The London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium price chart recovered in the October 26 trading session across the pricing and near-term contract segments compared to the October 23 close. Longer-dated contracts, inventories, and the alumina price, however, edged lower. The LME aluminium cash bid price gained 0.13 per cent on October 26, advancing from USD 3,042.5 per tonne to USD 3,046.5 per tonne. The offer price surged from USD 3,043 per tonne to USD 3,047.5 per tonne , up 0.15 per cent day-on-day. Explore- Most comprehensive and forward-looking industry-focused report — Global Bauxite & Alumina Market Forecast to 2036: Supply–Demand, Trade Flows & Price Outlook The LME aluminium three-month bid price reported a 0.27 per cent rise from USD 3,017 per tonne on October 23 to USD 3,025 per tonne...
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...
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Major Indian aluminium companies have faced a sharp decline in their share prices on June 19, with the Nifty Metal index falling below 0.5 per cent. Today, Hindalco Industries' share fell by 0.76 per cent at the closing, and NALCO’s by 2.87 per cent. Current geopolitical tensions, strong US dollars, and profit-taking are the significant causes of the decline in stock prices. Hindalco share price analysis On June 19, Hindalco Industries' closing price was recorded at INR 639.50 (USD 7.66) after opening the market at INR 643 (USD 7.70) reaching the highest price at INR 644.70 (USD 7.72). The previous day, the market opened at INR 643.85 (USD 7.71) and closed at INR 644.40 (USD 7.71), with the highest price reaching INR 646.85 (USD 7.75). A difference of 0.34 per cent is seen between today’s...
With the United States slapping a steep 50 per cent tariff on Canadian steel and aluminium imports, Ottawa is now fast-tracking a self-sufficient economic response potent to reshape North America’s metals supply chain. At the centre of this pivot is a proposed ‘Buy Canadian’ policy, an industrial safeguard designed to protect Canadian producers and preserve jobs by mandating the use of domestic metal in government procurement contracts. Image for representational purposes only (Source: https://policyoptions.irpp.org/) Industry Minister Mélanie Joly confirmed this week that the government is actively considering procurement requirements for both infrastructure and defence projects that would prioritise Canadian-made metals. “These decisions are being taken as we speak,” Joly said,...
A confluence of factors like increased retail sales in China, muted inventories, and surge in bauxite prices has propelled the LME aluminium benchmark price to USD 2,530 per tonne, marking a new high since the beginning of the second quarter of 2025. Image source: London Metal Exchange Retail sales in China have surged at an unexpectedly strong pace, indicating that economic uncertainty has had little to no dampening effect on consumer demand. Despite facing approximately 165 per cent tariffs on aluminium from the United States, China continues to maintain strong momentum in its retail sector. That’s not all. China’s improved purchase management index (PMI) for the aluminium processing industry to 49.8 per cent in May, recording an 8.7 per cent year-on-year increase, has contributed to...
Canada played host to this year’s G7 summit, marking its seventh turn at the helm of the influential bloc. In addition to the heads of state from G7 member nations and the European Union, which also participates in the summit, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney extended invitations to several non-G7 leaders. Among them were Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who confirmed her attendance just days before the event following weeks of indecision, as well as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The high-level gathering was convened in Alberta, underscoring Canada’s renewed diplomatic posture under Carney’s leadership. “As vibrant democracies bound by deep people-to-people ties, India and Canada will work together with renewed vigour, guided by...
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba), the world's largest single-site aluminium smelter, has announced the promotion of Saleem Helal Ali Yateem to Acting Manager of casthouse services, effective 16 June 2025. Saleem joined Alba in 2008 as a Senior Mechanical Engineer and has since demonstrated unwavering dedication and exceptional technical expertise. He has been key in managing complex maintenance operations and leading major capital expenditure initiatives. Alba's Chief Executive Officer Ali Al Baqali said, "Saleem's journey is not just a promotion; it's a testament to a vision where the future is built by Bahraini hands and led by Bahraini minds. We are proud to see national talent rising to leading roles, armed with technical knowledge and the strategic foresight to navigate complex...
