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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Axis Minerals vs Guinea: a $1B test for resource nationalism and investor confidence
A single government decree has crystallised a conflict at the heart of modern extractive politics: how far can a resource state push for value-addition and control before it destroys the investment bedrock it claims to need? The answer (for now) may hinge on an arbitration filing lodged in New York that demands USD 1 billion in damages after Guinea revoked the mining licence of Axis Minerals, one of the country’s largest private bauxite operators. Image for referential purpose only Also read- Odisha's AL renaissance: Angul Aluminium Park sets the stage for a global manufacturing hub A purge was announced on television On 14 May 2025, Guinea’s transitional authorities moved to “clean up” the national mining cadastre. The action, deemed public, swift and sweeping, saw the cancellation or...
Odisha – A capital of Indian aluminium industry (Part 3)
According to ‘Vision Document on Aluminium Metal for India’ published by Government, the country has reached a stage where it produces 4.16 Mtpa of Primary Aluminium and 1.8 Mtpa in the secondary sector. Here Odisha is the main contributor, currently 4 Aluminium Smelters, with a total Installed Capacity of 2.7 Mtpa. are operating in this state. Image source: Vedanta Aluminium NALCO Aluminium Smelter (0.46 Mtpa) Located in Angul of Odisha, NALCO's Smelter is based on old Aluminium Pechiney technology (180KA prebake cell) of smelting & pollution control and comprises of four potlines with 240 electrolytic pot cells in each, along with integrated facilities for casting of ingots, sows, billets, strips and wire rods and chequered sheets. Smelter unit has a 50,000 tpa Rolled Products Unit...
Alcoa’s Kwinana refinery to shutdown permanently – what impacts will it bring on economy and alumina supply chain?
On Tuesday, September 30, Alcoa Corporation, a global industry leader in bauxite, alumina, and aluminium products, confirmed the permanent closure of its Kwinana alumina refinery in Western Australia. This decision has been taken after a year of cease in operation and gradual phase-wise curtailments. Since January 2023, the 60-year old refinery has been operating at around 80 per cent of its capacity. Already the curtailment of production caused a few hundreds of job loss, from approximately 800 employees to around 250. Now, the permanent shutdown will affect the rest, as part of the initial plans where the company mentioned that job cuts would continue till a point employee numbers are scaled down to about 50. After exploring many ways to restart the refinery’s production, Alcoa finally...
Odisha's AL renaissance: Angul Aluminium Park sets the stage for a global manufacturing hub
Odisha today sits at the commanding heights of India’s aluminium industry, contributing nearly 72 per cent of the country’s primary metal output. Yet this dominance has long carried a paradox. The state has remained a smelter powerhouse without building the deep downstream ecosystem that converts hot metal into high-value products such as extrusions, rolled sheets, foils and castings. That imbalance is what the government and National Aluminium Company (NALCO) now seek to correct through the Angul Aluminium Park. If the project achieves its ambition, Odisha could transform from being merely the backbone of India’s upstream aluminium supply into a centre of value-added excellence with global competitiveness. Image for representational purpose only (source: https://nalcoindia.com/ Read our...
From $140M funding to stage-wise foundation: Know how Canyon is advancing Minim Martap bauxite
Canyon Resources Limited, the Australian miner behind the Minim Martap project in Cameroon, has rolled out a funding package to support the launch of the large-scale bauxite development. The fund aims to raise AUD 215 million (USD 140 million), subject to shareholder approval, under the management of Cameroonian banking group Afriland and Canyon’s majority shareholder, Eagle Eye Asset Holdings (EEA). The package comprises a two-tranche placement worth AUD 205 million (USD 134.5 million) and an additional AUD 10 million (USD 6.6 million) from EEA. Institutional investors will provide AUD 36 million (USD 23.62 million) in the first tranche, while EEA will commit AUD 100 million (USD 65.6 million) in the second, raising its stake in Canyon to 56.5%. These funds will be combined with Canyon’s...
Global aluminium pivot: Will low-carbon scrap reshape the market?
After the pandemic in 2020 and early 2021, global aluminium demand has made a strong comeback and is now on a steady growth trajectory. According to industry data, total global consumption hit 97.6 million tonnes in 2023 and is projected to rise to 100.8 million tonnes in 2024, primarily driven by the release of pent-up demand. Out of this total, recycled aluminium made up 27.7 million tonnes in 2023, with a slight increase to 28.4 million tonnes in 2024. As per AL Circle's report, the global aluminium recycling market is set to experience notable growth from 2023 to 2032. By 2024, the industry had already shown consistent progress, due to strategic moves and investments from key players in the field. In 2024, global aluminium consumption, which includes both primary and recycled metal,...
