
Finland-based renewable heat technology developer Coolbrook has joined Australia’s Heavy Industry Low-carbon Transition Cooperative Research Centre (HILT CRC) as an affiliate partner, bringing its electrified heating technology into research aimed at decarbonising alumina refining and the wider aluminium industry. The collaboration would explore how high-temperature electric heating can support next-generation alumina refineries, reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Coolbrook would work alongside major alumina and aluminium producers, including Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), Alcoa, Rio Tinto, South32 and Hydro, as well as research organisations of CSIRO and Adelaide University. Initially, it would focus on HILT CRC’s Alumina Refineries’ Next-Generation Transition (AlumiNEXT) project,...
Qingdao Allheart Marine, established in 2012, is a high-tech aluminium boat manufacturer in Qingdao, China. Spanning 42,000 m, the facility produces over 60 vessel models from 4 to 30 meters, including fishing, work, patrol, pilot boats, tugs, water taxis, catamaran ferries, and landing crafts. Certified under ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, and CE, Allheart offers professional OEMper ODM solutions, exporting 50 per cent of its production to over 30 countries across Oceania, Europe, and the Americas. Qingdao, Shandongper China - November 11, 2026 Qingdao Allheart Marine Co., Ltd, a recognised leader in the maritime manufacturing sector, is reinforcing its commitment to international buyers seeking robust commercial watercraft and specialised marine solutions. Operating from an advanced...
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Spot aluminium trading in east China spurred a bit on Thursday, August 16, than the previous day as drops in SHFE aluminium prices generated some purchases from downstream consumers, found Shanghai Metals Market. The SHFE September contract traded range-bound at RMB 14380 per tonne to RMB 14390 per tonne in the morning after it fell overnight. In Shanghai and Wuxi, most transactions were seen at RMB 14330 per tonne RMB 14350 per tonne, while in Hangzhou, trading activities were heard at RMB 14340 per tonne to RMB 14350 per tonne. Transactions in Linyi and Gongyi, on the other hand, were heard at RMB 14300 per tonne with discounts of RMB 50-30 per tonne and at RMB 14370 per tonne with discounts of RMB 70 per tonne, respectively. SMM believes the recent movement of the US dollar could be a...

The ongoing coal shortage has begun affecting other segments besides power plants and the railways. The ongoing coal shortage has begun affecting other segments besides power plants and the railways, with the Federation of Indian Mineral Industries (FIMI) stating on Wednesday that aluminium makers are seeing an adverse impact on their refinery and smelting operations. The reason, FIMI Secretary General R K Sharma said, is that these manufacturers are unable to run their captive power plants due to the coal shortage. The low availability of railway rakes is exacerbating the issue, he added. According to FIMI, coal is usually allotted to primary aluminium smelters by Coal India Ltd (CIL) or its subsidiary through linkages by way of FSAs (fuel supply agreement). “However, both aluminium...

On Thursday, August 16, Turkish Trade Minister declared that Turkey would challenge the recent Washington’s decision of imposing higher metal tariffs on imports at the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Turkey would not be the first country to file a WTO complaint against the US trade practices. Others, like Canada, China, the European Union, and Russia had challenged the import tariffs at the WTO earlier. As reported by the Anadolu news agency, "Turkey has invited the United States to come in front of a panel of arbitrators at the World Trade Organization. The United States has already received this invitation. Therefore, we have launched a dispute settlement process within the framework of the WTO." Turkey has been in conflict with the United States since March when the Trump...

Contributing to Oman’s economic diversification efforts, Sohar Aluminium partnered with their latest downstream customer, Synergies Castings, the leading manufacturer of aluminium alloy wheels in India. The agreement will begin with the construction of a US$100 million hi-tech alloy wheel manufacturing plant situated in the Sohar Industrial Estate adjacent to Sohar Aluminium premises. Construction is scheduled to begin in the coming months with production expected to commence in 2020. Eng. Said Al Masoudi, Sohar Aluminium’s Chief Executive Officer said, “A central component of Sohar Aluminium’s strategy is to promote and support the growth of downstream aluminium industries within the Sultanate. With this agreement in place, we will meet our goal of supplying 60 per cent of our hot metal...

According to the report revealed by Grand View Research, the global demand for beverage cans is likely to grow between 3.7 per cent and 4 per cent in 2018, with a similar growth trend over the next five years. In the European Union, the beverage cans market is also expected to grow at a CAGR of over 4% between 2017 and 2025, owing to increased recycling activities undertaken by the European Commission, as well as the national governments of France, Germany and the U.K. Having said that, the aluminium cans import volume in France is estimated to grow 1.5 per cent this year from 34,343 tonnes in 2017 to 34,860 tonnes in 2018, but likely to remain down by 19 per cent from 43,221 tonnes in 2016. Germany is expected to lead as an aluminium can exporter to France this year as well, with a 9 per...

