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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Opposition to bauxite mining in Jamaica
As the opposition against bauxite mining is taking quick pace around the world, people in Jamaica are also being vocal against bauxite mining. Residents of the Cockpit Country in Jamaica have expressed opposition to any plans for bauxite mining in the area, according to reports from the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET). JET said that following a series of public meetings organised by the University of the West Indies in 2013 to gather input into the decision to declare a boundary for Cockpit Country, residents remain unsure of what will be the official boundary for the proposed protected area and if mining will be prohibited within that boundary. “As the residents await answers from the government on these pressing issues, they voiced their overwhelming opposition to plans for bauxite...
Nalco looking at Oman and Iran for $3bn smelter due to coal shortage in India
Domestic coal shortages are prompting India’s National Aluminium Co (Nalco) to plan construction of a US$3bn smelter complex abroad, possibly in Oman or Iran, underscoring the task Prime Minister Narendra Modi faces to boost energy output. Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia and UAE are other potential sites for the 500,000 metric tonnes smelter and a 1,000MW captive power plant, Nalco chairman Ansuman Das said in an interview. He didn’t give a timeline for the project by the state-run maker of a metal used in everything from beer cans to aircraft and cars. “We are facing a massive energy challenge in India,” Das said. “That’s the reason we are looking at these countries, which have abundant energy resources.” Using imports to make up for a lack of sufficient local coal output is too costly, Das...
Q2 Bullish results pushes Press Metal's stock higher
Press Metal Bhd's shares rose 15 sen to RM6.25 as at 10.15 am following its bullish second quarter results posted Tuesday. The aluminium products producer's second quarter pre-tax profit for the period ended June 30, 2014 more than tripled to RM83.58 million from the RM26.85 million registered in the same period last year. Revenue jumped to RM1 billion from RM795.34 million. RHB Research Institute said the better results were due to the optimum production at Press Metal's smelting plants and higher aluminium prices. "We continue to like the company as it is a world-class low-cost aluminium smelter that could leverage on the bottoming out of aluminum prices," it said in a research note Wednesday. RHB Research has placed a "BUY" recommendation on Press Metal with a higher fair value of...
Bullish trend persistent for aluminium
The present bullish trend in aluminium and a tight supply situation is indicating towards a positive outlook for aluminium and a turning point after a long time. The metal has been trading at a seventeen-month high around $2,000 per ton in the current weeks and achieved a 20% rise in July since $1,677 in February 2014. According to Gaurav Sodhi, resources analyst at Intelligent Investor (as told to CNBC), "We`re probably now at a point where the aluminum market may be turning and that has everything to do with supply shutting down in China and as supply-demand re-balances across the entire industry." "Over the last five or eight years, China has massively increased its supply of aluminum and that`s depressed prices across the sector. But that's changing a little a now. As China focuses on...
National Aluminium Company Q1 net may rise 14% to INR 182 cr
State-run National Aluminium Company (Nalco), which will declare its first quarter (April-June) earnings on Wednesday, is expected to show a 14 percent growth in profit after tax at INR 182 crore compared to INR 159.7 crore in corresponding quarter of last fiscal on account of company's strategy to minimise expensive coal imports, according to CNBC-TV18 poll estimates. Analysts feel operational performance of the company may not entirely reflect in profit because of effective tax rate in Q1FY14 (which was only 23 percent) and other income (that may be lower during the quarter). Analysts feel operational performance of the company may not entirely reflect in profit because of effective tax rate in Q1FY14 (which was only 23 percent) and other income (that may be lower during the quarter)....
Groom’s Aluminum Processing begins new facility in Ashville
The St. Clair County Economic Development Council announced today that Groom’s Aluminum Processing has begun construction on their new facility in Ashville. Their new facility will be located on Industrial Park Drive in the Ashville Industrial Park. Groom’s Aluminum Processing is a new venture headed by Dwayne Grooms. Grooms has years of experience in the aluminum processing and smelting industry. The plant will process aluminum that will be sold to various clients from their Ashville facility. The new 20,000 sq. ft. facility will bring 10-15 new jobs to Ashville and is expected to open in November. “The City of Ashville is proud to welcome Groom’s Aluminum Processing to our city. We are always happy to see new investment and new jobs come to Ashville. We look forward to their growth and...
