https://www.miningweekly.com

Receive our free daily newsletter:

Aluminium

Aluminium is a lightweight, silvery-white metal and the most abundant metallic element in the Earth's crust, widely used across transport, construction, packaging and electrical applications. The metal is prized for its low density, high strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance and excellent conductivity. Primary aluminium is produced by smelting alumina (refined from bauxite ore) in an energy-intensive electrolytic process, making access to affordable electricity a key competitive factor for smelters. Major producing regions include China, the Middle East, Russia, Canada and Australia, while significant consumption centres span Asia, Europe and North America. The industry is organised around integrated producers that mine bauxite, refine alumina and smelt metal, as well as downstream fabricators that roll, extrude and cast semi-finished products. Benchmark pricing is set on the London Metal Exchange, with regional premiums reflecting freight, supply tightness and trade flows. Aluminium's recyclability without loss of properties underpins a substantial secondary market, reducing the carbon footprint of supply. Demand is driven by lightweighting trends in automotive and aerospace, urbanisation in emerging markets, and the energy transition's need for transmission cable and renewable-energy components. Environmental pressures are prompting smelters to shift toward low-carbon power and adopt inert-anode technologies. The sector faces cyclical swings in capacity utilisation, geopolitical trade restrictions and volatility in energy costs, all of which shape investment and operating decisions.

Aluminium News


Rare earth mineral samples
Indonesia seeks to resolve mineral export bottlenecks caused by rare earth content
27th July 2026 By: Reuters

Indonesia's presidential staff office has called for cooperation between government agencies, law enforcement officials and industry to resolve mineral shipment bottlenecks caused by a lack of... 


Aluminium bar
LME aluminium stocks fall to lowest this century
27th July 2026 By: Reuters

Aluminium stocks on the London Metal Exchange have slumped to their lowest this century as supply constraints in the war-hit Middle East leave consumers drawing down inventories to secure metal.... 


Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau
SA signals intent to prohibit goods produced by forced labour after new 12.5% US tariff
27th July 2026 By: Terence Creamer

Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau reports that government will publish a Gazette notice requesting public comments on South Africa’s intent to issue regulations to prohibit goods... 


'Red mud' alumina tailings
Canada's Enervoxa plans India rare earths project, may tie up with Vedanta, NALCO
24th July 2026 By: Reuters

Canadian climate technology developer Enervoxa plans talks with India's Vedanta, Hindalco Industries and State-run NALCO as it looks to set up a processing plant in the country to extract rare... 


US flag
Trump imposes forced labor duties on 60 trading partners as 10% US tariffs expire
24th July 2026 By: Reuters

The Trump administration on Friday imposed new tariffs of 10% and 12.5% on goods from 60 trading partners, including the European Union and China, over allegations of lax enforcement of forced... 


Bauxite being loaded onto a ship in Guinea
Guinea first-half bauxite exports hit record high on Chinese demand
23rd July 2026 By: Reuters

Guinea's bauxite exports jumped 15% to a record high in the first half of 2026, official data showed, driven by robust Chinese demand despite mounting pressure on smaller producers from rising fuel... 


Aluminium bars
Brazil to provide $3.7bn in credit for firms hit by US tariffs
23rd July 2026 By: Reuters

The Brazilian government announced 18.5-billion reais ($3.66-billion) in financing for companies hit by the new US tariffs valid as of Wednesday, adding the resources will also target firms hurt by... 


A map indicating the global distribution and regional exposure profile of baseline water stress for mining and metals facilities
Competition for water resources a risk to the global energy transition, warns ICMM
22nd July 2026 By: Chanel de Bruyn

Mining and metals advocacy group the ICMM warns that water availability could, in many regions, act as a constraint on the development of new mines and related facilities, particularly for the... 


Aluminium foam
Cymat reaches official commercial agreement with Rio Tinto to take over aluminium composites business
22nd July 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

Ontario-based materials company Cymat Technologies has signed a commercial agreement with aluminium major Rio Tinto Alcan to facilitate the transfer of Rio Tinto's commercial customers of their... 


Norsk Hydro Qatalum site
Norsk Hydro tops Q2 profit view as higher prices offset Qatar hit
22nd July 2026 By: Reuters

Norwegian aluminium producer Norsk Hydro reported a quarterly core profit above market expectations on Wednesday, as higher aluminium prices and stronger recycling margins outweighed weaker energy... 


Rio Tinto's Yarwun alumina refinery
Rio Tinto signs five-year bio pellet deal with SuperChar to cut alumina refinery emissions
22nd July 2026 By: Reuters

Rio Tinto said on Wednesday it had signed a five-year deal with Australian bioenergy firm SuperChar to supply bio pellets to the miner's alumina refineries in Gladstone, supporting its shift toward... 


Century Aluminum product
Metal producer Century Aluminum welcomes Trump's aluminium import incentive
21st July 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

Nasdaq-listed aluminium producer Century Aluminum Company has welcomed President Donald Trump’s latest executive order to incentivize investments that "make American manufacturing great again".... 


Aluminium in factory
Trump says he signed proclamation to adjust tariffs on aluminum imports
21st July 2026 By: Reuters

President Donald Trump said on Monday he signed a proclamation to adjust tariffs on imports of aluminum into the US, adding the domestic production of primary aluminum in the US was currently... 


Zinc metal
Zinc expected to retreat in 2026 as weak demand offsets supply fears
20th July 2026 By: Reuters

Zinc prices are expected to retreat from recent highs over the rest of the year as lacklustre demand offsets supply disruptions, analysts say. The metal used to galvanise steel is up more than 13%... 


South32 delivers strong operating results, accelerates portfolio transition
South32 delivers strong operating results, accelerates portfolio transition
20th July 2026 By: Sabrina Jardim

In its latest quarterly report, diversified miner South32 CEO Matt Daley says the group continued to deliver strong operating results, exceeding group production guidance for the financial year... 


South32 COO Africa Noel Pillay.
Alcoa is well positioned to operate South Africa’s Hillside Aluminium, says Pillay
17th July 2026 By: Martin Creamer

As a global producer of materials across the aluminium value chain, Alcoa Corporation is well positioned to operate South Africa’s Hillside Aluminium business into the future, South32 COO Africa... 


Gallium
Alcoa greenlights Australia gallium plant with US, Japan and domestic backing
15th July 2026 By: Reuters

Bauxite and aluminium producer Alcoa Corporation said on Tuesday it has reached a final investment decision to set up a gallium plant at its Wagerup alumina refinery in Western Australia, with... 


Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney alongside other Canadian, Saudi Arabian, Hatch and Maaden officials
Canada's Hatch inks strategic delivery owner-partnership agreement with Saudi Arabian miner
14th July 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney has joined Canadian engineering consultancy Hatch and a Saudi Arabian mining company in signing a strategic delivery owner-partnership agreement to accelerate... 


Hydro employee at aluminium smelting operation
Aluminium supply shock revives long-idled Western smelters, Reuters says
10th July 2026 By: Reuters

The supply shock caused by the Iran war is sparking old Western aluminium smelters back into life. In the US, Magnitude 7 Metals is reactivating the New Madrid smelter in Missouri. 


Aluminium
Japan Q3 aluminium premiums soar to highest since 2015 on Mideast supply squeeze
8th July 2026 By: Reuters

Japanese aluminium buyers agreed to pay premiums of $395 a ton for shipments between July and September, the highest since 2015, as the US-Israeli war on Iran squeezed supply, five sources involved... 


1
2 3

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







pqt: 0.094s - ct: 0.143s - 275pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now