How India can become a world leader in supply of downstream aluminium

India has in time established itself as a nation that is independent and self-sufficient when it comes to producing quality downstream aluminium. The advent of new aluminium production facilities in India has ensuredthat both domestic demand and a significant portion of the world market for aluminium can be met with the right policy and direction.

According to a sectoral study by NITI Aayog, India is presently home to over 150 firms, including both major and midsized producers. In addition,there is a much larger base of smaller and unorganised operators who serve the downstream aluminium industry. Given its strong forward-and-backwards links to the economy, the downstream aluminium industry acts as a concrete example of the sector's economic progress. It has 2,500 players and a processing capacity of 3.9 million tonnes annually.

Critical manufacturing ingredient

Downstream aluminium productsare of particular significance because of theirapplication to a number of industries including aerospace, defence, high-speed rail, electric vehicles and infrastructure projects. Electrical Power transmission, construction, machinery, and equipment continue to benefit from aluminium. As India continues its industrialization process, aluminium has emerged as a critical strategic metal.

As a corrosion-resistant metal and an electrically conductive metal, it is ideal for a wide range of applications.

It is also especially strong and impermeable to air, water, ultraviolet light, and bacteria.  Due to the thin layer of aluminium oxide, aluminium is three times lighter than iron while being as strong as steel, offering extreme flexibility, and corrosion resistance. Because of its increasing affordability, superior weight-to-strength ratio, and formability, aluminium is also constantly being sought for developing new applications. Offering the highest rate of growth for any metal, aluminium has provided positive efficiency, safety, and durability.As a critical new-age manufacturing ingredient, it efficiently meets modern needs and challenging engineering specifications with its light weighting capability and strength.

A global supplier

India has proven that it is capable of producing superior downstream aluminium products. We excel in both aluminium rolled products as well as extruded aluminium products. Our manufacturing facilities are equipped to produce high-quality goods and are outfitted with furnaces, casters, and captive foundries that can produce items with thicknesses ranging from 0.009 mm to 5.00 mm. According to Volza, a company that collects data on worldwide export-import commerce, India is a world leader in the production of rolled aluminium sheets, which are widely used in the manufacturing of food, packaging, printing, trains, automobiles, and aeroplanes.

Volza says India exports the majority of its aluminium sheets to the United States, the Netherlands, and Saudi Arabia, and as of October 2021, 194 suppliers were responsible for 1,209 shipments. About extrusions, Volza says that there were over 27,000 export shipments of aluminium extrusion from India, exported by 324 Suppliers. Most of India's aluminium extrusion is exported to Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States. With 27064 shipments, India is a top exporter of aluminium extrusion.

In conclusion, there are a few drawbacks, including the lack of a policy for the downstream aluminium segment that can unleash India’s full potential in becoming a leader in the global supply of downstream products. Given the existing manufacturing capacity, India can be a game-changer if it has the right policy putting the downstream aluminium sector on the fast growth track.In contrast to the average global consumption of 11 kg of aluminium per person, India utilises just 2.5 kg at present. With the right legislative action, domestic downstream aluminium manufacturers can not only increase consumption from 4 million tonnes annually but also catapult India into becoming a global supplier of extrusions, rolled sheets, foils and other products.