The aluminium industry as a whole is facing a lot of ups and downs shaped by geopolitics, trade imbalances, and supply chain uncertainties. To begin with, Russia is rapidly increasing its aluminium exports to China owing to the Western sanctions being implemented in 2024. Over the past few years, Russia has significantly increased its aluminium exports to China and other Asian markets. On the other hand, further complicating the picture is the Iran-Israel conflict, which threatens to disrupt trade through the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb critical arteries for India’s energy and aluminium imports from the Gulf nations like UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain. With shipping routes at risk, India faces higher costs, longer delays, and greater supply volatility for raw aluminium.
Countries like India, among others, often seek relief from export duties while maintaining import tariffs to protect their domestic industries. This approach is deeply rooted in India’s broader economic diplomacy an extension of its foreign policy which focuses on securing trade deals, attracting foreign investment, and reinforcing ties with key global partners. Click here to read more.
Kirsten Hillman, Canada’s ambassador to the United States, voiced optimism that the two nations could reach a trade agreement within the 30-day deadline set during last week’s G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alberta. Her statement came shortly after a disappointing summit outcome, where Canada had indicated plans to adopt a firmer stance against the US. Click here to read more.
Some Japanese aluminium buyers have agreed to third-quarter premiums of USD 108 per tonne, a significant drop from USD 182 in the previous quarter. The decline reflects subdued domestic demand, increasing port inventories, and a wider oversupply in the market, according to sources directly involved in the negotiations. Click here to read more.
There was a time when LME aluminium opening stock stood at 1.47 million tonnes. In July 2021, Live Warrants were recorded at 897,275 tonnes, with Cancelled Warrants at 568,500 tonnes. Fast forward four years, and the LME aluminium opening stock has dropped sharply to 340,975 tonnes — a decline of more than half. Click here to know why.
Other significant news under the primary aluminium sector
Aiming to bridge the gap between industry and academia, Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT) and the Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development and Design Centre (JNARDDC) jointly hosted a two-day workshop on aluminium metallurgy across their respective campuses. Held on June 21–22, the event brought together industry professionals, researchers, and academic experts, showcasing a united effort to enhance India’s manufacturing capabilities. Click here to read more.
Constellium is proud to share that it has received three prestigious awards at the 2025 edition of Airbus’ Supply Chain & Quality Improvement Program (SQIP), held in early June. The SQIP awards recognise suppliers who consistently demonstrate outstanding performance in quality, delivery, and industrial excellence. Click here to read more.
The standout announcement in the Industrial Strategy was the expansion of the British Industry Supercharger, which now offers up to 90 per cent relief on electricity network charges—an increase from the previous 60 per cent. This marks a significant milestone for more than 7,000 energy-intensive businesses. For aluminium producers and processors in particular, energy represents a substantial share of operating costs. Click here to read more.
Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), the UAE’s largest industrial company, has begun hot metal production at pilot reduction cells for EX, its next-generation aluminium smelting technology. This marks a significant step forward in aligning industrial innovation with decarbonisation goals. Click here to read more.
By the end of 2025, Vedanta Aluminium, a global leader in aluminium production, is set to launch a new casthouse featuring a 62 per cent reduction in carbon emissions. The project is being developed in collaboration with Gail Gas, which will supply natural gas to power the 430 kt-per-year Casthouse 4 at Vedanta’s Jharsuguda facility. Click here to read more.
Axaeon Enterprises and Sunstone Development have entered into a joint venture to commercialise Axaeon’s Lazar Continuous Carbon Baking Furnace (Lazar CCBF). The partnership will harness Sunstone’s expertise in providing pre-baked anodes to the aluminium industry, supporting the successful deployment of the Lazar CCBF technology. Click here to read more.
Under the bauxite segment
According to China’s General Administration of Customs, the country imported 17.514 million tonnes of bauxite in May 2025, reflecting a 15.32 per cent decline month-on-month but a 29.43 per cent increase year-on-year. Between January and May 2025, China’s total bauxite imports reached 85.2872 million tonnes, marking a 25.84 per cent rise compared to the same period last year. Click here to read more.
Vietnam’s gallium industry is gaining momentum, backed by the country’s abundant bauxite reserves. Although current production remains limited, government initiatives are focused on strengthening mining and smelting infrastructure. Analysts anticipate robust growth between 2025 and 2034, fuelled by advancements in refining technologies and expanding international partnerships. Click here to read more.
Alcoa’s proposed expansion of production at the Pinjarra Alumina Refinery and bauxite mining at its existing Huntly Mine in Western Australia’s Darling Range has sparked a series of town hall meetings with local communities, beginning this week. In response, the company is highlighting its decades-long track record in environmental stewardship and recent policy reforms as evidence of its commitment to best-practice operations. Click here to know more.
Under the alumina segment
Hindalco Industries Limited, the metals flagship of the Aditya Birla Group, has announced the acquisition of a 100 per cent equity stake in U.S.-based AluChem Companies, a leading producer of specialty alumina, for an enterprise value of USD 125 million. The transaction will be carried out through Aditya Holdings LLC, a wholly owned step-down subsidiary of Hindalco.
Impact Minerals has released an updated progress report on its pre-feasibility study (PFS) for the Lake Hope High Purity Alumina (HPA) project in Western Australia, positioning the company as a potential global cost leader in the rapidly growing battery and tech-grade alumina market. Click here to read more.
While US bauxite imports have remained relatively stable, alumina imports are showing a sharp upward trend. In the first quarter of 2025, the United States imported 439,000 tonnes of aluminium an increase of 24.7 per cent from the previous quarter’s 352,000 tonnes and a notable 53.5 per cent jump compared to 286,000 tonnes in Q1 2024. The data points to a significant shift in sourcing dynamics. Click here to read more.
In May 2025, China exported 207,800 tonnes of alumina, up 104.6 per cent Y-o-Y; imported 67,500 tonnes of alumina, down 26.3 per cent Y-o-Y; and had a net import of -140,300 tonnes of alumina in May. Click here to read more.