Global primary aluminium production experienced a sequential recovery in the third quarter of 2026, supported by the gradual restoration of disrupted smelting capacity in the GCC countries, stronger operational performance in Europe and Oceania, and incremental production gains across Asia and China. But beneath this quarterly improvement lies a contrasting reality - global output remained below the corresponding levels of both 2025 and 2024. According to data from the International Aluminium Institute (IAI), global primary aluminium production reached 18.377 million tonnes in Q3 2026, an increase of 2.1 per cent from 18.003 million tonnes in the preceding quarter. However, compared with Q3 2025, when production totalled 18.683 million tonnes, output declined by 1.64 per cent. Production...
Europe's aluminium industry is facing mounting pressure from rising carbon costs, shifting trade policies and limited willingness among buyers to pay premiums for low-carbon metal. Yet, despite a series of crises since the Covid pandemic, producers remain committed to maintaining their presence in Europe and investing in decarbonisation, said Paul Voss, Director General of European Aluminium. In an exclusive interview with Fastmarkets at Aluminium Düsseldorf, Voss described the European aluminium industry's condition as bruised but resilient. He highlighted concerns over the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), the potential inclusion of indirect (Scope 2) emissions under the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and the treatment of aluminium scrap in carbon accounting. Reflecting on...
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Rio Tinto and The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) has entered into a new partnership that will help out the Bundaberg region of Queensland in becoming a training ground for aeromedical professionals from across Australia. Rio Tinto has assured $1.25 million to RFDS Queensland over five years, underlining the company’s commitment to the health and wellbeing of Queenslanders and to providing resources to combat the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding will not only enhance the remote delivery of primary health care and mental health services across the state, but it will also contribute to the construction of a world-class Aeromedical Retrieval Simulation Hub in Bundaberg. The hub will use virtual and augmented reality and high-fidelity immersive training scenarios to attract...
Fitch Ratings has demoted Russian-based aluminium company United company RUSAL Plc's (Rusal) Long-Term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to 'B+' from 'BB-'. The agency has also downgraded Rusal Capital D.A.C.'s senior unsecured notes rating to 'B+' from 'BB-'. The Outlook on Long-Term IDR remains Stable. The moment Rusal entered the COVID-19 pandemic and that in return received a global downturn with high leverage that makes it more susceptible to external shocks. Its debt burden has been high since the purchase of the NN stake in 2008 without meaningful debt reduction over the last three years. The downgrade reflected the expectation of a further delay in deleveraging with funds from operations (FFO) gross and net leverage remaining materially above our previous negative sensitivities of 3.5x...
Aluminium France has reportedly organised and joined forces to import more than 1.2 million surgical masks and FFP2 for its members to provide them with necessary sanitary protection against the COVID19, and thus, encourage the resumption of business activities in the best possible conditions. This operation was primarily carried out with the help of the Eramet Group, which made available its sourcing centre located in China to allow a better supply of surgical masks and FFP2 for the entire sector. This helped Aluminium France to get connected with two Asian suppliers capable of producing and delivering masks within a few weeks. According to the report, the first set of masks has been already dispatched and distributed on French territory. More than 160 companies benefit from this...
Aluminium ingots inventories in South China’s Guangdong province stood at 243,400 tonnes, as of April 30, down 191,400 tonnes or 44 per cent from a month earlier. Record-high shipments from warehouses and strong consumption amid low arrivals of stocks were the two primary reasons behind the dip in inventories. SMM data showed that around 282,700 tonnes of aluminium ingots were shipped from Guangdong warehouses in April, up 81.21 per cent month-on-month and 49.58 per cent year-on-year. This recorded the highest level over the past five years. Better-than-expected orders from downstream consumers and lower prices of ingots prompted the higher consumption of aluminium ingots. Meanwhile, arrivals of aluminium ingots plunged 65.06 per cent from a month ago to 91,300 tonnes in April, owing to...
Vedanta Ltd. said the company’s initiative to ensure safety and prevention measures to fight against COVID-19 have reached over 7 lakh people in Odisha. Vedanta’s Odisha operations have joined forces with the state, district and communities in the fight against pandemic. Two plants in Odisha are operational adhering to all COVID19 protocols laid down by the state and central governments. The plants are active with reduced workforce and resources. Vedanta is taking steps to prevent and mitigate the impact of COVID-19 with a focus on the safety and health of its employees and communities at large in, around and far beyond their plant areas. Mr. Rahul Sharma, CEO – Alumina Business said, “At Vedanta, our efforts are aligned to the singular vision of making our communities, the state and...
