne on November 3. Forecasts for December point to roughly USD 335.50 per tonne, with 2026 estimates sitting between USD 327.25 and USD 330.50 per tonne. The rise did not come from a single trigger but from a combination of tightening supply, higher freight rates and early adjustments to...
Powering aluminium PART 1: Inside the global smelting energy map (2023–24)
Aluminium has always carried a contradiction. It is the metal the world turns to for lightweighting, electrification and decarbonisation. And yet producing it remains one of the most energy-intensive industrial activities on the planet. However, that contradiction is finally catching up with the industry. Over 2023 and 2024, as the world’s primary aluminium output edged upward, a parallel battle unfolded behind the scenes in the fight over electrons. What powered the smelters mattered as much as how much they produced. And the global power map that emerges from the latest data is a story of contrasts — between coal and hydro, between gas-rich Gulf producers and hydro-blessed Scandinavia, between Asia’s ambitious new expansions and Africa’s slow-moving grids. This is the first of a...
MYSTEEL: Oversupply keeps China alumina prices under near-term pressure
Meanwhile, China's imports of alumina climbed as overseas material remained cheaper than the domestic supply. Mysteel data showed that the average price of Australian alumina (purity above 98.6per cent) fell 4.5 per cent on a month to USD 344.4 per tonne CIF Lianyungang in October. By comparison, China's weighted national average price for the same grade of domestic alumina dropped 5 per cent to RMB 2,920 per tonne(USD 410.2 per tonne), still USD 65.8 per tonne higher than imported material. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with 50+ reports across the value chain In late October, some temporary production cuts were implemented in North China, where local alumina refiners were ordered to reduce operations due to heavy air pollution. These curbs led to a slight...
RUSAL's low-carbon aluminium: the silent force behind Russia-Turkey's strategic partnership
The trade relation between the Russian Federation and Turkey dates back to the 1990s, following the collapse of the Soviet Union. What began as an exchange of food, energy, and industrial goods has matured into a modern partnership defined by sustainability, technology, and green metal trade. And at the heart of this evolving relationship stands RUSAL, Russia’s major aluminium producer. How? Rusal’s low-carbon aluminium journey aligns seamlessly with Turkey’s green energy ambitions. As Turkey accelerates its energy transition and strengthens its manufacturing base, its need for sustainable materials surges. Aluminium, the metal of choice for mobility, construction, and clean energy technologies, is now a linchpin in Turkey’s industrial strategy. Turkey’s rising aluminium appetite: What’s...
BALCO wins CENVAT credit rights on bauxite mining after court verdict
Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO) has won a major tax dispute case after the Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) ruled in its favour, confirming that the company is entitled to claim CENVAT credit on the service tax paid for mining services used in bauxite extraction. The tribunal’s decision, delivered on November 6, 2025, dismissed the appeal filed by the Revenue Department and upheld the earlier order of the Principal Commissioner. Image for representational purpose How the dispute began The case revolved around whether BALCO could rightfully claim credit for service tax paid on mining services connected to its captive bauxite mines. The company had hired a service provider to extract bauxite, the key raw material for producing alumina, which is later used...
From scrap to strength: Why global aluminium scrap is flowing into Southeast Asia
What once filled scrapyards is now driving a regional boom. Aluminium scrap, long treated as waste, is now an important thing into Southeast Asia as factories across Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam hunt for cleaner raw material. With global industries chasing low-carbon supply chains and environmental rules tightening, the region has quietly become one of the world’s busiest recycling hubs — and business is thriving. Malaysia has taken the lead in this shift. According to UN Comtrade data aluminium scrap imports jumped 18.5 per cent in a single year — from 241.99 thousand tonnes in 2023 (worth USD 430.27 million) to 286.80 thousand tonnes in 2024, valued at USD 551.7 million. Among this United States supplied a large share, around 359,000 tonnes. By August 2025, Malaysia already...
Trade and economic loss unveiled owing to US’s longest government shutdown in history
From air traffic controllers leaving their posts to federal workers missing pay cheques for the second time in a row, the 43-day-long US federal government shutdown has taken a toll across all sectors. The crisis has dealt a double blow to the economy — first from tariffs and now from halted government operations. As trade slows, diplomatic ties fray, and even neighbouring allies distance themselves, the situation reeks of broader loss of confidence. With a national debt nearing USD 38 trillion as of early November 2025, the prolonged deadlock is now rippling through the country’s economy, trade, and transportation systems. Image for referential purposes only Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with 50+ reports across the value chain Why did the government shut down in...
US Aluminium Midwest Premiums hit record high – what drives the surge and who bears the cost?
On the evening of November 10, 2025, Aluminium buyers in the US physical market witnessed history unfold as the Midwest Premium surged to an all-time high of USD 1,950.15 per tonne , striking a sharp growth of 2.87 per cent overnight from USD 1,895.72 per tonne. The Midwest Premium, a surcharge on top of the London Metal Exchange (LME) price that reflects local delivery costs, logistics, and regional supply-demand dynamics, has become a direct casualty of US protectionist measures. Analysts attribute the latest spike to the combined effects of steep tariffs and mounting supply chain distortions, which have tightened domestic availability of the metal. Surges over several months However, this hike is not an overnight affair. The rally has been building steadily since the beginning of 2025....
Europe braces for a 123% surge in flat-rolled aluminium demand — what will fill the gap left by China after anti-dumping duties?
