Futures: SHFE aluminium closed at RMB 22,530 per tonne, rebounding 1.1 per cent. Despite the positive close, prices remained under pressure below all key moving averages (MA5=22,727, MA60=23,633), with the medium-term bearish alignment intact. MACD indicator lines (DIF=-244.16, DEA=-188.68) operated below the zero axis, but the green bars narrowed significantly to -110.96 (previous day -150.62), indicating a marked weakening of bearish momentum and initial signs of a technical bottom divergence repair. Trading volume expanded to 101,500 lots, suggesting capital inflows at the bottom. The recommended core trading range for SHFE aluminium is 22,000-22,800. LME aluminium closed at USD 3,078.5 per tonne, surging 2.02 per cent. Prices rebounded strongly, reclaiming MA5 (3,061.5), MA10...
Novelis is advancing beverage can coating testing and research resulting from its long-standing relationship with the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech). Researchers from Georgia Tech’s School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, working in collaboration with Novelis, have developed advanced testing capabilities that significantly reduce the time required to evaluate how beverages interact with protective coatings inside aluminum cans. The new approach allows researchers to collect data throughout the testing process, providing a clearer picture of how coatings perform while reducing testing cycles from months to just weeks. For beverage makers, faster testing could mean faster decisions about packaging and ultimately help shorten the time it takes to bring new products...
Grow with
AL Circle
RUSAL, the leading global aluminium producers, completes preparations for construction of the pilot plant to produce fine precipitated aluminium hydroxide (FPAH) for the cable industry at its Achinsk Alumina Refinery. The plant will have a capacity of 5,000 tpa with an investment of over RUB 500 million. The plan for the pilot project started two years back and considering the positive customer feedback and the quality of the produce during testing, they expanded the plan. “The demand for FPAH in Russia and around the world grows gradually every year. This is why we expect that the new production will reach the designed capacity by the end of 2021, and then we will be able to offer the environmentally-friendly and cost-competitive product to an extensive pool of customers. In addition, if...
Hulamin reported an operating loss of R949.9million for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to an operating profit of R498.4m last year. Turnover increased to R11.5 billion, from R10.3 billion last year on increased volume, higher USD rolling margins and a firmer Rand aluminium price. Hulamin’s rolled products sales volume increased 6 per cent to 228,000 tonnes. This resulted in a third consecutive year of record sales volumes from rolled products division. “Rolled Products benefitted from healthy overall demand for its products, while a superb manufacturing performance increased production, and consequently sales, by approximately 6% to 228 000 tons for the year,” the company said. The company said its extrusions division experienced a challenging year, with lower sales and...
Ghana Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia reportedly announced to the press that both Guinea and Ghana are all set to begin discussions over bilateral cooperation for developing bauxite industries, similar to trade co-operation between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire in the cocoa sector. “You know what we are trying to do in the extractives sector as far as bauxite is concerned is quite similar to Guinea, but different in many perspectives,” Dr. Bawumia told reporters. He further said, “Guinea has the bauxite resources and they have the mine. We are trying to move up the value chain by not just doing mining but also refining. After refining we have VALCO to smelt.” In his opinion, co-operation of this kind will help both the countries, through knowledge-sharing, drawing of synergies and enhanced...
Hydro has announced through a press release that it has made progress in securing safe and stable operations across the operations after the extensive cyber-attack on Tuesday. The release says that Hydro’s technical team has been able to detect the root cause of the problems with external help and is currently working on to restart the company’s IT systems in a safe and sound manner. The company however has not mentioned exactly how long it would take to restore stable IT operations. After the detection of the problem, Hydro isolated all plants and operations and switched to manual operations and procedures yesterday. Hydro is currently focusing on ensuring safe operations and limiting operational and financial damage. “I’m pleased to see that we are making progress, and I’m impressed to...
As updated by Shanghai Metals Market, aluminium purchasing enthusiasm among traders and downstream consumers across China’s eastern and southern spot markets substantially improved this morning ahead of value-added tax cuts, resulting in brisk trades across the markets. Spot aluminium in Shanghai mostly traded at RMB13,950 per tonne and RMB13,970 per tonne, an increase of some RMB70 per tonne from the previous. On Tuesday, spot aluminium were traded at RMB13,880 per tonne and RMB13,890 per tonne. Premiums over the front-month April contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange stood at RMB240 per tonne and RMB260 per tonne, slightly wider than RMB240 per tonne and RMB250 per tonne on Tuesday, March 19. In Wuxi, spot deals mostly occurred at RMB13,950 per tonne and RMB13,970 per tonne, while...
