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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DAILY: China's spot alumina prices see regional rises, futures surge on policy optimism
Chinese spot alumina prices mostly held steady on July 18, while futures prices surged on the back of improved market sentiment. Among China's five key alumina-producing areas, spot prices for metallurgical-grade alumina with purity above 98.6 per cent in Guizhou province and the Guangxi autonomous region both edged higher by RMB 10 per tonne (USD 1.4 per tonne) on day to reach RMB 3,260 per tonne and RMB 3,275 per tonne respectively on July 18, according to Mysteel's assessment. Meanwhile, the assessed prices for the same grade held steady on day at RMB 3,140-3,160 per tonne in Shandong, Henan, and Shanxi provinces. Price gains in the Southwestern regions were largely driven by stronger demand from newly commissioned primary aluminum production capacity there in recent weeks, market...
EU announces anti-dumping duties on Chinese fused alumina
The European Commission has officially announced imposition of provisional anti-dumping duties on fused alumina imports from China. This time, it is a move to resolve to protect Europe’s domestic industry from market distortions. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1456, adopted on July 17, 2025, delivers a stern warning to China’s state-backed industrial juggernaut: unfair trade practices will no longer be overlooked. Image for referential purposes only At the core of the Commission’s decision lies the recognition that fused alumina, rather commonly known as artificial corundum, derived from melting bauxite or aluminium oxide at over 2,000 °C, has been imported from China at dumped prices, causing material injury to the European Union’s domestic producers. The action follows a...
With the August 1 deadline looming, can the EU and US avoid a full-blown trade war?
As trade tensions between the European Union and the US reach a critical point, the EU is preparing a second wave of retaliatory tariffs targeting billions of dollars in US exports each year. This move comes amid stalled negotiations and the looming threat of the US imposing steep 30 per cent tariffs on nearly all EU goods starting August 1. Caught off guard by the sudden threat of these duties, the European Commission swiftly responded with plans to impose counter tariffs on US exports valued at EUR 72 billion, a measure that could also impact the EU’s own economy. With both sides gearing up for a potential trade showdown, the stakes are higher than ever for industries on both continents. What is the EU’s second retaliatory tariff package? The European Commission has tabled plans to...
Enhanced molten aluminium trade is a fruit of the dim billet market in H1’25
European aluminium billet manufacturers entered 2025 with caution, and by mid-year, that caution had hardened into sweeping production cuts. The billet market, once a bellwether for demand in construction, transport, and extrusion-heavy sectors, has weakened considerably in the first half of the year. In response, a notable shift has emerged: aluminium producers are pivoting towards enhanced molten metal trade as an alternative channel to absorb surplus capacity and meet more immediate domestic needs. Image for referential purposes only (source: https://www.syalons.com/) The strategic shift is not merely opportunistic. It’s a calculated survival tactic rooted in price pressures and vanishing demand. The billet problem Aluminium prices, both for primary and alloy grades, have fluctuated at...
NBS: China's H1 alumina output up 9.3% Y-o-Y in H1 2025
China's total alumina output, including smelter-grade alumina and other types, rose by 9.3 per cent year-on-year to reach 45.15 million tonnes during the first half of 2025, according to the latest data released by the country's National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). In June alone, China produced 7.75 million tonnes of alumina, up by 3.5 per cent from May and by 7.8 per cent from the same month last year, the NBS data showed. East China's Shandong province, North China's Shanxi province, and Southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region remained the country's top three alumina-producing regions last month, Mysteel Global noted. Alumina production in Shandong and Guangxi grew by 3.4 per cent and 4.3 per cent, respectively, from May to reach 2.76 million tonnes and 1.47 million tonnes...
Alcoa & Rio Tinto condemn Trump’s trade policy for $115-$321M added costs
Alcoa and Rio Tinto, two of the biggest aluminium players with significant operations in North America, are publicly challenging the very policy that once appeared to shield them. According to fresh revelations this week, Alcoa claims Trump’s aluminium tariffs have cost it USD 115 million in elevated raw material expenses during the ongoing year’s second quarter, while Rio Tinto has warned of “distortions” in the US market that are “undermining competitiveness rather than enhancing it.” Image for referential purposes only When former US President Donald Trump launched the Section 232 tariffs in 2018, cloaked in the language of national security, American aluminium producers cheered. The logic seemed straightforward. As the nation slapped a 10 per cent import tariff on aluminium, it would...
