Power cost of EUR 600 vs EUR 1,800 per tonne: How electricity prices are reshaping Europe’s aluminium industry (Part 1)
How much does it really cost to produce aluminium in Europe, and can the region’s smelters compete with producers in the US and China? Beyond electricity prices, the economics of primary and recycled aluminium, industrial electrification and changing automotive demand are shaping the future of Europe’s aluminium industry. In this exclusive interview with AL Circle, Dr Martin Iffert, Founder and CEO of Martin Iffert Consulting, examines these challenges, discussing smelter economics, recycling competitiveness and the outlook for Europe’s 2040 electrification vision. He also shares his views on Germany’s production landscape and the investments needed to improve productivity and strengthen the aluminium value chain. Dr Iffert brings over 30 years of industry experience. He served as CEO of...
Inside Novelis’ 2030 strategy: Aligning scrap supply, recycling investment and new opportunities in aluminium markets
The AL Circle team caught up with Michael Hahne, Vice President Commercial, Novelis Europe, for a conversation at ALUMINIUM 2026 in Düsseldorf, Germany. With experience across the company’s automotive and beverage can businesses, Hahne brings a commercial perspective to the evolving relationship between aluminium, customer needs and circularity. In this exclusive interview, Hahne explains why aluminium’s next growth chapter will depend on more than expanding production. Securing scrap, closing material loops and turning metallurgical expertise into new customer solutions are becoming central to the industry’s competitiveness. As automotive lightweighting, battery applications and circularity reshape demand, he discusses the strategies behind Novelis’ global footprint and the challenges of...
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More domestic aluminium, recycling and energy needed to strengthen US supply chain
With 18 years of experience in the aluminium industry, Charles Johnson brings a deep understanding of the policy, trade and sustainability issues shaping the US aluminium value chain. As President and CEO of the Aluminum Association, he represents an industry seeking to strengthen domestic supply while maintaining reliable access to imports. In this interview with AL Circle, Johnson discusses why the US needs an “all-of-the-above” approach, combining greater primary production, expanded recycling, stronger energy infrastructure and targeted trade enforcement, to build a larger, more resilient aluminium supply base for American manufacturing. AL Circle: How serious is the US aluminium supply gap right now, and which parts of the value chain are feeling the pressure most acutely? Charles...
The combination of lightweighting, manufacturability and cost-effectiveness makes the stamped rolled-aluminum approach attractive
How can aluminium make electric trucks lighter without compromising safety? In this recent conversation, Marco Ricci, Global Innovation, Engineering and Operational Excellence Director at Maxion Structural Components, explained how aluminium is being re-engineered to solve one of electric mobility’s toughest challenges: heavy commercial-vehicle battery systems. Developed with Novelis, the Maxion InVolt stamped rolled-aluminium housing is approximately 35 per cent lighter than a comparable extruded-aluminium design while delivering around 11 per cent higher energy density. Ricci also highlighted its potential to improve payload, range and operating efficiency while enabling safer, more serviceable and cost-effective high-volume production. AL Circle: Maxion Structural Components and...
Can Oklahoma reshape US aluminium supply? EGA’s Ziad Fares explains the project
As the US seeks to rebuild its domestic aluminium production capacity, Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) and Century Aluminum are advancing plans for a new primary aluminium smelter in Inola, Oklahoma, targeting more than 750,000 tonnes of annual production. In this exclusive conversation with AL Circle, Ziad Fares, Project Director for Oklahoma Primary Aluminum , discusses the project’s strategic rationale, progress towards a targeted construction start in early 2027, planned smelting technology, power and infrastructure requirements, investment considerations, and its potential impact on US aluminium supply chains. He also addresses environmental safeguards and stakeholder concerns. Fares brings more than 20 years of experience across engineering, strategy, finance, metals and mining, and...
The lower the aluminium content of the dross, the greater the aluminium recovery benefit RAME can achieve
In a recent conversation with AL Circle, Eric Lefebvre, Vice President of Business Development at Lefebvre Industri-AL, discussed the company’s approach to recovering and recycling aluminium residues and its role in advancing the circular economy. Based in Quebec, Lefebvre Industri-AL develops solutions, including RAME technology, that transform aluminium residues into reusable resources while helping producers reduce their environmental footprint and improve operational efficiency. With extensive experience in the industrial sector, Lefebvre works with aluminium producers, technology partners and other industry stakeholders to develop strategic partnerships and expand markets. His approach focuses on turning the industry’s environmental challenges into economically viable opportunities...
European aluminium EPR fees vary by country, PRO, packaging and recyclability
In a recent conversation with AL Circle, Daniel Vaknine, Co-Founder of Gramta, explained the objectives and implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). He discussed how the aluminium packaging industry can comply with these requirements and manage the associated costs. He also highlighted how Gramta helps aluminium packaging exporters meet their EPR reporting obligations through dedicated compliance solutions. Daniel Vaknine is a Co-Founder of Gramta EPR software platform helping businesses navigate packaging producer responsibility requirements across Europe. His work focuses on making multi-country EPR compliance more practical, from determining producer obligations and registration requirements to packaging data,...
