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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Indian aluminium’s RE open access as a part of heavy industries to benefit net-zero goals
In the dynamic industrial landscape of India, heavy industries such as aluminium, steel, and cement are on the brink of a renewable revolution. Traditionally reliant on captive coal generation, these sectors now face a transformative 20 GW solar open access opportunity, a prospect that promises to slash production costs and reduce carbon emissions by up to 29 million tonnes annually. For instance, the steel sector alone, which contributes around 9.4 GW to this market, could see production costs drop by up to 10 per cent in setups like standalone arc furnaces, thanks to a shift from expensive grid power to open-access solar. Meanwhile, cement and aluminium, despite their ongoing reliance on captive coal, add another 11 GW to the potential. Aluminium, a cornerstone of India’s power sector,...
Brazil’s aluminium can sales hit historic 34.8 billion units – resultant of GDP, sustainability, advertising & more
In an interview with AL Circle, Mr Cátilo Cândido, Executive President of the Brazilian Association of Aluminum Can Manufacturers (Abralatas), highlighted that Brazil's robust and dynamic economy—particularly the rising purchasing power of its population—drives the demand for soft drinks and, consequently, aluminium cans. With a GDP of USD 2.17 trillion and a per capita consumption of 165 12-can packs annually, Brazil is home to the world's fastest-growing aluminium can market. In 2024, Brazil reached a historic milestone, with aluminium can sales in the beverage sector totalling 34.8 billion units. This achievement positioned the country as the third-largest aluminium can market globally, according to Abralatas. The growth rate averaged 7.6 per cent year-on-year, surpassing the 5 per...
Will all EU votes favour countermeasures? 9 EU nations’ notion revealed as US tariffs take effect…
Voting is in the pipeline to decide the fate of US imports into the US. In an effort to determine whether the countermeasures to the United States steel and aluminium tariffs are going to turn into reality, each EU member is set to vote on April 09, announced a senior EU official. This image is created with the assistance of AI tool for referential purposes only The Commission’s proposal of counter-tariffing big tech companies such as Elon Musk’s social network X and search engine giant Google, as well as major financial institutions like J.P. Morgan and Bank of America, will only be approved as long as it is not opposed by a qualified majority of 15 member states encompassing 65 per cent of EU population. Ahead of the voting and shortly after the ‘liberation day’ tariff was announced,...
In the Indian tariff league, let’s analyse which wins: Tit-for-tat tax or Tariff 2.0
The trade battleground is heating up as US President Donald Trump announces reciprocal as well as a bout of tariff on ‘Liberation Day,’ and India has found herself at the centre of a high-stakes of the sparking trade war. The United States slapped with a 26 per cent tariff on Indian goods, and it seems the brunt is going to be strongest for gems and jewellery along with electronics product export. Is India’s aluminium industry bracing for impact, too? It shouldn’t, at least not yet, as the auto and auto parts have been exempted from the latest tariff announcements apart from the original 25 per cent slab. Alongside, amid the chaos, does India have an overall upper hand? Let’s find out. The US has been steadily tightening its tariff grip, as certain Indian goods already face a 25 per cent...
New US tariff on aluminium cans, beer and automobiles: who will shoulder the burden between exporters and consumers?
As the world awaited the United States' reciprocal tariffs on April 2, 2025, President Donald Trump caught everyone off guard with a new move: a 25 per cent duty on imported beer & aluminium cans and assembled automobiles & car parts. This did not mean that Trump exempted his trade partners from reciprocal tariffs; rather, he simply added another surprise to the mix. As per the report, tariff on beer and empty aluminium cans will take effect on Friday, April 4, at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time, while cars and car parts will face the duty a day earlier. Already, this new tariff announcement has sent shockwaves through businesses worldwide, sparking speculation about the potential impacts on trade dynamics, price structures, and consumer sentiment. Concerns in the beer and can market In 2024, the...
China tightens regulations on new alumina plant construction to address overcapacity
With an agenda of counteracting persistent overcapacity and subsequently stabilising global alumina prices, China has come up with a bunch of measures (of course, in a series) aimed at curtailing the rapid expansion of alumina production. The new directives, outlined in the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology’s (MIIT) Action Plan for the High-Quality Development of the Aluminium Industry (2025–2027), extensively highlight the need to shift the country’s approach to managing its aluminium supply chain. Policy overview and strategic objectives The latest policy mandates that firms who are planning to establish new alumina projects must secure adequate bauxite supply to ensure a balanced and sustainable growth model. This requirement is a successor to the earlier guidance...
