Canada and China have extended a bilateral trade arrangement that links Chinese market access for Canadian agricultural products with Canada's access for Chinese steel and aluminum. The decision provides greater certainty for exporters on both sides as Ottawa seeks to expand its trade relationships beyond the United States. The extension, announced on November 4, 2026, will keep the existing arrangement in place until the end of 2028. It comes amid renewed efforts by the two countries to strengthen economic ties and address outstanding trade issues. For the aluminum industry, the agreement offers a clearer timeline for market access, while its agricultural provisions provide Canadian producers with greater predictability in one of their key export markets. Canada-China trade agreement...
Aluminium aerosol cans are significantly less likely to be recovered during recycling operations than conventional drinks cans, according to new research by waste intelligence company Greyparrot. An AI-powered analysis of waste streams found that aluminium aerosols recorded a sorting success rate of 68 per cent, compared with 85.3 per cent for drinks cans, highlighting the challenges faced by recycling facilities in recovering non-beverage aluminium packaging. The findings were generated through Greyparrot's Deepnest platform, which analysed 1.2 billion waste items across facilities in the UK, the US and the Netherlands, including 395,424 aerosols. The results were discussed during a recent webinar involving representatives from waste management company Biffa, packaging manufacturer Ball...
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On Tuesday, December 6, LB Aluminium Bhd, one of the largest aluminium extrusion manufacturers in Asia, declared an 81 per cent hike in its net profit for the 2nd quarter of FY23 ended October 31 from RM6.83 million in the previous year to RM12.35 million, thanks to higher average selling prices and improved margins for its aluminium product segment. Quarterly revenue increased by 30 per cent to RM206.09 million for the said period versus RM158.84 million in 2QFY22. In the first six months of the fiscal year 2023, net profit jumped by more than two-fold over the year from RM9.87 million to RM24.86 million. Revenue escalated by 58 per cent from RM273.39 million to RM433.15 million. The group claimed stable global aluminium prices and stronger ringgit value than the US dollar were the two...
An initial air core first-pass drilling programme at Lanthanein Resources' Koolya Project in Western Australia has concluded after 599 metres of drilling and with unprecedented visual results. Brian Thomas, the Technical Director at Lanthanein Resources, said, "The results highlight a significant amount of high-quality bright white kaolin at the project." Due to its conversion into high-purity alumina (HPA), which is used in Li-ion batteries, LED lighting, semiconductors, and sapphire glass, high-purity kaolin is becoming increasingly important as a vital mineral. Contrarily, halloysite can be applied in nanotechnologies for various commercial purposes, including carbon sequestration, agriculture, energy, and health. Thomas stated, "Samples will be sent for dual analysis for rare earth...
Ball Corporation has declared shutting down its aluminium beverage can facility in St Paul, Minnesota and relieving 100 employees of their duty. On November 5, Ball had confined to the State of Minnesota to discuss these sudden layoffs. This will result in the final closure of the Rexam Beverage Can Company site in the state. In August, Ball announced stopping production at two of its units in North America and another one in Phoenix, Arizona. These declarations were based on the Q2 2022 reports. The company is claiming that this is in accordance with the plummeting consumer demand. The final act of closing the facility will commence on February 8, 2023, with the calculated termination of employees. Ball claims that “inflation-related expenses and a decrease in customer/consumer demand...
National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) has elevated its aluminium ingot and aluminium products prices, effective from December 7, in line with the LME aluminium price hike over a week. NALCO has significantly increased its aluminium ingot price by INR 14,700 per tonne or 6.6 per cent from INR 220,450-223,950 per tonne on November 29 to INR 235,150-238,650 per tonne on December 7. NALCO has also raised its aluminium wire rod price by INR 14,700 per tonne, with effect from December 7, to sell the product at INR 239,650- 244,000 per tonne versus INR 224,950-229,300 per tonne a week ago. Aluminium billets price is no exception but seen a lift of the same amount with effect from December 7 to be sold at INR 239,600-242,250 per tonne, compared to INR 224,900-227,550 per tonne on November...
Hydro has signed an agreement with the Germany-based family-run building systems and extrusions enterprise, Hueck, with an investment plan of almost ₹60.3 million. This ownership might elevate Hydro's position in the German and European aluminium extrusion market while promoting their combined expertise in the genre. The investment will have a proportional division allotted for each operational necessity, from net debt management to usual working capital. The Executive Vice President of Hydro Extrusions, Paul Warton, pointed out: "Hueck is well positioned in Germany to serve the European building systems and extrusions market and will fit well into Hydro Extrusions. The acquisition will strengthen our ability to provide a quality service offering to European customers with an even broader...
