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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Aluminium smelters are increasingly being repurposed as data centres. Following an update from Century Aluminium about transforming its Hawesville smelter into a digital infrastructure campus, news has surfaced from Alcoa Corp that it is turning its ten aluminium facilities into data centres. These smelters are currently either fully idled or operating at reduced capacity. According to its chief executive, Bill Oplinger, the first transaction is expected to be concluded before the end of June, with two additional deals likely to follow shortly thereafter. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " The move reflects a notable shift in the energy landscape. Aluminium smelting is an electricity-intensive process,...
中文翻译附于新闻末尾，敬请继续阅读。 On a warm afternoon in Abuja, conversation turned to an industry many had long written off as dormant. Nigeria’s steel and aluminium ambitions, often discussed, rarely realised, were back on the table as the Minister of Steel Development, Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, received a delegation from GCL Group. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " Rather than broad declarations, the meeting focused on a concrete proposal. The Chinese firm GCL signalled its intention to submit plans for a primary aluminium smelter designed to produce 3 million tonnes annually. With projected costs exceeding USD 2 billion, the scheme could become one of the most significant industrial undertakings in Nigeria’s metals...
LME aluminium prices recorded a modest increase on February 24 from the previous trading session, even as exchange inventories registered a decline. On February 24, the LME aluminium cash bid price stood at USD 3,075 per tonne, up from USD 3,068 per tonne on February 23 - a rise of 0.23 per cent. The cash offer price increased to USD 3,077 per tonne from USD 3,070 per tonne, marking a 0.23 per cent gain. The 3-month aluminium bid price climbed to USD 3,101 per tonne on February 24 from USD 3,096 per tonne a day earlier, reflecting a 0.16 per cent increase. The 3-month offer price moved up to USD 3,102 per tonne from USD 3,097 per tonne, also registering a 0.16 per cent rise. To know more about the global primary aluminium industry 2026 outlook, book the report “ Global ALuminium Industry...
When Century Aluminum Company finally shut the ledger on 2025, the numbers told only one part of the story. The other half of Century Aluminum’s 2025 tale has been written in transformer failures, hurricanes, inventory write-downs and energy volatility. It was a year in which aluminium prices and regional premiums lifted revenue, yet operational shocks repeatedly tugged earnings back down. The result was a financial performance that captured both the resilience and fragility of an American primary aluminium producer operating in a volatile global metals market. For the full year, Century generated net sales of USD 2.53 billion , up 13.96 per cent from approximately USD 2.22 billion in 2024. Higher realised aluminium prices and stronger regional premiums helped offset weaker shipment...
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned that the shutdown of the Mozal aluminium smelter in Maputo province, Mozambique, poses major downside risks to the nation’s economy. Owned by Australia’s South32, Mozal is scheduled to move into a “care and maintenance” regime from mid-March after failing to secure a new electricity supply agreement for the aluminium smelter at competitive US tariffs. In its latest assessment approved on February 13, the IMF mentioned, “Risks to Mozambique’s economic outlook are currently strongly negative, with the suspension of Mozal — which represents 4 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) — as an example.” Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 across the value chain Electricity supply...
Hydro, a leading Norwegian industrial company specialising in aluminium production, has entrusted Sistem Teknik Industrial Furnaces, a firm undertaking the production and maintenance of the state-of-the-art industrial furnaces, with the supply of a new aluminium logs homogenising centre. The project will be focusing on enabling the centre, which is to be located in Luce, France, to handle 30 tonnes per charge. Moreover, the designed project will provide high-capacity billet processing while optimising energy use and integrating seamlessly with the plant. The system to be delivered will be integrating a homogenising centre, controlled cooling, billet handling, precision cutting and automation into one well-coordinated production line, tailored specifically to meet the operational needs of...
