German downstream aluminium exports fall 13% in H1 2026 but US enters top 5 with 228.1% import surge
Germany’s downstream aluminium export map underwent a noticeable shift in H1 2026. Shipments to the world fell, with most of Germany’s traditional European customers taking less aluminium downstream product. Yet, amid that broad retreat, one market moved in the opposite direction: the United States. German downstream aluminium exports to the world fell to 897,773.19 tonnes in H1 2026 from 1 million tonnes in H1 2025, a decline of 13 per cent year on year. The contrast was particularly sharp in the US market. American imports of German downstream aluminium reached 68,061.61 tonnes in H1 2026, up 228.1 per cent from just 20,743.62 tonnes in H1 2025. The increase of more than 47,000 tonnes was enough to push the US into Germany’s top 5 destinations for the first time. The export map is...
Caustic soda plant setup in India: How aluminium growth is reshaping demand, costs and opportunities
Caustic soda may not be the most visible ingredient in aluminium production, but without it, the journey from bauxite to alumina would look very different. The chemical, also known as sodium hydroxide, is a crucial reagent in the Bayer process, where it helps dissolve alumina-bearing material in bauxite and separate it from impurities. The dissolved material is then processed to recover alumina, which ultimately feeds aluminium production. That makes caustic soda more than just another industrial chemical. Its availability, price and efficient use can influence the economics of alumina refining and, by extension, the wider aluminium value chain. As India expands its alumina and aluminium capacity, the requirement for this chemical is also becoming increasingly important. For companies...
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Altaiseer orders two extrusion presses from SMS Meer
Altaiseer from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, has placed an order with SMS Meer for two 25/27-MN extrusion presses for the Riyadh site. Altaiseer uses the presses to manufacture high-quality aluminum profiles for facades. Through the use of energy-efficient drives and ancillary equipment, the extrusion presses enable energy savings of 20 percent to be achieved compared with conventional presses. They therefore satisfy the preconditions for the distinctive ecoplants mark. The two 25/27-MN extrusion presses from SMS Meer will operate as front-loaders and allow high productivity and quality to be achieved. In addition the plants will be equipped with induction furnaces supplied by I.A.S. from the SMS Meer Business Area. The induction furnaces heat the 8-inch billets before extrusion following a given...
Powerhouse could be 'Tesla of the building industry'
Sapa is one of the partners in Powerhouse, a partnership for energy-positive buildings. It has shown the way for building in the future and could become ”the Tesla of the building industry." "Buildings account for 40 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions. Suppose an ordinary, worn-out office building could produce twice as much energy as it consumes? This utopian idea is now a reality – in Sandvika outside Oslo." This is how an article in the Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten introduces the first "Powerhouse," which is a refurbished office building just outside Norway's capital city. The office building is energy positive, meaning that it produces more energy than it consumes over its lifetime. On top of that, it produces enough electricity to compensate for the energy used to set up...
Aluminum Association updates on North American aluminium market
Aluminum net shipments (including exports) by domestic U.S. and Canadian facilities totaled an estimated 2,062 million pounds during August, up 3.9 percent over the August 2013 total of 1,985 million pounds. Shipments of aluminum mill products increased 3.1 percent over the previous year to 1,301 million pounds, while shipments of aluminum ingot for castings, exports and destructive uses increased 5.2 percent year-over-year, totaling 761 million pounds. Year-to-date, producer shipments totaled an estimated 15,497 million pounds, an increase of 3.4 percent over the 2013 year-to-date total of 14,994 million pounds. August inventory levels totaled an estimated 2,786 million pounds, down 1.5 percent from the previous month and up 6.2 percent year-over-year.
The high repair costs may dampen the benefits of aluminum-bodied vehicles
The shift in the core material of the Ford Motor’s new F-150 will definitely make the car lighter and more fuel efficient but this sudden shift could mean higher repair costs for the vehicle and others like it. The new pick up will be using lightweight aluminium instead of steel which means that there is a complete change in the core ingredient. Parts from the older steel versions will not be usable in the aluminium versions. The market that is still not quite prepared for the aluminium body might not be able to offer sufficient spare parts. These kinds of vehicles are designed in such a way that it absorbs much of the impact to keep the passengers safe. If there is a flaw in the structure that is not repaired, it can seriously compromise the safety of the vehicle, says Tony Canade the...
Gulf Extrusions’ “Twisted profile” to be displayed at Aluminium 2014 exhibition
Gulf Extrusions (Gulfex), a leading global manufacturer of extruded aluminium products, has revealed that its ‘ twisted profile’ the Middle East region’s first-of-its-kind aluminum twisted profile, has been nominated to be the most innovative product of the year and to be displayed at the innovation area at this year’s edition of ALUMINIUM 2014, the world’s leading trade show for the aluminum industry, which opened on October the 7th and will run until October 9, 2014 at Dusseldorf, Germany. Gulfex ‘twisted profile’ was developed and customized for King Abdul Aziz International Airport project facade. To make this kind of twist, the company developed a special machine to carry out the twisting of 60 degrees for a length of 6 meters. The machine was used and tested on various grades of...
