Aluminium production depends on high-temperature processes where furnace efficiency, thermal management and equipment durability are essential for maintaining operational performance. However, refractory materials used in melting, holding and casting operations face continuous exposure to extreme temperatures, thermal fluctuations, chemical corrosion and mechanical wear. These conditions can lead to premature furnace-lining failure, molten-metal penetration, corundum formation and heat loss, increasing maintenance requirements and operating costs. Addressing these challenges requires materials that can withstand demanding operating conditions while keeping equipment efficient and reliable. Alkegen, a supplier of high-temperature refractory and insulation materials, serves this requirement...
Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) has strengthened its profitability despite a challenging nine-month period marked by operational disruptions, constrained exports and reduced aluminium production. The UAE-based producer reported an improved adjusted EBITDA margin for the first nine months of 2026, supported by higher realised aluminium prices, a stronger value-added product mix and cost-control measures. Meanwhile, the company is progressing with the restoration of its Al Taweelah facilities, expanding its international recycling footprint and advancing its global smelting technology partnerships. EGA recorded adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of USD 1.572 billion (AED 5.773 billion) during January-September 2026, compared with USD 1.738 billion...
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India, one of the major aluminium importers from the US, imported 168,000 tonnes of crude metal and alloys, aluminium semi-finished products and scrap from the US during January-October 2018, an increase of 102800 tonnes or 157.67% from 65,200 tonnes during January-October 2017. {newsStudioGallery} Total aluminium imports by India stood at 25,800 tonnes in October 2018, an increase of 16390 tonnes or 174% from 9,410 tonnes in October 2017, according to the latest Mineral Industry Survey report from US Geological Survey. On month on month comparison, total imports increased 5% from the September total of 24,600 tonnes. Semi-fabricated products (plates, sheets, bars, etc.) imports increased 264% year on year to 3,860 tonnes in the first ten months of 2018. India imported 313 tonnes of...
Aluminum ion batteries are being considered to meet high demand applications like electric vehicles for private, public, and commercial transport (cars, buses, trucks, etc.). These applications require an enormous amount of electricity to be delivered to provide the necessary power for running these machines. Hugh demanding applications on a battery produce significant mechanical and thermal stresses on the battery. The current aluminium battery technologies employ liquids for their electrolyte, the medium that facilitates the transport of ions from one electrode to the other. Consequently, batteries in vehicles have a higher safety risk of explosion, burning out, outgassing, or simply failing, during operation or in case of an accident. The Hosein Research Group at Syracuse University...
According to a report, India’s first water metro rail project with about 23 ferries as part of project’s first phase, featuring steel body and aluminium hull, is expected to go live by December 2019. The news came after Kochi Metro Rail Corporation (KMRL) officially said at a press conference. The first of its kind for India, the water-transport will connect 10 islands near Kochi. In July 2016, Kochi Metro Rail Corporation (KMRL) and German Development Bank of KfW signed an agreement for 85 million Euro loan for the project. The total cost of the project is pegged at INR 747 crore excluding INR 72 crore required for land acquisition. The electric-powered ferries will be fully air-conditioned and will have a seating capacity of 100 passengers. They will reportedly connect 38 jetties on 16...
The US dollar increased on Wednesday as weak economic data from some major economies caused concerns over global growth, and sparked demand for safe havens. The dollar index rose 0.71% to 96.81 in late trading. US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the US stock market suffered "a little glitch" in December but that it would go up once he negotiates trade deals with China and others. Base metals fell for the most part as LME aluminium slumped 3.16%. SHFE aluminium dropped 0.48%. LME aluminium closed at US$1858 per tonne on January 2, 2018, further down from US$ 1869.50 per tonne on Monday December 31. Then LME aluminium slumped to the lowest since January 2017 overnight as the US dollar strengthened. Shanghai Metals Market maintains that macroeconomic pessimism will weigh on...
Vedanta Ltd has proposed to invest $250-300 million in the next fiscal for ramping up the alumina refinery capacity at Lanjigarh. The company has planned to expand the capacity to six million tonnes per annum from its current 1 million tonnes. Metals and mining giant Vedanta expects to recover the invested sum within two years, banking on locally sourced bauxite to trim logistics costs, Business Standard reports. “Every tonne of aluminium produced with the Odisha sourced bauxite which can be used in expanding refinery capacity, will give us Ebitda (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation) advantage of $400 per tonne. So, if you are able to cover 50 per cent or 60 per cent of our requirement, then to that extent, $200 to $250 straight away goes up in the Ebitda...
