Metals

Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) has been awarded a significant infrastructure contract by Hindalco Industries, valued at Rs 204 crore. The project underscores HCC’s continued leadership in large-scale industrial construction and its strategic focus on the metals and mining sector. The contract encompasses comprehensive civil and structural work, with completion timelines aligned to Hindalco’s expansion plans. Analysts note that this award will strengthen HCC’s order book, bolster revenue visibility, and enhance its positioning in high-value industrial projects.

Bharat Aluminium Company (BALCO) has successfully produced its first batch of aluminium from India’s largest smelter, marking a significant milestone in the nation’s industrial landscape. The facility, equipped with state-of-the-art technology and high-capacity production lines, is expected to enhance India’s domestic aluminium output, meet growing industrial demand, and strengthen export potential.

Aluminium futures witnessed a marked uptick this week, propelled by renewed speculative activity and bullish sentiment among traders. Market participants cited robust industrial demand, global supply constraints, and investor positioning as key factors driving prices higher. The rise in aluminium contracts has implications for downstream sectors, including automotive, construction, and packaging, as cost pressures ripple through the supply chain.

Hindalco Industries, a flagship company of the Aditya Birla Group, is significantly scaling up its aluminium and copper smelting capacity in response to strong domestic and global demand. The expansion reflects the company’s strategy to strengthen its position as one of the world’s leading non-ferrous metals producers while aligning with India’s push for industrial self-reliance and energy transition. With new investments in capacity augmentation, Hindalco aims to meet rising requirements from sectors such as infrastructure, automotive, renewable energy, and electronics.

National Aluminium Company (NALCO), India’s leading aluminium producer, has announced plans to focus on expanding its presence in the UK market, even as US tariffs on aluminium imports continue. Company executives indicate that the tariffs have had minimal impact on their exports, allowing NALCO to pursue alternative markets in Europe. With rising demand for high-quality aluminium in automotive, construction, and packaging sectors, the UK presents a strategic opportunity.

Hindustan Copper Ltd. (HCL) has announced an 18% year-on-year increase in net profit for the first quarter of the current fiscal year, reaching Rs. 134 crore. The growth is attributed to improved operational efficiencies, higher sales volumes, and stable metal prices in global markets. The state-owned mining company also reported a notable increase in revenue, supported by strategic cost management and productivity enhancements.

Shanti Gold, a prominent player in the Indian precious metals industry, is set to enter the capital markets with a Rs. 360-crore initial public offering (IPO) opening on July 25. The public issue, aimed at raising capital for business expansion and working capital needs, underscores the company’s ambition to strengthen its footprint in the gold manufacturing and distribution sector. With a solid track record in precision-crafted gold ornaments and a growing domestic market, the IPO is expected to draw interest from both institutional and retail investors.

India’s copper industry remains largely insulated from the latest round of U.S. tariffs on imported copper, underscoring the sector’s resilience and diversified market dynamics. Despite global apprehension over Washington’s tightening trade stance, Indian producers and exporters have expressed confidence that these measures will not materially impact domestic operations or overseas sales. Analysts attribute this to India’s limited direct copper exports to the U.S. and a broader pivot toward Asian and European markets.

India has unveiled an ambitious long-term blueprint to transform its aluminium sector, aiming to scale up domestic production six times by 2047. The newly released Aluminium Vision Document, launched by Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy at a mining conference in Hyderabad, lays out a comprehensive roadmap focused on increasing bauxite output, enhancing recycling rates, ensuring raw material security, and adopting low-carbon technologies. The initiative is aligned with the national agenda of achieving a developed, resource-resilient economy by 2047.

During a visit to Moradabad to inaugurate the newly built Samvidhan Park, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla held discussions with brass handicraft exporters to address longstanding industry concerns. The exporters, based in India’s premier brassware hub, voiced their demands for higher duty drawback rates and the elimination of GST, which they argue has hurt their competitiveness in global markets. Birla's visit also marked the 50th anniversary of the Emergency and included the inauguration of a public educational space showcasing India's constitutional and civilizational legacy.