Lightweighting goals top automotive design and manufacturing survey
DuPont has published the results of a new survey conducted with WardsAuto that asks the automotive design and engineering community what technologies they are working on to reduce emissions and improve fuel economy. Topping the list was lightweighting, engine efficiency programs, vehicle electrification and adoption of diesel for engines. Sixty six percent of the nearly 900 respondents said again this year that the 2017-2025 CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards) could get more stringent as a result of the upcoming mid-term reviews. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards require, on an average industry fleet-wide basis, 163 g/mile of CO2 in model year 2025, which would be equivalent to 54.5 mpg (4.3 L/100km) if this level were achieved solely through...
EU Aluminum Can industry shows stronger growth during 2013 as exports up
Over the past decade the total beverage can market in Europe further increased and is now well above 50 billion cans per year. The aluminium share rose steadily and today more than 70% of all beverage cans consumed in Europe are made of aluminium. As per Beverage Can Makers Europe study, last year was a good year for aluminium cans, as some 60 billion were produced throughout Europe for growth of 3% compared to 2012. Nearly 20% of Europe's beer market relies on aluminium as a packaging material. This was only 14% at the start of the century. "The strong growth in aluminium cans exports is believed to have been a main factor in the can production increase. This positive momentum is hailed as a clear sign that leading soft drinks producers and breweries have become aware of the advantages...
The Aluminum Association updates on aluminum market
Activity in the aluminum market is similar to nearly a month ago: prices and premiums rallied, the contango narrowed, and China looks more oversupplied with ingot. The LME cash price closed last week at $2,017/mt. It’s up over 20% from in early February which was a four-and-a-half-year low. Meanwhile, premiums worldwide pressed higher. The U.S. midwest premium ticked up to $446/mt (20.25¢/lb) late last week. It is up an even 2¢ from its low point in early spring and just shy of its all-time high reached in January. Premiums in other regions around the world are at record levels. The Aluminum Association, in cooperation with the Aluminum Association of Canada, reported primary aluminum production in North America (U.S. and Canada) was at an annual rate of 4,519,242 tonnes during July 2014,...
Cape Alumina eyes DSO operation at Bauxite Hills
Bauxite developer Cape Alumina has reported a 19.85-million-tonne direct shipping ore (DSO) inferred resource at its Bauxite Hills project, in Queensland. The inferred DSO resource was in addition to the previously announced beneficiated bauxite inferred resource of 15.1-million tonnes, and an in-situ resource of 22.1-million tonnes. Cape Alumina said on Monday that an internal review of the Bauxite Hills operation had indicated that a DSO product could be produced and shipped at a low capital and operating costs, and had the potential to increase the economic viability of the project. “The internal review has given management sufficient confidence to push ahead with the preliminary stages of environmental approvals and to complete additional technical studies to firm up the existence of...
Aluminum Association highlights on U.S. and Canadian market
Estimated shipments of Extruded Products by U.S. and Canadian producers totaled 1,154 million pounds in the second quarter of 2014, up 7.8 percent over the second quarter 2013 total of 1,071 million pounds. Shipments to the building and construction market, as reported by participating companies, were up 17.8 percent year-over-year and 12.1 percent compared to the previous quarter. Year-to-date shipments through the second quarter 2014 were up 6.9 percent over 2013. Aluminum imports of ingot, scrap and mill products into the U.S. and Canada (excluding cross-border trade) totaled 524 million pounds during June 2014, up 27.7 percent over the June 2013 total of 410 million pounds. Including scrap, which accounted for about 51 percent of reported aluminum exports, exports totaled 606 million...
Noranda Aluminum Holding Corporation reported results for second quarter 2014.
Noranda Aluminum Holding Corporation today reported results for second quarter 2014. "Our second quarter 2014 results represent a sequential improvement in our operations," said Layle K. (Kip) Smith, Noranda's President and Chief Executive Officer. "We improved the operating reliability of our business, focused on preserving liquidity and continued to make accretive investments in growth and productivity." Sales for second quarter 2014 were $345.9 million, compared to $311.6 million in first quarter 2014 and $352.0 million in second quarter 2013. • Sequentially (comparing second quarter 2014 to first quarter 2014), sales increased $34.3 million, or 11%. Approximately $24.2 million of this revenue improvement was due to seasonally higher external shipments of primary and flat-rolled...
