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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Aluminum industry body asks U.S. authorities to probe China exports
A U.S. aluminum industry body has called on federal authorities to investigate allegations that Chinese producers of the metal are improperly labeling their exports, flooding the market and driving down global prices. Aluminum producers in the United States have alleged that the Chinese have mislabeled exports as semi-fabricated aluminum in order to evade an export tax on primary aluminum. These products, the U.S. producers say, are often re-melted into primary aluminum further along in the supply chain. The complaint by the Aluminum Association was sent in a letter dated Sept 4 to a unit of the U.S. Trade Representative. Aluminum Association Vice President for Policy Charles Johnson asked Interagency Trade Enforcement Center Director Bradford Ward to look into allegations that the...
More shine to National Aluminium Company
The share price of National Aluminium Company (Nalco) has surged 30 per cent after it hit an almost two-year low of INR 28 on August 25, following a rout in metal stocks on concerns over Chinese slowdown. Though China still remains a concern, analysts say current aluminium prices are factoring in too much pessimism, and ignoring fundamentals, and hence should rebound. Further, for Nalco, the good news is allocation of Utkal D and E coal blocks in Odisha. The Utkal E block was held by Nalco since 2004, and the company had spent INR 126 crore on its development (including INR 98 crore on compensation for land acquisition). The block had got de-allocated following a Supreme Court order. Thus, its re-allocation, along with another block, is a positive for Nalco, and will help contain costs....
Aluminium futures weaken on global cues
Aluminium futures today traded 0.42 per cent lower at INR 106.75 per kg as speculators reduced their positions amid weak global cues. Furthermore, subdued demand in the domestic spot market also weighed. At Multi Commodity Exchange, aluminium for delivery in September eased 45 paise, or 0.42 per cent, to INR 106.75 per kg in a business turnover of 185 lots. Similarly, the metal for delivery in October traded lower by 30 paise, or 0.28 per cent, to INR 107.55 per kg in nine lots. Market analysts said the weakness in aluminium is mostly in tune with a downtrend in base metals at the London Metal Exchange (LME) as investors weighed China's economic slowdown and global disruptions to supply ahead of the Fed meet on rates.
CNIA to host 2015 China International Aluminum Industry Week in October 2015
China, as the largest producer and consumer of aluminium in the world, plays a decisive role in the global aluminium industry. The sustainable and healthy development of China’s aluminium industry in the future requires a wider opening and longer perspective in broadening of international collaboration, strengthening of industry coordination and practice of win-win strategy. In order to enhance cooperation, deepen communication and promote aluminium application, China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association (CNIA) decides to host 2015 China International Aluminum Industry Week in Qingdao of Shandong province from 26th to 29th October 2015. The four day event includes 2015 China Aluminum Forum, Pan Pacific Aluminum Industry Summit and Expanding Applications of Aluminum Cladding Panel Forum....
Redesigned Aluminum Statistical Review highlights demand growth for 5th straight year
The Aluminum Association released the latest edition of the Aluminum Statistical Review for 2014 on September 17, 2015 . The 2015 edition of the Review, which features a new design and statistics through 2014 in the North American market, includes information on every cycle of the aluminum production process from primary aluminum to markets for finished goods to the recovery of aluminum scrap. The full report is available for purchase in the Aluminum Association bookstore at www.aluminum.org. This year’s Review shows continued growth in demand for the metal and positive trend lines in many key market sectors. Among key findings, the report found that in 2014 in the U.S. and Canada: • Demand for aluminum (producer net shipments and imports) increased by 3.6 percent to 25.5 billion pounds....
Petcoke is the unlikely Achilles heel of the world's aluminium producers- a study reveals
According to a new study by three consultants, AZ China, Cascade Resources and Turner Mason and Co., titled "Anode coke outlook to 2025," anode grade petroleum coke is going to play a key role in reining in the excess production of primary aluminium that has been pulling down the global aluminium prices for a while now. Petroleum coke, also known as petcoke, is a by-product of the oil refining process; and anode-grade petcoke is that variety, which contains less than three percent of sulphur. Petcoke is an important raw material in the aluminium production process. It is used as carbon anode in the Hall-Heroult aluminium process. There are two dominant suppliers of anode coke to the world's smelters, the United States and China. Output in both is declining. In the U.S. this is largely a...
