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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Canada reconfirms introducing tariff surcharges on aluminium and steel for Chinese enterprises. The tariff will be applicable effective October 22, 2024, on the finalised list of products from China. The confirmation came from Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland, as the government agrees that this will safeguard workers and businesses in Canada's aluminium and steel industries against China's unfair trade policies and consequently prevent trade diversion resulting from recent actions taken by Canadian trading partners. "We are moving in lock-step with key international partners to protect Canadian workers and businesses in our steel and aluminium sectors from China's intentional, state-directed policy of overcapacity and oversupply, which is undermining...
This week brought several noteworthy developments in the upstream aluminium sector, spanning bauxite, alumina, and primary aluminium. The Government of Canada introduced a 25 per cent tariff on select Chinese aluminium and steel products while also detailing the enforcement of Section 53 of the Customs Tariff Act. This move follows Canada's decision in August to impose a 100 per cent levy on Chinese-made electric vehicles, signalling a stronger alignment with the trade policies of its major allies. Meanwhile, at LME Week 2024 on Monday, September 30, Rusal expressed confidence that the current supply-demand gap in the global aluminium market would narrow, expecting a market balance by late 2025. This optimism is fuelled by a recent uptick in demand, primarily driven by China's stimulus...
Rusal, the leading aluminium producer from Russia, has announced it will double its smelter capacity to 600,000 tonnes by 2030 in its Boguchansky aluminium production site in Siberia. The jointly owned plant by Rusal and state-controlled power generating company RusHydron shall witness construction for the project at Boguchansky from 2025, confirmed local government official quoting Rusal vice president Elena Bezdenezhnykh. Adding to the statement, a Rusal representative stated that the investment volume and financial model calculation would conclude by the end of 2024. Rusal is accounted for the world's largest aluminium production outside of China and launched operations at Boguchansky in 2019 with a total investment of $1.6 billion. When full capacity is evaluated, the total project...
On Friday, October 4, Vedanta Limited announced its second quarter and H1 results for FY2024-25 ended September 30, revealing the highest-ever quarterly and half-yearly aluminium production. In H1 FY2025, Vedanta's aluminium production totalled 1.205 million tonnes, following an output of 609,000 tonnes in Q2, up by 2.18 per cent from 596,000 tonnes in Q1 FY2025. Year-on-year, Vedanta's aluminium production in Q2 FY2025 experienced an increase of 2.53 per cent from 594,000 tonnes. In the full-year FY2023-24, Vedanta's aluminium production amounted to 2.37 million tonnes, up by 3 per cent Y-o-Y. Upon continuing the ongoing trend of aluminium production for the rest of the fiscal year FY2025, the company's metal output will exceed the prior year's level at the end of the year. Vedanta...
On Monday, September 30, Rio Tinto announced the completion of acquiring another 11.65 per cent interest in Mitsubishi Corporation-owned Boyne Smelters Limited (BSL). The latter owns and operates Boyne Island aluminium smelter in Gladstone, Australia. Following the latest acquisition, Rio Tinto owns 71.04 per cent of interest in Boyne Smelters Limited. Rio Tinto is keen to continue working with its BSL joint venture partners and other stakeholders to attain a low-carbon future within the aluminium supply chain in Gladstone. Rio Tinto’s other acquisitions, such as Sumitomo Chemical Company’s 2.46 per cent stake in Boyne Smelters Limited and Sumitomo’s 20.64 per cent interest in New Zealand Aluminium Smelters (NZAS), are in progress. Rio’s acquisition of Mitsubishi’s stake in BSL is for an...
The Government of Canada announced the list of Chinese aluminium and steel products that will be subjected to a 25 per cent tariff, along with details regarding the implementation of Section 53 of the Customs Tariff Act. This move, which follows an earlier decision in August to impose a 100 per cent levy on Chinese-made electric vehicles, aligns Canada's trade policy more closely with that of its key allies. The measure is intended to protect domestic manufacturers from lower-cost imports originating from Asia's largest economy. In response, Catherine Cobden, President and CEO of the Canadian Steel Producers Association (CSPA), and Jean Simard, President and CEO of the Aluminium Association of Canada, stated, "Canada's steel and aluminium industries welcome this next and very important...