DAILY: Chinese spot alumina prices soften further, futures momentum falters
Chinese spot alumina prices softened further on September 25, while the upward momentum in its futures market faltered in the nighttime trading session after posting daytime gains. On Thursday, the national average spot price assessed by Mysteel for smelter-grade alumina with purity exceeding 98.6 per cent slipped by another RMB 8 per tonne (USD 1.1 per tonne) on day to sit at RMB 3,025 per tonne, extending the RMB 9 per tonne drop on Wednesday. The latest price drop was mainly driven by weaker trades late Wednesday in Shanxi and Henan - two major alumina-producing provinces in the northern part of China – where mounting supplies weighed on market sentiment. Three of China's five major alumina-producing regions experienced price declines yesterday, with the assessed alumina prices in East...
Novelis scales sustainability strategy in FY25, targeting 75% recycled content by 2030
Novelis has released its sustainability report for fiscal year 2025 (April 1, 2024–March 31, 2025). The report captures the company’s push to make aluminium the backbone of a circular economy through its 3x30 vision — a strategy launched in 2024 to lift recycled content to 75 per cent, cut emissions intensity below 3 tonnes of CO₂e per tonne of flat-rolled product (FRP), and drive industry-wide transformation with different investments. A year of reductions The latest figures show Novelis is steadily closing in on those goals. Greenhouse-gas intensity dropped by 10 per cent in FY25, with overall carbon intensity falling from 4.0 to 3.6 tCO₂e per tonne of FRP. Since 2016, the company has reduced absolute emissions by 32 per cent. Energy use also came down, with a 3.7 per cent reduction in...
EU plans to be back at talk with the US! Here’s who we think needs it more…
On Wednesday, the European Union announced its intention to resume discussions with the United States regarding the reduction of Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminium. This move comes as various nations seek to address ongoing trade tensions. EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic is scheduled to meet with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in the coming days to discuss the possibility of removing or reducing the current tariffs, as Sefcovic informed a Bloomberg reporter. But does European Union really need to stress on negotiation when they are accustomed with the ‘tariff structure’ from long before? Image for representational purposes only The European Union has had its own tariff policy While the United States has taken the centre stage for the past 8years or so whenever the...
Indonesian thermal coal supply to tighten next quarter?
Supplies of thermal coal in Indonesia may face a shortage during October-December, several Chinese and Indonesian traders have warned, noting that some major coal producers in Indonesia have already sold out most of their cargoes scheduled for delivery during the period. Supply would be particularly tight for low-calorific value (CV) grades, including the most-traded 3,800 kcal/kg NAR, they said. These remarks came just after the end of Coaltrans Asia 2025 held during September 21-23 in Bali, where many participants expressed optimism about the Q4 performance, citing the support of seasonal heating demand from countries in the northern hemisphere. Preliminary statistics provided by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) show that Indonesia only produced 509 million tonnes of...
Aluminium extrusion industry eyes 43Mt by 2032 amidst ongoing tariff scenario
The aluminium extrusion industry is carving out a space as one of the fastest-growing sectors in the global aluminium value chain. As demand soars across a range of applications, from transportation and construction to renewable energy, industrial sectors, and consumer products, the industry is positioning itself for a strong future. The turbulence caused by the pandemic seems to have set the stage for an even more resilient recovery, with global usage set to reach 35 million tonnes in 2024 and forecasts suggesting an impressive rise to 43 million tonnes by 2032. Yet, the road ahead is not without its challenges. Geopolitical tensions, a cooling construction sector, economic stagnation in key regions, and persistently high energy costs continue to test the industry's mettle. While energy...
Global bauxite trade H1 2025: Guinea tops with $8.9B exports, Brazil and Turkey falter
The first half of 2025 showed a divided picture for the global bauxite trade. Some producers set new records, while others stumbled against logistical and policy headwinds. Guinea and Australia stayed firmly ahead, fuelled by Chinese demand and reliable supply chains. At the same time, Turkey and Brazil slipped back, leaving room for smaller exporters such as Malaysia and Guyana to carve out a bigger role. Export performance: gainers and losers Guinea, the world’s largest supplier, shipped about 99.8 million tonnes between January and June — a 36 per cent jump from 73.4 million tonnes a year ago. Export earnings hit roughly USD 8.9 billion, most of it from China, which alone takes around 60 per cent of the country’s ore. Australia also turned in a solid performance. Volumes rose 11 per...
