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 Wednesday, August 13, both LME aluminium cash bid price and LME aluminium official settlement price gained USD 22 per tonne or 0.84 per cent and USD 21 per tonne or 0.80 per cent. The prices closed at USD 2,625 per tonne and USD 2,626 per tonne. 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price also added USD 19.5 per tonne or 0.74 per cent to halt at USD 2,629.5 per tonne and USD 2,630 per tonne. December 26 bid price and December 26 offer price hiked by USD 12 per tonne or 0.45 per cent to peg at USD 2,670 per tonne and USD 2,675 per tonne. LME aluminium 3-month Asian Reference Price on the other hand dipped by USD 3.5 per tonne or .13 per cent to reach USD 2,616 per tonne. LME aluminium opening stock came in at 478,625 tonnes. Live warrants and Cancelled warrants stood at 464,400 tonnes and...
On Tuesday, August 12, Hindalco Industries Limited announced the first quarter results of the financial year 2025-2026, ending June 30. In the report, the company highlighted that both the upstream and the downstream business (India) had recorded stellar performance. Satish Pai, Managing Director, Hindalco Industries, said, "After the record profitability of FY25, Hindalco sustained its growth momentum with a strong first quarter performance, driven by operational efficiencies, cost control, and an enhanced product mix. Aluminium India Upstream business continued to outperform with industry-best EBITDA margins of 44 per cent. Aluminium India Downstream had a stellar quarter and reported its strongest quarterly performance with 2x EBITDA growth." The company struck an upbeat note on rising...
Choil Aluminum, the first company to manufacture aluminium semi-fabrication products in the Korean market, reports its stock has risen impressively to 100 per cent in comparison to the last five years. In the previous year, the company witnessed its stock price rise by 11 per cent. The company has demonstrated robust earnings growth, achieving an average annual increase of 56.3 per cent, significantly outpacing the Metals and Mining industry's 5.7 per cent growth rate. The company's revenues have expanded at a steady average rate of 8.5 per cent per year. Additionally, the company has also reported its return on equity of 8.1 per cent alongside net profit margins of 3.3 per cent. Share price movement Day-on-day On August 13, 2025, Choil Aluminum's stock opened at KRW 1,625 (USD 1.25),...
Vedanta Aluminium, India's largest aluminium producer, commemorated the International Youth Day by highlighting the contribution of its young workforce in driving innovation, sustainability and technological advancements across its operations in Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh. Combining the agility of a start-up with the scale of a global conglomerate, Vedanta is strategically developing a future-ready talent pipeline. Each year, Vedanta onboards nearly 2,000 fresh graduates from leading institutions such as IITs and IIMs. Supported by comprehensive learning and development programmes, the company has built a robust pipeline of over 3,000 young leaders through structured talent management initiatives. With an average employee age of 31 and 65 per cent of its workforce below 35,...
Aluminium prices on the London Metal Exchange (LME) showed a steady upward movement on August 12, with both cash and forward contracts posting gains compared to the previous day. The LME aluminium cash bid price climbed by 0.68 per cent to USD 2,603 per tonne from USD 2,585.5 on August 11, while the cash offer price rose 0.73 per cent to USD 2,605 per tonne from USD 2,586.5 per tonne. Similarly, the 3-month bid price increased by 0.73 per cent to USD 2,610 per tonne and the 3-month offer price gained 0.81 per cent to USD 2,610.5 per tonne up from USD 2,591 per tonne and USD 2,591.5 per tonne respectively on August 11. Forward contracts for December 2026 also saw modest gains, with the bid price rising 0.56 per cent to USD 2,658 per tonne and the offer price increasing 0.57 per cent to USD...
Japan’s aluminium market in mid-2025 reflects a mixed picture, with inventories steadily declining despite increased imports. The trend suggests a tightening supply environment, shaped by shifting trade flows, evolving demand patterns and broader economic dynamics. As of July 2025, Marubeni Corp., a leading Japanese general trading house, reported that aluminium inventories across Japan's three key ports, Yokohama, Nagoya and Osaka, declined by 0.4 per cent to 315,400 tonnes. The cause behind the sudden shift The demand front According to data from the Japan Aluminum Association (JAA), Japan's aluminium demand reached 895,100 tonnes in the first quarter of 2025, up by 1.4 per cent year-on-year. Domestic consumption rose by 1.3 per cent to nearly 860,000 tonnes, while exports recorded a...
