Trump tariffs have taken the aluminium industry under a complete shock. From the imposition of new tariffs to counter-tariffs to the latest news of South Africa’s aluminium industry breathing a sigh of relief, a lot has happened throughout the week. On the other hand, slightly shifting from the tariff tension, India is continuing to dominate the headlines in the mining sector with successive discoveries of key natural resources like bauxite. Not only this, two industry pioneers have recently announced a positive financial result.
In recent news, China’s ‘blow-for-blow’ strategy in response to the United States’ 34 per cent reciprocal tariff has seemingly prompted yet another round of duties, reaching a staggering rise of 129 per cent. On Tuesday, April 8, the US government announced plans to impose an additional 50 per cent tariff on all Chinese imports, potentially raising the overall tariff burden on Chinese goods to 104 per cent. To know more about this tariff, click here.
On Monday, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani suggested that the European Union (EU) should consider postponing the announcement of counter-tariffs on US aluminium and steel imports. He further stated that, ideally, the United States and the European Union should aim for a mutual agreement on zero tariffs. In his words, “An intermediate step could be a reduction by 10 per cent on US tariffs. Within a united Europe, Italy thinks it’s possible to work towards a postponement of European countermeasures, which means a frozen list (of counter-tariffs).”
South Africa’s aluminium industry has breathed a sigh of relief after announcing that aluminium will be exempt from the sweeping 30 per cent reciprocal tariffs introduced by US President Donald Trump. The exemption comes as part of a strategic carve-out for “critical minerals,” a category that includes aluminium, securing continued access to a key export market for South African producers.
India continues to dominate headlines in the global mining sector with successive discoveries of key natural resources like bauxite. Following the find in Meghalaya, the spotlight now shifts to a new country, where the Geological Survey of India (GSI) has identified a significant aluminium ore deposit. Located in Karadukka, within the Kasaragod district, the deposit spans approximately 150 hectares, marking it as one of the richest bauxite reserves discovered in the region.
On the other hand, two industry pioneers – Vedanta and Chalco, announced a successful financial result. Talking about Vedanta, the company has been making headlines for quite a long time. For FY2025 (April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025), Vedanta reported aluminium production of 2,421 thousand tonnes, up from 2,370 thousand tonnes in FY2024. This marks a year-on-year growth of 2.11 per cent, slightly below the 3 per cent increase recorded the previous year.
Aluminium Corporation of China, widely known as Chalco recently announced its profit expectations for the first quarter of 2025, projecting earnings between RMB 3.4 billion (USD 476 million) and RMB 3.6 billion (USD 504 million). This forecast represents a substantial year-on-year increase of 53 to 63 per cent, highlighting strong growth compared to the same period last year.
India’s aluminium giants, along with other metal producers, are reportedly gearing up for rapid and aggressive expansion to meet surging domestic demand. This strategic shift is being driven by two key factors: growing volatility in international prices triggered by US tariffs and a booming Indian market. Aluminium and steel companies alike are navigating the challenge of a 25 per cent tariff on all exports of these metals to the United States. To know who these players are, click here.
In January–February 2025, global production of metallurgical-grade alumina saw a notable rise of 4.41 per cent, reaching 23.015 million tonnes compared to 22.043 million tonnes during the same period last year. January output climbed by 6.77 per cent year-on-year to 12.149 million tonnes, while February recorded a 1.89 per cent increase, totalling 10.866 million tonnes.
Other important news throughout the week
Emirates Global Aluminium, the UAE’s largest industrial company outside the oil and gas sector, has announced the launch of the third season of EGA Ramp-Up—its flagship programme aimed at empowering the next generation of Emirati entrepreneurs. The initiative aligns with the UAE’s Entrepreneurial Nation Strategy 2031, reinforcing EGA’s commitment to fostering innovation and economic diversification.
March has brought a notable shift in the global bauxite market, revealing a sharp divergence across regions. North America and Asia are contending with surplus inventories and slowing demand, while Europe—driven by a surge in industrial activity, particularly in Germany—is urgently seeking new sources of feedstock. According to ChemAnalyst’s latest analysis, this emerging three-way divide marks “a phase of divergence” in both bauxite pricing and availability.
Building on the successful launch of Global Aluminium Industry 2025 in January, AL Circle is excited to introduce the Lite Versions of the report—tailored to deliver sector-specific insights for professionals and businesses looking for focused intelligence across various segments of the aluminium value chain.