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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Geneva accord presses pause on US-China tariff tensions, but can it revive US domestic aluminium?
China and the US struck a trade deal on May 12 in Geneva, prompting a collective sigh of relief from businesses and exporters, not just at home, but across the globe. After almost 90 days of retaliatory tariffs and spiralling economic tension, this long-awaited breakthrough spells hope for the aluminium sector that had been buckling under pressure. This AI-generated image is for representational purposes only Aluminium imports into the US from China peaked in 2022 but have trended downward since. The ongoing calendar year has only intensified the decline , as trade tensions escalated. While the original optimism around steel and aluminium tariffs centred on strengthening domestic production business, the compounding layers of tariffs, first by the US, and then countered by other nations,...
India proposes retaliatory tariff on US imports to recoup $1.91 billion cost: A realistic strategy or a far-fetched dream?
After prolonged consultations and bilateral discussions with the United States regarding the 25 per cent tariffs on aluminium and steel exports, India has officially proposed the imposition of retaliatory duties under World Trade Organization (WTO) guidelines. These countermeasures, scheduled after 30 days from the notice, could take the form of suspending concessions previously extended to the US or adjusting tariff rates on select American imports. Through these measures, India aims to recover an estimated USD 1.9 billion, an amount it would require to pay to the US government for exporting USD 7.6 billion worth of aluminium and steel products. According to a WTO communication cited by a PTI report, "The safeguard measures would affect $7.6 billion worth of imports into the U.S. of...
Indo-Pak standoff: A repeat of aluminium trade disruptions like the Ukraine-Russia conflict?
Geo-political conflicts often have ripple effects on metal markets, disrupting trade flows and driving commodity price volatility. A clear example is the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict, which has altered the dynamics of the global aluminium market. Firstly, within less than a month following the onset of the conflict in 2022, the aluminium prices on the London Metal Exchange (LME) surged by 34 per cent, reaching almost USD 4000 per tonne in early March, then followed a wave of Western sanctions against Russia, triggering supply chain disruptions, increasing concentration of aluminium in London Metal Exchange (warehouses), potential shortages, and ultimately production cuts, especially in Europe, a region historically dependent on Russian aluminium. The Ukraine-Russia conflict has deeply...
Geneva to host the world’s most expensive conversation between China and US
Plenty has been ensuing between China and the US since February, as the US President imposed tariffs on China phase by phase. Starting with a 10 per cent tariff on steel and aluminium, the US tariffs for importing goods from China eventually range between 145 per cent and 245 per cent, leading to an unavoidable trade war impacting the entire global economy. Sensing the heat on both sides of the table, the nations have finally decided to talk it out! Image for representational purposes only In what could be a pivotal ice-breaker moment, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and top trade envoy Jamieson Greer are set to meet China’s economic czar, He Lifeng, in Switzerland this weekend. The high-stakes talks come as tensions between the world’s two largest economies spiral into what Bessent...
Can France solve China’s bauxite problem? A high-tech fix for high-stake process
China has been adorned with the title of ‘undisputed heavyweight’ in aluminium production for the past few years. It churns out over 50 per cent of the world’s aluminium and more than half of its alumina. But its towering lead rests on a weak foundation, i.e. imported bauxite. Despite sitting on a billion tonnes of the red rock, China has never truly cracked how to use it owing to its low grade. But it is time that could be about to change. All thanks to an unlikely saviour, a low-profile French tech firm, IB2, says it can turn China’s low-grade ore into high-value alumina, without the environmental or economic pain. For decades, China’s aluminium industry has thrived by importing better-quality bauxite from overseas. Guinea, Australia, and Indonesia have been the backbone of this...
Tariff fallout: US aluminium trade trends down with imports dampened by 12% in February 2025
There was widespread speculation that US aluminium imports might surge ahead of the 25 per cent tariff implementation on March 12, driven by businesses rushing to bring in shipments before the duty took effect. At the same time, concerns mounted over the potential impact of the tariffs on aluminium inflows, particularly from Canada, the United States’ largest supplier, accounting for 57 per cent of its total aluminium imports. Major American producers like Alcoa, which manufactures 70 per cent of its aluminium in Canada, also raised serious alarms about the possible consequences of the policy. Now, with the US import data for January and February 2025 available, it’s time to assess what actually happened. Did aluminium imports spike ahead of the tariff, or did the impending duty already...
