Germany exports 86% of TRIMET’s aluminium production despite 1.84Mt domestic demand from automotive, packaging & extrusion industries
Germany’s last remaining primary aluminium producer, TRIMET Aluminium SE, has a combined nameplate capacity of approximately 540,000 tonnes per year across its German and French smelters. Yet Germany exported 466,756 tonnes of unwrought primary aluminium in 2025, equivalent to 86.44 per cent of that combined capacity. Exports reached 501,678 tonnes in 2023 and 449,590 tonnes in 2024, while shipments totalled 273,080 tonnes between January and July 2026. The comparison presents an intriguing picture of Germany’s aluminium industry. Despite having a limited primary smelting base, the country continues to export hundreds of thousands of tonnes of unwrought aluminium annually. At the same time, it imported 2 million tonnes of primary aluminium in 2025, more than four times its exports. Why...
Indonesian Aluminium: The shift from mining to smelting
Indonesia is pitched as the next big Asian aluminium hub as the country has released an expansive alumina and aluminium expansion plan, based on the abundant bauxite resource in the country. China has exhausted its aluminium capacity cap and is unlikely to raise installed capacity significantly in the coming years. Additionally, geopolitical conflicts, sanctions, and tariffs have made much of global aluminium capacity inaccessible and vulnerable. This includes Russian aluminium and the Gulf output, along with restricted and costly access to Canadian aluminium for the US smelters. The already tight supply conditions have been made worse after the Iran-Israel-US war that disrupted the Gulf aluminium capacity. Under current supply conditions, India and Indonesia will play a critical role in...
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Canada's First Bauxite still hunting for financing its Bonasika mining venture
Canada’s First Bauxite Corporation is yet to find a source to finance its proposed bauxite mining project at Bonasika. The delay has posed a major impediment in the start of construction of the mine. “They still looking for financing, it’s very difficult now,” said Commissioner of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission Rickford Vieira in a statement recently. He said that the company had done a proposal and asked for more time. First Bauxite was supposed to begin construction by the end of January next year on receipt of two extensions; however, the delay in finding any potential source of financing meeting the deadline seems quite impractical. Bonasika bauxite mine is one of the several projects that have stalled due to difficulties in finding appropriate financing.
Aluminium use in automobiles reduces pollution: Nalco CMD
Growing application of aluminium in automobile industry has not only increased fuel efficiency but also reduced the vehicular pollution, said Nalco CMD T K Chand. "While the developed countries use on an average 140 kg of aluminium per vehicle, in India it is about 40 kg only. Nevertheless, by 2016 the use of this lightweight metal in auto sector in India is expected to go up by at least three times," said Chand, on the sidelines an Auto Fest in Bhubaneshwar on Saturday, October 17. Stating that replacement of one kg of heavy metal by aluminium reduces 22 kg of carbon dioxide emission during the lifecycle of a vehicle, Chand said, "Most importantly, at the end of a vehicle's life nearly 90 per cent of the aluminium is recyclable." "Initially, aluminium gained a foothold in wheels and...
Automation and recycling help Canadian aluminium automotive die casters to make a mark
According to the observations made in a recently published research report on aluminium die-casting market for automobiles in Canada, the market here is matured and is continuing a steady growth over the past couple of years. Despite ongoing economic crisis and government's hostile tax policies, that have been adversely impacting the small firms, as a whole, the regional market has continued to dominate the global aluminium die-casting market with the growing automobile industry in the country. Empire Die Casting, an Ohio-based aluminium and zinc die caster, and other plants have installed advanced electric aluminium melting, and distribution and holding systems. This infrastructural advancement is expected to cut the amount of energy consumed by aluminium smelters by 80%. Regional...
MSI Gaming announces the Thunderstorm aluminium mousepad
MSI Gaming, the leading gaming notebook manufacturer and innovator, announced the launch of its brand new Thunderstorm dual-sided gaming mousepad, which is engineered from anodized aluminum, forming a tough mousepad that will not bend during intensive gaming sessions. To keep it firmly in place, the Thunderstorm is equipped with anti-slip feet on all four corners. Its unique L-shaped design gives gamers maximum freedom to position their keyboard and mouse exactly the way they prefer. The edges of the solid aluminum Thunderstorm have a chamfer finishing for a premium look and feel. Suited for gamers of every type, the MSI Thunderstorm features two different surfaces to choose from. For ultimate swiftness, the polymer textured Speed Surface is optimized for fast movements and gives a smooth...
