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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The Aluminum Association, Arlington, Virginia, has disclosed initial estimations of the domestic as well as transnational demand for the aluminium industry in North America (US and Canada) increased by 4.6 per cent through the first three quarters of 2024. The association’s ‘Aluminum Situation’ report stated that the non-ferrous metal’s demand across the US and Canada (shipments by domestic producers plus imports) totalled approximately 20,712 million pounds from January to September of 2024 when compared with 19,798 million pounds in the identical months of 2023. Sheet and plate products witnessed a considerable Y-o-Y growth at 6.9 per cent, while foil, extrusions and electrical products showed descents. Among the AL products, the semi-fabricated, or ‘mill’ variants market leapt 2.5 per...
The aluminium industry stands at the cusp of transformation, driven by technological innovation, sustainability imperatives, and shifting global market dynamics. In an ever-evolving landscape, staying ahead requires not just awareness but actionable insights. The forthcoming " Global Aluminium Industry Outlook 2025 " is set to become an indispensable resource for industry professionals seeking clarity and direction in these uncertain times. Why this Outlook matters The report delves into the factors shaping the aluminium industry globally, offering a comprehensive overview that includes: Market trends and forecasts: From primary aluminium production to downstream innovations to end-use sector and secondary aluminium consumption, discover where the market is heading and why. Regional...
Vitol, an energy and commodities trader, is mulling over reducing its storage costs by withdrawing some substantial aluminium volume from London Metal Exchange (LME) warehouses in Port Klang, Malaysia. Image source: Vitol By removing stocks from LME-approved warehouses, Vitol can save 56 US cents per tonne because that's the amount being charged for aluminium storage in Port Klang, about five times higher than rent in warehouses outside the LME's system. However, upon request, Vitol has declined to comment. As per the report, aluminium stock at LME-registered facilities in Port Klang, known as cancelled warrants, rose by more than 40,000 tonnes on Monday, January 6. Although the LME gives a monthly breakdown of inventories, sources said Vitol accounted for much of the cancelled warrants...
As the global aluminium industry continues to evolve, the year 2024 marked a pivotal year for embracing technological advancements and digital transformation. In an era where innovation is key to staying competitive, adopting digital tools, data-driven decision-making, and automation is reshaping how aluminium companies operate and interact with their customers, suppliers, and stakeholders. The accelerating pace of change The aluminium sector has traditionally been characterised by its heavy reliance on physical infrastructure and manual processes. However, the increasing pressures of sustainability, cost efficiency, and global market demands are driving a rapid shift toward digitisation. From reducing carbon footprints to streamlining supply chains, the move towards digital...
According to a report on Friday, January 10, a key partnership agreement is signed between National Aluminium Products Company (NAPCO) and Oman Aluminium Cast Company at Knowledge Oasis Muscat to advance Madayn’s overarching goal of enhancing the market of local resources and supporting indigenous industries in the Sultanate of Oman. Image source: Oman Aluminium Cast Company Under the agreement clause, Oman Aluminium Cast Company will supply NAPCO with its high-quality aluminium billets made from raw metal provided by Sohar Aluminium, and the billets will be used by NAPCO to manufacture aluminium profiles for local and international markets. This inter-company collaboration, under the patronage of the integrated Aluminium Economic Cluster team in Suhar Industrial City, is strategically...
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) yet again outperformed and achieved a new high of aluminium production in 2024. On Thursday, January 9, the company announced it attained 1,622,261 tonnes of net finished production in 2024. Image source: Alba Output over the years: From 2021 to 2023, Alba produced 1,561,222 tonnes, 1,596,000 tonnes, and 1,620,665 tonnes yearly , clearly reflecting a consistent annual rise. However, delving down into each year, we see a downtrend in growth percentage. In 2022, Alba's aluminium production increased by 2.23 per cent Y-o-Y; in 2023, it rose by 1.5 per cent, and by 1 per cent in 2024. Nonetheless, the consistent advancement in Alba's production each year sets a positive benchmark before the primary aluminium producers worldwide. Commenting on this remarkable...
Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), the largest industrial company in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) outside oil and gas, announced that the global enterprise has hired 113 UAE National women in 2024, more than half the 220 Emiratis taken on by EGA during the year. EGA plans for women professionals to hold approximately 25 per cent of higher designations by the end of 2025 and 15 per cent of all roles by the end of the following year. Currently, women hold 23.3 per cent of supervisory roles and 9.6 per cent of all the roles at the company. At the end of 2024, the EGA’s determinant Emiratisation rate was 44.3 per cent. On a like-for-like basis, the enterprise is among the highest Emiratisation rate holders. EGA intends to accelerate in-focus Emiratisation to conclude at 50 per cent by the end...
Brijendra Pratap Singh has assumed his new position as Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD) of National Aluminium Company (NALCO) at the company’s corporate office in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday, January 8, 2025. Brijendra Pratap Singh was selected for this esteemed position in September 2024 by the Public Enterprise Selection Board (PESB), a high-powered body constituted by the Government of India. Mr Pratap, who has succeeded NALCO’s former CMD Sridhar Patra, comes with over 35 years of experience in mines and steel sectors. He was Director-In-Charge for Burnpur and Durgapur Steel Plant and member on the Board of SAIL. With strategic vision and deep industry knowledge, Mr Pratap was instrumental in advancing SAIL’s modernisation goals, driving the growth and sustainability of India’s steel...
The Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) of Bahrain has released its foreign trade report for November 2024, revealing a significant 5 per cent increase in non-oil imports. This growth, driven by strong demand for aluminium and other key materials, saw the total value of non-oil imports reach BD 478 million (USD 1.27 billion) compared to BD 454 million (USD 1.20 billion) in the same period of 2023. Image source: https://www.bahrainedb.com/ China remains a major supplier China continued to dominate as Bahrain's primary import source, contributing a substantial BHD 73 million (USD 193.70 million) or 15 per cent of the total import value. Aluminium oxide Takes the Lead The report underscores the importance of the aluminium sector in Bahrain's import landscape. Aluminium oxide emerged as...
Recently, the State Power Investment Aluminum Power Company and Qingaluminum Co., Ltd. successfully received certification for their international and domestic compliance management systems. They were awarded the ISO 37301:2021 and GB/T 35770-2022 compliance management system certificates in areas such as investment management, environmental management, procurement, and sales. These companies are among the few within the group's system to achieve this recognition. In recent years, Aluminum Power Company has remained committed to becoming a legally compliant enterprise, emphasising enhancing its compliance management practices. The company has actively aligned itself with both international and domestic standards, consistently strengthening its compliance system. It has developed and...
According to the International Aluminium Institute, primary aluminium production in Europe (including Russia) during November 2024 stood at 590,000 tonnes, reflecting a downfall of 2.96 per cent from 608,000 tonnes a month ago. Of the output in November, Russia & Eastern Europe accounted for 59.66 per cent, and Western & Central Europe 40.34 per cent. However, despite the monthly fall in November, Europe’s primary aluminium output looks positive this year, with only about 341,000 tonnes short of matching last year's record of 6.729 million tonnes. Production in Russia & Eastern Europe: In November 2024, Russia & Eastern Europe produced 352,000 tonnes, down by 2.76 per cent from 362,000 tonnes in October, attributed to one less operational day because the daily average output showed no...
According to the latest data from the US Geological Survey, the United States' domestic primary aluminium production showed a month-on-month rebound in October 2024. Aluminium scrap recovery also grew in the same month, suggesting an overall boost in aluminium operations nationwide. However, the question remains: does this monthly improvement signal a silver lining in the backdrop of sluggish performance of primary aluminium production in the United States, or has it translated into a positive shift in year-to-date output? Growing by about 4.4 per cent M-o-M, the United States' October output stood at 57,000 tonnes in October, following a 2.5 per cent drop in September from 56,000 tonnes to 54,600 tonnes . But unfortunately, this monthly hike was not enough to lead to an increase in the...
