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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As the week progresses, on Thursday, November 14, the alumina price surge trend, witnessed since the initial days of September, continues its upward climb in a similar ratio. Image Source: https://www.made-in-china.com/ Alumina pricing Today, the nearly colourless crystalline substance stood at RMB 5,567 per tonne (averaged), which was a massive 85 per cent hike Y-o-Y (price on November 14, 2023 stood at RMB 3,006 per tonne). The W-o-W inflation is not merely marginal at all, with a 4.4 per cent rise in just a week's span. The provincial prices are almost to reach 6000 bucks, wherein Lianyungang and Bayuquan witnessed alumina's average cost of RMB 5,950 per tonne (50 RMB additional to the previous day's price) and a range between RMB 5,910 and 5,990 per tonne on Thursday. Two other...
The Indian aluminium industry has once again knocked the government to remind about the increase of import duties on primary and downstream aluminium and to raise customs duty on aluminium scrap to restrict the inflow of low-quality scrap into the country. This urge to the government time and again is essential in the background of skyrocketing primary aluminium and low-grade scrap imports, particularly from countries with excessive production capacity like China, causing the domestic market to fight against uncompetitive prices and impeding investments in local production. In July 2024, ahead of the Union Budget, Indian aluminium producers had asked for an import duty hike on aluminium scrap to 7.5 per cent from the present 2.5 per cent. For primary aluminium, the demand was an import...
Governments must urgently act to stimulate demand for green materials, chemicals and fuels to accelerate the decarbonisation of the world’s highest-emitting industries, according to 40 business and finance leaders and coalitions, which represent more than 1,000 companies and financial institutions, in a new open letter. Doing so could unlock up to $1 trillion of investment and bring more than 500 green industrial plants awaiting finance to construction by 2030. This would enable the emissions reduction needed from six of the highest emitting industries - aluminium, cement, chemicals, steel, aviation and shipping - to align with a 1.5°C pathway in the next decade while creating sustainable growth. New data published today by the Industrial Transition Accelerator (ITA) and the Mission...
An industry group stated on November 13, 2024, that increased use of aluminium and recycled copper could assist China in managing its limited copper resources. This is because Chinese smelters face profit challenges due to constrained copper concentrate supplies. Ge Honglin, Chairman of the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association (CNIA), stated, "The copper industry faces many uncertainties and severe challenges ... profit of smelters, in many cases, is not from copper but from byproducts with some already suffering loss." Global miners and smelters from the world's leading copper producers and consumers traditionally gather in Shanghai each November for the Asia Copper Week event. This gathering is crucial for negotiating copper concentrate contracts and establishing treatment...
Goyal Aluminiums Limited, a leading manufacturer of aluminium coil, aluminium sheets, aluminium sections and other aluminium parts, has announced its second quarter results ended September 30, 2024, revealing a 75 per cent surge in net sales. From INR 12.39 crore (US$1.47 million) in Q2 FY2023-24, the company’s net sales increased to INR 21.68 crore (US$2.57) in Q2 FY2024-25. Image Source: Goyal Aluminiums On a quarter-on-quarter basis, Goyal Aluminiums’ net sales grew by 12.8 per cent from INR 19.22 crore (US$2.28 million). Quarterly net profit grew by 6.31 per cent Y-o-Y from INR 0.48 crore (US$56,879) to INR 0.51 crore (US$60,436). Over three-month period, net profit in Q2 stood 2 per cent higher than INR 0.50 crore (US$59,254). EBITDA stood at INR 0.80 crore (US$94,805) in the...
From smartphones to smart shoes, every gadget that we use daily is enhanced with aluminium. The demand for this versatile metal is skyrocketing, but so is its toll on the environment. The time for action is now. Image Source: Hydro The aluminium production industry is unified on decarbonisation. And the industry giants have taken baby steps towards the goal. According to the 2023 Aluminum Paradox report by the Environmental Integrity Project, global aluminium production resulted in 1.2 billion tonnes of global greenhouse gases in 2021. Now, the initiatives are to significantly reduce global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to keep the subsequent global warming under 2 °C (vs pre-industrial levels, i.e. the Beyond 2 Degrees Scenario, or B2DS). Whereas it should ideally be below 1.5 °C....
