The conclusion of negotiations on the EU–India Free Trade Agreement creates a new context for Indian manufacturers considering the European market, but future opportunities will increasingly depend on regulatory preparedness as well as commercial competitiveness. Negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement were concluded in January 2026. Earlier this month, the European Commission submitted proposals to the EU Council for its signature and conclusion. The Agreement is not yet in force and remains subject to the required European and Indian procedures. For the Indian aluminium industry, the development comes at a time when access to Europe is increasingly shaped by environmental, product and supply-chain regulation. One of the most immediate examples is the European Union’s Carbon Border...
National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) has paid INR 11 billion (USD 114 million) in dividend to the Government of India for FY26, marking the company’s highest-ever payout. The company declared a total dividend of INR 21 billion (USD 219 million) for FY26, including one final dividend and three interim dividends. This represents a 230 per cent payout on equity shares with a face value of INR 5 (USD 0.052) each. The dividend cheque was handed over to Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy at an investor roadshow in Kolkata on September 28, 2026. NALCO reported a profit after tax of INR 58 billion (USD 604 million) for FY26. Explore the production, demand and consumption forecasts of bauxite and alumina in our report: " Global Bauxite & Alumina Market Forecast to 2036: Supply–Demand, Trade...
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Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba), the Bahrain-based leading international aluminium smelter, is pleased to announce International Bechtel Co. Ltd. (Bechtel) as the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction Management (EPCM) contractor for its landmark Line 6 Expansion Project. Under the terms of the contract, Bechtel will be responsible to design and construct the sixth potline as well as support industrial services. Alba will be the world’s largest single-site aluminium smelter upon completion of the Line 6 Expansion Project, which will boost its production by 540,000 metric tonnes per annum (mtpa) bringing Alba’s total production capacity to 1,500,000 mtpa. Line 6 will have 424 pots that will use the proprietary EGA DX+ Ultra technology thus significantly increasing operating...
Tasmania's biggest electricity user, Bell Bay Aluminium, is preparing for more power rationing, if the state's energy crisis worsens. Bell Bay Aluminium has already cut production by 10 per cent for five months to save electricity as the state grapples with record low Hydro Tasmania dams and the extended outage of Basslink's undersea power cable to Victoria. A Labor and Greens dominated Senate committee examining the energy crisis is holding its first hearings in Hobart. Bell Bay's general manager Ray Mostogl told the inquiry the company was preparing for further power rationing at its smelter if the crisis drags on. "We've made contingency plans on site to work out if we have to shed more load how would we do it," he said. "They're more longer type decisions, so we've been busy doing...
China Aluminum International Trading Co. (Chalco Trading) hiked aluminium prices in major markets in the week ending April 15, it said on its WeChat. For details, please see the table below: Chalco Trading is the wholly-owned subsidiary under Chalco responsible for alumina and aluminium sales.
Alcoa has agreed to a new power deal for its 279 000 t/y Intalco aluminium smelter in Washington state, according to a statement from its power supplier, staving off the closure of one of the last remaining US aluminium plants. Both sides struck a deal starting on July 1 that would keep 2.5 potlines open at the plant, according to a posting on the Bonneville Power Authority (BPA) website. The plant was slated to close by the end of June. Alcoa shuttered its 269 000 t/y Warrick smelter at the end of March, bringing US aluminium output to its lowest in more than 65 years as the industry struggles with low metal prices amid rising tensions with China. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the BPA is seeking comment on the agreement by April 22.
Aditya Birla Group firm Hindalco has initiated talks with banks to refinance loans worth $5.3 billion taken by its subsidiary Novelis. According to bankers, the loans are being refinanced with longer-term loans and at lower costs to cut the finance costs of the company and increase its repayment schedule. Hindalco had acquired Novelis in 2007 in an all-cash deal at an enterprise valuation of $6 billion. But, the commodity cycle turned against the company as low demand and high finance costs ate into its profits. Bankers said one of Novelis loans worth $3.5 billion is due early next year and the company has initiated talks to refinance this loan and the interest rates would be close to 25 basis points than the previous loan, said a banker. This will be one of the largest refinancing of...
