Switzerland is seeking critical minerals from Indonesia to support domestic manufacturing, including producers of medical devices such as artificial joints, according to Swiss Ambassador to Indonesia Konstantin Obolensky. Speaking to reporters in Jakarta, Obolensky said Swiss manufacturers were seeking to diversify their mineral supply sources and viewed Indonesia as a potential supplier of materials required by local industries. He said, “There are critical minerals and other materials that Indonesia produces which are important for the Swiss industry.” Explore the production, demand and consumption forecasts of bauxite and alumina in our report: " Global Bauxite & Alumina Market Forecast to 2036: Supply–Demand, Trade Flows & Price Outlook " Indonesia has significant reserves of several...
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...
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New Zealand Aluminium Smelters (NZAS) said: “The Electricity Authority’s proposal to reform its transmission pricing methodology might be too little and coming too late.” Stew Hamilton, General Manager, said: “The NZAS executive team had argued for years the firm was paying too much for improvements to the electrical grid.” The cost was affecting the capability of Tiwai Point smelter to make money. In 2019 the company already posted a $46 million loss. In February’19, the Electricity Authority announced a proposed change that might open the way for Tiwai Point to apply to pay less to Transpower in transmission charges that might cost it between $60 million and $70 million a year. Mr Hamilton stated that the company was engaged in the consultation process. However, a result could come too...
Montenegro-based aluminium company Uniprom has planned to invest 20 million euros in the new manufacturing unit at aluminium smelter KAP's plant in Podgorica. The company will build a new plant for the production of aluminium slabs, SeeNews reported. The construction work of a new plant is expected to be completed in 2021. Uniprom said in a statement that slabs production capacities at this new facility will be 35,000 tonnes per year. Aluminium slabs is a material used for the production of sheet metal and other items for the automotive industry. Uniprom has completed the negotiations and will soon sign the contract for the construction of a new plant. The company had also announced to invest 15 million euro in aluminium billets production unit at the factory of KAP. The plant will have...
Abdoulaye Magassouba, Minister of Mines and Geology, Guinea stated that: “Iranian companies are capable partners for the development of mining projects.” On 15 th May’20, the Guinea minister while speaking in a video conference with Iranian Deputy Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade Khodadad Gharibpour, he entitled “Iranians as able and competent partners with high capabilities and capacities.” The Guinean mining minister welcomed the idea of developing mines and mineral cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran. After being informed of a 70% increase in production capacity of aluminium in Iran, he emphasized the need for transfer of experience and technical know-how between the two countries in the mines and mineral sector. He pointed to the commissioning of the bauxite project in...
The US dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of its peers, returned above the 100-mark on Monday, May 11. On Tuesday, the dollar fell but managed to erase earlier losses on Wednesday to trade largely flat against a basket of currencies. On Thursday, May 14, the US-dollar hit a three-week high. Three-month LME aluminium closed 0.3 per cent higher on Monday, May 11, at US$1,496.5 per tonne, but slipped on Tuesday by 1.14 per cent to US$ 1,479.5 per tonne. Extending the decline further, it closed down 0.24% at US$1,476 per tonne on May 14. On Friday, May 15, it remained flat after slipping from an intraday high of US$1,482 per tonne to a new five-week low of US$ 1,467.5 per tonne. LME aluminium cash (bid) price and LME official settlement price showed a downtrend this...
According to a recent report, Alcoa Corporation has appointed Ms. Nicole Coutu as President of Alcoa Canada. The key job role of Ms. Coutu in Alcoa Canada will be the principal liaison for government and institutional relations for the company, on behalf of the Deschambault, Bécancour and Baie-Comeau smelters, as well as the Canadian head office in Montreal. Alongside her new job role, Ms. Coutu will continue in her current role as Director of Operations at the Aluminerie de Bécancour (ABI) and will also act as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Aluminum Association of Canada. Ms. Coutu said, "I am honoured to be offered this additional responsibility and it is with great enthusiasm that I will work with our stakeholders, government representatives and various associations, to discuss...
