AL Circle Analysis: Europe’s aluminium scrap curbs, India’s risk and US’s supply opportunity
Aluminium recycling is supposed to be the industry’s easiest win — economic and eco-friendly. Interestingly, this is where the plot thickens. Aluminium recycling is moving from a sustainability objective to a strategic supply-chain issue, with scrap availability, domestic recovery, cross-border waste rules and decarbonisation policy influencing where recycled metal can be produced and consumed. Recent developments across Europe, such as the UK and Greece, in the US and India reveal that investment in recycling is accelerating, but access to suitable scrap and the rules governing its movement are becoming equally important. Join the fourth edition of the webinar "Hedging for recyclers - Become an expert in 6 hours" by Jorge Dyszel. Europe wants more recycled aluminium, but what is the...
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...
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Missouri regulators indicate opposition to Noranda Aluminum request for reduced electric rate
A day after regulators said they opposed a request by Ameren Missouri's biggest customer for a rate reduction of about $50 million a year, a panel that advocates for retail ratepayers proposed a deal that would give the company just over half of what it was seeking. The Missouri Public Service Commission hasn't adopted a final order on Noranda Aluminum's rate request, but on Wednesday all five commissioners said they were against lowering the special rate paid by the southeast Missouri smelter. If Noranda is successful in getting its rate lowered, Ameren's customers in the St. Louis area or its shareholders could take a financial hit, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch (http://bit.ly/1t0pWvn) reported. Noranda, Missouri's only primary aluminum smelter and one of about 10 in the U.S., spends...
Alro S.A. fully enforces the ethical business conduct in all the Company’s activities
Following the press information on the coordinated actions of the Prosecutor’s Office and the Police, which regard fighting the tax evasion at a group of companies activating in the field of ferrous alloys, whose clients include, among others, our Company, Alro SA, one of the largest aluminium producers in Central and Eastern Europe, informs the market and the interested parties that it rigorously applies the rules of corporate governance and fully enforces the application of the Code of Professional Ethics by all its personnel. The Code of Professional Ethics of the personnel within Alro S.A. outlines the set of rules on the ethical business conduct and the way to prevent illegal and unlawful actions which might arise within the Company in the course of its business. The Code has a...
Aluminium Bahrain's second quarter net profit drops 25 percent
Second quarter net profit at Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) - owner of the world's No. 4 aluminium smelter - dropped more than 25 percent to $41 million in the second quarter of 2013 as metal prices fell. Total sales fell $5 million to $515 million compared with the same period a year ago. Alba's board recommended a dividend of 12 fils per share, a total of $45 million, the company statement said. Bahrain's government has approved gas allocation for its planned sixth production line, set to come onstream in 2015, which will add 400,000 tonnes to its 890,000-tonne capacity.
TALCO cuts aluminium output by 47% during Jan-June
Tajikistan Aluminium Co (TALCO), central Asia's largest aluminium smelter, cut production by 47 percent in year-on-year terms in January-June to 61,100 tonnes due to low demand for the metal, a senior Tajik official said on Friday. "Lower aluminium output is caused by objective reasons which are partly linked to falling world prices for the metal," Industry Minister Shavkat Bobozoda told a news conference. The sharp drop in output in the first half means that TALCO's production this year may turn out to be lower than its own pessimistic forecast made at the beginning of 2014. TALCO said in February it expected aluminium production to shrink by 30.7 percent to 150,000 tonnes this year. Hit hard by low aluminium prices, TALCO was forced to reduce output by 20.6 percent to 216,369 tonnes in...
Project Monitoring Group to take up the issue of bauxite mining revival in AP
The Centre’s Project Monitoring Group (PMG) will soon take up the issue of stalled process of bauxite mining in Andhra Pradesh, state government officials said here today. The clearances sought for mining of bauxite ore by the state-owned AP Mining Development Corporation (APMDC) was kept in abeyance under the UPA dispensation after then Union tribal affairs minister and Araku MP V Kishore Chandra Deo opposed the move. The reversal of stand on bauxite mining came as a big blow to Anrak Aluminium Limited, one of the two companies with whom APMDC had signed the bauxite ore supply agreement in 2007. The company had heavily invested in an aluminium refinery project in Visakhapatnam. Anil Swarup, chairman of the PMG, who reviewed the status of pending issues of over dozen projects in AP, on...