As a result of the ongoing geopolitical discord between Israel and Iran, the Indian aluminium industry (though not impacted directly) is feeling the rippling heat in pricing. In an unexpected turn of events, India’s aluminium price has slipped to INR 242 per kg, contemplating the global metal pressures exacerbated by currency swings and rising oil. Image for referential purposes only The chain of events unfolds to be in this order — Israel and Iran under a military clash, which has led to the latter region’s oil supply chain being disrupted. The Sensex (India) has then fallen 1300 points. As aluminium production is highly energy-intensive, notably smelting alone accounts for nearly 40 per cent of production cost. The Middle East, especially the Gulf region, is a major natural gas and fuel...
In advanced fields like aerospace and space exploration, materials must combine low weight, high functionality, and resilience to extreme temperature fluctuations. Shape-memory alloys are promising candidates, offering impressive strength, toughness, and the ability to recover from deformation due to their superelastic properties. Image Source: Nature / Research Paper However, achieving low mass and reliable performance at cryogenic temperatures remains challenging. A team of researchers, namely Yuxin Song, Shunsuke Sato, Sheng Xu and Inho Lee, have developed a newly developed shape-memory alloy specifically engineered to meet these demanding requirements. Composed of aluminium and titanium with a chemical composition of Ti₇₅.₂₅Al₂₀Cr₄.₇₅, this alloy features a low density of 4.36 × 10³...
Mining conglomerate Vedanta Aluminium has embarked on a significant project worth INR 1,28 lakh crore (US$ 15.42 billion) to boost Odisha's economy. As per reports, the company plans to set up a 3 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) aluminium smelter along with a 4,900 MW captive power plant in Dhenkanal. This landmark project alone is expected to create around 30,000 jobs, further solidifying Odisha's standing as a global aluminium powerhouse. Seven other transformative industrial projects worth INR 1,51,239.50 crore(US$ 17.58 billion) in other sectors like chemicals, steel, textiles, and metal-based downstream industries, have been approved by the High-Level Clearance Authority (HLCA). These developments, spanning six districts, Dhenkanal, Ganjam, Jajpur, Keonjhar, Khordha, and Sambalpur,...
Last week, high-stakes trade negotiations between the United States and China reconvened in London, marking the second day of talks on June 10 at Lancaster House. After months of escalating tensions and retaliatory trade barriers, negotiators have emerged with what they called a 'framework agreement', a non-binding but symbolic structure meant to uphold the 90-day tariff truce struck in Geneva in May. While the framework itself lacks legal enforceability, it does offer a potential de-escalation route in a trade war that has shaken supply chains across critical sectors, including aluminium, electronics, defence, and electric vehicles. Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick confirmed the broad contours of the deal, suggesting that while headline tariffs...
Vedanta Aluminium, an Indian multinational mining company, has once again proven the Indian aluminium production is not about male workers working in factories and plants and sites. The firm has empowered women by deploying an all-woman locomotive engine team in its Jharsuguda aluminium smelter. This will significantly contribute to India's commitment to fostering a diversified, equitable and inclusive workplace. Image source: vedantaaluminium.com At the beginning of this year, in Odisha, the firm's entire smelter line had begun its operations with a team of only women. This newly developed team has four loco drivers working in shifts, two support staff and one gatewoman. The firm aims to bring women professionals to the forefront of the plant, especially in the most critical logistical...
Japanese general trading house Marubeni Corp reported that aluminium inventories at Japan’s three major ports (Yokohama, Nagoya, and Osaka) increased for the second consecutive month. As of the latest end of May data, the stocks rose to 331,000 metric tonnes, marking an increase of 3.3 per cent from April 2025. Continued increase in stocks in addition to premium drop underscores the ongoing weakness in aluminium demand in the Asian country. Moreover, the recent news reporting 0.2 per cent GDP shrinkage in Japan, albeit better than the initial estimation, further reflects the subdued market sentiment. How stocks moved M-o-M This month-on-month build-up started in April when stocks rose 3.4 per cent. In contrast, inventory levels in February 2025 saw a 3.5 per cent decline from the previous...
