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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Mount Isa City Council plans to introduce a new residential recycling this year. From November 18 to December 6, 2024, yellow-top recycling wheelie bins will be distributed to all Mount Isa and Camooweal households, with collections starting in December 2024. Image Source: Mount Isa City Council The 240L yellow-top recycling bins will be collected fortnightly, while the red-top general waste bins will shift to weekly collections. Both of these will include items ranging from aluminium bottles to other metals, glass and papers. The new Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) will handle recyclable materials collected from the yellow-top bin, including aluminium, hard plastics, steel, paper, cardboard, glass bottles, and jars. The processed glass will be repurposed into construction materials for...
Major aluminium producers have set ambitious net-zero decarbonisation targets for 2050 and beyond. However, despite a modest reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions over the past five years, significant progress remains limited, as noted by ING Think. Image credit: Metal Supplies On September 30, 2024, the World Economic Forum’s publication stated that the global aluminium industry, responsible for approximately 2 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions and generating 1.1 billion tonnes of CO 2 e annually, faces mounting pressure to decarbonize. Scientific evidence, extreme weather events, and evolving consumer expectations underscore the urgent need for change. With aluminium demand projected to surge by 40 per cent by 2030, emissions could rise even further, intensifying...
China's dependence on imported bauxite is a significant factor in the nation's superior ranking in alumina and primary aluminium production. The sheer volume of raw material required to maintain this ranking cannot be met by domestic sources alone. Therefore, any disruption in bauxite supply has a profound impact on the entire aluminium production supply chain, underscoring the gravity of the situation. Guinea's role in the decline: According to S&P Global, China's reliance on imported bauxite is as high as 57 per cent. Guinea, as the primary supplier of bauxite to the nation, plays a crucial role in China's import figures. The disruption in Guinea's bauxite export scenario has therefore had a significant impact on China's bauxite supply, highlighting the importance of Guinea's bauxite...
Aluminium Co. of Egypt (Egyptalum), a subsidiary of the Metallurgical Industries Company and a leading player in the aluminium industry, has announced its fiscal results for the first quarter of FY2024-25 ended September 30, highlighting a striking increase in net profit and revenue. Image Source: Egyptalum According to the Q1 figures, Egyptalum yielded a net profit of EGP 4.23 billion after tax, up by 160 per cent Y-o-Y from EGP 1.63 billion. The company earned more profit in a single quarter than it secured in six months of the previous year. In the first six months of FY2024, Egypt Aluminium achieved a profit of EGP 3.43 billion , again up by 101 per cent Y-o-Y from EGP 1.7 billion. The above data shows a steady growth trend in Egyptalum’s net profit over the past two years. During the...
Marks and Spencer (M&S) Rushden Lakes has introduced the Beauty Takeback Scheme in-store, a program developed in collaboration with HANDLE, a beauty recycling specialist. Launched in June 2023 as part of M&S's Plan A roadmap towards achieving Net Zero, this initiative allows customers to recycle various types of aluminium and plastic beauty packaging from any brand, including bottles, tubes, caps, pumps, and tubs. Image Source: In Fashion Business Customers can simply drop their used packaging into designated collection boxes. Since its inception, the scheme has successfully gathered over 1.6 tonnes of beauty packaging—the weight of a small car—that might have otherwise ended up in a landfill. Rico Gilbert, Store Manager at M&S Rushden Lakes, said, "At M&S Rushden Lakes we want to play...
China Hongqiao Group Limited, one of the world’s leading aluminium manufacturers with a production capacity of more than 6 million tonnes and 11 major production bases around the world, has acquired Chain of Custody (CoC) Standard V2 (2022) Certification from the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative. Image Source: Aluminium Stewardship Initiative The company has received the certification for its Zouping Hongfa Aluminum Technology Co., Ltd facility and subsidiary Zouping Dingrui Renewable Resources Co. Ltd. While the former is involved in the research, development, production, and sales of aluminium alloy rolling products, including can body material, can cover material, aluminium foil blanks, and other products, the latter is responsible for non-ferrous metal processing and treating metal...