Non-ferrous metals including aluminium, zinc, and copper gained on Wednesday, April 13, after Chinese trade data brightened the outlook for demand in the world's biggest metals consumer, prompting some investors to shift back to commodities. Price gains in aluminium and industrial metals had a snowball effect as they pushed through key levels, sparking more buying by speculators based on technical signals, traders said. The initial catalyst was data showing that China's exports in March returned to growth for the first time in nine months, adding to further signs of stabilisation in the world's second-largest economy that cheered regional investors. "The trade numbers are very, very strong. On the ground, the fundamentals appear to be consolidating. On the demand side, the property market...
Aluminium prices rose for a while in the March quarter but gave up most of those gains towards the end of the quarter. Here comes more gloomy news. Aluminium producer Alcoa Inc. said global demand for aluminium will grow by 5 per cent this year, instead of the 6 per cent it had forecast in January. The main culprit is China—accounting for 52 per cent of global aluminium consumption—whose demand is set to grow by 6.5 per cent compared with the 8 per cent earlier. Ex-China demand too is expected to grow by 3 per cent compared with 4 per cent earlier. These estimates may change in future but the direction indicates lower growth. The aerospace and the heavy-duty truck/trailer segment (in the US) are the main sectors where demand is lower. If companies cut supply too, then the balance can be...
Aluminium is likely to get costlier in the coming days due to the expected freeze on oil output to be clamped by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries at its meeting with non-OPEC members on April 17. The output freeze will spur price increase because energy accounts for about 30 per cent of aluminium's production cost. Aluminium has been trading above INR 97-98 levels in Indian market over the past few weeks as oil prices have been inching higher. A rally in oil prices is likely to push the cost of production higher for aluminium prices. "However, the sustainability of oil prices above $42-43 a barrel is still doubtful," said Himanshu Gupta, senior market strategist at Karvy Commodities Broking. "Aluminium prices are expected to test INR 110-111 per kg in the medium term...
A long-awaited recommendation on how the cost of the national electricity grid in New Zealand should be shared in future is due on May 17. The NZ Electricity Authority says it will release its transmission pricing methodology paper and run an eight-week consultation. The issue has been running for years without resolution and revolves around whether South Island electricity generators and consumers pay too much for access to the grid, especially since $2 billion of upgrades over the past five years has delivered a significant improvement in security of supply for North Island consumers. Whatever the outcome, there are likely to be economic and political consequences. The Rio Tinto-controlled aluminium smelter at Tiwai Point regards the final decision on grid costs as an important input...
The state-owned aluminium maker Nalco is considering setting up a 5-lakh tonne per annum aluminium plant in Iran through a joint venture (JV). Nalco CMD T K Chand, who was part of the delegation led by Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to the Islamic country, met a top Iranian official yesterday and discussed the feasibility of setting up such a plant in the Chabahar Free Trade Zone (FTZ), a senior official said. "Chand met Iran's Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organisation head Mehdi Karbasian in Tehran over the proposed JV for setting up the plant, which includes a smelter and a gas-based power plant," he added. The discussions also touched on Nalco's interest to further expand its presence in Iran through more co-operation in bauxite mining and aluminum...
Reports that a company with no connection to the aluminium industry is interested in acquiring the Rio Tinto aluminium smelter at Fort William have raised job fears. The smelter employs 150 people and Rio Tinto is currently carrying out “a strategic review” of all its assets in Lochaber. Highland Council has stressed the company’s importance as a major employer in the local economy, pointing out that it is seven times as significant to Lochaber as the Tata Steel works is to Lanarkshire. Scottish Labour’s deputy leader, Alex Rowley, joined party candidate for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Linda Stewart, and Fort William and Ardnamurchan councillor, Brian Murphy, to meet union members on Saturday this week.
Aluminium prices in Indian market edged up by 40 paise to INR 101.30 per kg in futures trade today as participants enlarged positions, supported by a strong spot demand in the physical market. In futures trading at the Multi Commodity Exchange, aluminium for delivery in May inched up by 40 paise, or 0.40 per cent, to INR 101.30 per kg, in a business turnover of two lots. Likewise, the metal for delivery in current month traded higher by 30 paise, or 0.30 per cent, to INR 100 per kg in 187 lots. Traders said increased domestic demand from consuming industries at the spot markets, helped aluminium futures to trade higher.