SACA bets on secondary aluminium to close US supply gap faster and at lower cost
The Secondary Aluminum Coalition for America (SACA) is pushing secondary aluminium to the centre of US supply-chain strategy, arguing that recycling-based production can expand domestic aluminium capacity faster and more efficiently than new primary smelters. In this AL Circle interview, SACA outlines its policy priorities, scrap-retention challenges, defence applications and vision for a more resilient US aluminium supply base. The Secondary Aluminum Coalition for America (SACA) represents companies across the US secondary aluminium supply chain, from scrap collectors and traders to remelt facilities, extruders, and fabricators. Its members operate in 17 states and account for the majority of US aluminium industry employment. SACA advocates for policies that strengthen domestic aluminium...
China’s aluminium extrusion industry is going through a real transition, and I do not think the West has fully absorbed what it means
Diego Daluisio, President of Thermalex, Inc., when approached for his key insights into the changing global aluminium extrusion landscape as a part of AL Circle’s ongoing campaign on “ Aluminium Extrusion Growth Markets ”, drew particular attention to China’s rapidly evolving industry. He explained that the country’s extrusion sector is moving beyond high-volume commodity products and increasingly targeting advanced applications in solar energy, electric vehicles, energy storage and heat dissipation. Throughout the interview, Daluisio also discussed how steady advances in presses, extrusion dies, alloy chemistry and precision process control are enabling lighter and more efficient microchannel tubes for automotive cooling, EV batteries, HVAC systems, heat pumps and data centres. He...
Southeast Asia and India will see strong growth in aluminium extrusion consumption over the coming decade
As the aluminium extrusion industry enters a new phase of transformation driven by electrification, sustainability, supply-chain resilience and advanced manufacturing demands, Alcomet is strengthening its position through technology investments, automation and value-added solutions. In this exclusive interview, Huseyin Umut İnce, Executive Board Member of ALCOMET AD, shares how the company is strengthening its position across automotive, electric mobility, renewable energy and industrial sectors through strategic investments and innovation. Conducted as part of AL Circle’s exclusive campaign, “ Aluminium Extrusion Growth Markets ,” the conversation explores ALCOMET’s latest extrusion expansion and its vision for the future. As Huseyin highlights, “the objective is not simply to add...
Technically, solar heat could replace 100% of the fuel used in alumina refinery
As industries worldwide look for ways to reduce emissions without compromising competitiveness, the future of industrial heat is becoming a critical question. In this exclusive interview for Mine to Market, Rod highlighted how solar steam could transform energy-intensive alumina refining by replacing fossil-fuel-dependent heat with a more resilient and lower-carbon alternative. He shared insights into the economic case for solar heat, the role of CBAM in accelerating decarbonisation, the challenges of scaling adoption, and why access to clean industrial energy could become a key differentiator for alumina producers. Rod MacGregor is the CEO and President of GlassPoint , established in 2009. With over three decades of experience, he has built and led technology-driven companies across the...
Energy is the single biggest variable in aluminium cost structures, says Praveena Rai, MD & CEO of MCX
India’s aluminium pricing mechanism has gained immense prominence, and its major credit goes to the Multi Commodity Exchange of India Limited, as they are playing a central role in improving domestic price discovery. Today, AL Circle is in conversation with an eminent personality from that esteemed organisation, Ms Praveena Rai, Managing Director & CEO of MCX. Ms Rai has candidly weighed in on the ongoing price volatility, attributing it not only to the Middle East geopolitical crisis but also to other structural factors. For instance, energy contributes to about 35 per cent of production costs but is now undergoing inflation and translating it into high aluminium prices. According to her, the taker of this volatile primary aluminium price is the downstream producers who are operating...
Thick, hard-anodised AAO is vital for wear-resistant aluminium extrusions, says Dr Judy Runge
Dr Judy Runge when approached for her key insights into the importance of anodisation for aluminium extrusions as part of AL Circle’s exclusive campaign on “ Aluminium Extrusion Growth Markets ” , she extensively spoke about the advantages that anodisation offers to aluminium extruded products, how it can be developed further, and what sustainability measures it should take. Dr Judy Runge is a metallurgical engineer and surface scientist specialising in the surface treatment and interfacial science of aluminium and its alloys. Her career spans more than 40 years, beginning with her work in electronic materials and processes at Northrop Corporation, and culminating with the last 11 1/2 years at Apple, from where she retired in 2023. Dr. Runge is an independent consultant at her company,...
