AL Circle analysis: Germany’s aluminium trade surplus, Novelis’ US expansion, Asia’s EV demand & India’s underutilised downstream capacity
Aluminium’s next growth phase is increasingly being shaped by downstream processing, supply-chain resilience and demand from specialised applications. Germany continues to generate a substantial trade surplus in flat-rolled products despite a shrinking primary aluminium base, while North America is investing in recycling and rolling. Across Asia, new manufacturing capabilities and growing demand from electric vehicles, railways and batteries are creating further opportunities. However, declining exports, underutilised capacity and uneven profitability show that investment alone does not guarantee success. For industry leaders, the challenge is to identify where demand is shifting, develop products that meet customer requirements and ensure that new investments translate into sustainable...
AL Circle Analysis: From Guinea to Gulf, how bauxite, tariffs and logistics redraw aluminium map
Aluminium markets in late 2026 are being shaped by more than the headline LME aluminium price. Bauxite security, alumina availability, geopolitical disruptions, tariff negotiations, logistics diversification and regional premiums are increasingly determining where metal moves and what buyers pay. From RUSAL reassessing Caribbean assets and Vedanta securing Odisha bauxite to Brazil extending mine life and EGA rebuilding its Guinea supply chain, producers are strengthening control over critical raw materials. At the same time, the US remains heavily dependent on imported bauxite and alumina, while Europe and Asia are experiencing sharply different premium dynamics. These developments point to a market where physical availability is becoming a regional factor even as aluminium itself remains...
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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,...
Hulamin sees a 19% drop in H1 earnings due to poor export market; positive domestic demand drives expansion projects
Hulamin, a South African company that manufactures rolled aluminium products for precision and high technology applications, has reportedly announced its H1 financial performance ended June 30, 2024, highlighting reduced earnings caused by export pricing pressure and market challenges. As per the data revealed, Hulamin’s earnings before interest taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) decreased 19 per cent Y-o-Y to R343 million, with rolled product sales down 3 per cent Y-o-Y to 87,340 tonnes. The group’s operating profit fell 8 per cent Y-o-Y to R433 million, while earnings per share plunged by 38 per cent to 43c. Amid this subdued fiscal outcome, Hulamin reported strong aluminium demand in the local market, up by 8 per cent, helping to offset weaker export market demand. CEO Mark...
European aluminium foundry market sees headwind due to subdued domestic automotive production
Analysts from Fastmarkets have reported a slowdown in aluminium consumption in the European automotive industry, underpinning muted economic factors. A considerable decline in automobile production due to the ill effects of the cost-of-living crisis has resulted in reduced applications of lightweight metal, according to Fastmarkets analyst James Moore. Kirstine Veitch, principal consultant at Fastmarkets, also explained: “The real issue is the low level of vehicle output in Europe. While automotive output remains depressed, the European PFA sector will remain challenging.” The effect of the decreased production of automobiles is also seen in the premiums of primary foundry alloy (PFA), which is primarily used in automotive parts. According to Fastmarkets data, premiums for aluminium...
H1 2024: South America’s alumina production grows 4% Y-o-Y, whereas North America’s output shrinks 12%
In June 2024, alumina production in South America reached its highest level in six months, totalling 1.045 million tonnes. This figure represents a 2.85 per cent increase from the previous month and a 19.29 per cent rise compared to June 2023. Notably, this production level reflects a sharp contrast to the lowest output of 876,000 tonnes recorded in June 2023 during the first half of the year. Maintaining an output above 1 million tonnes during April-June 2024, South America registered a total alumina production of 3.094 million tonnes, up by 2.82 per cent from 3.009 million tonnes in Q1 2024 and 10.26 per cent higher than 2.806 million tonnes in Q2 2023. South America’s total alumina production in H1 2024 was 6.103 million tonnes, an increase of 3.86 per cent from 5.876 million tonnes....
Clean energy transition to propel a 9% increase in aluminium use in the B&C sector by 2027
The Aluminum Association has revealed some excerpts from Ducker Carlisle's report, "Building the Future: Trends in Aluminum Use in the U.S. Construction Market," which indicate a 9 per cent increase in aluminium usage within the building and construction (B&C) sector from 2022 to 2027. This growth is attributed to the shift towards clean energy and efforts to reduce carbon footprints. The report highlights that commercial buildings and clean energy applications like solar installations will primarily drive the growth of aluminium use in the coming years. In addition, federal infrastructure spending and emission reduction programmes supported by the Inflation Reduction Act will contribute to the increase in aluminium use across the building & construction sector. Every $100,000 in...
"Respect for the environment embodies the Hu'chu philosophy and my personal story," Daniel Roesner, CEO at Hu'chu GmbH
An actor, film producer and environmental entrepreneur, Daniel Roesner is an innovative leader and the CEO of Hu'chu 55, a company known for its sustainable catamaran projects. With a vision rooted deeply in environmental stewardship and cutting-edge technology, Roesner has guided Hu'chu 55 to the forefront of eco-friendly marine transportation. His commitment to sustainability is reflected in the company’s flagship project, the Hu'chu 55 catamaran, designed to minimise environmental impact while maximising efficiency and comfort. In addition to his role at Hu'chu 55, Roesner is an advocate for sustainable practices across various sectors, often speaking at industry events and contributing to discussions on the future of green technology. His work continues to inspire others in the...
