Storvik has won a contract to operate and maintain the automated anode rod repair system at Alcoa's Mosjøen aluminium smelter in Norway. The agreement extends a partnership that began in 2016, when the company introduced its In-Line Rod Repair (ILRR) system at the plant. Storvik Mosjøen, a subsidiary of Storvik group will now handle the operation of the robotic repair line and maintenance of the anode yokes processed through it. Storvik Engineering built the system, with both companies working together on its installation and commissioning. 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 " Anode rod assemblies are essential to primary aluminium...
Rio Tinto has secured a five-year operating arrangement for its Bell Bay aluminium smelter in northern Tasmania, backed by a government support package worth USD 200 million. The agreement includes a commitment to maintain a minimum level of employment at the 71-year-old facility until at least 2031, easing concerns over its future amid uncertainty about electricity costs. Rio Tinto's aluminium chief executive Jérôme Pécresse confirmed the employment commitment but did not disclose the number of jobs covered. The guarantee is understood to cover around 500 positions. Bell Bay currently employs about 550 people and supports a further 1,200 jobs, with its future previously uncertain as the company sought a new power agreement. Explore the production, demand and consumption forecasts of...
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According to an update from Shanghai Metals Market, Guangxi Hualei New Materials has raised its prebaked anode purchasing price today by RMB 24 per tonne month-on-month for March. Guangxi Hualei New Materials is a subsidiary of the state-owned aluminium giant China Aluminium Corporation (Chinalco). Higher transport costs are the main reason for this increase, bringing the purchasing price to RMB 3,958 per tonne. On a broader nationwide basis, however, the prebaked anode prices have continued to show signs of weakness as of March 1. In the eastern market, spot prices have declined by RMB 70 per tonne from the previous day and averaged at RMB 3,350 per tonne, SMM found. Earlier, on February 27, Shandong Weiqiao Group, one of the top aluminium producers in China, had tentatively lowered its...
Vesuvius plc, a global leader in molten metal flow engineering and technology, announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire CCPI Inc, a specialty refractory producer focused on tundish (steel continuous casting) applications (65% of sales) and aluminium (35% of sales). Based in Ohio, USA, CCPI will become part of its Advanced Refractories business unit. The transaction values CCPI at US$43.4 million (£33.1 million) on a cash and debt free basis and will be funded from Vesuvius' internal resources. Patrick André, Chief Executive of Vesuvius, said: "CCPI is a strategically important acquisition for Vesuvius, which significantly expands Vesuvius' North American presence in refractories used in steel tundish applications, while also increasing Vesuvius' exposure to aluminium.” “The...
The A00 aluminium ingot price starts off the month with a decline by RMB 50 per tonne, found Shanghai Metals Market. Today, on March 1, the price has stooped down from RMB 13,600 per tonne to RMB 13,550 per tonne. The average prices are expected to range between RMB 13, 530 per tonne and RMB 13,570 per tonne, with spot discounts to settle at RMB 60 per tonne to RMB 20 per tonne. Since the decline of aluminium ingot price has touched upon all the major markets in China, the eastern markets (Wuxi and Hangzhou) have recorded a plunge by RMB 65 per tonne and RMB 60 per tonne. The price there is standing now at RMB 13,545 per tonne. The markets in the south and north have seen a price drop by RMB 70 per tonne and RMB 40 per tonne to RMB 13,570 per tonne and RMB 13,570 per tonne, respectively....
The US dollar index rebounded from earlier lows on Thursday, after US data showed growth in the world's largest economy was stronger than expected in the fourth quarter. LME base metals traded mixed on Thursday and aluminium dropped 0.9%. SHFE base metals also saw mixed performance overnight and aluminium lost some 0.2%. LME aluminium cash contract closed lower from previous day at US$ 1893 per tonne during the day’s closing yesterday. The three-month LME aluminium dropped close to 0.9% to finish Thursday at a session low of US$1,905 per tonne, as gloomy February manufacturing data in China hampered market sentiment. Better-than-expected US economic growth in the fourth quarter bolstered the greenback overnight, which is set to weigh on LME aluminium today, with most transactions likely...
A press release from the AMAG Austria Metall AG says that the Group's total shipments in 2018 rose to a record of 424,600 tonnes in comparison to 421,700 tonnes in 2017 driven by rising demand for aluminium products combined and ramp-up of the new plants in Ranshofen. Helmut Wieser, CEO of AMAG: "We implemented our two site expansion projects within budget and on schedule, and we are also making good progress in the demanding ramp-up of our new facilities. In 2018, we achieved important qualifications in the packaging, aircraft and automotive industries. This created the basis for further growth in the coming years." Revenue was up by around 6 % to EUR 1,101.6 million compared to EUR 1,036.2 million in 2017 driven by higher shipment volumes and the higher average aluminium price. The...
