Aluminium Dunkirk acquisition by Aluminium Bahrain confirmed for $2.2 billion

Tuesday 02 June 2026 - 10:45

Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) has officially confirmed the acquisition of the French metallurgy company Aluminium Dunkerque in a deal valued at approximately $2.2 billion, marking a significant transaction in the global aluminium industry.

The agreement, signed on Monday during the Choose France summit, involves the purchase of 100% of Aluminium Dunkerque from American Industrial Partners, the current owner of the company. The deal is fully financed through a consortium of banks supporting Alba.

As part of the transaction, French public investment bank Bpifrance will take a minority stake of 6% in Aluminium Dunkerque through a €100 million investment. Bpifrance will also secure a seat on the board of the company’s holding structure, ensuring a degree of French state oversight in the strategic direction of the industrial asset.

Aluminium Dunkerque is a major industrial site in northern France, producing around 300,000 tonnes of aluminium annually and employing approximately 750 workers. The facility is considered a key player in France’s industrial and strategic metals sector.

The acquisition has been welcomed by stakeholders, including employees and government representatives, as it maintains a level of national involvement in a critical industrial asset amid ongoing debates about economic sovereignty and access to raw materials.

Trade union representatives also expressed cautious approval, noting the importance of state presence in the governance structure through Bpifrance, which they believe could help safeguard jobs and long-term industrial stability.