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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India under spotlight at Canada-hosted G7 outreach session as trade, tariffs and energy security overwhelm agenda
Canada played host to this year’s G7 summit, marking its seventh turn at the helm of the influential bloc. In addition to the heads of state from G7 member nations and the European Union, which also participates in the summit, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney extended invitations to several non-G7 leaders. Among them were Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who confirmed her attendance just days before the event following weeks of indecision, as well as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The high-level gathering was convened in Alberta, underscoring Canada’s renewed diplomatic posture under Carney’s leadership. “As vibrant democracies bound by deep people-to-people ties, India and Canada will work together with renewed vigour, guided by...
UK consumers confused about which packaging should be recycled, here’s what you need to know
Despite the widespread awareness about sustainability, confusion around recycling persists among consumers in the United Kingdom (UK), further leading to undermined efforts in circular packaging. Aquapak's research shows that nearly 70 per cent of British consumers are unaware of the proper packaging to recycle. As per the report drafted by Recycling Magazine, out of five people, only one person reads the recycling instructions behind the packaging and the demographic for this. People between the ages of 25 and 34, one out of three people, which constitutes 31 per cent, read the instructions, and when the age group reaches 65 and above, it drops to 17 per cent of the demographic reading it. Regarding understanding the instruction provided, nearly 10 per cent of British consumers believe...
CMI’s new aluminium can sheet guidance: Recycled content math to standardise industry reporting
In the grand theatre of sustainable packaging, aluminium beverage cans have long occupied centre stage. They are hailed as icons of recyclability — endlessly reusable, energy-efficient, and economically viable. But how much of the aluminium in your next soft drink can is from recycled material? And by whose definition? Image for referential purposes only A new technical protocol released in 2024 aims to settle that debate. Titled “Guidance for Calculating Recycled Content in Aluminium Can Sheet (Version 1.0),” this industry-led initiative offers the first formalised methodology to quantify recycled content in aluminium can sheets. Developed by the Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI) and environmental NGO GreenBlue, with inputs from major players including Novelis, Ball, Constellium, and the...
Brazil among 26 nations to secure $250M climate funding for industrial decarbonisation
In a recent breakthrough for industrial decarbonisation in the Global South, Brazil has secured USD 250 million in international climate financing to steer its transition to low-carbon manufacturing for five major focus sectors. The announcement, which was made by the Climate Investment Funds (CIF) under its Clean Technology Fund, anoints Brazil as a frontrunner among emerging economies in charting a sustainable path for hard-to-abate sectors such as aluminium, cement, steel, chemicals, and fertilisers. Image for referential purposes only The funding will attract the formulation of a comprehensive investment plan led by Brazil’s Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade and Services (MDIC). The plan will map out sector-specific interventions, financing instruments, and policy measures to...
US bauxite imports slide 4% in Q1, with Turkey pulling back and Atlantic Alumina under pressure
The United States bauxite imports in the first quarter of 2025 recorded both annual and quarterly declines, highlighting the nation’s ongoing shift from primary aluminium production to a greater reliance on recycled materials. This strategic transition has reduced the demand for imported bauxite. According to data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS), Q1 2025 bauxite imports totalled 480,000 tonnes, marking a year-on-year decline of 4.2 per cent from 501,000 tonnes and lower than 500,000 tonnes brought in during Q4 2024. This decrease occurred despite a notable rise in imports from Jamaica, the United States' largest bauxite supplier. Imports from Jamaica surged to 429,000 tonnes in Q1 2025, up by 20.5 per cent from 356,000 tonnes in Q4 2024. However, this figure still marked...
Tariffs bite: US domestic B&C sector struggles with rising project costs as aluminium prices mount
Concerns over slowing business continue to resurface as the United States’ steep tariffs on aluminium and steel imports weigh heavily on domestic manufacturing industries. While the packaging sector has repeatedly raised red flags, the building and construction industry is now warning of mounting challenges amid the newly raised 50 per cent import duty — an issue that remained unresolved in the US-China trade talks held on June 11. Image source: Autodesk American real estate and construction companies are largely drawing attention to the potential financial strain that aluminium and steel tariffs could impose, using hypothetical cost projections to illustrate the impact. In a recent webinar, Sarah Vakili, Senior Director of Business Planning and Strategy at Skanska USA Building, one of...
Israel and Iran under tension: How is India, among all global aluminium giants, hit? Prices indicate stress.
