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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


aluminium cans
US aluminium landfill loss can become domestic supply opportunity, says waste intelligence firm
23rd September 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

The US is paying record prices to import aluminium, yet it discards more than $1-billion worth of aluminium cans into landfills every year, finds AI waste intelligence company Greyparrot. The cans... 


Aluminium stacks
China aluminium output hits record high in August with capacity cap in sight
15th September 2026 By: Reuters

China's aluminium production hit a record high in August, data showed on Tuesday, as strong margins encouraged smelters to maximise output despite a longstanding national capacity cap. Production... 


Bauxite being loaded onto a ship in Guinea
Guinea discussing alumina, energy investments with Glencore after bauxite deal, minister says
14th September 2026 By: Reuters

Guinea is discussing investment opportunities with Glencore in alumina refining and energy projects beyond last week's bauxite marketing deal, its mines minister said, as it seeks to diversify its... 


Aluminium
Cutting Canada tariffs alone won't flatten US aluminium premium, Alcoa says
11th September 2026 By: Reuters

The steep premium paid for aluminium in the US will not drop significantly even if Washington halves the tariffs on metal from neighboring Canada, because imports from other countries will still be... 


Conflict-driven supply constraints impair aerospace manufacturing stability
11th September 2026 By: Nadine Ramdass

Geopolitical factors, including regional conflict, have exacerbated titanium and aluminium value chain constraints, raising concerns for aerospace manufacturing, says critical material supply chain... 


Hillside smelter, in South Africa
Alcoa announces $2.6bn note offering to fund South32 assets acquisition
10th September 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

NYSE- and ASX-listed aluminium producer Alcoa Corporation has announced a proposed offering of $2.6-billion through its Alumina and Alcoa Nederland subsidiaries, offering senior notes due 2034 and... 


Refraline Group services manager Jacques Krog spoke to Engineering News & Mining Weekly during the Electra Mining Africa event, held in Johannesburg from 7 to 11 September 2026.
Refraline Group has been engineering reliability since 1981
9th September 2026

Established in 1981, the Refraline Group has grown into one of Southern Africa’s leading providers of refractory, corrosion and pyrometallurgical engineering solutions. The company offers an... 


Aluminium
Capped at home, China extends its aluminium dominance abroad, Reuters says
9th September 2026 By: Reuters

China's aluminium smelters have been running red hot this year. The Shanghai aluminium price is nudging three-month highs, raw material costs are historically low and margins are strong. Every... 


Minim Martap project location
Canyon prospective acquiror A2MP reiterates takeover offer rationale
2nd September 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

With an independent board committee of ASX-listed Canyon Resources having recommended that shareholders take no action and reject an off-market takeover bid made by its largest shareholder, A2MP... 


An image of the Hillside smelter
Base metals underpin South32’s strong full-year performance
27th August 2026 By: Tasneem Bulbulia

Australia-headquartered diversified miner South32’s group underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) increased by 28% year-on-year to $2.5-billion for the... 


South32's Hermosa base metals mine in Arizona
Australia's South32 annual profit jumps 55%, extends shareholder-returns programme
27th August 2026 By: Reuters

Australia's South32 on Thursday posted a 55% rise in annual profit, largely in line with market expectations, and extended its shareholder-returns programme, sending its shares to a more than... 


Al Taweelah smelter
EGA restarts quarter of reduction cells at Al Taweelah smelter
26th August 2026 By: Reuters

Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) said on Wednesday it had brought a quarter of its Al Taweelah smelter in Abu Dhabi back online as the company works to recover from damage caused by an Iranian... 


Alumina being loaded onto a ship
Rusal derailment in Guinea halts alumina exports, sources say
24th August 2026 By: Reuters

A train operated by Russian aluminium producer Rusal derailed in Guinea's Dubreka prefecture over the weekend, cutting rail access to its Friguia alumina refinery, halting alumina exports and... 


Canada Minister of Trade with the US Dominic LeBlanc
Canada says trade deal with US is 'very close,' more work needed
21st August 2026 By: Reuters

Canada and the US are "very close" to agreeing a trade deal that could help reduce months of tariffs and counter duties but more work remains to be done, a top Canadian official said on Thursday.... 


COMPETITIVE POSITIONING 
The local industry is also trying to reposition itself as a regional beneficiation hub under the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement - Muzi Manzi
Aluminium industry poised for growth – association
21st August 2026 By: Keabetswe Shilakwe

The proposed acquisition of diversified mining and metals company South32’s aluminium assets in Australia, Brazil and South Africa by global aluminium corporation Alcoa is a key development,... 


ONE MAN'S TRASH
GeT Metal Group has completely replaced its monthly consumption of 120 000 ℓ of conventional heavy fuel oil with tyre-derived fuel oil at its facility
Waste-to-energy solution boosts operation’s sustainability credentials
21st August 2026

Metal recycling company GeT Metal Group and its subsidiary GeT Alloys have successfully eliminated virgin fossil fuels from their aluminium melting operations by launching a “pioneering... 


PIONEER
Mercedes-Benz will become the first automotive company in Europe to integrate Hydro CIRCAL into series production for the next generation of large electric vehicles
Vehicle manufacturer turns to recycled aluminium for greener future
21st August 2026

Aluminium and renewable-energy company Hydro and luxury and light commercial vehicle manufacturer Mercedes-Benz have expanded their partnership to increase the use of recycled and low-carbon... 


Aluminium smelter
Aluminium giant Rusal swings to first-half profit on higher commodity prices
19th August 2026 By: Reuters

Russian aluminium giant Rusal swung to a first-half adjusted net profit on Wednesday, driven by higher aluminium prices linked to heightened global volatility. The world's largest aluminium... 


Metpac-SA Study Highlights Practical Path To Safer Aerosol Recycling In SA
17th August 2026

Aluminium and steel aerosol cans are fully recyclable, provided they are handled correctly and enter an appropriate recovery stream. New research by MetPac-SA, the country's Producer Responsibility... 


Canadian Minister for US Trade Dominic LeBlanc
Canadian Minister says Canada, US far apart on draft trade deal, source says
17th August 2026 By: Reuters

Canada and the US are still far from reaching a draft trade deal despite regular meetings, Dominic LeBlanc, the Canadian Minister responsible for trade with the US, told an advisory committee on... 


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pqt: 0.109s - ct: 0.166s - 277pq - 2rq
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