Workers at South32's Worsley Alumina refinery in Western Australia have begun a 48-hour stoppage, seeking greater security over their remuneration and working conditions ahead of Alcoa's planned acquisition of the company's aluminium assets for up to USD 5.6 billion. The industrial action involves members of the Electrical Trades Union (ETU) and the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union (AMWU), with the ownership transition raising concerns over existing employment agreements and incentive payments. The stoppage began on November 10 and coincides with a scheduled shutdown at the refinery's main processing plant. Around 200 union members are employed at the Worsley operation, according to AMWU state secretary Steve McCartney, who said workers wanted their existing earnings protected...
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...
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As aluminium enters markets that had earlier been dominated by traditional metals, especially steel, competition and comparisons on energy consumption have caught the eyes of end-use sectors across the world. In 2019, to produce one tonne of aluminium, the average total energy (AC) intensity across the world stood at about 14.2 MWh, while the average process energy intensity stood at 13.4 MWh. Globally, the aluminium industry emits around 450 MT per annum of CO2 equivalents, accounting for about 1% of the world’s total emission. At this juncture, it becomes an absolute imperative to address the issue of high energy-intensive process of aluminium smelting. AlCircle, being always at the forefront of the aluminium industry information circle, has therefore, presented a new Sector Focus...
Vedanta has increased its aluminium ingot and billets price for the second time in a row. With effect from Wednesday May 20, the prices of some aluminium ingots are in the range of INR 132,000-145,000 per tonne. This marks a growth of INR 1500 per tonne or 1.15% from INR 130,500-143,500 per tonne on May 19. With the latest hike, Vedanta’ billet now stands at INR 140,000 per tonne, an increase of INR 1500 per tonne or 1.08% from INR 138,500 per tonne on May 19. 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 20% so far in 2020 due to slower global demand following the coronavirus outbreak. Vedanta’s aluminium business typically accounts for...
The Geological Survey of the United States found that after December 2019, the US aluminium crude and alloys exports to Canada fell in February 2020. The decline, as recorded by the USGS data for February, was 8.71 per cent or 740 tonnes month-on-month to come in at 7,760 tonnes. In contrast to this, the decline in exports was higher in December, as the United States had exported 6,920 tonnes in the said month, down by 15.71 per cent or 1,290 tonnes from November. In January 2020, the United States’ crude metal and alloys exports to Canada were 8,500 tonnes, registering a hike of 22.83 per cent or 1,580 tonnes from the month ago. In November 2019, the exports were 8,210 tonnes, down by 7.95 per cent or 710 tonnes month-on-month. In October, however, the amount of export from the US to...
The economy of Turkey is an emerging market economy as defined by the International Monetary Fund. Turkey is among the world's developed countries according to the CIA World Factbook. Turkey is also defined by economists and political scientists as one of the world's newly industrialized countries. Turkey’s bauxite importation market remained with advantage during 2017-19 as it recorded a moderate volume of import at 117,168 tonnes and the revenue expended remained at $46.32 million. The estimated importation for 2020 though has been analysed to 25,862 tonnes only and the expenditure might reach to $11.60 million. When the current years analysed import volume and expenditure is added up with the preceding three years it stands at 143,030 tonnes and $57.92 million. The country’s bauxite...
According to a recent report, Australian shipbuilder Richardson Devine Marine (RDM) has delivered the Incat Crowther designed unique, all-aluminium ferry named Nairana to ferry owner and operator Sealink Tasmania. Nairana, equipped with state-of-the-art propulsion solutions from SCHOTTEL, is built entirely from aluminium. So, the vessel is light-weight and consumes less fuel. It can travel longer distances, ensuring excellent manoeuvrability. Being light-weight yet robust, the vessel is extremely economical to operate. Roger Janes, Sales and Marketing Manager of RDM: “The brief was to provide two unique, new vessels that are highly manoeuvrable to facilitate rapid turnaround times, have multiple engines for redundancy, and are economical. Overall, they needed to be uncomplicated and...