Odisha sitting over 300 PL bids for bauxite mining
The state government is yet to dispose off over 300 pending PL (prospecting licence) applications for bauxite deposits in Kalahandi district and undivided Koraput region. Larsen & Toubro (L&T), Vedanta Aluminium Ltd (now Sesa Sterlite), Jindal Steel & Power Ltd (JSPL), Jindal Photo Ltd, Hindalco Industries, RSB Metaltech Ltd and state owned Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) are among the wait-listed contenders seeking PL for bauxite reserves. The pendency rate of such applications ranges from two to 25 years, reveals a written reply by steel & mines minster Prafulla Kumar Mallick to the state assembly. The PL applications are pending at the level of the district collector, directorate of mines and steel & mines department. Vedanta Group firm Sesa Sterlite that is struggling to keep...
Canyon Resources announces the discovery of new bauxite ore in Cameroon
Canyon Resources Ltd has alleged locating a large bauxite deposit in the Birsok project, in the centre of Cameroon, that it is in the way to having 75%, following a joint agreement, struck in late 2013, with the British company, Altus Strategies Ltd. In the research report published on July 23, the ASX listed company indicated that the first round of drilling confirmed the existence of a thick layer of mineralisation, starting from the surface, of high bauxite content in the project involving two licences covering close to 1,460 km2. The latest results obtained are “the highest to date”, especially those of the Djombi plateau, where, in some places, “there is high bauxite content with over 50% aluminium oxide (Al2O3) with low contamination levels, which is at least 5% silicium dioxide...
China’s recycling industry valued at $100 billion
BCC Research, based in Wellesley, Massachusetts, says about $103 billion in recycling-related economic activity occurred in China in 2013, down slightly from $107.5 billion in 2012. In its newly released report, Recycling Markets in China, the research firm forecasts China's recycling market will "grow to nearly $156 billion by 2018,and register a five-year compound annual growth rate of 8.7 percent from 2013 to 2018.” Recycling sectors studied in the report include ferrous and nonferrous metals, plastic, paper, electronic scrap, end-of-life vehicles, scrap tires and ship dismantling. The report’s authors, Jason Chen and Li Baijun, say the Chinese government “has put the recycling industry high on its development agenda for the next decade” and “increasing environmental concerns and...
Kaiser Aluminum Corporation reports second quarter and first half 2014 financial results
Highlights: Second Quarter 2014 - Operating Income $46 Million; Adjusted EBITDA $46 Million; Adjusted EBITDA Margin 24% Third Consecutive Quarterly Record for Heat Treat Plate Shipments Strong Growth in Automotive Extrusions Generated Second Consecutive Quarterly Record Strategic Investments Driving Improving Manufacturing Efficiency Kaiser Aluminum Corporation KALU -1.04% today reported net income of $25 million or $1.33 earnings per diluted share for the second quarter 2014, increasing from $16 million or $0.85 earnings per diluted share for the first quarter 2014 and $19 million or $0.98 earnings per diluted share for the second quarter 2013. Excluding the impact of non-run-rate items adjusted net income was $19 million or $1.05 per diluted share for the second quarter 2014, compared...
Aluminum’s Medium-Term outlook depends on the LME warehouse appeal
The market is tighter at the moment than we initially expected which supports prices. However, at the end of July the LME rule change ban will be challenged and, if successful, will likely increase supply to the market noticeably as 2 million tons of inventory in Visslingen, Switzerland, and 1.3 million tons in Detroit are still bottlenecked behind long LME load-out queues. While the premium/price reaction is uncertain, we would expect the excessive premium to melt. We also think that economics have now reached a level where restart risk becomes striking. Medium-term, we note that the UK and US seem to be heading toward a rising interest rate environment which will make the carrying trade more difficult. The key dynamics buffeting the aluminum market. On the whole, they have been positive...
Maan Aluminium publishes outcome of board meeting
Maan Aluminium announced that the Board of Directors of the Company at its meeting held on 30 May 2014, had passed the following resolutions: 1. Approved the appointment of Ankur Jain, Sachit Jain, Shailesh Surendra Choksi and Kavish Shailesh Choksi as additional directors. 2. Noted the resignation of Rajendra Prasad Gupta from Directorship with effect from 24 February 2014. 3. The Audit Committee of the Company has been reconstituted with immediate effect as per the provision of section 177 of chapter XII of New Companies Act- 2013 and as per Clause 49 of the listing Agreement with Stock Exchanges and Abhinav Jain, Rajesh Jain, Sunil Jain and Ankur Jain, Directors of the Company were elected as a member of the committee. 4. The Shareholders & Investor Grievance Committee has been...
Ma’aden targets Sept to start aluminium smelter in Alcoa JV
Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden) announced that 1st September 2014 would be the target date for the beginning of the commercial production of the Aluminum Smelter at its subsidiary Ma’aden Aluminum Company. Ma’aden Aluminum Company is a joint venture (JV) between Saudi Arabian Mining Company and aluminium producer Alcoa, with the former holding a majority stake of 74.9 percent. The $10.8 billion joint project is designed to produce 740,000 tonnes per year through the aluminium smelter and is claimed to be the lowest cost aluminium production complex within Alcoa. In its project factsheet, Alcoa said that the “Ma’ade-Alcoa JV will help further lower Alcoa’s overall cost-base as it takes it highest cost smelting capacity offline and shifts production to lower-cost refining...
