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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“SeCoil is an investment that brings real benefits to a company involved in producing aluminium sheets”, Piotr Skarbiński, Vice President, Business Segment Aluminum Process and CAB, SECO/WARWICK
Piotr Skarbinski earned an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Zielona Góra, specialising in precision and biomedical instruments. His professional career began in 1988 with Elterma as a project engineer. He joined SECO/WARWICK in 1990 as a project engineer for atmosphere furnaces and was promoted to Atmosphere Furnace Team Leader in 1995. In addition to these responsibilities, he worked with both the Aluminum Process and Incinerator product groups. In 2000, he assumed responsibility as Director of Europe's Controlled Atmosphere Brazing (CAB) Team. He became the CAB Global Product Leader in 2006, and since 2014, he has served as a Vice President of the CAB and Aluminium Process business segment at SECO/WARWICK S.A. AL Circle: How does SECO/WARWICK's vision align with the...
“Using aluminium FRPs in railway systems contributes to a more efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly operation,” L C Trivedi, Railway Expert
A distinguished railway professional, L C Trivedi, with over 40 years of exemplary service, boasts a remarkable career deeply rooted in Indian Railways. With an engineering degree and management education from prestigious institutions such as HEC Paris and Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, USA, he has consistently demonstrated his commitment to excellence. A Fellow of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers in London, L C Trivedi currently holds the esteemed position of Chair of the Railway Division of India within the Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). His journey in the railways began in 1981, when he spent two formative years at NTPC, followed by a transition to Indian Railways, where he would go on to achieve remarkable feats. In June 2021, L C Trivedi retired as the...
China’s September aluminium output aligns with SMM forecast, showing a monthly dip but a positive near-term outlook
In September 2024, China's aluminium production increased by 1.45% compared to the previous year, aligning with the expected figures from the Shanghai Metal Market. The operation resumption in Sichuan and Guizhou after technical upgrades boosted the production on a year-on-year basis. However, on a month-on-month calculation, the output is likely to have decreased from 3.689 million tonnes to 3.574 million tonnes, possibly due to estimated slower production in Yunnan. Due to the traditional peak season during September and October, the production and demand for downstream alloy products increased, driving the proportion of liquid aluminium up by 0.7 percentage points M-o-M and 0.6 percentage points Y-o-Y to approximately 73.76 per cent. As a result, the casting ingot production decreased...
Optimising CO2 capture with metatitanic acid - Al2O3 aerogel composite
In a recent article published in Scientific Reports, researchers developed a novel adsorbent composed of nanoporous metatitanic acid supported on γ-Al₂O₃ aerogel. The aim is to enhance CO₂ adsorption capacity and improve regeneration efficiency. The research investigated the optimal conditions for CO₂ capture and the structural characteristics of the synthesised materials, contributing to the advancement of carbon capture technologies. Background Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies are emerging as solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Among various methods, adsorption is promising due to its efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Traditional adsorbents, such as zeolites and activated carbons, have adsorption capacity and regeneration limitations. Recent studies have explored...
China’s alumina production in September retreats, standing below 7 million tonnes
In September 2024, China’s monthly production of metallurgical-grade alumina retreated from its peak by losing 4.27 per cent month-on-month. However, on a year-on-year basis, the output in September increased by 2.69 per cent from 6.732 million tonnes. Based on the above data provided by the Shanghai Metals Market, China’s metallurgical-grade alumina production is estimated to have amounted to 6.91 million tonnes in September versus 7.22 million tonnes in August 2024 . From January to September, China’s total output of metallurgical-grade alumina was 61.596 million tonnes, up 3.66 per cent Y-o-Y. SMM further showed China’s existing capacity of metallurgical-grade alumina increased by 1 million tonnes to 101.6 million tonnes, with the actual operating capacity down by 1.3 per cent M-o-M...
Aluminium Deutschland paves effective path to revive Germany's aluminium industry
Aluminium Deutschland, IG BCE (a trade union in Germany) and IG Metall (a dominant metalworkers' union in Germany) have joined hands through the German Aluminium Alliance with five federal states intending to transition into climate neutrality and competitiveness for Germany's aluminium sector. European Aluminium has recently published its upcoming 5 years' top priorities which include 1. delivering an effective industrial strategy that boosts investment in Europe, 2. promoting green transition, 3. delivering internationally competitive energy prices and supporting industrial decarbonisation, 4. revitalising European Union's Trade Defence and Policy, 5. building coherent environmental practices through substance management framework. The German alliance is similarly based on 4 prioritised...
