Novelis the undisputed leader: the world's number one aluminum recycler

According to AL Circle’s latest report entitled “Global Aluminum Industry: Key Trends to 2030,” the amount of recycled aluminum used worldwide reached 27.1 million tons in 2022 and is estimated to increase to over 28 million tons in 2023. In an article on the top aluminum recycling companies, Novelis was highlighted as the leading company in the market with more than 2.2 million tons of aluminum recycled during its fiscal year 2022.

Aluminum is a highly recyclable material that maintains its original properties, which makes it popular in multiple industries worldwide. A report by AL Circle revealed that worldwide recycled aluminum consumption was 27.1 million tons in 2022 and is expected to reach over 28 million tons in 2023. Sectors such as packaging, automotive, construction and electronics are the main drivers for the use of recycled aluminum worldwide. Aluminum scrap is used to produce secondary aluminum and new products. Countries with higher aluminum consumption also generate higher volumes of scrap. North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific are the main aluminum recycling centers with leading companies in terms of production and profits.

The top five aluminum recycling companies currently dominating the market worldwide are as follows. Hindalco Industries Limited, through its subsidiary Novelis, has become the world’s leading aluminum recycling company. According to a report published in 2022, they have the capacity to recycle up to 82 billion aluminum cans per year.

In addition, by mid-2025, they are expected to be able to reach an even higher capacity and recycle about 97 million cans per year due to an expansion of their facilities. Novelis is currently under construction of a new plant in Bay Minette, Alabama, which will become the first integrated, fully aluminum-dedicated plant built in the United States in the last 40 years.

According to the company’s FY2022 annual report, it was noted that 57% of its product content was recycled by Novelis. In addition, during this period, the company purchased or processed more than 2.2 million tons of recycled metal in total.

Aside from the Bay Minette plant, Novelis is undertaking another project involving a $130 million investment to improve recycling at its plant located in Oswego, New York; and is also working on the construction of a $365 million recycling facility in Guthrie, Kentucky. The company already has recycling operations in 15 of its plants around the world.

North America has the greatest influence on the Novelis market, followed by Europe, Asia and South America. It is also a company specialized in technology and software development. Its main objective is to provide innovative and efficient solutions for its clients, using the latest technological trends. They have a highly qualified team committed to offer a quality service at an international level. Its main focus is customer satisfaction and continuous improvement in its products and services.

Constellium is a company recognized worldwide for its work in the development and production of high-value aluminum products. One of its greatest strengths is its ability to recycle an impressive 32 billion used beverage cans per year. Its plants in France and Alabama specialize in recycling and advanced production, making it a leader in the manufacture of aluminum container bodies and lids.
In 2023, Constellium made public an agreement with the Renault Group to implement an internal recycling system for the new Mégane E-TECH Electric model. Under this agreement, Renault will send waste from its manufacturing process directly to Constellium to be recycled and used in the production of high-quality aluminum sheet for the exterior panels of the Mégane E-TECH Electric.

The top five companies in the global aluminum recycling market are as follows.
Norsk Hydro ASA is a Norwegian company engaged in the production of aluminum and hydroelectric power. It was founded in 1905 and is considered one of the largest aluminum companies in the world, with operations in more than 50 countries. In addition, it is also focused on sustainability and social responsibility, seeking to reduce its environmental impact and contribute to the development of the communities in which it operates. Today, Norsk Hydro ASA continues to grow and expand internationally, maintaining its position as a leader in the aluminum industry.

The Norwegian company Norsk Hydro is dedicated to aluminum recycling and renewable energies, with 25 facilities in Europe, the United States and Canada, as well as a sorting plant in Germany. With the aim of promoting decarbonization and the circular economy, Hydro is investing in the expansion of its recycling capacity. Recently, the company has acquired land in Spain to build a new recycling facility that will enable them to produce aluminum with low carbon emissions. This plant will have an annual capacity of 120,000 tons and will employ some 65 direct workers. Production is expected to be recycled aluminum with a carbon footprint of less than 4 kg per kg thanks to Hydro CIRCAL technology.

Hydro plans to expand its production of recycled scrap ingots at its plant in Wrexham, UK, to strengthen its capacity to recycle post-consumer waste. Thanks to this investment, the company will have a total recycling capacity of around 103,000 tons per year.
Rio Tinto is a multinational mining company headquartered in London, England. Founded in 1873, it is mainly engaged in the extraction of copper, iron, diamonds and other minerals in different countries around the world. In addition to the mining industry, Rio Tinto is also involved in energy production and has interests in natural resource projects such as water and forests. Today, it is one of the world’s largest and most important companies in its sector.
Rio Tinto has recently acquired a 50% stake in Matalco, a leading recycled aluminum producer with a capacity to produce 900,000 tons per year. With an investment of US$700 million, this acquisition increases Rio Tinto’s portfolio of high-quality, low-carbon products, offering solutions to reduce the environmental footprint of its customers.

Rio Tinto CEO Jakob Stausholm said, “Investing in recycling is part of our drive to find better ways to deliver the low-carbon materials the world needs and provides a natural extension of our industry-leading primary aluminum business.”
Previously, Rio Tinto allocated US$29 million for the construction of a new aluminum recycling plant at Arvida, located in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean in Quebec. The purpose of this investment is to provide low-carbon options to customers in the automotive, packaging and construction sectors. The facility is expected to start operations in the first quarter of March 2024 with an initial capacity of 30,000 tons per year.

Rio Tinto invested US$8.4 million to build a new kiln at its Laterrière plant to increase its recycling capacity. This new smelting center began operations with an initial capacity of 22,000 tons per year.
Novelis is one of the world’s leading aluminum production and recycling companies. It was founded in 2005 and is currently based in Atlanta, Georgia. The company has operations in several countries, including the United States, Canada, China, Brazil and South Korea, among others. It is recognized for its commitment to sustainability and its innovative use of aluminum in diverse industries such as automotive, packaging and construction.

Speira is a city located in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. It is located in the southern region of the country and is known for its extensive industrial activity, being one of the main centers of footwear production nationwide. It also has an important historical and cultural heritage, with outstanding monuments and museums that attract tourists from all over the world. This city is also known for its beautiful beaches and natural landscapes, making it an increasingly popular tourist destination.

It is a leading European company dedicated to aluminum rolling and recycling, with a total of eleven plants located in Germany and Norway. Upon completion of the acquisition of Real Alloy Europe in March 2023, Speira will be able to recycle up to 650,000 tons of aluminum per year. This acquisition includes three aluminum and magnesium recycling facilities in Germany, as well as an aluminum recycling plant and a salt slag recycling plant in Norway. This will enable Speira to double its aluminum recycling capacity. The company boasts more than 100 years of experience and know-how in the field of product recycling.

Novelis the undisputed leader: the world’s number one aluminum recycler

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