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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Hydro has revealed a volumetric update for its business areas for April and May, ahead of the complete second-quarter financial results. The company shows it manufactured 1,760 tonnes of bauxite during April-May compared to 910 tonnes during the corresponding period last year. This means Hydro’s bauxite output in the second-quarter-to-date of 2020 increased by 94 per cent year-on-year, owing to the growing production at the Paragominas bauxite mine. Hydro’s alumina production rose as well by 82 per cent during the said period of 2020. In April and May 2019, Hydro’s alumina output was 543 tonnes, which in the year next increased to 989 tonnes, primarily as a result of higher production at Alunorte alumina refinery in Brazil. Primary aluminium production rose marginally by 5 per cent from...
The US dollar increased on Friday. The dollar index, which measures the greenback against six major peers, gained 0.15% on the week after hitting its highest level since June 4 at 97.45. LME aluminium shed 1.13% and SHFE aluminium went up 0.41%. Three-month LME aluminium fell for the second straight day as loaded-up shorts prevented it from exceeding US$1,598 per tonne. It ended the day at US$1,576 per tonne, down 1.13% on the day. As of Friday June 12, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stands at US$ 1560 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1560 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1586.50 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 1586.50 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...
According to the data released by the National Bureau of Statistics, China’s primary aluminium production in May stood at 2.98 million tonnes, which was marginally up by 0.4 per cent from 2.967 million tonnes in April and the highest since December 2019. The launch of new smelting capacity and the incentive of higher prices kept supply levels high, resulting in a boost in production. However, year-on-year, China’s aluminium output last month was down by 0.1 per cent, said the bureau. With the latest production data, China’s aluminium output in the first five months of 2020 came in at 14.81 million tonnes, up 2.1 per cent from the corresponding period last year. China’s aluminium production is still on the upswing even as analysts estimate the country to have imported the most primary...
Sagar Aisa, Hyderabad, India based aluminium extrusion maker and supplier for Walmart India, has remodelled its business to produce aluminium disinfection tunnels and testing booths towards the support of COVID-19. The company has repurposed its Hyderabad unit and came out with the new products in just two weeks. The company started its operation in 1977 to create hardware systems in aluminium, the company forayed into aluminium extrusions to supply for both the domestic and export markets, offering a range of products including ladders, extrusions, wind tower internals and aluminium aircraft docking and helicopter maintenance. Sagar Asia rapidly revolved its product offering and developed aluminium testing booths to aid contactless testing since the COVID-19 outbreak. The company has...
The A00 aluminium ingot price has recorded a rise of RMB 20 per tonne to stand at RMB 13,820 per tonne on Monday, June 15, following a decline from RMB 13,860 per tonne to RMB 13,800 per tonne on June 12, found Shanghai Metals Market. The hike in A00 aluminium ingot price today could be attributed to the further plunge in primary aluminium inventories by 20,000 tonnes over the weekend ending June 15. The average prices of primary aluminium ingots are expected to range between RMB 13,800 per tonne and RMB 13,840 per tonne, with spot contract to be traded at a discount and premium price of RMB 30-10 per tonne. However, since the growth in A00 aluminium ingot price has not touched upon all the major markets in China, Tianjin and Linyi have witnessed a downfall of RMB 50 per tonne and RMB 20...
Eurofoil has been certified against the ASI Performance Standard and Chain of Custody Standard for its two rolling operations in France and Luxembourg. The plants manufacture foil for packaging, container foil, household foil, heat transfer and industrial applications for insulation, pipes and cable wrap. The ASI Certification program is the only comprehensive voluntary sustainability standard initiative for the aluminium value chain. The program was developed through an extensive multi-stakeholder consultation process. The independent, third-party audits of the Eurofoil plants were carried out by DNV GL. Fiona Solomon, Chief Executive Officer at ASI said, “We warmly congratulate Eurofoil on their dual ASI Certifications. Packaging sector companies continue to achieve ASI Certification in...