Contradictory to the usual chassis design of motorhomes, there are aluminium-chassised king-size vintage motorhomes sold in the marketplace, competing with the newer models. Where? On the Airstream Marketplace platform, of course. Airstream, for over three decades now, has been a known name in the recreational vehicle and motorhome segment. The vehicles are known for their basically bulletproof drivetrains or rather 'silver bullet' travel trailers with riveted aluminium bodies. Let's delve into some individual models to understand the 'why' of the demand for vintage vehicles. Image Source: Pinterest Airstream 360 In 1993, Airstream presented a humungous bumper-to-bumper slightly smaller than a 36-foot vehicle with aerodynamic aluminium bodies. The standard 360 model was mounted on a...
After a decline last month, China's metallurgical-grade alumina production grew in October 2024, marking a M-o-M increase of 2.93 per cent, according to the Shanghai Metals Market survey. The output also escalated by 6.51 per cent year-on-year, backed by capacity expansion and higher operating rate. Exceeding the initial forecast of 1.73 per cent M-o-M growth, China's metallurgical-grade alumina production in October is estimated to have amounted to 7.112 million tonnes versus 6.91 million tonnes in September . Notably, the country's monthly output volume yet again surpassed the 7 million tonnes benchmark but fell short of 1.5 per cent to touch the August production. From January to October 2024, China's total production of metallurgical-grade alumina was recorded at 68.708 million...
As consumer preferences shift towards sustainability, transparency, and efficiency, aluminium is emerging as a material of choice for its recyclability, lightweight properties, and ability to preserve product quality. The aluminium packaging industry experienced steady growth in 2023, driven by an increasing demand for beverage cans and packaging foils. With over 11.5 million tonnes of aluminium flat-rolled products used in the overall packaging sector throughout the year, the industry’s expansion has been fuelled by a shift away from traditional materials like plastic and glass. A growing preference for sustainable packaging solutions , rising disposable incomes, and increased urbanisation are significant drivers of this growth. Additionally, advancements in technology are playing a...
On November 12, 2024, the Forces Vives coalition of Guinean opposition groups, civil society organisations, and activists called for establishing civilian rule by January 1, 2025. The junta, which came to power through a coup in 2021, had initially proposed a two-year transition to elections, starting in 2022, following negotiations with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). However, there needs to be more progress toward organising the elections, fuelling growing public frustration. Since taking office, the military leader Mamady Doumbouya has faced sporadic protests against the authorities, with some escalating into deadly clashes between demonstrators and security forces. In July 2024, Guinea's transitional authorities unveiled a draft of a new constitution, which...
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) has reported a twofold increase in its Q3 profit for the calendar year ending December 31, 2024. Registering a 215 per cent hike Y-o-Y, Alba’s profit in the September quarter stood at BD54.5 million (US$145 million) versus BD17.3 million (US$46 million) in Q3 2023. Image Souce: Aluminium Bahrain The company’s aggregated year-to-date profit amounted to BD147.5 million (US$392.2 million), marking a Y-o-Y increase of 55.8 per cent from BD94.6 million (US$251.7 million). Alba revealed that its comprehensive income for Q3 2024 was BD51 million (US$135.6 million), up by 145.7 per cent from BD20.8 million (US$55.2 million) during the corresponding period of the previous year. The company’s total comprehensive income in nine months was BD145.3 million (US$386.5...
Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI), the global organisation known for setting industry standards and certification in the aluminium value chain, has recently announced the certification of Daiki Aluminium. The Japanese manufacturer, known for producing secondary aluminium alloys used in high-pressure die casting, casting, and rolling, has achieved the ASI Performance Standard V3 (2022) Certification. This certification applies to Daiki Aluminium's production of secondary aluminium alloys in both molten and ingot forms at its Shiga Plant. Image Source: ASI The Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) announced the certification, highlighting the facility's use of aluminium scraps as the primary raw material to produce recycled scrap ingots and recycled liquid metal. The Shiga Plant...
