AL Circle Analysis: Guinea’s 150Mt bauxite cap, China’s import swings, US tariffs draw aluminium Q4’26
The global aluminium supply chain is facing a series of changes that extend from bauxite mines and alumina refineries to smelters, regional premiums and finished-metal trade. In 2026, the market’s direction is being shaped not only by production volumes but also by freight costs, export restrictions, shifting Chinese demand and tariffs. Developments across Guinea, Australia, China, Europe and North America point to a market where access to supply is increasingly as important as the availability of raw materials. Bauxite supply: Guinea’s cap meets a well-stocked China, but is it stable? Guinea remains central to the seaborne bauxite market, with its shipment connections to China demonstrating the importance of reliable logistics. A new sea-rail route has enabled a Guinea bauxite shipment...
EU approves Germany’s power relief instrument: Could aluminium producers save €459m annually?
Germany’s aluminium industry could receive some relief from persistently high electricity costs after the European Commission, under the European Union (EU) approved the country’s industrial electricity price scheme for 2026–2028. The measure is intended to ease the burden on energy-intensive businesses, strengthen industrial competitiveness and support Germany’s position as a manufacturing hub. The stakes are particularly high for aluminium producers. Electricity can account for 30–40 per cent of primary aluminium production costs, making power prices a critical factor in operating margins and investment decisions. Explore- Most comprehensive and forward-looking industry-focused report — Global Bauxite & Alumina Market Forecast to 2036: Supply–Demand, Trade Flows & Price Outlook...
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Century Aluminum US plant lockout in prospect after union rejects deal
The United Steelworkers union has rejected a pay deal from Century Aluminum for workers at the fourth-largest aluminium smelter in the US, the local branch said on Tuesday, and a lockout is now set to go ahead. Unionised workers at the Century Aluminum smelter in Hawesville, Kentucky, had voted on Monday on the revised labour deal after management agreed to postpone a lockout of staff to Tuesday. The rejection of the deal, which would replace the contract that expired at end-March, was posted on the website of the Hawesville branch. Century, which is controlled by Glencore, said it is prepared for a lockout which will start on Tuesday morning and is expected to continue to operate at full production. The smelter has a capacity of 244 000 t/y. The vote "leaves us with no choice but to lock...
Bridgnorth Aluminium's extension plans await approval
Bridgnorth Aluminium plans to build a research and development laboratory that will employ 65 people. On Tuesday, there was a discussion by Shropshire Council’s south planning committee regarding the rolling mill installation and has been recommended for approval. The project will include an air purification building, exhaust stack, oil filter plant and transformer closure. A meeting in Shirehall will decide the planning permission for the stacks, which will rise up to 26 meters at their highest preventing rolling oil from entering the atmosphere. James Gittins, chairman of Bridgnorth Town Council planning committee, said: “The plans were brought before full council and recommended for approval. “But there were reservations about the height of the stack and we have asked for an...
Rusal predicts that Chinese aluminium oversupply might end soon
Rusal, the world’s largest aluminium company, predicts that China’s overproducing trend in aluminium may finally come to an end. China saw a boom in exports by 49% in the first quarter but because the price arbitrage has become a lot less attractive, the exports are likely to fall soon according experts like Rusal and commodities correspondent Henry Sanderson. The constant flow of aluminium from China has been a point of concern for aluminium producers across the world. China has been shipping out aluminium thinly veiled as semi-fabricated aluminium products and receiving tax rebate from the government while the products are remelted and used as primary aluminium outside the country. Rusal along with its results has also reported a steady fall in China’s semi-fabricated aluminium from...
Aluminium demonstrates strong performance this year
Aluminium had been mostly ignored through much of the commodities boom in the first decade of the 2000s, thanks mainly to high supply coming from China, aluminum had been performing strongly this year, along with other metals like copper, zinc and lead. But since hitting a 12-month high on May 5 at $1,886 a ton, prices for the benchmark three-month aluminum futures have slipped 4.7% while other commodities have continued strengthening. The fall in prices is rattling aluminum producers such as Russia’s United Co. Rusal, which this week warned of a “new turn” in the global market for the metal. One factor troubling Rusal is the rising tide of Chinese aluminum exports. That could gather pace after China this month removed a 15% export tax on aluminum products.
Altech appoints Simulus as EPCM parter for Meckering
Highlights • Appointment of local company Simulus Engineering as EPCM partner for Meckering • Simulus was instrumental in testwork and development of flowsheet • Simulus is the key engineering contractor on the BFS Altech Chemicals Limited is pleased to announce that it has now appointed Simulus Engineering Pty Ltd (Simulus) as its Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Management (EPCM) partner for its proposed kaolin beneficiation plant at Meckering, Western Australia. Simulus has been the key engineering partner during the bankable feasibility study (BFS) phase of the project. The Meckering beneficiation plant will enable the initial simple wet processing of kaolin to remove oversize silica, followed by drying to reduce moisture content. The resultant upgraded kaolin will be packed...