Alcoa’s strategic approach brings success in aluminium production
Alcoa reports a good performance in the upstream sector as well with strategic planning. They have cut down their production by 28 percent or 1.2 million metric tons since 2007 to increase the competition in the global aluminium market. In the third quarter, the company has successfully closed the 190,000 metric ton smelter in Point Henry and announced its plans to permanently close the Portovesme smelter in Italy which will bring the total capacity reduction to 150,000 metric tons. In exchange, Alcoa has entered into an agreement with Sural Laminated Products of Canada Inc. for the acquirement of Bécancour, Quebec rod mill worth 90,000 metric tons. The third quarter ATOI was $245 million which is up by $148 million when compared to the previous quarter and further leap of $237 million...
Aluminum costs seen rising more even after LME wins case
A courtroom victory allowing the London Metal Exchange to ease backlogs of deliveries of aluminum may do little to reduce the cost of the metal used in everything from beer cans to auto parts. While yesterday’s appeal court ruling in London clears the way for the LME to impose new rules at its warehouses, rising demand for aluminum and output cuts by producers including Alcoa Inc. (AA) and United Co. Rusal will still boost costs, according to Harbor Intelligence and BMO Capital Markets. Rusal, which plans to appeal the ruling to the U.K. Supreme Court, yesterday cited a “substantial deficit” in the market. Aluminum users including MillerCoors LLC argued last year that LME rules were helping to create artificial limits on warehouse supply. With shipment delays at some locations lasting...
Tianjin Zhongwang Aluminium orders three ingot scalpers from SMS Meer
Tianjin Zhongwang Aluminium from Tianjin, China, has placed an order with SMS Meer for the delivery of three ingot scalping lines. The scalpers will be used for the manufacture of plate products, standard sheet products and foils. With this investment Tianjin Zhongwang will step into China's aluminum rolling business. The high rigidity of the SMS Meer ingot scalpers ensures very precise surface qualities of the scalped aluminum ingots. The lines each consist of two single-head scalpers arranged in succession with a turnover unit in between. Each scalper is fitted with a three-sided scalping head for scalping of the octagonal ingot profile. A laser measuring device and a modern control system complete the equipment. The two scalpers can also be operated separately. The first line will be...
Alcoa’s results light up Hindalco
Shares of aluminium major Hindalco were up 5 per cent on Thursday, after a stellar performance from its global peer, Alcoa, during the September quarter. During the latest quarter, Alcoa’s income increased six-fold year-on-year, on the back of improved prices and lower input costs. Average aluminium prices have increased to over $2,000 a tonne in the September quarter, from $1,700 in February 2014. More importantly, the company reaffirmed its 7 per cent growth projection for global aluminium demand for 2014. Alcoa has also forecast a deficit in global aluminium of 0.67 million tonnes in 2014, which is good news for aluminium prices. The other positive from Alcoa’s results is the 46 per cent year-on-year income growth in the rolled aluminium sheets division, thanks to the demand from auto...
Alcoa performs well in the alumina sector in Q3
Alcoa has signed a letter of intent in the second quarter in a bid to sell its ownership stake in Alcoa Minerals of Jamaica L.L.C. the operational company for Jamalco bauxite mine and alumina refinery. The company has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Suriname so that they can focus on the Suralco operations of the company. The third quarter was also a good spell for the Sausi Arabian Ma’aden-Alcoa joint venture which is now fully operational and profit generating. The refinery, which is 98 percent complete is supposed to be world’s lowest cost refinery. The bauxite mine is also 73 percent complete. The introduction of a low-cost refinery and closing of the high cost smelters is the company’s strategy of lowering its position the global cost curve to 38th...
The Aluminum Association Releases 2014 North America Aluminum Industry Plant Directory
Aluminum Association released the 2014 edition of the North American Aluminum Industry Plant Directory. The Directory is the industry’s only complete resource offering the most up-to-date details on 488 plants (excluding foundries) known to be operating in North America as of August 2014. This is the latest update of a directory last published in 2012. The 2014 edition covers 405 aluminum plants in the United States, 52 plants in Canada and 31 plants in Mexico. The Directory provides plant location, types of products produced, contact information and affiliated websites. The directory is divided into sections -- organized alphabetically, by location, and by mill product. The new edition of the Directory also better emphasizes membership in the Aluminum Association with a logo marking each...
'Less is more' at Chillventa 2014
Sapa Precision Tubing will present the solutions of tomorrow for the HVAC&R market at the Chillventa 2014 exhibition in Nuremberg, Germany. The trade fair takes place October 14-16. Showcasing clever design and innovative use of aluminium alloys, our representatives will explain how "less is more." In April, the European Union passed a legislation that by 2030 will bring down the emission of fluorinated greenhouse gasses (F-gas) by 79% from today's levels. This translates into several technological challenges for the HVAC&R industry. Sapa Precision Tubing is ready to cooperate with and assist our partners in developing and delivering the best solutions possible to meet these regulations in a cost effective way. Chillventa 2014 We offer a wide range of micro channel tubes for micro channel...
