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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Hindalco Industries, the flagship metal-driven business of the Aditya Birla Group, has reported a strong 60 per cent surge in its consolidated net profit for the December quarter (Q3 FY2025). The company's net profit reached INR 3,735 crore (USD 450 million), up from INR 2,331 crore (USD 279.72 million) in the same period a year earlier. Image Source: Wikipedia The company's operational revenue for Q3 FY2025 grew 11 per cent to INR 58,390 crore (USD 7 billion), compared to INR 52,808 crore (USD 6.34 billion) in the corresponding quarter of the previous financial year. However, Hindalco saw a 4.4 per cent sequential decline in profit after tax (PAT), down from INR 3,909 crore (USD 469.08 million) in Q2 FY2025. Revenue, on the other hand, recorded a slight quarter-on-quarter increase of...
Australia has responded to the trade statement revolving around the country’s aluminium export. The nation’s trade minister, Don Farrell, proclaimed on February 13 that Australia’s surge in its aluminium supply to the United States, with Washington’s complete acknowledgement and approval, while addressing a hurdle to Canberra’s request for an exemption from US tariffs on aluminium and steel. However, this move has not been without controversy. Image Source: https://www.trademinister.gov.au/ Earlier this week, United States President Donald Trump stated he would consider an exemption for Australia from a 25 per cent tariff on steel and aluminium imports. Yet, one of his closest advisers soon after claimed that Australia was “killing our aluminium market”. The aluminium import from...
Baotou Aluminum's high-purity aluminium division has achieved a significant milestone with the successful batch export of high-performance, high-purity aluminium products. This accomplishment sets a strong foundation for the company's first-quarter performance. These exports are primarily destined for the international high-end market, serving critical applications in electronic products, components, high and low-voltage electrolytic capacitors, high-performance wiring, and other advanced technology sectors. In recent years, Baotou Aluminum has actively implemented Chinalco Group's strategic directives, advancing digital transformation and technological innovation. The company has successfully developed 5N high-purity aluminium, expanding its market reach. Today, its aluminium packaging...
National Aluminium Company Ltd (NALCO), an Indian public sector company with integrated and diversified operations in mining, metal and power, has reported a remarkable 232.83 per cent year-on-year surge in net profit, reaching INR 1,566.3 crore (USD 180 million) for the third quarter, compared to INR 470.6 crore (USD 54.12 million) in Q3 FY24. This impressive performance was driven by a 39.3 per cent jump in revenue from operations, which climbed to INR 4,662.2 crore against INR 3,347.6 crore in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal. At the operating level, NALCO's EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation) soared by an astounding 200.89 per cent to INR 2,327.6 crore (USD 267.68 million) in the third quarter of this fiscal, up from INR 773.8 crore...
On December 4, 2024, President-elect Donald Trump announced that Peter Navarro, 75, will serve as Senior Counsellor for Trade and Manufacturing in his upcoming administration. In this role, Navarro will be responsible for advancing and effectively communicating Trump's Manufacturing, Tariff, and Trade Agendas, Trump stated in a series of posts on Truth Social. Navarro, a key trade advisor during Trump's first term, will once again play a pivotal role in shaping the administration's economic policies. Australia successfully negotiated an exemption when the first Trump administration imposed new tariffs on aluminium and steel imports in 2018. However, the US claims a verbal agreement was made, under which Australia pledged not to exploit its exemption by significantly increasing aluminium...
The United States’ aluminium sector is facing an existential crisis, with the number of operational smelters dwindling to just four. Despite the 25 per cent tariff on steel and aluminium imports introduced by the Trump administration, the primary aluminium industry remains in decline, struggling with high energy costs and competitive pressures from overseas—particularly China. Tariffs and the reality on the ground Trade groups representing US steel and aluminium producers have welcomed decisive trade actions, including tariffs, arguing they are necessary to counter unfair competition. However, the CEO of the Aluminum Association has acknowledged a harsh reality, “There is not enough smelting capacity in the United States to supply the growing aluminium industry with the input materials it...
The newly re-elected President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, on February 10, 2025, signed executive orders to enforce a 25 per cent tariff on aluminium and steel imports starting March 12, 2025, under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, escalating a long-anticipated trade war despite warnings from Europe and China. The orders eliminate specific exemptions from the duties, broaden their coverage to include more products and increase the tariffs on applicable aluminium goods from 10 per cent to 25 per cent. President Trump implemented Section 232 duties on steel and aluminium products in 2018, during his first term in office. The European Union promptly pledged to respond with decisive and proportionate countermeasures. Australian media reported that US...
Following Donald Trump's firm statement —"No exemptions, no exceptions" on a 25 per cent tariff on imported aluminium and steel on Tuesday, February 11—India’s state-owned National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) has come up with valuable insights into the potential impact on global price trends. NALCO emphasised that these tariffs are likely to weigh on global aluminium prices, much like the effects seen in late 2018, 2019, and 2020 after similar trade measures were imposed during Trump’s first term. After Donald Trump introduced an additional 10 per cent tariff on aluminium and 25 per cent on steel in 2018, the average global aluminium price on London Metal Exchange dropped to $1,931.45 per tonne at the end of the same year, which further decreased in the succeeding years to an...
In a debate-worthy move, US President Donald Trump has announced a 25 per cent tariff on all steel and aluminium imports, leaving major trade partners scrambling to negotiate exemptions. The tariffs, set to take effect on March 4, 2025, have been met with widespread criticism and warnings of potential trade wars. The United States, a significant importer of steel and aluminium, sources nearly a quarter of its steel from foreign suppliers, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute. Its dependence on aluminium is even greater. Key suppliers include neighbouring Canada and Mexico, as well as several Asian allies. Trump has stated that the tariffs will be implemented “without exceptions or exemptions,” a decision that has prompted varied reactions from global partners. Canada...