Aluminium takes flight: the sustainable metal powering the future of aviation
Primary aluminium has long been the backbone of aircraft construction, valued for its unmatched combination of strength, durability, and low weight. Today, its role is expanding beyond performance, into sustainability. With the aviation industry under pressure to reduce its carbon footprint, recycled aluminium is taking centre stage in modern aircraft manufacturing. Image for representational purpose From next-generation commercial jets like the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 to legacy models such as the MD-11 and Lockheed C-5M Super Galaxy, the metal continues to shape the skies, now with a greener edge. The backbone of aircraft structures Primary aluminium's versatility and strength-to-weight ratio make it the ideal choice for the structural integrity of aircraft. Aircraft such as the...
Alcoa's Q2 2025 results: What does the other half of FY’25 hold?
Strong results amid market headwinds, Alcoa's Q2 2025 earnings reflect resilience worth noting. On July 17, Alcoa Corporation, an American-based leading aluminium manufacturer, posted its financial performance for the second quarter of 2025. This report represents the firm's strong operational performance with a subsequent increase in its cash deposits, irrespective of the lowered alumina and aluminium prices, with increased tariff costs. Image source: wikipedia.org Q2 in a nutshell In Q2 2025, Alcoa demonstrated strong operational performance, underpinned by robust aluminium production. The company also reported increased sales following the completion of its acquisition of a full 25.1 per cent ownership interest in the joint venture with Saudi Arabian Mining Company, Ma'aden, effective...
China's Guangxi sends first full-load alumina container train
A railway container train carrying 2,688 tonnes of alumina departed Baise city in Southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region on July 14, bound for Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, marking the first full-load alumina container train between the two regions, according to a news report by Guangxi Daily. Image for referential purposes only Operated by the Baise office of the Nanning Railway Logistics Center under China Railway Nanning Group, the train consists of 84 containers and is scheduled to arrive at Sanping Station in Urumqi, Xinjiang, in ten days, the report said. The new train service establishes a direct logistics corridor linking Guangxi's alumina production bases with Xinjiang's energy-rich industrial bases. Located in the western part of Guangxi, Baise...
US semi-finished aluminium exports climb 11% in Q1 2025 - Is South Korea the new China with startling supplies?
The United States’ dynamic transformation in aluminium trade landscape is very well reflected through its semi-finished product imports, specifically aluminium plates, sheets, and bars as they show both volume growth and evolving sourcing patterns in Q1 2025. Despite maintaining a modest 22 per cent share of the country’s total aluminium imports during the quarter, this segment displayed a notable increase in volume, reaching 324,000 tonnes, up 10.69 per cent from 292,700 tonnes in Q4 2024. Yet, this sequential uptick didn’t surpass the 339,000 tonnes imported in Q2 2024. However, it did outpace Q3 2024’s figure of 300,600 tonnes and marked a 10.97 per cent rise year-on-year from 292,000 tonnes, reinforcing the upward trajectory driven by policy anticipation and domestic demand. February...
Part 3 – “For supersonic aircraft operating at speeds similar to the X-59 (Mach 1.4-1.8), aluminium alloys will likely remain the primary material for large sections of the airframe,” Kalea Texeira, National Training Program Manager at Federal Aviation Administration
Step into the final leg of our enlightening journey with Kalea Texeira, where the spotlight turns once more to aluminium but not as the old guard of aerospace materials. Instead, as Texeira compellingly reveals, aluminium re-emerges from the X-59 program as a vital force shaping the future of flight. Far from being left behind in the age of advanced composites and high-temperature alloys, aluminium proves it still has plenty of lift. Read the full interview below for her complete insights. Missed the first two parts? Catch up on Part 1 & Part 2 by clicking the link here! AL Circle: Do the technologies developed for the X-59 have commercial or military crossover potential, particularly in future green aviation platforms? Kalea Texeira: The technologies developed and validated through...
NBS: China's H1 primary aluminum output rises 3.3% YoY
China's primary aluminum production totalled 3.81 million tonnes in June, down by 0.5 per cent from May but up by 3.4 per cent from June 2024, according to the latest data released by the country's National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on July 15. Last month's result meant that for this year's first six months, China produced 22.38 million tonnes of primary metal, marking a healthy 3.3 per cent rise from the January-June period last year, the NBS statistics showed. Although last month's output declined on-month mainly because June had one less day than May, the average daily production nationwide actually increased last month. Mysteel Global's calculation based on the NBS data showed that daily output averaged 127,000 tonnes in June, up by 2.8 per cent from the previous month. Also read:...