European producers under pressure as aluminum 'all-in' price falls
Aluminum producers are expected to be under increasing pressure as the aluminum ‘all-in’ price (London Metal Exchange cash price + premium) has fallen over the last few months on the back of lower global premia, while the LME aluminum cash price has largely remained unchanged. LME cash price has traded in a tight $180/mt range for most of this year — practically unchanged from levels seen back in mid-October and mid-December. At the same time, the Platts European duty-paid aluminum premium assessment has come off around $350 since mid-November when it peaked at a record high of $500-510/mt. Platts assessed duty-paid aluminum at $150-160/mt plus LME cash, in-warehouse Rotterdam May 11. In theory, the lower all-in price should start to eat into smelter margins and see producers under...
Vietnam’s spot aluminum demand picks up as China’s semis exports fall
Spot import demand for primary aluminum ingot in Vietnam has picked up in the last month or so, as exports of Chinese remeltable semi-finished products decreased, trader and producer sources said Wednesday, May 13. Spot deals have closed this month at $200-$230/mt plus London Metal Exchange cash, CIF main Vietnam port, said Japanese and South Korean traders. The deals were for lots ranging 100-1,000 mt, mostly for June delivery, said traders. One lot of less than 300 mt was confirmed to be Middle Eastern in origin. Sources attributed the increases in the Vietnamese spot demand to Chinese supplies of remeltable semi-finished products, used as ingot substitute, decreasing. “Fake aluminum in Vietnam is not as visible as before,” said a producer source. The spread between Shanghai Futures...
Chinese aluminum smelters suffer, but processors heap profit
Many aluminum smelters in China are suffering losses, while aluminum processors make big money, a local source reported. Chalco, China’s top aluminum producer, swung into its largest-ever net loss 16.2 billion yuan ($2.6 billion) in 2014. Yunnan Aluminum Co., another large aluminum smelter, also suffered a loss of 467 million yuan ($76 million) last year. China Zhongwang Holdings, the country’s leading industrial aluminum extrusion manufacturer, reported a net profit of 2.48 billion yuan ($410 million) last year, up 16.5% from a year ago. Xingfa Aluminum Co., one of China’s oldest construction aluminum extrusion producers, also posted a net profit of 224 million yuan ($37 billion). The aluminum industry has been mired in severe overcapacity for years, leaving aluminum prices sluggish....
Novelis displays aluminum for high volume automotive solutions at Auto Shanghai 2015
Novelis, the global leader in aluminum rolling and recycling, will showcase its portfolio of cutting-edge automotive aluminum applications at Auto Shanghai 2015, the 16th International Automobile and Manufacturing Technology Exhibition through April 29. Driven by automakers’ growing need to produce lightweight vehicles to achieve fuel efficiency and reduced greenhouse gas emissions aligned with the Chinese government’s own initiatives for sustainable growth, demand for high-quality automotive aluminum is accelerating in China. Novelis forecasts the global demand from automakers for aluminum sheet will grow by approximately 30 percent each year through the end of the decade. As the global market leader in automotive aluminum applications, Novelis will showcase its AdvanzTM automotive...
Albemarle's arm Chemetall buys aluminium finishing business of Chemal GmbH
Chemetall, a global business unit of the US-based Albemarle Corporation, has acquired the business of Chemal GmbH & Co KG, based in Hamm, Germany. This transaction will enhance Chemetall's integrated portfolio for the aluminium finishing industry. Chemal GmbH & Co KG, founded in 1975, specialises in research and development of surface finishing chemicals for aluminium and its alloys with emphasis on anodising and pretreatment technologies. "Consisting of advanced pretreatment and anodising technologies, Chemetall is one of the few players globally positioned with a comprehensive product range for the aluminium finishing industry. This transaction will expand our expertise in this market and, combined with strong technical services offered by our wholly-owned subsidiaries around the world,...
Coca-Cola wants more done on aluminum waits as costs run high
The London Metal Exchange hasn’t done enough to reduce the time it takes to withdraw aluminum from warehouses, said William Hovis, who helps oversee Coca-Cola Co.’s purchases of the metal. Hovis, chief procurement officer at the company’s bottling investment group, echoed concerns from other aluminum buyers such as MillerCoors LLC after lengthy wait times at LME storage facilities led to inflated rent charges. The surcharge added to the price of metal for immediate delivery on the LME, known as the premium, is a “significant cost” for the world’s biggest beverage company, according to Hovis. Coca-Cola supports the LME’s proposal to limit rents at some warehouses, he said. “The LME has taken good steps forward, yet we don’t think they’ve gone far enough,” he said at the CRU World Aluminium...
