Norsk Hydro’s earnings outlook for 2027 is facing mounting pressure from falling aluminium premiums, rising operating costs and easing supply tightness in Europe, prompting Goldman Sachs to downgrade the Norwegian producer from ‘buy’ to ‘neutral’ and reduce its price target from NOK 100 (USD 10.71) to NOK 79 (USD 8.46). Goldman said weaker premiums and higher costs were making further earnings growth harder to achieve in 2027. The bank also lowered its core earnings (EBITDA) forecasts for 2026 and 2027 by 6 per cent each, citing lower aluminium prices and rising costs. The changing market conditions come as additional metal from the Middle East reaches the market and Indonesian aluminium supply expands faster than expected, easing European supply constraints sooner than Goldman had...
Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Bhd is expected to face weaker smelting margins in the second half of 2026 as aluminium supply constraints ease, input costs rise and market sentiment shifts towards a potential surplus in 2027, according to Hong Leong Investment Bank (HLIB) Research. “The narrative now is increasingly shifting to a potential surplus in 2027. Coupled with falling Japan-Port (MJP) premium and rising alumina as well as carbon anode costs, we foresee sequentially weaker smelting margins in 2H2026,” the research house said in a note on Monday. HLIB Research estimates that Press Metal’s core earnings for the third quarter of 2026 will range between MYR 600 million (USD 146.85 million) and MYR 650 million (USD 159.09 million), representing a decline of 10 per cent to 17 per cent...
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So far into the week, aluminium premiums in Europe and Japan have appeared on the rising graph as a reaction to Iran’s drone and missile strikes on the Gulf smelters of Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) and Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) on Saturday, intensifying the prevailing worry over aluminium supply tightness. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 across the value chain Surges across regions and standardised benchmarks In Europe , the duty-paid aluminium premium for April delivery has rallied a four-year high since June 2022 and settled at USD 594 per tonne, marking a 16 per cent rise since Friday. In the same trend, April premium in Japan surged a staggering 20 per cent over the previous week, climbing from USD 250 per tonne to...
Vedanta Limited has extended its business demerger deadline further to June 30, 2026, postponing it a third time and citing the pending regulatory approvals as the reason behind it. Although passed by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) in December 2025 , the plan underwent delays in progress, flagged for unresolved concerns by the central government and the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). Earlier, Vedanta set the demerger target date on March 31, 2026 . The board’s approval for a deadline extension indicates a regulatory clearance obstacle, hindering the unlocking of a streamlined corporate restructuring. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 across the value chain Regulatory concerns and execution...
The Iranian strikes dated March 28 on the Gulf sites of Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) and Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) have brought on a new outlook on the aluminium market trend. On Tuesday, Goldman Sachs raised its London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium price forecast from USD 3,200 to USD 3,450 per tonne for the second quarter of 2026. Amid the prevailing supply crunch due to the Strait of Hormuz closure, the price revision results from an intensified market vulnerability, the smelter damages leading aluminium into a new phase of volatility. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 across the value chain In addition to the Q2 forecast revision, Goldman Sachs has raised its 2026 annual average price forecast from USD 3,100 to USD...
Post the Iran attack on the Middle East’s two major aluminium production sites, the Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) and Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), the London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium price rose even higher than the last close. The longer-dated contracts also expanded more from the previous day. Where is the aluminium price heading amidst the ongoing geopolitical crisis? The LME cash bid expanded by USD 103.5 per tonne from USD 3,481 per tonne to USD 3,584.5 per tonne and the offer reached a new high at USD 3,585 per tonne from USD 3,482 per tonne, showing a difference of USD 103 per tonne or 3 per cent. Also read: Iranian strikes hit EGA and Alba's aluminium smelters; workers injured, facilities damaged The upward trend continued in the LME’s 3-month bid, where it showed a change of...
Fitch Ratings has assigned Chalco HongKong Limited a Long-Term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) of ‘BBB+’, with a stable outlook. The agency has also assigned a ‘BBB+’ rating to the company’s long-term senior unsecured debt. Fitch rates ChalcoHK under its Parent and Subsidiary Linkage (PSL) Rating Criteria, following a “strong parent, weak subsidiary” approach. The ratings are equalised with those of its parent, Aluminium Corporation of China Limited, reflecting ‘Medium’ legal, ‘High’ strategic, and ‘High’ operational incentives for the parent to provide support. Fitch further noted that Chalco’s ratings are aligned with those of its own parent, Aluminium Corporation of China, due to strong operational and strategic linkages. Under Fitch’s Government-Related Entities (GRE) Rating Criteria,...
