Alba allowed to buy Europe’s largest aluminium smelter

Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) has received the green light from the European Commission (EC) to acquire Aluminium Dunkerque, Europe’s largest primary aluminium smelter.

The transaction will not raise competition concerns, given the companies’ limited combined market position, the EC said in a statement.

The transaction, examined under the European Union’s (EU) simplified merger review procedure, primarily involves the production and supply of primary aluminium.

In March Alba agreed to acquire Aluminium Dunkerque in northern France from New York-based American Industrial Partners in a cash deal.

No financial details have been disclosed.

Aluminium Dunkerque produces around 300,000 tonnes of metal annually.

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In February Alba said net profit rose by almost a fifth to BD218.7 million ($582 million) in 2025 from BD184.5 million in 2024.

Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company owns 69.38 percent of Alba, while Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Maaden) owns 20.62 percent.

Manama-listed Alba’s shares closed 0.5 percent higher at BHD0.89 on Monday.