Chinese aluminium producers are planning a major expansion overseas, with at least 15 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of new primary smelting capacity announced or planned across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa. The expansion could push the global aluminium market into surplus , although tighter scrutiny from Beijing and concerns over project profitability may limit how much capacity is built. Around 2.85 MTPA of the planned capacity is already under construction or being brought into operation. This represents 3.8 per cent of the current global annual smelting capacity of 73.78 million tonnes. The new projects, combined with recovering aluminium output in the Middle East, are expected to change the global supply balance. Morgan Stanley forecast in July that the...
As the global aluminium supply chain continues to swing between shifts and crunches, how has Europe fared on the production front in the 2026 year-to-date calendar? Substantially well, going by the output figures. Between January and September 2026, the European continent, including Russia, has produced a total of 5.56 million tonnes of primary aluminium, building a significant year-on-year growth chart. The nine-month growth chart Set against the same period of 2025, the first nine months of 2026 show a clear lift in output. From January to September 2026, Europe, including Russia, produced 5.56 million tonnes of primary aluminium, raising the annual growth rate by 5.69 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) over the 5.26 million tonnes produced in 2025. Explore the production, demand and...
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South32 increased its manganese and aluminium production in South Africa for the fiscal year ending June 2024 despite facing lower prices and higher truck-related costs. The company is actively exploring low-carbon energy solutions. South32 anticipates a 12 per cent increase in unit operating costs for its South African manganese operations, driven by higher price-linked royalties and inland logistics expenses. Meanwhile, the company's Hillside operation in South Africa boosted its saleable aluminium production by 1,000 tonnes to 720,000 tonnes during the year under review, despite challenges from load shedding, particularly earlier in the year. South32 expects to maintain production levels at Hillside, the largest aluminium smelter in the Southern Hemisphere, throughout 2025 and 2026. "I...
En+ Group, the largest producer of low-carbon aluminium and the biggest independent renewable energy generator, has announced its financial results for the first half of FY2024 ended June 30. The Group described the period as an onlooker of geopolitical tensions, weak metal demand, high interest rates, and sanctions on Russian aluminium. All these factors adversely affected the Group’s financial results, resulting in a 5 per cent Y-o-Y drop in primary aluminium and alloy sales from US$4,740 million to US$4,502 million. As a consequence, revenue decreased by 3.6 per cent from US$7,283 million to US$7,021 million; however, this was partly offset by alumina and electricity sales increase from US$181 million to US$191 million and US$898 million to US$915 million, respectively. The rise in...
On Thursday, LME aluminium opened at a high of US$2,486.5 per tonne, a low of US$2,450 per tonne, and closed at US$2,466 per tonne, down US$18 per tonne, a decrease of 0.72 per cent. On Thursday, August 29, both LME aluminium cash bid price and LME aluminium official settlement price declined by US$41.5 per tonne or 1.67 per cent and US$42 per tonne or 1.69 per cent to clock at US$2,437 per tonne and US$2,437.50 per tonne. 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price contracted by US$35.5 per tonne or 1.41 per cent and US$36 per tonne or 1.43 per cent to clock at US$2,465.50 per tonne and US$2,466 per tonne. December 25 bid price and December 25 offer price descended by US$25 per tonne or 0.95 per cent to halt at US$2,598 per tonne and US$2,603 per tonne. LME aluminium opening stock came in...
The largest integrated aluminium producer in Southeast Asia, Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Bhd, reported a 65 per cent increase in net profit for Q2 FY2024, driven primarily by higher selling prices and a stronger US dollar, which bolstered export revenues. For the quarter ending June 30, 2024, the company posted a net profit of RM505.83 million, up from RM305.79 million in the same period last year. Revenue also increased 5.2 per cent year over year, rising to RM3.95 billion from RM3.76 billion. However, Press Metal cautioned that macroeconomic uncertainties and rising alumina costs, driven by temporary supply disruptions, have increased expenses. The company remains optimistic, noting that these pressures are expected to ease by year-end as supply conditions stabilise. Tan Sri Paul...
On Wednesday, August 28, three-month LME aluminum contract opened at US$2,543 per tonne, with a high of US$2,548.50 per tonne and a low of US$2,484 per tonne, closing at US$2,484 per tonne, down by US$62.50 per tonne. After experiencing skyrocketing growth over six days by US$226.50 per tonne during August 19-27, reaching two-month high, the LME aluminium benchmark price suffered a loss of US$40.50 per tonne overnight reaching below US$2500 per tonne level. On Wednesday, August 28, LME aluminium cash bid price and LME aluminium official settlement price decreased by US$39.50 per tonne and US$40.50 per tonne, respectively, to clock at US$2,478.50 per tonne and US$2,479.50 per tonne. 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price contracted by US$34 per tonne and US$35 per tonne to arrive at...
