In the first half (H1) of 2026, the US imported a total of 1.68 million metric tons of unwrought aluminum (HSN code: 7601), of which 16.96% was sourced from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). How has H1 2026 fared for the momentum of unwrought aluminum exports from the UAE to the US? Year-on-year cooling in trade can be noticed, largely owing to the temporary shutdown of the Emirates Global Aluminium’s (EGA’s) Al Taweelah smelter for repair and maintenance. Explore the production, demand and consumption forecasts of bauxite and alumina in our report: “ Global Bauxite & Alumina Market Forecast to 2036: Supply–Demand, Trade Flows & Price Outlook ” H1 aluminum trade snapshot: 2026 vs 2025 vs 2024 Comparing the H1 2026 figures of unwrought aluminum exported by the UAE to the US, a mixed result...
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...
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On January 16, the London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium price dropped drastically from the previous day’s close, where LME cash and forwards contracts also slipped. There has been a dip in the inventory side, but the alumina platts remained unchanged. Both the LME cash bid and offer fell by USD 27 per tonne or 0.9 per cent, where the bid moved from USD3,173 per tonne to USD 3,146.5 per tonne and the offer from USD 3,174 per tonne to USD 3,147 per tonne. Don’t miss out- Buyers are looking for your products on our B2B platform The 3-month bid and offer also moved down by USD 37.5 per tonne or 1.2 per cent, where the bid shifted from USD 3,175.5 per tonne to USD 3,138 per tonne and the offer from USD 3,176 per tonne to USD 3,138.5 per tonne. A similar trend was witnessed at the forward...
According to SMM statistics, aluminium billet inventory in mainstream domestic consumption areas stood at 206,000 tonnes on Jan. 15, up 21,500 tonnes from Monday and 36,500 tonnes w-o-w. During Jan. 5-11, total warehouse withdrawals of domestic aluminium billets amounted to 38,500 tonne, up 4,500 tonne w-o-w due to the impact of the New Year holiday. Inventory-wise, Wuxi, Foshan, Nanchang, and Huzhou all saw a faster pace of inventory buildup, with Foshan experiencing a sharp inventory surge due to concentrated arrivals of shipments from the north. On one hand, constrained by persistently high prices and seasonal downstream impacts, extrusion plants showed significantly insufficient buying sentiment, with demand continuing to weaken. On the other hand, although the operating rate of...
In January 2026, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) issued an updated trade compliance verification priorities list that encompasses tariff classification and surtax regulations enforcement for specific products. This list reflects CBSA’s ongoing efforts to ensure that imported goods are properly reported and that duties, taxes and compliance requirements are met, using a risk-based approach that evolves over time. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with Outlook 2026 insights across the value chain The verification regime requires importers to classify products as per tariff regulations, declare their origin and value with precision and pay suitable taxes and duties for them. Verifications help assess whether import documentation and practices meet the...
At the beginning of 2026 and in the first half of January, 2026, the global upstream aluminium value chain is stepping into a new era where projects are ramping up, capital is being mobilised, leadership roles are shifting and price signals are becoming more pronounced, all at once. The industry is now at a juncture where it is seeing critical resource movements and explorations, which are driven by technology and calculated partnerships, setting different production achievements and altering market dynamics. The year started with beneficial expansions, which redirected significant structural shifts taking place in the industry. Projects beyond limits Jushen Logistics Group, via its indirectly held subsidiaries, has secured a three-year contract worth USD 134 million . This deal focuses...
To set the context of this piece, it is necessary to understand that India’s Aluminium Vision 2047 and Viksit Bharat are intrinsically aligned and they complement each other’s ambition. Truth be told, achieving the milestones outlined in the Aluminium Vision 2047 can place India on course to realise the broader objectives of Viksit Bharat. Ultimately, both the frameworks envision India as a self-reliant country in terms of robust manufacturing ecosystem, lower import dependence, high per capita consumption & Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and resource efficiency with a circular economy. The deadline for both Aluminium Vision and Viksit Bharat is also the same – 2047, the year India marks centenary of its independence. While there are over 2 decades to achieve the vision but early signs of...
