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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One month to go to 2025, and global aluminium producers have begun to offer new premiums to Japanese buyers for the first quarter of the New Year. And not much to our surprise, the premium offered for the March quarter is 31 to 49 per cent higher than the current quarter’s premium, anticipating a supply crunch in Asia following the 13 per cent tax rebate cancellation for aluminium semi-manufactured products by the Chinese government from December 1, 2024. Image Source: LinkedIn According to three sources involved in quarterly pricing talks on Friday, global aluminium producers have offered $230-260 per tonne of premiums to Japanese buyers versus $175 per tonne of premiums in Q4 2024. The premium is cost paid for primary aluminium shipments agreed to pay over the London Metal Exchange...
In a recent forecast by Bank of America, analysts have projected a turbulent year ahead for the metals and minerals market in 2025. Bank of America is the second-largest banking institution in the United States and the second-largest bank in the world by market capitalisation, both after JPMorgan Chase. According to a Reuters report, the volatility will be driven by shifting trade policies, supply constraints, and fluctuating global demand, creating an unpredictable landscape for investors and industries. Aluminium and copper, two critical industrial metals, are expected to face notable price declines. Bank of America now predicts that aluminium prices will average $2,813 per tonne, a drop of 6 per cent from earlier projections, while copper prices will average $9,438 per tonne in 2025,...
AL Circle, the leading global digital platform for the aluminium value chain, is thrilled to announce the launch of the 28th edition of its highly anticipated e-Magazine, " Aluminium Industry: Focus Europe ." This latest issue is dedicated to exploring the evolving landscape of the European aluminium industry, a sector that plays a pivotal role in driving sustainable industrial growth and technological innovation. A deep dive into Europe's aluminium dynamics The European aluminium sector is undergoing transformative changes driven by sustainability, circular economy initiatives, and advanced technological integration. This edition of " Aluminium Industry: Focus Europe " highlights: Market trends and future forecasts: A detailed analysis of current market trends, trade challenges, and the...
RUSAL, one of the world’s largest aluminium producers, has achieved a historic milestone. The Russian aluminium producer has successfully conducted the first-ever preheating and start-up of an aluminium reduction cell using inert anodes. This groundbreaking aluminium electrolysis technology emits oxygen instead of greenhouse gases, representing a significant leap forward in sustainable aluminium production. RUSAL announced a significant achievement in scaling inert anode technology—marking the first-ever preheating and industrial start-up of a reduction cell fully equipped with inert anodes. Previously, concerns about potential damage to inert anodes meant that the preheating and start-up of reduction cells were conducted using traditional carbon anodes, which were then gradually replaced...
On Monday, November 25, US President-elect Donald Trump reiterated his tariff plans on social media, including a 25 per cent duty on all imports from Mexico and Canada. According to Citibank analysts, the tariff on Mexico and Canada would affect the global commodity market, but the maximum impact would be on aluminium and steel. Canada and Mexico are the United States' two most significant trading partners as the largest suppliers of aluminium and steel. The United States heavily depends on imported aluminium, with 60 per cent coming from Canada. Mexico and Canada are also notable steel suppliers to the US, with the former contributing 15 per cent and the latter accounting for 25 per cent of the United States' total steel imports. Besides a 25 per cent tariff on Mexico and Canada, Trump...
United Company Rusal, the world’s second-largest aluminium company by primary metal output, has announced a reduction of 6 per cent in production in response to the global alumina price surge, causing skyrocketed production costs. Slow economic progress dampening domestic demand for aluminium is also a reason for Rusal to cut its output. Image generated by AI for representational purpose Rusal explicitly said it would reduce its production by 250,000 tonnes annually due to the global alumina price rally buoyed by output suspensions in Australia, the world’s second-largest alumina producer, upon bauxite supply disruptions from Guinea and Brazil, without specifying the timeline when the production cuts would begin and also not naming the smelter that would witness the reduction. The company...