In August 2024, primary aluminium production in Europe continued to grow , reaching a new high. Month-on-month, the output increased by 2,000 tonnes or 0.34 per cent, while year-on-year surged by 29,000 tonnes or 5.1 per cent, supported equally by Russia & Eastern Europe and Western & Central Europe. According to the data revealed by the International Aluminium Institute, primary aluminium production across Europe amounted to 597,000 tonnes during August 2024, compared to 595,000 tonnes in July 2024 and 568,000 tonnes in August 2023. Of the total European output in August, Russia & Eastern Europe contributed 354,000 tonnes, accounting for 59.3 per cent, and Western & Central Europe contributed 243,000 tonnes, accounting for 40.7 per cent. Production trend in Russia & Eastern Europe On a...
On Monday, September 30, at LME week 2024, Rusal expressed its confidence that the ongoing supply-demand gap in the global aluminium market would narrow shortly and reach balance by the end of 2025. This optimism follows a market upturn buoyed by the Chinese stimulus programme, leading to a demand boost. On Monday, September 30, Chinese stocks jumped to the highest in a single day in the past sixteen years, with domestic A-shares registering their highest-ever turnover. The CSI300 blue-chip index is up by nearly 30 per cent from the February trough, heading to a bullish market. The stimulus package declared last week included relaxation on property market rules in major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzen to encourage investments in the real estate sector, reduction in mortgage...
Alcoa of Australia Limited has entered into a long-term power agreement with AGL Energy for additional electricity supply for its Portland aluminium smelter in Portland, Victoria. As per the contract signed, AGL Energy Limited, Australia’s leading energy company with electricity, gas, solar, and renewable power services, will supply an additional 287 megawatts (MW) of electricity to Portland smelter until June 30, 2035. AGL also agreed to supply 300 megawatts of electricity to Alcoa’s Portland smelter under the renewed agreement in August 2023. Both the agreements are slated to come into effect on July 1, 2026, providing total 587 megawatts of power to the smelter, which is also owned by CITIC and Marubeni Aluminium Australia. Established in 1986, Portland aluminium smelter is a joint...
The Indian public sector company National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), under the Ministry of Mines, delivered a positive financial performance for the fiscal year 2023-24. The company recorded a sales turnover of INR 13,149 crore (USD$ 1.57 billion), reflecting its continued strength in the aluminium industry. NALCO's net profit surged to INR 2,060 crore (approx. USD$248 million), marking a significant increase of INR 516 crore (approx. USD$62.1 million) compared to the previous fiscal year. The company also reported an impressive export turnover of INR 4,275.73 crore, underscoring its strong presence in international markets. This performance highlights NALCO's resilience and growth, cementing its position as a key player in India's aluminium sector. During its 43rd Annual General...
In a significant milestone for the Indian aluminium industry, Vedanta Aluminium, the nation's leading producer, has taken the lead in receiving the prestigious Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification for its aluminium wire rods and rolled products (sheets. plates and strips) as the government's new quality regulations come into effect. The BIS certification covers products manufactured at both Vedanta's BALCO facility in Chhattisgarh and its Jharsuguda unit in Odisha, reinforcing the company's position as an industry leader committed to quality and innovation. The mandatory BIS certification, introduced by the Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry in partnership with the Ministry of Mines, is part of a broader regulatory framework to ensure quality control across aluminium and...
In a recent conversation with one of the leading Indian news media, Jamie Dimon, a seasoned financial expert and the CEO of JPMorgan, shared his insights on the global economy's challenges. He underscored that despite lingering concerns over inflation and recession, the U.S. and India are demonstrating remarkable resilience. "There's a lot of noise about recession — the U.S., Europe, and a slowing China," Dimon said, acknowledging the global uncertainty. He noted that while China's economic growth has decelerated, India is performing exceptionally well. The U.S. economy, too, has exceeded expectations, weathering economic headwinds better than many anticipated. Dimon's comments reflect a nuanced understanding of the global economic landscape as nations grapple with inflationary pressures,...