Canada's Linamar offers $882 million to buy French supplier Montupet
Canadian supplier Linamar Corp. has offered 771 million euros ($882 million) in cash to acquire French peer Montupet SA. Montupet, which is working with U.S. investment bank Jefferies, said its board is supporting Linamar's tender offer. The French company supplies valued-added aluminium castings and parts to a variety of automakers in Europe, including Volkswagen. Linamar CEO Linda Hasenfratz said in a statement: "Montupet is a technical leader in the market, well known and respected for its engineering and processing expertise in the cylinder head segment in particular where we intend to grow and leverage our respective strengths. "Our businesses are very complementary, with our finished machining strength and Montupet’s casting expertise, and we are remarkably aligned in our business...
Norsk Hydro's Pará port facilities may close for clean-up, operations unaffected
Brazil’s Federal and State Public Attorneys in Pará and the State Public Defender has requested that the Brazilian federal court halt activities at the Vila do Conde port to clean up after a ship, carrying cattle, capsized in the port on October 6. Hydro’s operations at the nearby Albras and Alunorte plants are so far unaffected. The capsizing happened at one of several quays at Vila do Conde, which is Pará’s biggest port and also the location of the quay that Hydro uses to load and unload finished goods and certain raw materials for Alunorte and Albras. Any possible future closure of the port would not immediately impact Hydro’s operations, however, a longer-term closure could eventually impact operations. Hydro is following the situation closely and is actively assisting authorities in...
LME aluminium vulnerable to losses this week
LME aluminium will be vulnerable to losses this week on negative news from China, SMM says. Bearish sentiment is strong in China. The US dollar index found strong support near 94. LME aluminium has lost support at all moving averages. All these factors will push LME aluminium down below $1,550 per million tonne. SHFE 1512 aluminium will range 11,000-11,200 yuan per tonne, dragged by lower production costs. Spot discounts in China will widen to 100 yuan per tonne due to high inventories. According to the analysts, LME aluminium may break a support at $1,563 per tonne. It fall to the next support at $1,552, as indicated by a Fibonacci projection analysis. The support is provided by the 14.6 percent Fibonacci projection level of an upward wave C, the third wave of a three-wave cycle from the...
INALUM expands capacity to double production
Indonesia Asahan Aluminum (INALUM) has allocated up to US$2.5 billion to finance a number of projects in order to help achieve a target of producing 500,000 tons of aluminum by 2020. Among the projects are a new 200,000 ton capacity aluminum smelter and a steam-fueled power plant (PLTU) as well as the expansion of Inalum’s designated port at Kuala Tanjung in North Sumatra. Inalum president director Winardi Sunoto said that in order to accomplish the production target, Inalum would need a minimum of 1 million tons of raw aluminum material to process. Currently, the state-owned aluminum maker's top production capacity is at 250,000 tons. “With our expansions and our projects, we expect to be able to double our production by 2020,” Winardi said on Thursday. Regarding the projects, Winardi...
Union accepts proposed labor deal at Alcoa Intalco aluminum smelter
Workers at Alcoa's Intalco Works aluminum smelter voted to accept the company's final contract offer, staving off a second labor dispute at a U.S. smelter this year as prices tumble below production costs. "The Contract was accepted," The international Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers said on its website. Contract negotiations began on Oct. 1 between Alcoa and the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers Local 2379, which represents 500 of the 560 workers at the 230,000 tonne-per-year smelter in Ferndale, Washington. The vote prevented any industrial action at the plant, as aluminum prices on the London Metal Exchange (LME) languish near 6-year lows and after the Midwest premium AL-PREM paid on top of futures for physical delivery fell an unprecedented 66...
ANTAM and INALUM forms a JV to develop smelter grade alumina refinery
PT ANTAM Tbk and PT Indonesia Asahan Aluminium (INALUM) announced that they have agreed to set up a joint venture company to develop and operate Smelter Grade Alumina Refinery (SGAR). Construction of the SGAR in its proposed location in West Kalimanta, is to start in 2016; operations at the plant will commence in 2019. ANTAM's President Director, Tedy Badrujaman, said, 'The agreement with INALUM to set up a joint venture company with strategic partner is the next step following the signing of MoU between the two companies in July this year. The development of SGAR Mempawah will add value to our vast bauxite reserves through downstream processing.' INALUM's President Director, Winardi Sunoto, said, 'Our synergy with ANTAM is part of our sustainable development initiatives to create an...
Production from Guinea's Alufer bauxite mine delayed until 2017
Operations at Guinea’s Alufer Bel-Air bauxite mine experienced a setback as its extended negotiations with the government pushed back production at the site by a year to 2017. The independent miner had earlier announced its plans to invest around USD 400 million to develop the Bel-Air open-pit mine near the coast of the West African country, which is home to almost one-third of the world's reserves of bauxite. Production had been expected to begin in 2016. However, administrative problems over the terms of a contract delayed the entire project. A basic production agreement needs to be signed with the mining company first and ratified by parliament. "We had a first round of negotiations in Conakry and we now need to meet again in the coming weeks to continue with them," said a Guinean...