Jone Usamate, Minister for Lands and Minerals Resources, Fiji Govt. has been to Vanua Levu on his first official visit of the North since taking up the position. Usamate initiated his tour from Bua and stated that he hopes to be able to identify bottlenecks in the system and address issues related to the Ministry’s service delivery in the North. The Minister is seeking members of the public to make use of this opportunity to raise their grievances if they have any as he will be visiting some villages and communities. Usamate started his tour with a visit to the Nawailevu Bauxite Mine Rehabilitation site. Bauxite mining in Nawailevu got suspended almost two years ago however the company responsible for the mining Aurum Exploration is continuing rehabilitation works on the site. The company...
Angul Aluminium Park Private Limited is a Private incorporated on 30 th July 2010. It is classified as Non-Govt. Company and is registered at Registrar of Companies, Cuttack, Odisha. Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Steel, Govt. of India, on 13 th June’20, organised a meeting with the senior Odisha state Government officers, Idco CMD, IPICOL officers and the Nalco CMD regarding the progress of the Angul Aluminium Park. Pradhan was chairing the meeting via video-conferencing said that the Govt. of India is committed for the development of Odisha and welfare of its people in the state. The Government would encourage the establishment of Angul aluminium park-based downstream industries and help attract investments, create employment and increase enterprises....
According to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), the country’s automobile production and sales both achieved double-digit growth in May. As per the data shown by CAAM, around 2.19 million units of automobiles were produced and sold in China last month. The production rose 4 per cent month-on-month and 18.2 per cent year-on-year, much higher than the annual growth of 2.3 per cent in April. The sales increased 5.9 per cent over the month and 14.5 per cent over the year, compared to the year-on-year rise of 4.4 per cent in the previous month, the first growth in 22 months. However, despite the year-on-year growth recorded in May, China’s total car production in the first five months of 2020 stood down by 24.1 per cent from the same period last year totalling 7.79...
Vedanta has cut its aluminium products price after three hikes in a row. With effect from Friday, 12 June 2020, the prices of some aluminium ingots are in the range of INR 137,250-150,250 per tonne, marking a drop of INR 2000 per tonne or 1.44% from INR 139,250-152,250 per tonne on June 11. With the latest cut, Vedanta’ billet now stands at INR 145,250 per tonne, a decrease of INR 2000 per tonne or 1.36% from INR 147,250 per tonne on June 11. The Indian aluminium producers generally link prices of its products to the three-month futures of aluminium on London Metal Exchange. The three-month futures of aluminium are down more than 10% so far in 2020 due to slower global demand following the coronavirus outbreak. Vedanta Limited cuts its aluminium Cost of Production (CoP) in the fourth...
The Tamale interchange project funded under a barter arrangement between the governments of Ghana and China’s Sinohydro ltd is one of the multi-priority infrastructural projects worth $2 billion in exchange for Ghana’s refined bauxite. The project which is expected to be completed within 24 months will improve traffic flow reducing within the Tamale Metropolitan area and also intensify economic activities between Ghana and the Saharan regions. Kwesi Amoako-Atta, Minister of Roads and Highway, Ghana, were on-site to inspect the progress of work, expressed satisfaction with the quality and speed of work done. After inspecting the project, the Minister conveyed his assurance to the residents and business owners who have been affected by the construction that the government will pay them the...
Hindalco Industries Ltd has reduced its aluminium products price after four hikes in a row. With effect from June 12, Hindalco aluminium ingots price now stands at INR 138,750 per tonne, a drop of 1.42% or INR 2,000 per tonne from INR 140,750 per tonne on June 11. The company is now selling its wire rods and billets at INR 149,850 per tonne and INR 145,850 per tonne with effect from Friday, 12 June 2020, marking a decline of INR 2,000 per tonne each from June 11. The Indian aluminium producers generally link prices of its products to the three-month futures of aluminium on London Metal Exchange. The three-month futures of aluminium are down more than 10% so far in 2020 due to slower global demand following the coronavirus outbreak. Aluminium prices are expected to remain under pressure...