When Norsk Hydro acquired the remaining 50% share of Sapa from Orkla Group in October 2017 to form Hydro Extruded Solutions, they calculated the unprecedented growth the aluminium extrusion sector is expected to register in the coming years. A number of leading producers have been taking up Greenfield and Brownfield projects in the extrusion sector and merger and acquisitions are getting frequent for business growth. The top extruders like Hydro Extruded Solutions (Sapa), China Zhongwang Holdings Limited, Press Metal Berhad, Guangya Aluminum and Gulf Extrusion are expanding business and applications and constantly exploring new markets to leverage the growth. Currently, global aluminium extrusions capacity stands at about 41.5 million tonnes per annum. As for the usage is concerned, world...

Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Bhd, the largest aluminium smelter in South East Asia reported 7% increase in earnings in Q2 2018 on higher selling price for aluminium and aluminium products. The company, in its statement Wednesday said that its Q2 performance was also buoyed by a stronger US dollar. The group completed the acquisition of Leader Universal Aluminium Sdn Bhd (LUA), the largest aluminium and alloy rod producer in Malaysia in March, wherein its revenue was consolidated into the group in Q2 2018. These positive fundamentals were partially offset by increased raw material prices caused by alumina supply disruptions from Brazil. Q2 net profit at Press Metal climbed to RM160.6mil compared with RM150.2mil in Q2 2017. Revenue also increased by almost a quarter to RM2.4bil from RM1.9...

Turkey seems not to spare the Trump administration by any means for imposing higher tariffs on its aluminium and steel exports and declaring unfair sanctions against Ankara. On Wednesday, August 14, the country thus, reportedly issued a chilling warning to levy higher tariffs on certain American goods as a tit-for-tat action. As soon as the United States had sanctioned Ankara early this month, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevut Cavusoglu came up with his response saying that the country would not be left without retaliation as it constitutes a hostile stance. On August 14, Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay said that the rises were ordered "within the framework of reciprocity in retaliation for the conscious attacks on our economy by the US administration." This retaliatory act is because of...

CM Group projected Chinese demand for bauxite to increase by 65-70 million tonnes a year over the next five to seven years. It will be driven primarily by upcoming new alumina refining capacity, about 60 per cent of whose demand will be met by imported bauxite. Metro Mining has recently entered sales contracts with their Chinese clients for a total of 780,000 tonnes of bauxite which will be delivered in 2018 and 2019.This is opening doors for other emerging miners in Australia such as Metallica Minerals. Metallica is developing the Urquhart bauxite deposit, discovered in late 2014 on the Cape York Peninsula in far north Queensland in a joint venture with a Chinese company. It is noteworthy that Metallica is on the verge of being a commercial producer after little more than three years of...

According to the latest update by Shanghai Metals Market, primary aluminium inventories across major consumption areas in China has recorded a further fall this week with limited arrivals. Stocks across eight consumption areas, including SHFE warrants, shrank around 14000 tonnes from last Thursday, August 9, and 5000 tonnes from last Monday, August 13, to stand at 1.761 million tonnes as of August 16. The current inventory status in the major Chinese cities stands as follows: But despite the limited supplies of primary aluminium stocks in the market, the A00 aluminium ingot price failed to record a surge. As of August 16, the price has clocked a drop of RMB 160 per tonne to stand at RMB 14330 per tonne, in contrast to RMB 14490 per tonne on August 15. The average prices are expected to...

The US dollar index closed at 96.71 overnight after rising to over 96.98 earlier, the highest since June 2017 as investors added their holdings of the greenback on worries over slowing Chinese growth and Europe's exposure to Turkey. The Chinese yuan fell past 6.95 per dollar in overnight offshore trading. LME aluminium continued downward trend and closed the day’s trading at US$ 1994.5 per tonne, the level last seen in April 2018, before the sanctions against Rusal. After that it recovered slightly and touched a three-week low at US$2,007 per tonne and closed at US$2,022 per tonne at Wednesday night. The contract is likely to trade at US$2,000-2,040 per tonne today amid bearish sentiment. As on August 15, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stands at US$ 1993.50 per tonne, LME official...