Demand for synthetic calcium fluoride is increasing as industries need more high-purity materials. It is widely used as a substitute for natural fluorspar and plays an important role in aluminium production. The aluminium industry uses the most synthetic calcium fluoride. It is used as a flux to lower the melting temperature and make the smelting process more efficient. The cement industry also uses it to improve production efficiency. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " Calcium fluoride with more than 99 per cent purity is used mostly in high-accuracy processes like aluminium smelting and specialised chemical production. Low-grade materials are used in simpler work because they are cheaper. Improvements...
Aluminium markets soared on March 30, as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East disrupted key supply hubs and pushed prices close to multi-year highs. Shares of Alcoa Corporation rose strongly up to 11.8 per cent in early trading alongside aluminium futures, indicating growing concerns over tightening global supply. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 across the value chain While Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Bhd gained 6.3 per cent and Century Aluminum advanced around 10 per cent, Alcoa extended its gains through the session, closing up 8.23 per cent at USD 63.22 per share, marking its second consecutive day of strong performance. Over the past three months, the stock has climbed 35.8 per cent, slightly outperforming the...
Aluminum Corporation of China Limited, also well known as CHALCO, operating in bauxite mining, refining, smelting, carbon anode production and trading of aluminium alloys and gallium, has just released its full-year results. The result reflects a share gain of 9 per cent to USD 1.48, which overall is not that high. However, the revenues exceeded and have reached USD 34.87 billion. The statutory result failed to match the analysts’ forecasts by 12 per cent and finally stood at USD 0.11 per share. Upon reviewing the results, analysts updated their earnings models, making it highly vital to assess if these signals are contributing to major changes in the company’s outlook or if it is the business itself. The updated statutory forecasts have been gathered for assessing alterations in the...
The effect of the Middle East conflict, fuelled by Iran’s drone and missile strikes on the facilities of Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) and Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) on March 28, reflected starkly on the London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium prices closing on March 30. Nearing four-year highs out of intensified supply disruption fears, cash price saw steep hikes, futures contract recovered from the previous declines, soaring considerably, while opening stocks continued to slide. The LME aluminium cash bid as well as offer prices surged by a staggering 5.81 per cent on March 30. The bid price climbed from USD 3,290 per tonne on March 27 to USD 3,481 per tonne as the offer price rose from USD 3,292 per tonne to USD 3,482 per tonne. To know more about the global primary aluminium industry...
ABx Group has taken a step forward with its hydrogen fluoride (HF) pilot plant plans in Tasmania, after its subsidiary ALCORE submitted an Environmental Effects Report (EER). The project is being positioned as a way to reduce Australia’s reliance on imported fluorine-based chemicals, which are used across industries including aluminium production. Hydrogen fluoride is used to produce aluminium fluoride, which is required in aluminium smelting, and is also used in refrigerants, fluoropolymers, and battery-related materials. On top of that, it plays a role in semiconductor and solar cell manufacturing, which makes it relevant beyond just heavy industry. At the moment, the supply side is where the challenge lies. Hydrogen fluoride is produced from fluorspar, which comes from fluorite, and...
The kinetic targeting of primary aluminium production facilities in the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain on March 28 2026 represents a seminal shift in the intersection of regional conflict and global commodity security. For decades, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations have leveraged their abundant natural gas reserves and strategic maritime positioning to establish a dominant posture in the global aluminium market, currently providing approximately 9 per cent of the world’s primary metal. The coordinated strikes by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Emirates Global Aluminium’s (EGA) Al Taweelah smelter and Aluminium Bahrain’s (Alba) production complex have not only idled significant portions of global capacity but have effectively weaponised the supply chain...
