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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Primary aluminium production in North & South America sees over 4% rise in H1 amid periodic declines
Data revealed by the International Aluminium Institute indicates a year-on-year increase in both North and South America's primary aluminium production during the first half of 2024. Even amid occasional declines in some months, primary aluminium output in North America rose by 4.35 per cent, while South America saw an increase of 4.74 per cent by the end of H1 2024. In North America, primary aluminium production in six months of 2024 amounted to 1.992 million tonnes versus 1.909 million tonnes during the corresponding period of the previous year. In South America, the output totalled 751,000 tonnes compared to 717,000 tonnes a year ago. Overview of quarter-wise output In June, North America's primary aluminium production stood at 325,000 tonnes, down by 3.85 per cent from 338,000 tonnes...
The European aluminium market still suffers from muted demand, demonstrated by a 6% fall in foil deliveries
The extended period of weak demand for aluminium has adversely affected both prices and metal deliveries. This trend is evident in European aluminium foil shipments, which totalled 217,800 tonnes in the first three months of 2024. According to the European Aluminium Foil Association, this shipment figure represents a year-on-year fall of 6 per cent compared to 231,700 tonnes. Europe is the second-largest consumer of aluminium foil globally, accounting for 15 percent of the world's usage . China remains the largest, representing approximately 49.5 percent of global consumption. The decline in shipments during Q1 2024 stemmed from a 3 per cent drop in demand. The downtrend in foil demand during the first quarter of 2024 was not only limited within the domestic market but also branched out...
Arrow Minerals expands presence with acquisition of Niagara Bauxite Project
Arrow Minerals Limited is pleased to announce a significant step forward in its expansion strategy with the entry into a Share Purchase Option Agreement (the Agreement) to acquire the Niagara Bauxite Project situated in Guinea. Guinea is currently the world's largest exporter of high-grade, low-impurity bauxite, and this acquisition marks a significant milestone for Arrow Minerals. Arrow Minerals Limited, listed on the Australian Stock Exchange, is an exploration and development company focused on delivering long-term shareholder value by discovering economic mineral deposits in West Africa. Strategic expansion in bulk commodities The Niagara Bauxite Project is recognised as an advanced asset with a rich exploration history. Located just 100 km from the Simandou railway, set for...
“Sustainability is key to Mechatherm's ongoing business plan”, Chris Emes, Chairman, Mechatherm International Limited
Chris Emes is the newly appointed Chairman of Mechatherm International Limited, where he has served since 1980. Starting as a project engineer after graduating from John Moores University, Chris has held various roles, including Sales Manager in the UK and South Africa. As a key figure in developing aluminium recycling and cast house technologies, he became the sole Managing Director in 1993. Influenced by the company's founders, Chris has driven significant milestones, such as securing Mechatherm's first million-pound order and receiving the Queen's Award for Enterprise. His leadership focuses on innovation, sustainability, and expanding Mechatherm's global reach, particularly in the Australasian and Asian markets. AL Circle: Could you briefly overview your career and how you arrived at...
World alumina production in H1 2024 heightens 2.34% Y-o-Y despite sluggish contribution from Oceania
World alumina output in the first half of 2024 scaled up 2.34 per cent year-on-year, owing to enormous production above 12 million tonnes in March and May 2024. Almost all the leading alumina-producing regions, except for Oceania, drove the worldwide alumina production hike in H1. Overview of H1 output According to the International Aluminium Institute data, the world alumina production in H1 2024 totalled 70.965 million tonnes, of which 58 per cent was contributed by China. Compared to the past year, global alumina production grew by 2.34 per cent in H1 2024, while China’s contribution to the output remained essentially unchanged in comparison with 57.97 per cent last year. The contribution of Oceania to the H1 alumina production decreased year-on-year from 13.51 per cent to 12.50 per...
United States’ focus shift to secondary aluminium leads to a 12.3% Y-o-Y decline in primary metal production for May
According to the US Census Bureau survey, the United States' primary aluminium production demonstrated a slight change in monthly trend during May 2024, reflecting an increase of 2,000 tonnes or 3.64 per cent. However, on an annual basis, the output in May extended its declining movement by 8,000 tonnes or 12.31 per cent. As per the recently revealed data, the United States' primary aluminium output during May 2024 stood at 57,000 tonnes versus 55,000 tonnes a month ago and 65,000 tonnes a year earlier. The monthly increase of 2,000 tonnes in May led the output to rebound to the production level seen in March 2024. The average daily production in May was 1,840 tonnes, which was essentially unchanged from 1,850 tonnes in April 2024 but edged a decline of 11.96 per cent year-on-year from...
