Spanish racing driverFernando Alonso has added a one-off Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse to his growing collection of rare cars. Known as chassis 8.100, the car is distinguished by bespoke aluminium bodywork that required more than 20 tonnes of aluminium to produce, along with dedicated CAD programmes developed by Bugatti. Its history is equally distinctive, being produced after an original customer pushed Bugatti to create something it had initially considered too expensive. For Alonso, the automobile fits closely with an approach to luxury he outlined in 2024 about choosing manufacturers that treat individual customers differently rather than simply producing cars in larger numbers. To know the aluminium casting demand forecast in the transportation sector, explore our report "Global...
China Rare Earth Group is in talks to acquire a controlling stake in Shenghe Resources, a move that could bring the Chinese rare earth producer under tighter state control while giving Beijing influence over Shenghe’s overseas holdings, including a stake in US rare earths company MP Materials. Two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that discussions between the companies have been underway since earlier this year. One source said China Rare Earth Group is seeking a controlling stake, although neither source knew when the acquisition could be announced or completed. If the deal goes through, China Rare Earth Group would take control of Shenghe’s interests in foreign companies, including its 3 per cent stake in MP Materials. The US rare earths company counts the US Department of...
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Vedanta Aluminium has proudly boasted its second rank in the prestigious S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA) for the global aluminium industry. With an impressive holistic score of 77, the company has demonstrated its excellence across environmental, social, and governance (ESG) parameters, positioning itself as a global leader in ESG initiatives. Image Source: Vedanta Press Release This marks the fourth consecutive year that Vedanta Aluminium has been ranked among the top companies worldwide in the S&P Global CSA. Commenting on this significant milestone, Priya Agarwal Hebbar, Non-Executive Director at Vedanta Ltd, stated, “Securing the 2nd position globally in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment reflects not only our unwavering commitment to...
Across Europe, Deposit Return Systems (DRS) are instrumental in advancing a circular economy for packaging. A collaborative effort involving producers, retailers, the government, and the operator RetuRO yields impressive results in Romania. Results of the DRS Launched in December 2023, Romania's Deposit Return System has recently completed its first full year of operation, showcasing impressive results: Around 200,000 tonnes of packaging were recycled from January to October 2024 Seven counting and sorting centres throughout the country Around more than three billion containers including aluminium, PET, etc have been returned from December 2023 to October 2024 In October 2024, 84 per cent of containers sold in the market were returned through the scheme Around 99 per cent of Romanian...
Hydro's Alunorte alumina refinery located in Brazil has reportedly brought two new electric boilers into operation that produce steam using renewable energy as a source of electricity instead of coal to reduce up to 550,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year. Image source: Hydro The world's largest single-plant alumina refinery, Alunorte, has invested NOK 580 million (US$51.37 million) to add these two new electric boilers to an existing one installed in 2022. Now, the three boilers saving substantial amounts of carbon emissions reinforce Alunorte's position as one of the lowest emission refineries in the alumina refinery. The new boilers can produce a total of 270 tonnes of steam per hour, sourcing energy from the Brazilian Mendubim solar plant and the Ventos de São Zacarias...
The world’s leading aluminium and steel wheel supplier, Maxion Wheels, has acquired the Performance Standard V3 (2022) Certification from Aluminium Stewardship Initiative for manufacturing and distributing light alloy wheels at its Czech aluminium facility in Ostrava. The achievement of this certification testifies to Maxion’s efforts towards sustainability across the operations at its 1.8 million per annum capacity aluminium wheels plant in Ostrava, where it practices melting, casting, heat treatment, machining, painting, and associated support processes. The certification also indicates that Maxion Wheels Czech s.r.o. conforms to all 11 principles and 62 criteria defined by the ASI Performance Standard under sustainability pillars – Environment, Social, and Governance while addressing...
Shares of National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) lost value as the Nifty Metal index wrapped up the first week of 2025 on January 3. The Metal index itself remained relatively subdued, gaining just over 1 per cent at its highest point during the day before closing flat. While NALCO’s shares slipped over 4 per cent on Friday, Vedanta emerged as a gainer, ending with a 2 per cent rise. At one stage, Vedanta’s shares were up 3.5 per cent. The opposing trends in these aluminium industry giants were driven by movements in the alumina market, which saw frequent volatility throughout 2024. According to a Reuters report, alumina prices surged 70 per cent in 2024, reaching a record RMB 5,645 ($779.77) per tonne on the Shanghai Futures Exchange. Contributing factors included disruptions in...
