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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Kaiser Aluminium releases a mixed Q1, 2015 results
Kaiser Aluminium released its first quarter results showing mixed outcomes. Although it beat the Wall Street’s revenue outlook, it fell short of the earnings projections. The company posted a net loss of $292 million or $16.85 per diluted share with a net income of $18 million. The revenues exceeded expectations rising 6% or $12 million to set a record of $197 million while net sales totalled at $372 million. The company’s automotive revenue was seen at $95 million while the sale of aluminium products to aerospace industry saw a growth of 6-8 percent. Kaiser Chief Executive and President Jack Hockema said in a statement the company had record shipments in several categories. “We look forward to strong demand growth for our aerospace and automotive applications and further improvement in...
Gulf Extrusions unveils Middle East's first fully tested fire rated aluminum door
Gulf Extrusions (Gulfex), a leading global manufacturer of extruded aluminium products, has announced the launching of the Middle East's first fully tested fire rated aluminium door, Fire-X87. With a fire rating integrity of 90 minutes, the company's fire-resistant door has been proven to significantly reduce fire risk and promote higher level of safety and security. The fire test signifies Gulfex's firm goal to provide high quality products to keep its customers safe and protected. During the test held at Thomas Bell Wright Fire Testing facilities in Dubai, the fire-resistant door was subjected to and successfully withstood a temperature of over 900 degree Celsius for 90 minutes. In conducting the test, Gulfex complied with the international fire regulations and standards. This is in...
Rexam sees volume growth in Europe, with energy drinks boosting beverage cans
Beverage can manufacturer Rexam has seen strong volume growth in Europe, including Russia, it said in a trading update this morning. Rexam is enjoying ‘pretty good’ growth in its Russian business – unlike other companies - but chief executive Graham Chipchase remains cautious about the ‘very, very volatile’ environment in the country. Alongside the UK, Germany and Italy, the country contributed to growth in European volumes over the beverage can maker’s Q1 results. The increasing popularity of energy drinks has been boosting the market for cans across the region, said Chipchase, in the company’s earnings call. Overall, global beverage can volumes were up 5% in the quarter, in line with the company’s plans. “In Europe, I think we were ahead of the market and that's largely driven by energy...
China's top aluminium producer Chalco swings to profit in Q1
Aluminum Corp of China Ltd (Chalco) swung to a profit in the first quarter of 2015 after domestic prices of the metal in the world's top consumer rose. Chalco reported a net profit of 63.1 million yuan ($10.2 million) for the January-March period after a net loss of 2.16 billion yuan in the same period a year earlier, it said in a filing on the Hong Kong stock exchange on Tuesday. The top Chinese producer of primary aluminium and raw material alumina had booked a record loss of 16.2 billion yuan in 2014 due to huge writedowns and weak metal prices as the Chinese economy slowed. Chalco mainly sells its products in China, the world's top producer and consumer of aluminium. Chinese aluminium prices rose 1.4 percent in the first quarter, supported by reduced spot sales by some producers. ($1...
Trimet Aluminium celebrates 30th anniversary
Trimet Aluminium SE is 30 years old. Founded in 1985 by Heinz-Peter Schlüter as a metal trading company, in three decades the company has become a material specialist for the aluminium processing industry. With the takeover of the aluminium smelter in Essen and the recycling plant in Gelsenkirchen, the company entered the aluminium production arena in the 1990s. Today, Trimet operates four aluminium smelters, two recycling plants and several foundries at eight locations in Germany and France. The company produces around 700,000 tonnes of aluminium products annually. In addition to trade in metal, Trimet produces primary aluminium, manufactures cast parts for automobile manufacturing and other industries, and reprocesses the lightweight metal. Today, just as then, a consistent customer...
Rusal battles with LME on aluminium price
Rusal, the world’s largest aluminium producer, has reignited its war of words with the London Metal Exchange, saying the LME has allowed financial speculators to distort prices. Vladislav Soloviev, chief executive of the heavily indebted Russian group, said the price of aluminium traded on the LME has been depressed by as much as 30 per cent by the actions of “money-market players”. “The LME price does not reflect the real supply and demand balance,” said Mr Soloviev, as he called on the exchange to increase transparency and provide further detail on market activity. Rusal, controlled by billionaire businessman Oleg Deripaska, produces 7 per cent of the world’s aluminium, a lightweight metal that is used in everything from soft drink cans to car bodies. The Moscow-based company...
