Century Aluminum’s proposed USD 4 billion primary aluminum smelter in Inola, Oklahoma, is “moving forward on all fronts” as the company prepares for construction, despite local opposition and legal challenges, CEO Jesse Gary said during the company’s third-quarter earnings call. Developed jointly by Century Aluminum and Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), the project is designed to produce 750,000 tonnes of primary aluminum annually, potentially doubling U.S. primary aluminum production. The facility is expected to create thousands of direct and indirect jobs and add USD 1.5 billion to Oklahoma’s gross domestic product, according to company estimates. The partners had targeted construction to begin by the end of 2026. However, local restrictions and permitting challenges have affected the...
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...
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It has been a major development as the first biggest layoff warning call involving a production plant due to the COVID-19 epidemic. The management of the plant declared almost all of its 302 employees would be laid off. A letter to the employees dated 30 th March’20 has been delivered which stated clearly the layoffs might be temporary. The company also stated: "We are notifying you that in the period between May 24th and June 7th, you will be laid off. Given the unknown duration of this layoff, we are providing you with this notice pursuant to the Worker Adjustment Retraining Notification Act, should it apply. Bumping rights, if any, will be handled in accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement." The managers of the plant said, “the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic...
Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) is actively cooperating with relevant ministries and commissions to study policies and suggestions for boosting and stabilising automobile consumption in China. Such was the statement of Xin Guobin, Deputy Minister of MIIT at a press conference during China’s Manufacturing Industry Resumption Meeting on Monday, March 30. Following the MIIT’s calls, many Chinese provinces have already issued supportive measures to boost car consumption, added Xin in his statement. He believes more stimulus policies will make their way shortly. Xin also mentioned the operational status of the car industries during the press conference. He said the overall operating rate of the industry increased to 97 per cent from around 60 per cent. The rate of...
Vedanta Limited has appointed Sunil Duggal as Interim Chief Executive Officer of the company. Srinivasan Venkatakrishnan will step down as CEO and Director of the Company with effect from 5th April 2020, for personal reasons. Sunil Duggal will take additional charge as Interim CEO of Vedanta Limited along with his current role as CEO & Director of Hindustan Zinc Ltd. He will report to the Chairman. Sunil brings 36 years of rich and diverse leadership experience and has been associated with the group for last 10 years. The Company’s Chairman, Navin Agarwal said: "We would like to acknowledge and express our deep appreciation and thank Venkat for his immense contribution to the company. Apart from his relentless focus to drive the company, he has been in the forefront in leading the...
The US imports of crude metal and alloys rose 3.59% or 11,000 tonnes year-on-year to 317,000 tonnes in December 2019, according to the latest Mineral Industry Survey report from the US Geological Survey. The US had imported 306,000 tonnes in December 2018. Crude metal and alloys imports increased by 4.97% from November’s imports of 302,000 and 386.94% from October’s imports of 65,100 tonnes. The US imported 3.8 million tonnes of crude metal and alloys in 2019, as compared to 4.13 million tonnes in 2018. This marked a decrease of 7.99% or 330,000 tonnes. On the export side, In January-December, crude metal and alloys exports of these products stood at 233,000 tonnes, representing a decrease of 20.21% or 59,000 tonnes year-on-year. The US had exported 292,000 tonnes in January-December...
The world’s second-largest metal and mining corporation Rio Tinto will close one of its aluminium production lines at Tiwai smelter, New Zealand, in line with the government directives to curb the spread of coronavirus. Such was the announcement made by Rio Tinto’s New Zealand's Aluminium Smelters (NZAS) venture on Tuesday, March 31. The New Zealand government has announced a four-week lockdown to limit the spread of the coronavirus that has infected more than 750,000 people globally. According to the report, Rio Tinto will close the potline 4 at Tiwai smelter and relocate the workers to other areas of operations. "Our focus is on supporting our employees in a time of uncertainty and running a safe and efficient operation to meet our obligations with customers and suppliers who are also...
