
Guinea’s ambition to move beyond bauxite exports into alumina refining and aluminium smelting is running into a major electricity constraint. Producing about 1,000 MW of power at present, it needs another estimated 5,000–10,000 MW for industrialisation. While new alumina refineries could expand intermediate supply, the shortage of reliable electricity is likely to delay additional aluminium production capacity beyond 2030. The challenge emerges as aluminium traded at USD 3,008.5 per tonne, down 8.77 per cent over the month but up 8.43 per cent year on year. Guinea mined an estimated 150 million tonnes of bauxite in 2025, accounting for 34 per cent of global output of 440 million tonnes. Yet it produced only 360,000 tonnes of alumina, or 0.24 per cent of worldwide production of 150 million...
Shyam Sel and Power Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Shyam Metalics and Energy Ltd, has received approval from the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Kolkata Bench, to merge Shree Venkateshwara Electrocast Pvt Ltd into its operations, effective April 1, 2024. According to a company statement, the tribunal approved the scheme of amalgamation through an order dated October 16, 2026. The merger is intended to bring aluminium foil operations under a single entity, allowing the company to streamline manufacturing and marketing activities while improving operational efficiency and working capital management. Merger to consolidate aluminium foil operations The merger will transfer the business of Shree Venkateshwara Electrocast to Shyam Sel and Power, consolidating the two entities'...
Grow with
AL Circle

Aluminium prices rose 0.40 per cent to settle at INR 339.80 (USD 3.57), supported by ongoing supply concerns and declining inventories on major metal exchanges. Inventories in London Metal Exchange (LME) warehouses remained at their lowest level since 2022, while stocks on the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) fell 4.8 per cent, reflecting continued demand for physical aluminium. Market sentiment was also influenced by renewed geopolitical concerns after fresh US strikes on Iranian targets, raising the possibility of supply disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route for aluminium exports from the Gulf region. However, expectations of improving regional supply and easing tensions in the Middle East limited further price gains. On the supply side, Emirates Global...

Shares of National Aluminium Company Ltd (NALCO) gained for the third consecutive trading session, rising 2.42 per cent to INR 363.80 (USD 3.82) at 12:49 IST on the National Stock Exchange (NSE). The stock outperformed the broader market, with the NIFTY declining 0.53 per cent to 24,082.60, while the Sensex fell 0.57 per cent to 77,176.37 during the session. Over the past year, NALCO's share price has surged 90.99 per cent, compared with a 4.42 per cent decline in the NIFTY and a 34.76 per cent fall in the Nifty Metal index. Despite the recent gains, the stock has declined 4.85 per cent over the past month. Explore: The most comprehensive and forward-looking industry-focused report – Global Bauxite & Alumina Market Forecast to 2036: Supply–Demand, Trade Flows & Price Outlook The Nifty...

China's exports of unwrought aluminium and downstream products reached a record high in June, according to official customs data released on Tuesday. Exports rose to 711,000 tonnes in June, the first time monthly shipments exceeded the 700,000-tonne mark. The volume was 12.5 per cent higher than 632,000 tonnes exported in May. During the first six months (H1) of 2026, exports of unwrought aluminium and aluminium products increased 16.3 per cent year-on-year to 3.4 million tonnes. According to Shanghai Metals Market (SMM), total exports during January-June reached 3.396 million tonnes. China's aluminium market remained characterised by weak domestic demand and strong overseas demand during H1. While higher aluminium prices continued to weigh on domestic purchases, exports of aluminium...

Aluminium prices on the London Metal Exchange (LME) are continuing to drop since the previous close. While cash, three-month contracts and stocks reported declines, longer-dated contracts improved. The LME aluminium cash bid price stood at USD 3,138 per tonne on July 13, down 0.54 per cent from USD 3,155.5 per tonne on July 10 . The cash offer price also declined by 0.55 per cent to USD 3,138.5 per tonne from USD 3,156 per tonne. Likewise, the LME aluminium three-month bid price slipped by 0.24 per cent to USD 3,145 per tonne on July 13 from USD 3,152.5 per tonne on July 10. The three-month offer price decreased by 0.19 per cent to USD 3,147 per tonne from USD 3,153 per tonne. To know the long-term bauxite market forecast, book our report: “ Global Bauxite & Alumina Market Forecast to...

After a volatile first half of the year, analysts believe that the recent correction in aluminium prices could bring favourable news. It may open up opportunities for investors in India's leading aluminium producers, including National Aluminium Company (NALCO), Hindalco Industries and Vedanta Aluminium Metal. From January to June, the London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium prices surged almost 25 per cent, driven largely by geopolitical concerns surrounding the Strait of Hormuz. However, after a temporary easing of tensions in West Asia, prices retreated by more than 17 per cent to around USD 3,019 per tonne, weighing on aluminium stocks. Since early June, NALCO has declined by over 19 per cent, while Hindalco has fallen by more than 15 per cent. Analysts pointed out that although the...