TEN® Alkaline Spring Water, America’s premium alkaline water with the highest pH of any bottled water brand, has expanded its product portfolio with the launch of a 12-ounce aluminium can. The company’s new product represents a new, lower price point for aluminium-packaged water. TEN® Alkaline Spring Water has introduced the new aluminium can in an 8-pack. It can also be sold in single serve cans inside beverage coolers. Publix Super Markets will become the first grocery retailers to feature the item on store shelves. “Our customers have voiced concerns over single-use plastic bottles and we have responded by introducing TEN® in aluminium cans, our most exciting new product since we launched our 1 gallon bottle,” said Jose Fernandez, CEO of TEN® Alkaline Spring Water. “Grocery buyers also...
Liberty Aluminium Technologies has resumed production after a two-month halt, provided with safeguarding from COVID-19 epidemic by reducing the risk. The staffs have started re-joining to their work this week for the production of components towards the automotive sector at sites in Coventry and Witham, Essex, a part of the Liberty Engineering group owned GFG Alliance. The safety measures the factories have been taking starts from temperature checks on arrival, briefing on social distancing, usage of the marked way walking route, sanitation throughout the factory, closure of catering facilities, etc. Liberty is a grade 1 supplier, it has resumed due to major carmakers that have been its pivotal consumers has already re-started production. The operations have begun at a modest level, as...
The US dollar slipped to its lowest in more than two weeks against a basket of its peers on Tuesday. LME aluminium retreated 0.8% and SHFE aluminium fell 0.4%. Three-month LME aluminium dropped 0.77% to end at US$1,488.5 per tonne on Tuesday. Shanghai Metals Market expects the contract to move at US$1,470-1,510 per tonne today. As of Tuesday May 19, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stands at US$ 1464 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1464 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1498 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 1498 per tonne; Dec 21 bid price stands at US$ 1623.50 per tonne, and Dec 21 offer price stands at US$ 1623.50 per tonne. The LME aluminium opening stock stood at 1436575 tonnes. Live Warrants totalled at 1205925 tonnes, and Cancelled Warrants were...
After four successive jumps ranging between RMB 12,790 per tonne on May 14 and RMB 13,500 per tonne on May 19, the A00 aluminium ingot price has recorded a dip today, on May 20, by RMB 20 per tonne to stand at RMB 13,480 per tonne, found Shanghai Metals Market. Since March 9, the primary aluminium ingot price was hovering below the RMB 13,000 per tonne level due to shrink in demand and consumption caused by the COVID-19 outbreak. After more than two months on May 11, the price rebounded above the benchmark price of RMB 13,000 per tonne, owing to the rise in demand and consumption but weak supply in contrast. Today, the average prices are expected to range between RMB 13,460 per tonne and RMB 13,500 per tonne, with spot contract to be traded at a premium price of RMB 210-250 per tonne....
On 18 th May’20, Soon Lian Holdings, the aluminium supplier made public that Tony Tan Yee Chin resigned as company Chairman and CEO following differences in an opinion he had with two executive directors regarding the execution of the group's strategic direction in the area of resource allocation and cost management. The two executive directors, Tan Yee Ho and Tan Yee Leong, have since been appointed the company's Chairman and CEO respectively. Soon Lian was responding to queries from the Securities Investors Association (Singapore), which was seeking elaboration, on the “differences in views” between the parties. The company stated that under the new leadership, the company will strengthen its partnerships with its stakeholders, scrutinise debt collection to manage cash flow, review...
Vedanta has raised its aluminium ingot price by INRINR 1250 per tonne or 0.97% after cutting them two times in a row. The price is increased to INR 130,500-143,500 per tonne, with effect from May 19. The aluminium ingot price was in the range of INR 129,250-142,250 per tonne on May 17. With the latest hike, the company is selling its billet at INR 138,500 per tonne, an increase of INR 1250 per tonne from INR 137,250 per tonne on May 17. 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 20% so far in 2020 due to slower global demand following the coronavirus outbreak. Vedanta’s aluminium business typically accounts for one-third of the company’s...
S.A.V. S.p.A. Società Alluminio Veneto has joined Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) as a new Production & Transformation member. This brings the total number of ASI Members to 120. S.A.V. S.p.A. is specialized in the manufacture of aluminium alloys by promoting and developing environmental, social and economic sustainability and encouraging the circular economy of aluminium. The company operates two manufacturing sites in northern Italy. “S.A.V. S.p.A. operates in an extremely competitive market in one of the socio-economic contexts where environmental and social regulations are among the most restrictive in the world. S.A.V. S.p.A. has always aimed to become a forefront organization also in the field of sustainability, promoting industrial development policies based on the...