LME aluminium neutral in $1,577-$1,599 range
LME aluminium looks neutral in a range of $1,577-$1,599 per tonne, and an escape will point a direction. The range is formed by the 23.6 percent and the 38.2 percent Fibonacci projection levels of an upward wave C, the third wave of a three-wave cycle from the August 24 low of $1,506. A break above $1,599 could lead to a gain to $1,616, the 50 percent level, while a break below $1,577 could cause a loss to the range of $1,552-$1,563, formed by the 7 percent and the 14.6 percent levels.
Aluminium gains by 0.1% on spot demand
Aluminium prices were up by 0.15% to INR 101.60 per kg in futures trade on October 15 as speculators enlarged positions even as metal weakened overseas. At the Multi Commodity Exchange, aluminium for delivery in October rose 15 paise, or 0.15%, to INR 101.60 per kg, in a business turnover of 406 lots. The metal for delivery in November traded higher by 10 paise, or 0.10%, to INR 103.15 per kg in eight lots. Analysts said the rise in aluminium prices at futures trade was mostly attributed to a firming trend at the spot markets on the back of rising industrial demand but metals weakness overseas, limited the gains.
Odisha wants Niyamgiri gram sabha polls again to revive bauxite mining
To revive the beleaguered Niyamgiri bauxite mining project in south Odisha, the state government has written to the Union ministry of environment and forests, proposing that gram sabhas in the area be again polled for approval. The mining plan was scrapped two years earlier, after all 12 gram sabhas held in and around this hill range voted unanimously against the project. The referendum was conducted between July 19 and August 20, 2013, complying with a Supreme Court directive to ascertain whether mining in Niyamgiri would affect the religious, community and individual rights of local forest dwellers. Scrapping of the project had dealt a blow to the alumina refinery of Vedanta at Lanjigarh on the foothills of Niyamgiri; this was dependent on the 75 million tonnes of bauxite deposit for...
Olympian Sir Chris Hoy unveils his new aluminium bike: Alto Irpavi
Decorated British Olympian Sir Chris Hoy (in association with Evans Cycle) has revealed his latest range of bikes for 2016: the Alto Irpavi, Aomori and Shizuoka models. Among these three, Alto Irpavi model boasts an exclusive aluminium built. The flagship Alto Irpavi .004 has an aluminium frame equipped with carbon forks, full Shimano Ultegra mechanical groupset and disc brakes, all for £1,800. The Alto Irpavi model was initially conceived almost 18 months ago and is awaiting launch around the end of this year.
Automobile sector and U.S. market buoyancy spruce up Latin America metal die casting market
Latin America has witnessed a considerable growth in the metallurgy and material die casting market over the past couple of years. According to a recently published market research report, highly matured die casting market in North America and spiking automobile sector in the region were the major driving factors for the increasing die casting parts market in the country. Brazil and Argentina state and local governments have lured foreign investors by providing auto manufacturing industry with a variety of incentives such as free land, tax incentives, government-funded education programs and promises of infrastructural investment. This made the OEMs to expand their manufacturing footprint beyond the traditional manufacturing zones in Latin America and now, are found to source individual...
Odisha government plans new clusters for downstream industries
While setting timelines for establishment of proposed industrial clusters, the Government of Odisha on Thursday, October 15, asked the Industries Department to identify areas along the Kalinganagar-Paradip Express Highway for downstream industries. Chief Secretary GC Pati, who reviewed the progress of major industrial clusters including Aluminium Park at Angul and Petrochemical complex at Paradip here at a high level meeting, advised the department to identify new clusters for downstream industries along the railway line to Dhamra. The departments of Revenue and Disaster Management and Industries have been asked to work out a system for land pooling by making the land owner a stakeholder in the new industrial clusters with an assured return like land rent for faster development of the...
SMM aluminum opens at $1,593.5/mt only to end down $16/mt on Oct 15
LME aluminum hovered around USD 1,595/mt after opening at USD 1,593.5/mt on Thursday, October 15. But LME aluminum fell to USD 1,564/mt later as the US dollar index rose while gold and crude oil prices dropped. Finally, the light metal ended down USD 16/mt or 1% at USD 1,579/mt. Trading volumes were up 4,324 lots to 13,158 lots, and positions were up 7,584 to 834,000. On Thursday night, SHFE 1512 aluminum opened lower at RMB 11,250/mt due to falling LME aluminum and other base metals. The most active contract should remain weak between RMB 11,200-11,300/mt on Friday on risk aversion before the weekend. In China’s spot market, sellers will rush to sell, and spot discounts will widen to RMB 80-40/mt over SHFE 1511 aluminum contract.