H1 2024: Africa’s primary aluminium production contracts by 2.8% Y-o-Y due to reduced output at Mozal Aluminium
According to the International Aluminium Institute, primary aluminium production in Africa during the first half of 2024 demonstrated a year-on-year downswing, mostly due to the bearish Q1. As per IAI data, Africa's total primary aluminium output in H1 2024 edged a fall of 2.8 per cent Y-o-Y from 788,000 tonnes to 766,000 tonnes. In the June quarter (Q2), the output amounted to 388,000 tonnes, which was 2 per cent lower than 396,000 tonnes in Q1 2023 but 2.65 per cent higher Q-o-Q compared to 378,000 tonnes. Analysis of the production downfall The above data demonstrates a quarterly rise in Africa's primary aluminium output, but it has been enough to offset the annual downtrend. The decline in Africa's primary aluminium production could be primarily attributed to Mozal Aluminium, which...
World's primary aluminium production exceeds 35 million tonnes in H1, on track to AL Circle's 2024 projection
According to the latest data revealed by the International Aluminium Institute (IAI), global primary aluminium production saw a year-on-year bullish trend through the first half of 2024 despite occasional slowdowns in certain months. In three of the first six months of 2024, world primary aluminium production witnessed a boost, exceeding 6 million tonnes each month, which drove the growth of the total H1 output, offsetting the impact of intermittent declines. According to IAI, world primary aluminium production in H1 amounted to 35.838 million tonnes, 3.89 per cent ahead of the previous year’s output of 34.495 million tonnes. In June 2024, the world’s production stood at 5.94 million tonnes, down M-o-M by 3.19 per cent from 6.136 million tonnes but up Y-o-Y by 3.18 per cent from 5.757...
Key takeaways from the Sustainability in Packaging MENA summit
The inaugural Sustainability in Packaging MENA (the Middle East and North Africa) summit, gathering packaging industry leaders from across the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region in Dubai, was held in late May. Crown Holdings, whose Sandrine Duquerroy-Delesalle, director of sustainability & external affairs at Crown Bevcan EMEA, took part in one of the panels, provides an overview of sustainable packaging in MENA, with key takeaways from the event. Discussions centred on advancements in the region and the importance of aligning sustainability goals with growth opportunities. Duquerroy-Delesalle participated in a panel titled “Circular Economy – Global Players’ View of Consumer Shifts Towards Sustainable Consumption”. This panel focused on the circular economy, igniting...
US aluminium scrap exports in April maintain an annual growth trend amid a slight drop M-o-M
The United States aluminium scrap exports slightly dipped month-on-month but increased year-over-year, according to the US Census Bureau data. However, the monthly fall was not significant enough to disturb the annual growth trend of the United States aluminium scrap imports in the first four months of 2024. The United States aluminium scrap exports in April 2024 totalled 180,000 tonnes, down by 2,000 tonnes or 1.10 per cent from 182,000 tonnes in March and up by 13,000 tonnes or 7.22 per cent from 167,000 tonnes in April 2023. During January-April, the United States aluminium scrap exports amounted to 675,000 tonnes versus 662,000 tonnes during the corresponding period of the previous year, reflecting an increase of 1.96 per cent. The annual growth in the United States’ total aluminium...
Japanese aluminium buyers recently agreed to pay premium above $170/t for Q3 shipments
According to a Reuters update, some Japanese aluminium buyers have agreed to pay a 45 per cent higher shipment premium than previously agreed for the July-September quarter. In early July, some Japanese aluminium buyers agreed to pay only $118-119 per tonne of premium for the third quarter’s shipments . That was 36 to 37 per cent less than the premium of $185 to $190 per tonne offered by some global producers for Q3. However, in recent negotiations, Japanese buyers have raised their premium offers to $172 per tonne for the September quarter’s shipments, up 16 to 19 per cent from $145-148 per tonne paid in the April-June quarter but down from the initial offers of $175-190 per tonne made by global producers. The increase in Q3 shipment premiums could be attributed to tight supplies in Asia...
Brazilian primary aluminium industry climbs from 12th to 8th rank, regaining production and investment capacity
Brazil has reclaimed its position as a top ten player in the global aluminium industry, ramping up the production of primary aluminium and raw materials. Once, the country, which used to be the world's sixth largest aluminium producer, lost its momentum for an interim period and ranked 12th in 2022. However, in the subsequent year, Brazil's aluminium industry showed resurgence through advanced strategies and transformative initiatives in operations. Overview and analysis of primary aluminium production From the start of 2023, the Brazilian aluminium industry has been steadfast in raising domestic production with a strong focus on reducing reliance on imported products. The country successfully increased its primary aluminium production by 26 per cent to 1,021.7 thousand tonnes versus...