Jamaica Bauxite Mining Limited (JBM) and the Agro-Investment Corporation (Agro-Invest) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to repurpose former bauxite mining lands for agricultural development in an initiative that will revolutionise Jamaica's agricultural sector. This landmark agreement, executed on November 7, supports the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Mining's ongoing commitment to fostering sustainable agribusiness practices and strengthening climate resilience. The MoU outlines plans for a significant agricultural transformation on 670 acres of JBM's former mining land in Lydford, St Ann. This site will serve as the foundation for an innovative, technology-driven agro-park designed to boost investment in the sector and advance modern farming practices. The...
China’s aluminium production in October 2024 (31 calendar days) saw a year-on-year increase of 1.69 per cent and a month-on-month rise of 3.58 per cent, attributed to capacities back to operations in early October after technical renovations. However, some smelters unexpectedly delaying capacity resumption did offset the country’s monthly output, found the Shanghai Metals Market. Image Source: CRU The aluminium output hike in October could also be attributed to steady demand growth for downstream alloy products during the traditional peak season from September to October. In addition, China’s domestic primary aluminium price rally during October, reaching as high as RMB 21,080 per tonne, played a favourable role in metal production, providing the smelters an opportunity to make profits....
In 2024, Ukraine heightened its aluminium ore and bauxite concentrate import Y-o-Y by 46.8 per cent in physical terms during the time period of January to October. The cumulative imports accounted for this year towered at a whopping 19,842 thousand tonnes. As stated in the statistical report released by the State Customs Service (SCS), bauxite import in monetary terms has increased by 50.9 per cent (USD 2.681 million) in the aforementioned time span. This year's imports can be attributed to Turkey, which has supplied 70.31 per cent of supplies in monetary terms and China, which has accounted for 26.67 per cent. Ukraine has not re-exported bauxite from January to October 2024 as opposed to the same period in 2023. As noted in 2022, Ukraine lowered imports of both substances in physical...
On Friday, November 15, the average alumina spot price closed the week with a growth of RMB 33 per tonne to settle at RMB 5,600 per tonne. The alumina prices have shown incredible growth since September arriving at RMB 5,600 per tonne as of today. Image Source: Itaforte The prices have grown in most provinces except Lianyungang and Bayuquan, where they have remained unchanged at RMB 5,950 per tonne. In Henan and Shandong, the alumina prices have surged by RMB 50 per tonne and RMB 30 per tonne, settling at RMB 5,610 per tonne and RMB 5,580 per tonne. As per the SMM data, the prices in Shanxi, Guizhou and Guangxi have added RMB 25 per tonne to arrive at RMB 5,650 per tonne and RMB 5,550 per tonne. As per reports, this year, disruptions in bauxite supply from Guinea and Brazil, coupled with...
VarieT° Technology is proud to unveil its revolutionary Smart Heat Battery, a self-heating solution poised to transform food and beverage packaging. With a focus on sustainability and convenience, the Smart Heat Battery is designed to heat cans on demand, offering diverse applications in food delivery, camping, emergency situations, and even military use. VarieT°'s Smart Heat Battery sets itself apart from traditional self-heating technologies by using solar rechargeable fuel, providing an eco-friendly, non-electrical heating alternative. Unlike conventional batteries, the Smart Heat Battery has zero CO2 emissions, supporting a greener approach to portable heating solutions. The battery can be activated through a smartphone app or a simple twist mechanism, and it continues to function...
Toys are integral to kids' babyhood laughter, fun and, at times, their cognitive development. Kids' toys have a wide range and variety from miniature cars and bikes to kitchen utensils, from robots to electronic gadgets, and from medical instruments to building blocks. They ignite imagination, promote creativity, and provide hours of entertainment. However, when buying a toy for your champ ahead of the upcoming International Children's Day, remember that not all playthings are built equal, and in the long run, some might do more harm than good. In particular, plastic toys, which have conquered the market due to their low cost and accessibility, have been prone to their potential adverse impact on children's health, our planet, and their overall development. Conversely, aluminium is a...
