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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“Australia’s alumina refineries are currently undertaking a range of decarbonisation studies in conjunction with Government agencies,” Marghanita Johnson, CEO of the Australian Aluminium Council
Marghanita Johnson has been the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Aluminium Council since 2019. She has over 25 years of experience in the Australian mining and manufacturing sectors, predominantly within the aluminium industry. Earlier, she led government engagement and advocacy on behalf of Rio Tinto’s Pacific Aluminium assets and also held key climate and sustainability roles at Rio Tinto. We are glad to have a conversation with her and get an insight into the sustainability leads taken by the Australian Aluminium Council. AlCircle: In response to the exponentially growing efforts towards building a sustainable aluminium value chain, what guidelines would you like to introduce for the Australian bauxite miners to reduce mining impacts on the environment, society and economy as...
“Aluminium is a critical enabler of sustainable economic development,” Miles Prosser, Secretary General at IAI
Miles Prosser heads the International Aluminium Institute and is the key spokesperson. In addition to overall co-ordination of the IAI work program and governance issues, he also manages the work programme of the Communications & Promotions Committee. Let us hear from him on green initiatives in the global aluminium industry to achieve a sustainable future. AlCircle: What parameters drive the sustainability initiatives of the IAI and your member companies? Miles Prosser : The IAI has always existed to promote solutions to sustainability issues. Decarbonisation is the most important issue, but we must also focus on other ESG issues. Many aluminium producers are already pioneering technological solutions that reduce their environmental footprint without compromising product quality....
Top 8 smartphone manufacturers using aluminium in 2022
There is much to the mere word 'Aluminium'. From pins to smartphones, aluminium or the Metal of the Future can be found in countless products which are highly beneficial to mankind and in everyday use. Because of its low weight and anti-corrosive qualities, it is increasingly replacing iron and steel in today's advanced vehicles, contemporary structures, satellites, etc. Several phone manufacturers are making an effort to create compact and robust phones for the constantly expanding market of steroid-enhanced hardware capabilities. The weight and sturdiness of the frames become even more crucial as phone makers pack more RAM and precise cameras into today's smartphones. And to keep the smartphone lightweight along with the upgraded specifications, aluminium is considered one of the most...
“Rio Tinto is extremely proud of its ability to produce some of the highest quality, lowest-carbon footprint aluminium,” Paramita Das, Head of Metals and Minerals, Marketing and ESG at Rio Tinto
Paramita Das is a global executive with extensive experience in the commodities segment (metal, oil and gas). She leads marketing for metals and minerals globally and the establishment of a more ESG-centric approach in the Atlantic region. Prior to her work in the marketing and development space, Paramita was the Chief of Staff to the CEO of Rio Tinto and Chief Transformation Officer for the Atlantic Operations for the company's aluminium segment. Paramita joined Rio Tinto in 2015, before which, she worked with companies including Sumitomo/UACJ/TAA and BP. She is a passionate advocate for ESG and inclusion. Here is an excerpt from an interview with her on green initiatives undertaken by Rio Tinto. AlCircle: What is Rio Tinto doing to reduce its carbon footprint? Paramita Das:...
“The main goal of the GreenAlum project is the development of innovative technologies in the aluminium industry and machine tool building,” Sergey Kidakov, Founder, GreenAlum
Sergey Kidakov holds a degree in engineering specializing in railways and automobiles. Additionally, he has a higher education degree in Information Technology (IT) in communication and telecommunications. His experience includes supporting and developing IT startups, and he has been solving problems in the aluminium industry through the GreenAlum project for the last eight years. AlCircle: Please share with us more about the work GreenAlum does. How is GreenAlum supporting the aluminium industry's transition to sustainability? Mr Sergey Kidakov : The GreenAlum project has existed since 2014. The main goal of the project is the development of innovative technologies in the aluminium industry and machine tool building. Over the past three years, energy-efficient and environmentally...
“We see the demand for aluminium products with a high recycling share across most of our markets, particularly in the automotive industry, the beverage cans sector, as well as the building & construction”, Moritz Hansen, Head of Communication & Marketing, Speira
An aspiring person, Moritz Hansen is in charge of communication and marketing at Speira, one of the most exciting companies within the aluminium industry. Since 2016, he has made his way in the aluminium sector. Hansen earned an Exec MBA from Amsterdam Business School as well as a Master of Arts in Political Communication. He also serves on Speira's Executive Management Team, responsible for Marketing, Communication, and Sustainability. AlCircle: What measures have you initiated or already undertaken to declare Speira net zero by 2045? Don't you think this commitment is too ambitious? Moritz Hansen: We are building our net zero roadmaps on four key pillars. We will constantly reduce our direct emissions (Scope 1) and indirect emissions (Scope 2) through electrification and alternative...
“Ball offers AI-based solutions to customers, like QR codes which can facilitate various interactions between brands and their customers and which we can print on cans”, Amit Lahoti, Senior Commercial Director & General Manager – Asia, Ball Beverage Packaging.
