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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Hydro on "Aluminium 2014"
Hydro's many aluminium applications and capabilities are on display at "Aluminium 2014" in Düsseldorf on October 7-9. More than 950 exhibitors from 50 nations are taking part and around 25,000 visitors are expected at the Aluminium 2014 World Trade Fair & Conference. Hydro President and CEO Svein Richard Brandtzæg and senior executives Hilde M. Aasheim, Hans-Joachim Kock and Oliver Bell will all be present to meet customers on the company's stand. "Infinite aluminium" is Hydro's theme, illustrating the multitude of applications and endless recycling possibilities of aluminium – and Hydro's long history as a company: Aluminium is here to stay, and so is Hydro. Along with the exhibition, an aluminium conference will take place. Hydro has one speech at this conference.
Aditya Birla Chemical at new high, buys Jayshree Chem's CAD
Aditya Birla Chemicals India (ABCIL) shares became very popular with the investors on Tuesday when the company took the decision of buying the chlor-alkali division (CAD) of Jayshree Chemicals. The shares gained 7.5% to a record high of INR 313 on BSE. The new acquisition will expand the companies caustic soda capacity to around 3,55,000 tons per annum. The current capacity of the newly acquired facility is 57,000 tons per annum. The CAD division was bought at a cash consideration of INR 212 crore after the board of directors of ABCIL gave their nod of approval. Since the CAD’s manufacturing facility is conveniently placed in Odisha, which is close to many aluminium manufacturing facilities and caustic soda plays a key role in the manufacturing process, the company has significant growth...
Hydro optimizes production capacity in Sunndal
Hydro has decided to reduce remelt activities at its primary metal plant in Sunndal, Norway, and to replace volumes by ramping up production at its SU3 potline. The SU3 potline consists of two production halls with a total production capacity of 100,000 tonnes per year. Due to the economic downturn following the financial crisis, Hydro curtailed SU3 in 2009 – 50% of the production capacity was restarted in 2011 and 2012. Ramping up in steps In order to optimize the production capacity at the plant, Hydro has now decided to restart parts of the remaining potline, and to prepare for a complete startup by mid-year next year. “We will start up one of the four remaining sections in November and December. Given that the startup goes according to plan and we still see positive developments in...
BHP’s retired high rank executive Alberto Calderon invests in Gulf Alumina
One of BHP Billiton’s high ranking executives, Alberto Calderon recently retired but instead of taking time off he is planning to team up with some experienced alumni from ex-rival firm Rio Tinto and begin working on a bauxite export project from the Cape York area. With aluminium demand on a high, the bauxite mining industry is very lucrative at the moment and industry leaders like Glencore and Rio are now the prime players in the Australian bauxite projects. Mr. Calderon, who was one of the top five executives, is going into business with Gulf Alumina, where he says he has made a ‘medium’ sized investment. The deal with this private company is based on royalty where Mr. Calderon will be entitled to a percentage of the revenues generated from exports. He will also be advising the company...
ISRI announces new board members
The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI), the Voice of the Recycling IndustryTM, recently named Paul Brenner of Brenner Recycling (Hazleton, PA) and Scott Miller of Sims Metal Management (New York, NY) to its Board of Directors. Both will serve as directors-at-large through the 2016 term. “The addition of Paul and Scott to ISRI’s Board of Directors brings added leadership and expertise that will help lead our organization over the next two years and beyond,” said Robin Wiener, president of ISRI. “They will add to the variety of backgrounds and perspectives already on the Board, ensuring that all of our members are well-represented. I look forward to working with them as they help to shape the future of the recycling industry.” Paul Brenner is a third generation scrap dealer and...
TOMRA sorting machines increase the processing capacity of Sweeep Suusakoski
Sweeep Suusakoski, a UK Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment firm has asked TOMRA Sorting to provide sensor based sorting equipment for an upgrade at the Kent recycling center and enable better sorting of metallic fractions. TOMRA, the recycling equipment manufacturer, states that they are providing two kinds of sorting machine to the recycling plant namely a TITECH finder and TITECH combisense. The task of the TITECH finder is to sort through copper wires, alloys and stainless steel from the shredder process and has the capacity of detecting particles as small as 1-2mm. The TITCH combisense would be assigned the duty of using its high resolution colour camera and metal sensor to sort out the copper bits and circuit board from aluminium, TOMRA explained. The combisense supposedly...