Century Aluminium is set to invest $10 million in maintenance at its Sebree smelter in Kentucky this quarter. The US-based aluminium producer announced that the facility's consistently strong performance has enabled it to advance major maintenance work on the carbon plant, originally scheduled for next year. The plan involves temporarily shutting down the green section of the carbon plant to refurbish the anode press and related equipment. CEO Jesse Gary, in the company's quarterly report released on May 8, explained that moving the outage forward will help mitigate risks and enhance the reliability and efficiency of the carbon plant ahead of the peak summer season. “We will reap the benefits of the increased reliability and operational security of this key area of the plant over the back...
As voices from aluminium associations across US trade-allied nations grow louder, one consensus is becoming clear that the United States’ decision to increase tariffs on aluminium imports to 50 per cent is unlikely to benefit its global partners. Now, whether this bold move by Donald Trump will favour his own domestic market or not is the pressing question that continues to divide the aluminium industry. The United States relies heavily on overseas suppliers for primary aluminium, downstream products, as well as scrap. Imposing such a steep tariff across these categories raises concerns over potential supply disruptions within the country, yet some US-based producers are betting on gains. Image source: X Century Aluminum, a primary aluminium producer, sees the tariff as an opportunity,...
To avert a supply squeeze, the London Metal Exchange has ordered Mercuria Energy Group Ltd to loan out part of its outsized June aluminium position, which exceeds the metal available in LME warehouses. As of June 2025, Mercuria Energies' aluminium stock was reported around 600,000-800,000 tonnes, indicating 30 per cent to 39 per cent of the open interest for June. According to LME, the position held by the firm represented almost 40 per cent above the peak. On the same grounds, the LME system's on-warrant aluminium inventories were only above 320,000 tonnes. Mercuria holding 90 per cent of the inventory creates a mismatch between the contract and the material available for delivery. Moreover, this mismatch restricts the small position holding traders from sourcing the right amount of...
The world aluminium market is abuzz with optimism once again as futures of the metal on the London Metal Exchange inched higher to USD 2,460 per tonne today from a bottom of USD 2,166 per tonne in April. The hike comes against the backdrop of expectations of top-level trade talks between China and the US being held in London, and it is a sign that even a slight de-escalation in trade war tensions can have ripples of optimism sweep through commodity markets. The aluminium industry has been witnessing for months the turbulent geopolitical tensions, the most significant being trade wars between the two biggest economies of the world. Past reciprocal tariff hikes and accusations of violations of trade accords have created enormous uncertainty, supporting price volatility as much as world...
Specialists at the Khomein branch of Islamic Azad University in Iran have successfully produced aluminium fluoride, a compound that helps lower the melting temperature of aluminium. Aluminium fluoride (AlF₃) is a colourless, inorganic compound typically found as a white powder or granules with a density greater than that of water. "In line with the development of Islamic Azad University, we are pursuing projects that not only contribute to scientific progress but also meet the vital needs of the country," said Mohammad Baqer Tavakkoli, the president of Islamic Azad University in Markazi province. Its main application is in aluminium production, where it serves as a flux to lower the melting point and enhance the conductivity of the molten electrolyte, leading to reduced energy consumption...
Europe, including Russia, recorded a 2.2 per cent year-on-year growth in primary aluminium production during the first four months of 2025, driven by consistent growth in almost every month barring February when the output was 537,000 tonnes this year, compared to 540,000 tonnes in February 2024. Interestingly, the production pattern in 2025 closely mirrored that of the previous year, following a similar trajectory—dipping in February, rebounding in March, and tapering again in April – yet concluded the first four months with a rise from 2.26 million tonnes to 2.31 million tonnes, according to data releaved by the International Aluminium Institute. This increase was particularly due to a stronger growth momentum in production through April 2025 compared to the previous year. For instance,...
Rio Tinto Group has entered into talks with Australian authorities over a potential multibillion-dollar bailout for its Tomago aluminium smelter, with discussions focusing on the electricity supply contract for 2026 to 2029 and the design of production tax credits to shield the operation from spiralling power costs. According to people familiar with the deliberations, any rescue package is likely to be “more sophisticated” than a simple cash hand-out and is being negotiated chiefly with the New South Wales state government. Image for referential purposes only Tomago, in which Rio Tinto holds the majority stake, consumes roughly 12 per cent of New South Wales’s total power generation, making it the state’s single largest electricity user. Such voracious demand underlines both the plant’s...
