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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Panel to decide on aluminium supply to downstream units
The Odisha government has formed a five-member committee to decide the modalities of supply of molten aluminium to the upcoming downstream units in the aluminium park at Angul. The committee would consist of chairman and managing directors of Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco) and Industrial Promotion & Investment Corporation of Odisha Ltd (Ipicol), executive director (smelter & power), National Aluminium Company (Nalco), executive director (finance), Nalco and chief general manager (MSME), Idco. The committee will decide the terms and conditions of supply of molten metal and also devise a mechanism for allotment of the raw material to various units in the park. The first meeting of the committee is scheduled to be held on July 28. The aluminium park is being...
SMM sees little immediate impact on Chinese alumina producers from Indian bauxite export duty hike
The Indian government’s decision to double the bauxite export duty to 20% will push up production costs for Chinese alumina producers in the long run, but the immediate impact will be limited as Chinese producers have already built up sizable stockpile, Shanghai Metals Market understood. China’s imports of Indian bauxite had begun to fall even before the proposal was made, so the proposed hike in the export duty is unlikely to inflict pain on Chinese alumina producers for the foreseeable future. Inbound shipments of Indian bauxite tumbled 25.7% year-on-year to 547,000 tonnes in May. Year-to-date imports through May also plummeted 70.1% to 886,000 tonnes. Besides, Indian bauxite accounted for a mere 10.8% of the combined imports by Chalco (Shandong), Shandong Weiqiao Aluminum & Electricity...
Bauxite imports surge in China
China saw imports of bauxite jump nearly 40% last month, but the figure was still well down on pre-Indonesian ban highs. The world’s largest importer of the aluminium making ingredient imported 2.9mt of bauxite in June, according to shipbroker SSY. While it is a significant increase on previous months this year it is still well below the year-to-date high of 8mt achieved in January. Indian bauxite exports to China rose to their highest level in 12 months in June at 800,000t, up 46% month-on-month. Imports of bauxite from Australia also increased in June, up 14% year-on-year to 1.4mt, according to SSY. In January 2014, Indonesia introduced new regulations banning the export of unprocessed minerals such as nickel ore and bauxite. China imported significant volumes of bauxite in anticipation...
China aluminum prices rise on falling inventories, with gains expected continuing, SMM
Aluminum prices are now gathering up the rising momentum due mainly to falling inventories, Shanghai Metals Market understands. It is now the low-demand season, but aluminum stock declines have not slowed from those recorded during the peak-demand period. Last Thursday, total inventories in Shanghai, Wuxi, Hangzhou, and Nanhai were 798,000 tonnes, down 42,000 tonnes on a weekly basis, according to SMM data. SMM attributes the decline mainly to the drop in market supply after production halts or suspension, in addition to growing consumption of aluminum liquid and the shipment to regions with new fabricating capacity, such as Shandong, Henan, Hebei, Hubei, etc. Over 2 million-tonne aluminum capacity has been cut so far this year, with complete shutdowns reported in May and June. More than...
Vedanta increases its shareholding in Sesa Sterlite to 57% in quarter to June
London-based holding company Vedanta Resources increased its shareholding in metals and mining firm Sesa Sterlite by two percentage points to 57% in the quarter to June as it bought nearly 6.5 crore shares for about INR 1,700 crore. Analysts said the timing of the transactions, soon after the Narendra Modi-led government took over at the Centre in May, indicates the company's confidence that the new government will clear the pending approvals that marred Sesa Sterlite's performance in the past three years. If the approvals do come through, Sesa Sterlite can double production capacity in its zinc, iron ore and oil businesses in the next four to eight years, according to analysts. Sesa Sterlite has been waiting for approvals for projects including iron ore mining in Goa, coal mining and...
Rheinmetall forms new JV with China's Hasco
Rheinmetall will shift a unit making aluminium engine blocks to a joint venture with China's Hasco to help finance growth at its automotive business, the German defence group said on Tuesday. Duesseldorf-based Rheinmetall said KS Aluminium-Technologie GmbH and Hasco, which is majority-owned by automotive group SAIC , will be equal partners in the joint venture, which will combine existing production capacities in Germany and China. Rheinmetall and Hasco have three joint ventures making, among other products, pistons and cylinder heads. Plans for the joint venture were reported earlier by Germany's business daily Handelsblatt.
