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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Mini Superleggara Vision with aluminium inspired design set to launch in UK
The Italian coach builder, Touring is designing the new Mini Superleggara Vision with handcrafted aluminium bodywork. This car has been designed to create the look of a classic two-seater roadster but integrating it with all the modern technologies. This stunner will debut at the Salob Privé classic and supercar show at the Syon House, in UK. The design features includes Touring’s unbeatable talent of molding large sheets of aluminium into intricate shapes so there are minimal gaps in the body. Other design features include the classic round headlight and hexagonal grill, striking headlights resembling the UK flag and interior door pulls to match. The facia is constructed from a single aluminium sheet which has been left unpainted by Touring to highlight the finesse of the craftsmanship....
Germany’s Darmstadt University receives ‘German Façade Prize’ for its aluminum curtain walling
The high rise building of Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences in Germany has been refurbished and the central focus in the aluminium façade solution provided by Wicona, the aluminium building systems brand of Sapa; this building has been awarded the prestigious ‘German Façade Prize’ for its aluminium curtain walling. Berlin-based Staab Architekten re-designed this 1960s building which spreads across 16 floors to allow the building to reclaim its iconic status of being the tallest building in the skyline and a distinct landmark. The tower was stripped down to its original concrete structure, the windows were replaced then the aluminium curtain walling by Wicona was used to finish the out exterior which won it the award. The Association for Materials and Components awarded the prize to...
Japan’s benchmark scrap rates jump by 24%
Japan, where 97% of beverage can are collected to be recycled and reused, is seeing a surge in the scrap aluminium prices which are the highest it has been since 2008. This surge is likely to be due to the rising car sales in China and U.S. boost demand. Aluminium-can scrap prices traded in Yokohama, the LME aluminium ingots as well as the LME monitored stockpiles for the refined metal all normalized beginning September 2013, according to the Chart of the Day comparisons. Bloomberg’s data compilation revealed a 24% rise in the benchmark scrap rate to 181.1 Yen ($1.73) per kg in comparison the LME price gained 14% and there was a 10% drop in the inventory gauge of the period. Japan’s key market for the aluminium scarp is divided amongst China, the largest automobile manufacturer in the...
Bauxite Angola to invest over US$500 million when re-launching the Madina Bose mining
The chairman of Bauxite Angola said on Wednesday that they are planning to spend over US$500 million in Guinea-Bissau at the time it re-launches the Madina Boe bauxite mining which is located in the east of the country, in the Gabu region. On April 12, 2012 a coup was organized by Carlos Gomes Junior that upturned the government forcing the company to suspend their operations at Guinea-Bissau. The Prime Minister, Domingos Simões Pereira received Bernardo Campos on Tuesday and said, “we expect investments in the port, in railways, in the road and mine itself could exceed US$500 million,” according to the Portuguese News Network. Bauxite Angola’s chairman also expressed plans about more bauxite mines that are in plans especially next to the border with Guinea Conakry.
Orbit Aluminae Inc. gives an update on the HPA project in Quebec
On September 3rd, Orbite Aluminae Inc. announced the latest news about the development of the new high purity alumina (‘HPA”) smelter at Cap-Chat in Quebec. Building on the initial announcement already dispatched on August 6th, 2014, they confirmed the completion of the first phase of the project that is, structurally reinforcing the HPA building so that the Quebec calcination equipment can be properly installed. The foundation needs to be cured before the calcination equipment can be installed. The fabrication of the calcination equipment at Outotec’s Burlington, Ontario is done and the job of installing it at the site is scheduled to start in the week starting on September 8th. CNC Mechanical (2002) Inc. is the one managing the mechanical contract for this installation. According to the...
API Group PLC announces trading update
API Group plc (LSE: API), the leading manufacturer of specialist foils and packaging materials, is today providing the following update on trading: As indicated in previous statements, the Group's Foils Americas business unit has been impacted by a drop in demand from customers in the metallic pigment sector, affecting results for the second half of last financial year and continuing into the current financial year. The duration and severity of the down-turn has been greater than expected, albeit a recovery is now getting under way. As a consequence, it is now anticipated that the unit will post a small loss for the year. Elsewhere, Laminates and Foils Europe are trading broadly in line with last year, whilst Holographics has consolidated the breakeven position established in the last...
