Cbam

AL Circle Analysis: Alumina prices fall 22%, Ghana advances bauxite projects & global aluminium production rises 2.1%
07 NOV 20269MINS

AL Circle Analysis: Alumina prices fall 22%, Ghana advances bauxite projects & global aluminium production rises 2.1%

The global aluminium industry is entering a new phase of competition, with access to raw materials, affordable energy and production capacity increasingly shaping the position of major producers. China is preparing a large overseas smelting expansion, Ghana is attracting investment in its bauxite reserves, and India and Vietnam are advancing new aluminium projects. However, the expansion drive comes against a complicated market backdrop. Alumina prices have fallen sharply, energy and logistics costs remain significant, and trade policies are reshaping the economics of production and exports. Together, these developments point to a market in which securing resources is only part of the challenge; converting them into competitive aluminium will matter just as much. Africa’s bauxite...

04 NOV 20265MINS

European aluminium industry ‘bruised but resilient’ amid CBAM pressure and rising ETS costs, says Paul Voss

Europe's aluminium industry is facing mounting pressure from rising carbon costs, shifting trade policies and limited willingness among buyers to pay premiums for low-carbon metal. Yet, despite a series of crises since the Covid pandemic, producers remain committed to maintaining their presence in Europe and investing in decarbonisation, said Paul Voss, Director General of European Aluminium. In an exclusive interview with Fastmarkets at Aluminium Düsseldorf, Voss described the European aluminium industry's condition as bruised but resilient. He highlighted concerns over the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), the potential inclusion of indirect (Scope 2) emissions under the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and the treatment of aluminium scrap in carbon accounting. Reflecting on...


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Russia takes EU’s CBAM to WTO: 5 key questions for global climate, aluminium trade
Sustainability

Russia takes EU’s CBAM to WTO: 5 key questions for global climate, aluminium trade

The European Union’s (EU’s) Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) has entered a new phase of scrutiny. In light of the conflict between Russia and the EU, a new World Trade Organisation (WTO) panel was formed on September 25. The debate, initiated in May 2025, puts both the design and implementation of CBAM and aspects of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) under the WTO lens, with implications extending beyond the EU-Russia conflict and possibly entering the aluminium trade boundaries. Join the fourth edition of the webinar "Hedging for recyclers - Become an expert in 6 hours" by Jorge Dyszel. Why is Russia challenging the EU-ETS? Russia has challenged the EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) over the allocation of free emissions allowances to sectors considered vulnerable to carbon...

EU CBAM certificate price jumps to €82.32 in Q3, highest level of 2026
SupplementAL

EU CBAM certificate price jumps to €82.32 in Q3, highest level of 2026

The European Commission sets the Q3 2026 price of CBAM certificates at EUR 82.32 (USD 92.66), up from EUR 75.28 (USD 84.74) in Q2 and EUR 75.36 (USD 84.83) in Q1, making it the highest quarterly price published so far this year. The Commission calculates CBAM certificate prices based on the weighted average of auction clearing prices for EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) allowances. The methodology is designed to align the carbon cost applied to EU producers with that applied to imports covered by the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). The Q3 price was published on October 5, 2026, following the end of the quarter. To learn about the market potential of aluminium dross, explore "ALuminium Dross Processing: Generation, Recovery & Strategic Roadmap" CBAM certificate prices rise...

There is real tightness of aluminium in Europe, but it is a supply shock rather than a CBAM-driven deficit
Sustainability

There is real tightness of aluminium in Europe, but it is a supply shock rather than a CBAM-driven deficit

Europe’s aluminium market is navigating a new carbon-cost reality as the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) enters its definitive phase. Since 1 January 2026, the policy has brought fresh questions over import costs, domestic versus imported aluminium pricing, low-carbon premiums and changing procurement strategies. In search of these answers, AL Circle has engaged in a candid conversation with Nick Ogilvie, CBAM Lead at CarbonChain, in which he has unpacked how these dynamics are playing out in the market. He explains that while CBAM is designed to close the carbon-cost gap between EU-produced and imported aluminium on direct emissions, its pricing impact remains relatively modest. According to Ogilvie, the current tightness in European aluminium supply is being driven far...

EU–India trade agreement opens a new regulatory perspective for Indian aluminium producers
Primary AL

EU–India trade agreement opens a new regulatory perspective for Indian aluminium producers

The conclusion of negotiations on the EU–India Free Trade Agreement creates a new context for Indian manufacturers considering the European market, but future opportunities will increasingly depend on regulatory preparedness as well as commercial competitiveness. Negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement were concluded in January 2026. Earlier this month, the European Commission submitted proposals to the EU Council for its signature and conclusion. The Agreement is not yet in force and remains subject to the required European and Indian procedures. For the Indian aluminium industry, the development comes at a time when access to Europe is increasingly shaped by environmental, product and supply-chain regulation. One of the most immediate examples is the European Union’s Carbon Border...

European Aluminium welcomes EU ETS changes, proposes 1.7% LRF and 2040 ICC extension
Sustainability

European Aluminium welcomes EU ETS changes, proposes 1.7% LRF and 2040 ICC extension

European Aluminium has welcomed the European Commission’s proposal to review the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) Directive and a separate proposal to adjust the ETS free-allocation fallback benchmarks for 2026–2030. The revised ETS review aims to strengthen industrial decarbonisation while supporting Europe’s climate goals. Investment will be a key focus, with the EUR 100 billion (USD 114 billion) Industrial Decarbonisation Bank, ETS Investment Booster and Innovation Fund supporting clean technology. Member States will also direct 50 per cent of national ETS revenues toward decarbonisation investments. Join the fourth edition of webinar " Hedging for recyclers - Become an expert in 6 hours " by Jorge Dyszel. The industry group said the proposed rules are a step in the right direction...

EU Parliament backs wider CBAM scope for steel and aluminium products
Sustainability

EU Parliament backs wider CBAM scope for steel and aluminium products

The European Parliament has backed plans to expand the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to a wider range of steel and aluminium products, including screws, wires, springs and household utensils. MEPs approved the Parliament’s position on the proposed CBAM review with 464 votes in favour, 50 against and 159 abstentions, supporting a broader product scope than initially proposed by the European Commission. The expansion would take the EU’s carbon border system beyond basic raw materials and cover more downstream goods, with the aim of preventing imported products from gaining a cost advantage over European production by avoiding equivalent carbon costs. The Parliament also wants tighter rules to prevent companies from exploiting gaps in the mechanism. Parliament...

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