
The Canyon Resources’ subsidiary has acquired 42.8 per cent of Douala Port Timber Terminal, adding a port interest to its existing railway stake as it develops a planned route for Minim-Martap bauxite. Camalco Cameroon is extending its position in the logistics network being planned for the Minim-Martap bauxite project, acquiring a 42.8 per cent stake in Douala Port Timber Terminal (TBPD). The investment adds a port-related interest to its existing shareholding in Camrail, the railway operator expected to form part of the project’s transport route. The acquisition was completed through a capital increase at TBPD, rather than the purchase of shares from existing shareholders. Camalco invested XAF 347.447 million (USD 604,000), subscribing to newly issued shares reserved entirely for the...
The aluminium industry is entering another phase of supply-chain repositioning. Across bauxite, alumina and primary aluminium, companies are investing in new resources, consolidating strategic assets and expanding processing capacity, while governments are increasingly treating domestic supply as a strategic priority. The latest developments from Australia, Guyana, Guinea, Indonesia, the US and India point to a market where resource security, processing location and control over supply chains are becoming as important as production growth. At the same time, new trading mechanisms and changing investment patterns are beginning to influence how aluminium and its raw materials reach the market. Bauxite supply expands, but securing the right tonnes is becoming harder In Western Australia, VBX...
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In November 2023, the economic environment in France witnessed a renewed decline, signalling a deepening concern for the prospective business landscape in the months ahead, as reported by ING Think. The euro zone's second-biggest economy anticipated growth is poised to decelerate. Concurrently, the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) figures underscore persistent inflationary pressures, emphasizing the prolonged timeframe required for any potential disinflationary trends. However, in September 2023, the Bank of France, the nation's central bank, indicated that the economic growth outlook for the next two years is slightly lower than initially anticipated, attributing this adjustment to its primary trade partners' financial challenges. The Bank revised its forecast for 2023 upward following a...

Africa’s primary aluminium production has exhibited an oscillating trend over the past ten months of 2023. Although the output in October encountered a significant rise of 4.5 per cent, reaching 139,000 tonnes compared to the previous month, yet it could not beat the last year’s production. According to the International Aluminium Institute data, Africa’s aluminium production in October rose month-on-month after two consecutive months of downfall. In August and September, the output stood at 135,000 tonnes and 133,000 tonnes, respectively, following a hike of 5,000 tonnes to 136,000 tonnes in July. Similarly, the earlier months went through frequent ups and downs, with the sharpest fall in February to 123,000 tonnes versus 138,000 tonnes in January. It is to be noted here that Africa’s...

Thai Yazaki Electric Wire, part of the Japanese corporation Yazaki, is set to construct a new facility dedicated to producing aluminium electric wires. This initiative is driven by the anticipation of a growing demand for the country's electricity infrastructure, prompting the need for an expanded manufacturing capacity. The proposed facility is intended to serve as a substantial factory, encompassing tasks ranging from the aluminium melting process. It is slated to be constructed on the grounds of the current Suvarnabhumi plant site, situated about 40 kilometres east of Bangkok in the country. Amidst significant advancements in the power sector, the company is aligning its production system to meet the demands of sizable projects. The construction for the cutting-edge plant is to begin...

The downstream aluminium sector has been a witness to major developments this week, with the leading aluminium producer in Romania, Alro S.A., investing $4.22 million in two projects to improve the quality of their flagship products, including aluminium alloy plates by implementing new machinery. During its session on November 22, 2023, the Supervisory Board of AMAG Austria Metall AG announced the appointment of Dr. Helmut Kaufmann, aged 60, as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective from January 1, 2024. Dr. Kaufmann will continue in his current role as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) concurrently. In a win for the US aluminium extruders, the US International Trade Commission (USITC) has found that the American aluminium extrusions industry is being materially injured or...

China's aluminium imports increased for the fifth straight month in October, according to customs statistics published on November 18, 2023. The increase is attributable to increased purchasing appetite, driven by strong demand and forecasts of lower supply in the local market. Chinalco Materials Application Research Institute Co., Ltd., Yunnan Yuntong Zinc Industry Co., Ltd., and Shenyang Boyu Technology Co., Ltd., all affiliated with Chinalco Group Co., Ltd., were among the fifth batch of state-level specialised and innovative "Little Giant" enterprises announced by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. The 2023 Kunming Headquarters Enterprise Recognition Results have been issued by the Kunming Headquarters (Building) Economic Leadership Group Office. Yunnan Aluminium...