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) recently welcomed the Chief Executive Officer of Bahrain’s Supreme Council of Environment (SCE) Dr. Mohamed Mubarak Bin Daina at Alba, and showcased its latest environmental initiatives. The issues discussed were the company’s latest environmental initiatives in waste management including management of aluminium dross and other metal management as well as recycling programmes. Alba’s CEO Tim Murray said: “Alba is pleased to receive Dr. Bin Daina and showcase our latest environmental initiatives for a better tomorrow. We believe that by adopting the best national and international sustainable practices, we will not only create long-term value for our people and shareholders alike but also conserve the Company for the generations to come. Teaming-up with the...
According to a recent report, Pershing has launched its first aluminium superyacht, the flagship Pershing 140. It is 42.53 metre in size, and hit the water in the Ferretti Group’s Super Yacht Yard in Ancona, a facility specialising in building steel and aluminium superyachts above 40 metres, said a press release from Pershing Yacht, a Ferretti Group unit. The press release further said, "Born from a collaboration between architect Fulvio De Simoni, the Ferretti Group Product Strategy Committee led by engineer Piero Ferrari, and the Group's Engineering Department, the new 140-footer (LOA 43,3m) is the first Pershing to be produced at the Ancona Superyacht Yard, a Ferretti Group facility specialized in building super and mega yachts above 40 metres, in both steel or aluminium." "Even before...
The Water, Land and Natural Resources Ministry of Malaysia said in a statement that the government would be holding a public hearing and engagement with all parties on the new bauxite mining Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). The ministry said this initiative is taken to improve the SOP that covers mining planning, bauxite mining site management, transportation and enforcement, stockpile site and port management as well as exportation procedures. The statement said the public hearing will also consider the opinions of local people as well as environmental NGOs. They would be allowed to access and review the SOP at a date to be announced. "To ensure the involvement of all parties, this engagement that will be held before March 31 will also take into account the interests of the people as...
Aluminium is the second most widely specified metal in building after steel, and is used in all sectors from commercial building to domestic dwelling. 25 per cent of all aluminium produced worldwide is used in construction. Window frames, panels, domed roofs and other wide-span constructions and ornaments are increasingly made with aluminium these days. The minimum design service life of aluminium structures is 80 years. Following the trend, even the United Kingdom uses 40 per cent of its annual aluminium production in the construction industry, which equates to roughly 150,000 tonnes of aluminium per annum, of which approximately 65,000 tonnes is extruded products, and 25,000 tonnes sheet materials. Besides, the country secures a significant amount of aluminium structures from all around...
On Thursday February 28, as updated by Shanghai Metals Market, spot aluminium discounts narrowed in east-China markets as prices of futures dropped. The front-month March aluminium contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange weakened in the morning. In Shanghai, spot discounts were heard at RMB50 per tonne to RMB30 per tonne against the SHFE 1903 contract, and trades between traders were brisk. Spot discounts narrowed to RMB30 per to RMB20 per tonne after SHFE aluminium saw losses accelerate in the second part of the morning session, and this eroded buying interest among traders. Spot deals mostly occurred at RMB13,600 per tonne to RMB13,620 per tonne in Shanghai and Wuxi, and at RMB13,600 per tonne to RMB13,610 per tonne in Hangzhou, SMM research found. In Guangdong, spot trades this...
According to the latest report from US Geological Survey, US domestic primary aluminium production in November 2018 was 88,000 tonnes. The average daily production in November was 2,920 tonne, 8% more than that in October 2018, 44% more than that in November 2017 and 43% more than that in November 2016. The report indicates some positive impact of Trump’s tariffs on aluminium on the domestic primary sector. For the period from January to November domestic primary aluminium production stood at 797,000 tonnes. It registered a growth of about 18% from the same period of 2017 in which the U.S. churned out 677,000 tonnes of primary aluminium. Secondary aluminium continued to be a major segment of total aluminium supply. Total aluminium recovered from scrap in November 2018 was 296,000 tonne,...
Social inventories of primary aluminium across eight consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrants, increased 72,000 tonnes from Thursday February 21, Shanghai Metals Market data showed. As of Thursday February 28, social stocks of primary aluminium came in at 1.744 million tonnes. The chart below indicates the current status of the primary aluminium inventories across China: Compared with last Thursday, inventories in Nanhai, Guangdong and Gongyi, Henan increased 34,000 tonnes and 29,000 tonnes to 352,000 tonnes and 167,000 tonnes respectively. Stocks in Nanhai and Gongyi were at 318,000 tonnes and 138,000 tonnes on Thursday, February 21. Inventories in Wuxi, Jiangsu increased 14,000 tonnes to 644,000 tonnes as of Thursday February 28. Stocks in Shanghai and Hangzhou, Zhejiang...
