Secondary Aluminum Alloy Ingot Inventory Down 535 mt MoM, Foshan Sees Major Destocking

【SMM Express News】Lam Dong Province in Vietnam’s Central Highlands has approved adjustments to expand two alumina projects, with a combined investment of VND59.855 trillion (US$2.3 billion), making them the largest projects ever undertaken in the province. The Nhan Co alumina plant expansion in Nhan Co and Kien Duc Communes will add a new production line with a capacity of 1.2 million metric tons per year. The plant is expected to begin operations in 2030 and run for 30 years. The Lam Dong bauxite-aluminum complex expansion in Bao Lam 1 Commune will add a second alumina production line with the same capacity of 1.2 million metric tons per year. Construction is scheduled to finish by the third quarter of 2030, with operations starting in the fourth quarter.

According to SMM survey, as of February 26, social inventory of aluminum billets in mainstream domestic consumption areas reached 398,000 mt, approaching the 400,000 mt mark.

[SMM Aluminum Express News] Vedanta Limited was declared the preferred bidder for the Karnapodikonda bauxite block in Odisha on February 27, 2026, following a competitive e-auction by the state government. The block spans 532.747 hectares (at G2 exploration level) and supports backward integration for Vedanta's aluminium business by securing long-term bauxite supplies for its operations (e.g., Lanjigarh refinery and Jharsuguda smelter). The 'Declaration of Preferred Bidder' notification was received at 4:20 pm IST. The auction followed a tender invited on December 4, 2025.