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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Piyush Goyal, India's Union Mines Secretary, has shared his thoughts considering the need for timeliness in completing any expansion projects, pushing up the production targets and making structured improvements in the overall operational efficiency during a review of National Aluminium Company Ltd (NALCO)’s ongoing expansion programs and overall performance on Wednesday. NALCO, a firm that is already a key player within the Indian bauxite mining, alumina refining and aluminium production sectors, is looking to increase its capacities to meet the growing domestic demand from sectors like electric vehicles, renewable energy and infrastructure projects. Don’t miss out- Buyers are looking for your products on our B2B platform Goyal further commended NALCO for its impressive achievements and...
On December 24, the London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium price showed a strong upward momentum in cash bid and offer, with a slight uptick on the 3-month and forward contracts as well. However, the LME alumina Platts has slightly inched down. Both the cash bid and offer went up by USD 16 per tonne or 0.54 per cent, where the bid reached USD 2,931.5 per tonne from USD 2,915.5 per tonne and the offer at USD 2,932 per tonne from USD 2,916 per tonne. At the 3-month contract, the bid rose by USD 2 per tonne or 0.07 per cent and settled at USD 2,957 per tonne, up from USD 2,955 per tonne. Concurrently, the LME 3-month offer expanded by USD 3.5 per tonne or 0.12 per cent to reach USD 2.959 per tonne from USD 2,955.5 per tonne. Don’t miss out- Buyers are looking for your products on our B2B...
According to BCA Research, aluminium prices are expected to remain comparatively firm in the near term, owing to the tight primary supply in China and the wide pricing difference between copper and aluminium. Image for representational purposes only Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with 50+ reports across the value chain A key factor here is China’s primary aluminium production constraints. The country is approaching its annual cap of 45 million tonnes, a limit first implemented in 2017 and renewed under the 2025-2027 Action Plan. Roukaya Ibrahim, Chief Commodity Strategist at BCA, noted in simple terms, “Chinese primary aluminium production is close to its ceiling.” This marks the conclusion of an expansion of several decades that delivered over 80 per cent in...
Aluminium prices saw a slight uptick of 0.21 per cent, closing at USD 284.5. This rise is owed to the positive trend in London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium, which climbed to nearly USD 2,970 per tonne, reaching its highest point since May 2022. The rise in the aluminium price is deemed to have some stability because the supply-side concern grew after South32 revealed that its Mozal smelter in Mozambique will go into care and maintenance by March 2026 due to ongoing power supply challenges. This certain revelation can lead to a tighter global supply in the coming year. Apart from this, other disruptions, like at Iceland’s Grundartangi smelter and Japanese ports, which witnessed a drop of 5.2 per cent in their inventories month-on-month and finally settled at 312,100 tonnes. This...
Aluminium prices on the London Metal Exchange moved higher on December 23, with both cash and forward contracts recording day-on-day gains compared with December 22. The LME aluminium cash bid price rose to USD 2,915.50 per tonne on December 23 from USD 2,898 per tonne a day earlier, marking an increase of USD 17.50 per tonne, or 0.60 per cent. The cash offer price followed a similar trajectory, climbing to USD 2,916 per tonne from USD 2,898.50 per tonne, also up 0.60 per cent day on day. In the forward market, the LME aluminium 3-month bid price advanced to USD 2,955 per tonne on December 23 from USD 2,940 per tonne on December 22, a rise of USD 15 per tonne, equivalent to a 0.51 per cent increase. The 3-month offer price edged up to USD 2,955.50 per tonne from USD 2,942 per tonne,...
Leading alumina producer Nanshan Aluminium International Holdings Limited has fully commissioned its New Alumina Production Project in Southeast Asia, adding two million tonnes of annual capacity and doubling its total designed alumina output to four million tonnes per year. The ramp-up was completed in two stages. The first one million tonnes per year line began operations in the third quarter of 2025, followed by the second one million tonnes per year line, which entered operation on 20 December 2025. With both lines now fully operational, the project has moved from expansion to steady-state production. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with 50+ reports across the value chain The capacity increase significantly strengthens Nanshan Aluminium’s cost position and...
