Aluminum casthouses are facing a growing operational challenge of increasing the use of recycled metal without compromising melt quality, recovery rates or production efficiency. As manufacturers look to incorporate more post-consumer recycled (PCR) aluminum, processing lightweight scrap, machining chips and other low-density materials has become increasingly important. Such materials are difficult to introduce into conventional melting furnaces, making efficient scrap feeding and submergence essential to improving recycling performance. The challenge extends beyond scrap preparation. Maintaining consistent temperature and chemical composition throughout the molten metal bath is critical to producing specification-compliant aluminum. Equipment used for circulation and stirring must...
ClearFlow Metalworks plans to invest $28 million in a new aluminum manufacturing facility in Russellville, Kentucky, marking an expansion of secondary aluminum production in the United States. The project is expected to create 50 full-time jobs, with its first phase designed to deliver an estimated annual production capacity of approximately 100,000 tons. The company, which focuses on sustainable aluminum recycling and production, will develop the facility in phases. Phase I will feature a secondary aluminum billet casting operation, processing recycled aluminum materials into billets for extrusion and other downstream manufacturing applications. The project will establish ClearFlow's manufacturing presence in the U.S. and support domestic demand for aluminum products while expanding...
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On World Environment Day, Assan Aluminyum a subsidiary of Kibar Holding made public its "Protecting Biodiversity Project," that aims to conserve biodiversity through a research partnership with the Kocaeli University (KOU) Biology Department. The company, one of the leading manufacturers in the flat-rolled aluminium industry, continues to contribute to sustainability with this project, which has begun by reintroducing the endangered endemic "Amsonia Orientalis" plant back to nature. The project began with the "Amsonia Orientalis" plant, also known as "Blue Star," which has been identified by the European Commission in 2002 as a plant species that need to be preserved in the flora. This particular endemic plant is currently known to only exist in a few locations in the Marmara Region of...
Indonesia presumes $3.7 billion in investments for mining and refinery projects to be delayed to 2021 if the COVID-19 pandemic lingers until the end of 2020, as per a mining official. Irwandy Arif, an advisor to the Energy and Mineral Resources Minister said: “The investments were expected for 35 ore processing facilities that are under construction or scheduled to start development this year.” This includes seven bauxite projects, among others, are now expected to be completed by around 2023 due to the delay of this year. The Advisor also stated that all new mining developments had been kept on hold since January'20. Arif also said: “The government’s earlier scenario for the coronavirus outbreak to end in June’20 is looking unlikely, as the number of daily cases had not yet shown a...
China’s imports of unwrought aluminium imports and aluminium products stood at 119,145 tonnes in May, more than doubled year-on-year, customs data showed on Tuesday. Imports increased by 12.3% month-on-month. On a yearly basis, imported jumped 164.8% from May 2019, the General Administration of Customs said. In April and May, Shanghai aluminium prices increased as the country recovered from a coronavirus-related demand collapse. But the lower demand in the rest of the world kept London prices depressed, Reuters reported. Customs will release a breakdown of imports by origin and type of aluminium on Thursday.
Tanzania government will release a consignment of aluminium products imported by the city-based Ocean Aluminium Company only after a thorough inspection by environmental experts. Such was the statement announced by the government last weekend. In Tanzania, under section 133(2) of the Environmental Act, 2004, any persons or companies are prohibited from importing, exporting, recycling or collecting hazardous waste including metal scrap, used batteries, electronic waste, and hospital dischargeable without prior approval of the National Environmental Management Council (Nemc). Ocean Aluminium Company had imported over 40 tonnes of aluminium without Nemc’s approval several months ago, and therefore, the consignment got stranded at the Dar es Salaam port. This prompted the minister of State in...
Hindalco is exporting more than 80 per cent of the total output to minimise inventory build-up and to absorb plant fixed costs. Countries like Korea, the USA, Malaysia, Brazil, and Japan are leading importers of these products. The demand from the domestic market is down due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Domestic aluminium consumption declined 6% YoY to 3.72 million tonnes in FY20 and 11% in Q4. “We are exporting more than 80 per cent of our total output to countries like Korea, USA, Malaysia, Brazil, Japan, while minimizing our inventory build-up and absorbing the plant fixed costs. Our aluminium downstream plants in India had shut down initially, except at two plants, while other downstream facilities continued to operate and serve essential sector customers”, said Satish Pai, managing...
