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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Aluminium recycling: Promoting circular economy and environmental responsibility
The global heavy metal industry is undergoing a significant transformation. It is prioritising the use of recycled materials to eradicate carbon emissions and promote sustainable practices. In response to escalating environmental concerns and climate volatility, international heavy metal brands are intensifying their efforts to adopt eco-friendly operational frameworks. This shift hinges upon robust renewable energy initiatives and amplified green strategies. Recycling aluminium emerges as a pivotal solution, outstripping primary production methods by conserving up to 95% of the energy expended in smelting processes. Furthermore, aluminium's status as a 100% recyclable, circular metal facilitates retrieval without significant material loss , reinforcing its reputation as a 'green metal'...
From wheels to wings: Aluminium’s dual impact on automotive & the aerospace industry
Aluminium, with its lightweight yet durable properties, stands as a cornerstone in revolutionising transportation across the automotive and aerospace industries. In automotive, integrating aluminium components significantly reduces vehicle weight, enhancing fuel efficiency and reducing emissions. Furthermore, its malleability enables intricate designs, fostering vehicle aerodynamics and safety advancements. In aerospace, aluminium's strength-to-weight ratio makes it indispensable for constructing aircraft structures. This enables higher payloads and longer flights while maintaining structural integrity. Moreover, its corrosion resistance ensures longevity in harsh environments, which is crucial for aircraft longevity and safety. Aluminium – the ultimate choice of automakers Aluminum is a...
China Hongqiao Group achieves modest revenue growth of 1.5% with increased sales in aluminium and alumina
China Hongqiao Group Limited, one of the world's largest aluminium producers , released the audited consolidated annual results for the Company and its subsidiaries, covering the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023. According to Antaike's statistics, global primary aluminium output reached around 70.46 million tonnes during the year, a 2.2 per cent increase from the previous year. Global consumption also rose, reaching approximately 70.14 million tonnes, reflecting a 0.9 per cent increase. Turning to China, primary aluminium production during the same period amounted to about 41.66 million tonnes, showing a 3.3 per cent year-on-year increase and constituting roughly 59.1 per cent of the world's total production. Meanwhile, China's primary aluminium consumption stood at approximately...
March 2024 alumina production recovery worldwide fails to offset Q1 decline
In the first quarter of 2024, which concluded on March 31, global alumina production slowed down over a quarter, primarily attributed to a significant decline in China's alumina output. Even a month-on-month recovery in China's alumina production in March 2024 failed to mitigate the overall decline in global output for the quarter. Alongside China, the global alumina production also regained in March but could not appease the Q1 output. However, annually, the world alumina production in Q1 2024 recorded a hike of about 3.49 per cent from 33.879 million tonnes. According to the International Aluminium Institute, the global alumina production in March increased by 6.96 per cent month-on-month from 11.188 million tonnes to 11.967 million tonnes and grew year-on-year by 1.24 per cent from...
Guinea achieves record-high bauxite production and exports in 2023, marking third consecutive year of growth
According to Reuters report, Guinea's bauxite production and exports increased for the third consecutive year in 2023. The West African nation is one of the world's biggest producers of bauxite, having 40 billion tonnes of mining capacity in Boké, Fria, Gaoual, Télimélé, Pita-Labé, Mali, Kindia, Dabola, Tougué, Lelouma, Mamou, Dalaba, Koubia. Guinea has the highest mining potential of bauxite, followed by iron ore (25 billion tonnes), gold, and diamond (more than 10 billion tonnes). In 2023, Guinea produced about 123 million tonnes of bauxite, up over 19 per cent year-on-year. With this significant rise, whether or not Guinea's bauxite production exceeded that of Australia is not known. Guinea's exports jumped 24.5 per cent to 127 million tonnes, 4 million tonnes more than production....
Industrial profit slide in March raises questions about China's economic recovery pace
According to official data released on April 27, 2024, industrial profits in China fell short in March and showed reduced growth for the quarter compared to the preceding two months. This raises concerns about the robustness of the recovery in the world's second-largest economy. In the first quarter, China's industrial firms saw a 4.3 per cent increase in cumulative profits, reaching RMB 1.5 trillion ($207.0 billion), as per data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). This growth rate is slower compared to the 10.2 per cent rise observed in the initial two months of the year. In March, profits experienced a 3.5 per cent decline compared to the previous year. While the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) didn't provide a breakdown of monthly figures for January and February, they...