Australia, despite sitting on vast natural gas reserves, now finds itself staring down the barrel of not one, but two energy crises , one gripping the east coast and the other looming over Western Australia. Amid the turmoil, Nationals Senator Matt Canavan took a swipe at Rio Tinto's green energy ambitions, cheekily suggesting the strategy had left its Tomago aluminium smelter, one of the country's largest, on its knees. Australia's biggest aluminium producer, Rio Tinto-owned Tomago facility, in early July, sought billions of dollars in public funds, with the aim of nipping the bud collapse as the local aluminium industry began to face the energy cost crisis. The New South Wales (NSW) government has confirmed it is in talks to prevent the potential collapse of the giant Tomago aluminium...
The Trump administration’s latest tariff move has left a glaring question: why has aluminium been slapped with a punishing 50 per cent duty, while copper sails into US ports untaxed? At first glance, both metals are strategic, energy-intensive to produce, and integral to manufacturing. Yet Washington’s selective hammering is something that raises several questions. Washington’s contrasting policy agenda – aluminium vs copper The official rationale is rooted in two strategic objectives: reviving domestic smelting capacity and cutting reliance on imports. Aluminium ticks both boxes. In the United States, primary aluminium production has collapsed over three decades - from 3.35 million tonnes in 1995 to 675,600 tonnes in 2024, representing an 80 per cent decline. To fill the void in the...
Novelis, the US based aluminium producer, reported weaker earnings for the first quarter of fiscal 2026, which ended June 30, 2025, as higher scrap costs and tariff impacts offset volume gains. Net income attributable to common shareholders dropped 36 per cent to USD 96 million from USD 151 million a year earlier, largely due to restructuring charges and softer operating performance, partially cushioned by favourable metal price lag. Adjusted EBITDA fell 17 per cent year-on-year to USD 416 million from USD 500 million, while rolled product shipments edged up 1 PER CENT to 963 kilotonnes. Adjusted EBITDA per tonne in Q1 FY26 fell 18 per cent to USD 432 million. Excluding special items, net income was USD 116 million, down 43 per cent. The decline was driven by higher aluminium scrap...
On Monday, August 11, the LME aluminium prices edged down by USD 23 per tonne or 0.88 per cent and USD 22.5 per tonne or 0.86 per cent. The prices on the same day closed at USD 2,585.50 per tonne for cash bid and USD 2,586.5 for official settlement. As per the London Metal Exchange (LME) price graph, 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price also descended by USD 19 per tonne or 0.72 per cent to peg at USD 2,591 per tonne and USD 2,591.5 per tonne. December 26 bid price and December 26 offer price lost USD 15 per tonne or 0.56 per cent to reach USD 2,643 per tonne and USD 2,648 per tonne. On the inventory side , both Opening stock and Live warrants clocked a different story. They both rose from 470,575 tonnes to 475,850 tonnes and from 456,350 tonnes to 461,625 tonnes. Except for the...
The Trump administration’s aluminium tariffs starting at 25 per cent in March 2025 and doubling to 50 per cent by June have reshaped global aluminium trade, rattling supply chains and upending industry dynamics. Major players like Alcoa, Rio Tinto, Rusal, Chalco, and Hindalco Industries have absorbed staggering costs. Alcoa alone reported USD 115 million in tariff-related expenses in Q2 2025, while Rio Tinto faced losses exceeding USD 300 million in just six months, heavily impacted by Canadian exports destined for the US market. These tariffs have not only squeezed profit margins but also forced large firms to rethink their strategies. Many have rerouted shipments to Europe and Asia, invested in tariff-resilient segments such as aluminium for electric vehicle (EV) batteries, and deferred...
Regardless of the industry, an efficient and advanced logistics network is essential for seamless transportation. Recognising this, Vedanta Aluminium, India's largest aluminium producer, has developed a sophisticated logistics infrastructure that facilitated the movement of over 55 million tonnes of cargo in the financial year 2025. With operations focused primarily in Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh, the company's logistics network exemplifies significant scale, operational accuracy and a strong emphasis on sustainability. Vedanta Aluminium is driving one of the country's most advanced and high-capacity logistics networks, having transported over 55 million tonnes of raw materials and finished aluminium products in FY2025. To put this in perspective, Indian Railways handled...
