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...
Grow with
AL Circle
"The Aluminium business from The GCC perspective." Mahmood Dailami, Secretary General of the Gulf Aluminium Council (GAC)
AL Circle : The world is likely to surpass a dangerous temperature threshold within the next ten years unless countries transition away from fossil fuels. GCC countries are currently using gas as a source of energy. How do you foresee the situation developing? Mr. Mahmood Dailami : Looking around, emissions reduction plans by most governments are falling short, and if the situation continues, the world will reach 2.8C degrees by 2100. We can reverse the trend by reducing the use of fossil fuels and helping developing nations develop their renewable energy facilities and infrastructure. The European Union is pressing Africa, India, and other countries to stop using Coal and wants the GCC to halt any new oil and gas exploration projects. If they do, these countries will commit economic...
“Asia's non-ferrous metal industry, specifically aluminium, has several key opportunities for growth,” Parmod Sagar, Managing Director & CEO – India, RHI Magnesita
Parmod comes with more than 3 decades of extensive experience of serving the steel and refractory industry. A Mechanical Engineer by profession, Parmod started his career in the steel industry and worked in the sector for over 7 years gaining valuable insights. Thereafter, he transitioned to the refractories business joining Orient Refractories Limited (ORL) as a Manager -Technical Marketing in 1992. In 2013, after RHI AG acquired ORL, Parmod was appointed in the role of Managing Director & CEO of ORL. He currently holds the position of the Managing Director and CEO of the RHI Magnesita India Ltd. Additionally, he is also the President of World Refractories Association. AL Circle: How do you see the aluminium industry's future evolving in the Asian market, particularly in the context of...
Volkswagen on cost curtail drive with plant closures amid raw material and production challenges
Volkswagen Group, a German public multinational conglomerate manufacturer of passenger and commercial vehicles, is reportedly considering closing one of its large vehicle plants and one component factory in Germany as part of the ongoing cost-cutting drive at its core VW brand. Cost curtail goal Through this cost curtail goal, Volkswagen Group aims to save €10 billion ($11.07 billion) by 2026 to save up for electric car manufacturing. Moreover, this move is much needed to streamline the production costs given higher logistics, energy, and labour value. Amid the economic upheaval impacting consumers’ purchasing power, Volkswagen Group recorded the H1 2024 brand margin falling to 2.3 per cent versus 3.8 per cent during the corresponding period of the previous year. Recently, the automaker,...
Africa’s primary aluminium production in July 2024 jumps by 4.65%, yet total Y-T-D output drops
Africa's primary aluminium production in July 2024 reached a new high compared to the previous six months' data but still stood lower than in the same period last year, found the International Aluminium Institute (IAI). According to IAI, Africa's primary metal output in July 2024 witnessed a month-on-month jump of 6,000 tonnes or 4.65 per cent, standing at 135,000 tonnes, the highest in seven months, but recorded a year-on-year drop of 1,000 tonnes from the production in July 2023. It is to be noted that Africa's primary aluminium production until July 2024 surpassed 130,000 tonnes for only two months. In the remaining five months, the output lingered below 130,000 tonnes, mostly ranging around 128 tonnes. February 2024 was the onlooker of this year's least primary aluminium production in...
Aluminium foil coating innovation: A new hope for microbe-free water purification
Globally, more than 2 billion people lack access to safe, uncontaminated drinking water*, with 418 million of them living in African nations**. This issue is particularly severe in rural areas, where rivers, lakes, and hand-dug wells serve as the primary water sources, often contaminated by harmful pathogens. The contamination stems from inadequate sanitation facilities, open defecation, and agricultural runoff, leading to devastating consequences. Waterborne diseases like cholera, typhoid, and diarrhoea claim hundreds of thousands of lives in Africa each year, with children being especially at risk due to their developing immune systems. This vicious cycle of waterborne illness not only endangers health but also entrenches poverty, as sick children miss school and adults are unable to...
European aluminium foil shipments rebound in Q2 2024 by 6.6% Y-o-Y, counterbalancing Q1 drop
Aluminium foil shipments in Europe recovered during the second quarter of 2024, recording a 6.6 per cent rise year-on-year and a 4.2 per cent increase quarter-on-quarter, found the European Aluminium Foil Association (EAFA). In the first quarter, the shipments suffered a loss of 6 per cent annually, coming in at 217,800 tonnes, which grew over a quarter to 227,000 tonnes to meet the demand growth of almost 10 per cent. Shipment vs Export The increase in Q2 shipments was primarily backed by thinner gauges, which are mainly used for flexible packaging and household foils. The shipments of thinner gauges saw the most substantial gains, growing by more than 8 per cent from the corresponding period of 2023. The shipments of thicker gauges, used for semi-rigid containers, technical or other...
