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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Madera investors invent can crusher to facilitate recycling
Two inventors from Madera, California have come up with a can crusher machine that will make disposing your aluminium and other metal beverage cans even easier. It has been seen that though people want to be involved in recycling, going back and forth the recycling center becomes tedious for most. The easy, convenient to use machine is especially useful for those who have limited mobility. Even for the general public, this can crusher does a more thorough job of it so that more cans can be fitted into store bags and enables fewer trips to the recycle center. This portable device, which is easy to transfer and durable capable of withstanding wear and tear, could be a positive step towards ensuring that lesser number of cans end up in the landfills.
LME aluminium to rise to $2,129
LME aluminium is expected to rise to $2,129 per tonne, as it has cleared a resistance at $2,074. The resistance was at the 138.2 percent Fibonacci projection level of an upward wave C that developed from the May 21 low of $1,754.75. The next resistance will be at $2,129, the 161.8 percent level. The final component wave of the wave C is unfolding and may peak around $2,129, as suggested by a trendline ascending from the June 9 high of $1,918. A drop below $2,074 will signal a break above this level was false and the target at $2,129 has to be aborted.
Global cues push aluminium down by 0.32%
The futures for aluminium dropped to INR 125.35 per kg on Wednesday as the speculators reduced their expectations taking a cue from the global markets. The domestic spot markets too have seen a dip in demand which in turn have affected the metal prices. In a business turnover of 1,392, the aluminium due for August delivery saw a slide of 0.32% or 40p and brings the number to INR125.35 per kg as seen on the Multi Commodity Exchange. Even the metal for September suffered similar dip of 35p or 0.28% in 389 lots amounting to INR 125.30 per kg. After reaching an 18-month high yesterday, the global rates for aluminium saw little change at USD 2,082.75 at the London Metal Exchange. According to the analysts, the dip in the future prices is caused by the weak domestic spot demand for the metal...
Rio Tinto charges 3-5% higher aluminium premiums from its Japanese buyers
According to Reuter reports, four sources revealed on Tuesday, Rio Tinto is charging a record premium of $420 per tonne from its Japanese buyers for October-December primary metal shipments, which is 3-5 percent higher than the last quarter. Being the biggest importer of the metal, the premium that Japan agrees to pay for the metal shipments each quarter, above the LME price, sets the benchmark in the area. Rio Tinto’s quote was lesser than that made by Russia’s United Company Rusal Plc who quoted $460 per tonne. Rio Tinto was not available for comment regarding the offer. Japanese aluminium buyers have already paid record high premiums for the July-September quarter amounting to $400-$408 per tonne over the London Metal Exchange prices, which is 8-12 percent higher than the last quarter.
MetroCoal offers $250,000 to Cape Alumina for Bauxite Hill project
MetroCoal, a major shareholder in Cape Alumina, bails the bauxite developer out of debt by financing A$250,000 to continue the Bauxite Hill project in western Cape York, Queensland. Cape Alumina reported that the loan would help the company reserve its existing cash resource, pending the MetroCoal’s takeover bid launched in August, which was primarily floated to ensure that the Bauxite Hills project continues. The new cash flow will be directed towards bauxite analysis, environmental work and additional drilling for the estimation of a measured Joint Ore Reserves Committee resource definition. The unsecured loan is supposed to be repaid on October 3, 2015 with a 10% per year, or within 21 business days from the issue of Cape Alumina’s marketable securities worth at least A$ 1-million, or...
Electric Boat Powered by Aluminum-air Battery demonstrated in Switzerland
Alcoa, clean technology company Phinergy and HEIG-VD University, today debuted a zero-emissions electric demo boat powered by an aluminum-air battery at Lake Neuchâtel in Switzerland. Alcoa and Phinergy announced earlier this year that the companies are collaborating on new materials, processes and components to commercialize the aluminum-air battery for various applications, including electric cars, electric boats and stationary energy. The aluminum-air battery used in the electric boat demonstrator contains 15kg aluminum which provides about 25 hours of additional navigation time, for a given navigation profile. Without the aluminum-air range extender, using the same navigation profile, the range of the vessel would be only five hours. Martin Briere, President of Alcoa Global Primary...
