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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LME aluminium opened at US$2,475 per tonne, with a high of US$2,547.5 per tonne and a low of US$2,473.5 per tonne, closing at US$2,533.5 per tonne, up US$67 per tonne or 2.72 per cent. On Friday, August 23, both 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 and US$2,499 per tonne. The LME aluminium price has shown growth for the fifth consecutive day. Overall, from Monday to Friday, the price has grown by US$129.5 per tonne or 5.46 per cent from US$2,369.50 per tonne recorded on Monday. As of Friday, both 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price added US$16 per tonne and US$16.5 per tonne to peg at US$2,508.50 per tonne and US$2,509 per tonne....
As a nation severely affected by the ongoing geopolitical crisis with its neighbouring country, Ukraine's Head of the State Property Fund, Vitalii Koval, believes that the Zaporozhye Aluminium Plant (Zaporizhzhia Aluminium Plant) will appeal to investors primarily as a site for industrial development. Vitalii Koval, a key figure in the State Property Fund, shared his insights, as reported by NikVesti. Koval stated that the State Property Fund cancelled the auction for the sale of the Zaporozhye Aluminium Plant (ZAP) after three unsuccessful attempts. Vitalii Koval said, "ZAP is certainly of interest to potential investors. Especially as a brownfield site with developed infrastructure. This opens opportunities to create new industries, contributing to the region's economic development."...
Aditya Birla Group-owned Hindalco Industries announced in its annual general meeting on August 22 that it would invest $10 billion in capacity expansions. Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla distinctly outlined his plans for ongoing and near-term projects related to aluminium and copper smelters, including the Aditya flat-rolled product plant, a new alumina refinery in Rayadaga, and the Bay Minnette expansion in Novelis. Chairman said one of Hindalco's key expansion plans includes scaling up Aditya Aluminium smelter capacity by approximately 200,000 tonnes in Odisha, requiring a significant portion of power through renewable energy sources. In addition, Hindalco is establishing a greenfield alumina refinery in Rayagada, Odisha, with the first phase having a capacity of 850,000 tonnes and...
Overnight, LME 3M aluminium opened at US$2,482 per tonne, hit a high of US$2,531 per tonne, a low of US$2,466 per tonne, and closed at US$2,466.5 per tonne, down US$14.5 per tonne or 0.58 per cent. On Thursday, August 22, both LME aluminium cash bid price and LME aluminium official settlement price gained US$27.5 per tonne or 1.12 per cent and US$28 per tonne or 1.14 per cent to settle at US$2,470 per tonne and US$2,471 per tonne. As per the LME data, both 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price added US$15 per tonne or 0.60 per cent to settle at US$2,492 per tonne and US$2,492.50 per tonne. On the same day, both December 25 bid price and December 25 offer price ascended by US$10 per tonne or 0.38 per cent to halt at US$2,623 per tonne and US$2,628 per tonne. LME aluminium opening stock...
Bahrain's non-oil exports have shown a positive upward trend, increasing by 4 per cent to reach BHD337 million (USD 894.31 million) in July 2024, up from BHD323 million in July 2023, according to a newly released report from the Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA). The July 2024 Foreign Trade report offers a detailed overview of Bahrain's trade performance, highlighting that the top 10 export destinations accounted for 68 per cent of the total export value. Saudi Arabia emerged as Bahrain's leading export destination, with exports totalling BHD61 million (18 per cent). This was followed by the United States, which received BHD28 million (8 per cent), and the UAE, which received BHD25 million (7 per cent). In terms of product categories, 'Agglomerated Iron Ores and Concentrates...
Overnight, LME 3M aluminium opened at US$2,482.5 per tonne, with a high of US$2,495 per tonne, a low of US$2,452.5 per tonne, and closed at US$2,479 per tonne, down US$23 per tonne or 0.92 per cent. On Wednesday, August 21, both LME aluminium cash bid price and LME aluminium official settlement price hiked by US$8.5 per tonne or 0.34 per cent and US$8 per tonne or 0.32 per cent to settle at US$2,442.50 per tonne and US$2,443 per tonne. 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price ascended by US$11 per tonne or 0.44 per cent to peg at US$2,477 per tonne and US$2,477.50 per tonne. December 25 bid price and December 25 offer price added US$10 per tonne or 0.38 per cent to dock at US$2,613 per tonne and US$2,618 per tonne. LME aluminium opening stock came in at 877950 tonnes. Live warrants and...