Chinese producers are cautious about using aluminium alloys for wires and cables
Attracted by the lower costs, many Chinese companies are carrying out extensive Research and Development (R&D) to try and implement aluminium alloy instead of copper in wires and cables. The SMM’s latest survey however shows that most of the cable producers and taking the ‘wait and watch’ stance for now since the government has not issued any standards for the aluminium alloys for power cables. Zhejiang Wanma Co. was the first company to report producing aluminium power cables. Even Jiangsu Tongguang Electronic Wire & Cable and Hunan Goldcup Electric Apparatus Technology are going full throttle to develop an aluminium alloy power cable. However the pioneer who was supposedly the first to introduce aluminium alloys to cable production has declined to comment on any development from their...
Aluminum shipments to Oswego to increase
The Port of Oswego has seen record levels of aluminum shipments so far this year and shipments between the port and the St. Lawrence Seaway are expected to increase by 30 percent this year, according to the Chamber of Marine Commerce, a bi-national association that represents approximately 150 marine industry stakeholders. The Port of Oswego estimates that more than 120,000 metric tons of aluminum will be delivered to the port in 2014, due to high demand from aluminum sheet manufacturers catering to the automotive industry. The aluminum is shipped by barge from the Aluminerie Alouette facility in Sept-Iles, Quebec, the largest aluminum smelter in the Americas. “The bi-national nature of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway system makes it a natural conduit for cross-border trade,” said...
Aluminium up by 0.2% on global trends
Aluminium prices were up by 0.24% in futures trade today as speculators created positions, tracking a firming trend in the global markets. Besides, increased demand at domestic spot markets also influenced prices. At the Multi Commodity Exchange, aluminium for delivery in current month rose by 30 paise, or 0.24%, to INR 125.50 per kg in a business turnover of 181 lots. The metal for delivery in October also rose by a similar margin to trade at INR 126.50 per kg in 14 lots. Analysts said the rise in aluminium prices at futures trade was mostly due to a firming trend in global markets after data signalled improving economic conditions in the US and China, the biggest metals consumers.
Smelters need support to survive
Smelters and foundries need support if they are to survive. As a start, Eskom has to sort out its electricity supply problems, and government’s R4-trillion infrastructure plan needs to get under way soon. Better still, the private sector should be encouraged to provide more traditionally sourced energy. BHP Billiton has turned off its Bayside aluminium smelter in KwaZulu-Natal. Smelting costs too much, even though the company has a hugely preferential electricity pricing agreement with Eskom. Bayside, BHP Billiton’s Hillside aluminium smelter and the Mozal smelter near Maputo in Mozambique together used about 9% of South Africa’s total electricity output. A chunk of state infrastructure funding is being spent on building new energy capacity — mainly the delayed Medupi and Kusile...
Japan aluminium buyers to pay record high premiums driven by supply cut
Japan aluminium buyers agreed to pay premiums of $420 a metric ton in the next quarter as confirmed by the buyers and seller representatives in Japan. That is a record rise from the range of $400 to $408 a ton in the present quarter and a record high for the fourth consecutive time. Japanese buyers and suppliers negotiate the premiums quarterly and they agree to pay this premium on the LME cash price for the three months beginning from October according to a trader source on condition of anonymity. Japan aluminium premiums surged 71 percent this year with a record hike in every quarter. Alcoa has already announced the closing of Portovesme Smelter in Italy which will reduce its annual smelting capacity by 150,000 tons to 3.6 million tons. The aluminum industry has been on a capacity cut...
The EUROPEAN ALUMINIUM AWARD 2014 nominees announced
Alcoa, Novelis or Constellium – the leading enterprises of the European aluminium sector have entered their innovations in the competition for the EUROPEAN ALUMINIUM AWARD 2014. Among them are renowned designers, e.g. from Mercedes and BMW. The award will be presented at ALUMINIUM, the world’s leading trade fair held in Düsseldorf from 7 to 9 October, for the ninth time. Out of a total of 83 submitted products from 11 countries, 31 have been nominated. The award presentation at a gala event on 7 October 2014 will be part of the trade fair programme. From laser-welded automotive metal sheets to designer silverware, from stable bridge structures to side impact protection, from long-lasting urns to the shiny wedding dress of the future: the award submissions couldn’t be any more diverse....