On Saturday, November 23, Tiwai Point smelter of New Zealand opened its gates to enthusiasts for production process glimpsing, and hundreds poured in to prove the decision right. New Zealand Aluminium Smelters' external affairs director, Simon King, said Tiwai decided to hold an open day after a prolonged period because they had "been firmly focused on securing a future for the smelter and on environmental remediation". Image Source: https://nzas.co.nz/ He also said, "With the future of the smelter secured and our remediation efforts well underway, we were looking forward to throwing open our gates once again for interested members of our community." Focusing on the 'securing the future' part, New Zealand Aluminium Smelters (NZAS) has this year (2024) signed 20-year electricity agreements...
Akatswiri Mineral Resources is optimistic about its $820 million aluminium production project, which can potentially transform Malawi's industrial landscape. The company has completed a feasibility study for mining bauxite deposits in the Mulanje Mountain region. It plans to refine the ore into alumina and smelt it into aluminium—a vital metal used across numerous global industries. Image Source - Linkedin (Hilton Banda) The bauxite deposits at the Linje and Lichenya sites on Mulanje Mountain are projected to deliver substantial yields, with an annual mining target of 580,000 metric tonnes. This output is expected to be processed into 100,000 metric tonnes of aluminium each year. With current market prices at $2,600 per tonne, the project could generate approximately $260 million in...
The Department of Industry and Information Technology of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region recently unveiled the list of 2024 Guangxi Intelligent Manufacturing Benchmark Enterprises, Intelligent Factory Demonstration Enterprises, and Digital Workshops. Through continuous technological innovation and efficient management, Baise Guangtou Yinhai Aluminum emerged as a standout, earning a spot on the prestigious list of Intelligent Manufacturing Benchmark Enterprises in Guangxi. In recent years, Baise Guangtou Yinhai Aluminum has aligned with national advancements in intelligent manufacturing, actively driving the integration of cutting-edge information technologies into the manufacturing sector. The company has introduced and implemented advanced equipment and technologies, carrying out a...
The global aluminium industry is witnessing significant developments as key players take steps towards sustainability and economic growth. Oman, the oldest independent state in the Arab world, is moving forward with plans to establish an Integrated Economic Cluster for Aluminium Industries in Suhar, a hub for substantial investments in the aluminium sector. In India, Vedanta is furthering its commitment to renewable energy by partnering with GAIL Gas Limited to transition its Jharsuguda smelter to natural gas, a move expected to reduce CO2 emissions by 47,292 tonnes annually by the end of 2025. Meanwhile, Alcoa Corporation, a leader in the global aluminium market, has joined the World Economic Forum’s First Movers Coalition Suppliers Hub, contributing to the collective goal of achieving...
Despite mounting global resistance to its surging shipments of low-cost goods, China has pledged to increase support for exporting companies. Beijing's new policies aim to sustain its export boom, which is on track to reach record levels, even as trading partners accuse it of undercutting local industries and distorting global markets. Wang Shouwen, China's international trade representative and vice minister of commerce, announced a range of measures to support exporters. These include financial aid, insurance assistance, and directives to expand cargo capacity through state-backed shipping firms. "Our focus is on promoting high-quality trade and addressing practical challenges faced by Chinese companies," Wang said during a press conference in Beijing. When keeping an eye on the...
The world’s primary aluminium production regained momentum in October 2024 after an intermittent decline of 3.19 per cent in the previous month. Owing to the increase across all the major primary aluminium-producing regions, the world’s output reached a new high in October, exceeding all the earlier records. Recovering more than what it lost in September, the world’s primary aluminium production in October even exceeded the record volume of 6.205 million tonnes seen in August. According to the International Aluminium Institute’s (IAI) data, the output volume in October grew by 3.56 per cent M-o-M and 1.27 per cent Y-o-Y, reaching 6.221 million tonnes. In September 2024, the world’s primary aluminium output was 6.007 million tonnes; in October 2023, it stood at 6.143 million tonnes. The...
