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
China Hongqiao's Shandong arm, leading the charge towards green aluminium production
The world's largest aluminium producer, China Hongqiao Group's subsidiary Shandong Hongqiao, has forged ahead with a strong dedication to innovation and industrial progress, solidifying its presence as a leading force in the aluminium production and deep processing sectors. The company prioritises innovation and environmental sustainability through its integrated industrial chain, cementing its pivotal role in driving contemporary industrial standards forward. Shandong Hongqiao places great importance on green development, focusing on technological advancements and promoting energy efficiency and resource recycling across its operations. Prioritising environmental sustainability, the company strives to establish a low-carbon production system to minimise its environmental footprint....
Iran’s aluminium ingot output sees modest 1% Y-o-Y growth in FY2024 amid escalating energy restrictions
According to data revealed by the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO), Iran’s aluminium ingot production grew by 2,834 tonnes, or 1 per cent, on an annual basis over the financial year ended March 19, 2024 (Iran’s calendar year 1402). As per the data, Iran produced 635,000 tonnes of aluminium ingot in FY2024 compared to 632,166 tonnes in FY2023. In the preceding year, Iran’s aluminium ingot production recorded an increase of 17.36 per cent Y-o-Y. In the past eleven months, Iran’s major aluminium producers, including South Aluminum Corporation (SALCO), Iranian Aluminum Company (IRALCO), Almahdi Aluminum Company, and Iran Alumina Company, collectively produced 582,200 tonnes of aluminium ingot. Hence, it can be calculated that these four...
“As far as I know, more and more Chinese aluminium smelters are transferring to Indonesia,” Kathy Yuan, Head of Overseas Marketing Department at HWAPENG
Kathy Yuan heads the Overseas Marketing Department at Hwapeng, a prominent manufacturer specialising in specialised equipment for carbon plants. The organisation's product range encompasses anodes, cathodes, graphite electrodes, graphite specialities, carbon electrode paste, ramming paste, crucibles, carbon blocks, and other related carbon or graphite products. AL Circle: Could you briefly overview HWAPENG and its journey in the carbon production machinery industry since its establishment in 1994? What sets HWAPENG apart from other manufacturers in the field of Carbon Paste Preparing & Forming Machines? Kathy Yuan: When it was founded in 1994, Hwapeng's former name was Hwafeng. At that time, it specialised in petroleum equipment for SINOPEC. Along with the economic development in China,...
“EGA has strength from mine to metal and a strong balance sheet to pursue growth,” Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, CEO at Emirates Global Aluminium
Upon his appointment as Chief Executive Officer in 2020, Mr Bin Kalban has served as an Alternate Board Member since May 2017. He also sits on the Board of Guinea Alumina Corporation (GAC), EGA's bauxite mining subsidiary. As CEO, Mr Bin Kalban is responsible for managing EGA's ongoing operations and business and reports to the Managing Director. Mr Bin Kalban joined DUBAL in 1996 and worked in both Major Projects and the Power and Desalination Department. (DUBAL merged with EMAL to form EGA in 2014). In 2014, Mr Kalban left his position as General Manager of Power and Desalination at EGA to become CEO of Dubal Holding LLC, EGA's 50 per cent shareholder. Mr Bin Kalban is a Board Member of the International Aluminium Institute, the Gulf Aluminium Council, and the Emirates Research and...
“I believe electric vehicles will drive the aluminium market. The other important point is about the recycling of aluminium. Aluminium recycling will increase in 2024 and continue to grow in the following years,” Dr.Emrah Fahri Ozdogru, Co-owner and General Manager of TRI Metalurji A.Ş
Dr. Emrah Fahri Ozdogru is Co-owner and General Manager of TRI METALURJI. He is a metallurgist with a PhD degree. He has 25 years of experience in the aluminium industry as a researcher, engineer, and manager at casthouses, extrusion factories, and rolling companies. He established TRI Metalurji A.Ş in 2016, and now has seven engineers and one technician working for the firm. He is also co-owner of LIME Billet Cast house with 8 team members. TRI is an engineering company and works based on the project with the following frames: training, technical consultancy, alloy development, material characterisation lab-scale and pilot-scale aluminium casting. TRI is working with 5%0 domestic market needs and 50% with the other countries, mainly from Europe. AL Circle: Can you provide an overview of...
Norway charges ahead, BEVs set to surpass petrol cars in historic milestone
Norway is poised to achieve a historic milestone as the number of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) on its roads is projected to surpass petrol cars by the end of 2024 or early 2025, marking a significant achievement for any nation, as per Reuters analysts. Generous incentives, partly fuelled by Norway's significant oil and gas wealth, have propelled this shift. However, analysts anticipate that it will be a few more years before Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) outnumber diesel vehicles in Norway. Norway, a contemporary nation abundant in energy resources, boasts a population of 5.5 million. It is one of the world's most prosperous countries, boasting a GDP per capita of USD 106,148. With income distribution relatively fair, everyone contributes to the consumer base. Forecasts suggest...