Century Aluminum receives “Buy” recommendation
Shares of Century Aluminum have been given a consensus rating of “Buy” by the ten brokerages that are presently covering the stock, American Banking and Market News reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and seven have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average twelve-month target price among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $21.89. Shares of Century Aluminum opened at 29.28 on Thursday. Century Aluminum has a 1-year low of $7.80 and a 1-year high of $29.54. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $21.65 and a 200-day moving average of $15.86. The company’s market cap is $2.600 billion. Century Aluminum last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 30th. The company reported $0.21 EPS for the...
Noranda Aluminum drops 5.47% on September 8
Noranda Aluminum Holding (NOR) was one of the Russell 2000's biggest losers for September 8 as the stock slid 5.47% to $4.32, a loss of $0.25 per share. Starting at an opening price of $4.55 a share, the stock traded between $4.30 and $4.58 over the course of the trading day. Volume was 765,416 shares over 3,026 trades, against an average daily volume of 765,550 shares and a total float of 68,852,804. The losses send Noranda Aluminum Holding down to a market cap of $297,444,113. In the last year, Noranda Aluminum Holding has traded between $5.08 and $2.21, and its 50-day SMA is currently $4.21 and 200-day SMA is $3.65. For a full analysis of Noranda Aluminum Holding, check out Equities.com's E.V.A. report. Noranda Aluminum Holding Corp is a North American integrated producer of...
Aluminium futures down on overseas trend
Aluminium futures prices fell 0.63 per cent to INR 126.35 per kg today as speculators reduced positions amid a weak trend in base metals at the London Metal Exchange. At the Multi Commodity Exchange, aluminium for delivery in October month contracts lost 80 paise, or 0.63 per cent, to INR 126.35 per kg, with a business turnover of 15 lots. The metal for delivery in September also shed 75 paise, or 0.59 per cent, to trade at INR 125.35 per kg in a turnover of 357 lots. Marketmen said a weak trend in the base metals pack at the London Metal Exchange as stronger dollar curbed demand for commodities and subdued demand from consuming industries at domestic spot markets, mainly put pressure on aluminium prices at futures trade here.
JLR to unveil Jaguar XE in London on Monday
Jaguar Land Rover is set to launch its much-anticipated Jaguar XE on Monday, a compact car that will help the Tata Motors’ premium division take on the likes of the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and Mercedez Benz C Class. Jaguar Land Rover has gradually been releasing details of the car — due to be unveiled in a high-profile ceremony in London on Monday evening — which have suggested the company is aiming for a vehicle at a higher price point than most of its competitors. Earlier this year, Jaguar revealed that the car would be built on a light-weight aluminum body (accounting for around three quarters of its chassis) and would be the first car to have the brand’s new four-cylinder turbocharged “Ingenium” engine. It will also include features such as a touch-screen infotainment system, compatible...
Constellium has been named as a national champion for Environmental & Corporate Responsibility
Constellium has been named as a national champion for Environmental & Corporate Responsibility by the European Business Awards 2014/15. Sponsored by RSM International, the European Business Awards recognizes and rewards excellence, best practice and innovation in companies across the European Union. “This nomination underlines our achievements in sustainability and encourages us to make further progress. We’re looking forward to participating in the next rounds of the competition,” highlighted Catherine Athènes, Constellium Sustainability Council Leader.
Atlas Copco bets on new car assembly technologies
Atlas Copco’s interest in new assembly technologies has been spurred by a trend among car makers to use more aluminium to reduce the weight of their vehicles. Swedish engineer Atlas Copco is investing in new techniques for assembling cars, believing powerful adhesives and new rivets could see a surge in demand as automakers strive to reduce the weight of vehicles to meet emissions targets. After its 2011 purchase of SCA, a maker of adhesives dispensing gear, Atlas Copco last month snapped up Henrob, a specialist in self-pierce riveting, a method of joining one or more sheets of material together without pre-drilled holes. And Mats Rahmstrom, head of Atlas Copco’s Industrial Technique business area, told Reuters it was on the lookout for more acquisitions to add new technologies. “Among...