Busy 100 days for Sapa’s new CEO
President & CEO Egil Hogna intends to spend his first 100 days gaining deep insight into the operations of his new company and its global team, with travel around the world of Sapa. He started this week in Denmark and Austria. Already during his first week on the job, between meetings with the management team, Hogna opened his agenda and invited all employees at Sapa’s head office in Oslo for five-minute “speed dating” sessions. It lasted the entire day. Now, he has started his tour around the world of Sapa. His first stop was in Denmark, where he visited the extrusion plant and the aluminium tubing plant in Tønder. He went from there to Austria, site of the Nenzing extrusion plant. Board union representatives Tor Egil Skulstad and Kenneth Hertz joined Hogna on the visits. ”Sapa is made...
Study reveals single serve coffee packaging systems can reduce food waste and lower environmental impact
A recent study by Quantis Canada on the environmental impact of single serve coffee portions, relative to bulk coffee preparation at home, reinforces findings from the LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) on two coffee packaging systems commissioned by Flexible Packaging Europe (FPE). The externally reviewed study for PAC (Packaging Association of Canada) concludes that “Overall, the single-serve best case scenario posts a better environmental performance than the drip brew system from the perspective of the systems’ full life cycles”. Stefan Glimm, Chief Executive Director for FPE said, “The conclusions of this new study are significant as they confirm our LCA on packed food products “Case Study: Coffee” comparing an instant coffee single serve stick-pack with a ground coffee family size pouch...
Indian aluminium scrap holds ground through the week ended Sept 11
Indian containerized shredded scrap import prices plummeted during week ended September 11, while Indian aluminium scrap prices on Scrap Register Price Index remained almost stable. According to TSI, containerized shredded index for Indian imports fell by $9 a ton to $232 a ton CFR Nhava Sheva port. This was largely as a result of international trends, with the market flooded with material and mills forcing suppliers to drop their prices. Currency depreciation is also a key issue, with buyers having to pay more Rupees to buy the same volume, meaning US$ values have to decrease. As per the Scrap Register Price Index, scrap prices for aluminium accessories, aluminium ingots, aluminium rod company, aluminium rod local, aluminium sheet cutting, aluminium utensil, aluminium wire traded flat...
Cynthia Carroll joins the Chairman's Office of Vedanta Resources plc
Vedanta announces that Cynthia Carroll is joining the Group as the Chair of Vedanta Resources Holdings Ltd. In this role, Cynthia will advise on key strategic initiatives for the Chairman's Office of Vedanta Resources plc, including corporate development and significant value creation opportunities. Anil Agarwal, Chairman of Vedanta Resources plc, stated: "I am delighted to welcome Cynthia on board and look forward to working closely with her. She brings a wealth of experience in the natural resources sector across commodities and geographies and extensive experience in mining, oil and gas and the aluminium industry." Tom Albanese, Group CEO, Vedanta Resources plc, said: "Having known Cynthia for many years, I look forward to collaborating with her and leveraging her valuable industry...
Names of aluminium experts announced for OEM Collision Technology Summit
The Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) has announced the speakers for the second annual OEM Collision Repair Technology Summit to be held November 5th at the Las Vegas Convention Center during the 2015 SEMA Show. SCRS is welcoming back Doug Richman, vice president of engineering and technology for Kaiser Aluminum and technical committee chairman of the Aluminum Association’s Transportation Group. Richman’s presentation, “The Future of Aluminum in the Automotive Industry,” will offer insight into the technological advancements being made in the aluminum industry relative to use in the automotive market. The program will touch on safety, repairability and integration with automakers to address the growing demand for lightweight materials. Richman joined Kaiser in 1996 and was...
Hulamin requests for import duty hike on aluminium products
Africa's largest producer of rolled and extruded aluminium products, Hulamin, is asking the government to protect it from cheaper imports through higher import duties on all of its products to the maximum level of 15%. The move follows applications made to the International Trade Administration Commission (Itac) by steel makers, including ArcelorMittal SA, for tariff protection. About 80% of Hulamin’s revenue comes from rolled products with the rest from complex extruded products. The group supplies the domestic industry and exports to Europe, North America, the Middle East and Asia. Hulamin CEO Richard Jacob confirmed that the company had made an application to Itac for increased import duties. "We submitted two applications to Itac, one each for rolled and extruded aluminium products,"...