"Rolled aluminium remains a highly dynamic material with potential for expansion across various markets," Peter De Bruyne, Global Business Director, Non-Ferrous at Quaker Houghton.
Peter De Bruyne, Global Business Director, Non-Ferrous at Quaker Houghton, has a wealth of knowledge and expertise from his career spanning three decades in the aluminium industry. Having started as a laboratory manager in a rolling mill, he applied this hands-on experience as a technical support manager before transitioning to commercial roles. Today, Peter helps shape the future of aluminium hot rolling, determining the strategic direction of Quaker Houghton, a global leader in industrial process fluids. AL Circle: As a Global Business Director for one of the world's largest industrial process fluid companies, how do you perceive the current global landscape for aluminium rolling? Peter De Bruyne: Rolled aluminium remains a highly dynamic material with potential for expansion across...
US imports of crude metals and alloys from GCC is 6% of its primary aluminium production; IAI data suggests market stability
According to data presented by the International Aluminium Institute (IAI), the total aluminium production in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for February 2024 decreased by 37,000 tonnes, or 6.95 per cent month over month, from 532,000 tonnes recorded in January 2024. This can be mainly attributed to the lesser number of days in February. However, if we consider December 2023, when the production was 530,000 tonnes, we can see a Month-on-Month spike of 2,000 tonnes or 0.38 per cent, suggesting profound stability in the market. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) records also suggest an uptick in US imports for consumption from the GCC. In December 2023, Bahrain exported 3,080 tonnes of crude metals and alloys to the US; Qatar contributed almost 6,890 tonnes, and the United Arab...
“Otto Junker outperforms other companies in the field of furnaces for aluminium by two significant technologies: High-convection heating technology and induction heating technology,” Klaus Schmitz, Dipl.-Ing, Vice President Sales, Thermoprocessing Plants for Aluminium- and Copper at Otto Junker
Klaus Schmitz started working with Otto Junker in 1996 as a Project engineer for the Thermoprocessing of Plants. Subsequently, he was promoted to Project Manager, Leader of Product Group, and Division Manager of Thermoprocessing plants for Copper alloys. Since 2017, he is serving the German company as Vice President Sales, Thermoprocessing Plants for Aluminium and Copper. Born in 1968, Klaus Schmitz completed his master's degree in mechanical engineering from RWTH Aachen University. AL Circle: Can you briefly overview Otto Junker's history and contributions to heat treatment in the aluminium industry? Mr Klaus Schmitz, Dipl.-Ing: Mr Otto Junker founded our company exactly 100 years ago, in 1924. The foundation was mainly based on a patented casting mould for brass, which was invented by...
Vedanta continues to increase its aluminium selling prices since the beginning of April; prices mark a 6% surge
Anil Agarwal-led Vedanta Limited, an Indian multinational mining company headquartered in Mumbai, published a fresh list of its aluminium selling prices, including aluminium billet and wire rod. Compared to the prices of the previous week, April 5, Vedanta’s aluminium prices rose by INR 1,750 per tonne or 0.7 percent on April 9, in line with the LME aluminium price change. Like other Indian aluminium giants, Vedanta Limited links its aluminium prices to the global benchmark price of aluminium on the London Metal Exchange. On April 9, Vedanta’s aluminium ingot price ranged between INR 234,000-254,000 per tonne versus INR 232,250-252,250 per tonne on April 5. Vedanta’s billet price came in at INR 244,500 per tonne on the same day compared to INR 242,750 per tonne last week. The latest...
“The aluminium industry, and indeed the global economy, has had a turbulent few years, which have continued to this present day”, Michael Rockstroh, Managing Director at RiA Cast House Engineering GmbH and Fioscope GmbH
Michael Rockstroh is a seasoned professional with a diverse skill set spanning project management, equipment design, engineering services, and business development. Specialising in cast house machinery for the aluminium industry, Michael excels in designing and implementing innovative solutions, particularly in furnace charging and skimming machines. His expertise extends to cast house processes and furnace operations, and he is proficient in furnace design, manufacturing, and installation/commissioning. With a proven track record of success, Michael brings knowledge and experience to every project he undertakes. AL Circle: Before we discuss RiA in more detail, how do you envision the global aluminium industry in 2024? Could you offer insights into its long-term outlook beyond 2024?...
North America’s alumina production dampens 14.2% Y-o-Y in Feb’24 while South America witnesses 4.17% growth
According to the International Aluminium Institute, alumina production in North and South America dropped considerably in February 2024. On a Month-on-Month scale, the alumina production in North America has dwindled by 15.5 per cent or 31,000 tonnes from 200,000 tonnes in January 2024 to 169,000 tonnes in February. Similarly, in South America, there has been a Month-on-Month fall of 40,000 tonnes or 3.94 per cent, from 1.015 million tonnes registered in January this year to 975,000 tonnes in February. Year-on-Year comparison If we consider the alumina production rate during February 2023, we can witness a Year-on-Year slump of 14.2 per cent or 28,000 tonnes in North America from 197,000 tonnes. But on the other hand, in South America there can be seen a Year-on-Year influx of 39,000...