Vedanta Limited, an Indian multinational mining company, is reportedly planning to establish two industrial parks, one for aluminium and one for silver and zinc. The news came on Wednesday, August 28, after Vedanta's chairman Anil Agarwal announced it on one of his LinkedIn posts, indicating a future plan for similar parks for the oil & gas and iron & steel sectors. Chairman Anil Agarwal also noted on his social media post that the parks would be created on a not-for-profit basis. His post reads, "For India, industrial parks are a good way to achieve scale in different sectors and across the value chain. They will be transformative not just for entrepreneurs but also employees and workers who can avail of best-in-class townships and facilities that will come up around the cluster."...
According to a recent report, Japanese buyers are offered a much higher premium, above $180 per tonne, for the shipment of primary aluminium in the fourth quarter of 2024, ending December 31. The news came after two people directly involved in quarterly pricing talks reported the matter on Wednesday, August 28. Compared to the current quarter’s premium, the proposed premium for Q4 is about 8 per cent higher. A global producer has reportedly offered a premium of $185 per tonne over the LME aluminium benchmark price for the December quarter, up from $172 per tonne in the September quarter . The new premium offer marks an extended growth for Q4, following a 16 to 19 per cent increase in Q3 premium from $145-148 per tonne paid in the April to June quarter. The consecutive growth in premium...
On Tuesday, LME aluminium opened at US$2,532 per tonne, with a high of US$2,554 per tonne and a low of US$2,502.5 per tonne, closing at US$2,546.5 per tonne, up US$13 per tonne or 0.51 per cent. On Tuesday, August 27, both LME aluminium cash bid price and LME aluminium official settlement price gained US$19.5 per tonne or 0.78 per cent and US$21 per tonne or 0.84 per cent to clock at US$2,518 per tonne and US$2,520 per tonne. 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price hiked by US$26.5 per tonne or 1.05 per cent and US$28 per tonne or 1.11 per cent to settle at US$2,535 per tonne and US$2,537 per tonne. December 25 bid price and December 25 offer price ascended by US$20 per tonne or 0.75 per cent to dock at US$2,655 per tonne and US$2,660 per tonne. LME aluminium opening stock came in at...
The Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organisation (IMIDRO) has reported a slight increase in the country's aluminium ingot production for the first four months of the current Iranian calendar year, which ended on July 21. According to a report cited by the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) on August 27, 2024, Iran produced 221,409 tonnes of aluminium ingots during this period, marking a one-per cent rise from the 218,531 tonnes produced in the same timeframe last year. Four major Iranian companies led the production: South Aluminium Corporation (SALCO), IRALCO, Almahdi Aluminium Co., and Iran Alumina Company. IMIDRO detailed that SALCO was the largest contributor, producing 94,503 tonnes of aluminium ingots. IRALCO followed with 60,210 tonnes, while Almahdi...
Zhengzhou Research Institute recently hosted a seminar focused on revising the mandatory national standard, "Code for Safe Production of Aluminum Electrolysis" (GB29741-2013). During the seminar, Wang Huaijiang, the Institute's deputy general manager and safety director, outlined the primary objectives, content, and requirements, emphasising the importance of establishing effective norms and standards for the safe development of China's electrolytic aluminium industry. The event brought together 23 professional technicians from: Sinosteel Wuhan Institute of Safety and Environmental Protection Kunming Institute of Nonferrous Metallurgy Design & Research Chinalco Qinghai Branch, Shandong Hongqiao Group The Institute's own aluminium electrolysis research team The participants engaged in...
According to a report, China has denounced Canada's proposed tariffs on Chinese aluminium, steel, and electric vehicles. A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Canada said Canada's tariff plans reflect a typical act of trade protectionism and political dominance. The spokesperson cautioned that imposing tariffs on Chinese goods would disrupt Canada's economic structure and damage trade cooperation between China and Canada. The move would also harm the interests of Canada's consumers and enterprises and interrupt the North American country's efforts towards green transformation. On August 26, the Canadian Government declared its plan to imitate the United States 25 per cent tariffs on China-origin aluminium and steel and 100 per cent on electric vehicles, intending to address unfair...