Continuous price recovery has triggered restart of idled capacity and commissioning of new capacity in Chinese aluminium market. How much output will those capacities contribute in the first half of this year?- SMM doubts. SMM expects restarted capacity unlikely to exceed 300,000-tpy in the first half of this year, contributed mainly by smelters with power tariff subsidies and scale effect. These restarted capacities will contribute less than 50,000 tonnes to output in H1, though. High restart cost and tight bank lending will deter many smelters from following suit. Besides, rising coal and alumina prices will also act as constraints, SMM aluminium analyst Liu Xiaolei explained. As for new capacity, the figure is unlikely to surpass 500,000-tpy in Q2, with output contribution estimated at...
Vedanta Limited announced yesterday production results for the fourth quarter and full year ended 31 March 2016. In Q4 FY2016, aluminium production was 226 kt at Jharsuguda and Korba. Q4 FY2016 aluminium production highlights: On 27th January, the company received approval from the regulatory authorities (Orissa Electricity Regulatory Commission) to use the power generated from three units of the 2,400 MW (4 x 600 MW) Jharsuguda power plant for captive use which would enable full ramp-up of the 1.25 mtpa Jharsuguda-II smelter. Consequently, it has commenced ramp-up of the first pot line of 312.5kt from 1 April 2016. The 325 kt Korba-II smelter produced 19,200 tonnes during Q4 FY2016 with 84 pots operational. Pre-commissioning activities have commenced for further ramp up from the end of...
Despite the downside trend of all-in-aluminium prices, Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) was able to increase its overall sales. For the first quarter of 2016, sales figures reached 231,538 metric tonnes (mt), an increase of 3,231 (mt), as compared to 228,307 mt in Q1 2015 while production dropped to 235,478 mt against 237,774 mt for the same period in 2015. Further, Alba’s Value-Added Sales averaged 52 per cent of total shipments in the first quarter of 2016 versus 64 per cent for the same period in 2015. Commenting on Alba’s sales and production for Q1 2016, Alba’s Executive Officer, Tim Murray said: “We managed to step-up our sales performance despite tough market conditions weighing on the aluminium industry and thanks to focused-marketing strategy.”
LME aluminium is expected to test a resistance at $1,539 per tonne, a break above which could lead to a gain to the next resistance at $1,564. The uptrend from the March 24 low of $1,475 has resumed, driven by a wave c. A Fibonacci retracement analysis on the rise from the November 23, 2015 low of $1,432.50 to the March 7 high of $1,605 reveals a target of this wave at $1,564, the 23.6 percent level. The immediate resistance is at $1,539, the 38.2 percent level. Support is at $1,498, the 61.8 per cent level, a break below which could cause a loss to the 76.4 per cent level at $1,473.
Aluminium prices softened by 0.24 per cent to INR 102 per kg in futures trading today as participants booked profits, driven by subdued demand in the spot market. At the Multi Commodity Exchange, aluminium for delivery in far-month May declined by 0.24 per cent to INR 102 per kg in a business turnover of 22 lots. Likewise, the metal for delivery in April shed 0.15 per cent to INR 100.95 per kg in 693 lots. Market analysts said the weakness in aluminium in futures trade was mostly to profit-booking by traders amid sluggish demand from consuming industries in the spot market.
Lightweight metals leader Alcoa reported solid first quarter 2016 performance. Arconic segments (Value-Add) reported year-over-year profit growth and the Upstream segments, Alumina and Primary Metals, remained profitable despite continued low pricing. The company is on track to complete its separation in the second half of 2016. "Each of our segments delivered strong performance,” said Klaus Kleinfeld, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Profits grew in all of the Arconic segments, led by automotive and aerospace; Upstream segments maintained profitability in a persistently low pricing environment. Productivity was high across the portfolio and we divested non-essential assets to strengthen the balance sheet. We won new contracts for bauxite supply, 3-D printed titanium aerospace...