A strained global aluminium market could push prices sharply higher over the next year, even as alumina remains weighed down by surplus supply, believes the leadership of National Aluminium Company (NALCO). Image source: NALCO Brijendra Pratap Singh, Chairman and Managing Director of the state-owned producer, believes aluminium could trade close to the USD 3000 per tonne mark in the next financial year, underpinned by steadily rising consumption and structural limits on output. He has also added that demand is accelerating well beyond traditional end users, with electric vehicles, infrastructure projects, power transmission and large-scale data centres, all adding to the call on metal. The supply picture, however, is far less flexible. Singh pointed to the risk of smelter closures in...
Japan’s aluminium inventories at its main ports (Yokohama, Nagoya, and Osaka) fell slightly in November 2025, hinting at some relief from recent tightness. Total stocks were 312,100 tonnes in November, down 5.2 per cent from October’s 329,100 tonnes, but still 9.2 per cent higher than the 285,800 tonnes recorded in November 2024. Image for representation only Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with our Outlook 2026 insight s across the value chain How these three Japanese ports influence aluminium trade trends Nagoya, Japan’s biggest aluminium hub, led the monthly decline. Its stocks dropped to 159,700 tonnes in November from 170,400 tonnes in October, a decrease of almost 10,700 tonnes. This was likely due to increased buying by auto and machinery makers after a slow...
On December 22, the London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium cash price showed an uptick from the previous day’s close; however, the 3-month bid and offer and the forward contracts showed a slight decrease. Both the LME cash bid and price went up by USD 2.5 per tonne or 0.09 per cent, where the bid reached USD 2,898 per tonne, up from USD 2,895.5 per tonne and the offer price at USD 2,898.5 per tonne from USD 2,896 per tonne. The 3-month LME bid and offer price declined by USD 3 per tonne or 0.1 per cent and each settled at USD 2,940 per tonne and USD 2,942 per tonne, up from USD 2,943 per tonne and USD 2,945 per tonne, respectively. Must read: Key industry individuals share their thoughts on the trending topics At the forward contracts, the December 26 bid and offer were reduced by USD 4...
After a year marked by sharp monthly swings, global metals prices are showing signs of settling into a steadier range. The World Bank’s metals and minerals price index edged up by 0.5 per cent in November, following a much stronger 6 per cent rise in October and a 4 per cent gain over the third quarter of 2025. Taken together, the moves suggest momentum has cooled, but not reversed. The index, compiled by the Washington-based World Bank Group, tracks six nonferrous metals - aluminium, copper, lead, nickel, tin and zinc - along with iron ore. According to the bank, recent gains have been underpinned by resilient demand and growing concerns over supply, particularly in copper. Looking ahead, the World Bank sees little reason for sharp corrections in the near term. “Prices for most base...
Aluminium prices on the London Metal Exchange (LME) moved sharply higher on November 19, driven mainly by gains in nearby contracts, while the forward curve showed mixed signals. The LME aluminium cash bid price climbed to USD 2,895.50 per tonne on November 19, up USD 43.50, or 1.53 per cent, from USD 2,852 per tonne on November 18. The cash offer price also rose to USD 2,896 per tonne, marking an increase of USD 43.50, or 1.52 per cent, from the previous day’s USD 2,852.50 per tonne. In contrast, prices for the three-month aluminium contract weakened. On November 19, the three-month bid and offer stood at USD 2,852 per tonne and USD 2,852.50 per tonne, respectively. This represented a decline of 1.52 per cent and 1.57 per cent drop, respectively from November 18 levels, when the...
The global aluminium and bauxite markets are currently experiencing a week filled with significant changes. New resource discoveries, swift project rollouts, capacity expansions and shifting trade policies are quietly altering the industry's short-term outlook. From innovative mining techniques and advancements in refineries to increased production in key regions and adjustments in global trade due to tariffs, all these factors indicate a transformation in cost structures, supply priorities and competitive landscapes. Upstream weekly recap by AL Circle Pvt Ltd Projects this week that cannot be missed The Novas Minas Project, powered by Mineração Rio do Norte (MRN), achieved a milestone in Brazilian mining, revealing the fourth-largest bauxite deposit in the Pará state . This project...