In response to an unwavering commitment to upgrade its employees on latest technology and knowledge for improved daily operations, Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) has collaborated with the Nasser Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Centre (NAIRDC), the research and development arm of the Nasser Vocational Training Centre (NVTC), to deliver a comprehensive three-day course on 'Advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) Applications in Industry 4.0' to 35 of its employees. This three-day course offers a wide array of knowledge on artificial intelligence, touching upon some of the critical points that would help employees enhance their daily operations, complementing the future trend. The topics include modern applications, future trends, and fundamentals of generative AI and prompt...
The world's largest aluminium producer, China's use of liquid metal transfers slowed in June and July 2024 but picked up again in August. Following a strong period in the previous three months, the use of liquid metal transfers as a means of moving metal into the market dropped by around 2 per cent in June and by about the same amount in July. It's a normal process. Liquid metal makes the most sense in a busy market - the smelter can deliver metal straight into the customer's holding furnace. In a quieter market, such as the early part of this northern summer, extrusion plants and other customers opted to idle their machinery in the face of reduced orders. The smelters were forced to pour the metal into ingot form. Now it's a good sign that things are picking up again. Liquid metal...
According to the Shanghai Metals Market (SMM) survey, as of August 21, 2024, China's domestic A00 aluminium ingot price has continued to increase by RMB 100 per tonne to officially close at RMB 19,590 per tonne . China's domestic A00 aluminium ingot price has risen for the fifth consecutive day in tandem with the increased price of the ore owing to tight supply and heightened demand. Today, the average prices of A00 aluminium ingot are expected to range between RMB 19570 per tonne and RMB 19,610 per tonne, with spot contract to be traded at a discount price of RMB 100-60 per tonne. China's low-carbon aluminium price has increased by RMB 85 per tonne to close at RMB 20,440 per tonne, marking a week-on-week increase of 3.09 per cent from RMB 19,827 per tonne. The price of high-purity...
According to the General Administration of Customs, China’s primary aluminium imports in July 2024 recorded a month-on-month rise of 7.2 per cent and a year-on-year increase of 11.4 per cent. With the latest hike, China’s primary aluminium imports in July reached 129,900 tonnes, bringing the cumulative import volume in the first seven months of the year to 1.349 million tonnes, up 124 per cent Y-o-Y. The customs data even showed China’s primary aluminium exports were at nearly 190,000 tonnes, moving up by 169.4 per cent month-on-month but down by 16.7 per cent year-on-year. From January to July, China exported 47,200 tonnes of primary aluminium, about 41 per cent less than a year ago. Taking into account the export volume, China’s net import volume of primary aluminium came in at 111,000...
Overnight, LME 3M aluminium opened at US$2,430 per tonne, with a high of US$2,506 per tonne and a low of US$2,418 per tonne, closing at US$2,476 per tonne, up US$30.5 per tonne or 1.25 per cent. On Tuesday, August 20, both the LME aluminium cash bid price and LME aluminium official settlement price hit a five-week high driven by a shortage of alumina, a key raw material for aluminium production in leading producer China, coupled with a weakening dollar that spurred fund buying. The price yesterday had augmented by US$65 per tonne or 2.74 per cent and US$65.5 per tonne or 2.76 per cent to clock at US$2,434 per tonne and US$2,435 per tonne. As per the LME price graph, 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price expanded by US$55.5 per tonne or 2.30 per cent to peg at US$2,466 per tonne and...
The world’s primary aluminium production increased in July 2024, driven by robust output across all the major primary metal-producing regions. On a month-on-month basis, the world’s primary aluminium production in July registered an increase of 3.54 per cent, while that on an annual calculation recorded a rise of 2.41 per cent, found the International Aluminium Institute. In July, the global output of primary aluminium stood at 6.194 million tonnes, reaching a new high, compared to 5.982 million tonnes in June 2024 and 6.048 million tonnes in July 2023. Total production through the first seven months of the year was 42.074 million tonnes, up by 3.78 per cent from 40.543 million tonnes. The daily average production in July was 199,800 tonnes, 400 tonnes more than 19,400 tonnes in June and...
