Futures: SHFE aluminium closed at RMB 24,375 per tonne in the previous trading session, edging down 0.04 per cent. The price stood above the MA10 (24,304) and MA30 (24,089.5), but slightly below the MA5 (24,258). Short-term moving averages flattened, while the medium-term bullish alignment remained intact, with the market consolidating at highs overall. On the MACD indicator, DIF=129.53 and DEA=139.74. DIF stayed above the zero axis but maintained a death cross, with the histogram at -20.43, indicating weakening bullish momentum and lingering short-term correction pressure. Trading volume rebounded slightly to 54,800 lots, with moderate market activity. The suggested core trading range for SHFE aluminium is 24,000-24,600. LME aluminium closed at USD 3,293.5 per tonne, down 0.20 per cent....
London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium prices moved lower on September 18, with cash, three-month and Dec-27 contracts declining from the previous session. The LME aluminium price overview also showed the Asian reference price falling, while cancelled warrants increased. Opening stocks and live warrants edged lower. The LME aluminium cash bid price fell 0.60 per cent to USD 3,283 per tonne from USD 3,302.5 per tonne , while the cash offer price declined 0.56 per cent to USD 3,285 per tonne from USD 3,303.5 per tonne. The three-month aluminium bid price fell 0.08 per cent to USD 3,281.50 per tonne from USD 3,284 per tonne. The offer price declined 0.09 per cent to USD 3,282 per tonne from USD 3,285 per tonne. For the Dec-27 contract, both the bid and offer prices fell 0.25 per cent. The bid...
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With the growing demand for packaging with reduced plastic content and more eco-friendly materials, many organisations are developing sustainable solutions featuring aluminium as one of the key ingredients. In response to this demand, Hamed Zarei and his team designed and evaluated various paper-aluminium laminates, testing their strength and durability against traditional polyethylene-aluminium packaging. Image source: Hamed Zarei As per the research published in ACS Omega, substituting plastic layers in takeout containers with paper could improve sustainability. Through mechanical testing and computer simulations, researchers explored paper-aluminium laminate designs that maintain durability and functionality. Zarei's team initially created two types of paper-aluminium laminates – A...
On October 31, five armed men stormed into a Uchi Mangli village (Punjab, India) based factory and stole over 18 quintals of aluminium and copper. The factory's security guard was held hostage during the unfortunate incident and, after the goons left, informed the owner, who then informed the local law enforcement authority. Image Source: Pixabay Of the total stolen material, the missing items in the factory synchronise with 12 quintals of copper and 6 quintals of aluminium. A case was filed against five unidentified accused after factory owner Munish Kumar Bansal, a resident of Sher-e-Punjab colony, Barewal road, Ludhiana, Punjab, India, lodged an official complaint. The complaint reveals detailed information that on Thursday, Munish received a call from his factory's security guard,...
Joan Johnson, a renowned artist from Nedlands, received the prestigious Alcoa Major Award, which comes with a significant prize of AUD 10,000, for her artwork titled 'Deconstructed, Reconstructed and Embellished' in the City of Rockingham’s Castaways Sculpture Awards 2024.. Image Source: City of Rockingham The deconstructed dice sculpture, a one-metre high and five-metre long piece, is a striking combination of aluminium, wood, and perspex, each material contributing to its unique aesthetic and structure. The dice has six circular dots crafted from woven aluminium cans, set back in the construction and covered with perspex, reminiscent of portholes. Johnson has been a regular exhibitor at Castaways since its genesis in 2008. Awarded with three minor prizes and a highly commended...
In a momentous farewell, National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), India's premier mining and metals powerhouse, announced the retirement of its distinguished Chairman-cum-Managing Director, Shri Sridhar Patra, effective October 31, 2024. Sridhar Patra, a stalwart in the industry, steps down after years of dedicated service, having driven NALCO's exceptional growth and leaving a legacy that will resonate across the company and beyond. Under Shri Patra's transformative leadership, NALCO reached new heights, achieving robust growth and championing mining and metal production sustainability. Known for his strategic vision and commitment to excellence, he steered the company through an era of unprecedented progress, securing NALCO's position as a beacon in the global aluminium sector. His...
AL Circle recently had the privilege of attending the presentation of Mr Uday Patel, Senior Research Manager for Metals and Mining – Aluminium, Wood Mackenzie, at the ICSOBA 2024 conference in Lyon, France. This enlightening session provided valuable insights into the current challenges facing the aluminium industry, as well as the potential outlook that could reshape its future. His expertise provided a comprehensive understanding of the dynamic landscape, highlighting the critical factors influencing market trends and the implications for stakeholders across the industry. This write-up is derived from the macroeconomic outlook based on Wood Mackenzie’s Q3 analysis, which Mr Uday Patel shared during his presentation. As the global economy begins to recover from the shocks of recent...
