ADC12 Prices Edge Lower, Market Awaits September Demand Pickup Amid Sideways Movement

[SMM Aluminum Express News] Stadler is investing more than KZT14 billion, around CHF25 million, to establish Central Asia’s first highly automated aluminum rail bodyshell production facility at its Astana plant in Kazakhstan. The expansion will add dedicated aluminum bodyshell welding and painting workshops, while local employees are being trained in aluminum welding and painting technologies at Stadler facilities in Europe. The expansion will deepen aluminum use in Kazakhstan’s railway manufacturing supply chain and support both domestic and export projects. The Astana plant currently has capacity of around 80-100 passenger railcars per year, while Stadler has a firm contract to supply 557 passenger coaches to Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) through 2030. With the new aluminum workshops and modernisation of existing facilities, output is expected to reach at least 100 railcars/year, with potential for up to 150 if additional orders are secured. Stadler has not disclosed the aluminum profile supplier for the Kazakhstan operation.

[SMM Aluminum Express News] Russian aluminum producer Rusal is moving closer to developing a bauxite-to-alumina project in Kalimantan, with Indonesia’s Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia saying the permitting process is now “almost final.” Rusal plans to develop an alumina processing facility using Indonesian bauxite together with domestic private-sector partners, although the identities of the partners have not yet been disclosed. The project’s capacity, investment value and exact location in Kalimantan have not yet been announced, as the feasibility study is still being finalised. President Prabowo Subianto previously said at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok on September 3 that Rusal would enter Indonesia “on a large scale” to develop processing facilities with Indonesian groups. Earlier discussions in February also saw Rusal representatives express interest in aluminum processing investment specifically in West Kalimantan, although it has not been confirmed that this is the same project.

[SMM Aluminum Express News] Odisha has handed over land documents covering more than 7,000 acres for Adani Enterprises and International Resources Holding’s proposed US$11.5 billion integrated aluminum project, just 67 days after the MoU was signed on July 2. Around 4,000 acres in Sundargarh and 3,000 acres in Rayagada were handed over, marking a significant step from investment commitment toward project implementation. The 50:50 Adani-IRH joint venture plans a 4 million t/y alumina refinery in Rayagada and a 2 million t/y primary aluminum smelter in Sundargarh, alongside a 1 million t/y downstream manufacturing park and 4,000 MW captive power plant, including 400 MW of green power capacity. The project will be developed in two phases, with investment of around ₹66,000 crore in Phase I and ₹44,000 crore in Phase II, and is expected to create around 53,500 jobs.