The European market for aluminium alloy ingot has experienced a significant devaluation, with both Germany and Turkey playing a pivotal role. Their substantial price reductions, amidst economic challenges and struggles in the automotive sector, have contributed to a pronounced downward trend in the week ending November 15th. Image source: https://www.sav-al.com/ Germany rolls downhill According to chemanalyst.news, Germany's aluminium alloy ingot prices dropped by 2 per cent as the country struggles with financial challenges. Its economy is in recession for two years in a row. In H1 (first half) of the ongoing year (2024), it contracted by 0.2 per cent compared to the same duration in 2023. The nation's financial growth course has witnessed multiple speed breakers affected by insufficient...
Alcoa Corporation, a name to reckon with in the global aluminium industry, has reportedly joined the World Economic Forum’s First Suppliers Hub, a platform created to bring together the innovative suppliers of materials needed to support the ambition of industrial decarbonisation in the world by 2050. Image Source: Alcoa Corporation The First Movers Coalition (FMC), which is also an initiative by the World Economic Forum in partnership with the United States government, has set a goal that 10 per cent of its members’ annual aluminium procurement volume should meet or exceed the standard of low-carbon primary aluminium determined by the Coalition. The benchmark set by the First Movers Coalition is below 3 tonnes of CO2e emissions per tonne of primary aluminium. To enable the FMC members to...
Vedanta's continued endeavour to shift its power sources to renewable energy has led to an agreement with GAIL Gas Limited, a subsidiary of GAIL (India) Limited, for the natural gas supply to Jharsuguda smelter. The transition to natural gas will expectedly become operational from the end of 2025, significantly reducing carbon footprint and minimising CO2 equivalent emissions by 47,292 tonnes annually. Image Source: Vedanta Aluminium This move is a significant part of Vedanta's ongoing journey towards achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050. The expedition contains two main strategies – one is increasing renewable energy usage and the other is creating carbon sinks through extensive afforestation. Natural gas supply from GAIL is primarily destined for Vedanta's upcoming 430-kilo tonnes per...
Mubadala Investment Company, in partnership with Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), Strata Manufacturing Company, and Khalifa University of Science and Technology, has embarked on an ambitious initiative to create the UAE's first national laboratory and research program focused on high-temperature materials. This joint effort seeks to develop a centre of excellence for both academic and industrial research within the nation, removing the reliance on conducting such studies overseas. Image Source- EGA website Enhancing UAE's research capabilities The initiative marks a major step forward in enhancing the UAE's research capabilities and aligns with the nation's vision of fostering innovation and technological advancement. Situated on Khalifa University's main campus in Abu Dhabi, this...
China's primary aluminium billet output in October 2024 retreated from its previous month's high as many billet manufacturers reduced their production pace due to several unfavourable factors like high selling prices, lower processing fees, and sluggish downstream demand. Usually, October is a season when the market takes a turn aligned with the year-end goals. Image Source: Made-in-China According to the Shanghai Metals Market survey, China's daily average production of primary aluminium billet in October lost what it gained last month despite having one more operating day. The average daily output dropped 2,000 tonnes M-o-M to 49,000 tonnes per day, resulting in a monthly output of 1.507 million tonnes in October, as against 1.528 million tonnes in September. That recorded a...
Mining giants saw a strong start to the week, the 47th week of the year 2024, buoyed by China's decision to eliminate the 13 per cent tax rebate on aluminium and copper semi-finished products exports. The policy change, announced on November 15, 2024, triggered a surge of over 7 per cent in London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium prices, underscoring its immediate impact on global markets. Citi, the leading global bank for institutions with cross-border needs, a global provider in wealth management, and a U.S. personal bank highlighted the move's implications, noting that removing the rebate will likely discourage the export of aluminium semi-finished products from China. According to the bank, this policy shift is expected to initially raise the LME-Shanghai Futures Exchange (ShFE) ratio....