AL Circle x Kirsty Davies-Chinnock: Women entering aluminium sector, develop your network and make yourself visible
In conversation with, Kirsty Davies-Chinnock, a visionary leader, award-winning manufacturer, and trailblazer for gender inclusion in the metals and industrial sectors. After a serendipitous start in metal finishing in 1989, she rose through the ranks to lead a company through economic storms, and now channels her experience into Women With Metal, a movement and annual conference amplifying women’s voices in manufacturing. As host of the Women in Industry podcast and founder of The Confidence Collective, Kirsty empowers professionals through storytelling, mentorship, and community. From boardrooms to workshops, she leverages her expertise and conviction to redefine leadership—one bold step at a time. AL Circle: Can you tell us about your journey in the metals, manufacturing & engineering...
China’s unwrought aluminium trade in 2025: Imports soar but exports stumble, what’s next?
China's unwrought aluminium trade landscape in 2025 shows imports on the rise, climbing to 2.1 million tonnes in the first half of the year, which is a 2.4 per cent increase compared to the same time last year. This growth is largely driven by robust demand from the construction and transportation sectors, along with increased bauxite inflows by 18.2 per cent year-on-year ensuring a steady supply of raw materials. However, exports face hurdles, totalling 272.9 thousand tonnes during the same period. While this marks a slight recovery from last year, exports are still grappling with changing global demand trends, likely India’s anti dumping duties, US tariff conflicts and so on, price fluctuations and various regulatory challenges. Year-to-date: China's imports of unwrought aluminium...
Interest rates down, aluminium costs up: Breaking down the Fed’s move
Federal interest rate cut often creates a paradox. On one hand, it is intended to shore up economy by making borrowing cheaper and encouraging businesses to take loans to invest in hiring and expanding production. On the other hand, this exercise potentially leads to inflation, dampens stock market growth, reduces investment appetite, and affects consumer behaviour. The recent Fed rate cut in September by a quarter-point, bringing down the rates to 4 to 4.25 per cent, is also triggering the same conundrum. While the latest rate cut is aimed at boosting economy and employment, it fuels the risk of inflation from the current 2.9 per cent as of the end of August. But the fact is the government is now prioritising jobs over price stability. "The labour market is really cooling off," said Fed...
Apt Group's sustainable FY24: Focus on business impact & pathways for European AL leadership
“2024 was an important year for the apt Group in many respects, characterised by strategic decisions and operational development. Our path toward achieving climate neutrality by the end of 2044 continued,” wrote Manon Gahmann, Director of CSR Compliance. This statement comes amid the European aluminium industry facing a historic pivot of climate legislation and escalating energy prices. It demands circularity that is no longer a choice but an existential factor shaping business models. And Apt Group stands out in this landscape as a regional leader with four production sites across Germany, the Netherlands, and the Czech Republic, pressing 44,393 tonnes of rods and selling 43,392 aluminium profiles for construction, transport, automotive, and industry sectors. In 2024, the company...
Boeing aircraft deal emerges as catalyst for US-China tariff relief
The United States and China are edging closer to a landmark Boeing aircraft deal that could anchor a broader trade agreement between the two powers. US Ambassador to China David Perdue, said the negotiations are in their “final days,” signalling a breakthrough that has been long in the making. Image for representational purpose According to Bloomberg, Boeing is working toward the sale of as many as 500 jets — a transaction that would end a sales freeze stretching back to Donald Trump’s 2017 visit to China. Diplomacy and trade backdrop The talks are unfolding at a moment of renewed diplomatic engagement. In recent weeks, Trump spoke by phone with President Xi Jinping, while negotiators reached a framework for ByteDance to divest its US-based TikTok operations, easing a major flashpoint....
GACC: China's alumina exports soar 59% Y-o-Y in Jan-Aug
China's exports of alumina, including metallurgical-grade and other types, totalled 1.75 million tonnes during January-August this year, up by 59.3 per cent from the same period last year, according to new data released by the country's General Administration of Customs (GACC). In August alone, China exported 180,507 tonnes of the raw material, rising by 26 per cent on year but falling by 21.3 per cent on month. Russia remained China's largest export destination for the eighth straight month in August, receiving 153,021 tonnes or 84.8 per cent of the national total. However, Chinese alumina shipments there last month declined by 24.5 per cent from July's monthly high. Also during August, Indonesia ranked second by taking 13,243 tonnes, followed by Taiwan with 2,861 tonnes. Also read:...