A wave of demand is sweeping through Europe’s aluminium flat-rolled products sector, and this pace of growth is anticipated to reshape the entire market. Flat-roll products (excluding foil) have climbed from 3.95 million tonnes in 2020 to a projected 5.94 million tonnes in 2025. That’s a 50.38 per cent jump in just five years. And this is only the starting point. By 2032, consumption is expected to rise by around 123.3 per cent a surge tied from sustainability targets to changes in manufacturing techniques and the pressure to cut carbon emissions. The plates segment has been following the same upward path. In 2020, it stood at 580 thousand tonnes. By 2025, the figure is expected to reach 856 thousand tonnes — a 47.6 per cent increase. Looking further ahead to 2032, consumption is...
Here’s why COP30, along with previous climate meetings, matter for the lightweight metal value chain
Born from the 1992 UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) treaty and signed at the Rio Earth Summit, the COP (Conference of the Parties) completes three decades of climate commitment meetings. The 30 th COP or the ‘2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference’ is being held at the heart of the Amazon (Belem, Brazil) and is currently in progress. Yet, when it comes to evaluating the achievements as opposed to targets or goals, the mass notion is that the majority of the countries have failed to achieve the agenda of the climate meets and only 15 have achieved the deadline set by the latest Paris agreement for 2025 (which was inscribed at the COP21). Let’s explore what is the ground reality of COPs versus aluminium in the past thirty years. Image source:...
WEEKLY: China's alumina output drops, stocks swell to new record
The decline in output mainly reflected extended calciner suspensions in Hebei and Henan provinces triggered by ongoing air pollution alerts, as well as production adjustments in Shandong province, market sources said. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with 50+ reports across the value chain In response to air pollution warnings initially scheduled to be lifted at the end of October, two alumina producers in Henan's Luoyang and Hebei's Tangshan each halted two calciners for 3-4 days during the prior week, as reported. When the two cities issued renewed smog alerts on November 3 and 4, the suspensions were extended through last week, further curbing output. In addition, a refiner in Shandong began a three-week maintenance check on one calciner early last week due to...
From fiscal spikes to green strides, Hindalco’s Q2FY26 performance unfolded
Indian aluminium producer Hindalco Industries Limited has released its Q2 FY26 performance for the period ending September 30, 2025. With the rising demand for aluminium within the country, the firm is enhancing production capabilities and is also pushing towards green initiatives via renewable energy use. Overall financial snapshot The group of companies (including Novelis) showed a robust performance across all its businesses in Q2 FY26, where the consolidated revenue reached INR 660.58 billion (USD 7.95 billion). It reflected an increase of 13 per cent from INR 5.83 billion (USD 7.01 billion) in Q2 FY25. The business segment EBITDA climbed by 6 per cent year-on-year, amounting to INR 0.91 billion (USD 1.10 billion), up from INR 0.86 billion (USD 1.03 billion) the previous year. Profit...
Can the recycling industry scale for the 2030 goals? We ready to shift to an all-aluminium recycling world?
Market research collated in early 2025 places the global aluminium scrap processing pipeline at roughly 38 million tonnes in 2024, with forecasts pointing to about 57 million tonnes by 2030 (a 7 per cent CAGR from 2024–2030). That projection is built on expected growth in automotive, packaging and building applications and on investments in sorting and remelting technologies. Image depicts recycled aluminium usage by end-user spectrum (Source: AL Circle Report ) Also read: 80% of waste, including aluminium packaging, goes into landfills in Greece For context at the national level, U.S. Geological Survey Publications states that in the United States, recovered aluminium from purchased scrap in 2024 was about 3.27 million tonnes, of which new (manufacturing) scrap accounted for roughly 56...
SWG collaboration: Today’s economic pathway to net-zero alumina
Sahl Regen, Worley and GEA (SWG) have collaborated to demonstrate how integrating Sahl Regen’s KX Heat Exchanger with GEA’s Mechanical Vapour Recompression (MVR) evaporation can reduce Bayer-process energy consumption by around 70 per cent. The collaboration is reinforced by Sahl Regen’s Kassofor Programme, which advances Net-Zero goals through verified carbon capture in regenerated soils. Image source: GEA Key highlights of the article 70 per cent total energy reduction of the Bayer process and full digestion electrification with KX + MVR. All KX components are individually proven, with the first integrated demonstration unit ready to build. Reuse of Bayer-contaminated waters and environmental compatibility of MVR condensate. Measured and independently verified carbon offset credits:...
Global bauxite upswing triggers exports, expansions and collaborations across the aluminium ecosystem – here’s what’s unfolding
The global bauxite market size is poised to grow at a CAGR of 2.7 per cent by 2032, reaching USD 19.6 billion. In 2024, the market size was USD 15.9 billion, and in 2025, it is expected to stand at USD 16.4 billio - still a USD 3.2 billion journey away from its projected peak. And as the numbers rise, so does the momentum across the industry. It unveils news projects, secures fresh investments, expands capacities, and even reshapes policies to align with the changing market landscape. The past week was a vivid reflection of this energy. Guinea ramped up its shipment volumes, Tianshan Aluminium expanded its footprint, and Metro Mining reaffirmed its steady march toward its 2025 shipment target.The wave of activity did not stop there. Riding on the same current of progress, alumina refiners...
Bigger capacity, greater impact? Assessing if Novelis faces a deeper fiscal blow from Oswego fire than Sierre flood
History has a way of repeating itself for Novelis; and this time, it has done so in barely a year. During the second quarter of FY2025, Novelis endured financial and operational stress due to a severe flood at its Sierre plant in Switzerland. Cut to Q2 FY2026, Novelis again finds itself in a similar situation due to a fire outbreak at its Oswego plant in New York. While the timing of the incident was just two weeks before the quarter-end, it reflected not much effect on its Q2 financial results. But Novelis and its parent company Hindalco are embracing a negative impact on cash flow by about USD 550-650 million for FY2026, which also includes an estimated adjusted EBITDA loss of USD 100-150 million - a figure that signals the gravity of the operational disruption. This image is only for...