US primary aluminium output drops in July'24, but scrap recovery compensates for it by gaining 5% Y-o-Y
The United States’ domestic primary aluminium production increased in July 2024 to rebound to the level of output achieved in May. Compared to the production volume in June at 55,000 tonnes, the United States output in July gained 2,000 tonnes M-o-M, according to the latest data from the US Geological Survey. Following the increase in July, the United States’ primary aluminium production volume amounted to 57,000 tonnes, which was, however, significantly down by 7,000 tonnes or 11 per cent year-on-year from 64,000 tonnes. In the first seven months of 2024, the United States’ primary aluminium output totalled 396,000 tonnes, registering an annual downfall of 10.41 per cent from 442,000 tonnes. The average daily production of primary aluminium in the United States during July 2024 was 1,830...
ESA explores the future of in-space manufacturing with autonomous aluminium weld analysis
European Space Agency (ESA) engineers have closely examined a groundbreaking aluminium weld produced in space. This marks a historic milestone as the first autonomous welding conducted in orbit and the first of its kind involving ESA. The weld, a mere one centimetre in size, was created using electron beam welding technology as part of an experiment led by ThinkOrbital, a US-based startup. The experiment occurred aboard a spacecraft launched in May via a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Now, ESA's Materials and Electrical Components Laboratory in the Netherlands is rigorously scrutinising the weld. The team is analysing the structure and quality of the space-made weld using advanced testing tools such as microscopes and X-ray tomography. The results will be compared with identical samples produced...
Mining permits should last until resources deplete: President Director, Freeport Indonesia
In a bold statement on October 8, 2024, Tony Wenas, President Director of PT Freeport Indonesia, one of the world's leading mining and ore processing companies, expressed his support for the potential removal of government regulations that currently restrict the duration of mining concessions. Wenas highlighted that many countries do not impose time limits on mining operations, provided that concession holders adhere to responsible and sustainable mining practices. This perspective underscores a growing recognition of the need for regulatory frameworks that foster long-term investments in the mining sector while ensuring environmental stewardship. Wenas's comments could pave the way for significant changes in Indonesia's mining policies, promoting a more flexible approach that aligns with...
Aluminium demand in North America marks a positive growth trend in H1 2024 with a 5.2% rise Y-o-Y
Aluminium demand in North America (US and Canada) has demonstrated an upward movement through the first half of 2024, marking a 5.2 per cent year-on-year growth, as shown by the Aluminum Association in its monthly Aluminium Situation report. “2024 continues to be a strong year for aluminum demand,” said Charles Johnson, president & CEO of the Aluminum Association. “Customers and end consumers have made it clear that they want sustainable, recyclable materials like aluminum. Our members are investing in production and jobs in the United States to help meet this demand both now and in the future.” Showcasing a steady advancement from 13,365 million pounds in H1 2023, North America’s aluminium demand this year is reported at around 14,056 million pounds. To this growth, aluminium sheet and...
China’s aluminium processing industry PMI rebounds above 50% due to momentous gain in demand & production
According to the Shanghai Metals Market, China’s comprehensive Purchasing Manager Index (PMI) for the aluminium processing industry rebounded in September above the 50 mark since May. It recorded a month-on-month surge of 18.1 per cent, driven by the PMIs of aluminium plate/sheet and strip, aluminium foil, industrial aluminium extrusion, primary aluminium alloy, and secondary aluminium alloy. All the sectors mentioned above registered PMIs above 60 per cent, signalling positive growth in the manufacturing and service sectors. As per SMM’s data, China’s average PMI for the aluminium processing industry stood at 61.7 per cent, withstanding a weak PMI level in the construction aluminium extrusion sector. Demand improvement for industrial extrusion products, especially in photovoltaic and...
Arrow Minerals set to launch maiden drilling at Niagara Bauxite Project in Guinea
Arrow Minerals Limited is poised to launch its maiden bauxite exploration program at the Niagara Bauxite Project in Guinea. The program will include drilling, bulk sampling, and metallurgical testing to estimate Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources. This will set the stage for a Scoping Study in the first half 2025. The project's initial phase will focus on three of nine identified targets, selected for their strategic location near the rail corridor and cost-effective start-up potential. These targets will benefit from past exploration efforts, including 448 drill holes completed in previous campaigns by companies such as Vale in 2007. Arrow plans to drill approximately 150 holes, spaced 600m by 600m and reducing to 300m by 300m, totalling around 2,000 meters of drilling. In...