Fitch Ratings has amended the Outlook on Mytilineos S.A.'s long-term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to Negative from Stable and affirmed the IDR and senior unsecured ratings at 'BB'. The amendment of the Outlook exhibits the weak macro environment with prolonged low commodity prices, material pressure on aluminium consuming industries, the expected underperformance of engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) business and uncertainties around the COVID-19 situation/shape of the recovery. The current three-month LME aluminium price is trading short of USD1,600/t, a reduction of around 12% from the 2019 average price. The company has revised its aluminium price assumptions down for the second time this year and it expects 2020 and 2021 LME prices to average USD1,560/t and USD1,600/t,...
Andru Minerals, which owns eight mining leases in Vanthada village of Prathipadu Mandal, East Godavari district, has claimed that the allegations made on them of sending the laterite that they mine to Vedanta hold no truth, according to a recent report. In a press release, Andru Minerals stated that some cement companies use their laterite but not Vedanta. Vedanta obtains needed minerals locally as they have a tie-up with the Odisha government, added Andru Minerals in support of their claims that the allegations of exporting laterite to Vedanta are mistaken. Andru Minerals also said for further clarification that lease holders used to supply minerals to Andru Minerals in the past. Vedanta bought some of it then while some was exported to China. However, it all happened several years ago....
Iran's production of aluminium ingots stood at 65,170 tonnes during the first two months of the current Iranian year (March 20-May 20), an increase of 58% compared with the same period last year, according to the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO). Iran’s flagship aluminium producer Iran Aluminum Company (IRALCO) contributed 31,984 tonnes of the total output. The output records a 4% growth year-on-year, Fars News Agency reported. Hormozal Aluminum Company produced 13,537 tonnes, which was a 163% rise on the year. Almahdi Aluminum Company’s production came in at 11,881 tonnes, up 128% year-on-year. The output from South Aluminum Company (SALCO) stood at 4,493 tonnes. Iran Alumina Company produced 3,275 tonnes. Iran has an estimated...
Kaiser Aluminum Corporation, a leading producer of semi-fabricated specialty aluminium products, serving customers worldwide with highly engineered solutions for aerospace and high-strength, general engineering, and custom automotive and industrial applications, announced that Jack A. Hockema, who has worked as Chief Executive Officer since October 2001 and Chairman of the Board of Directors since July 2006, will step down from his position as Chief Executive Officer effective as of July 31, 2020. Mr. Hockema will remain on the Company’s Board of Directors as Executive Chairman. Keith A. Harvey, who has served as the Company’s President and Chief Operating Officer since December 2015, will be the next Chief Executive Officer as well as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors. “Keith...
The economy of Mauritius is a mixed developing economy based on agriculture, exports, financial services, and tourism. Mauritius is ranked as the most competitive and one of the most developed economies in the African region. The major industries that contribute to the economy of nation are food processing (largely sugar milling), textiles, clothing; chemicals, metal products, transport equipment, nonelectrical machinery, tourism. Mauritius import of aluminium bar rods and profiles has been showing down-turn during 2018-19, as the volume of import remained at 13,611 tonnes and the foreign revenue expended stood at $52.42 million. The forecasted import volume for 2020 has been analysed at 5584 tonnes and the expenditure to reach $46.73 million. However, when the analysed import volume and...
China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) has reportedly revised its estimate for China’s auto sales in 2020. From the previous estimate of a decline of 15-25 per cent, the association shows a sign of improvement expecting the sales to drop by 10-20 per cent, in line with China’s economy revival and market recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. CAAM data showed that China’s auto sales surged by double-digit in May, boosting optimism over the recovery from the Covid-19 crisis. The sales in the said month grew 14.5 per cent year on year, much faster than an increase of 4.4 per cent in April. Also, the decline of 22.6 per cent registered in the first five months of 2020 to 7.96 million units was 8.5 percentage points smaller than the decline seen in January-April period. On the...