On February 23, the week started with a rise in the London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium price . However, the 3-month Asian Reference Price reflected a downturn in the price with the opening of the week and the previous day’s close. The LME inventory also declined, while the alumina platts price remained the same from the previous close. The LME cash bid inched up by USD 16 per tonne or 0.5 per cent, shifting from USD 3,052 per tonne to USD 3,068 per tonne. The LME cash offer also showed an increase of USD 17 per tonne or 0.6 per cent, reaching USD 3,070 per tonne from USD 3,053 per tonne. Don’t miss out- Buyers are looking for your products on our B2B platform A similar trend followed the forward contracts, where the LME 3-month bid and offer inched up by USD 18 per tonne or 0.6 per...
Australia is reassessing its trade position with the United States after President Donald Trump announced plans to impose a new 15 per cent tariff on all imports, a move that could directly affect Australian exporters and test the resilience of a long-standing free trade partnership. The decision follows a US Supreme Court ruling that struck down a sweeping tariff regime introduced in April last year, finding that the President had exceeded his authority in applying the so-called “reciprocal” tariffs on more than 100 countries, including Australia. While the court left intact the sector-specific 50 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminium, it overturned the across-the-board 10 per cent “liberation day” tariff. Within hours of the ruling, President Trump reinstated a baseline 10 per cent...
Reliance Inc. faced rating cuts from both JP Morgan and BMO Capital Markets after analysts pointed to weakening gross margins and stretched valuation levels. JP Morgan set a December 2026 price target of USD 330, suggesting limited upside from current levels. BMO lowered its target to USD 320, implying a 0.8 per cent total loss when factoring in the company’s 1.5 per cent dividend yield. To learn about the global aluminium outlook, download our report: Global Aluminium Industry Outlook 2026 BMO analyst Katja Jancic noted that Reliance’s gross profit margin during the second half of 2025 fell below the company’s stated sustainable annual range of 29 per cent-31 per cent. She attributed the decline to competitive market conditions, a temporary shift in product mix, and management’s emphasis...
From the previous close, the London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium prices recovered with a steady increase. LME inventory side, on the other hand, recorded a steady figure, an improved figure, as well as a declining trend as earlier. On February 20, the LME cash bid increased by 0.88 per cent from USD 3,025.5 per tonne to USD 3,052 per tonne. Following the increasing graph, the cash offer price went up from USD 3,026 per tonne to USD 3,053 per tonne, marking a 0.89 per cent rise. To know more about the global primary aluminium industry 2026 outlook, book the report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 ” At the futures contract, the 3-month bid and offer showed a similar hike, the bid rising with a 0.75 per cent increase from USD 3,055 per tonne on February 19 to USD 3,078 per tonne on...
US-based aluminium producer, Century Aluminum, expects to restore shuttered capacity at its Grundartangi smelter in Iceland significantly ahead of schedule, with operations now set to resume by the end of April 2026, around six months earlier than initially projected. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 across the value chain The plant with a capacity of 320,000 tonnes per year had reduced output by two-thirds in late October 2025, following an electrical equipment failure, tightening regional supply and pushing European aluminium premiums to a one-year high of USD 356 per tonne. In November, the company had indicated that manufacturing and installation of replacement transformers could take 11 to 12 months. During the...
The London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium price on February 19 dipped from the previous close, including the 3-month Asian Reference Price. However, there has been no change in the LME inventory from yesterday’s close. Both the LME cash bid and offer declined by USD 9 per tonne or 0.3 per cent, where the bid moved down from USD 3,034.5 per tonne to USD 3,025.5 per tonne. Similarly, the cash offer shifted from USD 3,035 per tonne to USD 3,026 per tonne. Don’t miss out- Buyers are looking for your products on our B2B platform At the futures contract, the LME 3-month bid changed negatively by USD 5 per tonne or 0.2 per cent and finally on February 19, settled at USD 3,055 per tonne from USD 3,060 per tonne. Concurrently, the LME 3-month offer also moved downward by USD 5.5 per tonne or 0.2...