SSTP organised by Sohar Aluminium drew to a close with the graduation ceremony
Sohar Aluminium (SA) had conducted a summer internship program called Summer Students Training Program (SSTP) 2014 which drew to a close with the graduation ceremony held at Crown Plaza. The chief sponsor behind this project was Dr Khalifa al Jabri who is a member of the State Council and head of the civil engineering and architecture department at the College of Engineering, Sultan Qaboos University. For the 7-week internship that started in July spanned across a variety of departments of Sohar Aluminium and at the end of it, 57 students were handed their graduation certificates. The Human Resource Department organised the SSTP which aimed at providing hands-on industry training from basic to more advanced levels in a bid to develop workforce in Sohar Aluminium so that the Batinah...
China’s high export and low import of aluminium creates a $49.8 billion trade surplus
With the rising exports and a second climb of aluminium in three days, China, the biggest consumer of industrial metals, experienced a healthy trade surplus. According to the Beijing based customs administration, China’s export grew by 9.4% in August when compared to last year, beating the Bloomberg News Survey prediction of 9%. Meanwhile aluminium saw a hike of 0.3% climbing to $2,100/mt in London. The unexpected 2.4% drop in the imports also contributed to the trade surplus which amounted to $49.8 billion. “China’s better-than-expected trade surplus and exports data eased concern over a slowdown in the country’s growth, providing support for metals,” said Kazuhiko Saito, an analyst at Fujitomi Co., a commodities broker in Tokyo. Aluminium had dropped by 0.2% last week which was its...
The CAG warns the Telugu Desam Government before reopening the Vishakhapatnam mines
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has issued a warning to the Telugu Desam Government who are planning to reopen the Vishakhapatnam bauxite mining, after studying the Memorandum of Understanding with Jinal South West Holding Ltd and Ras Al Khaimah in 2005-07 signed by the previous Congress government. The agreement seemed to be nothing more than a method to steal the rich minerals of the Araku Valley. The mines were grossly undervalued and was handed to the two parties at a measly sum of INR 258 crore whereas its original valuation was somewhere around INR 11,400 crore. The mining leases were cancelled thankfully in September 2012 by the Union tribal welfare ministry otherwise the state would have suffered a loss of thousands of crores of rupees. The CAG report creates a...
Alba raises awareness through health sessions for employees
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) underlined its commitment towards promoting employee health and well-being by organising various health sessions for its employees during the month of August. Two sessions – one on Ebola virus and the other on Healthy Diet and Food - were organised and arranged by Alba’s Health Care Centre and Alba Labour Union, and were held at Alba’s Labour Union Hall. The lecture on Ebola virus was conducted by Dr. Manaf Al Qahttani, Consultant Infectious Diseases, Royal Medical Services, BDF Hospital who addressed the fatal virus and its symptoms, its recent outbreak and how to take the necessary precautions. The talk on Healthy Diet and Food was held for all female Alba employees and was presented by Fatima Al-Shaikh, a certified fitness trainer at Alba Health Care...
Demand for aluminium cable going up: Nexans
More and more pieces of equipment used in the industrial sector could be manufactured using aluminium over copper, if the thoughts of a leading French cable producer are anything to go by. In fact, Nexans has acknowledged from its enquires that demand for aluminium cable has increased recently, with the same equipment being made using copper seeing a drop in requests as a result. Research undertaken by the Financial Times could shed more light onto why this change in demand is taking place. According to the publication's study of the London Metal Exchange, the price of copper has jumped from $1,483 a tonne (approximately £878 a tonne) to $7,125 for a three-month delivery in the last 12 years. On the other hand, the price of aluminium has seen nowhere near this change. It has barely moved...
Orissa government grants prospecting lease to Sesa Sterlite for two laterite deposits
Sesa Sterlite has been granted the prospecting license by the Orissa government to work on two laterite deposit that will yield the necessary raw materials for the 1 million tonne per annum alumina refinery set up in Lanjigarh by the Anil Agarwal owned company. Sesa Sterlite earlier had to import raw materials from outside the state which translated into great losses for the company because of the high import and transportation costs. The laterite deposits that are spread across a 47-hectare land in Dangdeula village of Karaput will now be accessible by the company thanks to the two prospecting licences issue by the state steel and mines department last week. The company hopes that this would help bring down the cost of production a great deal. According to Deepak Mohanty, the state...
