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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In November 2024, just ahead of the cancellation of the aluminium semis export tax rebate on December 1, overseas orders for Chinese extruded aluminium products surged, driving some billet enterprises to increase operations. Therefore, despite one less operating day in November than October, China’s domestic primary aluminium billet production per day remained stable at 49,000 tonnes. Image Source: Guoxin Aluminum According to the Shanghai Metals Market, the monthly output also stood firm at 1.477 million tonnes in November versus 1.507 million tonnes in October. That reflected a 2 per cent drop month-on-month, primarily due to one operation day less. The number of sample enterprises in the SMM monthly survey was 169, with a total capacity of 31.205 million tonnes, unchanged from the...
The proportion of Russia-origin aluminium in London Metal Exchange (LME) warehouses in November 2024 grew to 67 per cent, following a drop in the previous month from 66 per cent to 65 per cent. Although the proportion increased, the volume of stocks continued to drop, amounting to 254,500 tonnes at the end of November, as LME-registered warehouses still restrict aluminium-made-in-Russia. On the other hand, India-origin aluminium stocks remained stable in LME warehouses at 120,000 tonnes, with a proportion increased to 32 per cent from the previous 30 per cent. Amid this assorted trend, the total on-warrant aluminium stocks on LME dropped by 6 per cent to 380,400 tonnes, reflecting a shift in trade dynamics and weaker commodity inflow due to the ongoing compliance measures and geopolitical...
According to the US Geological Survey data, the United States' primary aluminium production slightly rebounded in the third quarter, standing at 167,600 tonnes versus 167,000 tonnes in Q2. However, despite the sequential increase, the Q3 output volume was less than the Q2 production of 172,000 tonnes. Also, the output in Q3 recorded a year-on-year fall of 9.89 per cent from 186,000 tonnes. Image Source: Alcoa Corporation The above data indicates the sluggish trend in the United States' primary aluminium production prevails , primarily due to rising production costs. Companies like Alcoa cited higher raw material prices and overall economic pressures as key factors impacting their output. In September 2024, the output was down by 2.5 per cent M-o-M, amounting to 54,600 tonnes versus 56,000...
The Indian aluminium industry has been encountering challenges in recent times, principally due to the surge in competitively priced imports from countries like China. The industry has been advocating for higher import duties to level the playing field and protect domestic producers. But is it at all necessary? And, if so, why? The current state of affairs India's aluminium production has steadily increased over the years, with the country producing around 4.1 million tonnes of aluminium in FY2022-23. However, despite this growth, the industry has been struggling to compete with cheap imports. In FY2022-23, India imported around 1.4 million tonnes of aluminium, with China being the largest supplier, accounting for over 40 per cent of the total imports. "The current import duty of 7.5 per...
South32, a globally diversified mining and metals company, has announced the withdrawal of its production guidance for Mozal Aluminium in Mozambique due to escalating civil unrest in the region. The company cited rigorous roadway blockages that are restricting the transportation of raw materials to the facility, prompting the enactment of contingency plans to minimise operational impacts. South32 emphasised that the safety and well-being of its workforce at Mozal Aluminium are of utmost importance. Despite the civil unrest, the company reported that its employees are safe, and there have been zero security incidents at the facility. The company remains committed to ensuring the safety of its employees and the continuity of its operations. In response to the situation in Mozambique,...
According to the Shanghai Metals Market survey, China’s domestic aluminium production destabilised in November 2024 (30 calendar days), recording a month-on-month downfall of 3.21 per cent, attributed to environment protection-related controls requiring production cuts during the dry season. In addition to production cuts, increased alumina prices were another factor that contributed to the reduced aluminium output volume in China during the period under review. Image Source: Getty Images However, the resumption of some aluminium projects, which were under maintenance in Sichuan, Xinjiang, and other regions, slightly offset the monthly fall and led to a year-on-year hike of 2.74 per cent. As per the SMM data, China’s domestic aluminium production in November was approximately 3.583...