A challenging outlook has been set out by Molson Coors, which warned that annual profits are likely to fall sharply. The brewer pointed to rising aluminium tariffs and cautious spending among price-sensitive consumers as significant pressures on its business. To know about the aluminium market forecast for 2026 and beyond, download our report: Global Aluminium Industry Outlook 2026 The announcement unsettled investors, with shares dropping by around 6 per cent in after-hours trading. The decline followed the company’s fourth-quarter revenue coming in below market expectations. Looking ahead to 2026, the maker of its flagship beers, including Miller Lite, expects adjusted earnings per share to decline by 11-15 per cent. This stands in stark contrast to analysts’ forecasts of a 1.9 per cent...
Aluminium futures price currently reached INR 307 per kg. At the beginning of the month, the contracts were recorded in a stable situation, remaining in a stable range. M-o-M aluminium futures movement As the market witnessed fluctuations in the January second half, traders on both the bullish and bearish sides kept negotiating, with no clear breakout or strong trend emerging just yet. Also read: LME aluminium cash offer increases to $3,035/t on February 18 as opening stocks decline 0.42% to 475,550t In early February, aluminium futures have been moving in a range between INR 302 and INR 318 per kg. A strong breakout from this sideways movement could give the market a clearer idea of where prices are headed next. Current trading situation In the present situation, the contract is being...
LME aluminium prices registered gains on February 18 compared to the previous trading session, while warehouse stocks continued to decline.The LME aluminium cash bid price rose to USD 3,034.5 per tonne on February 18 from USD 3,013.5 per tonne on February 17, marking an increase of USD 21 or 0.70 per cent. The cash offer price increased to USD 3,035 per tonne from USD 3,024 per tonne, up USD 11 or 0.36 per cent. The 3-month contract also edged higher. The bid price climbed to USD 3,060 per tonne on February 18 from USD 3,046 per tonne a day earlier, reflecting a gain of USD 14 or 0.46 per cent. The 3-month offer price rose to USD 3,061 per tonne from USD 3,047 per tonne, also up USD 14 or 0.46 per cent. For the December 27 contract, the bid price increased to USD 3,058 per tonne on...
Metal counters fell under tremendous pressure today, as investors moved away from the sector, thus affecting several stocks with significantly lower rates on the National Stock Exchange (NSE). The Nifty Metal index reflects the weakness, when it declined around 2 per cent during the session and slipped to an intraday low of INR 11,713.05 (USD 129.11). The loss was completely evident across key industry players. Steel Authority of India (SAIL), National Aluminium Company (Nalco), Jindal Stainless, and Hindalco all registered losses exceeding 2 per cent by late morning. Other major names, including Vedanta, Hindustan Zinc, NMDC, and Tata Steel, also traded in negative territory, each recording declines of more than 1 per cent. InCred Equities has revised its outlook on aluminium producers...
India’s leading producer of aluminium, Vedanta Aluminium, has deployed an in-house developed Forced Cooling Network (FCN) at its mega smelter in Jharsuguda to strengthen energy efficiency and potline performance. The advanced system uses 3D Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modelling to optimise thermal management in aluminium reduction cells, or pots, ensuring more stable and efficient operations. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " The innovation has already earned national recognition, receiving a Certificate of Merit at the National Energy Conservation Awards 2025 from the Bureau of Energy Efficiency under the Ministry of Power, underscoring its contribution to industrial energy optimisation. Also...
If 2025 were to be summed up in one word for Alba, the world’s largest aluminium smelter, it would be momentum - a year that started steadily and closed with record-breaking confidence. By the final quarter, the numbers were no longer just improving; they were making history. Across 2025, Alba delivered a net profit of BD 218.7 million (USD 581.6 million), an 18.5 per cent increase over BD 184.5 million (USD 490.8 million) in 2024. Total comprehensive income reached BD 213.2 million (USD 567 million), up 16.2 per cent year-on-year - a reflection of strengthening fundamentals as the year progressed. The year’s defining moment came in Q4, when profit surged to BD 108.7 million (USD 289.2 million), up 193.4 per cent from BD 37.1 million (USD 98.6 million) in Q4 2024. Total comprehensive...