Lithium, graphite and REEs may outpace aluminium growth due to smaller starting bases, says OLI’s Chief Sustainability Officer
In an exclusive conversation with AL Circle, Vineeth Ram, Chief Sustainability Officer of OLI Systems, shares his perspectives on rare earth processing in the United States, the country’s growing demand for REEs, and its roadmap for reducing dependence on China. While he notes that complete self-sufficiency is not a realistic near-term goal, he believes that significantly reducing dependence is achievable. Talking about the demand growth of aluminium and other critical minerals, he explains that minerals like gallium, graphite and REEs are likely to register higher percentage growth than aluminium, largely because they are starting from much smaller demand bases. At the same time, he highlights that aluminium is increasingly being recognised globally as a critical and strategic mineral...
Middle East shipping disruptions have pushed ALUPCO to re-strategise its aluminium extrusion supply chain strategies
From a Saudi extrusion manufacturer established in 1975 to an integrated aluminium solutions provider serving more than 26 countries, ALUPCO’s growth mirrors the rapid transformation of the Middle East’s construction and infrastructure landscape. In this exclusive AL Circle interview, Abdul Aziz AlGhamdi, General Manager at ALUPCO discusses how the company is strengthening its position across domestic and export markets while responding to shifting customer expectations, complex architectural requirements and rising demand linked to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 developments. With more than 85,000 tonnes of annual extrusion capacity, manufacturing operations on both the Arabian Gulf and Red Sea coasts, and growing investments in green billet production, ALUPCO is navigating new opportunities...
Can recycled aluminium reshape automotive engineering? Gavin Shipley on PIVOT’s 90% CO₂ opportunity
With more than three decades of experience spanning automotive, aerospace and industrial innovation, Gavin Shipley, Technical Director at Sarginsons Industries, has built his career around taking ambitious engineering concepts beyond the drawing board and into scalable, commercially viable production. Today, that philosophy sits at the heart of his work on advanced lightweight aluminium casting, where simulation, digital twin technology, circularity and low-carbon manufacturing are increasingly converging. Shipley is currently leading the APC25 PIVOT programme, working alongside industry and academic partners to develop next-generation structural aluminium casting solutions. At Sarginsons, this includes a world-first capability to virtually crash-test aluminium castings using variable...
Beyond construction, Australia’s aluminium extrusion demand expands across renewables, defence and automation
In this exclusive interview, AL Circle speaks with Gabriel Algar, Founder and Director of Extrut Aluminium Pty Ltd, a Western Australia-based aluminium extrusion manufacturer. The discussion explores the demand drivers of extruded aluminium products in Australia and examines the country’s competitive strengths in manufacturing quality, infrastructure and production capabilities. With a strong passion for manufacturing and innovation, Gabriel is committed to delivering high-quality aluminium extrusion solutions through advanced production technologies, sustainable practices and continuous improvement. His approach reflects the growing potential and resilience of Australia’s aluminium extrusion industry. Conducted as part of AL Circle’s exclusive campaign, “ Aluminium Extrusion Growth...
Will domestic content rules reshape the future of US aluminium extrusion? AEC President weighs in
As the US strengthens domestic manufacturing under clean energy incentives, aluminium extrusion is becoming central to policy debates. In this exclusive interview, Aluminum Extruders Council President Jason Weber discusses domestic content rules, solar manufacturing, trade enforcement, sustainability, regional supply chains and how US aluminium extruders can strengthen competitiveness in the evolving global market. Jason Weber is President of the Aluminum Extruders Council. He has more than 30 years of experience in the aluminium business, including senior sales, marketing, and executive leadership positions with several major extrusion companies. As President of AEC, Jason works closely with industry leaders on workforce development, technical education, trade policy and enforcement,...
USD 11 billion investment is transforming North America’s aluminium landscape
Matt Meenan joined the Aluminum Association in December of 2012 and has served in roles of increasing responsibility managing all aspects of the association’s external communications. As Vice President of External Affairs, Meenan oversees the external affairs department and develops strategies and programmes to promote aluminium, respond to external threats and protect the brand of the association/industry. In this interview for Mine to Market , Meenan highlights how the US aluminium industry is navigating a critical moment of transformation — balancing the need for stronger domestic supply, competitive trade policies and a more resilient recycling ecosystem. From the challenges of rebuilding primary aluminium capacity and securing affordable energy to unlocking the untapped potential of...
Defence, aviation and space growth are a new aluminium demand engine
In this exclusive interview, Kelly Thomas, President & CEO and board member of Vista Metals, shares her perspective on the evolving landscape of speciality aluminium and the factors shaping the future of high-performance materials. A globally recognised executive with over two decades of experience across finance, operations and commercial strategy, Thomas has played a key role in transforming complex industrial operations into high-performing enterprises and now leads Vista Metals’ growth as a critical supplier to aerospace, defence, transportation and industrial sectors. From the growing demand for aerospace-grade aluminium and the challenges of producing highly specialised alloys to supply chain resilience, recycled content and long-term investment strategies, Thomas discusses how...
