Calamity And Adversity
Oil shock tightens grip on Jamaica’s bauxite and alumina cost structure
The ongoing geopolitical tensions, especially with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, are deemed to be creating an adverse impact on Jamaica's bauxite and alumina sector. As warned by the Jamaica Bauxite Institute (JBI), the country is now grappling with increased production costs and a feeding inflationary pressures. Geographically, irrespective of being far from the Middle East, Jamaica is said to be closely linked in the global markets. The disruption in the Strait of Hormuz shows that if the energy flow is threatened, the effect is felt by every region, including the petrol price and the industrial production. It is said that almost one-fifth of the global oil passes via the Strait of Hormuz, which borders Iran. Moreover, escalated geopolitical tension is forcing the tankers to...
AMW 2026 to unlock Africa’s aluminium potential as Middle East disruptions reshape global supply
The global aluminium price is on a rising trend, reaching a four-year high, especially because of the ongoing tensions in the Middle East. In March 2026, the aluminium price rose to USD 3,492 per tonne. In the upcoming African Mining Week (AMW) 2026, which is being scheduled for October 14-16 in Cape Town, the discussion will cover the ongoing and rising challenges and opportunities that are being faced by Africa, especially in the global aluminium supply chain. Africa & the closure of the Strait of Hormuz About 12 per cent of the global aluminium trade is handled via the Strait of Hormuz. However, due to the attacks on industrial sites throughout the Middle East, which is said to contribute nearly 9 per cent of the global output, the Strait of Hormuz had to temporarily shut down,...
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ALUMINIUM 2026
15th International Bauxite, Alumina & Aluminium Conference & Exhibition - IBAAS–VFMSTA 2026
ICSOBA 2026 - 44th International Conference and Exhibition
ALUMINIUM 2026
15th International Bauxite, Alumina & Aluminium Conference & Exhibition - IBAAS–VFMSTA 2026
ICSOBA 2026 - 44th International Conference and Exhibition
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A report that reveals where the aluminium casting industry is heading and how businesses can act.
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A report that reveals where the aluminium casting industry is heading and how businesses can act.
LEARN MOREEurope holds 10% of global aluminium extrusion demand, supported by Germany’s Constellium, France’s Hydro Extrusions & Italy’s Metra
H1 2026 sees more renewable energy than ever: Here’s a region-by-region guide to renewable energy supply in the recent past
H1’26 LME aluminium stocks dip 31.82%: Russian sanctions & Gulf crisis pack a double blow
AL Circle Analysis: Import rise meets demand growth on aluminium extrusion chessboard
News
Cyclone Narelle disrupts Rio Tinto’s bauxite mines, shares fall 4%
Rio Tinto has temporarily shut its Amrun and Andoom bauxite mines in Queensland after Cyclone Narelle hit northeast Australia. These two mines produce about 30 million tonnes of bauxite each year, which is used to make aluminium. For the global aluminium value-chain 2026 outlook, book our exclusive report “ Global ALuminium Industry Outlook 2026 " The company said it has activated its cyclone response plans. It stated that the priority is the safety of workers and the protection of site operations. Rio Tinto added, “We will continue to closely monitor the situation and take all necessary precautions.” Cyclone Narelle brought strong winds, heavy rainfall, and power outages across parts of northeast Australia. Authorities advised residents to stay indoors and prepare for possible damage....
Fire at Novelis’ Greensboro aluminium recycling plant; operations resume
On March 1, a Sunday afternoon, a call that shocked the leaders at Novelis, yet again. The call informed of another fire breakout at the firm's facility in Greensboro, Georgia, dedicated to aluminium recycling. According to the call made, Joe Bashore, the Greene County Fire Public Safety, Emergency Management/Homeland Security Director, told The Union-Recorder, "This explosion was pretty significant. I live 5 miles from here and heard it. It kind of rattled my house, as well." The fire broke out after an explosion occurred in an equipment piece, which further led to the lighting up of the entire equipment. Nonetheless, it was positive that the fire did not cause injuries to the employees or the first responders. Due to this unprecedented incident, the operations of the aluminium recycling...
Agnivesh Agarwal, son of Vedanta chairman, succumbs to cardiac arrest after a skiing accident
Image source: X/@AnilAgarwal_Ved Agnivesh Agarwal, son of Vedanta Group chairman Anil Agarwal, passed away at the age of 49 after suffering a cardiac arrest during treatment in the United States following a skiing accident. Anil Agarwal described the death as a “medical setback” while his son was undergoing treatment at Mount Sinai Hospital. In an emotional post on X, he said Agnivesh had been recovering well after the accident and was believed to be out of danger before the sudden cardiac arrest. “We believed the worst was behind us,” he wrote, adding that fate intervened unexpectedly. Born on June 3, 1976, in Patna, Bihar, Agnivesh Agarwal grew up to become what his father described as a respected business leader and a compassionate individual. He studied at Mayo College in Rajasthan...
Fresh fire outbreak at Novelis Oswego
The Novelis aluminium plant in Oswego, New York, is once again dealing with a fire disaster, renewing concerns for a facility already struggling to recover from earlier damages. Note: The image is for representation purpose Emergency crews were called out on Thursday morning after a four-alarm fire broke out in the plant. Although the blaze was eventually brought under control, it continued for hours as firefighters remained on scene to observe the situation. Novelis confirmed the safe evacuation of people working inside the plant without injury and the complete extinguishment of the fire. The Oswego plant has been struggling for months to address the significant disruption since September, caused by a fire outbreak at the same plant . Already, the previous fire incident put Ford, one of...
Discovery Bauxite: Supplying water to hurricane-affected communities
Discovery Bauxite in St Ann, Jamaica, is supplying gallons of water to hurricane-hit people. As the National Water Commission (NWC) struggles to supply much-needed water, Discovery Bauxite has stepped up to deliver clean water from its well in Discovery Bay. Explore- Most accurate data to drive business decisions with 50+ reports across the value chain Water trucks have been loading at the facility from a far-off area from Montego Bay, which consists of the Convention Centre that possesses the World Central Kitchen that prepares meals to distribute to the affected area. Read More: Jamaica Parliament nods $400 Mn fund withdrawal for bauxite community development programme People are thanking the company, Discovery Bauxite, for such support during the crisis period. The company cited “We...
Bigger capacity, greater impact? Assessing if Novelis faces a deeper fiscal blow from Oswego fire than Sierre flood
History has a way of repeating itself for Novelis; and this time, it has done so in barely a year. During the second quarter of FY2025, Novelis endured financial and operational stress due to a severe flood at its Sierre plant in Switzerland. Cut to Q2 FY2026, Novelis again finds itself in a similar situation due to a fire outbreak at its Oswego plant in New York. While the timing of the incident was just two weeks before the quarter-end, it reflected not much effect on its Q2 financial results. But Novelis and its parent company Hindalco are embracing a negative impact on cash flow by about USD 550-650 million for FY2026, which also includes an estimated adjusted EBITDA loss of USD 100-150 million - a figure that signals the gravity of the operational disruption. This image is only for...
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