Germany’s construction aluminium demand falls 12%, but 2027 recovery and recycling offer fresh growth prospects
Germany’s construction industry has endured several years of contraction, weighed down by elevated financing costs, expensive building materials and subdued residential investment. The downturn has also affected the country’s aluminium industry, with estimated construction-related aluminium consumption declining by around 12 per cent between 2022 and 2025. However, the outlook is beginning to change. With Germany’s construction industry projected to return to growth in 2026 and accelerate further in 2027, opportunities are emerging for aluminium suppliers across residential construction, transport infrastructure, energy networks and commercial developments. At the same time, efforts to strengthen closed-loop aluminium recycling in buildings could provide an additional avenue for growth....
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...
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The EV battery that runs on water and aluminium: an Interview with Akshay Singhal, Founder & CEO, Log 9 Materials
When the news of a Bangalore based start-up Log 9 Materials developing an EV battery powered by water and aluminium appeared in media, it generated curiosity in the metal industry, battery industry as well as the EV market. AlCircle decided to learn a little more about the innovative technology and spoke to Akshay Singhal, Founder & CEO, Log 9 Materials. He explained to us the technology behind this innovation and also shared his journey as a technopreneur. Here is an excerpt from the interview: AlCircle: Please brief us a little on your journey as a technopreneur. How did Log 9 Material come into being? Mr Singhal: My journey as a technopreneur started when I joined the Indian Institute of Technolgy – Roorkee (IIT-Roorkee) in 2015 to pursue my Bachelors in Material Engineering. In the...
“As a commodity, aluminium like water seeks the path of least resistance to access the highest net back regional market”- Jean Simard, President and CEO of the Aluminium Association of Canada
The Aluminium Association of Canada (AAC) is a non-profit organisation that brings together Canada’s three primary producers - Alcoa, Aluminerie Alouette, and Rio Tinto. It represents the Canadian primary aluminium industry towards population, public authorities, current and future aluminium users, as well as key environmental and economic stakeholders. Jean Simard, being the President and CEO of the Association, has shared his comprehension on the potential performance of the aluminium market in Canada in 2020, how the LME price movement in the year last can drift the Candian market this year, and also how USMCA trade deal can help in a sustainable development in North American aluminium industry in 2020. Besides, if you want to know how the increase in semi-finished import by the US can...
“As India grows and evolves, it will have higher consumption patterns across all sectors, and aluminium consumption will also hence grow” – Abhijit Pati, Chief Executive Officer, Bharat Aluminum Company Limited
Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO) was established in 1965 as a Public Sector undertaking in Korba, Chhattisgarh. After its disinvestment in 2001, the Vedanta Group has taken over its management. The plant is hailed as one of India’s greatest disinvestment turnaround success stories, with a massive production capacity of 575,000 tonnes from its initial production of 100,000 tonnes when Vedanta acquired a 51% stake in the plant. Mr. Abhijit Pati is the Chief Executive Officer of Bharat Aluminum Company Limited. Mr. Pati is a name to reckon with the Aluminium Industry for the past three decades and he has joined BALCO after a long stint as Chief Executive Officer of Vedanta Limited’s, Jharsuguda unit, which is one of the largest single location smelters in the world, outside China. He...
“The aluminium sector, with EGA at its heart, generates some $5.5 billion of activity in the national economy, accounting for 1.4 per cent of national GDP”- Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer, Emirates Global Aluminium.
Emirates Global Aluminium is the world’s largest ‘premium aluminium’ producer and the biggest industrial company in the UAE outside oil and gas. EGA operates aluminium smelters in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, an alumina refinery in Abu Dhabi, and a bauxite mine and associated export facilities in the Republic of Guinea. EGA achieved record cast metal production of 2.64 million tonnes in 2018. EGA ranks among the five largest aluminium producers in the world. To get more insight into the company’s strategies and outlook for global aluminium industry demand and supply in 2020, read on the interview of none other than Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium. AlCircle: EGA has recently marked 40 years of aluminium production in the UAE. What are the key strategies...