Metro Mining closes 2024 with 5.7M WMT! Here’s a 15-month sprint report with vision for upcoming 21 months
With an ESG vision of serving the market with low-cost bauxite and delivering long-term benefits to stakeholders, Queensland-based Metro Mining has set its sights higher for its 2025 bauxite shipment target. The confidence to aim higher stems naturally from the company’s strong performance in 2024. Although it narrowly missed its annual shipment target by a few percentage points, the final figure still marked a record-breaking achievement. Financial performance analysis ’24 Despite a prolonged wet season that delayed the start of operations and adverse weather in December that forced the cancellation of the final vessel in the shipping schedule, Metro successfully delivered a record 5.7 million WMT from the Bauxite Hills Mine in 2024. The company continued to benefit from a tight global...
China and Europe propel 5.6% growth in Q1 2025 global alumina production despite downturn elsewhere
According to the International Aluminium Institute, the world alumina production concluded the first quarter of 2025 with an annual increase of 5.61 per cent, totalling 75.42 million tonnes versus 71.41 million tonnes. This output volume encompassed both chemical and metallurgical-grade alumina. While the output of chemical-grade alumina amounted to 2.17 million tonnes, accounting for 2.9 per cent, the production of metallurgical-grade totalled 35.538 million tonnes, contributing 47.18 per cent to the total alumina output volume. Year-on-year, the world’s metallurgical-grade alumina production rose each month through the first quarter of 2025, demonstrating an increase of 5.9 per cent Y-o-Y from 33.552 million tonnes. In January, output rose 8 per cent over the year from 11.379 million...
Tesla eyes India venture to tackle global supply-chain turmoil and geopolitical crisis
As geopolitical tensions are on the rise and the subsequent pandemic era disrupts business growth, Tesla is quietly exploring alternative suppliers in India as it diversifies its semiconductor supply chain away from China. Sources report that Tesla has held talks with three major Indian chip ventures – US memory giant Micron’s new Gujarat assembly/testing plant, CG Semi (a Murugappa Group-led OSAT project), and Tata Electronics. Image Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/ Micron’s USD 2.7 billion Gujarat facility is slated for automotive-grade chip assembly and test , CG Semi’s Sanand unit (a JV with Japan’s Renesas and Taiwan’s Stars Microelectronics) will perform outsourced semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT) for Renesas and others, and Tata Electronics has announced massive investments...
Fact blast: China’s 2024 trade destinations, quantity, value, traits and post-tariff loss forecast
China has topped the aluminium production for the past few years. An aluminium production cap to curtail overcapacity and emissions, a cumulative tariff of 145 per cent on Chinese aluminium articles entering the US imposed phase by phase, or bauxite import restrictions from multiple prime destinations have hit China’s ambitious industrial boom several times. However, the free flow of trade expansion is far from being curbed. This is an AI-generated image Of the total trade of aluminium worldwide in 2024, which was 13.68 million tonnes valued at USD 39.46 billion, 51.46 per cent was occupied for export of plates, sheets and strip exports, accounting for over 7 million tonnes. Meanwhile, foil exports contributed 23.41 per cent (3.2 million tonnes) to the total export number. Bars and rods...
Alcoa’s Portland vs San Ciprián: One is confident for a decade, the other grapples with power outages, reflecting contrasting electricity landscapes
Amid a string of challenges like a projected USD 90 million loss in Q2, delays in the recommencement of the Kwinana refinery, and production setbacks at the San Ciprián aluminium smelter in Spain due to a power outage that has unsettled Alcoa itself as well as the global aluminium industry, the reassuring message about the Portland aluminium smelter in Victoria has brought a sense of relief. Chief Executive Officer William Oplinger has ruled out all the plans to shut down the facility for at least the next decade, announcing stark contrasting news to the troubled San Ciprián smelter, which faces disruptions even before resuming the full operations as planned. He expressed, "I am sick of closing sites. I am much more focused on the Portland side, of trying to make sure we can get it...
Tariffs, tensions and tonnage: Three words primarily influencing US aluminium prices soar in 2025
In a volatile fusion of tariff tensions, supply chain snarls, and shifting trade dynamics, US aluminium import costs have surged to multi-year highs, reshaping the metals market and sending shockwaves through American manufacturing. Image for representational purposes only On April 9, 2025, the United States imposed additional aluminium tariffs — 20 per cent on EU-origin goods and 10 per cent on UK imports, building on the existing 25 per cent base duty introduced under Section 232 in 2018. For EU producers, the effective tariff rate now stands at a crushing 45 per cent, sending shippers and buyers scrambling. The Midwest Premium, the benchmark regional surcharge that includes transport, handling, and tariffs, has reacted dramatically. According to Reuters and CME Group data, the Midwest...