Owing to several advantages like low weight, unlimited choice of cross sections, corrosion resistant, and toughness at low temperature, the use and demand of aluminium structures for major end-uses such as construction, transportation, electrical, and packaging is incessantly increasing across the globe. A study says around 25 per cent of all aluminium produced worldwide is used in construction. {newsStudioGallery} To cash on this rising demand for aluminium in structural engineering, Canada is one nation that has been increasing its export volume of aluminium structures for the past three years, according to our third-party data. In 2016, Canada’s estimated export volume was at 58,884 tonnes, which in the next year 2017 grew to 66,230 tonnes, up 12.47 per cent. In 2018, the country...
JAG Bhd has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Empire Mining Sdn Bhd to set out intentions and mutual understanding in connection with the possible joint venture. The parties will look at the possibility for JAG or its nominated subsidiary to enter into joint venture with Empire Mining to extract, process and produce bauxite in Pulau Langkawi, Kedah. The parties have agreed to negotiate exclusively with each other during a period of three months from the date of the MOU and a further extension period of three months or such later date as may be agreed in writing. JAG said the MOU is not expected to have any material effect on the consolidated earnings and EPS of JAG for the financial year ending 31 December 2019. Empire Mining is principally involved in bauxite mining.
East Manufacturing, an Ohio based manufacturer of aluminium flatbed, drop deck, dump and refuse trailers as well as aluminium truck bodies and steel dump trailers has introduced its aluminium air tank as standard on all trailer types and models. The company has been working towards lightweighting its trailers and increasing its life span and recycling value by implementing anti-corrosive material and coating. Introducing aluminium air tank as a standard was a part of this initiative. “We are pleased to offer aluminum air tanks as standard,” said Dave de Poincy, president, East Manufacturing. Use of new technology by the suppliers and the development of new aluminium alloys and extrusion design have been helping East Manufacturing in weight reduction without compromising on strength and...
Public sector National Aluminium Company (Nalco) is reportedly eyeing Jerrela block of bauxite ore in Visakhapatnam district for allotment. The news came after Nalco Chairman and Managing Director T.K. Chand told The Hindu that company requested the Centre to allot it Jerrela block that homes huge reserves of high-grade bauxite ore. The navratna company had revived its proposal for bauxite mining and investment on aluminium complex in Visakhapatnam district generating a lot of interest among various circles in the mid-last year. It had even proposed to establish a greenfield refinery with a capacity of 1.4 million tonnes to 2 million tonnes in Visakhapatnam with an investment of ₹7,000 crore to ₹12,000 crore. However, the proposal is still pending before the Centre. The company hopes that...
The US dollar edged lower against a basket of major currencies due to concerns over the strength of the American economy and expectations that the Federal Reserve will prove accommodative at its meeting this week. Base metals closed higher on Tuesday and aluminium grew 0.66%. SHFE aluminium closed 0.81% higher. LME aluminium climbed to US$1,944 per tonne after it was reported that Norsk Hydro’s aluminium smelters were hit by a cyber-attack. This was before it jumped to a three-month high of US$1,946 per tonne, and ended at US$1,940 per tonne. The light metal contract is expected to trade at a broad range of US$1,850-1,950 per tonne. As on March 19, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stood at US$ 1907 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 1907.50 per tonne; 3-months bid price...
Average spot alumina price stood at RMB2704 per tonne as of Wednesday, 20 March 2019. This records a drop of RMB9 per tonne or 0.33 per cent. The average price is expected to range within RMB2704 per tonne. The downward trend in alumina prices can be seen in the following graph. Alumina-East and Alumina-Central declined RMB10 per tonne to stand at RMB2710 per tonne, each. Alumina-North stood at RMB2690 per tonne, registering a decline of RMB10 per tonne. Australian alumina FOB price and Alumina- (Chalco) still unchanged at USD398 per tonne and RMB 3250 per tonne In another update from SMM, A00 aluminium ingot price recorded an increase of RMB70 per tonne or 0.50 per cent. The price stood at RMB13940 per tonne as of Wednesday, 20 March 2019. The average price is expected to range between...
