As the global aluminium supply chain continues to swing between shifts and crunches, how has Europe fared on the production front in the 2026 year-to-date calendar? Substantially well, going by the output figures. Between January and September 2026, the European continent, including Russia, has produced a total of 5.56 million tonnes of primary aluminium, building a significant year-on-year growth chart. The nine-month growth chart Set against the same period of 2025, the first nine months of 2026 show a clear lift in output. From January to September 2026, Europe, including Russia, produced 5.56 million tonnes of primary aluminium, raising the annual growth rate by 5.69 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) over the 5.26 million tonnes produced in 2025. Explore the production, demand and...
The proposed $4 billion Oklahoma Primary Aluminum (OPA) smelter, a joint venture between Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) and Century Aluminum, is targeting civil works in the second quarter of 2027, with first hot metal expected between mid- and late 2030. Realization of the 750,000-metric-ton project would render it the first new US primary aluminum smelter in nearly 50 years. However, local restrictions, environmental permitting and ongoing legal hurdles clouded its path towards maintaining the construction timeline. A local moratorium and an April 7 ballot sit on the same calendar. 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 ” A...
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How much is too much? The growing chain of tariffs between the United States and its trade partners is expanding at an alarming rate while industries brace for the impact of escalating trade wars. Following the United States' announcement of reciprocal tariffs on what it called 'Liberation Day,' it's no surprise that other countries are starting to retaliate. China, one of the United States' major trade partners, who is already hit by a 45 per cent tariff and now the 34 per cent reciprocal duty, has roared back with the same percentage of tax on all American imports, starting April 10, 2025, intensifying a bitter trade war between the world's two biggest economies. This escalating conflict has been building for some time. It started when the US granted a 30-day reprieve to its North...
Hindalco Industries is deep in the red, marking its fifth consecutive losing session with a sharp 4.36 per cent decline on April 4. The aluminium giant has shed 9.78 per cent in just five days, underperforming its sector by 0.84 per cent and sinking below key moving averages—an unmistakable sign of a bearish trend. Image for referential purposes only Vedanta took a harder hit, tumbling 8.45 per cent to INR 402.40 (USD 4.71), while Nalco slumped 7.38 per cent to INR 159.90 as the broader aluminium sector lost 4.48 per cent. Hindalco’s intraday low of INR 622.55 (USD 7.28) reinforces the downtrend, with the stock now trading beneath its 5-day, 20-day, 50-day, 100-day, and 200-day moving averages. Meanwhile, the Sensex followed suit, plunging 362.03 points (0.65 per cent) to 75,798.06,...
Indian conglomerate Vedanta, spanning metals to oil, is seeking a global partner for expansion projects worth $20 billion, according to a tender document. Led by billionaire Anil Agarwal, the company—soon to be split into five entities:Vedanta Limited, Vedanta Aluminium, Vedanta Oil and Gas, Vedanta Steel and Ferrous Materials, and Vedanta Power. Vedanta has not disclosed specific details about the tender issued last week. However, its plans include a $2 billion to $2.5 billion investment to expand subsidiary Hindustan Zinc's production. Another unit, Cairn India, has outlined a $5 billion strategy to increase oil output fivefold. Meanwhile, Vedanta's power division aims to double its 5-gigawatt (GW) capacity and expand into nuclear energy and power distribution. In February, the company...
The long-awaited joint venture between Alcoa Corporation and IGNIS Equity Holdings, SL (IGNIS EQT) has officially been established to ensure the continued operation of Alcoa’s San Ciprián complex. Initially announced in October of the previous year, the joint venture has come to fruition as of March 31, 2025, following extensive discussions with the Spanish National Government, having all agreements remain intact. Alcoa, as a major shareholder of the JV with a 75 per cent stake, has contributed USD 81 million, and IGNIS Equity, with a remaining 25 per cent share, has invested USD 27 million in forming the joint venture under a financial and mergers & acquisitions (M&A) advisory by FTI Consulting Spain and FTI Capital Advisors Spain. Going ahead, Alco will invest up to USD 108 million if...