The US dollar fell on Monday. Overnight, LME and SHFE base metals closed mostly higher. LME aluminium added 0.95% and SHFE aluminium increased 0.96%. Three-month LME aluminium rebounded after initially falling to a session low of US$1,581.5 per tonne. It ended up 0.95% on the day at US$1,601 per tonne. As of Monday June 22, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stands at US$ 1573 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1573 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1590.50 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 1590.50 per tonne; Dec 21 bid price stands at US$ 1696 per tonne, and Dec 21 offer price stands at US$ 1696 per tonne. The LME aluminium opening stock stood at 1617825 tonnes. Live Warrants totalled 1420600 tonnes, and Cancelled Warrants were 197225 tonnes. LME aluminium...
National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) has again increased its aluminium prices with effect from Saturday, June 20, following a cut on Wednesday, June 17. According to the prices revealed by the company, aluminium ingots prices are now ranging between INR 140050 per tonne and INR 143,550 per tonne, up by INR 1000 per tonne or nearly 1 per cent from INR 139050-142550 per tonne on June 17. With the latest hike, the prices of aluminium billets have come in at INR143500-146150 per tonne compared to INR142,500-145,150 per tonne after the previous cut, while the prices of aluminium wire rods have clocked at INR 144,550-148,900 per tonne as against INR 143,550 – 147,900 per tonne on June 17. The above data shows that both the prices of aluminium billets and aluminium wire rods of NALCO have...
On a further downfall of the social inventories of primary aluminium ingots in China on a brisk consumption on Monday, June 22, the price of A00 aluminium ingot has recorded a hike of RMB 70 per tonne to RMB 14,030 per tonne, found Shanghai Metals Market. This marks the second consecutive growth of A00 aluminium ingot price, crossing the benchmark price of RMB 14,000 per tonne. The average prices are expected to range between RMB 14,010 per tonne and RMB 14,050 per tonne, with spot contract to be traded at a premium price of RMB 220-240 per tonne. Chongqing has seen the highest growth in A00 aluminium ingot price today of about RMB 90 per tonne to RMB 14,020 per tonne, followed by Foshan, where the aluminium ingot price has increased by RMB 70 per tonne to stand at RMB 14,110 per tonne....
The United States of America is planning to re-impose tariffs on aluminium imports from Canada, as reported late on 22 nd June’20, mentioning people familiar with the matter. The announcement is expected to come by the end of the week. If Canada declines to impose export restrictions, the United States will announce on Friday, 26 th June’20, the re-imposition of 10% tariffs on aluminium from the country, as per the report. The report also added that tariffs will be implemented by 1 st July’20.
India has commenced anti-dumping duty probe against certain kinds of aluminium foil imported from China, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. Aditya Birla owned Hindalco Industries, Raviraj Foils and Jindal India Ltd have filed the application affirming dent resulting from the alleged dumping in the form of an increased volume of dumped imports in absolute terms and related to production and consumption, price undercutting and price suppressing effect on the domestic industry. Aluminium Foil 80 microns and below such as cigarette foil and home foil, among others are the product under review. The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) said it has initiated an investigation to “determine the existence, degree and effect of any alleged dumping in respect of the subject goods originating...
The United Kingdom’s only aluminium composite panels manufacturer named Multipanel UK Ltd has reportedly obtained a £9million finance package from HSBC UK. The finance package is mainly for diversifying product range, expanding business, and most importantly, safeguarding the future of the business from the coronavirus crisis. Multipanel UK, based in Exeter, makes aluminium composite panels for industries like sign making, exhibition stand design, and architecture. But now, with the intention to meet demand from various other industries for screen materials used in shops, offices, and leisure facilities, Mulpanel UK will upgrade its core product using the fund. This finance package can also be used to stabilise cash flow at a time when many of the company’s existing customers are closed...
Global primary aluminium production stood at 5.448 million tonnes in May, an increase of 0.7% from 5.410 million tonnes in May 2019, according to the latest data showed by the International Aluminium Institute (IAI) on Monday 22 June 2020. On a month-on-month comparison, the output increased by 3.3% from 5.274 million tonnes. Total aluminium production amounted to 26.771 million tonnes in the first five months of 2020, an increase of 1.44% from 26.392 million tonnes in the first five months of 2019. In Asia ex-China, aluminium production reduced by 8.56% year-on-year but up 2.7% month-on-month to 342,000 tonnes in May. In January-May, output came in at 1.712 million tonnes, a decrease of 6.6% from 1.833 million tonnes in January-May 2019. In the Middle East, primary aluminium production...