Kaiser Aluminum Corporation has announced that Jack A. Hockema is retiring as chairman of the board and that Chief Executive Keith Harvey has been chosen to take the chair. The aluminium company's official statement on January 6 clarified that Hockema's retirement was not due to any disagreements with the company or any matters relating to operations or policies. His retirement became effective on January 1, 2025. "Keith and I have worked closely together since I joined Kaiser nearly 30 years ago, and I am confident he will continue to guide the company well and enhance value for all of our stakeholders in his new role as chairman," Hockema shared on this note. Kaiser has tapped Kimberly Glas, CEO of the National Council of Textile Organizations, to take Hockema's seat on the board. Her...
Aluminium projects in 2024 are centred on innovation, sustainability, and enhancing the material's applications across various industries, including automotive, aerospace, and renewable energy. Aluminium's unique combination of strength, lightness, and recyclability makes it a pivotal material in the automotive, aerospace, construction, and renewable energy sectors. Key projects include investments in low-carbon production, advanced casting facilities, and integrating renewable energy technologies. These projects aim to enhance product performance, reduce environmental impact, and promote sustainability. By innovating new ways to use aluminium, from improving manufacturing processes to recycling, these projects contribute to more efficient and eco-friendly solutions, supporting a circular...
Shares of National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) lost value as the Nifty Metal index wrapped up the first week of 2025 on January 3. The Metal index itself remained relatively subdued, gaining just over 1 per cent at its highest point during the day before closing flat. While NALCO’s shares slipped over 4 per cent on Friday, Vedanta emerged as a gainer, ending with a 2 per cent rise. At one stage, Vedanta’s shares were up 3.5 per cent. The opposing trends in these aluminium industry giants were driven by movements in the alumina market, which saw frequent volatility throughout 2024. According to a Reuters report, alumina prices surged 70 per cent in 2024, reaching a record RMB 5,645 ($779.77) per tonne on the Shanghai Futures Exchange. Contributing factors included disruptions in...
Nigeria exported aluminium alloy worth N682 billion (441.45 million USD). between January and September 2024, according to an analysis of the Foreign Trade Statistics report from the National Bureau of Statistics. Labelled as unwrought aluminium alloys, the exports comprised ingots, blocks, billets, and slabs. Image Source - Pixaby Quarterly breakdown A quarterly breakdown reveals that – N84 billion (54.69 million USD) was exported in the first quarter (Q1) N480 billion (312.53 million USD) in the second quarter (Q2) N116 billion (75.54 million USD) in the third quarter (Q3) Japan emerged as the largest importer, accounting for N218.3 billion (142.13 million USD of the exports, followed by China with N43.5 billion. Nigeria's thriving aluminium export industry persists despite the...
The Indian multinational mining and metal giant, Vedanta reported a 3 per cent year-on-year increase in total aluminium production, reaching 614,000 tonnes (0.614 million tonnes) in Q3 FY25, compared to 599,000 tonnes (0.599 million tonnes) in Q3 FY24. The nine-month production numbers for FY25 were 1.89 million tonnes, a 3 per cent rise from the same period last year when they totalled 1.77 million tonnes. Vedanta Aluminium Production (in million tonnes) At the diversified minerals company's alumina refinery at Lanjigarh, alumina production rose 7 per cent year over year and 1 per cent quarter over quarter, totalling 505,000 tonnes (0.505 million tonnes) over 4,70,000 tonnes. In the nine months, it stood at 1.54 million tonnes, a 16 per cent year-over-year jump. However, the saleable...
Base metals prices on the London Metal Exchange (LME) showed negative trends, with zinc recording the highest drop of 2.76 per cent d-o-d. Meanwhile, inventories at LME-registered warehouses witnessed outflows, except for nickel stocks, which increased by 1.21 per cent d-o-d. COMEX market update Copper prices on the COMEX market stood at $8,797/tonne (t), stable compared to the previous close. Indian market overview In India's non-ferrous metals markets, BigMint assessed domestic copper armature scrap at INR 743,000/t ex-Delhi. Aluminium Tense scrap prices remained stable d-o-d, with ex-Delhi at INR 174,000/t and ex-Chennai at INR 175,000/t. Global updates Global factory activity weakens as economic concerns rise Factory activity in Europe, Asia, and the US ended 2024 on a weak note, with...
