Middle East And Africa
Saudi Arabia identifies 114m tonnes of rare-earth and uranium-bearing ore in Madinah
Saudi Arabia has identified approximately 114 million tonnes of ore containing high concentrations of rare earth elements and promising uranium concentrations in the Madinah Region, adding another significant resource to the Kingdom’s expanding minerals portfolio. Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Arabia’s minister of energy and minister of industry and mineral resources, announced the discovery during the 70th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna. The resources were identified through exploration and geological studies at the Jabal Sayid project, with particularly high concentrations of heavy rare earth elements reported. Prince Abdulaziz said the findings place the project among the significant rare earth resource sites currently...
Saudi aluminium demand to climb 1.8Mt as World Cup projects boost construction
Saudi Arabia’s domestic aluminium demand could rise to 1.8 million tonnes a year by 2030, up from around 1 million tonnes currently, according to Maaden’s executive vice president for aluminium, Ahmad al-Alshaikh. He expects that demand could potentially double over the next five to seven years. Speaking at the Fastmarkets International Aluminium Conference in Budapest on Wednesday, al-Alshaikh said demand could potentially reach between 1.6 million and 1.8 million tonnes by the end of the decade. Al-Alshaikh linked the expected growth to construction activity in Saudi Arabia, including projects connected with the country hosting major expositions and the 2034 FIFA World Cup. The tournament is expected to require 15 new stadiums, adding to demand for aluminium and other materials. Maaden...
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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
H1 2026 sees more renewable energy than ever: Here’s a region-by-region guide to renewable energy supply in the recent past
In the first half of 2025, humanity generated more electricity from renewables than from coal for the first time ever. What led to it? It was possible only because of two decades of falling solar panel prices, taller wind turbines, and governments finally treating clean power like an economic opportunity instead of a favour to the planet. But the renewable energy scenario cannot be portrayed as a single global story. To get the full picture, one has to connect dozens of regional stories moving at wildly different speeds. Some countries are already powered almost entirely by sun, wind and water. Others are still warming up. Here is a tour of how renewable energy supply looks across the world’s regions right now, and who is actually leading the charge. The global scorecard: Renewable energy...
China’s 45Mt aluminium cap pushes producers overseas as global dominance grows
China’s aluminium industry is running close to its limits in 2026. As Shanghai aluminium prices near a three-month high, historically low raw material costs and strong smelter margins encourage producers to operate at maximum capacity. National aluminium output remains above Beijing’s 45-million-tonne cap, projected to reach 46 million tonnes by the ned of 2026. But with the ceiling still firmly in place, Chinese producers are taking projects overseas to Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Angola and Saudi Arabia, strengthening China’s position in the global aluminium supply chain. Domestic capacity leaves little room to grow In August, Chinese smelters were operating at 99.7 per cent of effective capacity, estimated by AZ Global Consulting at 45.26 million tonnes. This is in line with AL Circle’s...
Aluminium extrusion 2035 demand nears 44.22Mt: Industry experts decode next decade drivers
Global aluminium extrusion demand is entering a phase with consumption projected to rise from 35.25 million tonnes in 2025 to 35.93 million tonnes in 2026 and 44.22 million tonnes by 2035, representing a 2.29 per cent CAGR. While building and construction will remain the largest end-use sector and China will continue to dominate the global market, the next decade is expected to bring stronger momentum from transportation, electrical and electronics, industrial applications and emerging markets across Asia. China accounted for 64 per cent of global aluminium extrusion usage in 2025, while the Rest of Asia Pacific (ROAP) represented 10 per cent, North America 8 per cent, Europe 10 per cent, the Middle East and Africa 5 per cent and South America 3 per cent. At the same time, the global...
Alba reaches 50m hours without LTI, strengthening aluminium safety record
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) has reached 50 million safe working hours without a Lost Time Injury (LTI) . The milestone was achieved on September 7, 2026, marking a record in the company’s history. The achievement reflects Alba’s continued focus on workplace safety across its aluminium operations. The company said the milestone was made possible through the combined efforts of its employees, management and contractor workforce, with safety built into day-to-day activities and operations. Alba CEO Ali Al Baqali said reaching 50 million safe working hours was a significant achievement for the company and “a proud moment in Alba’s history.” In his words, “It reflects Alba’s unwavering commitment to fostering a workplace where safety is embedded in every activity, decision and behaviour.”...
Odisha eyes UAE funding for aluminium, critical minerals and port projects
Odisha has brought forward its investment roadshow in the United Arab Emirates as competition among Indian states for overseas capital intensifies. The programme was initially planned for December, but growing investor outreach by other states prompted the government to advance the visit, according to officials from the state industries department. The three-day roadshow will take place in Abu Dhabi and Dubai from September 9 to 11, led by Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. It follows Madhya Pradesh’s UAE investment programme, scheduled for September 6 to 8. Additional Chief Secretary for Industries Hemant Sharma said the state could not afford to delay its international outreach while competing regions were already approaching overseas investors. Odisha will use the visit to...
Aluminium extrusion usage in building and construction to grow 1.24% CAGR through 2035, with Americas at 1.15%, Europe at 1.30% & MEA at 2.47%
What does the building and construction market mean for aluminium extrusion industry? The answer may depend less on how much the world builds and more on where it builds and what those buildings require. As construction activity picks up across regions, aluminium extrusion is set to follow - but with the strongest opportunities emerging in different ways across markets. The global construction market was valued at about USD 11.4 trillion in 2024 and is estimated at USD 12.1 trillion in 2025. It is forecast to expand to around USD 16–17 trillion by 2030, representing a 5-6 per cent CAGR over the next five years, according to various industry sources. This expansion matters for aluminium extrusion because building and construction is already the largest end-use sector for extruded...
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Khalid A. Latif
AL Circle x Khalid A. Latif: Inside Midal Cables’ blueprint for sustainable innovation, operational excellence and market leadership
Rodabell
AL Circle x Rodabell: Driving innovative and sustainable aluminium casting solutions with global reach and advanced engineering
Éloïse Harvey
Beyond China, India and the Middle East are ready to play pivotal roles in shaping the future of global primary aluminium production: Éloïse Harvey, CEO of EPIQ Machinery
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