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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The Australian Aluminium Council urges full exemption from the RET
The Australian Aluminium Council has published a statement on the report by the Expert Panel for the Renewable Energy Target (RET) scheme and its impact & benefits on the renewable energy sector, the manufacturing sector and Australian households. “We welcome the acknowledgement by the Review Panel that the RET impacts electricity prices for trade exposed businesses such as aluminium smelting and alumina refining – and that significant adjustments to the scheme are required to reduce its cost burden,” Miles Prosser, the Council’s Executive Director said. However, the Australian Aluminium Council says that the RET policy imposes extra costs on smelters which other major global competitors of the Australian aluminium industry do not need to pay. This is restricting their ability to compete...
Bauxite mining comes to halt at Hindalco mine
Bauxite mining by Aditya Birla owned Hindalco Industries has came to a grinding halt in the Mali Parbat area near Semiliguda in south Odisha's Koraput district with the district administration imposing prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC. The prohibitory orders have been clamped in the area on August 21 in the wake of tussle between pro and anti-mining groups over mining of bauxite by Hindalco. The clash between the two groups had also occurred on January 10 this year. The supporters of the Mali Parvata Surakhya Samiti (MPSS), the tribal organisation spearheading the agitation, had damaged over 15 vehicles of the company that had entered the mines in the morning. "Since the situation is tense, we have imposed prohibitory orders in the area," said sub divisional police officer...
Colombia's Alumina sees higher aluminum sales on construction boom
Colombia's aluminum manufacturer Alumina expects to boost sales by 8% this year, on rising demand from the country's construction industry. Alumina, which handles 50% of Colombian aluminum sales, is cutting exports to the US, South America and Central America to focus 70% of its business on the local construction market, CEO Carlos Echeverri said. Aluminum imports from China, Mexico and Ecuador account for 30%, while the remaining 20% comes from other local companies. "Importers are very aggressive and profit margins are minimal," Echeverri told local newspaper Portafolio. "Exports can generate growth, but only through manufactured products that create added value." Alumina saw sales drop 4.2% to 230bn pesos (US$119mn) last year, of which US$20mn came from exports, due to slumping...
Nanshan Aluminium announces a 3.23% rise in net profits for H1 2014
Shandong Nanshan Aluminium Co. filed financial report for the first six months of 2014 to the Shanghai Stock Exchange and reported a YOY rise of 3.23% in net profits to 323.37 million yuan ($ 52.46 million) as a result of falling costs, expanding export margins and changes in product portfolio. The company stated in their report that the falling coal prices played a significant role in the decline of production costs, while a lower SHFE/LME aluminium price ratio, facilitated export pushing export profitability up. Nanshan Aluminium constantly was in sync with the market demand and adjusted their production portfolio accordingly which was a key factor in improving profit margins. The report also mentioned that the focus of the company is slowly shifting to high value added products which...
The Nigerian First Aluminium beats odds to secure 57% rise in profits
The Nigerian roofing sheets manufacturer, First Aluminium plc announced a surge in the profits by 57% in the first half of 2014 despite facing numerous obstacles that are also faced by other members of the industry. The net income for the half year was recorded at N21.32 million from N13.54 million in the same period last year. The net margin which indicates the efficiency and profitability of a company has risen from 3.3% in half year 2013 to 4.80% but according to the analysts, this rise is low in comparison to other sectors. The company is suffering from such low margins due to the high rates of import duties as well as high energy costs. Raw materials brought into the company hikes up the cost of production while dependence on a resource as dear as diesel oil also proves to be...
China Hongqiao Group Limited reported a 27.5% loss in profits for H1 2014
China Hongqiao Group Limited filed its interim report for the first half of 2014 at the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, reporting 27.5% YOY fall in net profits to 2.04 billion yuan ($0.33 billion) due to falling price of aluminium products. The prime cause behind this decline in net profits is accounted to the drop in the average price of aluminium products, from 12,354 yuan per tonne in H1 2013 to 11,184 yuan per tonne (VAT tax excluded) in H1 2014. However, due to growing demand in the industry, the revenues of the company have risen by 28.6% in H1 2014 up to 17.37 billion yuan. The company had to subsequently increase its aluminium products capacity by 27.7% going up to 3.14 million tonnes this H1 compared to 2.46 million tonnes of last year’s H1. China Hongqiao will continue...