According to the US Geological Survey, the United States’ aluminium crude metal and alloy imports in August 2024 experienced a decline for the second consecutive month, following an increase last seen in June. As per the data revealed, the import volume in August plunged by 25,000 tonnes or 8.5 per cent month-on-month to 268,000 tonnes. Image Source: iStock In the previous month (July), the United States aluminium crude metal and alloy imports were 293,000 tonnes, down by 13.82 per cent from 340,000 tonnes in June. In the first eight months, the United States’ cumulative imports were 2.41 million tonnes, down by 7.69 per cent from 2.6 million tonnes during the corresponding period of the previous year. From Canada, the top exporter of aluminium crude metal and alloys to the United States,...
Emirates Global Aluminium broke ground today to start constructing ten pilot reduction cells for EGA-EX, the next-generation smelting technology with more advanced features than EGA’s DX+ Ultra technology. The ten pilot cells will be constructed at Al Taweelah smelter to test and validate the technology, backed by advanced Internet of Things sensors and connections that will enable seamless real-time data gathering and application of Industry 4.0 to ensure increased production capacity by 22 per cent, improved current efficiency, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. EGA-EX is designed in two variants – one to maximise productivity and another to minimise greenhouse gas emissions. EGA intends to incorporate all its existing Industry 4.0 technologies in EX to develop it as a one-stop...
The global mining and metal giant Rio Tinto has entered a strategic partnership with Swedish investment firm Vargas, global integrated business enterprise Mitsubishi Corporation, and a consortium of local and international industry partners to explore a low-carbon aluminium greenfield opportunity in Kokkola, Finland. The collaboration marks a significant step towards advancing sustainable aluminium production in Europe. Rio Tinto will provide with access to its provenits cutting-edge AP60 technology to the Arctial partnership as the strategic industrial partner. This marks the first deployment of AP60 outside of Quebec, Canada. Developed by Rio Tinto, AP60 is widely regarded as one of the most efficient aluminium smelting technologies at a commercial scale, offering substantial potential...
The final month of 2024 began this week, marking several key events in the upstream aluminium sector. A few of them are critical minerals export ban by China to the United States, projections by the Australian Securities Exchange Limited (ASX) suggesting a return of bauxite stocks to IPOs, and the stabilisation of primary aluminium ingot price in the Chinese metals market. After multiple ups and downs through November 2024, China’s domestic primary aluminium ingot price has remained range-bound this week (December 2 to 6) between RMB 20,380 and 20,400 per tonne. During the same period of the previous month, China’s aluminium ingot price experienced a sharp growth of 4.48 per cent from RMB 20,780 per tonne to RMB 21,710 per tonne. In contrast, the price in early December marked an increase...
Pittsburgh-based Alcoa Corporation is a global leader in the bauxite, alumina, and aluminium industry. With a market capitalisation of US$7.807 billion and an enterprise value of US$8.057 billion, the company's operations span the entire aluminium value chain, making it a significant player in the global market. Global footprint Alcoa's operations extend across nine countries, primarily in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Iceland, Norway, Spain, and the United States, wherein the enterprise directly and indirectly owns 27 operating locations and employs over 13,000 people. Operations are divided into two reportable upstream segments — alumina and aluminium. The alumina segment encompasses global bauxite mines and alumina refineries, aligning the global brand as one of the world's largest...
Canada’s Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO), Yves Giroux, estimates that federal revenues will rise by $473 million over five years due to tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, aluminium, and steel. In October, the federal government implemented a 100 per cent tariff on Chinese-made electric vehicles (EVs) and a 25 per cent per cent tariff on aluminium and steel imports. The Canadian Government has pointed out China's trade practices, highlighting unfair pricing and product dumping enabled by "abysmal" environmental and labour standards. These practices, they argue, come at a significant cost to both the environment and workers' rights. The Trudeau Government faced significant pressure to align with U.S. tariffs, driven by advocacy from industry groups such as automakers and steel and...