NALCO’s aluminium ingot price sees a cut of INR5200/t with effect from April 26
In tandem with the LME aluminium price drop from where it began this week, National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) has reduced its aluminium ingot and aluminium products prices, with effect from Friday, April 26. NALCO has cut its aluminium ingot and aluminium product prices by INR 5,200 per tonne from April 20. Thus, the company’s aluminium ingot price has derived at INR 252,150-255,650 per tonne as of April 26. Currently, NALCO’s aluminium wire rod and aluminium billet prices span a range of INR 261,150- 265,500 per tonne and INR 256,600-259,250 per tonne, respectively. Following a continuous growth from April 17 to April 22, reaching US$2,654 per tonne, the LME aluminium benchmark price trended down to stand at US$ 2,586.50 per tonne in the subsequent week. Hindalco and Vedanta’s...
Alumtek Minerals unveils technology to extract critical raw materials from bauxite residue
Alumtek Minerals (AM), an Australian-based company, has recently concluded extensive research and development focused on bauxite residue waste, also known as red mud. This endeavour has led to the creation of cutting-edge technology capable of extracting critical raw materials from this waste. AM has successfully developed a supplementary cementitious material (SCM) that meets the rigorous Australian Standard AS3582.4 through a collaborative effort with Cement Australia. This innovative material holds great promise in significantly reducing CO 2 emissions within the cement industry. Alumtek Minerals specialises in processing mining tailings, particularly bauxite residue . Leveraging proprietary technical methods, it is advancing commercialisation efforts to extract rare earth elements and...
A detailed analogy of the global primary aluminium sector amid geopolitical turbulence; Sustainable initiatives on the rise
From the tranquil fjords of Norway to the bustling markets of China, each region's aluminium giants have navigated through turbulent waters, propelled by innovation and strategic acumen. Let's find out how the industry giants are dealing with the sudden geopolitical changes resulting in global commodity trade disruptions. Also, in this article, we will revise all the noble initiatives taken by respective organisations to reduce operational emissions. Europe: Norsk Hydro's resolve amid fiscal headwinds In the heart of Scandinavia, Norsk Hydro stands as a beacon of stability amidst fiscal challenges. Despite a dip in Q1 2024 revenue, attributed to fluctuating aluminium prices and extrusion sales volumes, Hydro remains undeterred. Bolstered by increased EBITDA from renewable energy ventures...
Sluggish demand for European aluminium foil sparks double-digit fall in 2023 shipments
European aluminium foil demand experienced a slower trend through 2023 than in 2022, resulting in a double-digit fall in the year's final quarter, according to the figures just released by the European Aluminium Foil Association (EAFA). The entire 2023 reflected a unique circumstance of high stock levels and weak demand for aluminium as high prices and interest rates forced end-consumers to limit their metal purchase. It directly affected foil in packaging and household goods in particular. According to EAFA survey, sluggish demand for European foil led to a 14.6 per cent year-on-year decline in shipments from 973,000 tonnes in 2022 to 831,700 tonnes in 2023. Thinner gauges, primarily used for flexible packaging and household foils, were neither left untouched by the sluggish market and...
LME clamps down on traders profiting from Russian aluminium amid sanction compliance
On April 24, 2024, the London Metal Exchange (LME) took action to prevent traders from exploiting rule changes by prohibiting taking Russian aluminium from its approved warehouses and returning it for profit. Earlier this month, the US and Britain prohibited the London Metal Exchange (LME) from accepting new Russian production of aluminium , copper, and nickel. The move is intended to decelerate Moscow's financial situation concerning the Ukraine-Russia geopolitical crisis. The London Metal Exchange has implemented a prohibition on Russian aluminium , copper, and nickel generated after April 13 in adherence to sanctions imposed. LME regulations prior to April 13 distinguished between two types of Russian warrants, Type 1, and Type 2. This allowed for profitable "rent deals" by enabling...
World’s primary aluminium production in Q1 2024 maintains Y-o-Y momentum amid sequential drop
In the first quarter of 2024, the world’s primary aluminium production manifested an annual growth trajectory while it shied away from growing on a quarterly basis. The global primary aluminium output in Q1 2024 ended March 31 reflected a 4.11 per cent hike Y-o-Y but exhibited a 1.24 per cent drop Q-o-Q. But the monthly production in March, standing at 6.073 million tonnes, increased month-on-month as well as year-on-year by 7.15 per cent and 3.55 per cent, respectively. Global production in the first quarter of 2024 stood at 17.802 million tonnes, compared to 18.025 million tonnes in Q4 2023 and 17.099 million tonnes in Q1 2023. The world’s daily average production of primary aluminium in March 2024 was 195,900 tonnes, up by 500 tonnes from 194,400 tonnes a month ago and skyrocketed by...