Alufoil Trophy 2015 open for entries: Rolling out excellence in aluminium foil applications and design
EAFA, the European Aluminium Foil Association, announced that entries for the Alufoil Trophy 2015 competition are now open until 21 November 2014. The Alufoil Trophy recognises and rewards the use of aluminium foil and aluminium closures in all its many forms and uses. From rolls in the kitchen, through sophisticated laminates or as insulation, for use in packaging, construction and automotive products, as well as in many other industrial and decorative applications it is used daily and, in many ways, can be regarded as dispensable. The competition categories are: • Marketing + Design Entrants should deliver real improvements to graphic and structural packaging design, ergonomics and ideas that lead to greater shelf appeal at point-of-sale, as well as industrial design applications. •...
Aluminum Association highlights for North American downstream market
Estimated shipments of Aluminum Drawing Stock, Bare Wire and Rod & Bar by U.S. and Canadian producers totaled 101.4 million pounds during July 2014, a decline of 3.4 percent from the July 2013 total of 105.0 million pounds. Compared to the previous month, shipments were off 4.8 percent from the June 2014 revised total of 106.5 million pounds. Year-to-date shipments through July 2014 totaled 726.2 million pounds, down 5.8 percent from the 2013 year-to-date total of 770.9 million pounds. Shipments of Aluminum Extruded Products (extruded shapes, pipe & tube, and rod & bar) by U.S. and Canadian producers totaled an estimated 388.4 million pounds during July 2014, an increase of 7.3 percent over the July 2013 total of 362.1 million pounds. Compared to the previous month, shipments were off...
Alcoa recognizes North America's top scrap suppliers for 2014
Pittsburgh-based aluminum major-Alcoa Inc. has recognized its top North American scrap suppliers for 2014. This is the tenth year in succession that Alcoa has named top suppliers. The list was compiled by the company’s recycling and scrap purchasing wing based on several criteria including quality, safety and volume of scrap supply to Alcoa’s multiple facilities. According to the company, association with these companies has helped to increase the use of recycled content in various products manufactured by the company. The list of top North American scrap suppliers for 2014 is given below:- -The Beer Store / Brewers Distributor Ltd.; -Ming’s Recycling Corp.; -Potential Industries Inc.; -Polar Beverages; -United Scrap Metal Inc.; -Service Aluminum Corp.; -American Iron and Metal Co. Inc.;...
Sapa Chalco to produce underground railway carriages in Chongqing
Sapa Chalco Aluminum Products Co., will invest to build a project in Xipeng Industrial Park in Chongqing, to produce 300 underground railway carriages annually, local media reported. The project is expected to start construction during Q3 2014, and to come online in 1H 2015, it added.
Fujian Minfa Aluminum's H1 profits down 23.67% on falling prices, rising costs
Fujian Minfa Aluminum INC. reported a 23.67% year-on-year fall in profits to 17.83 million yuan ($ 2.89 million) during the first six months of the year due to falling aluminum extrusion prices and rising costs, it said in its semiannual financial report. Margins of aluminum extrusions were squeezed as curbs in the property sector and growing anti-dumping intensified competition in domestic market. Capacity expansions and rising wages added to its costs. Business revenues, however, increased 6.91% from a year ago to 530.89 million yuan during H1, it added. The company put part of its 40,000-tpy aluminum extrusion project into service during the report period, and the rest is undergoing debugging process and scheduled to come online at the end of the year.
London Metal Exchange given immunity in aluminium lawsuit
A US judge has dismissed the London Metal Exchange (LME) from a lawsuit in America which had accused it, along with a number of banks and commodities companies, of aluminium price-fixing. District judge Katherine Forrest concluded that the LME was an “organ” of the UK government and was therefore exempt from legal action under the foreign sovereign immunities act. Acknowledging her decision was “somewhat surprising and counterintuitive”, Forrest said the “decidedly public function of market regulation” undertaken by the metal exchange meant it should not be included in the price-fixing lawsuit. The case against the banks and commodities companies alleges that they conspired together since May 2009 to slow down the supply of aluminium to the market by hoarding it, driving prices up. The...