Ukraine tensions affects aluminium and copper
As tensions rise in Ukraine, both aluminium and copper are feeling the affect on price. Though LME copper prices fell 1.3 percent to close at $6,934, aluminium prices were held back by tightness in near-term supplies. The aluminium for three month delivery has dropped to $2,080, down by 0.3% as people are vary about the Ukraine-Russia friction, where Ukraine is blaming the other about moving in troops to the country. Aluminium, that is increasingly being used in transport and packing has gained 12% in early July because investors are fearing a deficit, as supply faces cutbacks in production from Chinese manufacturers and there is an increase in demand from the auto and airplane sectors. Copper prices fell on Thursday, under pressure from escalating tensions in Ukraine and...
Nespresso aims at 100% recyclability of aluminium capsules
Nespresso, which is the premium coffee brand of Nestlé, has announced its aim to achieve a 100 percent recycling of its aluminium capsules by expanding their recycling capacity. At present the capacity is at 75% where customers can order recycling bags when the order their coffee online as Nespresso Club Members or buy it from a Nespresso store. The aluminium capsules are then returned via these recycling bags which are either collected from customers’ premises or the customers drop them off at the store. The company has already met their 75 percent recyclability commitment is 2013 and is now aiming for 100% as per their 2020 Sustainability Ambition program. This program will initiate increased recycling in all the areas where the company does business and turn them back into new...
Eurobike 2014: Canyon introduce aluminium Endurace AL
Canyon have introduced the Endurace AL – an aluminium-framed version of the German’s firm’s ‘comfort’ bike, first launched back in May. We’re at Eurobike and Canyon used the cycling industry’s annual mega-show in Friedrichshafen, Germany, to unveil the Endurace AL, which is now available in the UK in three builds, ranging from £899 to £1,199, and as a frameset only for £489. It’s been a busy year for Canyon, who have already had two major launches in 2014, first with the Endurace CF, before the Koblenz-based company’s latest aero machine, the Aeroad CF SLX, was unveiled ahead of the Tour de France. That leaves the Endurace AL as the latest machine to break cover and we stopped by the Canyon stand at Eurobike to take a closer look. The aluminium Endurace AL effectively replaces the...
Glencore may get rights to mine the coveted Cape York bauxite reserves
Glencore may be the ultimate candidate to finally tap the vast bauxite reserves that has been remained unexplored for decades, which has been the point of interest for many mining companies around the world. Glencore is supposed to hold talks soon with the government of the Australian state of Queensland. On Thursday, they announced that they have been singled out by the government as the "preferred proponent" to carry out the Aurukun Bauxite Project in Northern Australia. Talks are on to finalise the land use pact with the indigenous landowners as well as the state development agreement. The bauxite is hidden under the indigenous land of the Wik and Wik Way people in the Cape York region which is generally an impoverished area suffering from vast unemployment. Although there are talks...
Chalco reports a 4.12 billion yuan net loss in the first half of 2014
China’s top aluminium producer, Aluminium Corp. of China Ltd (Chalco) reported a net loss of 4.12 billion yuan ($670.76 million) on Thursday, for the first half of the year. In the same period last year, the net loss was 623.8 million yuan. The losses are caused by overcapacity and weak domestic demand. Since the company caters primarily to the domestic market, they had to adjust their production as per the weak demand in the first half according to their filing released to the Shanghai Exchange. The production of metallurgical alumina was recorded at 6 million tonnes and chemical grade alumina at 910,000 tonnes, in the first half. The former was down by 1.5 % and the latter up 19.7% from last year. The production of primary aluminium also fell 19.7% as compared to 2013 to 1.63 million...
Rusal cuts back production by 10.8% to cut back costs
Rusal, the world’s leader in the aluminium sector has cut back their production by 10.8% in the first six months of the year, according to a report released on Wednesday at the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The company has experienced a great improvement in their financial results in the second quarter as result of “recovery in the aluminium prices, rise in average realized premiums and tight cost controls.” Rusal was able to cut back costs by 9.8% by cutting back output at inefficient smelters, causing the production to drop by 10.8% to 1.78 million metric tons from a year earlier. In the second half, they are planning to produce 1.8 million metric tons of aluminium. This leader in aluminium manufacturing operates in 19 countries and I 2013, they accounted for 8% of the world aluminium...