The first batch of cathode sets for the Indonesia Beijia electrolytic aluminium project, supplied by Shenyang Institute, was successfully shipped from Lianyungang on Friday January 10, 2025. The project is a joint venture between Indonesia's Adaro Group and China's Liqin Resources, with Shenyang Institute overseeing the engineering design. The 500kA electrolytic cell features key technical equipment, including the cathode carbon block group, which incorporates Shenyang Institute’s latest energy-saving technology. Since 2013, Shenyang Institute has been dedicated to the research, development, and design of a new energy-saving cathode group for aluminium electrolytic cells. Grounded in the theory of interface fluctuation, this technology optimises the cathode group’s conductive structure to...
In a policy shift announcement on Monday, February 10, the United States government has brought forth the decree to implement a 25 per cent tariff on all primary aluminium imports, effective March 4, 2025. The executive order, signed by President Donald Trump, aims to bolster the country’s domestic aluminium industry and address long-standing concerns over unfair international trade practices. US aluminium imports in 2024 from top 10 countries worldwide The newly enforced tariff removes previous exemptions and quota deals, closing loopholes that had allowed nearly 75 per cent of aluminium imports to bypass tariffs. Domestic entities anticipate this move will benefit American aluminium producers, including Century Aluminum, a leading primary aluminium manufacturer based in Chicago. Century...
The global primary aluminium production in 2024 reached 72.7 million tonnes (approx.). With demand continuing to rise, it is expected that production will also further increase in the coming years, leading to more environmental challenges. As a result, in order to tackle or overcome these hurdles, it is essential to establish various sustainable initiatives that will help the industry fight against increased CO2 emissions. Image Source: FreePik Arctus Aluminium’s carbon free aluminium production One such initiative has been developed by Iceland-based Arctus Aluminium. Unlike conventional methods, the company is developing a smelting technology that uses inert anodes, which generate oxygen instead of CO2. Additionally, Arctus Aluminium has joined the European REVEAL project, which seeks to...
In response to the new aluminium and steel tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump, just days after postponing tariffs on North American neighbours, the European Commission is committed to taking action to protect the interests of the European Union. Describing Trump's tariff measures as unjustified and meaningless,, the European Commission said, "We will react to protect the interests of European businesses, workers, and consumers from unjustified actions. However, it will await formal notification before deciding on a response." On Sunday, Donald Trump said he would impose 25 per cent tariffs on aluminium and steel imports just like he did during his first term, citing national security concerns. In 2018, he levied a 25 per cent duty on steel and 10 per cent on aluminium,...
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has scheduled a call with U.S. President Donald Trump to advocate for Australia’s exemption from the newly imposed 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminium. The announcement of these tariffs triggered a sharp market reaction, wiping *$15 billion off the ASX. The benchmark ASX200 dropped 0.5 per cent within the first hour of trading. During Question Time on January 10, 2025, Prime Minister Albanese confirmed the planned conversation with President Trump, emphasising that discussions on the matter would be conducted through diplomatic channels. The Prime Minister said, "Australian companies have significant investments in the US steel industry, creating thousands of jobs in both the US and Australia." "We will continue to make the case for...
US President Donald Trump intends to impose 25 per cent tariffs on all aluminium and steel imports. While speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump said he would apply tariffs on metals imported from all countries, without sharing the timeline when duties would take effect. Image soure: Britannica He also hinted at the implementation of reciprocal tariffs as early as this week on nations that impose duties on US imports. These moves are the latest in a series of tariff measures Trump has pursued since the inauguration of his second presidential term. Trump’s latest plan to impose tariffs on all aluminium and steel tariffs came as a surprise to many overseas buyers and sellers after the grant of a 30-day reprieve to Canada and Mexico just last week. Moreover, buyers and sellers...
Japan’s aluminium industry in 2024 has been a tale of two contrasting trends—rising primary aluminium imports but weakening domestic demand. While imports grew by 1.9 per cent to 1.05 million tonnes, domestic consumption continued to decline, especially in key sectors such as construction and automotive. Changing import dynamics Japan’s import landscape saw significant shifts in 2024. Australia remained the country’s top supplier, exporting nearly 300,000 tonnes and accounting for over 28 per cent of total imports. Brazil followed with 170,000 tonnes, representing 16 per cent of imports. However, the most striking changes were in shipments from the UAE and India, which increased sharply, offsetting the steep drop in Russian supplies. India’s aluminium exports to Japan surged by 25 per...
South Africa has officially endorsed coal as a critical mineral due to its substantial economic impact and strategic importance, according to Minister of Minerals and Petroleum Resources Gwede Mantashe. Speaking in Cape Town, Mantashe highlighted the completion of a study on critical minerals, emphasising coal’s pivotal role in driving the nation’s economy. The minister highlighted Africa's vast critical mineral potential, stressing the importance of regional collaboration in value addition rather than independently exporting raw materials. Gwede Mantashe said, "For us, coal is a critical mineral because it generates substantial revenue. The coal sector remains highly attractive for new and expanded investments." "As a continent, we become vulnerable to exploiting critical minerals...
The Science and Technology Department of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology recently released a public approval list of laboratories for quality control and technical evaluation of industrial products. Out of all applicants, only 200 laboratories in China successfully passed the evaluation and review. Source: Chinalco website Notably, the "Laboratory for Quality Control and Technical Evaluation of Industrial (Light Metal) Products," operated by Chinalco Testing (Zhengzhou) Technology Co., Ltd., secured a place on the prestigious list. Its product quality control and technical evaluation capabilities are recognised as being at the forefront in China. The Laboratory for Quality Control and Technical Evaluation of Industrial Products has been officially approved by the...