Elval S.A. and UACJ Corporation signs MOU for a joint venture company for automotive sector
Elval S.A. and UACJ Corporation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a joint venture company (“Newco”) for the purchase, production and sale of automotive heat exchanger materials in Europe. Newco will be established in Germany in accordance with the laws of Germany and take the form of a limited liability company (GmbH). UACJ shall subscribe for 51% of the shares and Elval shall subscribe for 49% of the shares in the Newco at the time of its incorporation. The parties shall agree a separate Technology License Agreement under which UACJ shall provide the technical assistance necessary for Elval to manufacture products of automotive heat exchanger materials to be purchased by Newco for sale to the customers in Europe. UACJ and Elval consider automotive heat exchanger...
Rexam trading in line with expectations with aluminium costs falling
Beverage can maker Rexam PLC on Tuesday said it is trading in line with expectations, with can volumes higher in the first quarter, boosted by a good performance in Europe but offset by softer conditions in the Middle East and North American markets and a slowdown in South America, though the group expects to benefit this year from falling aluminium premiums. FTSE 250-listed Rexam, which is being acquired by US rival Ball Corp for GBP4.3 billion, said overall global beverage can volumes in the first quarter to the end of March rose 5%. Volumes in Europe were strong in the quarter, driven by energy drink can volumes, with growth also seen in Russia, the UK, Germany, Italy, India and Egypt. But the group was hit by softer market conditions in the Middle East. Standard can volumes were...
Aluminium systems add light to Moor Market at United Kingdom
The British city of Sheffield has completed the first phase in the redevelopment of one of its primary retail sites, The Moor, with a building that uses more than 1,200 square meters of Technal-brand aluminium façade systems. The redeveloped Moor Market is the first new, purpose-built market to be constructed in the United Kingdom in 30 years. The £18 million project for Sheffield City Council is replacing the city center’s Castle Market, which had fallen into disrepair. The contemporary look of the new building, designed by Leslie Jones Architecture and the main contractor, Bowmer and Kirkland, takes its inspiration from classic European markets with the use of “timber weave” cladding alternating with projecting courses of red brickwork – echoing the Victorian red-brick architecture of...
Century rejected a proposal for new labor deal at Hawesville, Kentucky, smelter
Century Aluminum rejected a proposal from unionized workers for a new labor deal at its Hawesville, Kentucky, smelter over the weekend, the United Steelworkers Local 9423 said in a post on its website. Century's rejection of the proposal places the two parties at a stalemate nearly one month after the initial deadline for a new five-year contract. Last week, the union's membership rejected a tentative collective bargaining agreement reached between the company and the union's negotiating committee. "The Union offered across the table a proposal we considered fair to the membership and to the Company," the union said in the website post, advising workers to continue working "until we know something more." "We will be evaluating our options," the post added. A Century spokesman did not...
China acts to curb aluminum capacity expansions
China’s Ministry of Industry & Information Technology (MIIT) issued Capacity Substitution Program in Industries Suffering Overcapacity, including aluminum, demonstrating the central government’s determination to rein in blind capacity. Capacity Substitution is conducted in two forms: full substitution and partial substitution. Under full capacity substitution, companies must retire outdated or surplus capacity that is equal to new capacity to be built prior to the launch of new projects. Under partial capacity substitution, companies must retire outdated or surplus capacity that is in excess of new capacity to be built prior to the launch of new projects. Full capacity substitution shall apply to industries suffering overcapacity in environmentally sensitive areas, such as Beijing,...
Rusal plays down concerns of Chinese aluminium flooding market
Concerns about Chinese aluminium flooding the global market are not justified, according to the deputy chief executive of United Company Rusal , the world's top aluminium producer. Worries about oversupply in the aluminium market have put pressure on prices of the metal use in packaging and vehicles and are forcing many producers to curb output. Such concerns, exacerbated by rising capacity in China, have pushed Rusal's rival Alcoa to flip its market balance forecast for this year from a deficit to a surplus. But Rusal Deputy CEO Oleg Mukhamedshin said a surge in Chinese exports of some aluminium products in December was just a temporary phenomenon. He said he did not believe that Beijing would go ahead with its plan to remove on export tax on aluminium, which would boost its exports....