As a result of the ongoing geopolitical discord between Israel and Iran, the Indian aluminium industry (though not impacted directly) is feeling the rippling heat in pricing. In an unexpected turn of events, India’s aluminium price has slipped to INR 242 per kg, contemplating the global metal pressures exacerbated by currency swings and rising oil. Image for referential purposes only The chain of events unfolds to be in this order — Israel and Iran under a military clash, which has led to the latter region’s oil supply chain being disrupted. The Sensex (India) has then fallen 1300 points. As aluminium production is highly energy-intensive, notably smelting alone accounts for nearly 40 per cent of production cost. The Middle East, especially the Gulf region, is a major natural gas and fuel...
LME integrates CBAM-aligned emissions tracking into listed aluminium businesses — must submit data from June ’25
In a market increasingly ruled by emissions accountability, the LME has stepped forward with a landmark measure to align metals trading with the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). As of June 15, 2025, all listed aluminium brands are required to submit verified emissions data through LMEpassport, the exchange’s digital certificate system. Image source: https://www.consultancy.uk/ At its core, the initiative is about harmonising with Brussels. The LME emissions reporting form asks producers to disclose Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, tailored precisely to match EU CBAM standards. Reporting is mandatory for brands under Primary Aluminium, Aluminium Alloy, and NASAAC. Prior to the recent development, on May 1 2024, the LME released a consultation on the proposed...
US-China trade talks in London yield a framework. Yet core tariffs remain intact!
Last week, high-stakes trade negotiations between the United States and China reconvened in London, marking the second day of talks on June 10 at Lancaster House. After months of escalating tensions and retaliatory trade barriers, negotiators have emerged with what they called a 'framework agreement', a non-binding but symbolic structure meant to uphold the 90-day tariff truce struck in Geneva in May. While the framework itself lacks legal enforceability, it does offer a potential de-escalation route in a trade war that has shaken supply chains across critical sectors, including aluminium, electronics, defence, and electric vehicles. Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick confirmed the broad contours of the deal, suggesting that while headline tariffs...
India-US auto parts tariff tussle: Strategic talks, WTO rejections, and the bigger geopolitical game
As Indian and U.S. officials engaged in closed-door negotiations to finalise trade deals ahead of July’s tariff hikes, a parallel development added friction to an already delicate situation. The Trump administration formally rejected India’s request for consultations at the World Trade Organization (WTO)—its second such attempt—this time over the steep 25 per cent tariff on auto parts. Image source: vecteezy.com The juxtaposition of collaborative trade discussions and WTO resistance has triggered a wave of speculation about Washington’s real intentions. While on one hand, Trump has defended its position by citing national security grounds, which exempts the tariff from WTO jurisdiction, on the other, he has expressed his willingness to hold one-on-one discussions with India on the auto...
3% aluminium stock rise in Japan, coupled with Q3 premium drop, signals market softening
Japanese general trading house Marubeni Corp reported that aluminium inventories at Japan’s three major ports (Yokohama, Nagoya, and Osaka) increased for the second consecutive month. As of the latest end of May data, the stocks rose to 331,000 metric tonnes, marking an increase of 3.3 per cent from April 2025. Continued increase in stocks in addition to premium drop underscores the ongoing weakness in aluminium demand in the Asian country. Moreover, the recent news reporting 0.2 per cent GDP shrinkage in Japan, albeit better than the initial estimation, further reflects the subdued market sentiment. How stocks moved M-o-M This month-on-month build-up started in April when stocks rose 3.4 per cent. In contrast, inventory levels in February 2025 saw a 3.5 per cent decline from the previous...
Here’s how Ghana is advancing its ambitious aluminium agenda; six new bauxite mining licences are in
The Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) has reportedly secured six new bauxite mining licences and achieved an essential milestone towards realising the country’s long-standing vision of building a fully integrated aluminium industry. Image source: Ghana Bauxite Company The news came on Thursday, June 12, after Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, Reindorf Twumasi Ankrah, confirmed the arrival of new mining licences that would help Ghana unlock its full mining potential of estimated 920 million tonnes of bauxite in three major locations - Nyinahin, Awaso, and Kyebi. “This is the foundation of a fully integrated aluminium value chain that begins in the soil and ends with high-grade aluminium products for global export.” Mr Ankrah aptly remarked, highlighting...