GCC countries gear up for green aluminium production ahead of 2026's Carbon Tax scheme
Gulf countries are determinedly shifting to green aluminium production since past few years amidst the upcoming enactment of 2026's Carbon Tax scheme. As of 2020, Aluminium Stewardship Initiative(ASI) reported that the GCC country smelters are close to ASI’s benchmark carbon emission target of 8 tonnes of CO2e emission per tonne of aluminium production. "Several Middle Eastern aluminium producers have made clear efforts to offer low-carbon emissions aluminium products to the wider market, including products with higher recycled content, as part of a response to the growing demand for this material as well as preparation for the implementation of CBAM in the EU in 2026," Khaula Bhatti from S&P Global Commodity Insights disclosed to a regional media. The current transitional stage of the...
H1 2024: US aluminium crude metal and alloy imports decline due to less contribution by UAE and Australia
In the first half of 2024, the United States aluminium crude metal and alloy imports recorded a year-on-year decline of 7.04 per cent. Although the import volume increased Q-o-Q in the June quarter, it was not enough to offset the total deterioration of H1. From 911,000 tonnes in Q1, the United States aluminium crude metal and alloy imports rose to 940,000 tonnes in Q2, marking a gain of 3.18 per cent. Year-on-year, the import volume in the second quarter edged a decline of 16.59 per cent from 1.127 million tonnes, which primarily resulted in a downward trajectory through H1 2024. The year-on-year growth in the United States Q1 imports of about 5.8 per cent (from 861,000 tonnes to 911,000 tonnes) was too little to mitigate the overall downturn. According to the US Geological Survey, the...
Africa & Asia’s alumina production rebounds by 1.32% in August 2024
Alumina production in Africa & Asia (ex-China) rebounded in August 2024 after a drop the previous month. The output, as per the International Aluminium Institute survey, recovered by 1.32 per cent M-o-M, a testament to the industry's stability, even though it did not reach the production level achieved in June. The same is true with the daily average output, as it rose in August by 500 tonnes after a fall in July but still lagged behind June production. However, despite the drop in Africa & Asia's alumina production during July 2024, the output by a whisker reached above 1.2 million tonnes. In the said month, the production decreased by 1.95 per cent M-o-M to 1.209 million tonnes. According to IAI data, alumina production in Africa & Asia (ex-China) during August 2024 amounted to 1.225...
Top five destinations of the United States aluminium exports during H1 2024
The United States of America, with an impressive economic size of US$26.95 trillion (as of 2023), ranks among the world’s leading aluminium producers, consumers, and exporters. Based on AL Circle’s research, the United States is the second-largest producer of aluminium extrusion and scrap and the fifth-largest manufacturer of cast aluminium products. According to Statista, the United States aluminium consumption reached 4 million tonnes in 2023, while the US Geological Survey reported exports of 3.29 million tonnes (including scrap). Now that the United States’ H1 2024 export data is revealed, it is evident that the country is seeing a consistent growth trajectory in its aluminium export volume over the years. In the first half of 2024 ended June 30, the United States exported 1.77...
Europe’s primary aluminium production sees a 5% growth in August on risen profitability due to LME price rally
In August 2024, primary aluminium production in Europe continued to grow , reaching a new high. Month-on-month, the output increased by 2,000 tonnes or 0.34 per cent, while year-on-year surged by 29,000 tonnes or 5.1 per cent, supported equally by Russia & Eastern Europe and Western & Central Europe. According to the data revealed by the International Aluminium Institute, primary aluminium production across Europe amounted to 597,000 tonnes during August 2024, compared to 595,000 tonnes in July 2024 and 568,000 tonnes in August 2023. Of the total European output in August, Russia & Eastern Europe contributed 354,000 tonnes, accounting for 59.3 per cent, and Western & Central Europe contributed 243,000 tonnes, accounting for 40.7 per cent. Production trend in Russia & Eastern Europe On a...
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World alumina production hits this year’s new high driven by gains in South America, Europe and Africa & Asia (ex-China)
The world's alumina production in August 2024 maintained a robust monthly record, increasing slightly from 12.511 million tonnes in July. Thanks to the growing alumina output in Africa & Asia (ex-China), South America, and Europe (including Russia) that drove the world's production, offsetting a drop in Oceania and North America. For the fourth consecutive month in 2024, the world's alumina output consistently stood above 12 million tonnes. However, according to a year-on-year calculation, the output dropped from 12.517 million tonnes. Nonetheless, the world's total alumina production during January-August stood 2.08 per cent higher annually, from 94.9 million tonnes to 96.878 million tonnes, buoyed by consistent Y-o-Y growth in output through July 2024. According to the International...