The alumina market in China was flat over the week. The week started with an increase of RMB 2 per tonne from Friday and stood at RMB 2211 per tonne on Monday, May 11. The average spot price of alumina stood RMB 5 per tonne lower at RMB 2206 per tonne on Thursday, after remaining flat at RMB 2211 per tonne on Tuesday and Wednesday. The price did not show any movement on Friday. Other raw materials like Bauxite (4.5≤Al/Si＜5.5)Shanxi, Alumina (Imported), Australian Alumina FOB Price, and Prebaked Anode East are hovering at RMB 365 per tonne, RMB 2190 per tonne, USD 241 per tonne and RMB 2700 per tonne as of Friday, 15 May 2020. A00 aluminium ingot price witnessed an upward movement over the week, except Wednesday. The price stood higher at RMB 13030 per tonne and RMB 13040 per tonne on...
The Indian state-owned coal mining company “Coal India Ltd” has been mandated by the Government of India to replace at least 100 million tonnes of imports with domestically-produced coal in the ongoing fiscal. An official spoke-person of CIL said: “Coal India has a mandate of replacing at least 100 million tonnes of imported coal with domestic non-coking coal in the financial year 2020-21. In its bid to substitute imports with domestic coal, CIL is connecting with non-regulated sectors like aluminium and few others for domestic coal. It has also removed many extra costs and reduced the reserve price to zero.” The development comes at a time when the country, on the one hand, has an abundance of domestic coal, while on the other hand there is a sink in demand for the dry fuel. India has...
On 15 th May’20, the European Commission is introducing a new system to monitor the imports into the EU of certain aluminium products. The objective is to permit rapid analysis of import trends, ahead of official Eurostat statistics. The new monitoring system that has been commencing from 15 th May’20, replaces the previous surveillance system introduced for steel in 2016 in the context of the crisis in the EU steel sector and for aluminium in April 2018, when the US introduced import restrictions on steel and aluminium. It will respond better to the needs of the industrial sectors concerned and is completely transparent. The new system is based on import statistics available two weeks after the actual imports, thus considerably earlier than the official Eurostat data. It offers a better...
The Scottish Parliament voted to approve Regulations for the establishment of Scotland’s Deposit Scheme. This would increase the recycling of single-use drinks containers in Scotland. The scheme will come into effect from 1 July 2022. The Scottish government last year announced a new Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) that will include aluminium and steel cans, and drink containers made of glass and PET plastic. The government said all shops selling drinks will offer 20p deposit refunds to customers. The Scottish Wholesale Association (SWA), the trade association for Scotland’s food and drink wholesale businesses, had called for a delay due to the coronavirus pandemic. Colin Smith, SWA chief executive, said: “Scotland’s food and drink wholesalers will be bitterly disappointed that the DRS...
All India Manufacturers Organisation, ( AIMO ), India’s Apex Trade body focused on the MSME sector on 14th May’20 applauded the announcements made by the Finance Minister of India and welcomed the new packages that were offered to the MSME sector. AIMO also emphasized that apart from Money, MSME’s also need Men and Material to re-open, to survive and to grow. According to Mr.K.E.Raghunathan, Former-President of AIMO: “This Government has proven that they are a Government that listens to the needs of the MSMEs. We have been at the heart of understanding and representing the requirements of the MSME’s in the lockdown period. We at AIMO agree and support with the Honourable PM’s vision of a Self-Reliant Domestic Indian Economy. For the first time in Indian History, the Government has pushed...
Nespresso has increased the recycled aluminium content to 80 per cent in its new coffee machine capsules , as part of its ongoing drive to boost sustainable credentials. The report came after the Swiss company unveiled its new capsules on Friday, May 15. The Nestlé-owned brand claims that its new aluminium coffee pods are the first pods in the market made of such high-level recycled content. The pods also contain very thin aluminium foil, which is eight per cent lighter in weight and requires 9.2 per cent lesser metal to produce, according to Nespresso. Jérôme Pérez, head of sustainability at Nespresso said, the launch of new capsules marked a significant milestone for improving the circularity of its business. "We are constantly challenging ourselves to improve the sustainability and...
Tankoa Yachts S.p.A has reportedly introduced a new 50-metre all-aluminium superyacht S501. The yacht is nearing completing in Italy now after the relaxation of lockdown restrictions caused by the COVID-19. S501 is the ultimate all-aluminium 50-metre yacht featuring oversized deck space, comfort, quietness, and efficiency. Entirely handcrafted in Italy and designed by Francesco Paszkowski, the yacht offers various exterior design adjustments to make her fit your personal choice and taste. According to the report, S501 superyacht will feature a layout largely similar to the two sister ships – Binta D’Or and Vertige, but with two primary differences. The main deck aft will be wholly dedicated to a large lounging area, while the forward master cabin will feature a private lounge that can be...