“Recycled aluminium is not available in large volumes. Hence, virgin aluminium will be in demand, especially in a country like India, where, today, scrap has not reached that level of volume,” Vikram Handa, Managing Director, Epsilon Carbon Pvt Ltd
Vikram Handa established Epsilon Group in 2010, a prominent industrial conglomerate dedicated to advancing the global carbon black and battery materials sector. With a mission to decarbonise economies and foster cleaner technologies, the group has distinguished itself through its subsidiaries, Epsilon Carbon and Epsilon Advanced Materials. Under his stewardship, a state-of-the-art, fully integrated 320,000 TPA specialty carbon plant was inaugurated in 2017 in Bellary, Karnataka. The company later expanded into the Carbon Black segment, launching operations with a 115,000 TPA production capacity. This Integrated Carbon Complex boasts a 10 per cent lower carbon footprint than its global counterparts and operates as a zero water discharge facility. With aggressive expansion plans, Epsilon...
Certification from BIS now mandatory for certain aluminium products
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), India’s National Standards Body, has reportedly mandated certain products, mostly belonging to the aluminium industry, to adopt BIS standards and obtain licenses to sell products in the domestic market. BIS plays a crucial role in product certification schemes, offering third-party assurance of quality, safety, and reliability to consumers. Although the BIS certification scheme is typically voluntary, the Central Government has made it mandatory for certain products to obtain licenses in the interest of consumer protection, environmental safety, fair trade practices, and national security. This mandate comes after two consecutive raids by BIS at aluminium casting factory , Ibex Engineering Pvt. Ltd. in Karnataka, and at aluminium alloy ingot...
Is foil import from China on track to tank post India’s anti-dumping duty enforcement?
In a calculated move to tackle the overstuffing of the ‘material in question’ in its domestic aluminium industry, the Indian government imposed a provisional anti-dumping duty on aluminium foil imports from China. Effective from March 17, 2025, this measure levies duties ranging between USD 619 and USD 873 per tonne on aluminium foil up to 80 microns in thickness, with the exception of foil below 5.5 microns intended for non-capacitor applications. This action follows the Directorate General of Trade Remedies’ (DGTR) preliminary findings, which concluded that the influx of low-priced Chinese aluminium foil has inflicted material injury on India’s domestic producers. The DGTR’s investigation revealed that Chinese imports had seized nearly 30 per cent of the Indian market despite the...
Japan’s Q2 aluminium premium crashes to five-quarter-low as US tariff intervenes trade
After an initial aggressive uptick at the beginning of March, the premium for Japanese aluminium’s outbound trade during the second Quarter of 2025 (April to June) has reportedly crashed to USD 182 per tonne, which is clearly a 20 per cent decrease from the past quarter (Q1’25), reveals six sources involved in the pricing discussions. The downturn in premiums is the first quarterly drop in the recent five quarters, USD 46 down from January to March, with a premium of USD 228 per tonne. Aluminium has turned out to clasp a premium below initial offers from global production houses, which ranged from USD 245 per tonne to USD 260 per tonne, now raising the question of why such a premium fell. On March 27, Platts evaluated the CIF main Asian ports (MAP) spot P1020 aluminium premium at USD 173...
Value of India’s engineering goods exports, including aluminium, declines. Are US tariff exemptions a last resort to mend it?
India's engineering goods exports experienced a decline in value during February 2025, marking the first monthly fall since April 2024, affected by slower exports of aluminium, steel, copper, and iron. According to the Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC), India's export value stood at $9.4 billion in the specific month, compared to $9.08 billion a year ago. That reflected an 8.62 per cent decline, bringing the past nine-month growth streak to an end. However, despite the monthly fall in February, cumulative export value for the past ten months continued to show growth, with a moderate year-on-year increase of 7.98 per cent. Interestingly, the export value for the period from April to February FY2025 reached an all-time high, amounting to $105.85 billion versus $98.03 billion...
Tariffs bite: Businesses choose to sway away from aluminium, counting the cost
Aluminium businesses, brace yourselves as your base metal commodities are getting pricier, and it’s not just a minor blip. The latest round of US tariffs on steel and aluminium imports is sending shockwaves through industries that rely on these materials. From roofing to manufacturing, businesses, as well as homeowners, are starting to feel the pinch. And, with no exemptions in sight, the future looks even tougher for those loyal to aluminium. Image Source: https://www.rcmindustries.com/ A roof too far? Here’s why homeowners are ditching metal roofing Metal roofing has always been a premium choice, known for its durability and sleek aesthetics. But now, thanks to the US government’s 25 per cent tariff on imported steel and aluminium, the cost is becoming prohibitively high. The numbers...