Precious Dragon Technology Holdings Ltd. has signed a Master Supply Agreement with China Aluminum Cans Holdings Ltd. for a three-year term beginning in January 2025. This agreement extends their previous supply arrangement and is classified as a continuing connected transaction under the Listing Rules, necessitating approval from independent shareholders and compliance with other regulatory requirements. Image Source- FREEPIK Precious Dragon Technology Holdings Ltd., incorporated in the Cayman Islands with limited liability, is actively engaged in transactions related to aluminium cans and has a strong market presence in this industry. China Aluminum Cans Holdings Ltd is an investment holding company involved in designing, developing, manufacturing, and selling aluminium aerosol cans....
The latest data from the US Geological Survey reflects a shift in the market dynamics for aluminium scrap in Thailand and Malaysia. Thailand, which usually happens to be the third-largest aluminium scrap importer from the United States, ranked second in September, beating Malaysia’s import volume. According to the USGS data, Thailand accounted for 18 per cent of the United States aluminium scrap exports, while Malaysia contributed 17 per cent. On a month-on-month basis, the United States aluminium scrap exports to Thailand grew by 20.45 per cent, but exports to Malaysia decreased by 4.5 per cent. Thailand imported 31,800 tonnes of aluminium scrap from the United States in September, compared to 26,400 tonnes in August. On a year-on-year basis, the import in September 2024 increased by 37...
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has granted a conditional loan guarantee of US$1.45 billion to Hanwha Qcells, a Korean-owned solar manufacturer, to support the development of its vertically integrated manufacturing facility in Cartersville, Georgia. Image Source: FREEPIK This loan, part of the DOE's Title 17 Clean Energy Financing program, will aid in the construction of a facility with a 3.3GW nameplate capacity. The plant will produce silicon ingots, wafers, cells, and modules, where aluminium is a common metal impurity mixed with silicon wafers. This is added to improve the ability of the devices to conduct electricity. This process is called doping. With this, the plant also aims to become the largest vertically integrated solar manufacturing hub in the U.S. Qcells initially...
Kolkata Metro Railway is re-commits to conclude the replacement of the existing steel third rail with aluminium resorts on the down line of the Blue Line corridor, spreading between Belgachia and Tollygunge (Mahanayak Uttam Kumar), by August 2025, a spokesperson announced on Sunday, January 5. According to the Press Information Bureau, in Kolkata Metro Railway, the power to the metro rake is supplied to rolling stock at 750V DC through steel third rail. The Third Rail Current Collector (TRCC) made of steel fitted on metro rake collects the current from third rail. Kolkata Metro Railway has been using steel third rail for the last 40 years. Kolkata Metro Railway decided in August 2023 to use composite aluminium third rail in all the upcoming corridors being undertaken for construction...
Metro Mining has achieved a new annual high with 5.7 million tonnes of wet bauxite shipment. The consistent growth month-on-month since August 2024 has led to a yearly shipment increase of 24 per cent. But despite the growth, the Australian mining company has failed to achieve its annual target of 6 million tonnes. The company’s growth pattern In August 2024, Metro Mining's bauxite shipment was 720,000 tonnes , recording a month-on-month growth of 13 per cent. In the subsequent month, the shipment volume reached 780,000 tonnes, bringing the total shipment in Q3 to 2.13 million tonnes. The Australian mining company shipped more bauxite in October, achieving 69.5 per cent of the annual target with 793,420 tonnes. On a month-on-month basis, the shipment volume in October rose 1.72 per cent,...
There is an increasingly urgent need for lightweight components in the aerospace industry, with aluminium (Al) alloys being the preferred material for aircraft structural parts since their use in the Junkers F.13 aircraft in the 1920s. Compared to other metals, Al alloys have a lower density, which helps reduce the total weight of the aircraft, improving fuel efficiency and load capacity. An article on ScienceDirect, backed by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Science and Technology Development Program of Jilin Province, and the Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing, details the use of non-ferrous metals in the aviation industry. The strength and hardness of Al alloys can be significantly enhanced through alloying and heat treatment, making them suitable for...
Nigeria exported aluminium alloy worth N682 billion (441.45 million USD). between January and September 2024, according to an analysis of the Foreign Trade Statistics report from the National Bureau of Statistics. Labelled as unwrought aluminium alloys, the exports comprised ingots, blocks, billets, and slabs. Image Source - Pixaby Quarterly breakdown A quarterly breakdown reveals that – N84 billion (54.69 million USD) was exported in the first quarter (Q1) N480 billion (312.53 million USD) in the second quarter (Q2) N116 billion (75.54 million USD) in the third quarter (Q3) Japan emerged as the largest importer, accounting for N218.3 billion (142.13 million USD of the exports, followed by China with N43.5 billion. Nigeria's thriving aluminium export industry persists despite the...