See aluminium price hold above USD 2400/tonne: Nalco
Answering a query put by CNBC-TV18’s guest editor Abhay Laijawala, MD & Head of Research, Deutsche Equities India on whether alumna prices on the LME are expected to move up in line with aluminium prices, Ansuman Das, chairman and managing director of Nalco said alumina prices may not move up as sharply as aluminium prices but would be stable and may continue to have an up trend. The aluminium price on the LME were around USD 2100 per tonne and the spot alumina prices were around USD 325 per tonne. Das expects the aluminium prices to hold above USD 2400 per tonne. Moreover, he thinks with the new government’s focus on infrastructure development the demand for aluminum in India could be high.
Vedanta Resources termed as top ranking producer by Deutsche Bank
Vedanta Resources has been awarded top-ranking producer position by Deutsche Bank after a careful review of UK listed miners. The shares of Vedanta have now gone from ‘hold’ to ‘buy’. A total of 18 stocks were reviewed and the criteria for the reviews covered 19 metrics which included working capital management, net present value trends, product growth, commodity diversity, returns, payouts and valuation multiples. According to analysts, the reason for this top rank is largely due to the company’s recent group restructuring completed last year with the merger of its copper and zinc ore units receiving court clearance. This was an ‘important step’ in the simplification of the group’s structure, the bank stated. Another step which proved crucial to the company’s maximum ‘cash fungibility...
Alupro develops new protocol for aluminium packaging recovered from Incinerator Bottom Ash (IBA)
Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation (Alupro) has developed a new protocol for aluminium packaging recovered from Incinerator Bottom Ash (IBA). This protocol for recycling will allow issuing of PRNs on this material from 1st Jan 2015. This is acknowledged by the Environment Agency (EA) and it could count 10,000 tonnes of recovered aluminium towards the targets set for the recovery of aluminium packaging. The new IBA protocol recognises that a minimum of 50 per cent of the non-ferrous content recovered from IBA is aluminium packaging like drinks cans, foil, aerosols etc. Aluminium packaging is recovered from IBA Across Europe and is counted towards the national aluminium packaging recycling rates. Alupro’s strategy behind this protocol is to ensure proper counting of all the...
Orbit Aluminae Inc. gives an update on the HPA project in Quebec
On September 3rd, Orbite Aluminae Inc. announced the latest news about the development of the new high purity alumina (‘HPA”) smelter at Cap-Chat in Quebec. Building on the initial announcement already dispatched on August 6th, 2014, they confirmed the completion of the first phase of the project that is, structurally reinforcing the HPA building so that the Quebec calcination equipment can be properly installed. The foundation needs to be cured before the calcination equipment can be installed. The fabrication of the calcination equipment at Outotec’s Burlington, Ontario is done and the job of installing it at the site is scheduled to start in the week starting on September 8th. CNC Mechanical (2002) Inc. is the one managing the mechanical contract for this installation. According to the...
Prima Resources to proceed with Bauxite Mine and Metals Facility at Manjimup WA
Prima Resources, a Bauxite Mine and Metal company based in Perth has announced that it is planning to bring a 1.0 MT/Yr Bauxite Mine & Metals Facility to the Manjimup shire in Western Australia in a move that would boost job opportunities in the region. Prima Resources provides a range of services to the alumina, mining and chemical industries in WA since 1990. The project intends to produce Aluminium, Iron and Titanium from the Bauxite Ore, and is in the Pre-Feasibility Stage. It has already secured an exploration licence for 90 Sq Kms. at Manjimup. The company is exploring funding options and a suitable JV Partner to proceed with the project. As part of the project, a facility would be built over three years and provide continuous work for 200 people and more than 600 people during...
New aluminium Hampton balustrades for cost effective alternative to timber
Absolute Balustrades introduces a cost-effective and low maintenance alternative to timber balustrades with the new Hampton style balustrades in aluminium. Constantly innovating to provide their clients with high quality balustrade solutions, Absolute Balustrades has designed the new aluminium balustrades to replace maintenance-heavy timber balustrades. The Hampton style balustrades, highly popular in WA, feature a timeless architectural design, and have been influencing housing trends for over 50 years with their understated elegance and relaxed decor. Given that timber is more susceptible to the elements than any other material, timber balustrades require a lot of maintenance, especially in the harsh Australian climate, and particularly in coastal areas, where the combination of salt...