Shanghai Metals Market found that a purchase of more than 6,000 tonnes of spot cargoes in east China, at higher than expected prices, by an aluminium trader on Thursday, January 3, 2019, triggered the overall trades across eastern markets. The on-month aluminium contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange hovered at lows in morning trades. In Shanghai, the spot discounts were seen at RMB 20 per tonne to RMB 10 per tonne against the SHFE 1901 contract, against the discounts of RMB 40 per tonne in the previous day. Spot transactions in Shanghai and Wuxi were done at RMB 13,280 per tonne to RMB 13,300 per tonne, while at RMB 13,300 per tonne to RMB 13,310 per tonne in Hangzhou. Prices were down close to RMB 40 per tonne from the prior day. In Guangdong, on the other hand, spot transactions...
According to Shanghai Metals Market, the A00 aluminium ingot price has extended its drop today, on January 3, to RMB 13,270 per tonne from RMB 13,310 per tonne, as of January 2. Since the reopening of the market in the New Year 2019, the Chinese A00 aluminium ingot price has recorded a plunge for the past two days in a row. Today, the average prices are expected to range between RMB 13,250 per tonne and RMB 13,290 per tonne, with spot discounts to settle at RMB 60 per tonne to RMB 20 per tonne. The aluminium ingot price in the east Wuxi and Hangzhou has declined by RMB 40 per tonne and RMB 35 per tonne to stand at RMB 13,290 per tonne and RMB 13,305 per tonne, respectively. The A00 ingot price in the south and north, on the other hand, has plunged by RMB 60 per tonne and RMB 40 per tonne...
Carlisle Companies Incorporated, a global leader in commercial and industrial building envelope products through its Carlisle Construction Materials (CCM) operating segment, signed a definitive purchase agreement to acquire Petersen Aluminum Corporation. Petersen Aluminum, headquartered in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, is a privately held manufacturer of high-quality metal roofing products for approximately $197 million. The company manufactures and distributes architectural metal roof panels, steel and aluminium flat sheets and coils, wall panels, perimeter roof edge systems and related accessories for commercial, residential, institutional, industrial and agricultural markets. Chris Koch, CEO and President, said, "The acquisition of Petersen is part of our strategy of providing customers...
Braidy Industries have reported that they have spent US$15.7 million on the construction of its Braidy Atlas aluminium rolling mill in Greenup. It is working towards meeting its anticipated target of bringing the mill to full commercial operation in 2021. Braidy is banking on its proprietary Veloxint alloy, designed by Massachusetts Institute of Technology scientists for this project. These ultra-high strength metals alloys are suitable for extreme temperature uses in the automotive and aerospace industries and help in weight and cost savings. Braidy acquired Veloxint in the first quarter of 2018 and NanoAl, another leader in high strength aluminum alloys, in mid-2018. Braidy is in the process of raising US$500 million in equity capital and approximately $1.2 billion in debt capital for...
According to the latest Mineral Industry Survey report from US Geological Survey, aluminium imports by the USA for consumption stood at 5.29 million tonnes in January-October 2018, 8.79% less than 5.8 million tonnes in the same period in 2017. {newsStudioGallery} In October, the USA imported 485,000 tonnes of aluminium for consumption, from 473,000 tonnes in September 2018. Imports of crude metal and alloys and scrap dropped by 540,000 tonnes year on year and 3,000 tonnes year on year respectively during ten months period 2018. But imports of semi-fabricated products increased by 30,000 tonnes in comparison to the same period of 2017. Total crude metal and alloys and scrap imports stood at 3.53 million tonnes and 592,000 tonnes respectively during January-October 2018. Semi-fabricated...
The torches for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics will use recycled aluminium in their making. The aluminium will be sourced from a temporary housing in Japan's Fukushima prefecture which was stricken by an earthquake, a tsunami and a nuclear disaster in 2011, local media said on Tuesday. More than 10,000 pieces of recycled aluminium will be consumed for the torches. The torches will be used by runners in the nationwide relay after the Olympic flame arrives in Japan from Greece on March 20, 2020, media reports say. The plan to use recycled aluminium from a damaged site serves as a symbolic effort to uphold "reconstruction Olympics", which is one of the main themes of the Summer Games. The Olympics organisers and the local governments would collaborate together in determining which metals can be...
Slow year-end trading lowered the US dollar fell against the yen and euro on Monday as optimism over US-China trade dispute dented its safe-haven allure. However, the greenback stayed on track to log its strongest annual performance in three years. Base metals ended mixed on Monday, December 31. LME aluminium closed Monday’s trading at US$ 1869.50 per tonne, further down from Friday, December 28. The exchange remained closed on January 1 for New Year’s Day holiday. LME aluminium is likely to maintain its weak trend and hover at US$1,840-1,875 per tonne today. SME and SHFE Aluminium Price Trend The benchmark aluminium price on Shanghai Metal Exchange started the week lower after the holidays at US$ 1942 per tonne on Wednesday 2 January. Improved cash flow issues at domestic alumina plants...