Oceania decided the fate of global alumina production in July 2024
According to the International Aluminium Institute (IAI), the world’s alumina production rose steadily in July 2024 on a month-on-month basis but reflected a fall annually. As per the data revealed by IAI, Oceania was a primary factor for the monthly growth or annual fall in July alumina production worldwide. The output in Oceania grew in July month-on-month by 8.89 per cent from 1.327 million tonnes to 1.445 million tonnes, while it fell year-on-year by 11.24 per cent from 1.628 million tonnes. The world’s alumina production in July 2024 stood at 12.155 million tonnes, up by 0.88 per cent from 12.049 million tonnes in June 2024 but down from 12.167 million tonnes in July 2023. However, the annual fall in the world’s July 2024 alumina output was largely offset by the increase in...
Indian Government mandates 5% recycled content in non-ferrous metal products, including aluminium
A significant step has been taken towards the non-ferrous metals industry by the Government of India by mandating the 5 per cent content of recycled aluminium in all new products from the beginning of the financial year 2027-28. The mandate is for non-ferrous metals like aluminium, copper, and zinc. The Government is initiating the regulation with the 5 per cent recycled aluminium content rule but gradually intends to increase it to 10 to 25 per cent, depending on the metal. For instance, products made of aluminium should have 10 per cent recycled content, copper 20 per cent, and zinc 25 per cent. Thus, the new regulation will require aluminium, copper, and zinc producers to recycle a certain amount of products and introduce an extended producer responsibility (EPR) framework to ensure...
Top 10 aluminium alloy wheel manufacturers in Asia - meet the industry leaders
The concept of alloy wheels dates back to the early 1920s when they were used to enhance vehicles’ performance. The journey started with alloy wheels made from wooden planks with rounded edges and progressed until the age of aluminium alloy wheels. 1974 was the year that marked the first offer of aluminium alloy wheels to the general public on the VW Golf, Scirroco, Passat, and Audi as a low-cost, high-performance option for motorsports. Today, these wheels are a popular choice with the attainment of many other advantageous factors like heat dissipation, improved horsepower, better braking, better conduction, lower maintenance, and aesthetic appeal. Following various advancements in aluminium alloy wheels triggering demand, the global market size of the product is estimated to grow to...
Guinea's bauxite exports surge, nearing record high
Guinea's bauxite exports have shown remarkable growth, marking a significant achievement in the global market. However, the country's bauxite exports are growing rapidly and being transported by Capesize bulkers. In 2023, Guinea exported a record 127 million tonnes of bauxite, an impressive increase of 25 million tonnes compared to the previous year. This surge represents a nearly 19.60 per cent year-on-year growth, bringing the country within 24.50 per cent of last year's total exports. Most of Guinea's bauxite is shipped to China, with the bulk of the exports departing from the ports of Kamsar, Boffa, Cap Verga, and Conakry. The continued expansion of Guinea's bauxite industry underscores the nation's growing importance in the global aluminium supply chain. According to research from...
Q4 aluminium premium offer for Japan rises 8% due to supply constraints in Asia
According to a recent report, Japanese buyers are offered a much higher premium, above $180 per tonne, for the shipment of primary aluminium in the fourth quarter of 2024, ending December 31. The news came after two people directly involved in quarterly pricing talks reported the matter on Wednesday, August 28. Compared to the current quarter’s premium, the proposed premium for Q4 is about 8 per cent higher. A global producer has reportedly offered a premium of $185 per tonne over the LME aluminium benchmark price for the December quarter, up from $172 per tonne in the September quarter . The new premium offer marks an extended growth for Q4, following a 16 to 19 per cent increase in Q3 premium from $145-148 per tonne paid in the April to June quarter. The consecutive growth in premium...
German aluminium industry sees uneven growth in Q2; recyclers lead the way
The German aluminium industry experienced mixed results in production during the second quarter of 2024. While overall production trends varied, aluminium recyclers emerged as a bright spot, reporting significant gains. Recyclers produced around 725,000 tonnes of secondary aluminium from April to June, marking a 4 per cent increase compared to the previous quarter. However, despite this positive development, the industry's performance in the first half of the year still fell short of last year's levels. Total production for the first six months stood at approximately 1.4 million tonnes, representing a 2 per cent decline compared to the same period in the previous year. Rob van Gils, President of Aluminium Deutschland, emphasised, "Aluminium recycling is an essential building block for the...