Revving up or slowing down? Public response key as electric vehicle subsidies evolve
Government policies and subsidies have been instrumental in fostering the growth of the electric vehicle market. However, as these incentives are phased out and policies evolve, the public will increasingly shape the future market adoption trajectory. As electric vehicles (EVs) become increasingly common on roads, the number of charging points is also rising. This trend is expected to continue as nations strive to reduce emissions in alignment with net-zero goals and internationally agreed temperature targets. The United States recently introduced more stringent national pollution standards for passenger cars and light-medium vehicles. These standards mandate a 56 per cent reduction in tailpipe pollution and vehicle carbon emissions by 2032, based on 2026 levels. While this doesn't...
Tax relief for scrapped cars: Will Estonia's new law ease burden on owners?
Around 200,000 vehicles in the Estonian traffic register have destroyed, lost, or suspended registrations. Starting in 2025, owners of these vehicles may be required to pay motor vehicle tax. However, the Ministry of Climate has proposed a bill to exempt individuals who have vehicles with unknown whereabouts registered in their name, as well as those whose cars lack necessary documentation for scrappage, from paying this tax. Estonia is a country in Northern Europe that borders the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Finland. The World Bank designates Estonia as an advanced, high-income market economy noted for balanced government budgets, a flat income tax, low tariffs, and low public debt. In the future, scrap metal owners will have the opportunity to bring their undocumented, old, and unusable...
Global cabling solutions provider Prysmian strikes deal to acquire Encore Wire
On April 15, 2024, the multinational company with headquarters in Milan, specialising in producing electrical cable Prysmian, announced that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement under which it will acquire Encore Wire for $290.00 per share in cash. The Transaction represents a premium of approximately 20 per cent to the 30-day volume weighted average share price (VWAP) as of Friday, April 12, 2024, and approximately 29 per cent to the 90-day VWAP as of the same date. At the transaction terms, Encore Wire’s implied Enterprise Value is approximately €3.9 billion, representing a multiple of 8.2x EV/2023A EBITDA and 6.3x EV/2023A EBITDA, including run-rate synergies. Encore Wire is a premier manufacturer offering a wide array of copper and aluminium electrical wires and cables...
“Every restriction on the purchase of RUSAL's low-carbon products drives our industry towards higher prices, threatening jobs and punishing families struggling with the ever-increasing cost of living,” Chairman of the En+ Board of Directors
Christopher Bancroft Burnham, formerly the Company’s Senior Independent Director and former Undersecretary General of the United Nations, was appointed Chairman of the En+ Board of Directors in March 2022. Burnham is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Cambridge Global Capital, LLC, headquartered in Washington, D.C. He co-founded Cambridge after a distinguished government, diplomacy, banking, and private equity career. Burnham is a globally recognised expert in the implementation of accountability and transparency and the implementation of best practices in government, corporations, and inter-governmental organisations, having served as Under Secretary General for Management of the United Nations, Under Secretary of State for Management (acting), and Assistant Secretary of State...
“At Rio Tinto, we often say climate change is too big of a problem to go at it alone” Amy Abraham, Vice President Sales Aluminium
Amy Abraham is Vice President of Aluminium Sales at Rio Tinto. She is accountable for global sales and account management, book management, trading activities, and sales and operations planning for Rio Tinto’s aluminium business, which includes bauxite, alumina, and aluminium. Prior to joining Rio Tinto, Amy worked with World Fuel Services as the senior vice president of strategy and chief marketing officer. Reporting to the Chief Executive, Amy was accountable for leading and influencing global, enterprise-wide transformational change across a team of 1500+ market-facing sales and marketing professionals and delivering material, sustainable and profitable growth. She also had a long career at BP, where she worked in senior leadership roles across the US and UK, including Chief of Staff...
“REEL ALESA's good track record within the aluminium smelter industry for providing innovative solutions to implementing upgrades will be to the smelter's advantage,” Bruce Roger Wilson, DIRECTOR – Aluminium Division
Bruce is a successful engineering professional with over 25 years of experience in the primary aluminium industry—a graduate in mechanical engineering and business administration with certification in project management. I have strong business acumen that has developed while working for world-class companies. He has excellent leadership qualities with an ability to mentor and motivate individuals, creating high-performance teams. A strong track record in the successful execution of multi-disciplined projects with high standards in technical, contractual, and managerial roles in green-field and brown-field primary aluminium smelter projects. Bruce currently leads an energetic, innovative, and dynamic team as the Director of the Aluminium Division for REEL INTERNATIONAL. AL Circle: Can you...
