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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Relief with a catch: Europe sees scrap leakage risk in US tariff exemptions
Note: This image is AI-generated and for representation purpose only The Trump Administration’s latest aluminium tariff hike to 50 per cent has triggered renewed concern among traders and manufacturers over a further shift in trade dynamics to a point where export markets may face a deepening blow. European aluminium producers are neither immune to this strain as worries linger over an increasingly fragile trade environment and fear grows for the further destablisation of trade relations between the two key economic partners. But more than tariff hike, what currently causes sleepless nights to the European aluminium industry is tariff exemption on scrap. Earlier, during the implementation of 25 per cent tariff effective from March 2025, the United States duty exemption on scrap already...
UAE’s upcoming gallium facility aims to fuel EGA’s Net-Zero targets by 2050: Here’s how
Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), the world’s leading ‘premium aluminium’ producer, has long been a trailblazer in the global metals sector. From being the first in the Middle East to join the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative to pioneering the international sale of UAE-developed industrial technology, EGA has consistently set benchmarks. Building on this legacy, EGA has now taken a significant step toward advancing rare metal production. In collaboration with the Tawazun Council and RTX , EGA has signed a MoU to establish the UAE’s first gallium production source further cementing its leadership in strategic material development and sustainable industrial growth. Now here comes the question – Why Gallium? Gallium (Ga) is closely linked to the aluminium industry, as it is commonly recovered...
India-US trade: Can India & US seal the deal? July 9 deadline fuels enduring partnership optimism, albeit past turbulence
India’s talks with the US for a Bilateral Trade Agreement, which would smoothen gross exports worth USD 86.5 billion (FY 2024–25 data, up 11.6 per cent from FY 23–24), are walking on a double-edged sword. Image source: Linkedin (Handle: Harnam Prajapati) With the progression of a second Trump administration, there is a renewed and pressing push for comprehensive trade relations. Current high-level negotiations are underway, with India and the US aiming to finalise an interim three-phase trade agreement by June 25, ahead of a potential July 9 deadline for the USA’s 26 per cent reciprocal tariff on India, which is currently suspended. While Indian exports still face America’s standard 10 per cent baseline tariff, discussions are focused on securing duty reductions across labour-intensive...
Energy ‘transition’ or ‘triage’ — which do they choose? A global journey from idealism to realpolitik
When energy heavyweights, financiers and geopolitical policymakers convened at CERAWeek 2025, they confronted a truth too long ignored: the path to a net-zero future is being redrawn by geopolitics, national security imperatives and a resurgent fossil-fuel lobby. The publication titled ‘The energy transition’s disrupted path forward’ by S&P Global Commodity Insights, which gathers all the key points from the convention, it is clear that what emerges is not an orderly glide to clean power, but a fractured landscape where ‘energy security’ increasingly trumps decarbonisation. For industry leaders and investors, this realignment demands recalibrated strategies, deeper risk assessments and a readiness to pivot on both policy and market fronts. Image for representational purposes only (Source:...
190% surge in US premium - how are the US market and consumers reacting to it?
The implementation of the United States’ tariff hike to 50 per cent on June 4 instantly prompted a 4.85 per cent surge in the US Midwest duty-paid premium on the physical market on June 5, clocked at USD 973, compared to USD 928 the previous day. Image source: lme.com Trump doubled the aluminium and steel tariff from 25 per cent to 50 per cent, creating severe tensions among key players in the industry worldwide, especially those heavily reliant on imports and exports. Ever since Donald Trump proposed tariffs on aluminium and steel with his second term of his presidency, the US Midwest duty-paid premium witnessed a gain of 190 per cent. It is already known that the US heavily relies on imports when aluminium is in question. To date, the exports have been paying the premiums per the...
Has Alcoa’s 2024 been sustainable enough? A deep dive into the aluminium giant’s environmental and ESG scorecard
In a metal market battered by volatile prices, inflationary stress, and escalating scrutiny over climate credentials, Alcoa’s 2024 Sustainability Report arrives not just as a routine corporate checklist but as a statement of ambition — and, in some areas, quiet disruption. With operations sprawling across 30 global facilities — from bauxite mines to smelters and casthouses — the US-based aluminium major shoulders more than just metal output; it shoulders a reputation. But does Alcoa’s latest ESG report genuinely reflect industry leadership, or is it a slick exercise in eco-branding? Let’s unpack the facts, compare performance, and critically assess how the numbers stack up. Renewable power — a benchmark or a baseline? In 2024, 86 per cent of the electricity powering Alcoa’s smelters came...
