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$1.5b Quebec AP60 expansion puts Rio Tinto at heart of low-carbon aluminum race
The low-carbon aluminum market has stepped into a more competitive phase as producers invest in cleaner smelting technologies, renewable power and new downstream applications. Rio Tinto’s $1.5 billion AP60 smelter expansion in Quebec is the latest major development, adding around 160,000 metric tons per annum (MPTA) of primary aluminum capacity when fully operational by the end of 2026. The project will lift total AP60 production at Complexe Arvida to about 220,000 MPTA while supplying lower-carbon aluminum to transportation, construction, electrical and consumer-goods customers. The Quebec expansion is expected to cut emissions by approximately 290,000 MPTA compared with the older Arvida technology, strengthening the case for energy-efficient, hydropower-based primary aluminum...
METLEN attracts global commercial interest in European gallium
METLEN announces the signing of a long-term commercial agreement with a major Japanese chemical company for the future supply of gallium, representing up to 16 per cent of METLEN’s total annual gallium production from its production facility in Greece, which is currently under construction. The commercial terms of the agreement remain confidential. The new agreement marks the second strategic commercial arrangement announced by METLEN for the future supply of gallium, further confirming strong international demand for a reliable European source of supply. As global industries seek to diversify critical raw material supply chains, METLEN continues to establish itself as a trusted long-term partner for leading industrial and technology companies across multiple regions. The growing...
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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 MOREGermany’s automotive industry drives 32.8% of aluminium consumption as EV production rises 23%, led by Volkswagen, BMW & Mercedes-Benz
AL Circle Analysis: US scrap imports hit 580kt as China slips 3.2%, who drives aluminium recycling?
A should-cost analysis of an aluminium tower furnace in India: Comparing the economics of LPG, PNG, and electric energy sources
Germany’s construction aluminium demand falls 12%, but 2027 recovery and recycling offer fresh growth prospects
AL Circle analysis: Germany’s aluminium trade surplus, Novelis’ US expansion, Asia’s EV demand & India’s underutilised downstream capacity
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South Korea’s aluminium foil imports hit five-year high at 57kt in YTD July 2026 as China drives 96% of new volume
South Korea’s aluminium foil market has entered a stronger phase in 2026, with imports reaching their highest level in five years. But the trade data points to a more specific shift beneath the headline growth: most of the additional aluminium foil entering South Korea is coming from China. South Korea imported 57,261.18 tonnes of aluminium foil from the world in YTD July 2026, up 23.94 per cent from 46,201.68 tonnes in YTD July 2025. Imports stood at 50,840.22 tonnes in YTD 2022, 43,145.18 tonnes in YTD 2023 and 47,238.94 tonnes in YTD 2024, before slipping to 46,201.68 tonnes in 2025, as per ITA. The return to growth is clear, but the supplier data reveals where that recovery is coming from. China supplies 92% of South Korea’s aluminium foil imports China supplied 52,751.81 tonnes of...
Ex-China aluminium market runs steadily as market awaits Q4 MJP settlement
This week, the overseas aluminium market was generally mediocre, with limited trading activity across major markets. In South Korea, purchases were mainly small-scale restocking, with little change in prices. In Thailand, demand remained weak, and some sellers slightly lowered their offers due to shipment pressure. The market focused on Q4 MJP quarterly pricing, with Rio Tinto's latest offer further reduced, and market expectations suggested there is still room for the final settlement price to move lower. South Korea: Mediocre market, transactions mainly small-scale restocking This week, trading in the South Korean market was very subdued, with purchasing demand limited to small-scale restocking and no concentrated procurement seen. Sellers showed moderate willingness to offer, with...
India's hidden urban mines are going to landfills: Why e-waste needs a second life
As smartphones, laptops, televisions, electric vehicles, and household appliances become an integral part of modern life, electronic waste (e-waste) is emerging as one of the world's fastest-growing waste streams. Yet, every discarded electronic device contains more than just obsolete technology—it contains valuable metals and critical minerals that can be recovered and reintroduced into the economy. The future of e-waste management is therefore not simply about recycling; it is about urban mining. Urban mining refers to the recovery of precious and critical materials from discarded electronic products instead of extracting them from natural mines. Gold, silver, copper, palladium, lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements found in electronic devices are becoming increasingly...
Japanese aluminium buyers offered $310-$325/t premiums for October-December shipments
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 buyers over the LME cash price is closely watched as a benchmark for aluminium pricing in Asia. The latest offers come after two quarters of rising premiums, driven by tighter physical availability and supply disruptions. Premiums increased from USD 195 per tonne in January-March to USD 350-353 per tonne in April-June and further to USD 395 per tonne for July-September , as geopolitical disruptions affected aluminium supply routes and spot availability, while low LME inventories added to pressure...
Asia’s alumina exports jump 27%: Is an 8Mt H2 shipment within reach?
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 acceleration in aluminium production, translating into an increased demand for alumina in the market. The key question for H2 2026 is whether Asia can maintain this pace despite geopolitical disruptions, evolving refinery capacity and changing market demand. H1 2026 sets a strong export benchmark Comparing the H1 export graphs of Asia across 2026, 2025 and 2024, the Y-o-Y improvement remains consistent. H1 2026 – 7.05 million tonnes, up 27.36 per cent Y-o-Y from H1 2025 H1 2025 – 5.54 million tonnes,...
Kirin looks to recycled aluminium and renewable energy for lower-carbon packaging
Japanese beverage company Kirin is exploring greater use of recycled and low-carbon aluminium as part of its efforts to reduce emissions from packaging and move towards a more circular packaging system. The company is considering GHG-free aluminium produced using renewable energy, as well as lower-emission aluminium with a high recycling rate. It is also looking at the possible use of carbon-free aluminium cans. Aluminium, PET and paper are among the packaging materials covered in Kirin’s climate risk assessment. The company estimates that carbon pricing could add JPY 43.8 billion (USD 275.4 million) to packaging costs by 2050 under its sustainable scenario, which assumes a stronger global shift towards a low-carbon economy. To learn the future of aluminium in the packaging industry,...
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