German steelmaker Thyssenkrupp has officially reduced its hot metal production at the Duisburg plant after persistently low water levels on the River Rhine severely disrupted raw material supply chains. The logistical constraints forced the company to pull its push-barge fleet out of service and rely on externally chartered vessels with lower drafts, severely limiting the volume of incoming bulk materials. Although specific tonnage curtailments were not disclosed, market sources indicate the raw material shortage has fueled bullish sentiment, pushing domestic hot-rolled coil (HRC) prices in Northwest Europe up by approximately EUR20 per tonne to EUR710 per tonne ex-works.

The University of Edinburgh has licensed its Gold Copper Diamide Extraction process to Lithium Universe for cleaner recovery of gold and copper from electronic waste. The process uses organic compounds to selectively extract metals under milder, low-temperature conditions, offering a potential alternative to high-temperature smelting or aggressive leaching.

Aurubis’ new CRH facility in Hamburg has come online after an investment of around €190 million. Once fully ramped up, the facility will allow Aurubis to process more than 30,000 additional tonnes of recycling material per year, along with larger volumes of high-value smelter intermediates.

Aurubis’ new CRH facility in Hamburg has come online following an investment of around €190 million. The system will allow the company to process more than 30,000 additional tonnes of recycling material per year, as well as larger volumes of high-value smelter intermediates, strengthening Aurubis’ position in complex recycling feedstock processing.

US-based combustion technology provider Bloom Engineering has highlighted the growing role of advanced combustion systems in improving efficiency and reducing emissions across the aluminium industry. Its technologies are used in aluminium melting, holding, homogenising, reheating and heat-treatment processes, where precise temperature control is critical to production efficiency and product quality. Founded in 1934 and headquartered in Pittsburgh, Bloom Engineering provides industrial burners, combustion systems, controls engineering and technical services through operations in the US, Germany, India and China. The company’s solutions support the use of natural gas, hydrogen, biofuels and other fuels while helping customers reduce CO₂ and NOx emissions, improve temperature uniformity, increase production capacity and lower fuel consumption. As aluminium producers accelerate decarbonisation efforts, advanced combustion technologies are expected to play a key role in supporting low-carbon and energy-efficient manufacturing.

【SMM Steel】thyssenkrupp Steel has restarted trial operations at its Hot Strip Mill 4 in Duisburg. The facility was damaged by a fire caused by a furnace deflagration on October 24 2025. Engineers integrated technical upgrades during reconstruction. A linked continuous caster returned to service in December 2025. The mill produces high-strength thin flat steel for auto e-mobility mechanical engineering construction and energy sectors.

Rainbow Rare Earths Ltd. has informed investors that its large-scale pilot plant in Johannesburg has recently commenced official operation. The plant is currently operating as expected with the optimized Phalaborwa primary process and has successfully produced approximately 2 kg of high-grade mixed rare earth hydroxides, which possess commercial value. This mixed rare earth product has a grade of about 55% TREO, higher than the industry average of 42-44% TREO specified by the Chinese standard for mixed rare earth carbonate.

[Explosion at a US Molybdenum Smelter] SMM January 30: According to foreign media reports, on the evening of January 29, 2026, US local time, an explosion occurred at The Langeloth Metallurgical Facility in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is understood that one person has been taken to the hospital. The enterprise primarily produces molybdenum oxide and ferromolybdenum, with a molybdenum oxide production scale of approximately 1,200 mt/month and a ferromolybdenum production scale of approximately 500 mt/month. Based on information from 2024, its potential total capacity was approximately 40 million pounds of molybdenum products.

SMM Report, February 12 Since January, the domestic molybdenum market in China has seen a slight rebound. At the beginning of January, domestic mines shipped goods intensively. Against the backdrop of low industry inventories, the focus of mine auction prices moved upward, driving a mild rise in market prices early in the month. However, the price increase was constrained by poor profitability of downstream steel mills and the weak import molybdenum oxide market in the middle of the month.

Alcoa is considering the sale of an aluminum smelter, despite expecting to receive approximately €90 million (about 69 million yuan) in government aid. The group forecasts that the primary aluminum production plant will record losses ranging from €90 million to €110 million (approximately 690 million to 843 million yuan) this year. Starting in 2027, if the plant becomes profitable, continued operation will be considered; otherwise, a sale will be pursued. The future of Alcoa's San Ciprián industrial park in Cervo once again faces significant uncertainty. The US multinational has raised the possibility of selling the primary aluminum smelter while also evaluating another, more concerning option: closing the alumina refinery. These details were disclosed during the company's investor day event held last week, which aimed to present its future strategy to investors. If either plan materializes, implementation will occur after 2027—coinciding with the expiration of the job protection agreement reached with employees in 2021, which safeguards them from layoffs. Despite discussions of sale and closure, the Pittsburgh-based company also plans to significantly increase the amount of public aid it receives from the government.