Following the news on the Canadian Government’s plan to imitate the United States tariffs on Chinese aluminium, steel, and electric vehicles, the Aluminum Association released a statement applauding and welcoming a 25 per cent additional tariff on certain aluminium and aluminium products imported from China. Although the plan is awaiting public review, the tariffs are estimated to be implemented from October 1 and 15, 2024. This move coming into effect in Canada will mark a significant step towards creating fairer trade practices in the North American aluminium market. The United States and Canada are employing these additional tariffs, like 25 per cent on aluminium and steel and 100 per cent on electric vehicles , to address the unfair trading caused by the influx of cheap Chinese...
The Shenyang Institute held an exchange meeting with the Mining Corps and Lianchuang Centre of Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd on the 5th of August, 2024. Technical experts from both organisations discussed Chinalco Group's AI application scenario, "Intelligent Decision-Making System for Electrolytic work-shops based on large models". Together, they developed a promotional model to push forward future research and development to speed up AI technology integration into electrolytic aluminium production. This partnership will result in transformational growth in the electrolytic aluminium sector. During the discussion, Huang Fei, the General Manager of Shenyang Institute, emphasised that AI-driven industry empowerment should prioritise process flow and control details to address the industry's...
Alucam, a Cameroon-based aluminium company engaged in producing ingots, plates, coils, sheets, and discs, has reported substantial growth in the export of raw aluminium to France in 2023. The export volume amounted to 15,879 tonnes, making aluminium the fifth largest product being shipped from Cameroon to France in 2023. France has become a dominant destination for Cameroon’s aluminium exports. In 2023, the European country alone received 36 per cent of Cameroon’s aluminium exports, contributing about 38.4 per cent of the country’s export revenue. Throughout 2023, Cameroon’s total aluminium exports reached 43,916 tonnes, generating CFA54.2 billion. On August 19, 2024, the National Institute of Statistics (INS) backed the data, revealing that these exports brought in CFA 20.8 billion for...
On Tuesday, August 27, the SHFE aluminium benchmark price moved up by US$2 per tonne or 0.07 per cent to clock at US$2,789 per tonne. W-o-W, the price has surged by US$40 per tonne or 1.45 per cent from US$2,749 per tonne. The most-traded SHFE aluminium 2410 contract opened at RMB 19,930 per tonne overnight, reaching a high of RMB 19,980 per tonne and a low of RMB 19,860 per tonne, and closed at RMB 19,890 per tonne, down RMB 35 per tonne, a decrease of 0.18 per cent. LME price On Monday, August 26, the LME market was closed for a day due to the summer bank holiday. However, on Friday, August 23, both the LME aluminium cash bid price and LME aluminium official settlement price gained US$28.5 per tonne or 1.15 per cent and US$28 per tonne or 1.13 per cent to clock at US$2,498.50 per tonne...
According to a recent report, the Canadian government is contemplating replicating the United States tariff plans on electric vehicles, aluminium, and steel imported from China. The news came on August 26 after the Toronto Star, a Canadian English-language broadsheet daily newspaper, reported about the Canadian government's plan. As per the report, the government plans to implement a 100 per cent tariff on China-origin electric vehicles and 25 per cent on aluminium and steel, following Washington's increased tariffs on Chinese electric cars from 25 per cent to 100 per cent, coming into effect on August 1, 2024. In May 2024, Joe Biden's administration announced the increase of tariffs on Chinese goods, including electric vehicles, semiconductors, and minerals, aiming to protect the...
In July 2024, primary aluminium production across Europe saw a month-on-month increase of 3.66 per cent and a year-on-year hike of 3.82 per cent, standing at 595,000 tonnes, according to the International Aluminium Institute data. The increase in July output was contributed by both Eastern Europe (including Russia) as well as Western & Central Europe. Russia & Eastern Europe Russia & Eastern Europe's primary aluminium production in July 2024 registered a month-on-month increase of 3.82 per cent and a year-on-year hike of 4.75 per cent, as per the data shown by the International Aluminium Institute. The primary aluminium output in Russia & Eastern Europe during July 2024 was 353,000 tonnes, compared to 340,000 tonnes in June and 337,000 tonnes in July 2023. The daily average production in...
Societe Generale International has announced its decision to withdraw from the London Metal Exchange's (LME) open-outcry trading floor, known as the "ring," a move that has sparked concerns about the future viability of this historic trading venue. The LME, the world's oldest and largest market for industrial metals, confirmed the news on August 23, 2024. This departure leaves only seven members operating within the LME ring, a significant decline from its peak of around 30 members in the late 1980s. The ring, renowned for its iconic circle of padded red leather seats, has long been a hub for traders who engage in intense five-minute sessions using traditional hand signals to trade key metals such as copper, aluminium, zinc, lead, nickel, and tin. The daily prices on the LME trading floor...
