Key transactions & industry news Weekly Update 11/26/2025

Metals & Mining

Norway’s Hydro plans to close five extrusion plants in Europe. Norwegian aluminum producer Hydro will close five extrusion plants in Europe by 2026. Hydro expects annual run rate savings exceeding $48.93M. Restructuring costs are estimated at $91.1M, with impairment charges and provisions expected to impact the company in the fourth quarter of this year, it added.

Alcoa accelerates balance-sheet clean-up with $141M bond redemption. Alcoa Corporation’s subsidiary, Alcoa Nederland Holding B.V., has formally notified bondholders that it will redeem the remaining $141M of its 5.5% notes due in 2027. The redemption is scheduled for December 15, 2025.

Alcoa pulls back on Perth Hills drilling as bigger mining questions loom. With the rising pressure from the local community and various environmental groups, Alcoa, a U.S.-based bauxite miner, has announced its removal of areas as per its proposal in the exploration drilling plans in the Perth Hills.

Potential shake-up ahead for Aluminium Dunkerque as AIP reviews strategic options. Plans for a major shake-up at Aluminium Dunkerque are beginning to surface, with American Industrial Partners (AIP) considering whether to sell the French smelter or place it on the stock market.

BHP walks away from last stab at Anglo American takeover. BHP abandoned a last-ditch effort to buy rival Anglo American and bolster its dominance in copper, just two weeks before Anglo and Teck Resources’ shareholders were set to vote on a $60B merger.

Transportation & Logistics

CMA CGM connects U.S. services with new Vietnam barge. CMA CGM has introduced a new barge service linking a manufacturing center in Vietnam with a major port offering ocean transportation to the United States. The Que Vo to Haiphong barge service connects key industrial zones in Northern Vietnam including Bac Ninh, Hanoi, Phu Tho and surrounding areas, to east and west coasts in the U.S. market.

DHL partners with Happy Robot for AI-efficient operations. DHL Supply Chain is shaking up the logistics world by teaming up with AI startup HappyRobot to automate routine communication across its global operations. The goal is to free employees from repetitive tasks, speed up workflows, and deliver a more consistent experience for customers.

Union Pacific, boilermakers OK post-merger job security pact. The International Brotherhood of Boilermakers (IBB) and Union Pacific Railroad reached an agreement that guarantees job security for union employees if a merger proposal between UP and Norfolk Southern Railway is allowed to proceed.

Pittsburgh Regional Transit to reopen Mt. Washington Tunnel by year’s end. Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) expects to reopen the Mt. Washington Transit Tunnel by the end of the year. The tunnel, through which light-rail trains and buses travel, has been closed since February so that crews could perform track replacement and other infrastructure upgrades.

Energy

Oil holds steady after one-month low on high supply expectations. Oil prices were steady after sliding to a one-month low in the previous session as investors assessed prospects of oversupply and talks over a Russia-Ukraine peace deal. Brent crude futures lost 13 cents to $62.35 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were down 7 cents at $57.88.

Abu Dhabi’s GSU to launch $1B energy projects in Yemen. The United Arab Emirates will launch energy projects worth $1B in Yemen to support the rebuilding of its energy sectors, which will be implemented by Abu Dhabi firm Global South Utilities (GSU). The agreement will see the company implement a portfolio including projects in solar and wind energy alongside the development of distribution networks in the country.

Shell ready to invest more in Italy if drilling permits unlocked. Shell is ready to invest more in Italy to boost hydrocarbon production, the head of the energy group’s Italian unit said, urging the government to allow new drilling. Shell currently spends some $578M a year in Italy, and is the leading foreign investor in its upstream sector. However, its hydrocarbon production in Italy is shrinking as it awaits authorization for new wells in the two concessions where it operates.

Others

Trump says China’s Xi ‘more or less agreed’ to accelerate purchases of U.S. goods. U.S. President Donald Trump said that he pressed Chinese President Xi Jinping to accelerate and increase Beijing’s purchases of U.S. goods during a phone call, and the Chinese leader had “more or less agreed.”

Fed chair Powell’s allies provide opening for December rate cut. Allies of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell have laid the groundwork for him to push a rate cut through a divided committee at next month’s meeting even though it could draw multiple dissents.