Vedanta Aluminium has been upgraded with a 'Buy' rating recommendation and a target price of INR 540 (USD 5.63) by the brokerage firm Nuvama Institutional Equities. It indicates an upside potential of nearly 22 per cent from current levels. The brokerage believes the newly demerged aluminium producer is entering a stronger growth phase, supported by capacity expansion, structural cost reductions, improved cash generation and favourable global aluminium market fundamentals. After the demerger of Vedanta Limited, Vedanta Aluminium is now a dedicated primary aluminium producer, ready to capitalise on rising demand and operational efficiencies. Explore the relevance of red mud in the sustainable aluminium industry in A Comprehensive Analysis of Bauxite Residue (Red Mud): Sustainability,...

Aluminium prices fell 1.6 per cent to settle at 338.45 after Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) restarted its Al Taweelah alumina refinery in the UAE following a shutdown of around three and a half months. EGA said the refinery is expected to reach 50 per cent of its production capacity within days and return to full technical capacity by the end of the year. The restart has improved expectations for alumina supply and reduced concerns over raw material availability. Although tensions in the Middle East have eased, recent incidents near the Strait of Hormuz continue to keep supply risks in focus. However, the refinery's restart had a bigger impact on market sentiment, leading to lower aluminium prices. Explore: The most comprehensive and forward-looking industry-focused report – Global...

LME aluminium prices moved lower across cash, three-month and forward contracts on July 10, with the three-month segment recording the sharpest decline of up to 0.50 per cent. The LME aluminium cash bid price stood at USD 3,155.5 per tonne on July 10, down USD 7.5 per tonne or 0.24 per cent from USD 3,163 per tonne on July 9. The cash offer price fell USD 8 per tonne or 0.25 per cent to USD 3,156 per tonne from USD 3,164 per tonne a day earlier. In the three-month segment, the bid price declined USD 16 per tonne or 0.50 per cent to USD 3,152.5 per tonne on July 10 from USD 3,168.5 per tonne on July 9. The three-month offer price also dropped USD 16 per tonne or 0.50 per cent, reaching USD 3,153 per tonne compared with USD 3,169 per tonne in the previous session. December 2027 contracts...

China Hongqiao Group expects its net profit for the first half of 2026 to increase by approximately 39 per cent compared with the same period last year, according to a filing with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The company said the anticipated earnings growth is primarily driven by higher selling prices for its aluminium alloy products, which supported profitability during the six months ended 30 June 2026. Separately, Shandong Hongqiao Aluminum Industry expects its first-half net profit to increase by 69.72 per cent to 81.04 per cent year-on-year, reflecting continued strength in the aluminium market during the reporting period. China Hongqiao is one of China's largest aluminium producers, with operations spanning alumina, aluminium and aluminium alloy products. Explore: The most...

Several leading US manufacturers, including Intel, Dell Technologies, Ford and Honeywell Aerospace, have urged the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to reconsider its call for an additional tariff imposition of up to 12.5 per cent on imports from around 60 countries, including India. The companies argue that the proposed duties could raise production costs, weaken manufacturing competitiveness, eventually increasing prices for businesses and end-users. The global aluminium casting usage is expected to reach 24.2 million tonnes in 2026. To learn about the future market trends, prebook our upcoming report “ Global Aluminium Casting Market 2026-2032 ” Intel and Dell’s warning: A fading US manufacturing industry The recently proposed tariff framework forms part of the US...

Konecranes has secured a contract from Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) to modernise five auxiliary cranes at the company's aluminium smelter in Bahrain. The order was placed in January 2026. Delivery of the equipment is expected by the end of 2026, and installation is due to start in early 2027. The project will improve crane operations in Alba’s Casthouse and Mould Shop, where molten aluminium is turned into finished products. The auxiliary cranes help keep materials moving and support uninterrupted daily production in these areas. The modernisation programme includes upgrading the hoist and trolley systems of all five cranes to a heavy-duty configuration to improve reliability and support safe, continuous production. Konecranes will supply new heavy-duty trolley units with an M8 duty...

