Feb exports of unwrought aluminium, semis decline from Jan

Metro Mining has ramped up bauxite shipments from its Bauxite Hills Mine in Cape York, Far North Queensland, after its offshore floating terminal Ikamba returned to full strength in late July. The Australian bauxite producer shipped 756,000 wet metric tonnes (WMT) of bauxite in August 2026, marking an 8 per cent increase from July, according to its September 16 operational and marketing update. The August performance also put the spotlight on Ikamba’s ability to operate independently. With the offshore floating terminal back at full capacity, it handled the month’s shipments without the contribution of the TSA Skardon, which was undergoing dry-docking. The TSA Skardon has now completed its dry-docking and is scheduled to return to site in mid-September, just as shipping conditions are expected to become favourable. Metro Mining has retained its 2026 shipment guidance of 6.6 million to 7.1 million wet metric tonnes. The latest August figure therefore comes as the company moves into the final months of the calendar year with both its offshore terminal and vessel capacity available.

Just before the Mid-Autumn Festival, Langdun Technology’s 20-ton batch-type homogenization furnace was successfully commissioned and put into operation in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. The equipment passed its initial commissioning on the first attempt and has officially entered production for the customer’s aluminum billet homogenization heat treatment process. This 20-ton furnace is a core piece of heat treatment equipment for aluminum processing, independently developed and manufactured by Langdun Technology. It features uniform temperature control, low energy consumption, and stable operation—making it well-suited to the specific production conditions of the Middle East aluminum profile industry—and effectively enhances both the microstructure of the aluminum billets and the quality of the finished products. Throughout the project, Langdun Technology’s technical team traveled to the site to handle installation, commissioning, and operator training, ensuring the project launched on schedule and earning further recognition from the customer.

A major Indian association representing small and medium-sized recycling enterprises has sought government intervention regarding a proposal to exclude India from EU metal scrap exports. On September 18, the European Commission proposed banning the export of EU metal scrap to India under regulations set to take effect in May 2027. The Commission stated that stricter controls on metal scrap are necessary due to the potential presence of persistent and toxic heavy metals. Industry estimates indicate that India is a major global buyer of scrap, sourcing approximately one-quarter of its metal scrap imports from the EU. According to the Material Recycling Association of India (MRAI), India sources about 20% of its aluminum scrap, 22% of its copper and copper alloy scrap, 20% of its lead scrap, and 40% of its zinc scrap from the EU for the 2025/26 fiscal year. In a letter sent to the Union Ministry of Commerce on Wednesday, the MRAI stated: "Disruptions to these established supply chains will directly impact Indian recyclers—particularly micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs)—and could drive up raw material costs as well as India's reliance on primary metal resources." The MRAI argued in the letter that India possesses a comprehensive environmental regulatory framework governing metal recycling and processing facilities. Labeling the EU proposal as "resource protectionism," the MRAI noted the strategic importance of scrap to the European metal industry and urged for zero-tariff scrap imports under the India-EU trade agreement expected to be concluded this year.