The Aluminium Extrusion Manufacturers Association of India (ALEMAI) on Tuesday announced the launch of the ‘Aluminium Bharat’ initiative, formally unveiled by Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Jitin Prasada, in New Delhi.
The initiative aims to strengthen India’s aluminum ecosystem while addressing emerging global and domestic challenges that impact the sector.
Addressing the gathering, Prasada underscored the need to build resilient domestic manufacturing capabilities in the face of evolving global trade dynamics.
“The initiative, ‘Aluminium Bharat’, is a statement of intent that India will move up the global value chain in aluminum manufacturing. We are committed to giving Indian manufacturers a level playing field and making Bharat a preferred global hub for high-value aluminum products,” Prasada said.
He said India’s midstream and downstream aluminum sectors were undergoing a severe contraction, with production declining by 40 percent to 50 percent. Despite a strong installed capacity of 4.2 million tonnes, utilization remains significantly below potential.
The sector, he said, was currently operating under stress, with extrusion units at 1.2-1.3 million tonnes and rolled and flat products at around 1.5 million tonnes. This underperformance is being driven by a combination of domestic constraints and global disruptions.
He further said one of the major challenges was the sharp rise in raw material and energy costs, further exacerbated by ongoing geopolitical tensions in West Asia. The conflict in the region has led to volatility in global oil and gas prices, directly impacting energy-intensive industries such as aluminum. Increased logistics costs and supply chain disruptions have added further pressure on manufacturers.
At the same time, India continues to face one of the highest raw material cost structures globally, particularly due to the limited availability of aluminum scrap, which is critical for downstream operations.
‘Aluminium Bharat’ will bring together policymakers, industry leaders, and global stakeholders to deliberate on key bottlenecks and co-create a roadmap for sustainable growth of the aluminum industry in the country.
As part of this initiative, ‘Aluminum Bharat 2026’, India’s first comprehensive exhibition for the aluminum value chain, will be held from September 26 to 29th, 2026, at the Helipad Exhibition Centre, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, alongside Alumex India 2026.