The Indonesian state-owned and public listed metal miner PT Aneka Tambang, ANTAM, aims to invest $105 million (Rp 1.5 trillion) in capital expenditure this year to build two smelter megaprojects. On 11 th June’20, Anton Herdianto, Director of Finance, Antam, said: “Most of the funds were slated for two smelter megaprojects, while the remainder would be for exploration activity, subsidiaries and regular investments.” He said post an annual shareholders meeting: “We are still revising the 2020 CAPEX concerning COVID-19. It is awaiting shareholder approval. Rp 180 billion had been absorbed as of the first quarter.” Antam produces bauxite, the raw material used to produce aluminium and other metals. The company is also developing a $900 million alumina refinery in Mempawah, West Kalimantan...
National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) has increased its aluminium products price for second time in a row. With effect from Thursday, 11 June 2020, NALCO's aluminium ingots price stood at INR 141,650 – 145,150 per tonne, registering a hike of INR 4,900 or 3.58 per cent from INR 136,750-140,250 per tonne on June 6. The prices of aluminium billets rose by 3.3 per cent to INR 145,100- 147,750 per tonne on June 11, from INR 140,450-142,850 per tonne on June 6.The aluminium wire rods price came in at INR 146,150-150,500 per tonne. Indian aluminium producers generally link prices of its products to the three-month futures of aluminium on London Metal Exchange. The three-month futures of aluminium are down more than 10% so far in 2020 due to slower global demand following the coronavirus...
Hindalco Industries, a subsidiary of the Aditya Birla Group, closed the financial year 2019-20 (FY20) with 31% downturn in its consolidated net profit at INR 3,767 crore as compared to INR 5,495 crore in the preceding fiscal. The consolidated revenue from operation drops by 9% to INR 1.18 lakh crore against INR 1.31 lakh crore in the financial year 2018-19. During the January-March quarter (Q4 FY20), Hindalco posted a steep decline of 43% in its consolidated net profit at INR 668 crore versus INR 1,178 crore in the same phase last year. Hindalco's consolidated revenue from operation reflected fall by 13% to INR 29,318 crore in Q4 FY20 as against INR 33,745 crore in Q4 FY19. The company's EBITDA inclined by 6% to INR 4,173 crore compared to INR 3,938 crore in the year-ago period, helped by...
The Government of Jamaica is to draw out just over half a billion dollars from the Capital Development Fund (CDF) to deliver budgetary aid to the Jamaica Bauxite Institute (JBI) and the bauxite community development programme this fiscal year. An order, under the Bauxite (Production) Levy Act, giving effect to the withdrawal was tabled in the House of Representatives on 10 th June’20. Preliminary to the sitting of the House, the Economy and Production Committee started discussions on a resolution brought by Manchester Southern Member of Parliament (MP) Michael Stewart, calling on the Government to place a cap on the amount of funds that can be transferred from the CDF to the Government's central coffers for budgetary support. Stewart is also professing for the fixing of the levy on...
At China Aluminium Processing Industry Summit 2020, Racket Hu, Vice President of SMM, said the usage of recycled aluminium in place of primary metal would continue in the long term, given the advantages of recycling in terms of cost and environment-friendliness. Speaking at the summit in Yantai, Hu noted that China’s demand for aluminium scrap would recover in the next decade. His prediction came just when Chinese aluminium users found their alternative in primary metal due to shortages of scrap and sharply lower primary aluminium prices on the back of the lockdown restrictions imposed by several countries outside China in late March. According to SMM data, China's secondary aluminium casting plants increased their usage of primary aluminium to a ratio of 20 per cent from earlier 2 per...
Estonia, a country in Northern Europe, formerly part of the Soviet Union, borders the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Finland. Including more than 1,500 islands, its diverse terrain spans rocky beaches, old-growth forest and many lakes. The economy of Estonia is an advanced economy and the country is a member of the European Union and the Eurozone. Estonia's economy is heavily influenced by developments in the Finnish and Swedish economies. The major industries of the nation are engineering, electronics, wood and articles of wood, textiles, information technology, and telecommunications. The Northern European nation’s export of aluminium structures has been marked with a step fall during 2017-19, as the total volume of export and revenue income during the period remained at 22,246 tonnes and...
