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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Ford’s $2B EV investment & 5% revenue boost sparks hope for downstream aluminium amidst market turmoil
In a situation where companies like Novelis are facing the brunt of business closures and job cuts, US-headquartered Ford Motor is hitting the reset button on its EV strategy with a bold new plan, creating hope for the downstream aluminium industry in the region. The automaker has unveiled a USD 2 billion investment in its Louisville, KY, Assembly plant, setting the stage for a lineup of next-generation, more affordable electric vehicles by 2027. This move signals optimism for the downstream aluminium industry, especially in the US region. At the heart of this transformation is the Ford Universal EV Platform, which is set to power a range of next-generation, more affordable electric vehicles by 2027. However, Ford’s push into the EV sector is not without challenges. The automaker is...
Tariffs and trade shifts: how US policy split aluminium markets in China and the UK
When aluminium prices slipped on both the Shanghai and London exchanges this week, it wasn’t just another market wobble, it was the latest chapter in a trade saga that has stretched over seven years. What began with a modest tariff in 2018 has grown into a protectionist wall, reshaping how the world’s two biggest aluminium players, China and the UK sell into the American market. On August 18, US tariffs expanded to cover more aluminium products at a steep 50 per cent rate, just as Chinese smelters reported yet another rise in production. The result was swift: Shanghai’s most-traded aluminium contract fell 0.82 per cent to yuan 20,570 (USD 2,864 a tonne), a two-week low, while London prices slipped 0.4 per cent to USD 2,596.50. For producers, it was a reminder that tariffs and supply gluts...
Hydro to cut 750 white-collar jobs: Cost control or structural overhaul?
Norsk Hydro, the Norwegian aluminium and renewable energy giant, has announced plans to lay off about 750 white-collar employees. Just two months after signalling a temporary hiring freeze without specifying the affected business areas, the company has escalated the measure into targeted job cuts. The announcement comes against a backdrop of widespread job cuts in the aluminium industry, driven by the United States’ steep 50 per cent import tariff. In Canada, for example, Canada Metal Processing Group was forced to lay off 140 employees as a direct consequence of the tariff. Hydro, however, is largely insulated from this pressure, thanks to extensive domestic sourcing, pass-through pricing, and minimal cross-border exposure. Its Hydro Extrusions and Aluminium Metal division holds a 15–20...
India–UK CETA pact: what does it mean for trade, particularly aluminium?
India and the United Kingdom have unveiled a new trade pact poised to open fresh avenues for India's mineral sector, particularly aluminium. The pact called CETA (Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement) is expected to enhance market access and competitiveness, setting the stage for strategic collaborations and export opportunities. For industry stakeholders and observers alike, this marks a potentially transformative moment worth exploring further. What is the CETA pact all about? Once which started back in January 2022 and finalised on May 6, 2025 has been finally inked on July 27, 2025, the India–UK CETA pact is hailed as a historic step to boost jobs, exports and growth. The pact grants duty-free access to about USD 6.5 billion worth of Indian exports to the UK, covering textiles,...
Top 4 industry titans powering the shift from primary to secondary aluminium production
Do you know that recycling a single tonne of aluminium can prevent up to 9 tonnes of CO2 emissions compared to the production from raw materials? As the race toward net-zero accelerates, recycled aluminium has moved from the sidelines to become a cornerstone of a resource-efficient, low-carbon future. In fact, a lot of primary aluminium producers and smelters are now investing more in the secondary aluminium business. Why are primary smelters investing more in secondary aluminium? The secondary aluminium market, long led by specialised players such as Novelis, Real Alloy, and regional recyclers, is undergoing a profound transformation. Major primary producers, including EGA, Ma'aden, Hydro, Rio Tinto, and others, are stepping into the arena, strengthening their foothold through greenfield...
China advances renewables marketisation by 5 years, targeting 30% electrification
Starting May 31, 2025, the electricity prices for newly commissioned renewable energy projects in China will be entirely determined by competitive bidding, with government subsidies being completely phased out. Key policy elements Full market integration: All renewable electricity will be traded in the market, with no mandatory purchase requirements for power grids. Subsidy elimination: Government subsidies will be phased out. Dual-track mechanism: A "market-based pricing + price difference settlement" model will be adopted to ensure stable revenues for renewable energy projects. Four key Q&As: 1. Why is renewables full marketisation five years ahead of schedule? Capacity milestone: China hit its 2030 wind and solar power installed capacity target six years early, with renewables...