Chris Blenkiron, the chief executive of New Zealand Aluminium Smelters Limited (NZAS), stated that smelting is better for the environment than a "green hydrogen" plant since it employs more people and generates more income per unit of electricity used. However, if a new power supply agreement with power producers is not reached by the end of 2024, the Tiwai Point Aluminium Smelter, owned by NZAS will have to shut down. Chris Blenkiron stated, "I'm hopeful that through our aluminium, our participation in the energy sector and our determination to be responsible environmental guardians that our story can continue beyond 2024," There is a rumour that a deal is close to being called. According to the reports, Chris Blenkiron revealed to the Trans-Tasman Business Council that he has been in...
In the third quarter of 2022, the United States imported 669,000 tonnes of crude and dried bauxite, recording a sequential growth of 25,000 tonnes or 3.88 per cent, found the US Geological Survey data. In the second quarter, the import volume was 644,000 tonnes, down by 12.50 per cent from 736,000 tonnes in 1Q2022. Although the bauxite imports into the United States grew over a quarter for Q3, it decreased annually by 24.06 per cent from 881,000 tonnes. In the entire nine months of 2022, the United States imported 2.050 million tonnes of crude and dried bauxite - 11.25 per cent less than 2.310 million tonnes during the same period last year. Jamaica continued to be the highest exporter of bauxite to the US in Q3, but volume decreased by 21.04 per cent Q-o-Q from 637,000 tonnes to 503,000...
The Russian aluminium giant Rusal, which is also among the biggest producers of aluminium worldwide, has risen to the top of the annual Donor Forum association ranking for corporate social responsibility. RUSAL received the highest rating possible and was placed in the A + category, as determined by the findings of the study of company social investment systems. A competition for corporate social activities was launched by Donor Forum this year as well. The expert jury gave two of RUSAL's social programmes top marks, and both took home awards. The programme "Sustainable Development of Social Responsibility Territories" came in second place in the category "The Best Corporate Social Investment Program in the Territories in the Context of Sustainable Development and Business Strategy." This...
Norwegian energy firm Equinor has reached a final investment decision for $430 million in Brazil's 531MW Mendubim solar project. It is a joint venture project between Scatec, Hydro Rein, and Equinor in Rio Grande do Norte. In a 20-year power purchase agreement, Alunorte, one of the world's largest alumina suppliers for the aluminium industry, has already agreed to buy about 60% of the PV project's electricity. However, the remainder will be sold in the Brazilian domestic market. There will be an annual production of approximately 1.2TWh, equivalent to 620,000 Brazilian households' electricity consumption. In addition, it is expected to generate more than 1,000 direct and indirect jobs during construction. Olav Kolbeinstveit, Senior Vice-President at Equinor Renewables Power and Markets,...
The Bulgarian aluminium extruder, Aluplast-ZTG, an Altest company, recently procured a second Nitrex nitriding system. This results from the extruder gaining a big manufacturing boost after installing new extrusion presses to meet customer demand for its extrusion profiles used in residential and commercial construction. Since 2011, the first nitriding furnace, a compact N-EXT-412, has been operating. The new second furnace, a model N-EXT-612, is the same as the first one but more significant, capable of processing a load of extrusion dies weighing up to 1300 lb. (600 kg). Aluplast's decision to purchase the N-EXT-612 was influenced by an excellent relationship, trust in Nitrex's technology, and short delivery delay. Atanas Novakov, the Manager at Aluminium Production Plant, said, “We...
A World Trade Organization (WTO) panel has ruled in favour of Norway against the United States in a dispute Norway brought over U.S. import duties imposed on aluminium and steel in 2018. Former U.S. President Donald Trump issued a memorandum setting responsibilities in March 2018. It exempted the European Union and some other allies but struck non-EU member Norway, a significant aluminium producer. The tariffs were imposed on American manufacturers, who had difficulty competing with cheap imports and were forced to close several domestic smelters. "The WTO panel's report, which was released today, concludes that the U.S. tariff on steel and aluminium was in breach of the WTO rules," said the Norwegian ministry. Many members have lodged similar complaints with the WTO, including the...
