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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China Aluminum Cans Holdings Limited, an investment holding company that manufactures and sells aluminium aerosoal cans in Mainland China, Africa, and America, has reportedly announced the departure of Ms Guo Yang as an independent non-executive director, with effect from January 1, 2025. Ms Guo Yang will be succeeded by Ms Luo Mei Kai, an experienced financial management consultant. Ms Kai will also serve as chairman of the remuneration committee and a member of the audit and nominational committees. Ms Luo will bring with her more than 20 years of strong experience in financial consulting. She will draw an annual salary of HK$144,000 from China Aluminium Cans Holdings Limited.
The Oppo Reno 13 series 5G is set to launch in India in January 2025, following the success of its predecessor, the Reno 12 series. The upcoming flagship lineup will consist of the Reno 13 5G and the Reno 13 Pro 5G. Designed for durability, the Reno 13 series is said to incorporate a premium aluminium frame, a sculpted rear panel, and Corning Gorilla Glass 7i for added protection. Image Source: Oppo Use of aluminium Oppo’s teasers also emphasise using aerospace-grade aluminium in the device construction. The teaser images also reveal that the Oppo Reno 13 series 5G will sport a flat display and a triple-camera setup. In contrast to its predecessor, the Reno 12, the camera module on the Reno 13 series has undergone a slight redesign. With its sleek design, improved performance, and premium...
Through the first eleven months of 2024, the world’s metallurgical-grade alumina production stood at 125.66 million tonnes, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 1.91 per cent from 123.304 million tonnes, according to the latest data revealed by the International Aluminium Institute (IAI). Separately, the chemical-grade output amounted to 8.113 million tonnes, up 3.97 per cent from 7.803 million tonnes. In November 2024, the world’s monthly production of metallurgical-grade alumina was 11.508 million tonnes, down by 3.22 per cent from 11.891 million tonnes in October, in tandem with the dip in daily average output. In November, the production each day was 100 tonnes less, standing at 383,500 tonnes versus 383,600 tonnes in October. However, on an annual basis, the world’s alumina...
Shanghai Metals Market (SMM), on the last day of the year, has been super active in the stance of base metal—aluminium pricing. From raw material to primary ingot to secondary ingot, such fluctuations in pricing have been a rare incident in recent times. During the winters, a lot of smelters have cut down production owing to environmental concerns. Thus, SMM's aluminium segment pricing list has had uncertainty for the last few days. Alumina pricing Alumina closed at an average of RMB 5,689 per tonne on Tuesday market, with a loss of RMB 14 from the previous day's pricing. After the lump sum rise in pricing, SMM witnessed a 0.6 per cent receding in prices M-o-M for alumina (prices on November 29, 2024, RMB 5,725 per tonne). However, the rise and fall of alumina pricing, as listed on SMM,...
At the recent annual conference of the China Photovoltaic Industry Association (CPIA), a renewable energy analyst from a publicly traded securities company renowned for its excellent asset quality and innovative capabilities highlighted significant cost shifts in the solar industry. The event, held earlier this month, underscored the sector's evolving dynamics. According to the analyst, secondary materials have significantly reshaped the cost structure of the solar panel industry this year, becoming the primary driver of production expenses. SinoLink Securities reported that by November 2024, aluminium frames had become the most expensive component in solar panel manufacturing, accounting for 14 per cent of total production costs. Packaging glass closely followed, at 13.4 per cent, while...
Hindalco Industries Ltd., the Aditya Birla Group’s metals flagship, has achieved a significant milestone with the allocation of the Meenakshi Coal Mine in Odisha through a vesting order by the Ministry of Coal. This development follows the successful signing of the Coal Mine Development and Production Agreement (CMDPA) on November 22, 2024, marking a pivotal step in the company’s journey towards resource securitisation, energy efficiency and sustainable growth. The Meenakshi coal mine, located in Odisha, is a fully explored block with a Peak Rated Capacity (PRC) of 12 million tonnes per annum and ~285.23 million tonnes of geological reserves. With a favourable coal-to-waste stripping ratio of less than 1, the G12 grade mine is poised to be a cost-effective and sustainable energy source...
