Metals

In a decisive move to strengthen its global footprint in the value-added aluminium sector, Hindalco Industries Ltd, the metals flagship of the Aditya Birla Group, has announced the acquisition of U.S.-based AluChem Companies Inc. for USD 125 million (approximately Rs. 1,075 crore) in an all-cash transaction. The deal, routed through Hindalco’s wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary Aditya Holdings LLC, positions the company to accelerate growth in the specialty alumina segment, particularly in North America.

Vedanta Ltd., led by billionaire industrialist Anil Agarwal, has divested a 1.6% stake in its subsidiary Hindustan Zinc Ltd. (HZL), raising approximately Rs. 3,028 crore. The move, aimed at strengthening the company’s balance sheet, comes amid an ambitious corporate demerger plan that will separate Vedanta’s diversified business lines into standalone entities. The proceeds from the stake sale are expected to provide liquidity, reduce debt, and empower the new units with greater financial autonomy. Simultaneously, Vedanta announced a Rs.

State-run Hindustan Copper Ltd (HCL) has announced a bold Rs. 2,000 crore investment plan over the next five to six years aimed at significantly expanding its mining footprint. This capital expenditure, largely focused on the Malanjkhand Copper Project in Madhya Pradesh, is part of HCL’s broader strategy to triple its ore production capacity to 12.2 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) by FY2030-31. The investment underscores India's push to boost domestic copper production amid rising demand from critical sectors including infrastructure, electric vehicles, and renewable energy.

Hindustan Zinc Ltd, a Vedanta Group company and India's leading zinc producer, has announced an interim dividend of Rs. 10 per share for FY2025-26, totaling Rs. 4,225 crore. This move underscores the firm’s strong financial footing, driven by a 47.3% surge in Q4 net profit to Rs. 3,003 crore. The dividend also provides the Indian government with approximately Rs. 1,180 crore in receipts.

Hindustan Zinc Ltd (HZL), a subsidiary of Vedanta, is making strategic moves to diversify its operations, with plans to launch a fertilizer manufacturing plant in Rajasthan by the next financial year. The company aims to enhance its value-added products portfolio and capitalize on the growing demand for critical minerals for future technologies. With a record-breaking Q4 profit in FY 2025 and a focus on expanding into multi-metal production, HZL is positioning itself for continued growth, while aligning with India’s vision of securing critical mineral resources for a sustainable future.

State-owned NMDC Ltd announced a 5 percent increase in consolidated net profit to Rs. 1,483.18 crore for the quarter ending March 31, 2025, propelled by higher revenues from iron ore and pellets. Total income for the quarter rose nearly 9 percent to Rs. 7,497.17 crore compared to the same period last fiscal. For the full year, NMDC’s net profit surged over 17 percent to Rs. 6,538.82 crore on the back of strong operational execution.

Following a steep decline, Indian equity markets rebounded sharply on May 22, with the Sensex and Nifty posting gains of nearly 1%, driven by strength in banking, information technology, and metal stocks. The rally extended to broader markets, where mid- and small-cap stocks also showed robust performance. Experts attributed the rebound to easing concerns over global bond yields and reaffirmed confidence in India’s macroeconomic fundamentals.

National Aluminium Company Ltd (Nalco), the state-owned integrated aluminium producer, reported a dramatic rise in its consolidated net profit for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025, surging to Rs. 2,067.23 crore—more than double the Rs. 996.74 crore recorded a year earlier. This exceptional performance was underpinned by higher revenues from operations, which rose to Rs. 5,267.83 crore during the quarter. The company’s full-year profit also climbed sharply to Rs.

ndia’s equity markets witnessed a remarkable resurgence on Thursday, with the benchmark BSE Sensex soaring by 1,200.18 points, marking a seven-month high at 82,530.74. The NSE Nifty breached the psychologically significant 25,000 level, closing at 25,062.10 for the first time since October 2024. This rally was fueled by across-the-board buying across key sectors, including banking, automobile, IT, and oil & gas, alongside fresh inflows from foreign institutional investors.

In a significant step toward sustainable industrial practices, the Indian government has launched a digital platform designed to modernize the country’s non-ferrous metal recycling sector. Spearheaded by the Ministry of Mines, this initiative aims to consolidate data, foster stakeholder collaboration, and drive evidence-based policymaking in the recycling of critical metals such as aluminium, copper, lead, zinc, and rare elements.