Birmingham’s Aston University has collaborated with Midland-headquartered cast house technology experts via a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) to plan new energy-saving ways of recycling aluminium, which might save almost 50 per cent of the total consumption demanded by the process. This latest alliance with Mechatherm International Ltd was forged immediately after the successful accomplishment of the company’s first partnership with Aston University, which led to the discovery of a more smart designing technique for furnaces and auxiliary equipment for the aluminium sector worldwide. The joint venture brought out more intricate blueprints, high-end automation solutions and algorithms. Usually, KTP refers to a three-way relationship between an established business, an academic partner...
On December 8, 2022, the industry leader in non-ferrous metal trading and manufacturing, Metal Exchange Corporation, announced the name of Matt Rohm, the present President and Chief Operating Officer (COO), will be promoted to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Metal Exchange Corporation effective January 1, 2023. While at that time, Rick Merluzzi, the current CEO, will assume the title of Executive Vice Chairman, serving as an advisor to Executive Chairman Mike Lefton, on key strategic initiatives for the organization, through the end of 2023. Matt Rohm will be accountable for the business's overall performance in his new position, with strategic oversight of all operating companies, divisions, and the entire Metal Exchange portfolio. The Chairman, Mike Lefton, said, "We are excited to...
LME aluminium opened at US$2,500 per tonne on Thursday, and fluctuated around its opening price before closing at US$2,500 per tonne. On December 8, Thursday LME aluminium cash bid price escalated by US$17.50 per tonne or 0.71 per cent, closing at US$2,467.50 per tonne and the LME aluminium official settlement price surged by US$18 per tonne or 0.73 per cent, settling at US$2,468.50 per tonne. The 3-month bid price saw a rise of US$19.50 per tonne or 0.79 per cent, settling at US$2,496 per tonne, while the 3-month offer price had a price hike of US$21 per tonne or 0.85 per cent, resting at US$2,498 per tonne. December 23 bid price and December 23 offer price both gained US$22 per tonne or 0.86 per cent, stopping at US$2,560 per tonne and US$2,565 per tonne. LME aluminium opening stock...
With smelters in Gansu and Inner Mongolia starting to begin output, aluminium prices recorded a fall on Wednesday, December 7. The recent bulls have been priced in by investors, who have since begun to fret about the speed of US rate hikes and the prospects for Chinese demand. At the current high aluminium prices, market activity in the aluminium ingot and aluminium billet segments was comparatively poor. Poor sales and expensive aluminium may force some downstream manufacturers to halt output. In November, the nation exported 455,599 tonnes of unwrought aluminium and primary, alloy, and semi-finished aluminium products. China's trade surplus decreased to USD 69.84 billion in November of this year from USD 71.7 billion in the corresponding month of the previous year, significantly below...
On November 21, 2022, Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) received two major awards – ‘Gold’ Green World Award and Green World Leader for 2022, from the Green Organisation as announced in the Green Apple Awards ceremony held at the Palace of Westminster, London, UK. Alba's Chief Executive Officer Ali Al Baqali commented on the honour: "As one of the leading industrial companies in the Region, Alba has been a keen investor in sustainable initiatives that help preserve and protect the environment. Winning two prestigious Awards from the Green Organisation translates into our ongoing commitment to operating sustainably and producing responsibly." Mohamed Khalil, Alba's Director of Safety, Health, Environment, Fire, and Security, added: "At Alba, we have a lifelong commitment to sustainable...
Metal 3D printing, more formally known as Metal Additive Manufacturing, can produce seamless designs by applying a diverse set of raw materials. The most commonly used element among them is aluminium. Detailed components and intricate designs, which were not even imaginable in the era gone by, are now being generated in an instant by high-end Additive Manufacturing devices. Just a few years back, the process was only used for producing technological prototypes, but now it is being hailed as one of the most compact yet swift methods to acquire the specific configurations of an object. Industries, including automobile, aerospace and pharmaceutical, are all embracing this revolutionary technology as it is much more cost-effective and hassle-free. Additive Manufacturing (AM) follows a method...
Glide Products, one of the leading manufacturers of a wheelchair in Australia, is known widely for producing customised and lightweight wheelchairs. The company is known for incorporating high-grade Australian aluminium, making the chairs lightweight and recyclable to some extent. The Glide G2 Series 2 is a lightweight, foldable wheelchair with multiple axle positions and customised seating. The wheelchair features an aluminium frame with a single folding cross-member and also comes with fixed or quick-release axles with wheels and rims in aluminium or steel. "The greater majority of our chairs need to be lightweight, strong, and high performing. Aluminium gives us the right specification," said Steve Walsh, operations director and owner. Founded by the two Perth brothers, the company was...