The Middle Eastern aluminium market is poised for significant growth, with projections indicating a valuation of USD 16.68 billion by 2030, driven by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5 per cent from 2024. This burgeoning market, according to an elaborate report by NextMSC , is currently valued at USD 11.33 billion and is being fuelled by a confluence of factors, including a growing emphasis on sustainability and the region's position as a major global producer. Global production landscape While China continues to dominate global aluminium production, accounting for an estimated 39,653 thousand tonnes in 2024 (January-November), representing nearly 60 per cent of the total output, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which consorts a massive middle-eastern aluminium trading...
Import tariff reductions are an effective strategy to boost the domestic market, just as tariff hikes are often used to protect local industries. Recently, the Ministry of Finance of the People's Republic of China reduced import tariffs on ethane and specific recycled aluminium and copper raw materials, encouraging the inflow of high-quality foreign products and stimulating domestic demand for superior goods. As per the report, the reduction of import tariffs will be effective from January 1, 2025, on 935 items from some of the most favoured nations. Those products include cyclic olefin polymers, ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymers and automatic transmissions for special-purpose vehicles such as fire trucks and repair vehicles. Tariffs will also be reduced on sodium zirconium cyclosilicate,...
It's a new week but not a new beginning! Both alumina and primary aluminium prices have continued to decline over the weekend, albeit at a lower rate than the previous day . According to the Shanghai Metals Market survey, the average alumina spot price has decreased by RMB 6 per tonne, compared to a downfall of RMB 7 per tonne on Friday, December 27. Therefore, the price on Monday, December 30, has come in at RMB 5,712 per tonne versus RMB 5,718 per tonne on December 27. Among the provinces, Lianyungang and Bayuquan have witnessed a sharp fall of RMB 50 per tonne to RMB 6,000 per tonne, and the prices in Shanxi and Henan have registered declines of RMB 15 per tonne and RMB 10 per tonne to average RMB 5,710 per tonne and RMB 5,670 per tonne, respectively. However, alumina prices have...
In the sweet little town of Hershey, Pennsylvania, preparations for New Year’s Eve are well underway – and they’re going big. Or should we say, big and shiny? Workers have been spotted hoisting a whopping 300-pound aluminium and fibreglass Hershey’s Kiss into position on the corner of Park and Chocolate Avenues. Following previous tradition, this confectionary colossus will take centre stage during the grand countdown as it’s raised skyward at the stroke of midnight, marking the highlight of Hershey’s beloved New Year’s bash at ChocolateTown Square. Image Source: https://www.hersheynewyearseve.org/media “We are proud to welcome guests back to Hershey for our New Year’s Eve celebration as it commemorates a milestone of 20 years since the event began in 2004,” said Mike Pries, Committee...
Aluminum Corp of China (Chalco), a global leader in the sector, is spearheading a digital revolution in the nonferrous metals industry. The company recently announced a collaborative initiative to integrate advanced artificial intelligence (AI) into the industry's operational and production processes. At the heart of this endeavour is Chalco's newly launched Kun'an AI model, a groundbreaking system tailored specifically for the nonferrous metals sector. Unveiled at a launch event co-hosted with the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association, Kun'an represents the industry's first general-purpose large language model. Built on a vast dataset comprising tens of billions of data points, Kun'an brings cutting-edge capabilities to the table, including natural language processing, image...
For many years now, Europe is continuously innovating ways to optimise aluminium production while reducing carbon emissions. Whether by implementing advanced technologies, switching to renewable energy sources, or boosting recycling efforts, Europe's focus is dedicated to sustainable aluminium production. European aluminium industrial leaders have spoken about all these practices in AL Circle's latest e-Magazine titled 'ALuminium Industry: Focus Europe ', highlighting technological developments to produce aluminium with the lowest energy consumption and human interference and about their recycling initiatives to build closed-loop recycling and circular economy within the aluminium landscape. Thomas Payer, Sustainability Manager of Speira, a leading European aluminium rolling and recycling...