After an initial aggressive uptick at the beginning of March, the premium for Japanese aluminium’s outbound trade during the second Quarter of 2025 (April to June) has reportedly crashed to USD 182 per tonne, which is clearly a 20 per cent decrease from the past quarter (Q1’25), reveals six sources involved in the pricing discussions. The downturn in premiums is the first quarterly drop in the recent five quarters, USD 46 down from January to March, with a premium of USD 228 per tonne. Aluminium has turned out to clasp a premium below initial offers from global production houses, which ranged from USD 245 per tonne to USD 260 per tonne, now raising the question of why such a premium fell. On March 27, Platts evaluated the CIF main Asian ports (MAP) spot P1020 aluminium premium at USD 173...
Odisha stands as a testament to resilience and progress. Boasting rich mineral reserves, the state has emerged as a major manufacturing hub in India, supported by a dynamic industrial ecosystem. At the heart of this growth lies Odisha's thriving metals and mining sector, playing a pivotal role in the state's ascent. Regarding the metals and mining sector, Vedanta's unwavering confidence in Odisha's vast potential is reflected in its significant presence and status as the state's largest investor, with a cumulative investment of INR 1,00,000 crores ((US$11.55 billion) — the company's largest global investment. Vedanta Aluminium CEO Shri Gupta added, "Our latest investment of INR 1 lakh crore is a testament to our enduring belief in the state's potential to lead India's industrial...
India’s aluminium production experienced a modest uptick during the April to February period of the financial year 2024-2025, recording a 0.9 per cent increase to reach 38.36 lakh tonnes (3.836 million tonnes), compared to 38 lakh tonnes (3.8 million tonnes) in the same period the previous year, according to provisional data from the Ministry of Mines. This incremental growth echoes the more comprehensive tendencies in India’s mineral production. For instance, iron ore production rose by 4.4 per cent to 263 million tonnes from 252 million tonnes. In comparison, manganese ore production saw a 12.8 per cent increase to 3.4 million tonnes from 3 million tonnes during the same period. Bauxite production, crucial for aluminium manufacturing, also grew by 3.6 per cent to 22.7 million tonnes, up...
From a single plant in Siberia to a global aluminium powerhouse, RUSAL's 25-year journey is a story of bold vision, technological excellence, and enduring commitment to sustainable development. In 1994, amid the deep crisis in Russia's industrial sector, a transformation quietly began at the Sayanogorsk Aluminium Plant. Under the leadership of Oleg Deripaska, a clear strategy of modernization, accountability, and long-term vision was implemented. Within just three years, the plant not only became an industry benchmark but laid the foundation for what would become one of the world's leading aluminium producers. From regional roots to global integration (1997–2007) In 1997, the creation of Siberian Aluminium marked the beginning of a vertically integrated structure, with production...
The demerger date for Vedanta is now set for September 30 instead of March 31. In an exchange filing on Friday, March 28, the Anil Agarwal-led company announced that the deadline had been extended due to pending approvals from the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and other government bodies, expected to be received by April. If the plan is implemented in September, it will mark the completion of a two-year cycle since its announcement in September 2023, when the proposed scheme was demerging the company's business units into six independent entities to secure big-ticket investments for each newly formed organisation. By September 2024, Vedanta had already received some key approvals from the Bombay Stock Exchange, the National Stock Exchange, and NCLT . However, a few months later, in...
In 2024, the European Union (EU) found itself tussling with a significant trade deficit of EUR 11.1 billion in aluminium and related articles. This figure emerged from imports totalling EUR 29.5 billion, overshadowing exports valued at EUR 18.4 billion. Since 2019, imports have surged by 29.9 per cent (EUR 6.8 billion), while exports have seen a 21.3 per cent (EUR 3.2 billion) rise. Interestingly, these monetary increases occurred despite a slight decline in the physical weight of exports by 1.7 per cent and imports by 6.2 per cent, indicating that rising prices primarily drove the value uptick. Information and Image credit: Eurostat Norway and China lead in imports and UK in export Delving into the origins of these imports, Norway and China emerged as the EU's top suppliers in 2024....
Vedanta Limited, a leading natural resources and technology conglomerate, has confirmed the appointment of Rajiv Kumar as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the aluminium business, just ahead of the demerger of Vedanta Aluminium as an independent entity. The appointment is for three years, starting March 26, 2025. The news came after the company said in a regulatory filing that "The board of directors at its meeting held on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, has inter alia considered and approved appointment of Rajiv Kumar as CEO - Aluminium Business and designating him as senior management personnel at Vedanta Ltd effective March 26." Rajiv Kumar has joined to fill the void of the CEO position since his predecessor, John Slaven, stepped down last September . John Slaven served Vedanta...