May 2024: Higher profitability due to price surge strengthens primary aluminium production in Europe
In May 2024, upstream aluminium production (primary metal and alumina) scaled up across Europe, driven by higher profitability for producers due to increased aluminium prices. Throughout May, the aluminium benchmark price on the London Metal Exchange rallied by 5.19 per cent, reaching US$2,677 per tonne from US$2,545 per tonne on April 30. Overview of primary aluminium production According to the International Aluminium Institute, primary aluminium production in both Western & Central Europe and Russia & Eastern Europe saw a significant month-on-month increase. While the production in Western & Central Europe saw a hike of 4.42 per cent to 236,000 tonnes, the output in Russia & Central Europe experienced an increase of 3.88 per cent to 348,000 tonnes. On an annual basis, Western & Central...
US primary aluminium production trends down 11% through April 2024, opening doors for increased overseas imports
According to the US Geological Survey, domestic primary aluminium production in the United States trended down in April 2024, recording a month-on-month drop of 3.51 per cent and a year-on-year decline of 12.7 per cent. Source: USGS The data from USGS indicates that the Y-o-Y drop in full-month output resulted from a dip in daily average production during April 2024, reaching 1,850 tonnes versus 2,100 tonnes in April 2023. However, on a month-on-month basis, the daily output in April mainly remained unchanged compared to 1,840 tonnes. The United States’ full-month primary aluminium production in April stood at 55,000 tonnes, compared to 57,000 tonnes in March 2024 and 63,000 tonnes in April 2023, reinforcing growing reliance on secondary aluminium sourced from scrap for producing end-user...
LME aluminium price plunges for the sixth day in a row, losing $71.5/t W-o-W; SHFE price declines by $21/t
On Monday, July 15, LME aluminum opened at US$2,479.50 per tonne, hit a high of US$2,489.50 per tonne, a low of US$2,458 per tonne, and closed at US$2,460 per tonne, down by 1.18 per cent. LME aluminium cash bid price and LME aluminium official settlement price further decreased, marking the sixth consecutive day of fall. While the former descended by US$17.50 per tonne to settle at US$2,403.50 per tonne, the latter shrank by US$18 per tonne to US$2,404 per tonne. On a week-on-week calculation, the LME aluminium benchmark price shed off a substantial amount of US$71.50 per tonne, and on a month-on-month basis, the price suffered a loss of about US$61.50 per tonne, according to the LME graph. The continuous loss in LME aluminium benchmark price is attributed to the growing rise of...
“GO2 provides solutions that can be used on high-temp metal with existing thermal transfer print technology”, Dan Schroer, Chief Operating Officer at GO2 Partners
Dan Schroer has worked in manufacturing, metals, and adjacent industries for over 30 years. His expertise ranges across the manufacturing value stream, from supply chain optimisation to packaging solutions to material identification innovations, using the latest technology to increase safety, eliminate mixed metal, and maximise efficiency from receiving materials to shipping final products. Today, Dan is the Chief Operating Officer at GO2 Partners, where he leads and supports special projects and delivers results for customers, including some of the world's largest companies. AL Circle: Can you briefly overview GO2 Partners and its core mission? Dan Schroer: GO2 Partners provides industrial solutions that focus on solving clients' pain points through better label, tag, and material ID...
Federation of Austrian Industries pushes for major reforms as Austria falls in global rankings
Austria continues to face significant challenges in maintaining its competitive edge on the global stage. In the latest IMD World Competitiveness Ranking, the country has fallen again and is now in 26th place. This decline is attributed to several factors, including high energy prices, escalating labour costs, a shortage of skilled workers, and excessive bureaucracy. The future government must address these issues with determination and strategic vision as the National Council elections for the XXVIII legislative period approach. The Federation of Austrian Industries has outlined eight key measures that are vital for restoring Austria's status and elevating it to one of the world's leading and most competitive industrial locations: Calls for tax reduction It is recommended that the...
“Inductotherm hopes to play a pivotal role in advancing aluminium casting technology in the coming years through continued investment in technology, product, and process improvements,” Ed Chmielecki, Sales Manager Light Metal Applications – Inductotherm Corp.
Ed has 21 years in the metal casting industry, primarily in non-ferrous metal. He has been with Inductotherm Corp. since September 2019 as Sales Manager for Light Metal Applications and District Manager covering the South-Central US. Before joining Inductotherm, Ed was a Regional Sales Manager for a Crucible Company, and prior to that was a Furnace Services Engineer covering North America, installing, and servicing Electric Resistance and Gas Fired Crucible furnaces. At Inductotherm, he now uses his years of experience to show customers the benefits of using induction melting to reduce their carbon footprint while producing cleaner molten aluminium more efficiently. AL Circle: Please briefly overview your foundry equipment and machinery, highlighting their key features. Ed Chmielecki:...