AlCircle: “Ball is bringing innovations in sustainable packaging that will help people live more sustainably and improve the health of the planet,” - following the information on your website, may we please ask what are initiatives taken by ball under its sustainability mission? Amit Lahoti: Ball is a leading manufacturer of aluminium beverage cans, the world's most recycled drinks package. We have a responsibility to our stakeholders and the planet to improve our business's environmental performance, social impact and economic returns and to take a leading role in driving industry-wide solutions to the climate crisis. Ball has been engaged in sustainability initiatives for many years. Our sustainability vision comprises Product Stewardship and Social Impact. For Product Stewardship, we...
“Our equipment has state-of-the-art technology, from high-efficiency melting systems to energy recuperators that we sometimes use to heat and clean scrap.” Julio Quintero, Business Development Manager at HORMESA, Hornos y Metales S.A.
AlCircle: Please share your innovations and trendsetting case studies on nonferrous foundry equipment, especially aluminium. Julio Quintero : Our studies on the current economy and trends in the aluminium industry are directly focused on three aspects. Increased aluminium recovery efficiencies reaching up to 98% melting efficiency with our current technologies Management and treatment of scrap. We believe that good practices are the basis of good efficiency. Energy recovery systems to make processes and companies more efficient. Our goal is to put our customer forefront of the future economy AlCircle: What is the reason you think your turnkey projects are highly specialized? In your opinion, what was their USP? Julio Quintero: Our approach to the market and our customers is totally...
“In sustainability solution digital transformation helps to predict potential environmental consequences by analyzing more and more data through ML and AI tools”, Annanya Agarwal, Co-Founder & CEO of Runaya
Annanya leads the sustainability practice, where he aims to create technologically advanced and sustainable solutions for the resources and material sciences sector. Annanya understands the need to make collective efforts toward the earth with an eye for sustainability and overall societal growth. Under his leadership at Runaya Refining, the company has achieved various milestones in less than five years of its operations. During this time, he has been extensively involved in the project of Restora and has also been undertaking many Greenfield projects. Annanya strongly believes that with Runaya, he can solve the biggest resource sector issue and build a greener tomorrow. Annanya comes with a rich global experience across varied fields in renowned companies, including Boston Consulting...
“Industries like alumina are challenging to decarbonize because alumina refineries require huge quantities of heat 24/7, often at high temperatures.” Jeremy Keller, SVP of Business Development at Rondo Energy
Jeremy brings to Rondo Energy a high level of expertise in taking energy projects from ideation through deployment, including evaluation of facility energy data, financial modelling and technical scope development. Before joining Rondo, Jeremy spent ten years with the leading renewable energy and energy efficiency company Ameresco, where he developed and delivered hundreds of projects for commercial and industrial businesses. He is a licensed mechanical engineer in the State of Washington with expertise in the design and technical applications of energy storage, solar photovoltaics, microgrids, renewable natural gas and HVAC systems. Jeremy earned an MBA from Oregon State University and bachelor’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Physics from the University of Washington. AlCircle:...
“At Innoval, we believe innovation is a key in positioning aluminium as the material of choice in the circular economy,” Professor Michael (Mike) Cinch, Senior Consultant & Materials Group Leader at Innoval
Professor Michael (Mike) Cinch is a Senior Consultant & Materials Group Leader at Innoval. He attained a PhD in Materials Engineering and Materials Design at the University of Nottingham after receiving an Industrial Fellowship from the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851. In addition to his background in applied materials research, product development and process engineering, Mike has extensive experience in strategic planning, technology road mapping and innovation management from his time in senior leadership positions in business units in the US and Europe. Mike is also a Visiting Professor of Materials Innovation and Sustainability at Loughborough University and is a passionate advocate of collaboration and partnerships to drive the development and commercialisation of new...
“Aludium’s transition into a leader in sustainability began in 2015 with the decision to invest significantly in internal aluminium scrap recycling activities to reduce the amount of primary metal input.” Sam Kinsman, Vice President, Strategy & Transformation at Aludium
Sam Kinsman leads Strategy & Transformation at Aludium. He is a member of the Executive Committee and is responsible for the company-wide “ONE Aludium” program focused on Commercial Excellence, Operational Productivity, and Sustainability. Prior to Aludium, Sam held several transformations, sales, finance, and operational leadership positions at Iconex, a global paper & label converting business. Previously he worked in M&A investment banking at Goldman Sachs in New York and transaction advisory at PWC in São Paulo. Sam is a U.S. citizen and is based in Alicante, Spain. AlCircle: Please share the innovative journey of Aludium in the global aluminium sector. What are the contributions of Aludium regarding a sustainable future? Sam Kinsman: Aludium has more than 65-year history in the...