Tomago Aluminium, Australia's largest energy user, has asserted that it stands earmarked to shifting mostly to running on renewable energy by 2035. However, to achieve the benchmark, certainty of supply is of optimum importance. Image Source: Tomago Aluminium In Tomago's submission to the government's consultation document on green metals prospects for Australia, the company has conceded its role in the vigorously growing industry. The enterprise presently manufactures about 550,000 tonnes of aluminium, which demands a power supply of 950 megawatts 24x7, or about 12 per cent of the state's power. However, the plant's outcome is set to increase in the near future `as Bloomberg NEF Research estimates a twelve-fold hype in the aluminium market to meet Net Zero by 2050. "However, the...
Galesburg, a city in Knox County, Illinois, United States that has long championed environmental stewardship is preparing to say goodbye to a nearly four-decade institution: G & M Distributors’ aluminium can recycling operation. The facility, set to close on December 1st, has been a fixture since the early 1980s, providing a crucial service in diverting waste from landfills and promoting recycling within the community. However, mounting market challenges, increased operational costs, and a shrinking need for the service have forced G & M’s hand. Adam Vitale, President of G & M Distributors, expressed the company’s pride in their longstanding commitment to recycling, acknowledging the sense of loss that will follow the closure. Yet, in a message that underscores both resilience and...
As the week concludes, the price progress of alumina in the Shanghai Metals Market (SMM) continues to break records. The week started with the average alumina price of RMB 4900 per tonne and concluded with RMB 5,109 per tonne on November 1, 2024, with a total increase of close to 4.3 per cent within a week. Image Source: Itaforte According to SMM, the alumina price has had an approximately RMB 34 per tonne hike on an average M-o-M. What has gained attention in the province's price is that of Lianyungang and Bayuquan, where for the last 10 days, alumina has gained between RMB per tonne to RMB per tonne after over 5 months of dormancy. Both regions saw an increase of RMB 200 per tonne on Friday, totalling RMB 4900 per tonne in the market. Calculating the other provincial prices, alumina...
Ministry of Mines, Government of India, has reportedly proposed to lower the benchmark price of bauxite used to calculate the estimated value of resources and premium payable in auctions. The Ministry has put forward this proposal after getting multiple complaints from mining companies that claim the formula used for calculating the average sale price (ASP) of bauxite based on aluminium price on the London Metal Exchange (LME) provides a very high conversion rate. Currently, the formula outlined in the Mineral Concession Rules of 2016 has a conversion rate of 6.4 per cent. Image Source: NALCO Ministry of Mines has proposed to lower the conversion rate for metallurgical grade bauxite to 4.9 per cent from the existing 6.4 per cent after a committee constituted for ASP submitted its report....
In a rare move, the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) denied countervailing and anti-dumping duties on aluminium extrusion imports from 14 countries, including China, India, Mexico, and the United Arab Emirates. This ruling effectively halts cases aimed at imposing tariffs on aluminium extrusions, a material vital to numerous industries, including residential construction, HVAC, and furniture manufacturing. The decision ends countervailing and anti-dumping investigations and mandates that all duties previously collected by U.S. Customs and Border Protection will be refunded to importers. This outcome marks a significant win for American businesses, especially in the construction sector, as the absence of tariffs helps keep costs down for aluminium-dependent products such...
Since its inception, BAB Aluminium has embodied a story of grit, innovation, and quality. From its humble beginnings as a small fabrication company, BAB Aluminium has evolved into a leading manufacturer of durable and sustainable seating solutions, including grandstands, tables, and benches that serve communities across Australia. Brian Blowes, the founder of BAB Aluminium, began his journey in the aluminium industry in 1980 as a welder. Only four years later, he took the bold step of buying half of the company where he worked with a loan from his father. By 1986, he had acquired full ownership, and in 1988, he officially established BAB Aluminium. Initially, the company focused on custom aluminium fabrication, producing items like remote control gates and pool fences. However, Brian...