Vedanta Resources Plc eyes new bauxite deposits in Odisha
Vedanta Resources Plc, a London-listed mining giant, would explore new deposits of iron-bauxite in Odisha to feed its Lanjigarh refinery. The move is seen as initiative by the company to acquire the raw material required for aluminium producing after the Niyamgiri fallout where Vedanta Resources failed to get environment clearances to mine bauxite. The company has a 1 million tonne refinery in Lanjigarh (Odisha). "In Odisha, there are actually large Bauxite endowments throughout the state that Vedanta can explore," Tom Albanese, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Vedanta Resources Plc, said. He is on a visit to Balco-Korba where the company has a major aluminium facility. Albanese said they would look for those bauxite resources that are not confronting the environment and community...
Aluminum physical delivery premiums at record levels
Aluminum producer Norsk Hydro AS A's Chief Executive Svein Richard Brandtzaeg said that premiums for the physical delivery of aluminum had risen to record levels this year amid a tighter market, a rise that could continue for the rest of the year. "There's been a surplus situation for many years, but now we are in a situation where there's a deficit of aluminum, which right now is about 1 million tons in the world outside of China," said Mr. Brandtzaeg. Global demand for aluminum, excluding China, increased 4% on the year in the second quarter to an annualized 27.5 million tons, while production is expected to reach about 26 million tons this year, Norsk Hydro said. "This is because of curtailments to production, but also high demand growth," said Mr. Brandtzaeg. Aluminum prices at the...
Aluminium production reports marginal drop
World Aluminium markets have again showed minor decline in the production figures. The June month brought some relief in the rising trend of production that was near all time highs. Data estimates from International Aluminium Institute (IAI) showed that the total primary Aluminium production reached 4.303 million tonnes in the month of June 2014 from 4.331 million tonnes in the month of May 2014. Although on a year on year basis the production is still showing signs of improvement. The production gained 1.8% on a y-o-y basis in June 2014. The production of Aluminium reached record highs of 4.406 million tonnes in the month of March. The production of Aluminium in June 2014, gained by 1.8% compared to corresponding period last year when it was 4.224 million tonnes. China remained the major...
Press Metal a direct beneficiary of rising aluminium prices & premiums
Press Metal Bhd (Press Metal) will be a direct beneficiary of rising aluminium prices and premiums. AmResearch Sdn Bhd (AmResearch) noted that aluminium prices have reached a 17-month high due to low inventories, high demand and the cut in global capacity. On Monday, the London Metal Exchange (LME) spot aluminium closed at US$2003.25 per MT, a 14 per cent year to date (YTD) gain, adding that the YTD average is US$1,772.66 per MT. “Similarly, global aluminium premiums have reached all-time highs due to strong demand for physical deliveries,” the research house pointed out, adding that on Monday, global aluminium premiums were trading at US$305-US$432 per mt. Press Metal’s smelters are currently operating at maximum capacity – 440,000 metric tonnes (MT) – and have competitive production...
GE puts Worsley Alumina power plant on market
General Electric is believed to be fielding approaches from major infrastructure investors interested in buying its $1.2 billion Worsley Alumina power plant, following plans by the conglomerate to float the West Australian asset on the Australian Securities Exchange. The interest from groups — believed to be industry players, private equity or potential superannuation funds such as Australian Super or the Future Fund — means a trade sale, rather than an initial public offering, is the likelier outcome for Worsley, a multi-fuel plant near Collie, 189km southeast of Perth. Listed industry players such as Duet, APA and Envestra could be potential suitors. Bullish prices have been paid in recent infrastructure asset sales, and listed companies in the energy infrastructure sector such as Duet...
Government initiates winding up of BATCo
The Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining has initiated the winding up of the Bauxite and Alumina Trading Company (BATCo), which it indicates is one step forward in its plan to merge administratively all government entities dedicated to management of bauxite resources. Entities to be consolidated also include Clarendon Alumina Production Limited (CAP), the Jamaica Bauxite Mining Limited (JBM) and the Jamaica Bauxite Institute (JBI). The entities will be merged or wound up in order to realise greater efficiencies in their operation under the current public-sector transformation programme. The ministry issued a notice of the July 2 appointment of receiver Kenneth Lewis to wrap up the operations of BATCo. The company is profitable. During the last financial year, it invoiced UC...