On January 15, the LME aluminium cash bid price settled at USD 3,173.5 per tonne, down from USD 3,220.5 per tonne on January 14, marking a 1.46 per cent day-on-day decline. The cash offer price eased to USD 3,174 per tonne from USD 3,221 per tonne, also reflecting a 1.46 per cent decrease. The three-month aluminium contract followed a similar trend. The bid price fell to USD 3,175.5 per tonne on January 15 from USD 3,204 per tonne a day earlier, a 0.89 per cent decline. The offer price slipped to USD 3,176 per tonne from USD 3,205 per tonne, down 0.90 per cent day on day. For the December 27 contract, the bid price softened to USD 3,145 per tonne from USD 3,167 per tonne, recording a 0.69 per cent decline. The offer price moved down to USD 3,150 per tonne from USD 3,172 per tonne, also a...
After remaining dormant for nearly three years, the Slovalco aluminium smelter in Žiar nad Hronom is once more at the centre of Slovakia’s industrial debate. Prime Minister Robert Fico assigned great priority to the plant’s revival, warning that without cheaper electricity, heavy industry, aluminium in particular, might disappear from Europe. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with Outlook 2026 insights across the value chain The Slovalco halt and restart plans Slovalco’s annual production output was 160,000 tonnes of aluminium. In 2022, Slovalco laid off most of its 450 employees, citing the onus on high electricity charges. Its primary aluminium production came to a standstill in early 2023, ending more than 70 years of uninterrupted operations. Owners Norsk Hydro...
The 2025 S&P 500 concluded with an estimated gain of +17 per cent. Apart from precious metals like gold with a gain of +70 per cent and silver with +169 per cent, aluminium gained a significant +38 per cent. Between April and the end of 2025, aluminium added +842 points. China at the heart of the aluminium market China, being the world’s largest producer of aluminium and a manufacturing hub, exports to leading global retail outlets like Walmart, Target, Boots, etc., accounting for approximately 30 per cent of global goods output. Subsequently, its policy choices largely influence the aluminium industry. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with Outlook 2026 insights across the value chain To counter deflationary pressure and rein in industrial overcapacity, China made...
LME aluminium prices saw a sharp rise on January 14 compared to the previous session, while inventories continued on with a slightly declining streak. The LME aluminium cash bid price shot up to USD 3,220.5 per tonne on January 14, from USD 3,193 per tonne on January 13, marking an increase of 0.86 per cent. The cash offer price rose to USD 3,221 per tonne from USD 3,194 to per tonne, an increase of 0.84 per cent. In the futures market, the LME aluminium 3-month bid price increased from USD 3,183 per tonne on January 13 to USD 3,204 on January 14, up by 0.65 per cent. The 3-month offer price also moved higher, rising from USD 3,183.5 per tonne to USD 3,205 per tonne, a gain of 0.67 per cent. To know more about the global primary aluminium industry 2026 outlook, pre-book the report “...
Vedanta Limited, the largest aluminium producer of India, is attempting to secure reliable bauxite supplies to support its core business amid regulatory delays, legal proceedings and resistance from local communities. For the upcoming months, the outcome of these parallel challenges will play a critical role in maintaining the cost structure and competitiveness of the company in the aluminium industry. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with Outlook 2026 insights across the value chain Delays and grassroots troubles at Sijimali mine In early 2023, Vedanta attained mining rights for the Sijimali bauxite mine in Odisha, positioning it as the company’s first captive bauxite mine in the state. The mine was expected to begin operations by Q3 FY25, but the project was...
Metal stocks dazzled on Wednesday, January 14, including industrial metals. The Nifty Metal traded 2.7 per cent higher at INR 11,660.45 levels, with Vedanta stocks gaining 6.1 per cent. From INR 637.20 (USD 7.05) on January 13, Vedanta's share price surged to INR 676 ($7.48), reflecting optimism around company-specific developments. Week-on-week, the stock price rose by 8.65 per cent. To know more about the global primary aluminium industry 2026 outlook, pre-book the report " Global Aluminium Industry Outlook 2026 ” at a special price. Vedanta’s internal reshaping is seen as a fresh source of momentum for the stock. Reports suggest the group is close to completing the regulatory clearances needed for its plan to split into five independently listed companies. Investors widely expect the...
