Japan
Japan’s aluminium premiums climb in first three quarters of 2026 before Q4 decline
Japan’s quarterly aluminium premiums, known as Main Japanese Port (MJP) premiums, rose sharply in the first nine months of 2026 before falling ahead of the fourth quarter. The premium increased from USD 195 per tonne in January-March to USD 350-353 per tonne in April-June. It then reached USD 395 per tonne in July-September, its highest level in 11 years, as supply remained tight and geopolitical tensions affected the market. The Q1 2026 settlement was around 127 per cent higher than the USD 86 per tonne recorded in Q4 2025. The premium rose by another 79-81 per cent in Q2 and increased by a further 12-13 per cent in Q3. Tight aluminium supplies, lower inventories and competition from buyers in Europe and the US have contributed to the rise. Premiums in both markets have also remained...
Ex-China aluminium market remains weak, spot offers in major markets fall under pressure
This week, the overseas aluminium market overall remained in the doldrums. Weak demand continued to be the core issue across major markets, with offer prices in Japan, South Korea, Thailand, the US, and China generally under pressure. Trading activity was sluggish, and the tug-of-war between sellers and buyers persisted, with the market lacking clear directional guidance overall. Japan: MJP negotiations continue, market sentiment remains subdued The Japanese market remained relatively quiet this week, with focus still on the progress of Q4 MJP negotiations. Some sellers are still negotiating premiums with buyers, but the two sides have significant differences in price expectations, and negotiations are progressing slowly. As a result, the MJP market remains subdued, with limited spot...
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Acer launches four Swift Air 14 laptops with all-aluminium bodies weighing 1.18 kg
Acer Japan has introduced four models in its Swift Air 14 laptop series, featuring all-aluminium bodies, 14-inch displays and lightweight designs aimed at users seeking portability and everyday computing performance. The laptops measure approximately 12.99 mm thick and weigh around 1.18 kg, with CNC diamond-cut processing used on the lid. The four models - SFA14-I31-A38Y, SFA14-I31-A32Y, SFA14-I31-A58Y and SFA14-I31-A52Y - differ in specifications, including processor and memory configurations. The range offers Intel Core 3 Processor 304 and Intel Core 5 Processor 320 options, both equipped with integrated Intel AI Boost technology. Aluminium construction and display specifications The Swift Air 14 features an all-metal aluminium chassis designed to combine a slim profile with a...
$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...
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...
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