Vedanta Aluminium sets the benchmark for sustainable water management in India — pushes for 'Water Positivity by 2030'
In a country where water scarcity is both a rural crisis and an industrial liability, few sectors are as thirsty and as scrutinised as the aluminium industry. With primary aluminium production requiring anywhere between 20,000 to 40,000 litres of water per tonne, efficient water use isn’t just an operational concern; it’s a socio-environmental imperative. While reliance on dated, extractive water systems and rudimentary discharge mechanisms usage remains a key focus area to work upon as an industry, Vedanta Aluminium has helmed sustainable operations with a narrative of an apt blend of recycling, zero-liquid discharge, and community water stewardship. Image for representational purposes only What typically happens to water in aluminium production Water is integral across the aluminium...
Hydro’s hiring freeze, plant closure and curbs only one side of the plan Thus, the expansions and the investments...
Norsk Hydro has been in the headlines for contradictory reasons. On the one hand, they have been announcing closures, curbs, and a temporary hiring freeze, and on the other, they have made news for investments, expansions, and inaugurations in the past few months. Given Norsk Hydro’s repeated reaffirmations of its strategic commitment to its 2030 vision, it is time to assess its actions’ substance and scope. Image for referential purposes only The most recent announcement made by Hydro is that it is temporarily freezing its hiring of ‘white collar workers’ for affected areas. However, it has also been mentioned that hiring in the Business areas will remain unaffected. This measure, as mentioned in the official press release, is explicitly undertaken to strengthen the company’s “future...
Donald Trump’s 50% tariff: A boon or blow for US aluminium companies?
As voices from aluminium associations across US trade-allied nations grow louder, one consensus is becoming clear that the United States’ decision to increase tariffs on aluminium imports to 50 per cent is unlikely to benefit its global partners. Now, whether this bold move by Donald Trump will favour his own domestic market or not is the pressing question that continues to divide the aluminium industry. The United States relies heavily on overseas suppliers for primary aluminium, downstream products, as well as scrap. Imposing such a steep tariff across these categories raises concerns over potential supply disruptions within the country, yet some US-based producers are betting on gains. Image source: X Century Aluminum, a primary aluminium producer, sees the tariff as an opportunity,...
Aluminium influence and overall commodity consumption cushion Japan’s Q1 GDP, shrinkage is lower than feared
Japan’s economic engine, though sputtering, is not stalling just yet. Revised data from the Cabinet Office show that Japan’s GDP shrank by only 0.2 per cent annualised in Q1 2025, sharply better than the earlier estimate of 0.7 per cent, and just enough to keep recessionary panic at bay. The improvement was primarily driven by a surprise uptick in private consumption, which accounts for over half the nation’s GDP. From restaurants to gaming, updated spending data lifted consumption growth to 0.1 per cent, reversing the earlier flat-line reading. Image for representational purposes only What’s more, domestic demand contributed 0.8 percentage point to growth, effectively offsetting the 0.8 percentage point drag from net exports. However, the modest rebound is unlikely to shift the Bank of...
Africa & Asia’s alumina production growth persists - April sees 4.5% jump with Indonesia a key driver
In April 2025, while most countries and regions witnessed a month-on-month decline in alumina production, there was one region that stood out as an exception and that was Africa & Asia (ex-China). According to the International Aluminium Institute, alumina production in Africa & Asia (ex-China) during April was 1.173 million tonnes, up by 4.45 per cent from the previous month’s 1.123 million tonnes. Production insights IAI data further indicates that Africa & Asia’s alumina output in April marked the second consecutive monthly rise, following a 7.36 per cent increase in March. In April, the growth extended but recorded relatively modest rate than the earlier month. As a result of increase in monthly output during April amid sluggish global alumina production, Africa & Asia’s (ex-China)...
Brazil battles back, as soaring US tariffs on aluminium & steel threaten industrial backbone and SME survival
From June 4, 2025, Trump's 25 per cent tariff on aluminium and steel doubled to 50 per cent, creating tension among worldwide manufacturers, especially those heavily relying on exports. Owing to this, most Brazilian manufacturers are pushing back against the US tariffs on aluminium and steel. What circumstances are making the Brazilian manufacturers retaliate? Image source: legamart.com Impact on Brazil’s overall GDP With the effectiveness of the 50 per cent tariff, Brazilian manufacturers have faced immense challenges, especially for the small and medium enterprises deemed to be the major contributors to Brazil's industrial GDP. In 2024, Brazil’s GDP stood at USD 5.48 trillion as per the Purchasing Power Parity (PPP). As per the data of Market Research Future, aluminium's contribution to...