“Driving forward grain refinement with efficiency at the heart,” John Courtenay, chairman of MQP
Studying metallurgy at the University of Aston, BSc (Hons), John started at Foseco International, working his way through ONC, HNC and LIM, before being seconded to Foseco Canada for three years to work on an exciting new product for steel continuous casting plants, going onto hold a number of international marketing and technical positions before joining Foseco Japan as general manager of their steel mills division, returning to Foseco International in 1983. In 1986, he switched from steel to aluminium, starting a long association with aluminium casthouse technology as Director of Technology and Marketing of Foseco Aluminium. After selling this business to Pyrotek, he used his experience to form MQP Limited, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2020. AL Circle: How do you foresee the...
US aluminium scrap exports in Jan’24 show a slight recovery M-o-M but strike an annual downtrend of 3%
According to the US Census Bureau survey, the United States aluminium scrap exports initiated the year 2024 with an annual decline of 5,000 tonnes or 3.13 per cent, reaching 155,000 tonnes. In January 2023, the United States aluminium scrap exports amounted to 160,000 tonnes. The year-on-year drop in aluminium scrap exports could be attributed to the lower volume of scrap recovery. In January 2024, the United States recovered 275,000 tonnes of aluminium scrap – 3,000 tonnes less than 278,000 tonnes in January 2023. However, the scrap recovery increased month-on-month in January 2024 by 13,000 tonnes or 4.96 per cent from 262,000 tonnes. Thus, the exports also rose, albeit at a lower rate than scrap recovery growth, from 152,000 tonnes. The United States aluminium scrap exports rose...
Bauxite Titans of 2023: Unveiling the top bauxite producing countries
In 2023, the global bauxite industry experienced substantial changes, marked by shifts in production, trade dynamics, and pricing patterns. Australia, Guinea, and China emerged as key players shaping the worldwide bauxite market landscape. In 2023, global bauxite production was estimated to show a positive growth rate of 5.26 per cent, a significant rebound from the (-) 1.04 per cent decline witnessed in 2022 compared to the previous year. As per AL Circle’s “Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2024” report , the estimated total global bauxite production for 2023 is expected to cross 400 million tonnes. This increase is mainly attributed to the heightened production levels in key bauxite-producing countries such as Australia, Guinea, and others. Australia is anticipated to hold its position...
“There will be no green transition without aluminium and aluminium solutions. But for this development to be sustainable, we need to produce with as low a carbon footprint as possible,” Paul Warton, EVP Hydro Extrusions.
Paul Warton (born in 1961, a British citizen) is Executive Vice President and Head of Hydro Extrusions, a position he has held since 2021. Prior to that, Warton was President of Extrusions & Automotive Structures, Constellium (2010-2020). He has 30 years of experience in the global aluminium and extrusion industry, with leadership positions at Sapa, Alcoa, and Luxfer Group, as well as 10 years of experience in production and commercial management at Federal-Mogul and GKN. Paul Warton is a member (Treasurer) of the Executive Committee of European Aluminium. Warton has an MBA from London Business School and a BSc degree in Production Engineering from the University of Birmingham. AL Circle: Please provide your valuable insights into the current trends shaping the global aluminium extrusion...
“The aluminium industry in 2024 is expected to be shaped by decarbonisation efforts, with China and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region being significant players in the global market”, Dr Matthias Irle, Executive Vice President - Business Unit Metals at EMG Automation GmbH.
Dr Matthias Irle is a highly accomplished Electrical Engineer specialising in Automation Engineering. He holds a Dipl. Ing. Elektrotechnik from Universität-Gesamthochschule Siegen, Germany, and a Doctorate in Engineering. With over two decades at EMG Automation GmbH, he has held key positions including Head of Quality Assurance Systems and Technical Director. Since January 2021, he has served as Executive Vice President, leading the Business Unit Metals, showcasing his dedication, expertise, and leadership in the field. ALCircle: How do you envision the global aluminium industry in 2024? Which manufacturing industry will be the key demand driver for aluminium? Dr Matthias Irle: In general, the aluminium industry in 2024 is expected to be shaped by decarbonisation efforts, with China and...
“Aluminium is a critical material for the transition to a green economy,” Ulf Nahrath, Vice President of Energy Transition & Infrastructure at Shell UK
Ulf Nahrath assumed his position at Shell UK in 2022, spearheading the company's dynamic energy transition initiative. His responsibilities encompass integrating low-carbon assets into the energy landscape, including wind and solar power generation, hydrogen technology, and carbon capture and storage solutions. Ulf's leadership extends to advancing sustainable aviation fuel initiatives and facilitating the expansion of electric vehicle charging infrastructure. AL Circle: Future decarbonisation solutions for high-energy users like aluminium production and manufacturing have been a major topic of discussion over the past few years. How have technologies evolved during this time? Ulf Nahrath: As companies face increasing pressure to demonstrate their progress towards reaching net-zero goals,...