ALUMINIUM MIDDLE EAST 2015 to attract over 200 exhibitors from 25 countries
The Middle East aluminium industry will come under the global spotlight with the fourth edition of the ALUMINIUM MIDDLE EAST exhibition, which will be held from 14-16 April, 2015 at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC). Expected to attract over 200 exhibitors from 25 countries, the event will bring together top regional and international producers, suppliers and investors. Held under the theme of "Forging Connections... Building Possibilities", the exhibition will help the aluminium industry reach a new level of extraordinary growth and cement its position as a powerhouse of the world aluminium industry. The biggest exhibition of its kind in the region, ALUMINIUM MIDDLE EAST is the ideal platform for the industry, bringing together industry stalwarts, producers,...
Aluminum rises on stable China inflation data
Aluminum neared an 18-month high on Monday aided by relatively low inflation data in China. The metal closed at US$2,032/t in London, up US$14.50 from the previous day and its highest since February 2013 after official figures showed China's annual inflation rate was 2.3% in July. "This gives the government and central bank scope to undertake even more substantial economic stimulus measures and thus to achieve this year's 7.5% economic growth target," Commerzbank said in a note. China is the world's biggest aluminum consumer, accounting for 23.2Mt of 50.2Mt used globally in 2013, according to the European Aluminium Association. But higher Chinese aluminum exports could hit prices, Commerzbank said, after the country shipped 380,000t unwrought aluminum and products of the metal in July, up...
Middle East Aluminium on a solid curve for extraordinary growth
The Middle East aluminium industry will come under the global spotlight with the fourth edition of the ALUMINIUM MIDDLE EAST exhibition, which will be held from 14-16 April, 2015 at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC). Expected to attract over 200 exhibitors from 25 countries, the event will bring together top regional and international producers, suppliers and investors. Held under the theme of “Forging Connections… Building Possibilities”, the exhibition will help the aluminium industry reach a new level of extraordinary growth and cement its position as a powerhouse of the world aluminium industry. The biggest exhibition of its kind in the region, ALUMINIUM MIDDLE EAST is the ideal platform for the industry, bringing together industry stalwarts, producers,...
Rusal mulls selling assets in Nigeria, Kazakhstan: analyst
Rusal, the world's largest aluminium producer, is considering selling about $1 billion worth of non-core assets, including its foil business in Russia, BCS financial group analysts said. Other assets that could be sold include stakes in the Alscon aluminium smelter in Nigeria and the Bogatyr coal company in Kazakhstan, the analysts said in a research note to clients after meeting Rusal's management last week. Rusal has been struggling to manage $10.3 billion of net debt due to a slump in aluminium prices amid a supply glut stoked by huge production growth in China. The Russian firm recently finalised a refinancing deal with creditors, buying time to turn itself around. The company is considering several options related to its non-core assets, but no decisions have been taken yet, Rusal...
Indonesia ban on nickel ore, bauxite exports to stay - officials
Indonesia has no plans to wind back a seven-month old ban on exports of unprocessed nickel ore and bauxite that has led to billions of dollars in planned investments in smelters, top government officials said. Indonesia - previously the world's top exporter of nickel ore and a major bauxite producer - effectively halted all but processed metal shipments in January in an effort to force miners to build smelters, winning the country bigger returns from exports of its mineral resources. Last month the government allowed a handful of firms producing partially processed minerals such as copper concentrate, including Freeport McMoRan Inc, to resume exports. However, Indonesia's chief economic minister Chairul Tanjung said the same rationale does not apply to unprocessed exports of nickel ore...
Rio Tinto fast-tracking Queensland bauxite mine South of Embley
An Australian bauxite project could be one of the next major spending items announced by Rio Tinto, with chief executive Sam Walsh confirming he has fast-tracked studies into the South of Embley project in Queensland. Located close to Weipa on the Gulf of Carpentaria, South of Embley would effectively be an expansion of the existing bauxite mines in the region, all of which are located on the north or east sides of the Embley river. Improving conditions in aluminium markets – for which bauxite is the prime feedstock - have convinced many analysts that South of Embley’s development could be imminent, and Mr Walsh confirmed he had decided to ‘‘expedite’’ studies on it. ‘‘The investment committee has approved the study fund for that project to accelerate that project by 12 months,’’ he said...