Recycling – the United States’ fastest route to aluminium self-reliance amid tariff and energy crisis
What could be a viable solution for the United States to meet its current aluminium demand when the country is suffering from a domestic primary aluminium production shortage and high import costs due to a 50 per cent tariff on the metal? Recycling it is ! Rightfully, Trond Olaf Christophersen, chief financial officer of Hydro, has pointed out, “If the US administration wants to improve self-reliance on aluminium, the quickest way to do it will be to keep more of the scrap in the US and support recycling capacity.” Recycling – the answer to demand-production mismatch By the end of 2025, the United States primary aluminium demand is projected to reach 4.9 million tonnes. Yet until April 2025, the country’s production stood at only 222,000 tonnes, down by 2.2 per cent from 227,000 tonnes...
US aluminium scrap: will growing recovery and imports be enough?
The US aluminium market is navigating a period of shifting dynamics, as scrap recovery rates, rising import volumes, and longer-term supply considerations converge to influence its trajectory. In the first four months of 2025, the US recovered 1.222 million tonnes of aluminium from scrap up 2.7 per cent from 1.19 million tonnes during the same period in 2024. April 2025 marked a downturn in US aluminium scrap recovery, falling 7.4 per cent to 277,000 tonnes from 299,000 tonnes a year earlier. This drop followed two strong months, March saw an 8.3 per cent increase to 327,000 tonnes, while February jumped 9.6 per cent to 321,000 tonnes. January had started the year on a steady note at 297,000 tonnes, just 0.3 per cent higher than in January 2024. Imports of aluminium also saw a notable...
Aluminium stocks at Japan ports dip again in July - what’s behind the shift?
Japan’s aluminium market in mid-2025 reflects a mixed picture, with inventories steadily declining despite increased imports. The trend suggests a tightening supply environment, shaped by shifting trade flows, evolving demand patterns and broader economic dynamics. As of July 2025, Marubeni Corp., a leading Japanese general trading house, reported that aluminium inventories across Japan's three key ports, Yokohama, Nagoya and Osaka, declined by 0.4 per cent to 315,400 tonnes. The cause behind the sudden shift The demand front According to data from the Japan Aluminum Association (JAA), Japan's aluminium demand reached 895,100 tonnes in the first quarter of 2025, up by 1.4 per cent year-on-year. Domestic consumption rose by 1.3 per cent to nearly 860,000 tonnes, while exports recorded a...
WEEKLY: China alumina output rises for 7th week, stocks hit 1-year high
China's 44 alumina producers under Mysteel's regular tracking produced 1.9 million tonnes of smelter-grade alumina during the week of August 1-7, up by 4,000 tonnes or 0.2 per cent from the prior week, according to Mysteel's latest survey. Although the increase was slightly higher than the 0.1 per cent rise recorded a week earlier, it marked the seventh consecutive week of growth and reflected largely stable production levels, Mysteel Global noted. Market watchers attributed the modest output rise to a mix of maintenance stoppages and plant restarts. In Guizhou in Southwest China, one alumina producer completed a 10-day maintenance shutdown and restarted its 800,000 tonnes per year production line late last week. Meanwhile, in North China Shanxi's Jiaokou county, a refiner cut output at...
AriZona’s 33-year price legacy at risk – thanks to Trump’s 50% aluminium tariff
With global trade conflicts heating up and political alliances in flux, US companies are facing a new economic reality of soaring tariffs on imported aluminium. The 50 per cent tariff, rolled out on June 4, 2025, was intended to shield domestic producers as tensions escalated between Western nations and the BRICS group (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa). Instead, it has disrupted supply chains, sent costs spiralling, and forced industries like the beverage makers into rapid strategy overhauls. As per the latest information, the US-based famous iced tea brand, AriZona, has always managed to deal with difficult situations like pandemics, recessions, and wild market swings by not increasing the price of its most famous 99-cent iced tea. Gearing up for a potential price hike...
Aluminium pays the price, copper gets a pass – here’s solving the US tariff puzzle
The Trump administration’s latest tariff move has left a glaring question: why has aluminium been slapped with a punishing 50 per cent duty, while copper sails into US ports untaxed? At first glance, both metals are strategic, energy-intensive to produce, and integral to manufacturing. Yet Washington’s selective hammering is something that raises several questions. Washington’s contrasting policy agenda – aluminium vs copper The official rationale is rooted in two strategic objectives: reviving domestic smelting capacity and cutting reliance on imports. Aluminium ticks both boxes. In the United States, primary aluminium production has collapsed over three decades - from 3.35 million tonnes in 1995 to 675,600 tonnes in 2024, representing an 80 per cent decline. To fill the void in the...