A new $580 million bauxite project in Cape York awaits approval
A new company has been launched to handle a $580 million bauxite project in the Cape York. According to the Australian Bauxite Development, Nick Stump, former CEO of Comalco will be heading the new board. John Benson, another member and a part of the Australian Indigenous Resources, also bid for the lease earlier this year but it was rejected by the State Government. The new project will be an Indigenous enterprise, said Mr. Stump. The Indigenous Land Use Agreement with the Wik and Wik Way people is almost finalized. He also says the Arukun people and the traditional owners have a direct stake in the company. "That is a full carried interest and they virtually have 15 per cent of the company and joint ownership of the deposit." With 40 years of mining experience, Mr Stump is hoping that...
UC RUSAL announces 2014 first half results
UC RUSAL, a leading global aluminium producer, announces its results for the six months ended 30 June 2014. The highlights of the result are given below: Total aluminium output amounted to 1,783 thousand tonnes in the first half of 2014, representing a decrease of 10.8%, as compared to 1,999 thousand tonnes in the first half of 2013 following the successful completion of capacity curtailments program at the least efficient smelters. Production of value-added products continued to grow and reached a record 46.9% of total aluminium production in the second quarter of 2014. Alumina output remained almost flat and comprised 3,618 thousand tonnes in the first half of 2014, representing a decrease of 0.5%, as compared to 3,638 thousand tonnes for the same period of 2013. Bauxite production...
Ford races to rebuild truck plant for aluminum F-150
Carefully choreographed chaos is under way in and around Ford's historic Dearborn Truck Plant as the automaker races to get it ready to build a very different F-series truck. On Saturday morning the last steel-bodied 2014 Ford F-150 rolled off the line and workers were ripping up equipment behind it. Ford has just eight weeks to remove all the equipment and tooling and replace it with new machinery to make the all-new 2015 F-150 with an aluminum body. "We are doing things we have never done before," said Bruce Hettle, head of North American manufacturing for Ford, who must oversee a critical launch with speed and precision. Because Ford sells at least 60,000 F-150s a month now, returning to full production as quickly as possible is crucial to maintaining Ford's bottom line. "It is an...
Kaiser Aluminum has the highest dividend yield in the aluminum industry
Below are the three companies in the Aluminum industry with the highest dividend yields. Dividends can enhance returns for investors seeking income in addition to capital gains. Kaiser Aluminum is highest with a dividend yield of 1.8%. Kaiser Aluminum Corporation produces alumina, primary aluminum, and fabricated aluminum products. The Company also supplies alumina and primary aluminum in domestic and international markets. Kaiser Aluminum is currently priced 1.1% above its average consensus analyst price target of $79.33. Kaiser Aluminum shares have support at the 50-day moving average (MA) of $74.92 and additional support at the 200-day MA of $70.88. Following is Noranda Aluminum with a dividend yield of 0.9%. Finishing up the top three is Alcoa, with a dividend yield of 0.7%.
Continuing strength in aluminum prices to benefit Alcoa
It has been a remarkable year for aluminum. The metal, which plunged about 17% last year due to feeble demand, has gained more than 15% this year as production cuts from the likes of Alcoa Inc., Rusal and Rio Tinto have helped in bringing the market back to equilibrium. Aluminum prices have finally crossed the $2,000 mark this year. Recently, it rose to an 18-month high. However, lately, there have been some concerns over whether the rally will continue. The metal retreated about half a percentage on the London Metal Exchange recently after worse-than-expected factory activities data emerged from China last Thursday. HSBC's preliminary Purchase Manager's Index (PMI) for August stood at 50.3, the weakest reading since May. Analysts polled by Reuters had expected a reading of 51.5 following...
High US demand for durables and closing of Italian smelter pushes aluminium prices
Aluminium prices rose in the London Metal Exchange for the second day in a row due to Alcoa’s decision to shut down the smelter in Italy and the higher demand for durable goods in US – the second-largest industrial metal consumer. The metal due for delivery in three months rose to $2,073 a metric ton from $2,070.75 as recorded at 3.16pm Hong Kong on Tuesday, up by 0.5%. The largest US aluminium producer, Alcoa announced that it would close the smelter in Italy permanently reducing their annual capacity of production by 150,000 tons which would now stand at 3.6 million tons. In July, the demand for goods that are meant to last more than three years grew by 8% in for the US as compared to the previous month. It is the highest it has ever been since March 2011 as per the survey of 78...