The average alumina price on Wednesday, November 13, has now crossed RMB 5500 per tonne in the Shanghai Metals Market. The average cost, after a gain of RMB 39, has stood at RMB 5529 per tonne, whereas the provincial prices in Lianyungang and Bayuquan are short of a mere 100 bucks to reach RMB 6000 in the stance of alumina. Image Source: Tradeindia Provincial alumina pricing details China's market price of alumina in the region of Lianyungang and Bayuquan has been rising between RMB 100 and RMB 200 since October 23. Today's price in both regions stands at RMB 5900 per tonne (range of RMB 5,860-5,940 per tonne), with RMB 100 gain in a day's span. The jump in W-o-W alumina price in both regions is calculated to be 9.25 per cent on average. In the three regions of Shandong, Guizhou and...
Alumil India, the wholly-owned subsidiary of the Alumil Group, has launched Loop 80, a groundbreaking certified aluminium product containing 80 per cent recycled material, setting a new global standard for sustainability. This follows the success of Loop 60, the company's first certified recycled aluminium, introduced in 2023. Image Source: Alumil The advancement represented by Loop 80 leads to an impressive 87 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions compared to the carbon footprint of primary aluminium production. Alumil is driving substantial energy and resource savings by reusing existing aluminium and significantly decreasing reliance on bauxite mining. “The introduction of Loop 80 sets a new benchmark in the architectural systems industry, both domestically and globally. This follows the...
Australia's largest aluminium extruder, Capral, has successfully completed a trial using recycled-content billets supplied by Rio Tinto at Boyne Smelters Limited (BSL) in a significant stride towards sustainable manufacturing. This innovative process involved remelting 50 to 100 tonnes of post-production aluminium scrap sourced from Capral's Bremer Park extrusion plant in Southeast Queensland. As a result, billets containing at least 20 per cent recycled content were produced, signalling a sustainable step forward in local aluminium manufacturing. The trial highlights a closed-loop system that embodies waste minimisation and a marked reduction in the carbon footprint associated with aluminium extrusions. This initiative aligns seamlessly with the Australian Government's Future Made in...
Pharmacy retailer Chemist Warehouse and Pharmacycle, in partnership with Kenvue, the maker of CODRAL, have launched Australia’s largest nationwide blister pack recycling program. Following a successful trial in late 2023 at 100 Chemist Warehouse locations across Victoria, the initiative has now expanded to all Chemist Warehouse and My Chemist pharmacies nationwide. Image Source: Pharmacycle The pharmaceutical sector is experiencing growing demand for aluminium-based packaging, especially blister packs and Alu-Alu, driven by increasing healthcare needs, ageing populations, and a rise in chronic diseases. As a result, the global pharmaceutical packaging market is expected to see substantial growth, with aluminium packaging—particularly blister and Alu-Alu—becoming a vital segment of this...
Constellium SE announced a major advancement in aluminium recycling for the automotive industry by implementing Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) technology at an industrial scale. This initiative, developed in collaboration with OSR GmbH & Co. KG, a German recycling specialist and a premium European automotive manufacturer, marks a significant step in reducing carbon emissions in the automotive supply chain by increasing the use of recycled aluminium. One of the most significant challenges in automotive aluminium recycling is the proper segregation of alloy families, which are critical to maintaining material quality. Traditionally, mixed 5xxx and 6xxx alloys from stamping scrap were downcycled, limiting their use in high-value applications. LIBS sorting technology enables...
An aluminium art piece by automotive artist Richard Neergaard has been installed permanently at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, UK. The artwork represents the Sunbeam 1000hp Land Speed Record vehicle, which is donated to encourage the restoration of the popular car. Image Source: www.nationalmotormusum.org.uk The art piece is structured from aluminium panels, is laser-cut, anodised, mounted on a high gloss black acrylic panel and is bent at 30 degrees. Andrea Bishop, director of collections and engagement at the National Motor Museum, has expressed her gratitude with the following words, "We are particularly pleased to have had this donation of stunning artwork from Richard Neergaard. We are currently raising awareness, funds, and support for the restoration of the Sunbeam 1000hp,...