Aluminium prices on the London Metal Exchange (LME) continued their improving trend on July 9. Cash and near-term contracts reported gains of almost 1 per cent, while stocks continued to slide, indicating depletion in the inventory amid tight market conditions. On July 9, the LME aluminium cash bid price edged up from USD 3,140.5 per tonne on July 8 to USD 3,163 per tonne on July 9, representing a 0.72 per cent rise. The offer price climbed from USD 3,141 per tonne to USD 3,164 per tonne , gaining 0.73 per cent day-on-day. Explore the relevance of red mud in the sustainable aluminium industry in A Comprehensive Analysis of Bauxite Residue (Red Mud): Sustainability, Resource Recovery and Strategic Recommendations The LME aluminium three-month contract bid price edged up from USD 3,145 per...

The Strait of Hormuz is back at the centre of the US-Iran conflict, and the cost of moving ships through the Gulf is already responding. War-risk insurance rates for ships inside the Gulf have risen from around 2 per cent of vessel value at the end of last week towards 3 per cent in the past 24 hours, Reuters reported on July 8, citing industry sources. The renewed shipping tension has emerged for the aluminium industry, while the 6.16 million-tonne GCC primary aluminium industry is still dealing with the effects of the earlier disruption. Importantly, more than 80 per cent of the region's aluminium output is exported. Three ships were attacked as Hormuz traffic remains fragile The latest confrontation followed projectile attacks on three commercial vessels in and around the Strait. The...

US President Donald Trump has reiterated his administration's commitment to expanding domestic manufacturing, warning that companies producing goods outside the US could face tariffs of up to 200 per cent, depending on the product category. Post the NATO summit held in Ankara, Trump said his trade policy is intended to encourage manufacturers to establish production facilities within the US while supporting key industrial sectors, including aluminium and steel. Regarding his earlier presidency, Trump mentioned tariffs helped revive the domestic steel industry and argued that similar measures continue to support US manufacturing. "If you build your product here, you pay no tariff. If you don't, you pay a 25 per cent tariff… 35 per cent sometimes… sometimes a 100 per cent, 200 per cent,...

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The financial reality: In an industry where electricity constitutes 35 per cent of total operating costs, a mere 1 per cent AI-driven reduction in specific power consumption yields an immediate USD 4 million to USD 5 million in annual savings for a one-million-tonne smelter. The "Black Box" trap: Relying on opaque deep-learning algorithms is dangerous. The industry is pivoting to "Explainable AI" (XAI), which provides transparent reasoning for predictive maintenance, achieving verifiable ROI in under 3 months. The vendor hype: Software vendors routinely underestimate the brutal physical realities of the potroom. Digital twins will suffer from catastrophic model drift and hardware failure if sensors are not engineered to survive 950°C temperatures, corrosive alumina...

JPMorgan has increased its long position in Aluminum Corporation of China (02600.HK) to 6.04 per cent from 5.72 per cent after acquiring an additional 12.6864 million H-shares. According to a filing disclosed by the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on July 8, the shares were purchased on July 2 through both on-exchange and off-exchange transactions. The average purchase price stood at HKD 7.4087 per share for on-exchange transactions and HKD 7.4168 per share for off-exchange transactions. The acquisition was valued at approximately HKD 93.9896 million (USD 11.9 million). Following the transaction, JPMorgan’s total holding in Aluminum Corporation of China rose to 239 million shares. Why does the transaction require disclosure? Under Hong Kong Stock Exchange requirements, major shareholders -...

LME aluminium prices moved higher on July 8, with both cash and three-month contracts recording gains from the previous session, amid renewed geopolitical uncertainty in the Middle East. Market sentiment remained cautious as reports of fresh attacks and heightened tensions between the US and Iran raised concerns over the durability of ongoing peace efforts and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy and commodity shipments. The LME aluminium cash bid price rose to USD 3,140.50 per tonne on July 8 from USD 3,118 per tonne on July 7, marking a day-on-day increase of 0.72 per cent. The cash offer price climbed 0.71 per cent to USD 3,141 per tonne from USD 3,119 per tonne. A similar upward trend was seen in the three-month contract. The LME aluminium...

Vedanta Aluminium was seen as the “crown jewel” of Anil Agarwal’s Vedanta demerger. But less than a month after listing, it has become the weakest performer among the four newly listed entities. Since its June 15 debut, the stock has fallen 12 per cent from its listing price of INR 527, wiping out more than INR 250 billion in investor wealth. Its demerged siblings have moved in the opposite direction. Vedanta Power has gained 9 per cent from its listing price of INR 42, Vedanta Iron & Steel has surged 84 per cent from INR 22, and Vedanta Oil & Gas has risen 10 per cent from INR 39. The divergence raises a key question: why is Vedanta Aluminium struggling when brokerages remain positive on its longer-term outlook? Aluminium price correction weighs on the stock The fall in Vedanta Aluminium...