Alumex Plc, a fully integrated manufacturer of aluminium profiles in Sri Lanka, is reportedly eyeing exports and planning to compete strongly in a domestic market with import tax protection so that the customers become free from paying higher prices for finished goods. With the opening of a two billion rupee extrusion plant with the most modern technology and an output of 1,200 tonnes a month, Alumex is striving to reduce prices and meet global competition. Setting the price of UAE aluminium as a benchmark, Managing Director Pramuk Dediwela of Alumex said, “We’re trying to match the prices of the United Arab Emirates.” He further said, “If we can match those prices, we don’t have to worry about imports coming from any part of the world." The addition of Alumex’s new plant has expanded the...

The FBI was on scene Tuesday at the Nanshan America Advanced Aluminum Technologies plant in Lafayette, according to assistant human resources manager Nicki Huerta. Multiple employees from the finance department said Tuesday morning they had been released for the day. Huerta said she isn't sure why the FBI is there, but the production line is still working. Nanshan America is a 600,000-square-foot facility on U.S. 52 in the southern portion of Tippecanoe County. It specializes in aluminum casting and extrusion, according to its website. FBI Supervisory Special Agent Craig Moringiello said the bureau was in the area doing law enforcement activity this morning. However, he would not say why agents were at the China-based aluminum extrusion manufacturing company. He said he could not add any...

Century Aluminum plant in Goose Creek, South Carolina has resumed hiring after President Trump imposed tariffs on foreign aluminium imports, though it is operating at 50% capacity. Century president and CEO Mike Bless is of the view that the tariffs are having their intended effect on domestic industry. Century aluminium reported a 21 per cent increase in sales for the second quarter. Full-year production is expected to be up more than 60 per cent over 2017. However, they will continue operating at 50% capacity till next year. Century is hiring staff despite the ongoing dispute with the state-owned utility Santee Cooper over electricity cost. Bless points out electricity accounts for 40 per cent of aluminium’s cost of production. The laid off 300 of its 600 employees in 2016. Bless says...

The US dollar index hit the highest level since June last year at 96.794 on Tuesday. LME aluminium continued downward trend and closed the day’s trading at US$2038 on Tuesday. It recovered most of its early losses and closed at US$2,069.5 per tonne after touching the low of US$2,045 per tonne. It is likely to trade at US$2,050-2,080 per tonne today under the pressure from a strong dollar. As on August 14, LME aluminium cash (bid) price stands at US$ 2037.50 per tonne, LME official settlement price stands at US$ 2038 per tonne; 3-months bid price stands at US$ 2063 per tonne, 3-months offer price is US$ 2063 per tonne; Dec 19 bid price stands at US$ 2100 per tonne, and Dec 19 offer price stands at US$ 2105 per tonne. The LME aluminium opening stock dropped to 1135925 tonnes. Live Warrants...

Amid increasing raw material prices and dipped primary aluminium social inventory in China, A00 aluminium ingot price has been on a rising trend since the beginning of August, except a few intermittent drops. According to the latest update from Shanghai Metals Market, the ingot price has again plunged today, on August 15, after about a week later to stand at RMB 14490 per tonne, in contrast to a hike on the previous day from RMB 14500 per tonne, as on 13 th of August, to RMB 14530 per tonne. The average prices as on today are expected to range between RMB 14470 per tonne and RMB 14510 per tonne, with spot discounts to settle narrow at RMB 20 per tonne. The primary aluminium price on Shanghai Metals Exchange could not escape from the plunge either. Today, it stands at US$ 2097 per tonne...

The Federation of Indian Mineral Industries (FIMI)has sought rationalisation of tax on mining, and exemption from export duties on iron ore and bauxite. In a press statement before its 52nd Annual General Meeting, the industry body said taxes and royalty for mining in India are the highest in the world. “Effective Tax Rates (ETRs) work out to be as high as 64 per cent for the existing mines and 60 per cent for the auctioned mines. Apart from the ETRs, there are hosts of other taxes, levies and cess due to which total financial burden goes beyond 100 per cent of the cost of mineral production,” the statement said. “There is, therefore, a need to rationalise the taxation structure for the mining sector for sustainable development and deriving long term benefits in terms of sustained raw...

Fitch Solutions Macro Research just published an update to a previous study looking at the global bauxite market. In the most recent version of the document, the firm states that bauxite production growth will remain high over the coming years, as new projects come online in Australia, Indonesia expands exports, India’s production ramps up, and existing projects in Guinea drive growth. According to Fitch, Australia, the world’s top producer of the orange metal, will maintain steady output growth driven by steady activity at the about 40 projects it hosts. In particular, the market researcher states that the growth would be boosted by Rio Tinto’s expansion of the Weipa mine in Queensland, which together with the Gove mine drove 2017’s y-o-y 6-per-cent increase in bauxite production for the...