US-Ukraine critical minerals deal: A fair exchange or strategic leverage?
The heated exchange of words for over two months between the US President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ultimately led to a diplomatic breakthrough, culminating in a strategic agreement on critical minerals and other natural resources. The deal grants the United States long-term access to Ukraine’s critical minerals, while also guarantees continued defense support to Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. Key provisions and mutual commitments The agreement, signed on Wednesday, April 30, includes key provisions such as the creation of a reconstruction fund for Ukraine – an initiative that Ukrainian officials hope will serve as a platform to secure ongoing American military support. While Ukraine is expected to contribute 50 per cent of all...
Alcoa under review! Tariffs, power outage, and delayed refinery restart cloud Q3 outlook, despite steady Q2 orders
On Thursday, May 1, the US aluminium giant Alcoa Corporation informed the media and stakeholders that its order book for the second quarter remains stable, despite US tariffs. CEO William Oplinger stated that the company has yet to observe any negative impact on bookings due to the tariffs; but could not give a positive outlook for the months to come, citing customer feedback that signals potential challenges ahead. Outlook under review amid tariffs and power outage In addition to the tariff pressure, Alcoa is now grappling with a new obstacle and that is power outage in Spain, which has disrupted operations at both its aluminum smelter and alumina refinery . The company is currently assessing the full extent of the operational and financial damage at its San Ciprián facility, the largest...
US alumina imports dip in 2024 despite Australia’s comeback — here's why and what to expect next
According to data from the US Geological Survey, the United States' imported 1.34 million tonnes of alumina in 2024, showing a slight decline from 1.36 million tonnes in 2023. This year-on-year dip occurred despite Australia emerging as one of the top suppliers of the ore to the US starting in the third quarter of the year. Quarterly performance: a mixed bag The United States’ alumina imports saw back-to-back growth in the second and third quarter of 2024, amounting to 325,000 tonnes and 378,000 tonnes, respectively. It was in Q4 when the import volumes decreased by 7 per cent Q-o-Q to 352,000 tonnes, offsetting the 16 per cent growth in the previous two quarters. Even on an annual basis, the imports in Q4 dropped by 2 per cent from 359,000 tonnes to 352,000 tonnes. Similarly, the imports...
Rusal vs Germany: Aluminium giants threaten legal action over VTB Bank liquidation
In April 2025, Russian aluminium producer United Co. RUSAL (Rusal) publicly warned that it would pursue legal action against Germany after a German takeover of a bank disrupted a currency‐hedging deal. The bank in question was VTB Bank (Europe) SE – the Frankfurt-based subsidiary of Russia’s state-owned VTB Bank – which German authorities effectively took over in April 2022 amid EU sanctions on Russia. A German-appointed trustee later liquidated the bank (renamed OWH SE) in 2023, and by August 2024, its licence was revoked. This AI-generated image is used for representational purposes only Rusal says this sequence of events illegally expropriated its subsidiary’s rights under a hedging contract, culminating in a London arbitration award ordering Rusal to pay EUR 213 million to the bank’s...
Power outage paralyses Alcoa’s San Ciprián site, a double blow to 1.5 Mt alumina and 228k aluminium operations
Alcoa’s San Ciprián complex was thrown into turmoil by the massive power outage that swept across Spain on April 28, hitting both the aluminium smelter and alumina refinery hard. “Alcoa’s San Ciprián complex was impacted by the widespread power outage across Spain. As a result of the outage, both the refinery and smelter at the complex were affected. The company is conducting a thorough assessment of the facility to determine the full extent of the operational and financial impact,” the company confirmed in a recent statement. The catastrophic event has shaken businesses, enthusiasts, and investors alike as the impact of what looks like just a power cut can curtail millions of dollars’ worth of business for the company and the nation. Image for representational purposes only The blackout...
Hydro’s Q1 Adjusted EBITDA surges 5x on upstream aluminium strength; Extrusions weakness triggers strategic response
Hydro has reportedly announced the first quarter results of 2025 where it has shown positive effects of alumina and all-aluminium prices on its financial performance during the period. However, higher raw material costs, lower extrusion volumes and margins, and lower alumina sales volumes have offset the result to an extent, said Hydro. Here are the key takeaways from Hydro’s Q1 results: Strong upstream results, driven by bauxite and alumina’s record performance Suffered from economic uncertainty and risk of low demand due to tariff Bearish extrusions outlook due to uncertain markets, leading Hydro to adjust portfolio and cut costs Recycling executing on hot metal cost improvements, one-third of 2030 target to be realised in 2025 Financial performance review In the first quarter of 2025,...
