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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“We are witnessing a paradigm shift towards the concept of ‘Reduce, Reuse, Remanufacture and Recycle’ as a strategy for building a low energy, low carbon, and low environmental impact future”, Dr Subodh Das, CEO, Phinix LLC
AL Circle: Globally, we are witnessing an endeavour within the aluminium industry to focus on recycling. How much positive impact will it bring over the next few years? Dr Subodh Das: The Paris Agreement aimed to keep global warming below 2 degrees Celsius over the 21st century. It also recognized the need to reduce global emissions substantially to achieve the goals. Meanwhile, it was claimed that circular economy strategies could reduce emissions by 40% in 2050 in the production process of key materials. Hence, the growing focus on aluminium recycling is a part of the greater goals of the circular economy and reducing global warming. We are witnessing a paradigm shift towards the concept of “Reduce, Reuse, Remanufacture and Recycle” as a strategy for building a low energy, low carbon,...
“JNARDDC has formulated guidelines for Dry Stacking of red mud to reduce the disposal problem. Dry stacking is the most popular and the best practice till now, followed by alumina refineries worldwide," Dr Anupam Agnihotri, Director of JNARDDC
Dr Anupam Agnihotri, Director of Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development and Design Centre (JNARDDC), Nagpur, India, has willingly participated in our e-Magazine: 'Recycling - Reshaping the future of the Aluminium Value Chain' to share his knowledge on red mud recycling. He has spoken about the best recycling practices for red mud and the industry-trend applications of the by-product. He has also suggested the red mud disposal processes that would have lesser impacts on the environment. Dr Agnihotri is a Metallurgical Engineer from IIT Kanpur with PG Degree in Metallurgical Engineering from the Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology, Nagpur. Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development and Design Centre (JNARDDC) is a "Centre of Excellence" set up in 1989 to make...
“Sustainability has always lain at the brand's heart since its inception in Provence in the 1970s,” said Mona L’Hostis, Head of Global Travel Retail Marketing - L’OCCITANE Group
Mona commenced her career with L'OCCITANE Group in 2013 as International Marketing Fragrance Product Manager in Paris, followed by International Marketing Executive in Skincare. She then became the company's International Body Care Group Manager in Switzerland in 2016 and progressed to Head of Marketing Travel Retail EMEA & Americas. Since 2019 Mona has been Head of Global Travel Retail Marketing for L'OCCITANE Group. AL Circle: What inspired you to use recycled aluminium for packaging? Was sustainability there in L’OCCITANE since the beginning? Mona : L’OCCITANE en Provence has been an eco-pioneer since its inception in 1976, when it operated an in-store glass bottle return policy. The brand is committed to using eco-friendly manufacturing methods, eco-design, and sustainable packaging...
“Of the material fed into the plant, approximately 85% of the aluminium is recovered.” – Andrea Troy, Business Developer, Enval
My background in the plastic recycling industry started with 2 years of experience working at Viridor Polymers serving as the Commercial Manager in the Polymers team, overseeing all accounts and contracts for rigid plastic recycling through mechanical processes, specializing in PE, PP, and PET. In January 2022, I joined Enval as the Head of Commercial and Business Development, leading. I lead the business development efforts of Enval's innovative recycling technology, with a specific focus on increasing the recycling of flexible plastics and laminates. I am passionate about driving positive change, and actively seek collaboration opportunities and invite others to connect with me to explore synergies or gain insights into my experiences in the plastic recycling field. AL Circle: How much...
“Aluminium recycling saves a significant amount of energy compared to producing new aluminium, which directly translates into a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions”, David Van Heuverswyn, Director Every Can Counts Europe
Born in Belgium in 1975, David joined European Aluminium in March 2008, initially working on issues related to Public Affairs, Communications & Packaging. In 2015 he became Coordinator of the Packaging Group, and in 2019 he was appointed Manager of Packaging Group and Director of Every Can Counts, Europe. Since then, the Every Can Counts programme started growing outside Europe with the inclusion of Brazil in 2019 and recent pilot projects in the United Arab Emirates and the USA. Today the programme is active in 20+ countries worldwide. Over the years, David accumulated extensive experience and knowledge in the aluminium and can-making industries while developing professional communication, marketing, recycling, sustainability and management skills. AL Circle: How is Every Can Counts...
“The ambitious staffs of Ad Rem is putting in all possible effort to maintain Ad Rem’s position as a front-runner in the industry”, Jelle Saint-Germain, Sales Engineer, AD REM
In 2013, Jelle Saint-Germain earned his degree in chemical engineering from the University of Ghent and immediately embarked on his career as a project engineer at Valvan. Shortly after completing his studies, he embarked on a professional journey as a project engineer at Valvan, the leading company within the Valtech Group. Valvan specializes in designing and manufacturing baling presses and textile sorting machines. After accumulating three years of technical experience, he was offered a transfer to Ad Rem, a subsidiary of the Valtech Group, where he began his role as a sales engineer in 2016. As part of his responsibilities, he had the opportunity to travel to Sweden for an 8-week period. During this time, he played a vital role in the launch of Europe's largest flotation plant,...