Alupro, as Aluminum Packaging Recycling Organisation marks 25 years
The Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation (ALUPRO) is celebrating its 25th Anniversary this year, and is using the milestone to take a reflective look at its many achievements, which have encouraged and increased the recycling of aluminium packaging in the UK. The not-for-profit organisation was formed by the merger of two separate organisations – AFCMA and ACRA* – to focus on developing and promoting the collection infrastructure for foil containers and beverage cans respectively. They merged in 1989 following successful initiatives, including the development of a nationwide ‘Cash for Cans’ network and foil recycling scheme which raised valuable funds in partnership with charities and community organisations. In the first ten years aluminium packaging recycling received significant...
Constellium reports second quarter 2014 financial results
Constellium N.V. today reported results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2014. Highlights of results include: • Shipments up 2% versus prior year • Revenues of €920 million and Adjusted EBITDA of €81 million • Record performance of P&ARP segment • Body-in-White finishing plant breaks ground in Bowling Green, KY Constellium reported solid results for the second quarter of 2014 reflecting a record performance in our packaging and automotive rolled products segment and a strong performance in our automotive structures business. Our aerospace segment is significantly higher than the first quarter of 2014, but is below our performance level from the same period in 2013. Revenues for the second quarter of 2014 were €920 million, slightly higher than €916 million in the second quarter of...
Kobe Aluminum Automotive Products boosts production capacity of aluminum forged suspension parts by 50%
Kobe Steel, Ltd.'s U.S. joint venture, Kobe Aluminum Automotive Products, LLC (or KAAP), has increased its production capacity of aluminum forged products for automotive suspension systems by 50 percent. Based in Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA, KAAP began construction of a $66-million expansion of its manufacturing facility in spring 2013. Construction was completed earlier this month and the new facility has gone into mass production. KAAP's production capacity of 280,000 pieces per month has increased to 420,000 pieces per month. This expansion, together with Kobe Steel's other manufacturing locations in Japan and China, gives the Kobe Steel Group a combined production capacity of 1 million pieces per month of aluminum forged suspension parts. Car production in the United States, the...
Jiangsu Asia-Pacific Light Alloy Technology Co. enjoys a 28.98% hike in profits
In the first six months of the year, the Jiangsu Asia-Pacific Light Alloy Technology Co. enjoyed a year-on-year rise in profits by 28.98% amounting to 93.92 million Yuan according to their semi annual financial report. The rise in profits is accounted to an increasing demand in the automobile sector and capacity expansions. During H1 2014, business revenues were calculated at 1.09 billion Yuan, up by 13.28%. The revenues were largely derived from the pipe/tube, extrusion and bar segments. Each of these sections experienced hiked annual revenues by 12.25%, 23.97%, and 39.45%, respectively. An investment of 55.92 million Yuan in the R&D Department during the report period shows the company’s commitment towards technological innovation in new products. Currently an 80,000 tpy expansion...
Sapa program to improve flux-coated aluminium heat exchangers
Sapa’s new Silflux Academy aims to improve the company’s progressive flux-coated products in order to continue providing customers with the best choice on the market. The initial three-day session, arranged at Sapa’s precision tubing plant in Denmark, brought together internal experts from China, Brazil, Europe and the United States. In addition to increased understanding and knowledge, the program provided participants with insight into the many parameters throughout the total production that can influence the success of the coating process, in particular the flux-coating process. Sapa flux coating for aluminium heat exchangersSilflux is a new type of braze coating that does away with the requirement of having one of the components made from clad material. It simplifies the heat...
The aluminium loaded Jaguar awaits September 8 release
The aluminum-bodied Jaguar XE Compact Sports Sedan is all set for its London release on September 8 and the company has just released the technical details of the new launch. The aluminium-intensive architecture is the central focus in the design which has been developed around the same riveted and bonded aluminium platform that one finds on the Jaguar XJ, XK and F-TYPE. The key features of the new model include high strength, rigid body and an integral link rear suspension integrated into the advanced chassis design. There are many aluminium components to the machine made of both hollow-cast and forged aluminium, like the F-TYPE design inspired, double-wishbone front suspension mounted on a subframe with cast aluminium suspension towers.