Aluminium consumption climbs steadily, indicating sustained market strength
Global aluminium consumption is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.33 per cent, increasing from 101 million tonnes in 2024 to 119 million tonnes by 2030. This expansion will be largely fuelled by rising demand across the transportation, electrical, and consumer durables sectors. Post-COVID, aluminium demand has surged, driven by its growing adoption across key sectors such as packaging and automotive. In packaging, aluminium’s exceptional properties—particularly its ability to extend shelf life—have made it the material of choice for manufacturers. Meanwhile, the rise of electric vehicles (EVs) has further accelerated aluminium consumption in the automotive industry. The shift from stainless steel to aluminium is a game-changer, as its superior...
Q4 2024 sees over 30% surge in US bauxite imports, yet annual decline persists
According to the US Geological Survey, the United States experienced a 6.31 per cent decline in crude and dried bauxite imports in 2024, despite a 31.58 per cent year-on-year increase in the fourth quarter. Year-on-year decreases in the second and third quarters primarily drove the annual drop. Total imports for the year amounted to 2.08 million tonnes, down from 2.22 million tonnes in 2023. While fourth-quarter imports rose from 380,000 to 500,000 tonnes, the increase was insufficient to offset the yearly decline. Additionally, imports in the fourth quarter saw a quarter-on-quarter drop of 53,000 tonnes, or 9.58 per cent, further contributing to the overall decrease in import volumes. After a year-on-year increase in the first quarter, with imports rising from 462,000 tonnes to 501,000...
China's carbon trading market resurrected after eight-year hiatus, poised for further industry inclusions
China has unveiled an ambitious agenda to extend its carbon trading system to encompass the steel, cement, and aluminium smelting sectors. The Ministry of Ecology and Environment has announced that this expansion will incorporate an additional 1,500 enterprises, enabling them to procure credits to offset their CO₂-equivalent emissions. Image for referential purposes only This extension will elevate the total volume of carbon dioxide regulated under the trading system to 8 billion tonnes—encompassing over 60 per cent of China’s total emissions. Ministry spokesperson Pei Xiaofei revealed these developments during a briefing on Wednesday. As one of the world’s foremost exporters of goods subject to the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), China is projected to export approximately...
European foil market in 2024: Recovers from weak demand and high inflation
The European aluminium foil industry has staged an impressive recovery in 2024 after a tumultuous 2023, marked by weak demand and soaring inflation. According to the latest data from the European Aluminium Foil Association (EAFA), total deliveries surged to 892,500 tonnes, a robust 7.3 per cent increase from the previous year’s 831,700 tonnes. While the industry is far from the pre-pandemic heights, signs of resilience and stabilisation are evident, driven primarily by a resurgence in packaging demand. Key factors for growth in 2024 The key driver of this resurgence has been a marked uptick in demand from the packaging sector, which helped balance the industry’s recovery. Deliveries within Europe rose by 7.8 per cent, while exports outside the EAFA region recorded a modest increase of 3.5...
‘White’ hydrogen reserve uncovered — a low-cost potential for green energy transition
In a serendipitous turn of events, French scientists have uncovered what is believed to be the world’s largest deposit of natural, or ‘white’, hydrogen beneath the Lorraine region. This monumental discovery holds the potential to revolutionise the global energy landscape, positioning France at the vanguard of the burgeoning hydrogen economy. Image for referential purposes only The revelation emerged during research conducted by the GeoRessources laboratory and the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS). A massive reserve of natural hydrogen was found beneath Folschviller’s soil in the Moselle region. The finding is being praised as a game-changing juncture in the clean-energy resolution. As per a recently released report, researchers from the GeoRessources laboratory and...
Editor’s Pick: The ultimate game-changers brought to you consolidated from Feb’s invention scene
Aluminium might hold the atomic number 13, but with a lot of supportive data in my pocket, I can confidently say that in the world of tech and innovation, it’s a certified lucky charm. As the past decade as well as the century has witnessed, this lightweight powerhouse has been the cornerstone in societal development — from the construction to the transport segment and beyond, making breakthroughs that are sleek, sustainable, and downright futuristic. As we progress on the path of 2025, the base metal has already made its way into sculpting jaw-dropping architecture for high-speed transport and next-gen electronics. Aluminium is at the heart of the revolution, and here’s a selective array of innovations and progression updates that I would like to share with the world that took place in...