On the previous trading day, LME aluminium opened at US$2,557 per tonne, hit a high of US$2,580 per tonne and a low of US$2,516 per tonne, and closed at US$2,539 per tonne, down US$17 per tonne, a decrease of 0.67 per cent. On Wednesday, September 25, both the cash bid price and official settlement price lost US$29 per tonne or 1.14 per cent and US$30 per tonne or 1.18 per cent to settle at US$2,511 per tonne and US$2,512 per tonne. As per the LME price graph, both 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price declined by US$30.5 per tonne or 1.19 per cent and US$31 per tonne or 1.21 per cent to settle at US$2,527.50 per tonne and US$2,528 per tonne. On the same day, December 25 bid price and December 25 offer price slumped by US$29 per tonne or 1.09 per cent to halt at US$2,623 per tonne and...
LME aluminium opened the previous trading day at US$2,489 per tonne, with a high of US$2,568 per tonne and a low of US$2,483 per tonne, closing at US$2,554 per tonne, up US$68 per tonne, an increase of 2.73 per cent. Both the cash bid price and official settlement price marked a surge of US$86 per tonne or 3.50 per cent and US$87 per tonne or 3.54 per cent on September 24. The rise in price can be attributed to the announcement of a series of policy measures by China to support its economy and property market. The cash bid price and official settlement price halted at US$2,540 per tonne and US$2,542 per tonne on Tuesday, September 24. 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price also shot up by US$87 per tonne to dock at US$2,558 per tonne and US$2,559 per tonne. December 25 bid price and...
The previous trading day, LME aluminium opened at US$2,485 per tonne, with a high of US$2,499 per tonne and a low of US$2,456 per tonne, closing at US$2,486 per tonne, up US$1 per tonne, an increase of 0.04 per cent. On Monday, September 23, both LME aluminium cash bid price and LME aluminium official settlement price slumped by US$21 per tonne or 0.84 per cent and US$22 per tonne or 0.88 per cent to clock at US$2,454 per tonne and US$2,455 per tonne. As per the price graph, 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price dropped by US$33 per tonne or 1.31 per cent and US$32.5 per tonne or 1.29 per cent to settle at US$2,471 per tonne and US$2,472 per tonne. December 25 bid price and December 25 offer price lost US$25 per tonne or 0.95 per cent to dock at US$2,580 per tonne and US$2,585 per...
China’s primary aluminium imports recorded month-on-month and year-on-year increases in August 2024, while exports showed a downtrend, suggesting an impressive domestic demand for the primary metal over the rest of the world. China’s domestic aluminium processing enterprises have received new orders that require primary aluminium for production prior to the implementation of tariffs by many countries on Chinese aluminium. Lower aluminium prices on the London Metal Exchange than on the Shanghai Futures Exchange could also be linked to China’s higher imports as the wide price gap led domestic downstream manufacturers to source raw materials from abroad, whilst overseas manufacturers refrained from sourcing Chinese metal. According to the General Administration of Customs, China’s primary...
In August 2024, the Oceania region played a critical role in driving the world’s primary aluminium production. In tandem with a month-on-month drop in the region’s primary aluminium production, the world’s output decreased from the record high level but was largely offset by stable production volume in other parts of the world. With the decrease in primary aluminium production across the Oceania region, its contribution to the global output dipped from 2.62 per cent in July to 2.49 per cent in August 2024. According to the International Aluminium Institute, the world’s primary aluminium production in August 2024 slipped from its record high, standing at 6.179 million tonnes versus 6.185 million tonnes in July. However, on a year-on-year basis, the output stood impressively high at 1.2 per...
On the previous trading day, LME aluminium opened at US$2,536.5 per tonne, hit a high of US$2,551 per tonne and a low of US$2,478 per tonne, and closed at US$2,486 per tonne, down US$53.5 per tonne, a decrease of 2.11 per cent. As per the LME price graph, on Friday, September 20, both cash bid price and official settlement price had declined by US$47 per tonne or 1.86 per cent and US$46 per tonne or 1.82 per cent to settle at US$2,475 per tonne and US$2,477 per tonne. On the same day, 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price also contracted by US$32 per tonne or 1.26 per cent and US$34 per tonne or 1.31 per cent to peg at US$2,504 per tonne and US$2,504.50 per tonne. December 25 bid price and December 25 offer price slumped by US$25 per tonne to halt at US$2,605 per tonne and US$2,610...
