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China’s H1’26 alumina market’s new trade equation: 749% import surge meets 118.92MTPA capacity
14 AUG 20267MINS

China’s H1’26 alumina market’s new trade equation: 749% import surge meets 118.92MTPA capacity

China’s aluminium export surge in the first half (H1) of 2026, crossing 250,000 tonnes, has come with a surge in its alumina imports as well, feeding the smelting and primary aluminium production. China’s January-June alumina imports marked a drastic year-on-year surge of about 749.4 per cent, indicating a massive boom in demand. Y-o-Y H1 import snapshot: 2026 vs 2025 vs 2024 Comparing China’s January-to-June alumina import figures, a significant development can be noted in the H1 2026 chart. 2026 – 2.28 million tonnes, up 749.4 per cent Y-o-Y from 268,211 tonnes in H1 2025 2025 – 268,211 tonnes, down 77.37 per cent Y-o-Y from 1.19 million tonnes in H1 2024 The figures offset the H1 2025 import decline, partially driven by the steep alumina prices around late 2024 exceeding USD 800 per...

08 AUG 20264MINS

What is reshaping Vietnam’s aluminium industry landscape? Insights from SMM AICE’s visit to THQ

On July 23, 2026, a delegation from Shanghai Metals Market (SMM) conducted an on-site visit to TRAN HONG QUAN METALLURGY Co., Ltd. (THQ) in Vietnam. The delegation included: Logan Lu, CEO of SMM Cason Lou, Director of Aluminium Processing, Marketing Department Lexi Chen, Key Account Manager for Overseas Information Sales Khai Yuen Chin, Senior Overseas Aluminium Analyst The two sides held in-depth discussions on the development of Vietnam’s primary aluminium projects, domestic aluminium supply capacity, supporting industrial infrastructure, and future market strategies. The visit also provided a clearer picture of the changes taking place across Vietnam’s aluminium industry. A new industrial landscape is gradually emerging—one built on resource advantages, driven by breakthroughs in...


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Southeast Asia’s aluminium extrusion boom: Five new projects and 8.47% CAGR - what’s driving the growth?
Downstream06 AUG 2026

Southeast Asia’s aluminium extrusion boom: Five new projects and 8.47% CAGR - what’s driving the growth?

From a Hong Kong-backed plant in Vietnam to Malaysia's largest extrusion expansion in years and Indonesia's biggest extrusion press, Southeast Asia is witnessing a wave of aluminium extrusion investments. Although these projects span different countries, companies and end markets, they all point in the same direction: manufacturers increasingly see the region as the next major hub for downstream aluminium production. The region's growing importance is also reflected in its market outlook. The extruded aluminium profiles market was valued at approximately USD 4.54 billion in 2024 and is forecast to reach USD 6.86 billion by 2032, expanding at a CAGR of 8.47 per cent as per various industry sources. But now the question is: what is making Southeast Asia the preferred destination for...

Asian aluminium bar, rod, profile trade: Vietnam tracks China’s 18% dip as Malaysia gains 21%
Downstream04 AUG 2026

Asian aluminium bar, rod, profile trade: Vietnam tracks China’s 18% dip as Malaysia gains 21%

As global demand for value-added aluminium products continues to rise across construction, automotive, renewable energy, electrical equipment and industrial manufacturing, aluminium bars, rods and profiles have become one of the most actively traded downstream products. Asia remains at the crucial juncture of this trade, serving both as the world’s largest production hub and one of its biggest consumption markets. Shaping this market from both the supply and demand sides, ten key Asian economies have gained prominence. On the export front, China, Turkey and Saudi Arabia emerged as the region’s top suppliers. On the import side, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), India and Thailand ranked as the leading buyers. Meanwhile, Malaysia and Vietnam appear on both supplying and sourcing lists. A...

Vietnam to host its first international bauxite, alumina & aluminium conference and exhibition – IBAAS–VFMSTA 2026
Bauxite18 JUL 2026

Vietnam to host its first international bauxite, alumina & aluminium conference and exhibition – IBAAS–VFMSTA 2026

The 15th IBAAS–VFMSTA 2026 International Conference & Exhibition, jointly organised by the International Bauxite, Alumina & Aluminium Society (IBAAS) and the Vietnam Foundry & Metallurgy Science and Technology Association (VFMSTA), will be held during October 28–29, 2026, at Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Hanoi, Vietnam. The event marks a historic milestone as the first international conference and exhibition in Vietnam dedicated exclusively to the bauxite, alumina, and aluminium industry, creating a unique platform for global industry leaders, researchers, technology providers, and investors to connect with Vietnam's rapidly expanding aluminium sector. The conference has already received around 40 technical abstracts from industry professionals and researchers worldwide,...

PA Resources secures $321.22M aluminium extrusion contract extension from First Solar
End User16 JUL 2026

PA Resources secures $321.22M aluminium extrusion contract extension from First Solar

PA Resources Bhd has renewed its supply agreement with First Solar Inc, First Solar Malaysia Sdn Bhd and First Solar Vietnam Manufacturing Co Ltd to supply aluminium extrusion profiles used in the production of photovoltaic modules. The new contract is valued at RM1.31 billion (USD 321.22 million) and covers an 18-month period from July 2026 to December 2027. According to the company, it is the fifth supply agreement awarded by First Solar. In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, PA Resources said the contract is expected to improve operational efficiency through better production scheduling, material planning, workforce utilisation and logistics coordination. The company also expects the agreement to contribute positively to its earnings and net assets. Explore: The most comprehensive and...

China's aluminium wire exports soar 222.67% in May as exporters capitalise on tax incentives
Downstream23 JUN 2026

China's aluminium wire exports soar 222.67% in May as exporters capitalise on tax incentives

China's aluminium wire exports surged in May as rising aluminium prices and favourable trade incentives drove a sharp increase in overseas shipments. Official customs data showed that exports of aluminium wire reached 50,224 tonnes in May, up 222.67 per cent from April and surpassed the combined 42,955 tonnes shipped during the first four months of the year. The sharp increase highlights how exporters are increasingly using the product to capture stronger international prices while benefiting from supportive trade policies. The May surge lifted cumulative exports for the January-May period to 93,179 tonnes, putting shipments on track to surpass last year's pace. The five-month total has already nearly matched the 94,369 tonnes exported during the first eleven months of 2025. Price rally...

China’s rare earth export control exposes global supply-chain vulnerability, pushes G7 to confront single-source dependence
SupplementAL19 JUN 2026

China’s rare earth export control exposes global supply-chain vulnerability, pushes G7 to confront single-source dependence

Rare earth elements were formed billions of years ago through cosmic processes, but their importance has never been more immediate. Once treated as a niche mineral group, rare earths now sit at the centre of the global contest for its strategic value in developing technology, clean energy, defence capability, and industrial security. And in this contest, the winner is not who owns the maximum reserves, but who is efficient in processing, refining, and turning into usable industrial inputs. And this is where China holds its strongest advantage China has the world’s highest identified rare earth reserves, estimated at around 44 million tonnes. But there are also the countries like Vietnam, Brazil, Canada, Russia, India, Australia, and the United States who have notable reserves of 22...

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