Rio Tinto's previously announced acquisition of Sumitomo Chemical Company's (SCC's) 20.64 per cent interest in New Zealand Aluminium Smelters (NZAS) was completed on November 1, 2024. NZAS owns and operates the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter in New Zealand. Following the completion of the transaction, NZAS is now wholly owned by Rio Tinto. Rio Tinto Aluminium Pacific Operations Managing Director Armando Torres said, "We are pleased the acquisition of SCC's stake in NZAS has now been finalised. This step, along with recently signed electricity arrangements to secure the future of the Tiwai Point smelter, reinforces our long-term commitment to New Zealand." Rio Tinto has also completed the previously announced acquisition of SCC's 2.46 per cent stake in Boyne Smelters Limited (BSL). The...
Pro-Ject Audio Systems has unveiled The Classic Reference turntable, touted as an extensively enhanced version of its Classic EVO or a refined successor to the VPO 175 limited edition. This model features the EVO 9 AS HG tonearm, equipped with high-precision ABEC 7 bearings encased in a substantial aluminium gimbal, ensuring smooth, resonance-free performance. Source: EssentialInstall The turntable also incorporates an internally-damped, S-shaped aluminium armtube with a removable headshell, allowing users to easily swap cartridges as desired. The high-mass aluminium alloy platter, damped with a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), effectively reduces unwanted resonance. The turntable comes with a clamp and leather record mat for additional stability, enhancing resonance control and providing...
To support Gränges’ sustainability ambitions and pathway to net-zero, the company has published a Green Finance Framework and a Sustainability-Linked Finance Framework to allow for the issuance of Green Bonds and Sustainability-Linked Bonds. Gränges has engaged Sustainalytics to provide an independent second-party opinion on the frameworks’ alignment with market principles and ambition levels. “Sustainability leadership is an essential part of our strategy, touching all parts of our business, and we are proud to be at the forefront of our industry. The Green and Sustainability-Linked Finance Frameworks give investors the opportunity to support our ambition and the transition towards a green aluminium industry”, says Oskar Hellström, CFO and Deputy CEO at Gränges AB. To prepare for the...
PT Alumindo Light Metal Industry Tbk (ALMI), one of Southeast Asia's largest aluminium rolling manufacturers, has halted all operational activities, including production, administration, and sales. Founded in 1978, ALMI is based in Surabaya, Indonesia, and operates as a subsidiary of the Maspion Group. This decision follows prolonged financial challenges, worsened by the 2018 global economic crisis, which the company has struggled to recover from. Corporate Secretary Wibowo Suryadinata confirmed the complete shutdown, stating that ALMI has faced severe revenue constraints. He noted that the company has neither income nor expenditures except bank interest costs and mandatory contributions. This drastic measure underscores the financial distress affecting ALMI, marking a significant setback...
Assan Alüminyum, a leading global producer of flat-rolled aluminium, has enhanced its sustainability initiatives by acquiring a solar power plant in Karaman. Spanning 11.37 hectares, the facility boasts a clean energy generation capacity of 10 MWp, underscoring the company's dedication to renewable energy production and reducing its carbon footprint. Image source: Assan Alüminyum About the acquisition The acquisition aligns with Assan Alüminyum's newly released Decarbonisation Roadmap , which sets the company's goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. This solar plant will play a crucial role in reaching key roadmap milestones, aiding in the reduction of Assan Alüminyum's carbon footprint by offsetting its Scope 2 market-based emissions. "With this solar power plant, we are...
Fife Aluminium and Metal Company, a specialist in architectural aluminium and metal products, has more than doubled its production space by relocating to Glenrothes. Founded in 2016 by Dale Robertson, the company has moved from its original Lochgelly location to two new units within Queensway Business Park. Image source: Paul Malik/DC Thomson With a rising demand for its products, Dale recognised the need for expanded facilities to accommodate the growing order volume. Now operating with a team of five, the company offers a wide range of products, including fascia and soffits, cladding and pressing, rainwater systems, and vision skylights. The new space also features displays, allowing customers to see their offerings up close. With over 30 years of experience in metalwork, Dale Robertson...
The Salzburger Aluminium Group (SAG Group), a market leader in aluminium-based vehicle components, is making significant strides in advancing lightweight construction. This will help drastically reduce CO₂ emissions across the automotive and heavy vehicle sectors. From luxury sports cars that race to high speeds within seconds to heavy-duty trucks built with advanced lightweight parts, SAG’s rheocasting technology has become instrumental in manufacturing durable, high-performance components. SAG’s lightweight designs for heavy goods vehicles use Fronius’s patented Cold Metal Transfer and WireSense technologies to ensure strength and resilience in even the most demanding conditions. As a global leader in aluminium tank manufacturing for heavy trucks, SAG serves a roster of top-tier OEMs...