Aurum Exploration Limited in Fiji says it has paid royalties
A mining company in Fiji being accused of not paying royalties to landowners says it has handed over about 670,000 US dollars to the government. Landowners in Fiji's northern division say they have not received any royalties from a bauxite mine run by Chinese company Aurum Exploration Limited since they consented to it in 2011. A SODELPA MP Mosese Bulitavu says the company has only paid about 300,000 US dollars so far in royalties to the Lands Department, which still has not been given to landowners. He says the company still owes about another 740,000 US dollars. But an Aurum Exploration Limited spokesperson says it has paid the government about 670,000 US dollars and cannot pay landowners directly.
WINDOOR EXPO 2015 achieves new international standard
The 21st edition of WINDOOR EXPO held in Guangzhou from 18 to 20 March 2015 was a new height in the building envelope industry in China. With 46,781 trade professionals from 93 countries and regions, the expo has reached a great success after expanding its scope. With more emphasis on innovations, new technologies and sustainable solutions, WINDOOR EXPO gained new and renewed international attention to the Chinese construction industry. The 2015 expo focused on the developments in the Chinese Building Envelope industry, and foster innovations, sustainability and technologies within the Chinese exhibitors. Industry leaders, important Chinese associations and relevant government bodies welcomed the insight in the Chinese industry, and created new international cooperation. Foreign building...
Altech appoints Melewar intergrated engineering as construction partner for HPA project
Highlights - Memorandum of Understanding with Melewar Integrated Engineering Sdn Bhd - Part of the diversified Melewar Industrial Group Berhad (MIG-Melewar) - Construction services for buildings and steel works, civil works, roads and site infrastructure Altech Chemicals Limited is pleased to announce that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") with Malaysian engineering and construction group Melewar Integrated Engineering Sdn Bhd (Melewar), appointing it as construction contractor for Altech's proposed high purity alumina (HPA) processing plant in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Melewar is a leading multi-disciplinary engineering firm and offers one stop solutions to industrial planning, project engineering, development, construction and management. Melewar is part of the...
Nagpur institute JNARDDC invents method to make special alumina
The city-based Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Design and Development Centre (JNARDDC) has developed an indigenous process of preparing 'special alumina', which is usually imported. Special alumina, which is the precursor for manufacturing aluminium from bauxite ore, has multiple uses as fire retardants, semiconductor devices, abrasives in paints and pigments, glass, electrical porcelains, in tooth pastes etc. The centre has developed a technique of minimizing the sodium (an impurity) levels in alumina to less than 0.1% from about 0.25% by modifying the conventional process. This has increased its value by seven to ten times. The centre is waiting for a patent of the process, so it has not shared full details of the process. However, JNARDDC director Anupam Agnihotri told TOI that...
Second Self Beer Company moves into cans with high-recycled content Novelis evercan™
Novelis, the world leader in aluminum rolling and recycling, and Atlanta brewery Second Self Beer Company today announced the launch of Second Self beer in aluminum cans, made from Novelis evercan™ – the world's first and only certified high-recycled content aluminum can sheet. The news was announced today in Savannah, Georgia, during the International Society of Beverage Technologists' annual meeting, BevTech 2015, just in time for summer vacation and festival season. "At Second Self we spend a lot of time perfecting the flavor profile of every beer we make, from how it first hits the pallet to what foods it pairs well with," said Jason Santamaria, Beer Architect, Second Self Beer Company. "Now that the warm weather is here, we want consumers to be able to enjoy these same flavors...
Hydro reports record Q1 2015 result on higher sales & positive currency movement
Hydro's underlying earnings before financial items and tax increased to NOK 3,208 million in the first quarter, up from NOK 2,886 million in the fourth quarter of 2014. The results reflect higher sales across the value chain and a stronger US dollar. • Record-high quarterly underlying EBIT of NOK 3 208 million • Higher sales throughout the value chain • Positive currency developments • Acquisition of advanced sorting technology in Germany • Reduced market tightness due to Chinese semis exports "I am pleased that we for the second quarter in a row can present record quarterly results since Hydro became a pure aluminium company in 2007. We will continue to deliver on the improvement programs, while looking for additional measures to expand the efforts already in scope," says President and...