中文翻译附于新闻末尾，敬请继续阅读。 The Ports of Indiana have opened a new bonded storage facility at their Mount Vernon port along the Ohio River, expanding their capabilities and enabling their first aluminium shipment. According to Ports of Indiana, the facility was developed in around six weeks to meet urgent requirements from aluminium buyers and sellers. The move comes at a time when the US aluminium market is seeing shifts in supply following the introduction of a 50 per cent tariff on all imported aluminium by the administration, including imports from US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) partners. With tariffs in place, some buyers have shifted towards imports from lower-cost producers such as Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. These shipments typically move through port systems instead of...
The week opened with global markets on a weak footing, as escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East affected investor sentiment, pushing commodity prices, including aluminium, even higher. By midday in Sydney, the S&P/ASX 200 dipped around 1.35 per cent, tracking losses seen across major US indices, viz., S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average and Nasdaq Composite, on Friday the previous week. In response to these developments, a strong rally has been noticed in Australian aluminium stocks. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 across the value chain Shares of Alcoa Corporation climbed over 9 per cent in early trading. South32 surged past 6 per cent and Rio Tinto jumped almost 3 per cent. Investments may have been...
On Friday, March 27, the London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium price declined, but the December 27 contracts, after easing, adapted the rising trend. The LME inventory also widened from the previous close. However, considering the price update on March 30, the LME aluminium price rose significantly after Iran attached two production sites in the Middle East. The LME cash bid expanded by USD 41.5 per tonne or 1.3 per cent, declining from USD 3,331.5 per tonne to USD 3,290 per tonne. The cash offer also decreased by USD 40 per tonne or 1.2 per cent from USD 3,332 per tonne to USD 3,292 per tonne. The 3-month bid and offer, at the same time, inched down by USD 31 per tonne or 1 per cent, where the bid closed at USD 3,240 per tonne, down from USD 3,271 per tonne and the final offer at USD...
中文翻译附于新闻末尾，敬请继续阅读。 The aluminium industry in West Asia has entered into a new volatile phase, with the direct attack on two major aluminium facilities in the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain as a result of the escalating US-Israel-Iran conflict. Reports confirm that Al Taweelah smelter of Emirates Global Aluminium and Aluminium Bahrain’s (Alba) facility have faced Iranian missiles and drone attack on March 28, 2026, and undergone substantial damage. Currently, both Emirates Global Aluminium and Aluminium Bahrain are assessing the extent of the damage to their facilities, while remaining focused on maintaining employees’ safety. However, already by now, various sources suggest two employees of Alba and six of EGA have sustained injuries, alongside significant structural damage. Also read:...
The Japan Aluminium Association is looking into the possible impact of recent United States tariffs on Japan’s aluminium market. On March 12, 2026, the United States, under President Donald Trump, imposed a 25 per cent tariff on aluminium products under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " Earlier, the tariff applied to nine types of aluminium products, such as sheets, bars, tubes, wires, and foil. It has now been expanded to 123 categories, including products that contain aluminium. These include parts used in semiconductor equipment and aircraft products. Aluminium is widely used in industries such as automobiles, semiconductors, and electronics. It is also...
On Thursday, March 26, residents at Angul, Odisha, reportedly voiced their grievances at the hearing of NALCO’s (National Aluminium Company Limited) brownfield expansion project over land acquisition. They clearly stated that they would not transfer their land under the company’s existing policy. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " The public hearing on rehabilitation and resettlement was organised by the district administration at the Smelter Plant Training Centre of NALCO. According to the district administration, the hearing went in an orderly manner. Uday Kumar Mohapatra, Additional District Magistrate (Revenue), also reported that the process was smooth in presence of senior officials, including...
The Volta Aluminium Company Limited (VALCO) is currently reaching out to prospective investors, said Kofi Arko Nokoe, Board Member of VALCO and Member of Parliament for Evalue-Ajomoro-Gwira Constituency . The plan is part of a larger strategy, supporting Ghana to decrease bauxite exports and utilise the ore in the domestic market to derive greater financial benefits. Even in January 2026, The Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) had firmly stated that the Ghana government would be pursuing a carefully structured strategic partnership to revive and expand the long-idled smelter VALCO, rejecting the speculation of its sale. On March 27, while addressing the media following meetings with prospective investors, Kofi Arko Nokoe, reconfirmed the search for partnerships...