On November 17, Henan Yongheng Technology Co., Ltd. from China embarked on an ambitious project to create a new green aluminium alloy with an annual output of 500,000 tonnes. The project, requiring a total investment of RMB 3.5 billion, will be spread over a vast area of 340 acres. The company plans to construct a standardized plant that spans 200,000 square meters, which will house a state-of-the-art green aluminium alloy production line and digital intelligent aluminium processing and production equipment. Once the facility is fully operational, it is expected that the company's annual output value will soar to an impressive RMB 10 billion. This investment is a significant milestone for the company committed to staying ahead of the curve in the ever-changing world of aluminium alloy...

After being hailed with the UK Packaging Awards title, Eviosys has bagged the metal packaging industry's highest honour – the Best in Metal Award 2023, for its flagship Ecopeel solution. Discovered and developed by Eviosys, a sustainable packaging brand, Ecopeel is an aluminium peelable foil used in sealing canned products. Every year, the Metal Packaging Manufacturers Association (MPMA) awards the prestigious Best in Metal award to a deserving winner selected from a group of shortlisted finalists in the MPMA-sponsored metal packaging category of the UK Packaging Awards. At the MPMA's annual dinner held on Friday, November 17th, the Best in Metal trophy was presented by MPMA chairman Aidan Rudduck to Francois Querrioux, Chief Operating Officer of Eviosys, and Dr David Hall, R&D Director...

On Thursday, November 23, Metro Mining Limited reported that its record production at Bauxite Hills mine made the sales target easily achievable. CEO and MD Simon Wensley said that the phased expansion to 5 million wet metric tonnes in August and September 2023 helped Bauxite Hills mine meet the annual sales target of 4.5 to 5 million tonnes by shipping 1.61 million wet metric tonnes through Q3 2023. This new production milestone gives confidence boost to achieve the 7 million tonnes a year output rate by 2024, said Simon Wensley in a statement. “The Metro team, together with our contract partners, have worked incredibly hard to reach this milestone. The rates currently being achieved provide high confidence that the 7mtpa production rate will be achieved in 2024.” Metro Mining achieved...

Cardiff-based aluminium fabricator, Dudley's Aluminium, will collaborate with Kier Construction Ltd on the Abergavenny's Nevill Hall Hospital facility. The primary objective of the facility is to provide radiation treatments in proximity to the residences of Gwent inhabitants and those residing in the northern and eastern regions of the catchment area associated with the Velindre Cancer facility. Colin Shorney, managing director of Dudley's Aluminium, said, "We are delighted to be supporting Kier Construction Limited on what will be an instrumental improvement to the local area. Providing local and accessible radiotherapy services is of great importance and this vital project will make a difference for cancer patients in the region." The facilities will include a radiation satellite...

Acer has launched its latest addition to the Swift series, the Acer Swift Edge 16, a lightweight laptop designed for professionals and students looking for sleek and easily portable devices. The laptop weighs only 1.24 kg due to the clever use of aluminium in the chassis. The use of magnesium-aluminium alloy in the Acer Swift Edge 16 laptop is a notable feature that enhances its portability and durability. Compared to the regular aluminium material commonly used in laptops, this alloy is considerably lighter but still maintains a high level of strength. Some of the core specifications of Acer Swift Edge 16 are: Acer Swift Edge features a full-size keyboard with a number pad and an LED-backlit touchpad It has two USB Type-A ports, two USB Type-C ports, an HDMI 2.1 port, and an SD card...

Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) has initiated the construction of a first-of-its-kind pilot plant to convert bauxite residue, a waste stream generated during alumina refining, into a specially engineered soil known as 'Turba.' EGA's Turba, created from bauxite residue, offers a promising alternative to address the country's soil scarcity. Moreover, early studies indicate that Turba may possess up to 10 times better carbon dioxide absorption properties than natural soil in the UAE. The significance of this project lies in its potential to address one of the most challenging waste streams in the aluminium industry. The pilot plant, believed to be the first of its kind globally, is the culmination of five years of scientific research and development conducted by EGA in collaboration with a...

