Aluminium manufacturers are facing a challenge that extends across the entire production chain: improving output and product quality while making better use of raw materials, energy and existing equipment. From recovering metal from complex scrap to controlling billet solidification and achieving precision in rolled products, every stage presents technical demands that influence the efficiency and economics of the final operation. Addressing these demands requires more than conventional machinery. Equipment manufacturers are developing specialised technologies to tackle problems such as low scrap recovery, surface segregation, casting defects, unnecessary metal removal and inconsistent strip flatness. Increasingly, the focus is on improving process control, reducing production losses and...
Vedanta Aluminium Metal Ltd is turning to captive bauxite supplies to manage rising raw material costs as a pricing dispute with its long-term supplier, Odisha Mining Corporation Ltd (OMCL), puts pressure on its procurement expenses. The company plans to begin production at its Sijimali bauxite mine in Odisha during the current financial year, targeting an initial output of 1 million tonnes. Vedanta received long-pending consent to operate the mine in September. Production is expected to increase to 5–6 million tonnes in FY28, with the captive resource anticipated to replace imported bauxite and reduce the company's dependence on external suppliers. The mine is expected to generate savings of approximately USD 25 per tonne, according to chief financial officer Anup Agarwal, who discussed...
Grow with
AL Circle
According to the latest export-import data released by China's General Administration of Customs, total unwrought aluminium and aluminium products exports by China stood at 518,600 tonnes in March 2020, a decrease of 5% from a year earlier. In the first three months of 2020, exports of unwrought aluminium and aluminium products came in at 1.19 million tonnes. This marked a drop of 17.5% from the same period last year. The downward trend in aluminium exports is expected to continue in the second quarter, as measures introduced by world authorities to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic take their toll on foreign demand, SMM reported.
The American import of aluminium crude, metals and alloys from Australia shows stability as the total import was recorded at 45,300 tonnes during Nov'19 - Jan'20. The total import of aluminium crude, metals and alloys of the US from Australia during Jan’19 – Dec’19 stood at 268,000 tonnes. Australia remains at number three in exporting aluminium crude, metals and alloys to the US, while Canada and UAE stand at one and two-position respectively. Canada exported 2.1 million and UAE exported 473,000 tonnes. In November’19 the US export of aluminium crude, metals and alloys from Australia remained at 13,600 tonnes, whereas in December’19 de-growth by 13.97% was recorded, as the M-o-M drop stood at 1900 tonnes and the total import reflected as 11,700 tonnes. The US import from Australia in...
The US dollar was roughly flat on Monday amid thin trades with Europe out on holiday. The dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of other currencies, was little changed on the day and finished at 99.504. LME was closed on April 13 on account of Easter Monday, and trades will resume on Tuesday. As of Thursday, April 9, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stands at US$ 1428.50per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1428.50 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1467 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 1467 per tonne; Dec 21 bid price stands at US$ 1603.50 per tonne, and Dec 21 offer price stands at US$ 1603.50 per tonne. The LME aluminium opening stock stood at 1239700 tonnes. Live Warrants totalled 1106850 tonnes, and Cancelled Warrants were 132850...
According to Shanghai Metals Market, the average alumina spot price in China has lowered its decline to RMB 6 per tonne today, on April 14, to stand at RMB 2,073 per tonne. In many parts of China, the price has remained restrained, such as in the east and north at RMB 2,100 per tonne and RMB 2,050 per tonne, respectively. In the central, however, the price has recorded a plunge of RMB 10 per tonne to RMB 2,090 per tonne. The imported alumina price in China has declined the highest today by RMB 45 per tonne to RMB 2,075 per tonne. The average prices of imported alumina are expected to range between RMB 2,050 per tonne and RMB 2,100 per tonne. The Australian Alumina FOB price has remained unchanged at US$ 225 per tonne, as of April 14, learned SMM. The A00 aluminium ingot price has extended...
On surveying 41 major aluminium processors in 12 provinces across China last week, Shanghai Metals Market found their average operating rate dropped marginally by 0.6 percentage point on a weekly basis to 74.4 per cent. Backlog orders could be a reason behind this overall steady operating rate, in addition to the robust performance of construction-related processors and less effect on exports. But export orders for May are likely to fall sharply, creating an impact on the operating rates of aluminium plate/sheet, strip and foil producers, as the latter largely rely on exports for their business. Also, the operating rates this week may get slightly affected due to fewer exports off late. Operating rates at major aluminium processors by industry (updated on April 10): Aluminium extrusion:...