A brief interview with Guido Aufdemkamp, Executive Director, Flexible Packaging Europe
Flexible Packaging Europe (FPE) is the European Forum for the Flexible Packaging Industry. FPE members represent companies that manufacture all types of flexible packaging including pouches, sachets, liquid packaging, confectionery and pharmaceutical packaging applications, and much more. Guido Aufdemkamp, Executive Director of Flexible Packaging Europe, has given AlCircle a heads up on the flexible packaging industry in Europe with special reference to aluminium packaging in the below interview. AlCircle: Can you brief us on the objectives and activities of Flexible Packaging Europe? Guido Aufdemkamp: Flexible Packaging Europe’s (FPE) core activity is representing the European flexible packaging industry at a European level and on the international stage. FPE comprises more than 80 small...
“The present enthusiasm around 4.0 has definitely opened the eyes of the industry to what is possible,” Antti Koulumies – Vice President, Aluminium Business Line, Outotec & Paul Merlin - Vice President, Sales & Business Development, Aluminium Business Line
Outotec develops and delivers industry benchmark technologies and life-cycle services for their customers in the mining, metal, energy, and chemical sector, helping them improve their profitability in a sustainable way. The metals and mining industry is currently influenced by several megatrends including the Industry 4.0 or the fourth Industrial Revolution. Outotec has been in the forefront of implementing Industry 4.0 in this sector through digitalization and automation. AlCircle spoke to Antti Koulumies – Vice President, Aluminium Business Line, Outotec and Paul Merlin - Vice President, Sales & Business Development, Aluminium Business Line about the implementation of Industry 4.0 framework with special reference to the aluminium sector. Here is an excerpt from the interview: AlCircle:...
“Digitalization can save billions of dollars per year for the aluminium industry if adopted at its maximum efficiency,” Avijit Deb, Vice President & Chief Digital Officer, Aluminium & Power, Vedanta Limited
While the advent of Industry 4.0 is creating a buzz across the metal industry and the implementation of digitalization and automation is making the industrialists intrigued about its long-run effect, we have Mr. Avijit Deb with us sharing his views and knowledge on how the Industry 4.0 is revolutionizing the aluminium industry. Avijit Deb is the Vice President and Chief Digital Officer, Aluminium & Power, Vedanta Limited, with over 20 years of experience in Industry solutions, Transformations, P&L Ownership. He thinks the adoption of Industry 4.0 is proving to be the game-changer in the aluminium industry and Vedanta’s Aluminium Business has already occupied the front-runner status in this technological space. Let us here find out what else he thinks about the implication of Industry 4.0...
“Industry 4.0 and the solutions developed by Fives could help smelters save millions of dollars per year,” Serge Despinasse, Aluminium Technology and IT Director at Fives’ Aluminium Division & Benjamin Ulmann, Sales Manager at Fives Solios
Fives has been developing Industry 4.0 solutions for the metal industry since a decade now. It believes the implementation of digital solutions is mandatory as it helps people improve the performance of existing facilities. Besides, the company also believes that Industry 4.0 and its solutions help smelters save millions of dollars per year. To know how read the interview of Serge Despinasse and Benjamin Ulmann. Mr Despinasse had joined Fives in the year 2009 and by mid-2017 took the position of Technology and IT Director of the Fives’ Aluminium Division. Engineer from the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Saint-Etienne, Mr Despinasse started his career in the aluminium industry in 1989 in an R&D laboratory of Aluminium Pechiney. He then occupied various engineering positions in...