“Alcore has developed a process to recover hydrogen fluoride from aluminium smelter bath, which is combined with aluminium hydroxide to produce aluminium fluoride”, Dr Mark Cooksey, CEO, ABx Group
In early 2020, Dr Mark Cooksey assumed the CEO role at ABx Group, leveraging his expertise and leadership. Prior to this, he held significant positions in process improvement and development at esteemed organizations like Rio Tinto, GE, and Australia's national science agency, CSIRO. Over his 25-year career, Dr Cooksey has remained dedicated to driving process innovation, showcasing his adeptness in advancing and bringing novel processes within the minerals sector to market. Notably, he has played a pivotal role in revolutionizing the aluminium value chain. AL Circle: Can you provide an overview of ABx Group's subsidiary Alcore and its areas of expertise? Dr Mark Cooksey: Alcore has developed a new process for producing aluminium fluoride. Its core expertise is chemical engineering,...
“We expect aluminium extrusion to continue to be a critical element in high-rise buildings – whether office or residential – and a major factor in other building segments, such as mid-rise and institutional buildings”, Guy Charpentier, Division Marketing Director, Bonnell Aluminum & Lynn Brown, Market Development Consultant, AEC
AL Circle: How do you envision the future of aluminium in the construction sector? What trends or developments do you expect to see in the coming years? AEC: Despite rapid growth in transport applications, construction remains the largest end-use sector in North America (the U.S. and Canada), representing around 35% of total consumption. We expect aluminium extrusion to continue to be a critical element in high-rise buildings – whether office or residential – and a major factor in other building segments, such as mid-rise and institutional buildings. Extrusions’ role in these structures will be driven by efforts to reduce the carbon intensity of buildings, ongoing improvements in building energy and resource efficiency, and increased focus on occupant health and well-being. Reducing...
“Aludecor is the first and only brand in the industry to have collaborated with an Institute like IIT to manufacture the best FR-grade ACPs in the country”, Ashok Kr Bhaiya, owner and CMD of Aludecor Lamination Pvt Ltd
Ashok Kr Bhaiya, owner and CMD of Aludecor Lamination Pvt Ltd, has an inspiring story of re-introducing ACP in India and reaching the pinnacle. In 1999, while managing the import-export business, this promising material caught his eye. The millennium was changing then, and so was the lifestyle. He travelled to various parts of the US, Europe & Asian Nations to learn about the production technology and other nitty-gritty used in ACPs. In 2002, he re-introduced this high-potential product in India with state-of-the-art ACP manufacturing facilities, advanced equipment & futuristic technology, along with a coil coating line in Haridwar under the brand name of Aludecor. AL Circle: How do you foresee the demand for aluminium composite panels for building facades and interiors in India this...
“The construction sector is respectful and committed to the environment and environmental values while serving as the engine and the objective of all the cities in the world”, Luca Lorini, Head of Sales, ALTEX
In 2000, Luca Lorini embarked on his career in the aluminium extrusion machinery manufacturing industry. He began working for an Italian company and was involved in various aspects of the business, starting from the factory and eventually progressing to overseeing installations at customers' sites. This role allowed him to travel extensively and experience life in numerous countries across the globe. After gaining valuable expertise in the service department, Luca transitioned to the sales department in 2010. He began a journey to establish his own sales business, opening sales offices across various countries and forging robust international alliances in 2010. His efforts led to the creation of strong global relationships and cooperative ventures. Later, in 2014, he took a significant...
“India’s construction sector is expected to be the third largest in the world after China and the US, with an expected overall value of USD 1.4 trillion by 2025,” Rahul Sharma, CEO, Vedanta Limited – Aluminium Business
Rahul Sharma is the Chief Executive Officer of Vedanta's Aluminium Business. Prior to this, he was the Chief Executive Officer of Vedanta's Alumina Business and also held the position of Director of Corporate Strategy for Vedanta's Aluminium and Power Business. He joined Vedanta in 1998 and has held various leadership positions at Vedanta Limited and Sterlite Technologies Limited. Before joining Vedanta, he was Chief Marketing Officer (Domestic and International) and Business Head of System Integration Business at Sterlite Technologies Limited. He is one of the principal figures of India's Metal & Mining industry and has been playing a significant role in driving various policies and creating a strategic framework for numerous government reforms for the sustainable development of...
“Architects have shown great creativity in using aluminium for thousands of iconic designs around the globe”, Khaled Abdelmoneim, CEO, ALUPCO
Khaled Abdelmoneim was appointed the CEO of ALUPCO in 2009. With a robust 32 years of experience, he has held various positions across multiple industries in engineering, project management, sales, and general management. Khaled left his mark in esteemed multinational organizations like Procter & Gamble and PepsiCo International before holding his position at ALUPCO. As CEO of ALUPCO, Khaled has diversified and expanded the company’s practices across the value chain with a global reach and sustainability top of mind. AL Circle: How do you envision the future of aluminium in the construction sector? What trends or developments do you expect in the coming years? Khaled Abdelmoneim: Like all other industries, the construction industry is heavily influenced by the rapid growth of...