The European drinks brand known as Little Miracles has introduced two new low calorie, low sugar, vegan sparkling ice tea in aluminium cans, as part of its goal to become a completely plastic-free brand by summer 2023. Little Miracles started its mission to offer products that have only organic and fair trade ingredients back in 2012, and since then, its ethos remained the same. Commenting on the new product launch, Little Miracles founder Frederik Senger said: “This is a truly exciting launch for us as we move to halve our plastic production by the end of the year.” He also said, “Little Miracles was one of the first brands in Europe to repackage its drinks range with new, sustainable options. We decided to launch our organic Juice Shots in glass bottles, package our 1L ice tea in...
UACJ, the Japanese manufacture of aluminium products has downsized its production at its domestic plants in response to the plunge in demand, especially from the auto industry, due to the Covid-19 epidemic. On 19 th May’20, UACJ stated it has ceased part of its domestic production for several days as a course of action to adjust to a fall in aluminium products demand caused by the Covid-19 outbreak since April’20. Demand from vehicle-related industries significantly weakened in May’20 in line with output suspensions at domestic assembly plants. The automakers of Japan were forced to shove domestic production post supplies of auto parts from China were suspended after the later period of January’20 by strict quarantine measures taken to combat the coronavirus outbreak. The production slash...
According to Shanghai Metals Market report, China’s environmental authorities on Monday, May 18, issued the seventh batch of import quotas for metal scrap, including aluminium. The authorities confirmed that the seventh batch of import quotas for 2020 would allow additional 1,480 tonnes of high-grade aluminium scrap to enter China, compared to 1,030 tonnes of scrap permitted under the sixth batch of quotas. This means the allowance for aluminium scrap import to China expanded by 450 tonnes in the seventh batch. The cumulative quotas for this year reached 478,159 tonnes, showed Shanghai Metals Market. But while the import quotas are increasing for this year, the supply in the market is displaying a bearish trend due to disruptions amidst the worldwide spread of COVID-19. China, in the...
Finland is the eighth-most expensive country in Europe according to a Eurostat study of 2017. The economy of Finland is a highly industrialised, mixed economy with a per capita output similar to that of other western European economies such as France, Germany and the United Kingdom. Industry in Finland is the second largest sector of Economy of the nation after the services sector. The metal industry is categorised into multiple branches. Finland’s exports include metals and metal products worth, machinery, electronics and vehicles. The aluminium scrap exportation market of Finland during 2017-20 has reflected with a positive overview. This also gives a notification that the usage of aluminium or the demand for the aluminium in the nation’s manufacturing units has been increasing....
Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) announced that Hydro’s seven facilities in Europe have been certified against the ASI Chain of Custody Standard. The certification is for its plants in Birtley (UK), Bedwas (UK), Cheltenham (UK), Chrzanów (Poland), Tibshelf (UK), Tønder Precision Tubing (Denmark) and Trzcianka (Poland). The operations include ingot casting, extrusion, fabrication and surface finishing of aluminium profiles, and manufacture of aluminium tubes. Fiona Solomon, Chief Executive Officer at ASI said: “We warmly congratulate Hydro Extruded Solutions on their multi-site Chain of Custody (CoC) Certification. Hydro has continued to expand their CoC Certifications from their primary production business divisions through to rolled products, and this latest Certification now...
Lindian Resources Limited has reportedly confirmed that laboratory testing of extensions to the Bouba conglomerate bauxite plateau within the Gaoual Project has discovered high-grade alumina averaging more than 50 per cent. Earlier this year, resource drilling along the Bouba Plateau had confirmed the presence of very high-grade conglomerate bauxite. Further drilling was undertaken at Bouba North and Bouba South using a portable X-ray fluorescent (XRF) reader to determine alumina grade. Northern and southern extensions at the Bouba Plateau were discovered later in March. Three drill holes at Bouba North recovered average alumina grades of 50-54.4 per cent, while four holes at Bouba South found more than 54 per cent alumina with the highest average grade being 58.5 per cent. Lindian said...