The Middle East’s aluminium industry is undergoing a remarkable transformation. Leaders across the sector are driving innovation, integrating digital technologies, and embracing sustainability to create more efficient, low-carbon production processes. In a series of exclusive interviews, industry pioneers share their insights on advanced casting techniques, automation, digitalisation, and decarbonisation strategies that are setting new benchmarks globally. Are you in a dilemma of whether to invest in the region’s aluminium industry, expand your business or collaborate with existing enterprises from the Middle East? In this article, we try to decipher the notions of the business leaders through the excerpts from the interviews featured in the Aluminium Middle East: Focus 2025 magazine by...
Global aluminium consumption is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.33 per cent, increasing from 101 million tonnes in 2024 to 119 million tonnes by 2030. This expansion will be largely fuelled by rising demand across the transportation, electrical, and consumer durables sectors. Post-COVID, aluminium demand has surged, driven by its growing adoption across key sectors such as packaging and automotive. In packaging, aluminium’s exceptional properties—particularly its ability to extend shelf life—have made it the material of choice for manufacturers. Meanwhile, the rise of electric vehicles (EVs) has further accelerated aluminium consumption in the automotive industry. The shift from stainless steel to aluminium is a game-changer, as its superior...
In the first two months of 2025, the world's primary aluminium production represented a year-on-year increase of 0.85 per cent, amounting to 11.88 million tonnes, which was significantly offset by declines M-o-M, according to the International Aluminium Institute's data. Following January when the world output was 6.235 million tonnes, slightly down by 0.30 per cent from 6.254 million tonnes, the production in February reached 5.645 million tonnes, further down by 9.46 per cent M-o-M. Fewer operation days likely contributed to the decline, even though daily production slightly increased from 201,100 tonnes in January to 201,600 tonnes. Alongside, reduced output in some of the primary aluminium-producing regions played a critical role in the overall drop for February. Even on a...
Sohar Aluminium and the University of Technology and Applied Sciences (UTAS) in Sohar have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support the equipping of the university's Advanced Technology Laboratory. The signing ceremony took place under the patronage of His Excellency Dr Said bin Hamad Al Rubaie, President of UTAS. Under the agreement, Sohar Aluminium will finance the procurement of technical equipment and devices to enhance the Advanced Technology Laboratory at the University of Technology and Applied Sciences in Sohar. The lab will have a smart interactive whiteboard, fully integrated computers featuring the latest systems, and additional laboratory equipment and facilities. The Advanced Technology Lab is dedicated to fostering innovation and research in key areas, including...
Mr. Reindorf Twumasi Ankrah, the newly appointed Acting CEO of the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC), has hit the ground running in his efforts to advance the nation's integrated aluminium industry. Within less than three weeks of assuming his role, he has outlined a clear vision to contribute over $2 billion to Ghana's economy . In a call to potential investors, Mr. Ankrah announced that GIADEC is now open to forming partnerships with those who share the goal of establishing a robust integrated aluminium sector in Ghana. He emphasised that investors must also demonstrate both financial capability and industry expertise as key criteria for collaboration. Image source: LinkedIn (GIADEC) Mr. Ankrah has already determined that GIADEC will require over USD 6 billion...
The United Arab Emirates has unveiled a bold commitment to invest $1.4 trillion in the United States over the next decade, following high-level talks between top UAE officials and President Donald Trump earlier this week, according to a statement from the White House on March 21, 2025. Image credit: Arabprogress.org Described as a strategic investment framework, the initiative aims to significantly expand the UAE’s already substantial economic footprint in the US, with targeted investments across key sectors such as artificial intelligence infrastructure, semiconductors, energy, and manufacturing. While the announcement underscores the strengthening economic ties between the two nations, the White House did not provide a detailed breakdown of how the total $1.4 trillion figure would be...
Century Aluminium (NASDAQ: CENX), a major producer of bauxite, alumina, and primary aluminium, has announced the appointment of Peter A. Trpkovski as its new Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. He succeeds Jerry Bialek, who departs following the planned transition. Image source: https://www.tristatehomepage.com/ The commission arrives as the organisation displays powerful acceleration. InvestingPro data indicates an impressive 59 per cent stock return over the past year and a 41 per cent boost in the last six months. Trpkovski, who has been with Century for 12 years, will now be responsible for driving the company’s strategic initiatives and strengthening its financial operations while continuing in his role as Treasurer. “Pete’s appointment ensures continuity and steady...