The LME aluminium price trend over the past 3 years shows a market rebounding from earlier weakness, trading within a varied price range and settling near a multi-year high by year-end. According to Westmetall’s LME aluminium cash price cache, 2025 kick-started with aluminium pricing of USD 2,500s per tonne, reached USD 2,685.50 per tonne by March 20, 2025, and was around USD 2,545 per tonne on August 1, 2025, amid tightening fundamentals and sustained supply concerns. LME primary aluminium cash price is closing in the year 2025 at around USD 2,800, with expectations of further increases in the coming year. Image for reference only Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with Global Aluminium Industry Outlook 2026 LME aluminium prices before 2025 Before entering 2025, LME...
China's imports of unwrought aluminium and aluminium products fell by 14 percent in November compared to the previous year, customs statistics revealed on Thursday.The General Administration of Customs reported that the country imported 240,000 metric tonnes. This fall brought an end to the five straight months of Y-o-Y growth, pointing to year-end weaker downstream demand from all the major sectors like transportation, construction and packaging where aluminium is widely used. In addition, analyses suggest import appetite was poor because the arbitrage incentives remained muted. Also read: Subtle LME aluminium uptick lifts cash offer to USD 2,852.5 per tonne Despite the monthly drop, China’s total imports in the first 11 months of 2025 rose 4.4 per cent Y-o-Y to 3.6 million tonnes. The...
On December 16, South32 announced the shutdown of Mozambique’s Mozal aluminium smelter in 2026 due to the government’s failure to acquire a new power deal. Denting the global aluminium supply by pulling back its 560,000-tonne annual capacity, the smelter leaves Europe grasping for replacements. Image for referential purposes only Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with 50+ reports across the value chain Trade Data Monitor reports that in the first 10 months of 2025, the smelter shipped the EU customers almost 430,000 tonnes, securing the top position in supplying almost 20 per cent of primary aluminium to the bloc. Internationale Nederlanden Groep (ING) had made a prior estimate of a 200,000-tonne deficit in the 2025 international aluminium market. As the shutdown is...
On December 18, the London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium prices showed a very minimal uptick from the previous day’s close. However, at the inventory front, the LME opening stock showed a slight decline. Both the LME cash bid and offer price went up by USD 1 per tonne or 0.03 per cent, where the bid reached USD 2,852 per tonne and the offer at USD 2,852.5 per tonne. The 3-month bid rose by USD 2 per tonne or 0.07 per cent to USD 2,896 per tonne, up from USD 2,894 per tonne. On the other hand, the 3-month offer increased by USD 3.5 per tonne or 0.12 per cent, from USD 2,894.5 per tonne to USD 2,898 per tonne. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with 50+ reports across the value chain At the forward contracts, the December 26 bid and offer escalated by USD 3 per...
AKFA Aluminum Solutions, part of Uzbekistan-based AKFA Group, is preparing to enter the US manufacturing market for the first time with a new production facility planned in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The move will make AKFA the first Uzbekistani company to establish a manufacturing presence in the United States. The company said the project will involve an USD 80 million investment and is expected to create 331 jobs once fully operational, marking a significant step in the group’s international expansion. The Bowling Green facility is designed as a full-cycle aluminium production hub, combining extrusion, anodizing and finishing operations under one roof. The plant will be built to meet US energy and environmental standards and will incorporate recycled aluminium billets along with...
AL Circle has announced pre-booking for its upcoming research publication, “ Global Aluminium Industry Outlook 2026 ”. The report is now available at a pre-book price of USD$ 999, valid until January 21, 2026. Global aluminium markets are set to navigate rapid shifts in demand, sustainability mandates, energy transitions, trade dynamics, impacts by geopolitical crisis, tariffs, CBAM and bank interests in 2026. To help companies be better prepared for what lies ahead, this comprehensive study by AL Circle examines near- to mid-term developments across the global aluminium value chain, including bauxite and alumina supply, primary and secondary aluminium production & consumption, downstream demand trends to end-user consumption, trade flows, and policy developments. It also reviews the...