“Industry 4.0 is an evolutionary process, a journey, not a single step or an “off-the shelf” product,” Sandip Samanta, Head of Technology and Innovation, Plate & Aluminium Rolling, Primetals Technologies
Primetals Technologies is a world leading metallurgical plant solution provider catering to both ferrous and non-ferrous sector and supplying across the entire value chain, from raw materials to the finished product. They are one of the technologycompanies who have been designing equipment and technology keeping in view the framework of digitalization, automation and data integration. Sandip Samanta, Head of Technology and Innovation, Plate & Aluminium Rolling for Primetals Technologies shared his inputs on Industry 4.0 and the metals industry with reference to the aluminium sector. Here is an excerpt from the interview. AlCircle: What does Industry 4.0 mean to the metals industry? How can the implementationof its framework help the industry improve efficiency and productivity? Mr Samanta...
“Industry 4.0 in the Aluminium Industry means the entire ecosystem aims for zero emission production – fully automated – zero waste,” Éloïse Harvey, B. Eng. & Mgmt, President of Mecfor
Éloïse Harvey has been working for the heavy industry (with a strong focus on the aluminium sector) since 1999 holding various positions related to sales, marketing and business development for MECFOR and also CEGERTEC WORLEY PARSONS (with the Mining and Metals division). Today she is President of Mecfor - an equipment manufacturer delivering custom and specialised equipment and vehicles to the heavy industry and aluminium sector worldwide. In this interview, Ms. Harvey has shared with us an in-depth insight into the Industry 4.0 and its importance in the aluminium industry. She has also shared how Mecfor has revolutionized the equipment technology for aluminium smelters and what are its latest projects that promote Industry 4.0 framework in the aluminium sector. To know more, continue...
“Industry 4.0 is a continued journey and it does not have a limit,” Abdullah Al Maamary, Information Technology Manager for Sohar Aluminium
Holding on to its commitment towards becoming a technology and innovation-driven company, Sohar Aluminium is harnessing the transformational potential of the 4th Industrial Revolution or Industry 4.0 in its quest to position itself as the ‘Smelter of the Future’. Abdullah Al Maamary, Information Technology Manager for Sohar Aluminium, is at the forefront of implementing innovative changes in technology. Abdullah Al MAAMARY has twenty two years’ experience in the industrial sector extending across a broad cross section of functions in the oil and gas, and the metal and mining industries. In his current capacity as Information Technology Manager at Sohar Aluminium LLC., Abdullah integrated strategic IT solutions to support the business needs in a rapidly and constantly changing digital age....
“Industry 4.0 aims for faster, more flexible and efficient production, as well as self-organizing production facilities,” Stefan Pelech, MD, HERTWICH Engineering
HERTWICH is a leading provider of equipment and technology for the aluminium industry. Stefan Pelech, a graduate from Technical University, Vienna, Austria joined Hertwich Engineering some 15 years ago as physicist and process engineer. He was responsible for all R&D activities within Hertwich, and was from the outset intensively involved in the development of melting and casting equipment. He also handled some strategic recycling projects as project manager. Since 2018 Mr. Pelech Stefan has been serving as the Managing Director of Hertwich Engineering. Here, he shares his views on Industry 4.0 applications with AlCircle in a brief interview. AlCircle: What does Industry 4.0 mean to the aluminium industry? How can the implementation of its framework benefit the industry in the current...
“The electricity generated by Tonstad Vindpark will allow for Norsk Hydro to produce approximately 50,000 tons of aluminium,” Henriette Sarah Holberg, Head of Communications, TONSTAD Vindpark
Project Tonstad is an under construction wind farm in the south of Norway and will be one of the largest in the country. Once complete, the project will supply all electricity generated, to the Norwegian aluminium producer Hydro through an off-take agreement. Henriette Sarah Holberg is the Head of Communications for TONSTAD Vindpark AS. She holds an MSc in Management, Organisations and Governance from the London School of Economics and Political Science. She is interested in the fields of renewable energy and international development; she has worked within hydropower and wind energy in both government and private sectors, in Norway and abroad. She spoke to AlCircle on the current status of the project and its significance as a green energy project and its role in the Norwegian aluminium...