Rexam to sponsor AmeriCAN Canned Craft Beer Festival for fourth year
To help spread the word that aluminum cans are the ideal package for craft beers, Rexam will be the presenting sponsor of the annual AmeriCAN Canned Craft Beer Festival on Saturday, May 16th, 2015, at the Scottsdale Civic Center in Scottsdale, Arizona. This is the fourth year the company has supported this event which celebrates the canned craft beer revolution. In 2014, craft beer volume sales increased more than 17 percent, and dollar sales were up 20.5 percent based on data from Chicago-based Information Resources Inc. Now in its fifth year, the AmeriCAN Canned Craft Beer Festival will feature more than 300 canned craft beers from local and national breweries and include food, music and other entertainment. Rexam will continue its mission to increase aluminum can recycling, providing...
Constellium reports solid first quarter 2015 financial results including Wise Metals
Constellium N.V. today reported results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2015. Highlights below are in comparison to the first quarter of 2014. • Shipments of 381 thousand metric tons, up 41% • Revenue of €1.4 billion, up 58% • Adjusted EBITDA of €95 million, up 34% • P&ARP revenue more than doubles due to the acquisition of Wise Metals • Automotive rolled shipments up 19%; Automotive extruded shipments up 12% • Positive foreign exchange impact on Adjusted EBITDA partially offset by negative effect of premiums • Diluted EPS of (€0.30); EPS excluding unrealized losses on derivatives of (€0.02) Constellium reported solid first quarter 2015 results, including Wise Metals, our newly acquired Muscle Shoals, Alabama packaging facility, which is reported in our P&ARP segment. Revenues for...
Landowners receive $200,000 for bauxite mining
The Naita land owning unit of Lekutu, Bua to date received a total premium of $200,000 from bauxite mining works on their land. Lekutu landowner Tevita Raiova said the premiums covered the roads, land lease and bauxite ore extracted from their land. Mr Raiova confirmed they were yet to receive royalties for rocks and soil, adding that they were happy with the premiums received so far. He said they had an understanding with the Ministry of Lands regarding the royalty for soil and rocks, however, they were informed by the ministry that they (ministry) were still working on a formula for the distribution of royalty monies.
Trek adds aluminum-frame models to Émonda road bike line
Trek Bicycle is expanding its Émonda road bike line — which is highlighted by its super-light Émonda carbon frames introduced last year — to include a new aluminum frame model, the Émonda ALR. Trek did not release pricing information but said the line brings Émonda features to an "aluminum price point." The ALR is still quite light, with Trek claiming a 56cm frame weighs 1,050 grams. A complete bike with Shimano 105 parts comes in at a claimed 18.77 pounds. The frames are made with Trek's "Invisible Weld Technology," which is said to use less material for a lighter connection that is also smooth aesthetically. The frame tubes are hydroformed 300 Series Alpha Aluminum. The bikes have full carbon forks and have Trek's integrated speed and cadence sensor, DuoTrap S. The bikes use Trek's H2...
Aleris reports first quarter 2015 results
First Quarter 2015 Results Adjusted EBITDA totaled $55 million for the first quarter of 2015 compared to $43 million for the first quarter of 2014. First quarter results were impacted by the following: • Higher shipment volumes of 15 percent, due primarily to our acquisition of Nichols, 17 percent higher automotive volumes, 3 percent higher global aerospace volumes, and 24 percent higher truck trailer volumes, led to an increase of approximately $5 million of Adjusted EBITDA; • Improved rolling margins, primarily from North America, contributed $4 million of Adjusted EBITDA; • Improved scrap spreads, as well as lower raw material prices in Europe, increased Adjusted EBITDA by approximately $2 million; • A stronger U.S. dollar contributed to higher margins and currency exchange gains...
Technical Glass and Aluminium Company wins contract for external façade in Jeddah
Lamar Investment and Real Estate Development Company, a leading real estate developer based in Saudi Arabia, has awarded an external façade contract worth SR200 million ($53 million) to UAE-based Technical Glass and Aluminium Company, for its upcoming project in Jeddah. Work on the façade is scheduled to start in the second half with the landscaping works set to begin in early 2016. As per the deal, the Technical Glass and Aluminium Company’s scope of work includes the design and supply of glass and aluminum and all the façade works of the prestigious towers including the unitised curtain walls, precast, stone panel and the cladding panel. Bakr R. Nazer, the CEO and managing director of Lamar Investment & Real Estate Development Company, expressed delight at having reached a significant...
Hindalco slips on weak performance by Novelis
Shares of aluminium major Hindalco fell over 3 per cent on Wednesday after its US subsidiary Novelis reported weak results. A 20 per cent drop in operating profits during the March quarter dampened investor sentiment as the subsidiary brings in around two-third of Hindalco’s consolidated revenues and one-third of the company’s profits. The fall in profits at the world's largest producer of rolled aluminium products was on account of three main factors. One, a strong dollar led to a sharp decline in regional metal premiums in its main markets such as Brazil and Europe thus resulting in losses to the tune of $28 million. This is an ongoing concern for the company and may continue to dampen the profits. Two, there was a loss of $37 million due to aluminium price lag. This happens on fixed...