Chongqing Guochuang Light Alloy Research Institute carried out the first trial run of its aluminium ingot casting project. The multifunctional melting and casting platform is outfitted with 16t melting and casting units, including a tilting side well-melting furnace, a hydraulic tilting static and dynamic furnace, a hydraulic casting machine, a three-rotor degasser, and a two-stage plate filter. The trial run was attended by Huang UBS, deputy general manager of Chinalco Material Institute and chief engineer of Chinalco Group, Li Hutian, chief engineer of Chinalco Group, Yang Rongdong, director of the Institute of Melting and Green Casting, Fan Lin and Liu Li, pilot base heads, melting and casting technology masters from Southwest Aluminium Technology Centre and Melting and Casting Plant,...

According to a recent report by Fortune Business Insights, the global aerosol cans market size is estimated to reach $10.52 billion in 2023 from 10.02 billion in 2022. By 2030, the market size is projected to grow further to stand at $15.42 billion, recording a CAGR of 5.62 per cent from 2023 to 2030. The growth owes to the increasing need in the automotive, paints, and personal care industries due to several benefits like recyclability, user-friendliness, contamination and spill resistance. Among all materials used for making aerosol cans, aluminium is the most popular for having superior physical qualities over the others. Aluminium is the most preferred metal by aerosol can producers, retailers, and consumers because the cans made of aluminium are lightweight, easy to ship, and...

The Direzione Cor Tauri plan has set Automobili Lamborghini on a path of sustainability, and the Lamborghini World Finals 2023, held at Vallelunga circuit on the outskirts of Rome on November 16 to19, has made yet another remarkable achievement in terms of being 'green'. The event received ISO 20121 certification, which attests that it was conducted maintaining best practices in environmental, social, and economic sustainability. TÜV Italia, the certifying body for environment, quality, energy, and safety, was responsible for the accreditation. It is a proud moment for Automobili Lamborghini to have earned such recognition for its efforts towards sustainability. The event prioritised an eco-quality check on the materials used, minimising packaging and disposable plastic items and opting...

Alupro, the Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation, has released a new study illustrating the nationwide effect of its pioneering teaching programmes. The Alupro Impact Report investigates the consequences of its most recent initiatives and monitors progress towards its objective of reaching a 100 per cent recycling rate for aluminium packaging in 2022. “We’re delighted to have launched our first impact report to provide further insight into the work we deliver. As a member organisation, it’s important to demonstrate how we’re working to achieve our goals and the progress we’re making,” said Tom Giddings, executive director at Alupro. The paper provides a critical analysis of how the accomplishments of Alupro members make significant contributions to addressing two prominent...

The most eminent aluminium producer in Romania, Alro S.A., has proposed investing US$4.22 million (3.86 million euro) in two respective projects focused on checking the quality of the firm's flagship products like aluminium alloy plates. On November 23, the Romanian aluminium producer implied that they were aiming to install two new inspecting solutions for aluminium alloy plates so that product quality could be determined. This was revealed by the firm during a filing at the Bucharest Stock Exchange. Alro also illustrated that these new machines would be fundamental in automatically scanning both surfaces of the aluminium plates for any discrepancies in shape, texture or quality. The company is optimistic that the additions would let them achieve the highest industry standards. The CEO...

A report states that Saudi Arabia aims to double its investments in the aluminium industry to become one of the top ten aluminium producers in the world. So far, the country has infused at least $12 billion into various aluminium projects to expand its production capacity. In early 2023, Saudi Arabia’s Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu approved five investment calls worth SR43 billion (US$11.4 billion) for the construction of major industrial projects in the Arabian cities of Yanbu and Ras Al Khair. The investment made a provision for the Red Sea Aluminium Industrial Company to acquire leased industrial land in Yanbu Industrial City to make a plant for safe smelting and rolling of aluminium and its alloys. The plant would also be used for drawing, purifying and casting, alongside the...

The Shanghai Metals Market, on November 24, marked a slight digression in aluminium prices, with the SMM A00 aluminium ingot price rising by RMB 10 per tonne to close at RMB 18,820 per tonne. The average aluminium prices have hovered between RMB 18,800 per tonne and RMB 18,840 per tonne. If the SMM aluminium ingot price on November 24, last year, is considered, a Year-on-Year slump of RMB 280 per tonne or 1.46 per cent from RMB 19,100 per tonne can be recorded. Also, on a Month-on-Month scale, the SMM aluminium price has dropped by RMB 90 per tonne or 0.47 per cent from RMB 18,910 per tonne on October 24 to RMB 18,820 per tonne today. When the aluminium price on November 17, last week, is taken into account, one can find a Week-on-Week escalation of RMB 10 per tonne or 0.05 per cent....