
Major aluminium producers have offered Japanese buyers premiums of USD 310-325 per tonne for primary aluminium shipments in the October-December quarter. The bar is 18-22 per cent lower than the USD 395 per tonne premium agreed for the current July-September quarter. The premium paid by Japanese...
Asia’s alumina exports entered 2026 on a strong footing, with shipments to global markets reaching 7.05 million tonnes worth USD 2.76 billion in H1 2026 , up 27.36 per cent year-on-year . The sharp rise in H1 was driven by a quarter-on-quarter surge by a considerable margin. This indicates an...
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Japan’s aluminium scrap imports from the European Union in the first quarter (Q1) of 2026 have reported an almost 90 per cent year-on-year surge. In Q1 2026, Japan imported a total of 35,794 tonnes of aluminium scrap, of which 3,613 tonnes or 10.09 per cent, was imported from the EU. Delve deeper...

Toyota Vice Chairman Koji Sato is calling for Japanese automakers to work together on common standards for selected vehicle parts as Chinese brands continue to gain ground in key global markets. The proposal would standardise components such as steel, wiring harnesses and plastics across Japan's...

In partnership with the alumina and aluminium producer Alcoa Corporation, governments and industrial representatives of Australia, Japan and the US have reached the final investment decision (FID) for a project to establish a gallium production facility at Alcoa's Wagerup alumina refinery in...

Kimura Group, a global leader in casting innovation with nearly 100 years of foundry expertise, announced the launch of its Advanced Aluminum HQ Plant at the company's headquarters in Shizuoka, Japan. The new facility, which began operations in February 2026, expands Kimura's capabilities for...

Itochu and Daikin Industries will jointly start a business to recover aluminium from used commercial air conditioners in Japan. The initiative is aimed at increasing the use of recycled materials as Japan looks to reduce its dependence on imported aluminium amid supply chain disruptions linked to...

Canada and Japan are deepening their critical minerals alliance, seeking to reduce their dependence on Chinese supplies. At Canada's largest-ever trade mission to Tokyo and the Asia-Pacific region, companies from both countries signed commercial agreements worth over CAD 1 billion (USD 706.11...

India is strengthening its position as a global supplier of green fuels following the signing of long-term offtake agreements between ACME Cleantech Solutions (ACME Group) and Japan's IHI Corporation for green ammonia and Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, Inc. for green methanol. Speaking at the...

Some Japanese aluminium buyers have agreed to pay global producers a premium of USD 395 per tonne over the London Metal Exchange benchmark for July-September 2026 shipments, up 12–13 per cent from the previous quarter, according to industry sources. The premium compares with USD 350–353 per tonne...

The ToZero (Towards Zero Waste in Aluminum BiW Manufacturing) project has demonstrated that recycled automotive aluminium scrap can be transformed into powder suitable for laser powder bed fusion (LPBF), supporting efforts to increase the use of recycled materials in additive manufacturing....

Rare earth elements were formed billions of years ago through cosmic processes, but their importance has never been more immediate. Once treated as a niche mineral group, rare earths now sit at the centre of the global contest for its strategic value in developing technology, clean energy, defence...

Japan and the United Kingdom have unveiled a series of agreements that could lead to Japanese companies investing up to USD24 billion (EUR 18 billion) in Britain over the coming years. The announcement followed talks in London between UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae...

MBK Partners has completed the acquisition of Japanese aluminium packaging producer Altemira Holdings, a deal that successfully cleared Japan's economic security review process. The private equity firm acquired a controlling stake in Altemira from Apollo Global Management. The transaction was...

A global aluminium producer has offered Japanese buyers a USD 480 per tonne premium on primary aluminium shipments for the July-September quarter. The proposed premium is around 36-37 per cent higher than the USD 350- USD 353 per tonne agreed for the April-June quarter. Japan is Asia’s largest...

The downstream and end-user segments of the aluminium industry delivered a diverse mix of developments, ranging from corporate earnings and infrastructure-led demand growth to changing electric vehicle sales patterns and new manufacturing technologies. Aluminium processors benefited from stronger...

Japan’s aluminium market is facing growing uncertainty as escalating tensions in the Middle East begin disrupting one of the country’s most critical supply routes for the metal. For years, Japan has relied heavily on Gulf producers such as the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, with the region...

Japan’s automobile industry is facing growing concerns as disruptions in Middle Eastern aluminium supplies continue to push prices higher, increasing procurement costs and raising fears of specialised alloy shortages through 2027. The country is considered one of the most exposed to the disruption...

The global aluminium downstream sector is witnessing a sharp realignment as Middle East supply disruptions, uneven corporate earnings, expansion investments and changing trade flows reshape market dynamics. While producers navigate rising aluminium prices , shipment costs and operational setbacks,...

Japan’s primary aluminium imports increased by 6.6 per cent year-on-year and 16 per cent month-on-month to 89,497 tonnes in March 2026, supported by improving automotive demand and higher domestic production of aluminium products. Data from Japan’s Finance Ministry showed stronger activity in...