According to Shanghai Metals Market, spot aluminium premiums in Shanghai further widened this morning, on March 19, ahead of a value-added tax cut from next month. Transactions of spot aluminium in Shanghai were mostly heard at RMB 13,880 per tonne to RMB 13,890 per tonne, up by some RMB 90 per tonne from the previous day. Premiums over the front-month April contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange came in at RMB 240 per tonne to RMB 250 per tonne, wider than RMB 220 per tonne to RMB 230 per tonne on Monday, March 18. In Wuxi, spot deals mostly occurred at RMB 13,880 per tonne to RMB 13,890 per tonne while that in Hangzhou at RMB 13,890 per tonne to RMB 13,910 per tonne. Spot aluminium trades across eastern markets were brisk this morning as the imminent tax cuts triggered purchasing...
The Aluminum Extruders Council (AEC) has released the latest edition of the AEC Buyers Guide. The Buyers’ Guide is a comprehensive directory of AEC Extruder Members, featuring such information as company headquarters, plant locations, contact information, maximum press circle size, forms produced, and types of services offered. The Buyers’ Guide includes listings for AEC Supplier and Producer Members, as well as valuable content that provide readers with interesting facts about aluminium and aluminium extrusions. It also includes an article, “Aluminium Extrusions: Helping Designers Meet Time, Cost and Weight Challenges," showcasing the flexibility of aluminium extrusions that offer limitless design potential for a wide variety of industries. An essential reference tool for designers,...
According to the latest figures released by the European Aluminium Foil Association (EAFA), aluminium foil deliveries from European rollers ended 2018 with a record 3% rise from 2017, for the third consecutive year. The growth was supported by sustained demand from export markets as well as steady consumption in domestic markets, particularly for thinner gauges. Total deliveries stood at 942,500 tonnes against 915,000 tonnes in 2017. Thinner gauge foils, used mainly for flexible packaging and household foils increased 4.1% year on year, while thicker gauges, used for semi-rigid containers and technical applications, rose by 1.1% annually. Total domestic deliveries were flat, while exports increased 25% throughout 2018. Q4 2018 registered a 2.8% increase in output to 228,200 tonnes from...
Norsk Hydro, one of the world’s biggest aluminium producers, announced on Tuesday that the company is “shifting over to manual operations where possible” in the wake of cyber-attack during the night, affecting aluminium operations in a number of business areas. “Hydro is working to contain and neutralize the attack, but does not yet know the full extent of the situation,” it said in a statement. Norsk Hydro’s website was down on Tuesday. The company was not available for further comment. The news sent Hydro’s share price tumbling 2.0 percent in early trading on the Oslo Stock Exchange. The cyber-attack came a day after Hilde Merete Aasheim was appointed as new CEO and President of Hydro. Aasheim will succeed Svein Richard Brandtzæg, who steps down after 10 years.
Contract workers at Ghana Bauxite Mining Company Limited have reportedly demanded improved working conditions; or else, threatened to walk off the job. Labour spokesperson Issahaku Yakabu said the general condition under which they work is unsafe and retrogressive. Over the last eight years since in operation, the site showed no sign of improvement. Moreover, the management is not paying them the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) contributions. He further updated that a dozen of workers at the site have accepted the invitation to the company’s headquarters in Accra for negotiations, while warning that should the delegation not bring a better deal upon return, the aggrieved workers will implement a strike for three to six month. As per local reporting, Ghana Bauxite...
The total aluminium imports by the USA for consumption stood at 5.76 million tonnes in 11-month period of 2018, down 570000 tonnes or 9 per cent from 6.33 million tonnes in 11-month period of 2017, according to the latest Mineral Industry Survey report from US Geological Survey. {newsStudioGallery} The USA imported 471,000 tonnes of aluminium (crude metals and alloys, plate, sheets, bars etc., scrap) for consumption in November 2018. This records a drop of 10.8 per cent year-on-year. The imposition of tariff on aluminium is affecting the total imports in the USA. Canada remains the top aluminium exporter to the USA contributing 44.4% of the total imports, followed the United Arab Emirates (9.6%), Russia (5.8%), China (4.2%) and Mexico (3.8%). Data shows Canada exported 2.56 million tonnes...
All eyes are on the global aluminium industry now after a year of supply uncertainty and price volatility driven by trade wars between the U.S. and its allies, punitive sanctions against Rusal aluminium and 50% production cut at Alunorte alumina refinery. The beginning of 2019 is however, indicating most of these issues surrounding the aluminium industry are expected to be resolved and supply as well as the price would stabilise during the course of the year. AlCircle has launched its report “Preview of Global Aluminium Industry Outlook 2019”, which has analysed the way aluminium value chain is poised to grow in 2019 vertical wise. The analysis looks the policy changes and developments of 2018 while projecting a way forward for the aluminium value chain in 2019. The report has already...