London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium prices softened on August 8 from the previous session, while stocks posted a marginal rise. The LME aluminium cash bid price fell to USD 2,608.50 per tonne on August 8, down 0.31 per tonne from USD 2,616.50 per tonne, and the cash offer slipped to USD 2,609 per tonne, down 0.31 per cent from USD 2,617 per tonne. The 3-month bid of LME aluminium declined to USD 2,610 per tonne down 0.27 per cent from USD 2,617 per tonne while the 3-month cash price eased to USD 2,610.50 per tonne down 0.32 per cent from USD 2,619 per tonne. Forward contracts also weakened, with the December 2026 bid price down to USD 2,658 per tonne a drop of 0.45 per cent from USD 2,670 per tonne and the offer at USD 2,663 per tonne down 0.45 per cent from USD 2,675 per tonne. The...
Century Aluminum Company, a global primary aluminium producer, has announced plans to resume over 50,000 tonnes of idled production at its smelter in Mt. Holly, South Carolina. The investment of approximately USD 50 million is expected to create more than 100 jobs. The facility will be operating at 100 per cent capacity by June 30, 2026, producing aluminium at full capacity for the first time in over a decade. This represents nearly a 10 per cent net increase in total US aluminium production. Currently, it is operating at 75 per cent. The move follows the recent reinforcement of U.S. Section 232 tariffs, now 50 per cent on certain aluminium imports, which Century credits for enabling this strategic push. As CEO Jesse Gary stated, “Today’s announcement was made possible by President...
The 50 per cent tariffs imposed by the US on Canadian aluminium since June 4, 2025, have sharply increased costs for Canadian producers, who supply about half of the aluminium used in the US. The higher duties have driven price inflation across supply chains, caused supply disruptions, and put roughly 8,700 direct Canadian aluminium production jobs at risk. At the Port of Oswego, importers are using its Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) designation to partially offset the blow. Granted in 2023, the FTZ status allows companies to delay or reduce tariff payments under certain conditions, offering temporary relief amid volatile trade conditions. Port Authority Interim Director Tom Schneider said companies stockpiled material ahead of the tariffs, first after election day and again when the Trump...
Century Aluminum Co. (NASDAQ: CENX) reported a Q2 2025 net loss of USD 4.6 million (USD 0.05 per share), reversing a USD 29.7 million profit in Q1 and down from USD 20.2 million in Q2 2024. The swing was driven by USD 35 million in one-off costs, including derivative losses, an Iceland inventory adjustment, operational inefficiencies, and a transformer failure. Shipments were 175,741 tonnes, up 4.2per cent Q-o-Q and 4.7per cent Y-o-Y, reflecting stable production in US and Icelandic operations. Net sales stood at USD 628.1 million, down 0.9per cent Q-o-Q but up 12per cent Y-o-Y, supported by higher aluminium prices and US Midwest premiums despite lower alumina sales. Adjusted net income was USD 30.4 million (USD 0.30 per share), down 17per cent Q-o-Q but sharply higher than USD 6.8...
National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), a Navratna CPSE under the Ministry of Mines, has started FY26 on a strong note, with net profit climbing 77 per cent year-on-year to INR 1,064 crore in Q1 from INR 601 crore in Q1 FY25. The earnings surge comes as India’s aluminium industry benefits from rising demand, cost efficiencies, and stronger export markets. Revenue from operations rose 33 per cent to INR 3,806.94 crore from INR 2,856.10 crore, while total income increased to INR 3,930.45 crore from INR 2,916.62 crore. Profit before tax grew 75 per cent to INR 1,429.27 crore from INR 817 crore, and earnings per share rose to INR 5.70 from INR 3.20. Also read: NALCO’s FY2025 net profit posts triple-digit growth, breaking all previous records Sequentially, revenue fell 28 per cent from INR...
The LME aluminium price witnessed significant growth on August 7, with both cash bid price and official settlement price showing upward momentum. As per the LME price graph , both the cash bid price and the official settlement price gained USD 27.5 per tonne to clock at USD 2,616.50 per tonne and USD 2,617 per tonne. LME aluminium 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price surged by USD 26 per tonne and 27.5 per tonne to halt at USD 2,617 per tonne and USD 2,619 per tonne. On the same day, December 26 bid price and December 26 offer price hiked by USD 18 per tonne to settle at USD 2,670 per tonne and USD 2,675 per tonne. Also Read: LME aluminium cash price rises to $2,589/t; opening stock climbs to 467,925t LME aluminium 3-month Asian Reference Price inched up USD 1 per tonne to clock at...