Novelis honored with Two European Aluminium Awards at ALUMINIUM 2014 trade fair for its leadership in innovation
Novelis, the global leader in aluminium rolling and recycling, was awarded two prestigious prizes at the 2014 European Aluminum Awards yesterday during the ALUMINIUM 2014 Trade Fair. In the Building and Architecture category, Novelis was awarded the winning prize for the Blue Planet aquarium building in Copenhagen constructed with Novelis falzonal® pre-painted aluminium for roof cladding. The good mechanical formability, weather resistance, natural aluminium color and protection during handling, transport and installation deliver a material advantage and give the iconic building its outstanding look. Novelis also received a special prize for its online measuring tool for thin coatings on aluminium coils. The newly-invented, highly sensitive measurement method, which was developed in...
European Union threatens to impose anti-dumping duties against Russia
Russia faces threats of tariffs on aluminium foil import imposed by the European Union following a complaint registered by a group of European aluminium-foil manufacturers like Eurofoil Luxembourg and Alcomet on August 25, which included German producers Hydro Aluminium Rolled Products GmbH and AFM Aluminiumfolie Merseburg GmbH and Slovenia-based Impol doo. The European Union will set up an inquiry against Russia to see whether they are exporting below cost price to the 28-nation bloc which is known as dumping. The European Commission has nine months to decide whether a provisional anti-dumping duty needs to be imposed or not and 15 months to decide whether the duty needs to be more “definitive” lasting five years. Rusal said that the charges were “without merit” but have pledged complete...
Xinfa Bauxite Mining Ltd gifted $239k as goodwill for clan
Members of the Naita landowning unit in Lekutu were all smiles yesterday as they received a $239,000 cheque from the Xinfa Bauxite Mining Ltd yesterday. The cheque is for the goodwill and lease payment for the mining company's new 20-year lease on 25 acres of mataqali land. Speaking at the handing over ceremony the landowning unit's secretary, Sunia Vakamoce, said the leased land was at Vuninoko, which boarders Nawailevu, where bauxite mining first started. Mr Vakamoce said mining work would be carried out on the 25 acres for one to two years before it would be rehabilitated during the remaining years of the lease. He said they had earlier received $123,000 as goodwill payment for allowing an access road to be built on their grazing land. Of the $239,000 received yesterday, $232,000 was...
Noranda Aluminum Holding (NOR) jumps 9.67% on October 8
Noranda Aluminum Holding (NOR) was among the biggest gainers on the Russell 2000 for October 8 as the stock popped 9.67% to $4.65, representing a gain of $0.41 per share. Some 843,274 shares traded hands on 4,292 trades, with a total float of 68,852,804. The stock opened at $4.25 and traded with an intraday range of $4.21 to $4.66. After today's gains, Noranda Aluminum Holding reached a market cap of $320,165,539. For a full analysis of Noranda Aluminum Holding, check out Equities.com's E.V.A. report. The Russell 2000 is one of the leading indices tracking small-cap companies in the United States. It's maintained by Russell Investments, an industry leader in creating and maintaining indices, and consists of the smallest 2000 stocks from the broader Russell 3000 index. Russell's indices...
Rio Tinto issues statement regarding Glencore merger speculation
Rio Tinto issues a statement regarding the recent press speculation regarding a possible combination of Rio Tinto and Glencore. The Rio Tinto board confirms that no discussions are taking place with Glencore. In July 2014, Glencore contacted Rio Tinto regarding a potential merger of Rio Tinto and Glencore. The Rio Tinto board, after consultation with its financial and legal advisers, concluded unanimously that a combination was not in the best interests of Rio Tinto’s shareholders. The board’s rejection was communicated to Glencore in early August and there has been no further contact between the companies on this matter. Rio Tinto remains focused on the successful execution of its strategy, which the board of Rio Tinto is confident, will continue to deliver significant and sustainable...
Alcoa sees smaller aluminum market deficit on China smelter restarts
Alcoa Inc has decreased its estimate for the global aluminum market deficit this year due to smelter restarts in China, the world's No. 1 producer, a senior executive said on Wednesday on a conference call to discuss third-quarter earnings. The U.S. aluminum producer expects demand to outpace supply by 671,000 tonnes this year, down from a previous estimate of 930,000 tonnes, Chief Financial Officer William Oplinger said. In July, Alcoa increased its market deficit estimate to 930,000 tonnes due to capacity cuts in China. Higher aluminum prices have prompted some Chinese smelters to abandon production cutbacks and are seen leading to restarts of other plants, chipping away at what was expected to be the first global deficit after years of oversupply. A rally in London Metal Exchange...