“After the Covid period, Europe's building & construction industry has grown well, thanks to the Government's incentive offerings, particularly in Italy,” Alberto Pomari, Development Director of FACE
We have with us Mr Alberto Pomari, Development Director of FACE – The Federation of Aluminium Consumers in Europe. The Brussels-based Federation of Aluminium Consumers in Europe (FACE) is the voice of Europe’s aluminium users and consumers, having members from many of the top aluminium downstream stakeholders. The Federation was founded in May 1999 by independent European aluminium transformers, aiming to promote the continent’s downstream aluminium sector and establish the versatility of the metal by showcasing its economic, social and environmental virtues. In 2018, FACE’s members used 780,000 tonnes of aluminium. Let us know from Mr Pomari the current demand and consumption of aluminium in European buildings and construction and what role FACE is playing to drive the growth. AL Circle...
“We have a new product which we will launch later this year. It’s a camera system which runs underneath the casting table,” Ola Furu & August Riise from Hycast AS
AL Circle was delighted to welcome a delegation from Hycast AS last month and discuss how Hydro’s technology partner is taking aluminium casting to the next level globally. Ola Furu, Head of Project and Sales of Hycast AS, and August Riise, Senior Project Manager of Hycast, were in conversation with our Director of Operations, Soumyadip Chakraborty, which turned out to a deep insight into the market of aluminium casting. Mr Furu & Riise discussed the products and services and how Hycast incorporates sustainability into the technologies it provides. They also revealed the new technology they would be launching this year. To know about it all, continue reading the interview: AL Circle: Please brief us about Hycast and the kinds of products it offers to the aluminium value chain. Ola Furu :...
“We are currently in a transformative growth phase, setting the stage for a disruptive revolution across our assets, employees, and operational integration,” Rahul Sharma, CEO, Vedanta Ltd – Aluminium Business
We are honoured to have a one-on-one interview with Mr Rahul Sharma, CEO of Vedanta Limited – Aluminium Business, wherein he explained the features and functionalities of the newly installed IIoT devices at their 2400 MW Thermal Power Plant. He has also described how the devices can curb carbon emissions, improving air quality. He has also discussed Vedanta’s green brands Restora & Restora Ultra while revealing their long-term net-zero emission goals. To know about it all, read the interview below: AL Circle: Congratulations on installing Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) devices at your thermal power plant. Please enlighten us on the functionalities of devices towards resisting carbon emissions. Rahul Sharma : Being among the world’s top players and India’s largest aluminium producer,...
“Our goals towards sustainability are to see more companies embrace infinitely recyclable aluminium as their packaging material of choice”, Tom Giddings, Executive Director, Alupro
Tom Giddings is Executive Director of the Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation (Alupro), the industry-funded, not-for-profit organisation with over 30 years of experience representing the UK’s aluminium packaging industry. Working to fulfil the industry’s objectives to meet, and exceed, recycling targets for aluminium packaging, Alupro has a long history of engaging and encouraging businesses and consumers to recycle their aluminium packaging through engagement campaigns such as Every Can Counts and Metal Matters. Tom oversees Alupro’s work to achieve these aims, joining the company in 2020 as Sustainability and Public Affairs Manager to support Alupro’s members in highlighting and promoting the sustainability and circular economy credentials of aluminium packaging. Prior to this,...
“Icelandic aluminium production is nearly 900,000 tonnes, the second biggest in Europe after Norway”, Petur Blondal, Managing Director, Icelandic Association of Aluminium Producers (Samal)
Petur Blondal is the Managing Director of the Icelandic Association of Aluminium Producers. He is one of the founders and board members of the Icelandic Aluminium Cluster. Petur is a former journalist and editor at Morgunbladid, Iceland’s biggest daily. He was the Head of PR and investor relations at Islandsbanki and was the founder and Head of a PR division at Gott folk McCann-Erickson. In addition to his BA in philosophy from the University of Iceland, Petur holds an MBA from the University of Reykjavik. AlCircle: Could you share the journey of the Icelandic Association of Aluminum Producers, Samál, from its inception? What was the primary intent behind the formation of this association? Petur Blondal: Samal, as the Icelandic Association of Aluminium Producers is called, was founded in...
“The demand for high-quality, recycled aluminium scrap, beginning sometime in 2024 or 2025, will be greater than the supply,” Peter Nagusky, President and CEO of the Federal Metal Company
Peter Nagusky is the President and CEO of The Federal Metal Company, an industry leader in cast copper-based alloys since 1913. Federal Metal has melting facilities in northeast Ohio and eastern Pennsylvania, and recently opened a new processing operation in central Arkansas that specializes in recycling aluminum copper radiators. To complement the core business established by his great grandfather, Peter is making major new investments to supply rolling mills with high purity aluminum and copper products. Let’s hear from Peter about the demand and supply growth of aluminium scrap and how improved sorting technologies can lead to a better recycling output. AlCircle: Recycled aluminium content in end-use products is rapidly replacing the primary metal. Is this resulting in immense...