NAPCO to implement expansion initiative aimed at gaining wider reach in regional and international markets
The National Aluminium Products Company SAOG (NAPCO), one of the leading extruders of aluminum profiles in the GCC, has announced its plans to implement a massive expansion initiative that aims towards increasing its market presence and gaining wider reach across both regional and international markets. The move represents the recent decision of the company’s shareholders and board of directors to bring NAPCO to a whole new level—tapping into newer markets and introducing more products and services. Sayyid Wasfi Jamshid Abdullah Al Said, Chairman of the Board of Directors, NAPCO, said: “NAPCO’s expansion initiatives will be implemented in three key phases—starting off this year and the year thereafter. The move demonstrates our commitment towards increasing our output. To date, NAPCO...
Positive second quarter for Sapa
Sapa achieved improved results in the second quarter of the year due to increased volume and the positive effects of its restructuring programs. Sapa had underlying EBIT of NOK 350 million in the second quarter, compared with NOK 211 million in the second quarter of last year. Operating revenues rose from NOK 10,974 million in Q2 2013 to NOK 11,544 million in the same period this year. The increase in underlying EBIT for both the second quarter and first half of the year was largely driven by increased volume and the positive contribution from its restructuring programs. Sapa’s restructuring agenda is proceeding according to plan and reported EBIT has been affected by related restructuring charges.
Century Aluminum Sebree and USW ratify new labor agreement
Century Aluminum Sebree LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Century Aluminum Company, announced today that a new, five-year collective bargaining agreement with the United Steelworkers Local 9443-00 was ratified, for the Century Sebree aluminum smelter in Robards, KY. The agreement is effective through October 28, 2019. "We are pleased to reach a new agreement with the Steelworkers," said Jason Young, Sebree's plant manager. "This collaboration between the two parties is another example of how we continue to work together to provide the best opportunities for our employees and at the same time better position Century Sebree to compete in a highly competitive aluminum market." The agreement covers approximately 400 hourly workers at the Century Sebree operation.
China aluminium surplus likely to cap price rally: Clyde Russell
Rising Chinese output is likely to act as a brake on aluminium's 15 percent rally since May, even as the global outlook for the industrial metal improves. It's no secret that much of Chinese aluminium smelting capacity operates at a loss and is reliant on subsidies from local and regional governments to survive. But the price gain in the second quarter resulted in capacity that was either idled, or about to be shut, remaining in operation, according to a report from Beijing-based consultants AZ China. This is despite some 80 percent of Chinese smelters, representing some 20 million tonnes of annual capacity, operating at a theoretical loss, AZ China said. The average cash cost for a Chinese aluminium smelter in the second quarter was 14,161 yuan ($2,282) a tonne, above the Shanghai...
Norsk Hydro announces Second quarter 2014 results
Norsk Hydro ASA's underlying earnings before financial items and tax (EBIT) declined to NOK 544 million in the second quarter from NOK 772 million in the first quarter. Seasonally lower power production and prices weighed on underlying results, partly offset by higher all-in metal prices and improved results in Primary Metal. • Underlying EBIT NOK 544 million • Higher all-in aluminium and realized alumina prices • Alunorte production at record-high levels • Seasonally lower power production and prices • World outside China primary aluminium demand continues to exceed production • Signed agreement to take over Søral primary plant "Aluminium demand continues to exceed production resulting in a tight market, and we see the all-in metal prices at their highest levels since 2012. We are...
Alba opens delegate registration for ARABAL 2014
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba), a leading aluminium producer in the world, today (July 20, 2014) announced that the registration is open for the 18th International Arab Aluminium (ARABAL) Conference through its website www.arabal.com. The Conference will be held under the patronage of HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa the Prime Minster of the Kingdom of Bahrain from November 25 to 27, 2014 at the Gulf Hotel, Bahrain under the theme - “GCC: An aluminium power house”. The website is now also featuring the countdown of number of days remaining until the launch of this awaited international event. Speaking on this occasion, Alba’s Chief Executive Officer Tim Murray said: “We are pleased to see quick-paced developments taking place, and registration is one of the key steps taken...