Aluminium is the world’s most widely used non-iron and non-steel metal and is the basic ingredient for a wide range of recyclable products. The latter includes beverage cans, construction materials and transport vehicles. Silvery-white in colour, pure aluminium is non-magnetic and is also notable for its low density, relatively lightweight and resistance to corrosion. The cheap electricity supply has been a cause for multiple American organizations to start aluminium production in Iceland, though the recent debate between Rio Tinto and Iceland’s National Power Company sends a tough message to the industry, as Rio Tinto considers suspending the production at its Straumsvík smelter in Iceland for two years. The suspension also includes the reason for COVID-19 epidemic that has reduced the...
Canada’s exports of total aluminium including scrap to the US stood at 220,000 tonnes in January 2020, an increase of 32.53% or 54,000 tonnes year-on-year. Canada had exported 166,000 tonnes to the US in January 2019, according to the latest Mineral Industry Survey report from the US Geological Survey. On a month on month comparison, exports dropped19.71% from 274,000 tonnes. Compared with November, Canada’s exports to the US stood 6.28% higher from 207,000 tonnes. Crude metal and alloys export increased 78.99% or 94,000 tonnes year-on-year in January. Exports rose from 119,000tonnes in January 2019 to 213,000 tonnes in January 2020. On a month on month comparison, exports reduced by 6.99% from 229,000 tonnes. Canada’s exports of aluminium semi-finished products (plates, sheets, bars,...
According to a recent report, Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba), the world’s largest aluminium smelter outside China, has bagged the 2020 Gold Medal Health and Safety Award from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) for the seventh year in a row. Alba is honoured with the recognition from RoSPA for its health and safety performance during January 01, 2019 to December 31, 2019. RoSPA is a British charity that works to prevent accidents in the UK and around the world. It works to stop the needless loss and devastation that accidents cause to individuals, families, communities, businesses, and society as a whole. On receiving the prestigious award from this organisation for seven times in a row, Alba’s Chief Executive Officer Ali Al Baqali said: “Alba is pleased to be...
The US dollar declined on Friday, April 13. The dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of other currencies, dipped 0.05% to 99.495. The London Metal Exchange was closed on Friday for the Good Friday holiday. As of Thursday, April 9, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stands at US$ 1428.50per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1428.50 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1467 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 1467 per tonne; Dec 21 bid price stands at US$ 1603.50 per tonne, and Dec 21 offer price stands at US$ 1603.50 per tonne. The LME aluminium opening stock stood at 1239700 tonnes. Live Warrants totalled 1106850 tonnes, and Cancelled Warrants were 132850 tonnes. LME aluminium 3-months Asian Reference Price is hovering at US$ 1477.84per tonne....
On 10 th April’20 Fitch Ratings, the leading provider of credit ratings, headquartered in the USA, revised down its sovereign long-term foreign currency rating on Jamaica to stable from positive citing the expected negative shocks of its exports of bauxite, alumina, and remittances due to the “COVID-19” pandemic. Jamaica has been making progress in reducing its government debt-to-gross-domestic-product levels that are still above its rating peers. The rating agency projected the economy to shrink by 4% in 2020 followed by a recovery of 2% in 2020 and thus Jamaica’s B+ rating was asserted. As of 11 th April’20, Jamaica has countered with 69 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and with 4 deaths. The COVID-19 epidemic, emerged from the Chinese city of Wuhan, has caused a global shutdown of...
Shanghai Metals Market found a further decline in social inventories of primary aluminium ingots over the weekend ended Monday, April 13, bolstered by improved demand and reduced arrivals of stocks to warehouses. According to the SMM data, the inventories decreased 59,000 tonnes from last Thursday, April 9, across eight major consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrants, to stand at 1.548 million tonnes. From Tuesday, April 7, the primary aluminium stocks have reduced by 128,000 tonnes. The chart below indicates the current status of primary aluminium inventories across China in more details: The primary aluminium inventories in Nanhai have decreased by 23,000 tonnes over the weekend to come in at 366,000 tonnes, while that in Wuxi and Gongyi by 18,000 tonnes and 17,000 tonnes to...