National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), the Navratna CPSE under the Ministry of Mines, has announced the second quarter fiscal results for FY2024-25, wherein it has posted a fourfold growth in net profit. From INR 206 crore (US$24.4 million) in Q2 FY2023-24, the company’s net profit this year increased to INR 1062 crore (US$125.7 million), up by 415 per cent Y-o-Y. In Q1, the company’s net profit had grown by 72 per cent annually from INR 349 crore (US$41.3 million) to INR 601 crore (US$71.14 million). In Q2, the sequential growth was 76.69 per cent. During the period under review, the company’s total income from operations was INR 4001 crore (US$473.6 million) – 32 per cent higher than INR 3044 core (US$360.37 million) during the corresponding period of the previous year. EBITDA in...
The aluminium beverage can sales in Brazil have recorded an impressive 12 per cent year-on-year growth for H1 2024, revealed the Brazilian Association of Aluminium Can Manufacturers (Abralatas). The association, representing the country's aluminium can sector, previously noted that macroeconomic development significantly drove the increase in Brazilian beverage can sales this year. Following the revelation of this momentous growth, Abralatas expects the year to close with a high-digit sales figure for aluminium beverage cans. Earlier, the association estimated a growth rate of 5 per cent at the year-end, compared to an annual increase of 1.65 per cent last year. However, it is essential to see if the projection remains the same after this double-digit growth in H1. Production, consumption...
IB2, a trailblazer in the aluminium industry, has secured a remarkable €100 million investment secured from a group of financial and industrial investors . This significant funding will be used to pioneer sustainable alumina technology, further solidifying IB2's leading role in the industry. The business has announced that the investment will be utilised to develop and deploy its groundbreaking process further to produce more sustainable alumina. This substantial funding, attained over the past 12 months from financial and industrial investors, including Glencore, marks a pivotal juncture in the company's mission to transform the traditionally energy-intensive aluminium sector. Robin Scheiner, Head of Glencore's aluminium business, expressed sanguinity about the investment, stating, "As...
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) swiftly contained a minor industrial fire that broke out at a power rectiformer supplying its Reduction Line 1 in the early hours of November 13, 2024. Thanks to the immediate response of Alba’s dedicated teams and adherence to rigorous safety protocols, no personnel were injured or harmed. Alba remains committed to maintaining the highest standards of safety and ensuring uninterrupted operations. Alba team is diligently working to restore normal operations at Reduction Line 1 as soon as possible. Image credit: ALBA; Instagram
In the era of rapidly rising global warming, air conditioners have become a common household item for people from most financial backgrounds. However, a handful understand how these electronic devices do more harm to us than good in the long run. Thus, researchers are dedicated to bringing forth newer, more environmentally friendly cooling technologies into the market. And finally, a team from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology has succeeded in their effort, offering a ray of hope to combat global warming. They have created a cooling device based on the commercial thermoelectric heat pump, mainly used in mattress pads and high-end portable coolers. The major difference between the new device and the traditional cooling ones is that the new device does not blow cool air into...
In a significant judgment, the Chhattisgarh High Court in India has quashed the Korba Collector's (the highest officer of the revenue department in the district) order that imposed a hefty royalty of INR 863.18 lakh (USD$ USD 1.04 million) on Bharat Aluminium Company (BALCO) Limited for vanadium sludge. The High Court Single Bench presided over by Justice Bibhu Datta Guru, found the order to be legally unsustainable, citing an improper examination of both legal and factual grounds. The crux of the Court's decision rested on whether vanadium sludge— a by-product generated during the removal of impurities from bauxite as it is processed into alumina—could be classified as a mineral liable for royalty. Justice Guru ruled that vanadium sludge does not fall within the definition of a mineral,...