"The Canadian government is against quotas as it represents an inefficient managed trade approach...," Jean Simard, President and CEO, Aluminium Association of Canada
The Aluminium Association of Canada (AAC) brings together Canada’s three primary producers of aluminium, Alcoa, Aluminerie Alouette and Rio Tinto. A non-profit organization, it represents the Canadian primary aluminium industry. AlCircle had an opportunity to interact with Jean Simard, President and CEO, Aluminium Association of Canada on a number of topics related to the Canadian aluminium sector and the North American integrated aluminium value chain. He shared an insight into the operations of the Canadian aluminium value chain, Canada’s current trade concerns with the US and Trump’s 10 per cent tariffs on imported aluminium. Here is an excerpt from the interview: AlCircle: Please give us a heads up on the aluminium ecosystem in Canada. Jean Simard : Canada is home to three world-class...
“IB2 stands for the combination of Improved Bauxite and Improved Bayer,” Romain Girbal, General Manager, IB2
Romain GIRBAL, General Manager of IB2 , a Paris based innovative solution provider that works towards producing alumina with low grade bauxite announced the launch of an innovative and breakthrough technology for low grade bauxite refining during the Bauxite & Alumina Conference that took place in Miami, USA on 25-27 December. AlCircle got in touch with him to know a little more about IB2 and their technology. An excerpt from the interview: AlCircle: Tell us in brief about IB2 and its activities Romain Girbal : Starting from the observation of both market trends and supply constraints undergone by some alumina refineries IB2 was founded in 2014 by Yves Occello to develop a disruptive technology solution for alumina refineries. For the last 5 years, Yves gathered a dedicated team of 10...
A brief interview with Didier Ostorero, CEO of Cronus Technology AS
Didier Ostorero, CEO of Cronus Technology AS, has a long association with the aluminium industry. He previously worked with Goodtech Recovery Technology in Oslo as Project Engineer and Chief Technology Officer for about 3 years, for the project 'Heat Recovery from Aluminum Pots Based on Heat Pipe Technology'. Holding a master degree in New & Renewable Energies: Solar, Wind, Geothermal, Fuel cells, and Thermal transfer in buildings, he started his career as an intern and worked on energy efficiency and energy recovery from industrial processes such as primary aluminium production. So, his rock-solid professional journey from an intern to CEO in the aluminium industry definitely offered the AlCircle team no less than a deep insight into the industry when he gave a brief interview. He...
“Hulamin has remained focused on delivering high quality products at competitive costs’ ~ Richard Jacob, CEO of Hulamin
As the only major aluminium rolling operation in Sub-Saharan Africa, Hulamin is one of the largest exporters, representing more than 60% of sales. In January 1990, Richard Jacob had joined Hulamin and since then, held various positions in manufacturing, and sales and marketing. In 2002, he was appointed to the Executive Committee and in 2007 assumed the responsibility for Investor Relations. 3 years later, in 2010, Richard became the Chief Executive Officer of the company. Here, we have shared with you all a brief interview with Mr. Jacob, who implicitly told us about Hulamin’s key strengths behind producing an extensive range of products and also spoke about the key strategies to maintain a sustainable growth rate. If you want to know more, continue reading the interview. Q: What are the...
“If government policies support well, India can become one of the lowest cost aluminium producers in the world” ~ Satyavrat Singh, CEO, Uniseven Engineering & Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd.
Q: Please elaborate us on the services offered by Uniseven Engineering & Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd. to the aluminium sector. A: Uniseven Engineering & Infrastructure has a unique business model whereby it represents a large number of equipment technology and EPC solution providers in India and in many countries abroad. Uniseven is currently active with its services from Australia to Brazil along with its different partners from various parts of the world. The key strength of Uniseven is its domain knowledge of the every element of the metal value chain and a large network of domain specialist across the world to support its endeavours. Q: How does Uniseven contribute towards bringing in advanced technologies into the aluminium sector? A: As far as the advanced technologies in the aluminium...