Market commentary: Aluminium foil is looking towards a $48.8 billion market by 2034
The global non-ferrous market size at present stands at USD 1.18 trillion (2024), which is poised to reach USD 1.75 trillion by 2033, shared Dr Anupam Agnihotri at the recently held International Conference for Non-Ferrous Metals, 2025. The metals leading the path of growth include Aluminium, Nickel, Copper and rare earth elements. Image for referential purposes only Amongst all these, from food trays to battery packs, the thin yet mighty aluminium foil has evolved far beyond its conventional kitchen connotation. Now, it’s spearheading a global packaging transformation, with the market projected to leap from USD 29.1 billion in 2024 to USD 48.8 billion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 5.3 per cent over the next decade. Behind these numbers lies a compelling story of industrial convergence,...
China’s aluminium foil finds backdoor to the US? Vietnam & Thailand under DOC’s scanner
On July 11, 2025, the US Department of Commerce (DOC) launched anti-circumvention investigations into disposable aluminium containers, pans, trays, and lids imported from Vietnam and Thailand. The petition was filed by the Aluminum Foil Container Manufacturers Association. But in general, US also imported significant amount of aluminium foil from other Asian nations like Japan and South Korea. In 2024, as per OEC data, US imported around USD 14 million aluminium foils from South Korea and USD 78.8 million from Japan. So, why the probe was launched only upon Vietnam and Thailand? According to the Trade Remedies Authority of Vietnam, the probe is based on suspicions that aluminium foil produced in China is being shipped to countries, processed into finished products, and then exported to...
From cars to cans: the ripple effects of America’s 50% aluminium tariff on end-users
As global trade conflicts grow and political alliances change, American companies in many industries are struggling with rising tariffs on imported aluminium. Image for representational purpose Introduced on June 4, 2025, the 50 per cent aluminium tariff was meant to support US producers as economic tensions grew between Western countries and the BRICS group (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) but it has triggered widespread disruptions in supply chains, driving up costs and compelling companies from automakers to beverage manufacturers and luxury brands to swiftly adjust their strategies. Aluminium plays a crucial role in many products, valued for its lightweight, strength, and flexibility, especially in cars, packaging, construction, and luxury goods. The tariff effectively...
India reaches 50% renewable power – Waaree, Adani Green and NTPC Green stock surges
India has crossed an ambitious milestone by achieving 50 per cent of its entire installed energy capacity from renewable sources — five years ahead of its 2030 target for renewable energy under the Paris Agreement. This announcement and massive leap forward, confirmed by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, highlight India's increasing energy independence and increasing technological expertise in renewables. Image source: Hydropolis Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi commented on a social media platform: "India’s total installed energy capacity stands at 484.8 GW, of which 242.8 GW comes from non-fossil clean energy sources." Solar’s dominant rise and aluminium solar panels Solar energy has taken centre stage in India's green transition, contributing almost...
World alumina production in May rebounds by 3% M-o-M , but with a dip in daily output
In May 2025, world alumina production recorded a slight rise month-on-month following a slump in April, but not without a twist. While total monthly output rose to 12.626 million tonnes, marking a 3 per cent increase, the daily average slipped slightly from 408,400 tonnes to 407,300 tonnes, according to the International Aluminium Institute (IAI). The decline in daily output is likely due to one fewer operational day in May’s calendar. Of the total alumina production in May, metallurgical-grade ore accounted for 11.841 million tonnes, making up 93.78 per cent of the total output, while chemical-grade output stood at 785,000 tonnes, contributing 6.22 per cent to the overall production. Notably, the growth in May alumina production was exclusively driven by metallurgical-grade ore, as...
Alcoa resumes San Ciprián smelter restart, facing economic loss first
Alcoa Corporation, with its joint venture partner, IGNIS Equity Holdings, SL, have recently made an announcement of commencing the restart process of the San Ciprian smelter in Spain. Previously, on April 28, 2025, Alcoa's complex in this location received a wide power outage all across Spain, affecting the operations of both the smelter and the refinery. The production of this joint venture was curtailed in 2021 due to the high power prices. It began the process of restart, but again took a pause due to nationwide power outage in Spain on April 28, 2025, disrupting the overall operations in the adjacent smelter and refinery. Before the curtailment, the facility held the total production capacity of 228,000 tonnes annually, representing a substantial portion of the European aluminium...