A00 aluminium ingot price registered a drop of RMB 10 per tonne or 0.08 per cent from Wednesday’s price of RMB 12980 per tonne. The price now stood at RMB 12970 per tonne and is expected to move within a range of RMB 12950-12990 per tonne. Spot aluminium contract is likely to be traded at a premium of RMB 70-110 per tonne. In Foshan and Chongqing, the price fell by RMB 40 per tonne and RMB 10 per tonne to stand at RMB 13120 per tonne and RMB 13040 per tonne. Their average prices are expected to range within RMB 13100-13140 per tonne and RMB 13020-13060 per tonne. The price in Wuxi and Hangzhou remained unchanged at RMB 12980 per tonne and RMB 13000 per tonne. Aluminium ingot prices in Shenyang, Tianjin, Linyi, and Gongyi dropped to stand at RMB 12975 per tonne, RMB 13030 per tonne, RMB...
The US dollar continued to rebound on Wednesday, as investors turned to the safe-haven currency in the wake of dire global economic data. The greenback advanced to its highest in more than a week against a basket of major currencies. Three-month LME aluminium came off after climbed, closing down 0.5 per cent on the day at US$ 1,482.5 per tonne. Concerns about the strength of demand recovery may limit any upward momentum in LME aluminium. As of Wednesday, May 6, LME aluminium cash (bid) price as well as LME official settlement price extended growth from US$ 1438.5 per tonne to US$ 1443 per tonne. 3-months bid price and 3-months offer price also increased from US$ 1479.5 per tonne to US$ 1481 per tonne. Dec 21 bid price and Dec 21 offer price hovered at US$ 1609.5 per tonne, up US$ 5 per...
On 1 st July’20, the new version of NAFTA to come into force and the Canadian aluminium industry is paying attention to following a recent decision of the US Commerce Department to execute a mechanism monitoring of aluminium exports to the United States. The movement initiated post the American Primary Aluminum Association (APAA) lobbied the Trump administration and ran a media campaign in which it directly denounced an alleged increase in Canadian aluminium exports to the United States. The decision of the United States Department of Commerce, which fell on April 29, should make it possible to establish a surveillance mechanism modelled on that which exists for steel exports. The measure was also welcomed by the APAA in a press release published on Monday. APAA attacks on the Canadian...
An American start-up company that will make aluminium billets is looking to set up its shed in the Midwest Industrial Park, bringing 30 new jobs to the city of Richmond. On 4 th May’20, Richmond Common Council approved a series of tax abatement ordinances for Element 13 LLC that gets its name from the atomic number for aluminium. The Economic Development Corporation of Wayne County has been working with the Element 13 ownership team and the company's consultant since early last fall. Element 13 plans to acquire about 15.5 acres in the industrial park at the intersection of Round Barn and Gaar Jackson roads, just southeast of Blue Buffalo. A purchase agreement for the land will be reviewed by the EDC's board for possible approval at its next meeting on May 11. The board also will consider...
Hydro has developed a visor for health care to help in the fight against COVID-19. Employees at Hydro Extrusion in Vetlanda, Sweden, have developed 3D-print protective visors and will donate a total of 100 visors to the municipality. The company has already delivered to various health care facilities in early May. The ‘Hydro visor’ has been produced with 3D printers. Per Andréen, Design Engineer at Hydro Extrusion, followed the development of the Corona crisis in the media. A recurring point has been the global lack of protective equipment for healthcare professionals. Andréen and his colleagues in the Design Engineer department have started an intensive search for PETG material, which is a shock-resistant, odor-free and transparent plastic material for the visor itself. “This crisis...
Stewart Hamilton, CEO, Tiwai Point: “Aluminium manufacturer Rio Tinto does not own a hazardous substance being stored in Southland warehouses, but the company remains committed to its removal despite not being in a position to store the product at Tiwai Point, New Zealand Aluminium Smelter” Stewart Hamilton quoted the above lines while responding a letter from Environment Minister David Parker, where Parker said: “he was considering legal action against the owner of the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter over its failure to deal with its hazardous waste.” Ouvea premix gives off ammonia gas when it is wet, and the Mataura building housing was threatened by floodwaters in February. The potential of an environmental disaster prompted Gore District Council chief executive Steve Parry to strike a...
As updated by Shanghai Metals Market, social inventories of primary aluminium across eight consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrants, continued to decline over the five-day Labour Day holiday on robust demand and fewer arrivals. Inventories came in at 1.172 million tonnes as of Wednesday May 6, down 32,000 tonnes from Thursday April 30 The chart below shows the current status of the primary aluminium inventories across China in more details: Primary aluminium stocks in Wuxi, Shanghai, and Gongyi decreased by 26,000 tonnes, 3,000 tonnes and 6,000 tonnes from April 30 to stand at 498,000 tonnes, 155,000 tonnes and 75,000 tonnes on Wednesday, 06 May 2020. But the stocks in Nanhai, increased by 2,000 tonnes to stand at 248,000 tonnes. Hangzhou, Zhejiang inventories came in at...