The US dollar rebounded on Wednesday as investors digested testimonies from the lead US trade negotiator with China and the top ranking Federal Reserve official. LME base metals traded higher across the board on Wednesday and aluminium gained 0.3%. SHFE base metals performed similarly overnight and aluminium rose some 0.2%. LME aluminium cash contract closed higher from previous day at US$ 1898.5 per tonne during the day’s closing yesterday but lost some gains during night trading. As longs loaded up their positions, the three-month LME aluminium rose a three-week high of US$1,930 per tonne on Wednesday, before it ended at US$1,922 per tonne, standing above all short-term moving averages. The rebound in the US dollar index accounted for the losses in LME aluminium later in the overnight...
According to Shanghai Metals Market, stocks of 6063 aluminium billet across five major consumption areas further extended decline in China. SMM research found that after plunging over the week, billet stocks came in at 146,700 tonnes today, on February 28. Last week, on February 21, the inventories were at 164,500 tonnes; thus, today they dropped by 17,800 tonnes or 11 per cent. The reason for this week-on-week decline of aluminium billet stocks could be the fewer arrivals of cargoes at warehouses. As many downstream producers were on holiday for the Chinese New Year, the domestic production perhaps had gone down, and that prompted the lower supplies of billets to warehouses. The above chart represents that aluminium billet stocks in Foshan Guangdong stood at 82,500 tonnes today, after...
Average spot alumina price dropped from RMB 2777 per tonne to RMB2775 per tonne on Thursday, February 28, representing a decrease of RMB2 per tonne or 0.07 per cen. The spot price is expected to range within RMB2775 per tonne. Alumina-East price decreased RMB50 per tonne or 1.77 per cent today. The average price stood at RMB2770 per tonne as of February 28. The price is expected to range between RMB2740 per tonne and RMB2800 per tonne. Alumina prices remain unchanged in all three markets in China (Central, North and South) Alumina-Central and Alumina-North stood at RMB2790 per tonne and RMB2760 per tonne respectively. Alumina-South stood at RMB 2775 per tonne. In another update from SMM, after six consecutive increases in a row, aluminium ingot price dropped 0.15 per cent or RMB 20 per...
Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) announced that it is to supply its entire carbon dust production, a by-product of aluminium smelting to the UAE cement industry to be used as alternative fuel. The move strengthens EGA’s cooperation with UAE cement companies and also reiterates its commitment to sustainability and a circular economy. EGA also supplies its spent pot lining, another waste product, to UAE cement firms and has trialled the re-use of carbon dust in the cement industry. Salman Dawood Abdulla, Executive Vice President, Environment, Health, Safety, Sustainability and Business Transformation at EGA, said: “…we are glad to be working with the cement industry to pioneer this approach in the UAE. We will now re-use almost all the carbon dust we generate at EGA, improving the...
Developing an integrated aluminium industry with the help of private investors from all around the globe is the goal of Ghana’s government. Such was the message from President Nana Akufo-Addo to Parliament late last week, assuring that a request for proposal would be sent out by the end of February. According to President, the groundwork is already in place to ensure the achievement of this Ghana’s goal in a timely manner. He particularly said, “We intend also to mine at long last our bauxite deposits, in order to establish an integrated aluminium industry in Ghana. The Ghana Integrated Aluminum Development Corporation, a statutory corporation has been set up with the support of parliament to spearhead Ghana’s commitment to create an integrated aluminium industry.” Highlighting the work...
As updated by Shanghai Metals Market, Shandong Weiqiao Group, one of the top alumina producers in China, planned to reduce prebaked anode purchasing prices by RMB140 per tonne for March. The price for March now stands at RMB3,180 per tonne in cash and RMB3,215 per tonne on acceptance. As far as averageprebaked anode spot price is concerned, it continues to remain at RMB3420 per tonne. The last drop was on Monday, February 25, by RMB37.5 per tonne or 1.08 per cent from RMB3457.5 per tonne, as on February 22. The price is expected to range between RMB3320 per tonne and RMB3520 per tonne. As of Wednesday, February 27, prebaked Anode price in the Central remains at RMB 3400 per tonne, while that in the Southwest and Northwest hovers at RMB3800 per tonne. Other input costs such as Al Fluoride...