Synthesis Energy updates on Tianwo-SES JV projects in China
Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc., a global energy and gasification technology company enabling clean, high-value energy and chemical products from multiple feedstocks, reports a progress update from its Tianwo-SES Clean Energy Technologies Company Joint Venture in China. The second of three previously announced natural gas replacement projects under construction for Aluminum Corporation of China Limited, located in Xing County, Shanxi Province, has completed installation of the facility's single SES Gasification Technology system. The project team is commencing the first heat-up of the gasifier for the refractory curing period. The start-up of the gasifier is expected later this year. In addition to Shanxi, the first of the three Chalco projects located in Zibo City, Shandong Province, is...
Alcoa named sustainability leader on Dow Jones Indices
For the fourteenth year in a row, lightweight metals leader Alcoa has been named as one of the world’s leading companies for sustainability on the prestigious Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI)—a globally recognized and reputable benchmark for corporate responsibility and sustainability. Alcoa was again recognized as the Aluminum Industry Leader on the Dow Jones World Index. “Sustainability guides everything we do, from creating innovative solutions that help de-carbonize our world and create value for customers, to improving the sustainability of our own manufacturing processes,” said Kevin McKnight, Alcoa’s Chief Sustainability Officer and Vice President of Environment, Health and Safety. “The progress we continue to make demonstrates that we live our sustainability value every...
Challenging market to affect Hindalco's performance: KM Birla
The challenging conditions in the commodities market, particularly the aluminium sector, will impact Hindalco's performance in the short term, said Hindalco Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla. Birla, also the Chairman of the Aditya Birla Group, said improved aluminium fundamentals and large-scale smelting curtailment by global majors have supported the recovery in aluminium price. "The commodity markets, in particular the aluminium industry, are going through a challenging phase at present because of the sharp slide in realisations. This would impact Hindalco's performance in the near term," said Birla at Hindalco's AGM. He, however, said the firm is all set to capitalise on the growth opportunities such as growing urbanisation, light weight of vehicles and growth in emerging markets. "2015-16...
Chinese aluminium smelters will cut output under rising pressure, observes Rusal
China will pare down its aluminium smelting capacity, should global prices of aluminum remain low over the long term, opined Rusal President Oleg Djeripaska. With stringent environmental protection laws in place, energy-intensive and high carbon footprint industrial activities like aluminium smelting will face a setback leading to cost escalation. As a result, primary aluminium makers might be forced to shut down the smelters, said Oleg Djeripaska. Global aluminum prices plummeted to hit a six-year low on global surplus.
HTA's new automated fibre laser cutter expedites aluminium sheet processing
Coventry-based HTA Group has invested over £2 million in automated laser profiling technology in an installation that is said to be unparalleled in the UK. The equipment comprises two 5kW TRUMPF TruLaser 5040 fibre laser cutting machines (4m by 2m format) with BrightLine fiber technology and SortMaster part sorting automation. Both machines are connected to an automated storage system via automated loading and unloading systems. The installation will help the company enhance its customer offer, namely the supply of laser cut parts and fabrications for industries that include construction, automotive, defence, rail, renewables and oil and gas. “We wanted to take our profiling capability to a whole new level, using the very latest technology available,” says the company’s managing director,...
Redwave to showcase its aluminium recycling expertise
Recycling technology specialist Redwave of Austria is to throw open the doors of its headquarters to customers and industry experts from around the globe on September 30 and October 1. The event is being described by Redwave as ‘the best opportunity to stay on top of new developments in the field of scrap metal and aluminium recycling’, and will feature the company’s latest innovations. There will also be presentations from experts representing different sectors of the scrap metal and aluminium recycling industry. In addition, visitors will have the opportunity to witness live demonstrations, including of the new-generation Redwave XRF sorting machine. The REDWAVE XRF-M analyses and evaluates materials including aluminium scrap according to chemical composition. Unwanted parts are...