The New Zealand Aluminium Smelter (NZAS) has agreed to further reduce its electricity consumption by an additional 20 megawatts to alleviate pressure on the national grid amid the current energy squeeze. This reduction comes on top of the 185MW demand cut the smelter recently implemented. Tiwai, the country's largest power consumer, typically accounts for around 13 per cent of New Zealand's total electricity usage under normal conditions. NZAS agreement with Meridian Energy NZAS has signed an agreement with Meridian Energy to release 20MW of electricity to the national grid over an estimated five-week period, including the ramp-down and ramp-up phases. This agreement is independent of the existing demand response arrangements with Meridian Energy and Contact Energy. It underscores the...
Alpha HPA has reportedly started the construction for Stage 2 of the HPA First Project following the confirmation of fire safety technology. Upon completion, this project will be the world’s largest high-purity aluminium materials manufacturing facility. This project represents a development benchmark as it progresses in commercialising its proprietary solvent extraction and refining technology. The facility aims to produce ultra-pure aluminium for tech sectors such as semiconductors, lithium-ion batteries, and LED lighting. The construction of Stage 2 of HPA started under the leadership of Matthew Callanan, who was appointed as GM Manufacturing in Gladstone and Lisa Roobottom for the Stage 2 project. Alpha HPA had also expanded its team and capabilities before building Stage 2 of the...
Overnight, LME 3M aluminium opened at US$2,367 per tonne, reached a high of US$2,449.5 per tonne and a low of US$2,365 per tonne, and closed at US$2,430 per tonne, up US$64.5 per tonne, or 2.73 per cent. On Monday, August 19, both LME aluminium cash bid price and LME aluminium official settlement price soared up by US$76 per tonne or 3.31 per cent to clock at US$2,369 per tonne and US$2,369.50 per tonne. 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price surged by US$68.5 per tonne or 2.92 per cent to halt at US$2,410.50 per tonne and US$2,411 per tonne. December 25 bid price and December 25 offer price gained US$62 per tonne or 2.49 per cent to dock at US$2,550 per tonne and US$2,555 per tonne. LME aluminium opening stock came in at 885375 tonnes. Live warrants and Cancelled warrants closed at...
On Friday, August 16, the 3-month LME aluminium contract price opened at US$2,358.50 per tonne, with a high of US$2,374 per tonne and a low of US$2,338.50 per tonne, closing at US$2,368 per tonne, up US$12 per tonne. LME aluminium cash bid price and LME aluminium official settlement price suffered a loss of US$7.5 per tonne on Friday, August 16, after the prices increased and touched the US$2,300 per tonne level the previous day. However, marking a week-on-week increase of about 1.35 per cent, LME aluminium cash bid price and LME aluminium official settlement price closed the week at US$2,293 per tonne and US$2,293.50 per tonne, respectively. On the same day, the 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price clocked at US$2,342 per tonne and US$2,342.50 per tonne, down by US$7 per tonne and...
According to China Customs data, China’s unwrought aluminium and aluminium product imports saw a substantial increase of 11.1 per cent year-on-year in July 2024 to stand at 260,000 tonnes. The total imports, including primary metal, unwrought, and alloyed aluminium, in the first seven months of the year amounted to 2.3 million tonnes, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 60.6 per cent, showed the General Administration of Customs. However, compared to April 2024, China’s import volume of unwrought aluminium and aluminium products in July stood much lower than 380,000 tonnes. In the first four months, China’s total imports stood at 1.49 million tonnes, up by 86.6 per cent from the same period of the previous year. Till June 2024, China’s primary aluminium imports alone totalled 1.219...
The Indian public-sector integrated aluminium company National Aluminium Company Limited (Nalco) has reported significant progress in its production operations for the current fiscal year, achieving 97 per cent of its production capacity target as of August 16. The company’s GGM(Smelter) and EPO - Executive Director(S&P), S Subrahmanyam NERALLA, confirmed that 940 of the 960 pots at its smelter plant are operational daily, contributing to a total production of 0.17 million tonnes as of August 16, 2024. Nalco has set an ambitious production target of 0.46 million tonnes of aluminium for this financial year, aiming to replicate last year’s output. At full capacity, the smelter has 960 pots dedicated to aluminium production. With only a few months remaining in the fiscal year, Nalco is...