The Municipal Corporation of Ludhiana has reportedly started using poly aluminium chloride as part of a trial to treat the wastewater entering the sewage treatment plant in Jamalpur area. As per the Municipal Corporation officials, the trial started on April 29, and so far the results are encouraging. The black water flowing out of the plant has now diluted and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) levels have improved. On Tuesday, Mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu directed the officials of the Municipal Corporation and Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) to use poly aluminium chloride for the treatment when he visited the sewage treatment plant to assess the results of the trial. Mayor said, “The results of the trial are encouraging, but we need to check effects of...
The US dollar increased on Tuesday. LME base metals rose across the board on Tuesday. LME aluminium increased 0.37%. SHFE aluminium opened higher on Wednesday as trading resumed from the five-day Labour Day holiday. SHFE aluminium rose more than 1%. Three-month LME aluminium stood higher on Tuesday with support from an extended rally in oil futures and improved demand outlook. As of Tuesday, May 5, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stands at US$ 1438.50 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1438.50 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1479.50 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 1479.50 per tonne; Dec 21 bid price stands at US$ 1604.50 per tonne, and Dec 21 offer price stands at US$ 1604.50 per tonne. The LME aluminium opening stock stood at 1355025 tonnes. Live...
After the extended weekend holiday in China for Labour Day, the Chinese A00 aluminium ingot price has inaugurated the week starting May 6 with a jump of RMB 180 per tonne to RMB 12,980 per tonne, learned Shanghai Metals Market. The average prices are expected to range between RMB 12,960 per tonne and RMB 13,000 per tonne, with spot contract to be traded at a premium price of RMB 50-90 per tonne. Linyi, among the major Chinese provinces, has seen the highest growth in A00 aluminium ingot price today of RMB 200 per tonne to stand at RMB 13,140 per tonne, followed by a rise of RMB 190 per tonne in Wuxi and Tianjin to RMB 12,980 per tonne and RMB 13,060 per tonne, respectively. In Foshan, Chongqing, and Shenyang, the A00 aluminium ingot price has increased by RMB 180 per tonne to respectively...
Africa produced 138,000 tonnes of primary aluminium in March 2020. The output registered a drop of 4.17% from March 2019. The production increased by 8.66% from February 2020’s production of 127,000 tonnes and 1.47% from January’s production of 136,000 tonnes, according to the latest data showed by the International Aluminium Institute (IAI). For the first three months of 2020, primary aluminium production came in at 401,000 tonnes as compared to 411,000 tonnes in the first three months of 2019. That records a decrease of 2.43% year-on-year. IAI reported that primary aluminium production in Africa came in at 1.643 million tonnes in 2019 as compared to 1.668 million tonnes in 2018. That was down 1.5 per cent year-on-year.
Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) has generated profit of BD 5.7 million (US$ 15.3 million) in Q1 2020, up by 136% year-over-year (YoY) from a loss of BD 15.8 million (US$ 42 million) in Q1 2019. Revenue came in at BD 275.9 million (US$ 733.8 million) in Q1 2020, up by 36% YoY from BD 203.5 million (US$ 541.2 million) in Q1 2019. Alba’s top-line and bottom-line were driven in the first quarter of 2020 by higher metal sales’ volume thanks to Line 6 and impacted by lower LME price. The Chairman of Alba’s Board of Directors, Shaikh Daij Bin Salman Bin Daij Al Khalifa stated: “As the world is facing unprecedented times with the novel COVID-19 outbreak, we managed to close the first quarter of this year with overall good performance despite depressed LME prices. As COVID-19 continues to unfold, our...
Lixil Group Corporation, the Japanese owners of Permasteelisa has made public that it is selling the company to US firm Atlas holdings, the owners of Aludium. Lixil Group has been trying to offload the multinational – the UK’s largest envelope specialist by turnover – for several years, with financial authorities in the US blocking its proposed 2017 sale to Chinese firm Grandland. The value of the new deal is yet to be disclosed. Connecticut-based Atlas Holdings’ describes its investment strategy as “buying and investing in firms undergoing complex operational and financial challenges”. It owns 20 companies, incorporating aluminium manufacturer Aludium. In a statement, Lixil Group said: “The sale is part of its strategy to simplify its business structure and reduce risk exposure in its...