Trump aluminium tariffs shake the industry — how are SMEs surviving the storm?
The Trump administration’s aluminium tariffs starting at 25 per cent in March 2025 and doubling to 50 per cent by June have reshaped global aluminium trade, rattling supply chains and upending industry dynamics. Major players like Alcoa, Rio Tinto, Rusal, Chalco, and Hindalco Industries have absorbed staggering costs. Alcoa alone reported USD 115 million in tariff-related expenses in Q2 2025, while Rio Tinto faced losses exceeding USD 300 million in just six months, heavily impacted by Canadian exports destined for the US market. These tariffs have not only squeezed profit margins but also forced large firms to rethink their strategies. Many have rerouted shipments to Europe and Asia, invested in tariff-resilient segments such as aluminium for electric vehicle (EV) batteries, and deferred...
PCs and Smartphones prone to being hit hardest: Vietnam and India step into the spotlight to battle the tariff quake
No one in the global tech supply chain has a clear read on where US tariffs will finally land, but one truth is already cementing, that the deepest fault line will be between Washington and Beijing. The biggest casualties? Companies welded to China’s tightly integrated technology manufacturing ecosystem, with the US as their top shelf for sales. Image source: https://www.openpr.com/ Smartphones and PCs are in the blast zone Apple’s vast production web still runs heavily through China, making it one of the most exposed names in the game. PCs aren’t far behind. The triad of Dell, HP and Lenovo earns an estimated 15-20 per cent of operating profit from US sales, and with laptops more dependent on China than desktops, the risk premium is real. Higher costs will roll downhill to consumers, who...
How Western Australia’s ongoing energy crisis is threatening the region’s alumina & aluminium supply
Australia stands as a major global player in aluminium production. As per AL Circle's report, Australia continues to be the second major producer and the biggest exporting country of alumina in the world. The country is estimated to have produced around 18.25 million tonnes in 2023-24, a decrease from 18.97 million tonnes in 2022-23. According to various sources and AL Circle's forecast , Australia's alumina production for 2024-25 & 2025-26 is to attain 16.39 million tonnes (approx.) & 16.28 million tonnes (approx.), respectively. The forecast is that there will be a dip due to the production curtailment at the Kwinana refinery. As per EnergyQuest, the alumina and aluminium sectors generate more than $13 billion in export earnings each year, underpinning a total industry value that...
BMW, Ford, Tesla, and Audi are reshaping car design with aluminium at the forefront
Aluminium has gone from being just another metal in cars to a key player shaping the auto industry’s future. Its light weight, strength, resistance to rust, and ability to be recycled without losing its quality makes it vital for improving fuel efficiency, boosting EV range, and reducing emissions over a vehicle’s lifetime. Image for representational purpose Al Circle values the automotive aluminium market at USD 97.86 billion in 2024 and projects it will almost double to USD 205.24 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 9.7 per cent between 2025 and 2032. The sector’s growth is fuelled by increasing adoption of lightweight, high-performance, and sustainable materials across the automotive industry. According to other sources, the market maintained a clear upward trajectory between 2020...
SHFE aluminum, nickel, copper futures prices edge up on week
Major futures contracts for the three key non-ferrous metals – aluminium, nickel, and copper – on the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) had all risen from the previous week by the close of the daytime trading sessions on August 8. As of 3:00 p.m. on Friday, the most-traded SHFE nickel contract for September delivery had gained 1.2 per cent from the previous Friday to close at RMB 121,180 per tonne (USD 16,872 per tonne). Meanwhile, the most-traded aluminium and copper contracts, also for September delivery, posted smaller on-week increases of 0.9 per cent and 0.1 per cent, closing the daytime trading session on August 8 at RMB 20,685 per tonne and RMB 78,490 per tonne, respectively. Over the week, news that the US economy had weakened during July increased the likelihood that the US...
AL Circle x Altmin: Scaling India’s LFP battery ecosystem through innovation and automation
Anjani Sri Mourya Sunkavalli, Founder and MD of Altmin, is a visionary entrepreneur with expertise in market research, business development and political observation. With a background in Mass Communication, Political Science and Government Affairs from St. Mary’s College, Hyderabad, he has been proactive in addressing societal and industrial needs, from introducing affordable sanitiser solutions in public transport to pioneering lithium supply chain development for India. Since 2019, Mourya has focused on securing lithium resources from South America, working closely with government bodies like TSMDC, KABIL and NITI Aayog to strengthen India’s self-reliance in critical minerals and battery technologies. The interview highlights Altmin’s role in scaling India’s LFP battery ecosystem...