Mozambique is located on the southeast coast of Africa. It is bound by Swaziland to the south, South Africa to the southwest, Zimbabwe to the west, Zambia and Malawi to the northwest, Tanzania to the north and the Indian Ocean to the east. The below-par quality of the countries bauxite reserves and in-disciplined marketing has affected the export of the aluminium ore. Mozambique’s principal customer for its bauxite has been Zimbabwe and Zambia stood as a minor buyer. The nation’s bauxite export during 2017-2019 has been recorded at 22,437 tonnes and the foreign revenue earning stood at $2.71 million. The bauxite export estimated for 2020 has been analysed for 10,547 tonnes and the income might reach to $1.26 million. When the analysed export value and income get added with the previous...
The United Arab Emirates, one of the top aluminium exporters to the US, accounted for 4% of all aluminium imports by the US in February 2020.The UAE’s exports of crude metals and alloys to the US came in at 10,100 tonnes in February 2020, a decrease of 74.88% year-on-year. The UAE had exported 40,200 tonnes to the US in February 2019, according to the latest Mineral Industry Survey report from the US Geological Survey. On a month on month comparison, exports dropped by 67.42% from 31,000 tonnes. In the first two months of 2020, exports stood at 25,000 tonnes as compared to 91,600 tonnes in the first two months of 2019. This marked a decrease of 72.71% year-on-year. On the import side, the UAE imported 1,350 tonnes of aluminium (crude metal and alloys, aluminium semi-finished products and...
According to the data shown by the National Bureau of Statistics, China’s aluminium production increased in April by 1.5 per cent over the year to stand at 2.97 million tonnes. The daily basis output in the said month hit a 10-month high as a rapid increase in primary aluminium prices after a coronavirus-driven collapse kept smelters’ operating rates high. As per Reuters’ calculations, China’s daily basis aluminium output in April came in at 99,000 tonnes per day, highest since June 2019 and up from around 95,800 tonnes in the previous month. Aluminium prices in China, which collapsed in February and March in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, rebounded strong in April, gaining 9 per cent since August 2017, after smelters cut supply and consumption at processing plants recovered. This...
A00 aluminium ingot price registered an increase of RMB 230 per tonne or 1.80 per cent from Thursday’s price of RMB 12790 per tonne. The price now stood at RMB 13020 per tonne on Friday, 15 May 2020 and is expected to move within a range of RMB 13000-13040 per tonne. Spot aluminium contract is likely to be traded at a discount of RMB 30 to a premium of 10 per tonne. In Foshan and Wuxi, the price rose by RMB 240 per tonne and RMB 220 per tonne to stand at RMB 13030 per tonne and 13020 per tonne. Their average prices are expected to range within RMB 13010-13050 per tonne and RMB 13000-13040 per tonne. Aluminium prices in Hangzhou and Chongqing came in at RMB 13060 per tonne and 13040 per tonne, up RMB 240 per tonne and RMB 230 per tonne. Aluminium ingot prices in Shenyang, Tianjin, Linyi,...
Trimet Aluminium SE’s aluminium smelter in Hamburg settles a new baking furnace for the production of carbon anodes, aiming to ensure greater energy efficiency. The new brick-lined ring chamber furnace with 48 chambers superseded an eight-year-old furnace, ensuring greater energy efficiency. An ultra-modern firing system also contributes to this, with a gas burner that makes more efficient use of energy while concurrently producing less emission. Furthermore, the furnace integrates optimized materials: the bricks used for the furnace walls are easier to heat so that considerably less energy is required. Trimet has invested around twelve million euros in the new system. Dr Andreas Lützerath, member of the Executive Board of Trimet Aluminium SE said: “With the new baking furnace, we will...
The US dollar hit a three-week high on Thursday before giving back much of those gains, as investors continued to digest Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell’s dismissal of speculation over US interest rates entering negative territory and his glum forecast for the economy. Three-month LME aluminium remained range-bound on Thursday, slipping from an intraday high of US$1,482 per tonne to a new five-week low of US$ 1,467.5 per tonne before rebounding to close flat at US$ 1,476 per tonne. Lingering concerns over the economic fallout from the COVID-19 and fears of a re-ignition of the US-China trade conflicts hamper upside potential in LME aluminium, which is expected to move to US$ 1,460-1,500 per tonne today. As of Thursday, May 14, LME aluminium cash (bid) price and LME official...