“We are defining the industry’s service standard for the monitoring & analytics of all types of industrial machines through our leading energy efficiency & health analytics platform for industrial assets.” - Nanoprecise
Nanoprecise solutions strive to create 360-degree integrated systems that can predict the remaining useful life of any asset and empower users with the right data across several industries. We implement cutting-edge technology to bring to our clients accurate prognostic and diagnostic solutions that can predict the remaining useful life of any asset with up to 99% accuracy. AlCircle: Can you please introduce Nanoprecise to our readers? Nanoprecise: Nanoprecise Sci Corp is an automated AI-based predictive maintenance solution provider that facilitates early detection of even small changes in machine operations before they impact production or cause downtime. Nanoprecise specializes in implementing Artificial Intelligence and IIoT technology for predictive asset maintenance and reducing the...
“We have also been able to produce aluminium foils up to 5.35 microns in the shortest amount of time which is the thinnest foil produced in this segment till now in India. This will become a new trend-setting fact in the aluminium foil packing arena.” Anil Vitankar Business Head at LSKB Aluminium Foils Pvt Ltd
AlCircle: Founded in 2018, than Covid pandemic impacted global business. What is your secret to remaining confident of becoming the leading aluminium foil/foil-based comprehensive packaging solutions provider? LSKB: Aluminium foil being admitted as the gold standard for packaging, especially in the pharmaceutical industry, for its excellent barrier properties offered the most logical solution to some of the needs in the post Covid era. When the Pandemic hit in March 2020, the food & beverages segment nosedived and simultaneously, the pharmaceutical industry bailed out the aluminium foil industry. Given its excellent barrier properties and being admitted as the gold standard for packaging, the Pharmaceutical Industry lapped up aluminium foils giving it exponential growth. This demand for...
“Nowadays, not only does the equipment have to do its tasks, but it also needs to communicate with the plant and eventually make decisions with more AI.” Éloïse Harvey, CEO at EPIQ Machinery
AlCircle: Please share EPIQ Machinery's innovative equipment solutions, which are on trend to improve an aluminium smelter's handling and process flow. Éloïse Harvey: Under the MECFOR brand, we have the Molten Metal Transfer by Pressurization (MMTP) that gains in popularity every year. Our customers see a true benefit in their output and the quality of metal produced. Also, the brand will soon deliver new casthouse dedicated equipment: Mecfor Furnace Vehicle (MFV10). With its unique design, the SmartConnect feature and MECFORLink, this equipment is an excellent addition to our Smart Casthouse Solutions. The vehicle will show great manoeuvrability with a high-loading capacity. The operator cab can be lifted to ensure good vision for the operator. As for AD, the brand is increasing the...
“The fluctuation in European aluminium prices resulted in a spike of 40% in our import cost”, Mohammad Abdullatif Ismail General Manager Napco National
Mohammad Abdullatif Ismail, a detail-oriented General Manager with a proven history of workforce optimization through morale-boosting and process automation. He is passionate and results-oriented carrying more than 18 years of experience boosting the performance of sales, supply chain, procurement and manufacturing operations. Furthermore, he is strategic and innovative with an eagerness for driving flexible packing products development, realization and commercialization with an emphasis on aluminium, paper and plastic-based products. AlCircle: How the fluctuation in European aluminium price has impacted your import cost of aluminium foil from the region? Md Abdullatif Ismail: Basically, the fluctuation in European aluminium prices resulted in a spike of 40% in our import cost....
''In 2022 we are focusing more on increasing the competence of employees, marketing, optimizing production and operating costs''. Kamran Gulamov, CEO at AKFA Group Holding
Kamran Gulamov is the CEO of AKFA Group Holding, the largest aluminium extrusion manufacturer in Uzbekistan. The top executive began his career in 2012 with a job in the company's warehouse and then engaged in procurement. Since 2015, he led the construction of the BENKAM plant for the production of aluminium profiles. Following the launch of the site, he started managing the enterprise. In 2020, Kamran Gulamov was appointed as Chief Executive of AKFA Group Holding and is responsible for the company's development strategy. AlCircle: As the largest aluminium extrusion company in Uzbekistan, how would you rate your performance for 2021? Kamran Gulamov: 2021 was a record year for AKFA Group in terms of production and sales. The reasons for such indicators are related to COVID-19 and the...
“In supporting sustainability, digitalization not only supports efficiency and growth but also helps our sustainability agenda. It also assists us with systems and tools to monitor our progress with increased accuracy through primary data and improved calculations”, Saint Francis Tohlang, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Director at Nestle East and Southern Africa (ESAR)
Saint-Francis Tohlang is the Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Director for Nestlé East & Southern Africa Region, which comprises 23 countries. At 33, Tohlang is the youngest member of the Executive Committee of Nestlé East & Southern Africa Region. He holds a Bachelor of Social Sciences Honours degree from Rhodes University and a Master of Arts from the University of Cape Town. His career spans different fields such as communications, innovation management, trend analysis and professional services, specialising in go-to-market strategy. AlCircle: Can you tell us what more Nestle is going to do in the coming days when it comes to digital transformation? Saint Francis Tohlang: Our industry is transforming into one that is driven and shaped by data and technology. We are focusing...