According to Shanghai Metals Market, Weiqiao Group lowered its prebaked anode purchasing prices by RMB 130 per tonne after it cut prices by RMB 50 per tonne in December. For January the prices are hovering at RMB3,460 per tonne in cash and RMB 3,495 per tonne on acceptance. Prebaked anode prices in east China market declined RMB 130 per tonne on January 2, 2019. Average price of prebaked anode stood at RMB 3,495 per tonne today. The price is expected to range between RMB 3395 per tonne RMB3595 per tonne. Prebaked anode prices in Central, South-west and North-west remained unchanged at RMB 3610 per tonne, RMB 3900 per tonne, and RMB 4000 per tonne respectively. Price of cryolite is currently ranging at RMB 5900-6100 per tonne. The price of aluminium fluoride is hovering at 11100- 11300 per...
Semi-finished aluminium export from China is creating concern among other south Asian countries as well. Vietnamese aluminium producers fear cheap aluminium products imported from China would make their domestic products un-competitive. Nguyen Hong Linh, owner of an aluminium manufacturing firm in Hanoi, said he has not been able to expand despite having the capital as he is not sure of the profitability. He said that, his company along with other aluminium manufacturers have been cutting production capacity since the beginning of 2018 as their products seem uncompetitive in front of Chinese imports. Some industry players, as shown by media reports are operating at only 30-40 per cent of capacity. Vu Van Phu, chairman of Hanoi company Fran Alumi, said that locally made aluminium has to go...
According to Shanghai Metals Market, social inventories of primary aluminium across eight major consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrants, stood at 1.3 million tonnes as of Wednesday January 2, up 16,000 tonnes from Thursday December 27. This followed after a week-on-week increase of 6,000 tonnes on Thursday December 27. The current status of primary aluminium inventories across China is given in the chart below: A00 aluminium ingot price dropped RMB 130 per tonne to RMB 13,310 per tonne on January 2.Today, the average prices are expected to range between RMB 13,290 per tonne and RMB 13,330 per tonne, with spot discounts to settle at RMB 100 per tonne to RMB 60 per tonne. In the East(Wu Xi) and East(Hang Zhou), the A00 aluminium ingot prices dropped by RMB 155 per tonne to...
The Malaysian government has once again reportedly decided to extend the moratorium until March 31, 2019, and thus, the wait continues for bauxite mining and export activities in Pahang. The Water, Land and Natural Resources Ministry announced that this extension of moratorium followed an agreement between its Minister Dr. Xavier Jayakumar and Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail. Datuk Md Sohaimi Mohamed Shah, Sungai Lembing assemblyman, said that he was hopeful about the government allowing mining activities to resume after the finalisation of the new set of standard operating procedures (SOP). He further said a huge mining site in Bukit Goh and many other areas left unattended since the moratorium began in January 2016. He also said when contacted today “There seems to...
A cyclone is expected to hit the north coast of Australia’s Queensland state Weipa on Tuesday and affect Rio Tinto’s Weipa bauxite mine while disrupting shipping, reported the weather bureau. The Port of Weipa, which handles Rio’s bauxite mine as well as general cargo, remained shut for the third day today as Cyclone Penny moved towards it across the Gulf of Carpentaria. Captain Michael Barnett, harbourmaster for the Cairns region, told Reuters by telephone that the port was expected to reopen on Thursday, January 3. Two bulk carriers for bauxite export were moved into the Gulf for safety and thus, not in danger. Rio Tinto ships 30 million tonnes of bauxite annually from Weipa, catering international customers as well as alumina refineries in Gladstone, Queensland. "We are monitoring the...
With the international aluminium price hovering at 20-month low, the earnings outlook for the domestic aluminium producers are at a risk and is banking heavily on import duty hike. Currently the three months LME aluminium prices are at US$ 1846 per tonne, much lower than what analysts had estimated. Earnings estimates were largely made with US$1,940 a tonne as the price benchmark. The downturn in price will lower the earnings estimate significantly and the industry is banking on import duty hike. Indian primary aluminium industry has proposed an increase in import duty on scrap and primary aluminium from 2.5 per cent and 7.5 per cent, respectively, to 10 per cent. Though an increase in import duties may offer some support, earnings outlook would remain weak due to the falling...