After Guinea setback, EGA turns to Ghana: strategic shift or coincidence?
Following the initiation of bauxite mining revocation by Guinea, Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) now eyes Ghana to explore fresh bauxite-related opportunities. According to a report on June 4, the UAE-based aluminium major has inked an agreement with the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) to assess the feasibility of bauxite exploration in the West African country. What’s in the deal? Under the agreement signed with GIADEC, EGA aims to explore Ghana’s estimated 920 million tonnes of bauxite reserves in Ghana, spread across Nyinahin (700 million tonnes), Kyebi (160 million tonnes), and Awaso (60 million tonnes). Despite this vast potential, Ghana currently produces just 1.5 million tonnes annually. Beyond exploration, EGA will also examine the potential for...
China’s clean energy investment push surpasses the US and EU, driven by USD 1T net-zero vision
We are already well-versed in the fact that China is the top country which invests in and consumes energy. As of 2025, China is expected to indulge in higher spending on energy than the US and EU combined. Moreover, in the past few years, China has securely moved their investment in global clean energy up to 33 per cent from 25 per cent. This spending has been distributed between wind, nuclear, batteries, solar and nuclear. It's only been 6 months into 2025, and the total global energy investment is expected to create a new record of USD 3.3 trillion. However, this is subject to the world facing high economic fluctuations and rising geopolitical risks. From the new global record of investment, the majority of the share, USD 2.2 trillion, would be devoted to developing clean technologies....
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CANPACK’s 2024 sustainability report reinforces a circular economic achievement backed by 96% reduction in its Scope 2 emissions
CANPACK, one of the leading global manufacturers of high-quality packaging solutions, with a legacy that began over 30 years ago has shown remarkable results in their sustainability report for 2024. Headquartered in Wayne County, Pennsylvania, the company is touted as the fourth largest supplier of aluminium beverage cans in the world. In 2024, CANPACK bagged the position as the second largest supplier of aluminium beverage cans in Europe. This is not just it; the company has also managed to reduce its Scope 2 emissions by 96 per cent in 2023 and has unlocked several other milestones followed by bagging prestigious recognitions. Renowned for its advanced technology, deep industry expertise, and strong commitment to sustainability, CANPACK continues to set new standards in packaging...
Indian giant, World Aluminium Ltd, witnesses high buying interest amidst stock price fluctuation and Trump's 50% reciprocal tariff
Worldwide Aluminium Limited, an Indian aluminium giant specialising in both aluminium-based industry and household products, has recently reported seeing a significant increase in buying activity, irrespective of market decline. How does it indicate for the Indian aluminium industry amidst the tariff imposed by Trump? As of June 3, 2025, Worldwide Aluminium Limited saw a rebound in buying activity after witnessing a decline for five consecutive days. On the same day, the performance increased by 4.98 per cent, representing a contrast to the Sensex, which showed a decline of 0.62 per cent. It shows a stock trend reversal, as before the gain, the market was low for five days straight. Despite the gain, the firm's stock indicates mixed performance in various frames. In the past week, the...
America’s last alumina refinery yet again riddled with unlawful waste disposal allegation
Updated on 18/07/2025: State environmental regulators have recorded fresh violations at Atlantic Alumina’s Gramercy refinery in Louisiana, the only operational alumina refinery in the United States. A compliance inspection by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) on May 29 documented nine violations, including discharges from red mud waste lakes, unmaintained levees, and chemical overflows into public drainage systems. This follows an earlier LDEQ report from March, which found that toxic waste from the site had entered a drainage ditch leading to the Blind River Swamp. Water samples from that ditch contained arsenic levels nearly 1,400% above the EPA’s safety threshold. Inspectors noted that “multiple discharges from Red Mud Lake 3 into Outfall 003” had occurred, while...
Manufacturing and export activities slow in Asia’s Big Three - Trump tariffs in the crosshairs
Already strained by the United States’ 25 per cent import tariffs, East Asian economies like China, Japan and South Korea are now bracing for even higher uncertainty as Washington eyes a steep 50 per cent duty. Reports show that all the three economic powerhouses experienced subdued export orders and manufacturing activity in May, just as signs of stabilisation had begun to emerge. Both South Korea and Japan’s PMI recorded contraction, hovering at 47.7 and 49.4, respectively, attributed to weakening global demand, with many citing US tariffs and rising cautious buying sentiment as key drags on production and order volumes. South Korea’s export struggle deepens amid US tariffs Evidently bearing the brunt of intensifying US trade policies, South Korea is seeing cracks in its export-driven...