LME aluminium prices edged higher on January 13 compared with the previous session, while inventories showed a marginal decline. The LME aluminium cash bid price stood at USD 3,193 per tonne on January 13, up from USD 3,185 per tonne on January 12, marking an increase of 0.25 per cent. The cash offer price rose from USD 3,185.5 per tonne to USD 3,194 per tonne, an increase of 0.27 per cent. In the futures market, the LME aluminium 3-month bid price increased from USD 3,177 per tonne on January 12 to USD 3,183 per tonne on January 13, up by 0.19 per cent. The 3-month offer price also moved higher, rising from USD 3,177.5 per tonne to USD 3,183.5 per tonne, a gain of 0.19 per cent. To know more about the global primary aluminium industry 2026 outlook, pre-book the report “ Global Aluminium...
In recent years, people often explained aluminium prices using familiar demand stories like construction cycles, auto production, sentiment from China, and seasonal buying. However, as we approach 2026, a larger factor affecting price behaviour is hard to overlook: supply is less flexible than it once was. Even in a slower-growing economy, aluminium prices can remain elevated if the market lacks enough capacity to absorb shocks. This is exactly what we are seeing now: tightness driven by a mix of structural constraints and not just one-time disruptions. AL Circle’s upcoming Global Aluminium Industry Outlook 2026 frames this tightening as the result of multiple interconnected factors across the value chain, not one isolated event. Structural deficits are replacing cyclical balance It is...
LME aluminium prices advanced modestly on January 12, reflecting small but steady gains across cash and forward contracts, while exchange stocks continued to edge lower. The LME aluminium cash bid price rose to USD 3,185 per tonne on January 12, marking a 0.17 per cent increase from USD 3,179.5 per tonne on January 9. The cash offer price climbed to 3185.5 per tonne from USD 3,180 per tonne, a parallel increase of 0.17 per cent. In the forward market, the LME aluminium 3-month bid price increased to USD 3177 per tonne on January 12 from USD 3,161 per tonne on January 9, indicating a 0.5 per cent rise. The 3-month offer price slightly moved up to USD 3177.5 from USD 3,163 per tonne, a gain of 0.45 per cent. To know more about the global primary aluminium industry 2026 outlook, pre-book the...
In an attempt to rethink how global economies will function in a carbon-constrained future, industrial strategies are being reshaped around decarbonisation , clean energy, recyclability and the security of the critical raw materials. This recalibration is largely driven by the growing recognition of accessing strategic metals that will further define the financial position and the national security in the decades ahead. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with 50+ reports across the value chain Among these materials, aluminium has emerged as the decisive driver for the low-carbon transition journey. Since it brings a rare combination of attributes, abundant availability, light weight, durability and recyclability, this metal becomes indispensable to renewable energy...
Spotlight returns on the shares of Hindalco Industries following the HSBC Global Investment Research reaffirming its Buy rating and raising its target price. It cited the earnings and valuation-related upside risks with the tightening of global aluminium markets. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with Outlook 2026 insights across the value chain HSBC raised its target price from INR 1040 (USD 11.52) to INR 1060 (USD 11.75), highly indicative of a potential upside of approximately 17 per cent from prevailing market levels. Potential of earnings upside HSBC noted that over the next two financial years, Hindalco’s earnings have the potential to outperform expectations significantly at the current USD/INR exchange rates and LME aluminium prices. This stands even though...
LME aluminium prices advanced sharply on January 9, reflecting strong gains across cash and forward contracts, while exchange stocks continued to edge lower. The LME aluminium cash bid price rose to USD 3,179.5 per tonne on January 9, up from USD 3,080 per tonne on January 8, marking a 3.23 per cent increase. The cash offer price climbed to USD 3,180 per tonne from USD 3,081 per tonne, an increase of 3.21 per cent. In the forward market, the LME aluminium 3-month bid price increased to USD 3,161 per tonne on January 9, compared with USD 3,089 per tonne a day earlier, representing a 2.33 per cent rise. The 3-month offer price moved up to USD 3,163 per tonne from USD 3,090 per tonne, a 2.36 per cent gain. To know more about the global primary aluminium industry 2026 outlook, pre-book the...
Dudley’s Aluminium, a Welsh fabricator, has won two new high-value education projects in Hampshire involving North Whiteley Secondary School and King’s Academy Bay House School in Gosport, to be delivered in partnership with main contractor Kier. Under both arrangements, Dudley's Aluminium will build Metal Technology System curtain walling, windows, and doors at each school. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with 50+ reports across the value chain The first project, North Whiteley Secondary School, represents a major greenfield education investment, designed to provide 900 secondary school places, each with dedicated facilities for pupils with special educational needs within mainstream education. The school will also have a three-storey teaching block and advanced...