July 2024: Primary aluminium production in Russia & Eastern Europe grows 5% Y-o-Y, mirroring the same in export volume
In July 2024, primary aluminium production across Europe saw a month-on-month increase of 3.66 per cent and a year-on-year hike of 3.82 per cent, standing at 595,000 tonnes, according to the International Aluminium Institute data. The increase in July output was contributed by both Eastern Europe (including Russia) as well as Western & Central Europe. Russia & Eastern Europe Russia & Eastern Europe's primary aluminium production in July 2024 registered a month-on-month increase of 3.82 per cent and a year-on-year hike of 4.75 per cent, as per the data shown by the International Aluminium Institute. The primary aluminium output in Russia & Eastern Europe during July 2024 was 353,000 tonnes, compared to 340,000 tonnes in June and 337,000 tonnes in July 2023. The daily average production in...
Foreign investment in China falls to the lowest level in 30 years
Foreign direct investment (FDI) in China has declined to its lowest level in three decades, according to official data released by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange in February 2024. The sharp decline highlights growing concerns among foreign corporations over China's increasingly stringent regulations and the impact of U.S. sanctions, as Nikkei Asia reported on February 19, 2024. In 2023, China's net FDI totalled a mere $33 billion, a staggering 80 per cent drop from the previous year. This marks the second consecutive year of decline, a significant fall from the peak of $344 billion recorded in 2021. Despite the dismal overall figures, the final quarter of 2023 saw a slight improvement, with inflows surpassing outflows by $17.5 billion. This modest recovery followed the...
Alumobility accelerates automotive innovation with six major aluminium projects
Alumobility, established in 2021, is a global collaborative network designed to promote the use of aluminium in the automotive industry. The ecosystem brings together leading aluminium producers—Constellium, Novelis, and Speira—with downstream technology partners and OEMs. "What we are trying to do is create a team of people with wide industry knowledge, including our technical partners, like Magna, Atlas Copco, and Fisher," said Mark White, technical director of Alumobility. Through joint project studies, Alumobility aims to develop innovative systems that enable the creation of lighter, safer, and more sustainable vehicles. In its first three years, Alumobility completed six major aluminium conversion projects, each demonstrating significant weight reduction while meeting or surpassing...
Eastern Europe’s role in facilitating Russian aluminium trade amid sanctions: Insights from Christian Mabey
Christian Mabey, Managing Director of Optima Products, has raised concerns over the increasing influx of Russian aluminium into the UK market despite ongoing sanctions, as published in The Manufacturer. According to Mabey, Russian aluminium is finding its way into the UK through third-party vendors in Eastern Europe and other regions, undermining the intended impact of the sanctions. Mabey highlighted that the Russia-Ukraine geopolitical crisis continues to cause significant disruptions across global supply chains, particularly in the metals markets. As a leading UK manufacturer and installer of aluminium-framed glass partitions, Optima Products plays a crucial role in the UK market and is heavily reliant on aluminium, making the company particularly sensitive to market fluctuations. "The...
World primary aluminium production reaches a new high in July’24, registering an annual growth of 2.4%
The world’s primary aluminium production increased in July 2024, driven by robust output across all the major primary metal-producing regions. On a month-on-month basis, the world’s primary aluminium production in July registered an increase of 3.54 per cent, while that on an annual calculation recorded a rise of 2.41 per cent, found the International Aluminium Institute. In July, the global output of primary aluminium stood at 6.194 million tonnes, reaching a new high, compared to 5.982 million tonnes in June 2024 and 6.048 million tonnes in July 2023. Total production through the first seven months of the year was 42.074 million tonnes, up by 3.78 per cent from 40.543 million tonnes. The daily average production in July was 199,800 tonnes, 400 tonnes more than 19,400 tonnes in June and...
Aluminium beverage can industry in Brazil shines through H1 2024, indicating a potential 5% sales growth at year-end
Aluminium can manufacturers in Brazil have reported a delightful H1 2024 owing to encouraging beverage can sales led by favourable macroeconomic conditions. On the continuity of this trend, beverage can sales are set to poise a 5 per cent growth at the year-end, compared to an annual increase of 1.65 per cent last year, according to Cátilo Cândido, president of the Brazilian Association of Aluminum Can Manufacturers (Abralatas). The association's president also apprised that the current production rate of aluminium beverage cans in Brazil is 32.6 billion can units per year, while per capita consumption is 165 12-can packages per year. In an interview with S&P Global Commodity Insights, Cândido shared his perspective on aluminium can sales, stating that it is a complex interplay of scale,...