Why CBAM’s scrap loophole is a data and enforcement crisis waiting to erupt
For all its ambition, the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) suffers from a problem not uncommon in modern climate regulation: data complexity outpacing policy design. In our previous editorial derived from the same study by European Aluminium , we have explored how aluminium scrap has become a billion-euro backdoor for foreign producers to undercut CBAM fees and outprice European producers. But underneath the circumvention tactics lies an even bigger story, one of missing traceability, legal grey zones, and statistical blind spots that could seriously undermine CBAM’s integrity over the next decade. This time, we delve deeper into why CBAM’s loophole isn’t just about policy, it’s about enforcement infrastructure, legal classification, and the technical debt of...
The US delay on EU duties signals strategy, not softening ‘brinkmanship’
The Trump administration has put a temporary lid on an economic powder keg by delaying the proposed 50 per cent tariffs on European Union exports until July 9, 2025. However, the world will have faced the same tariff rate card, specifically for aluminium and steel, starting June 04. Image for referential purposes only This last-minute pause by the US president, after what is being called a good conversation with EU president Ursula Von Der Leyen, deemed more than just diplomatic prudence. It transmitted the aura of a calculated US strategy to press Brussels into a more favourable trade arrangement without triggering immediate retaliation from a bloc already navigating economic headwinds and geopolitical constraints. Trump’s policy by provocation Earlier in May, former President Donald...
India assesses potential $4.6 billion export hit from US 50% aluminium and steel tariff—how real is the threat?
As soon as the news broke about the US President Donald Trump’s decision to double aluminium and steel tariffs from 25 per cent to 50 per cent, effective from June 4, 2025, major producers and exporters of aluminium and steel worldwide began assessing the implications of the double-whammy, steep tariffs. India, being a country among the top 10 aluminium exporters to the United States , has assessed that its metal exports worth USD 4.56 billion would face headwinds. A report by the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) warned that Indian exports would become more expensive in the US market, potentially reducing their competitiveness and affecting overall trade volumes. GTRI said "For India, the consequences are direct. In FY2025, India exported USD 4.56 billion worth of iron, steel, and...
Here’s the trick! Study reveals how aluminium scrap, with a Billion-Euro backdoor, is potent to loosen EU’s Carbon Border for importers
When the European Union unveiled its Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), the ambition was clear: to build a fortress against carbon leakage, shield domestic industries from unfair competition, and incentivise global decarbonisation. It was heralded as the world’s most sophisticated climate tariff, with a complex, bold, and precise outline. Image for referential purposes only But as the legislation transitions from theory to implementation, a critical vulnerability has emerged. And it’s not in exotic energy systems or abstract accounting tricks. It’s in something far more mundane, yet deceptively potent — aluminium scrap. As for the current plan, CBAM creates a multi-billion-euro arbitrage opportunity for foreign aluminium producers. And the loophole is alarmingly simple. Both...
Trump doubles aluminium and steel tariffs to 50% - how long will it last amid global pushback and renegotiation calls?
The global aluminium and steel industries are in for another jolt as US tariffs take a sharp new turn. Just a day after a Federal Court ordered a halt to the implementation of tariffs, sending through global optimism, President Donald Trump reversed course dramatically. Not only did he secure a suspension of the court's ruling , but he also announced a doubling of tariffs on aluminium and steel imports, from 25 per cent to 50 per cent, effective Wednesday, June 4, 2025. What seemed like a moment of relief quickly turned into renewed uncertainty as celebrations over the court's block were cut short by the President's swift and unexpected escalation. Trump’s decision to doube tariffs - whimsical or strategic? While addressing a rally in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, President Trump reiterated...
Alcoa’s $1B tax win over Australia: A big save for the global business in a volatile time
In a blow to Australia’s aggressive multinational tax crackdown, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has abandoned its six-year-long legal fight with Alcoa over alleged transfer pricing abuses, marking a rare high-stakes defeat for Canberra in its broader battle against US corporate giants. With Alcoa now set to receive USD 107 million in tax refunds, the decision has reverberated through both the aluminium sector and the global tax justice landscape. Image for representational purposes only But beneath the surface of a billion-dollar ruling lies a deeper narrative, one that cuts across resource nationalism, transfer pricing frameworks, and a geopolitical tug-of-war over who gets to tax global profits in the age of cross-border supply chains. The dispute and what was at stake At the...