On December 6, Zhongzhou Aluminum Industry convened a preliminary design review meeting for the industrialisation demonstration project focused on spherical aluminium hydroxide preparation technology. Image Source: Image Source: Anglo Pacific Minerals Henan Huahui Nonferrous Engineering Design Co., Ltd. presented the preliminary design for the industrialisation demonstration project of spherical aluminium hydroxide preparation technology for thermal conductivity binders. Alumina trihydrate (ATH), also called aluminium hydroxide with the chemical formula Al(OH)₃, holds significant market potential. Derived from bauxite through the Bayer process, ATH is widely recognised for its exceptional flame-retardant properties. Following thorough questioning and extensive discussions, the expert...
Drilling at the Rio Negro prospect, part of the progressive ASX-listed company Equinox Resources' larger Campo Grande project in Brazil, has revealed exceptional rare earth grades and reinforced the site's multi-commodity potential. The company recently wrapped up 14 reverse circulation (RC) drill holes at the prospect, building on the success of an earlier scout drilling campaign. Remarkably, total rare earth oxide concentrations reached as high as 80 per cent. The latest results showcased an impressive grade of 7,890 ppm Total Rare Earth Oxides (TREO) identified at a depth of 36 to 38 meters (CG_RC24_005). Elevated phosphorus pentoxide levels, reaching 3.09 per cent, further highlighted this, indicating that monazite is likely the primary mineral hosting rare earth elements. Drilling...
Single-use deodorants? Oh, darling, they’re so last century. Recently we have come across Wild, a London-based natural body care brand that’s redefining freshness with a blend of sustainability, style, and a dash of aluminium magic. Image Source: https://wearewild.com/ The deodorant isn’t just about smelling divine; it’s about doing good for the planet while looking effortlessly fabulous. At the heart of their mission is their ingenious use of aluminium — durable, endlessly recyclable, and undeniably chic. Say goodbye to disposable plastic containers and hello to Wild’s sleek aluminium cases, designed to house your deodorant refills in sustainable splendour. Wild takes an eco-friendly approach to the next level, offering refillable deodorants, body washes, lip balms, and more in reusable...
Aluminium Stewardship Initiative has granted its Chain of Custody (CoC) Standard V2 (2022) Certification to Huanghe Xinye Co., Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Yellow River Upstream Hydropower Development Co., for the production of liquid aluminium and aluminium ingots at Xining City facility in China. The facility has an impressive production capacity of 600,000 tonnes of primary aluminium and 300,000 tonnes of carbon anode. Earlier this year, the facility obtained the ASI Performance Standard V3 (2022) Certification , conforming to 11 principles and 62 criteria under three sustainability pillars – environment, social and governance, as regulated by ASI. The ASI CoC Standard V2 Certification acknowledges those companies that produce and process aluminium through the value chain into...
This week has seen significant developments in the upstream sector of the aluminium industry, which includes bauxite, alumina, and primary aluminium. To begin with, the proposed merger between Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) and subsidiaries of Saudi Arabia’s Ma’aden has had its deadline extended to the second quarter of 2025. Former Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands and current Member of Parliament for Central Honiara, Gordon Darcy Lilo, has firmly denied allegations related to the bauxite mining controversy on Rennell Island in the Rennell/Bellona Province. NALCO has signed a mining lease deed for the merged Utkal-D and Utkal-E coal blocks in Angul district, Odisha. The new lease agreement will allow NALCO to increase its coal production capacity to 4.0 million tonnes per annum (MTPA),...
MAAN Aluminium Limited, one of the pioneers in the Indian aluminium extrusion industry, has experienced a 3 per cent jump in shares following the commencement of commercial production at the newly installed 30 MN short stroke back loading press. Image Source: LinkedIn, MAAN Aluminium Ltd The new press, equipped with advanced technologies, has doubled the production capacity from 12,000 tonnes to 24,000 tonnes. It supports 30 mm wider profiles and enables the production of all series alloys (1xxx to 7xxx), strengthening MAAN Aluminium’s position in the Indian and international markets. The press with cutting-edge technologies can streamline operations and enhance production efficiency, boosting the company’s competitiveness in the global aluminium extrusion market. On December 27, MAAN...