As updated by Shanghai Metals Market, the average Bauxite (4.5≤Al/Si＜5.5) price in Shanxi stands at RMB 415 per tonne on Tuesday, 31 March 2020, down RMB 35 per tonne or 7.78 per cent, after remaining flat at RMB 450 per tonne since March 10. The average price is expected to move within a range of RMB 380-RMB 450 per tonne. The average Bauxite (4.5≤Al/Si＜5.5) price in Henan has declined from RMB400 per tonne to RMB380 per tonne today. The average price is expected to move within a range of RMB 370-RMB 390 per tonne. The average spot alumina price in China has dropped from RMB 2370 per tonne to RMB 2343 per tonne on March 31. This marks a drop of RMB 27 per tonne or 1.14 per cent today. The prices of alumina in East, Central, and North China markets have reduced by RMB 30 per tonne, RMB 30...
The US dollar rebounded against major currencies and riskier emerging market units on Monday, snapping a week of declines as investors braced for prolonged uncertainty and governments tightened lockdowns and launched monetary and fiscal measures to fight the coronavirus pandemic. Three-month LME aluminium resumed its downtrend on Monday, slipping to its lowest since April 2016 at US$ 1,522 per tonne in North American trading hours before closing the day sharply lower at US$ 1,529 per tonne. It is expected to move range-bound at US$1,520-1,570/per tonne today. As of Monday, March 30, both LME aluminium cash (bid) price and LME official settlement price stood at US$ 1495 per tonne after inching down by US$ 11 per tonne from US$1506 per tonne. 3-months bid price and 3-months offer price...
Hydro said the Coronavirus situation continues to weigh on the company’s markets and operations. This affects production at several extrusion sites, mainly in Europe. Around 35 percent of the sites running at reduced levels and around 20 percent either closed or running at very low levels. Around 45 percent of the extrusion sites are running at approximately normal levels. The market uncertainty is high across Bauxite & Alumina segment and Primary Metal. “From a Hydro perspective, the impact from the Coronavirus situation is becoming more visible in the Extruded Solutions business area with an increasing number of sites affected by the situation with reduced production at several sites,” Hydro said. Primary production operations are mostly running as normal. The recycler Azuqueca, Spain,...
Samsung, the South Korean electronics giant will be rolling out for sale its premium Galaxy Chromebook in the US from 6 th April’20. The Samsung laptop is priced at $999 and customers in the US can purchase the Galaxy Chromebook from the company’s official store or Best Buy sites. Samsung Galaxy Chromebook comes in Mercury Grey and Fiesta Red colour options. <iframe width="500" height="300" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kYI55IM9Inc" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe> The Galaxy Chromebook comes with aluminium chassis and it is 9.9mm slim. It has a feature of a 2-in-1 form factor with a 360-degree hinge and has a 13.3-inch 4K OLED display. It’s powered by the latest Intel 10th gen processor with up...
After the growth of 17,000 tonnes in primary aluminium inventories on last Monday and 20,000 tonnes on Thursday, the social inventories of primary aluminium have recorded a minor decline over the weekend ended Monday, March 30. The inventories over the weekend have dipped by 3,000 tonnes to come in at 1.664 million tonnes across eight major consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrants. On Thursday, March 26, the inventories were at 1.667 million tonnes. The chart below indicates the current status of primary aluminium inventories across China in more details: In Gongyi, Nanhai, Chongqing, and Linyi, the inventories have decreased by 12,000 tonnes, 3,000 tonnes, and 1,000 tonnes respectively to stand at 185,000 tonnes, 438,000 tonnes, 15,000 tonnes, and 11,000 tonnes. In Wuxi and...
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Italy’s has been recorded with the worst hit in the European Union nations for the epidemic COVID-19. The country has been trying hard to come out of this disaster but still finding it tough, as most of the industries are closed down in fear of spreading the virus. Italy’s aluminium cans importation has been recorded strong from 2017-19, as the total volume stood at 73,807 tonnes. Even in the worst-hit of COVID-19, there is an approx. 1% growth indication for the itinerary. When added with the last 3 years volume with 2020 projection, the import stands to 100,239 tonnes and the total foreign revenue expended stands at $486 million. In 2017 the total aluminium cans import was recorded at 22,550 tonnes, while the amount paid stood at $116.61 million. Italy’s aluminium cans import volume saw...
Vedanta’s aluminium ingot and billet price fell for a fifth straight day on Friday, March 27. With effect from March 27, the prices of some ingots were in the range of INR 128,500-141,500 per tonne, down from INR 131,750-144,750 per tonne on March 24. The price of billet stood at INR 136,500 per tonne, a decrease of 2.33% from INR 139,750 per tonne on March 24. That was also down by 4.04% from INR 142,250 per tonne on March 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 in the current quarter due to slower demand following the coronavirus outbreak. Vedanta is present in the aluminium segment through its 51 per cent stake in Bharat Aluminium Company...