South32 concluded 2024 on a strong note, securing State Government approval for its Worsley Alumina mine development project in Western Australia. On December 20, WA Environment Minister Reece Whitby granted approval for the project following his decision to amend specific conditions previously recommended by the WA Environmental Protection Authority (EPA). Image Source - Freepik Worsley Alumina recently earned certifications from the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative, affirming its alumina production aligns with global standards for responsible practices. The project extension is anticipated to receive Federal Government approval in early 2025. The Chamber of Minerals and Energy (CME) WA applauded the WA Government’s decision on Worsley Alumina, with CMEWA Chief Executive Officer Rebecca...
China is bracing its position as a key player in the global minerals market, with a sharp focus on bauxite, a critical raw material for aluminium production. In the first nine months of last year alone, China's bauxite imports surged by 20 per cent, among other minerals, a judicious progress to secure resources vital for its domestic industries. Image source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bauxite This drive comes as the world increasingly pivots towards green energy and innovative technologies, both of which rely heavily on minerals like bauxite, copper, and cobalt. Aluminium, derived from bauxite, is essential for renewable energy infrastructure, electric vehicles, and advanced electronics. According to S&P Global, China's reliance on imported bauxite is as high as 57 per cent. Guinea,...
Aluminium is an essential component of the global economy, and this week, the upstream sector witnessed some significant events. For instance, India's bauxite mining sector has grown in the non-ferrous segment, achieving an output of 23.93 million tonnes in FY 2023-2024. As of April 2024, production surpassed the previous year by 86 thousand tonnes. Chinese enterprise State Power Investment Corp. (SPIC) generated significant buzz at the start of the year with its announcement of a new heavy-duty alumina refinery in Guinea. This latest initiative follows three successful years of bauxite production in the West African nation. The Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA), strategically positioned on India's East Coast, has started the New Year on a high note, showcasing impressive growth. Playing...
C.S. Aluminium Corporation (CSAC), one of Taiwan's largest rolled aluminium product manufacturers, has been successfully recertified with the ASI Performance Standard V3. The certification has been provided for producing aluminium plates, rolls, sheets, and foil at its Siaogang District, Kaohsiung, Taiwan facility. Image Source: ASI website Its diverse portfolio includes aluminium plates, sheets, coils, foil, wire rods, drops, aluminium alloy ingots, zinc alloy ingots, zinc anodes for electroplating, and hot-dip zinc ingots. These products find application across various industries, such as: Transportation: Vessel plates, automotive sheet metal, and transport vehicle bodies. Building Materials: Curtain walls, aluminium cladding, corrugated sheets, and Venetian blinds Food Containers: Can...
IndyCar is considering replacing its traditional magnesium wheels with aluminium alternatives by 2026 or 2027, aiming to reduce costs and address supply challenges. Magnesium wheels, valued for their lightweight and rigidity, have been standard in high-performance racing, including IndyCar and Formula 1, since the 1990s. However, sourcing these wheels has become increasingly difficult due to limited vendor availability and the large quantities required for all IndyCar entries. Image Source: https://www.hyveeindycarweekend.com/ O.Z. Racing and BBS are the primary suppliers of IndyCar wheels, with O.Z. being the more prominent provider. The scarcity of magnesium wheels has prompted IndyCar to explore aluminium as a more readily available and cost-effective alternative. Discussions are...
The Indian multinational mining and metal giant, Vedanta reported a 3 per cent year-on-year increase in total aluminium production, reaching 614,000 tonnes (0.614 million tonnes) in Q3 FY25, compared to 599,000 tonnes (0.599 million tonnes) in Q3 FY24. The nine-month production numbers for FY25 were 1.89 million tonnes, a 3 per cent rise from the same period last year when they totalled 1.77 million tonnes. Vedanta Aluminium Production (in million tonnes) At the diversified minerals company's alumina refinery at Lanjigarh, alumina production rose 7 per cent year over year and 1 per cent quarter over quarter, totalling 505,000 tonnes (0.505 million tonnes) over 4,70,000 tonnes. In the nine months, it stood at 1.54 million tonnes, a 16 per cent year-over-year jump. However, the saleable...