Vedanta Aluminium, India's largest aluminium producer and one of the leading global players in the industry, has garnered worldwide attention this year with its bold moves towards sustainability and highest-ever half-yearly production. Indeed, the company has marked several milestones from the very beginning of the year by securing #Rank 1 as the most sustainable aluminium producer in the esteemed S&P Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA) rankings for the assessment period 2023. Then on, Vedanta awed the global aluminium industry with one after another sustainable aluminium production tactics, with an unwavering focus towards shifting to renewable energy. Image Source: Vedanta Aluminium The former CEO of Vedanta Aluminium, John Slaven, made a strong opinion by stating, "We are...
The old Anglesey aluminium plant at Holyhead is all set to get revamped into a low-carbon campus, and it is calling for 1200 new job openings in the near future. Stena Line, which announced the purchase of the former Anglesey Aluminium site in September 2022, have had the intention to use the site to facilitate an extension of Stena's existing operations at the Port of Holyhead. The revelation has now pointed out that the business plans to create a modern campus to revitalise the long-disused site and create circa 200,000 square metres of development as part of a low-carbon campus, generating £578 million GVA, jobs, and opportunities. Image Source: https://ravenwing93.co.uk/ The new campus, following the work undertaken on the site to date, which has included clearing the dilapidated...
In a recent development in the Indian aluminium industry, prices rose by 0.12 per cent to settle at INR 242650 per tonne, driven by sustained demand from China, the world's largest aluminium consumer. As a lump sum quantity of the non-ferrous metal is being exported to the neighbouring country, there is a domestic demand-supply mismatch during the ongoing financial year. The uptick in prices was, however, tempered by ongoing uncertainty surrounding potential U.S. tariffs, which continue to cast a shadow over the market. Meanwhile, in Japan, premiums for January-March shipments of primary aluminium skyrocketed by 31-49 per cent from the previous quarter, reflecting concerns over tightening supply in Asia following China's cancellation of a 13 per cent export tax refund on semi-manufactured...
According to the International Aluminium Institute data, Africa’s primary aluminium production recovered in October 2024, experiencing an increase of 3,000 tonnes or 2.24 per cent M-o-M. The monthly gain occurred amid daily average output shortfall of 100 tonnes. In the said month, Africa’s primary aluminium production stood at 137,000 tonnes versus 134,000 tonnes in September. Compared to the same period of the previous year, Africa’s monthly and daily production of primary aluminium stood restrained. The monthly gain in Africa’s primary aluminium production during October took the output at the second-highest volume after 138,000 tonnes in August. However, the monthly gain caused no difference in Africa’s contribution to the world's primary aluminium production. In September and...
Updates like record-high alumina production in October, Antam committing $723 million for mining expansion, and global aluminium producers offering 31-49 per cent higher shipment premium to Japanese buyers have taken the aluminium industry by storm this week, indicating an increasing effort towards upstream aluminium production amid a critical supply-chain flow due to revised trade policies. The ongoing gap between demand and supply is likely to increase with the implementation of policies like China’s aluminium export tax rebate cancellation or the United States’ increased tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China. On Monday, November 25, US President-elect Donald Trump reaffirmed on social media that he would impose 25 per cent tariffs on all imports from Mexico and Canada, the United...
The largest integrated aluminium producer in South East Asia, Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Bhd reported a significant 31.4 per cent jump in net profit for the third quarter that ended Sept 30, 2024, reaching RM402.3 million, up from RM306.1 million in the same period last year. The robust performance was attributed to higher profit contributions from associated companies and rising aluminium prices. For the nine-month period ended Sept 30, 2024 (9MFY2024), Press Metal recorded a net profit of RM1.32 billion against RM893.88 million previously, while revenue rose 10.5 per cent to RM11.35 billion from RM10.27 billion a year earlier. This was mainly due to the improved metal price, stronger US dollar and higher quantity delivered compared to 9MFY2023. Despite improvements at the topline...