According to the latest data released by the US Geological Survey, the United States aluminium scrap exports to Malaysia declined in December 2019 by 9,000 tonnes or 22 per cent from the previous month and came in at 32,500 tonnes. In November, however, the export amount to Malaysia rose by 1,400 tonnes or 3.5 per cent from October and stood at 41,500 tonnes. In October, the export amount was 40,100 tonnes compared to 30,900 tonnes in September, meaning the US aluminium scrap exports to Malaysia in October 2019 saw a month-on-month increase of 30 per cent. Year-on-year, the export in December 2019 grew 106 per cent or by 16,700 tonnes from 15,800 tonnes in December 2018. The US aluminium scrap exports to Malaysia in the fourth quarter of 2019 thus, totalled at 114,100 tonnes, which in the...
Kunshan Aluminium Co., Ltd. has been certified against the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative’s (ASI) Performance Standard for its rolling facility in Kunshan City, Jiangsu Province. The plant develops and produces ultra-wide and ultra-thin aluminium foil and non-ferrous metal composite materials. The company manufactures products for diverse sectors including food, cigarettes, medicine, daily necessities, cosmetics and other high-end packaging foil and high-grade foil for the electronics industry. Fiona Solomon, Chief Executive Officer of ASI said: “We warmly congratulate Kunshan Aluminium Co., Ltd. on their ASI Performance Standard Certification. The broad range of downstream products for which the company’s foil is destined makes it a valuable point in the value chain to demonstrate...
The US dollar fell against a basket of currencies for a fourth straight day on Friday March 27. LME aluminium rose 0.8%. The SHFE kept its night trading session suspended. Three-month LME aluminium rallied on Friday. It finished the day at US$1,552.5 per tonne, a weekly decline of 1.6%. Shanghai Metals Market expects the contract to trade at US$1,520-1,560 per tonne today. As on Friday March 27, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stands at US$ 1506 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1506 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 1538.50 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 1538.50 per tonne; Dec 21 bid price stands at US$ 1656.5 per tonne, and Dec 21 offer price stands at US$ 1656.5 per tonne. <iframe width="500" height="300"...
Lindian Resources has communicated by stating the confirmations of significant extensions to its high-grade conglomerate bauxite resource at the Gaoual Bauxite Project in Guinea, West Africa. The company reported at the beginning of the month that they located two new areas of conglomerate bauxite at Gaoual post new geological work has been carried out. These included a one-kilometre northern extension to the Bouba Plateau at Gaoual and a new area to the south of the plateau called Bouba South. <iframe width="500" height="300" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eI4a7gU7AAk" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe> Lindian has now accomplished its drilling program on these areas and has confirmed that the...
Since the middle of March, the average alumina spot price has been incessantly trending down, and today is of no exception. According to Shanghai Metals Market, the alumina spot price in China has shrunk by RMB 33 per tonne to stand at RMB 2,370 per tonne, as of Monday, March 30. The decline rate is 1.37 per cent compared to 0.74 per cent on the previous day, March 27. Month-on-month, the average alumina spot price is down by 195 per tonne, as of today. In the north, the price has decreased the highest today by RMB 35 per tonne to RMB 2,365 per tonne, followed by the decline of RMB 30 per tonne to RMB 2,380 per tonne in the central. In the east, the average alumina spot price has plunged by RMB 20 per tonne to stand at RMB 2,380 per tonne, as of March 30. Backed on the decline in alumina...
Vedanta’s Alumina Refinery at Lanjigarh has remained operational while adapting all precautionary measures against COVID-19 as advised by the Government and the health authorities. Considering the danger of the situation in the wake the spread of Corona, the alumina refinery is active with reduced workforce and resources ensuring the COVID-19 guidelines issued by the Central and State Authorities. The higher management of the alumina plant has secured all due permissions from the concerned authorities to continue its operations, with all the precautionary and preventive measures in place. The plant is running in complete harmony with the steps taken by the State Government and the local bodies and has ensured social distancing, sanitization, hygiene, restricted movement etc., within the...