Rusal exploring ethane for Alpart plant
UC RUSAL is considering the use of ethane to fire its 1.7- million tonne alumina refinery in Jamaica's southwestern parish of St Elizabeth. The plant has been closed for five years, largely because of low market price for its product and high production costs, which is primarily because of the expensive oil it burns for energy. But a fortnight ago, Jamaica's Mining and Energy Minister Phillip Paulwell announced that he had given Rusal, the world's largest producer of alumina and aluminium, six months to reopen Alpart and another facility, the 601,000-tonne Kirkvine works in the centre of the island, or risk 200 million tonnes of bauxite ore concessions that go with the refineries. But last Friday, Igor Dorofeev, who runs Rusal's operations in Jamaica, told The Gleaner that Rusal was close...
“There is no dearth of knowledge and expertise in our country to develop the indigenous technologies for aluminium, alumina and downstream sector.” Mr. Anupam Agnihotri, Director, JNARDDC
AlCircle had the opportunity to visit Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development and Design Centre, Nagpur, India and interact with its Director Mr. Anupam Agnihotri during the 18th International Conference on Non-Ferrous Minerals and Metals’14 organized by Corporate Monitor and JNARDDC. JNARDDC is a "Centre of Excellence" set up in 1989 to make contributions to the technological growth of the Indian Aluminium Industry. The center has well-established facilities for the study of Bauxite, Alumina and Aluminium. Mr.Agnihotri was working as Head Aluminium Electrolysis & Downstream Division, Scientist-V in JNARDDC before undertaking his responsibilities as the Director. He is a Metallurgical Engineer from IIT Kanpur with PG Degree in Metallurgical Engineering from the Visvesvaraya...
Nalco exploring coal block in 'friendly' African nations
National Aluminium Company (Nalco) today said it plans to acquire a coal mine in an African country, which shares a friendly bilateral relation with India. “We will like to have a coal mine in an African nation provided it has a better relationship with India,” said Ansuman Das, chairman-cum-managing director of the company while speaking at a seminar organised by Odisha chapter of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). “As we are in the aluminium business, we are eager to have energy assets all over the world,” he added while speaking to diplomats of African nations at the seminar. Energy cost makes up to 40 per cent of aluminium production and therefore, every aluminium producer seeks to ensure captive power generation facility. Nalco has been eyeing for an foreign coal block since...
Brandtzæg to leave Hydro to become Yara CEO.
Svein Richard Brandtzæg, President and CEO in Norwegian aluminium company Norsk Hydro ASA, has informed the Board of Directors that he will leave Hydro to take over as President and CEO for Norwegian fertilizers group Yara International ASA from February 1, 2015, at the latest. The process to find a replacement for Brandtzæg has started, and a new President and CEO for Hydro will be announced in due time. Brandtzæg will continue as President and CEO of Hydro until further notice. The Board of Directors regrets Brandtzæg's decision to leave the company. Brandtzæg has been a great capacity for Hydro throughout his almost 30 years in the company and especially as CEO since 2009. Together with a solid and highly competent top management in Hydro, he has led the company through tough times and...
Anti-mining activists fear bauxite mining may resume in the West Coast
Attention maybe turned to exploration of bauxite ore after opening floodgates to greater private participation in coal mining by the National Democratic Alliance Government. The mining lobby, which was lying low for quite sometime after the UPA-II put in abeyance all clearances accorded to bauxite mining in the Scheduled Areas of Visakhapatnam and East Godavari, has stepped up its effort to revive their projects by sourcing the raw material through the AP Mineral Development Corporation (APMDC). Anti-mining activists fear that the government might allow mining bauxite ore for the projects planned by Anrak Aluminium Limited, Jindal South West Aluminium Limited and NALCO. These projects are in the pipeline with a total investment of around Rs.25,000 crore. “Post-bifurcation, the clearances...
Bauxite tax might force Indian aluminum players to sell domestically
Local aluminum players claim to always have shortages of the mineral but the major bauxite players are keen to export it because of the lucrative international prices. Now, with a 20 percent tax, it will become more expensive to export bauxite, thus adding capacity to domestic aluminum production. Which could also mean cheaper aluminum being manufactured in India. At least, India’s Hindalco and the London-listed Vedanta Resources have been looking to expand aluminum production capacity in the country, which necessitates the supply of billions of tons of the raw material. Vedanta, especially, has not found it easy to tap into domestic sources. The new tax hike could make things easier for both, especially Vedanta Group’s Sesa Sterlite, which has been struggling to run its alumina refinery...