The average alumina spot price has declined by RMB 42 per tonne to stand as low as RMB 2,079 per tonne, as of Monday, April 13, found Shanghai Metals Market. The northern market of China has seen the highest decrease in the price of RMB 60 per tonne to RMB 2,050 per tonne, while that in the east and central has reduced by RMB 30 per tonne to RMB 2,100 per tonne. In the south, the price has continued to remain restrained at RMB 2,520 per tonne. The imported alumina price has dipped by RMB 20 per tonne to RMB 2,120 per tonne, but the Australian Alumina FOB price has remained unchanged at US$ 225 per tonne. The A00 aluminium ingot price, on the other hand, has extended its growth for the third consecutive day, although slower than the previous day. The price is standing at RMB 11,790 per...
Rio Tinto’s Tiwai Point aluminium smelter near Bluff in Southland of New Zealand is one of the largest manufacturing facilities kept active amid COVID-19 epidemic lockdown. The major reason for keeping it active as it takes weeks for proper shutdown and again re-starting takes months. Tiwai point is considered as the biggest employer of Southland, though the plant’s long-term future remains uncertain. The smelter contributes around $400 million per year to the region’s economy, with 1000 staff and contractor working at the site and another 1300 jobs directly linked to the smelter. Graham Budd, Great South chief executive, said: "There wouldn't be anyone in Invercargill or Southland who doesn't know somebody directly or indirectly who would be affected. So that's a real wellbeing issue for...
The Italian manufacturer Vyrus rolls-out its all-new Alyen 988 superbike, combining speed and power with a futuristic design for a motorbike in an exclusive way. It is powered by a Ducati-sourced four-stroke engine producing 202 HP from a 1,285 cc displacement. This is paired to a six-speed gearbox, allowing the superbike to rev to 10,500 RPM. The major attraction of Vyrus Alyen 988 is the motorbikes bodywork. It’s an intricate, geometric design made from a network of naked carbon fiber panels that sit atop a bespoke magnesium double omega frame. Sharp angles at the rear stop short of the overhanging rear wheel unit, while under-seat exhaust pipes give the bike a sporting look from the back. The handlebars are also machined from a solid block of Ergal which is essentially a 7075 aluminium...
The latest data from US Geological Survey indicates that the total aluminium (crude metal and alloys, semi-finished products, and scrap) imports in the US stood at 386,000 tonnes in January 2020, a decrease of 20.9% or 102,000 tonnes from 488,000 tonnes in January 2019. Aluminium imports decreased by 15.35% from December’s imports of 456,000 tonnes and 12% from November’s imports of 439,000 tonnes. The US imported 5.7 million tonnes of total aluminium in January-December 2019. Semi-finished imports came in at 28,400 tonnes in January 2020, representing a decrease of 79.12% or 107,600 tonnes year-on-year. The US had exported 136,000 tonnes in January 2019. Imports of semi-finished products declined by 70.35% from December’s imports of 95,800 tonnes. The US total imports of aluminium...
Right from the aluminium raw material to the end-use sector, the effect of COVID19 pandemic is evident in every vertical of the industry. Unavailability of adequate labourers and transport disruption due to the worldwide lockdown is taking a constant toll on the aluminium industry, resulting in production cut at many smelters and semi-finished products plants. Therefore, the demand for the metal is drowning, and so the global benchmark prices of both aluminium and aluminium input costs. Let us here take a quick glance at how the COVID19 outbreak has created an impact on the aluminium industry in the last 10 days of the month. The Argentine giant Aluar Aluminio Argentino SAIC is reducing its output by an additional 25% at its Puerto Madryn plant in the south, in response to the indication...
China’s sales of new energy vehicles declined 53.2% year on year in March, data showed from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) on Friday, 10 April 2020. Sales of new energy vehicles stood at 53,000 units last month. Production of NEVs in March came in at 50,000 units. That was down 56.9% year-on-year, CAAM data showed. Automobiles sales in March were up by 361.1% from a month ago. Sales stood at 1.43 million units. Production of cars jumped 399.2% to 1.42 million units. On a yearly basis, the production of cars declined 44.5%, down by 35.3 percentage points from that in February. Car sales were also dropped by 43.3%, down 35.8 percentage points from that in February.
The aluminium scrap import market of Turkey remains dynamic as the nation has imported 272,663 tonnes of scrap during 2017-19 and paid foreign revenue of $422.86 million. The projected aluminium scrap import for 2020 has been analysed at 100,672 tonnes and the amount to be paid has been extended to $159.21 million. When the import volume and the amount added with the last three years it consecutively reflects 373,335 tonnes and $582.07 million. The aluminium scrap import of Turkey has been facilitated by multiple countries like USA, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, etc. Turkey’s aluminium...
