China Steel Aluminum, a subsidiary of China Steel, will invest approximately TWD 1 billion (USD 32 million) to build a smart manufacturing plant in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The investment was among two expansion applications approved by the Invest Taiwan Office on October 1, with a combined value of TWD 1.1 billion (USD 33 million). The new facility will be located in the Xiaogang District and focus on smart manufacturing and lower-carbon production. China Steel Aluminum, Taiwan’s largest manufacturer of aluminium rolled products, produces aluminium plates, sheets, coils and foil, as well as zinc alloy and hot-dip galvanised ingots. The investment supports the company’s shift toward high-end and low-carbon aluminium materials. The plant will integrate artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet...
This week, the overseas aluminium market was generally mediocre, with limited trading activity across major markets. In South Korea, purchases were mainly small-scale restocking, with little change in prices. In Thailand, demand remained weak, and some sellers slightly lowered their offers due to shipment pressure. The market focused on Q4 MJP quarterly pricing, with Rio Tinto's latest offer further reduced, and market expectations suggested there is still room for the final settlement price to move lower. South Korea: Mediocre market, transactions mainly small-scale restocking This week, trading in the South Korean market was very subdued, with purchasing demand limited to small-scale restocking and no concentrated procurement seen. Sellers showed moderate willingness to offer, with...
Grow with
AL Circle
Rusal, a prominent Russian aluminium company and a top green aluminium producer has approved its 2035 Sustainable Development Strategy. The strategy is to create sustainable non-ferrous metals for the circular economy and low-carbon transition. These assets will be carbon-neutral by 2050 and balance primary and secondary materials. With advanced technology, Rusal’s value chain will be adaptive, equitable, secure, and inclusive. Meanwhile, Hydro and Saint-Gobain Glass have developed innovative technology to cut the carbon footprint of building facades in half through low-carbon solutions. DECO Australia is also making strides in reducing carbon emissions by partnering with Capral Aluminium to use LocAl® Green lower-carbon aluminium starting in June 2023. Last week, the Aluminium...
Uniprom has closed the last 12 electrolysis cells at KAP in Montenegro, ending 52 years of aluminium production. The plant will continue producing logs and alloys by importing metal. It has been reported that Shandong Nanshan of China plans to transform its Indonesian alumina refinery site into a $6 billion aluminium smelting complex by 2028, which would be a significant foreign investment in the country. The LME aluminium price chart has seen restrained growth through most of May, with the aluminium spot price rising around US$2,300 per tonne at the most. However, this week there has been a sudden surge of US$51.50 per tonne or 2.28 per cent from Monday (US$2,260.50 per tonne) to Thursday (US$2,312 per tonne) in the LME aluminium price index. On the other hand, SHFE has maintained a...
Order intake for Italian machine tool manufacturers fell significantly in Q1 2023 when compared to the same phase in 2022, both in domestic and foreign markets. Regardless, the Italian producers of machine tools used more than 86 per cent of their available manufacturing capacity, and their order backlog covered 8.6 months of production. Machine tool orders submitted by UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE's Economic Studies Department & Business Culture Centre fell by 23.7 per cent in Q1 2023 compared to the same period in 2022. The index was 125.1 at the time. Reduced order intake in domestic and international markets was the cause of the decline. With a score of 125.9 on the index, orders from global markets decreased by 22.9 per cent. On the other hand, the domestic order intake, measured in...
As it was predicted by the Shanghai Metals Market last week, China’s social inventories of aluminium ingot tanked by a massive 81,000 tonnes week-on-week across the eight major consumption areas, including SHFE warrants, to halt at 706,000 tonnes as of Thursday, May 18. It is a good sign that the inventories are following a downward trajectory and it is being claimed it could fall below 700,000 tonnes soon. The previous week , we witnessed a decline of 48,000 tonnes, but compared to the previous year, the aluminium ingot inventories plunged by 259,000 tonnes. Having a glance at the incoming shipments and those which are already in transit, SMM claims there’s a probability the downward trend will prevail. But we should also consider the rising ratio of non-ingot output can overshadow the...
A recent report states Britain will ban aluminium imports from Russia, among other commodities like diamond, copper and nickel. The news came on Friday, May 19, after Britain announced its plans targeting companies allegedly stealing Ukrainian grain. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said, “We will legislate later this year to ban imports of Russian diamonds, and end all imports of Russian-origin copper, aluminium and nickel.” But the ban is expected to have a mild impact as Russian exports of aluminium and other materials to the United Kingdom have already dropped since the tariffs came into effect. Alongside, the United States, Britain and other groups of seven major economies will disclose their sanctions and import control plans from Russia at the 49th G7 summit in Japan, from May...
Aluminium is not only making its presence felt in the automobiles or electronics sector but also in the art or design department. To begin with, Sophie Couture, a renowned Dubai-based fashion powerhouse, recently showcased a black and silver hooded gown of delicate and beautiful elements like aluminium, crystal, and silver sequins. This gown was worn by the former Miss World at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. Also, Lehni, a Dübendorf based manufacturer of anodized and powder-coated aluminium furniture, recently exhibited its classic Aluminium Shelf at Milan Design Week. The shelf has been a hallmark of the company's expertise since the 1960s. Not only this, Colorbar, a renowned and affordable cosmetic brand in India, recently launched its new 3-in-1 lipstick called 'Take Me As I Am' in 100...
Mechatherm International Limited, one of the major suppliers of aluminium casthouse equipment in the UK, celebrated its 50 years of business, a milestone occasion for the company. Mechatherm will host a gala dinner and the largest display stand in the United States at Aluminium USA in October to mark this milestone anniversary. Dong-IL Aluminium Co announced its plans to open three new rolling mills in its Cheongju factory by 2025, seeking to become Korea's biggest foil manufacturer. This will enable the company to supply more aluminium foil to the local EV battery makers. Mills CNC will demonstrate one of their most popular simultaneous 5-axis machining tools on June 14-15 at the Limerick Manufacturing Solutions - Ireland 2023 Exhibition. The DVF 5000 can precisely fabricate aluminium...
According to a recent report, new owners of Jamalaco refinery in Clarendon have initiated incorporating the alumina company before seeking financial funding from capital markets. According to Austin Mooney, Managing Director of Jamalco, incorporation would allow the joint venture firm to acquire financing from overseas. Mooney did not say the incorporation would definitively raise loans or debt, only that it would increase access to capital outside Jamaica. On Wednesday, May 17, Austin Mooney commented the legal formation of JV "is progressing very fast as it is a priority for both partners." He said after a reception in Clarendon thrown by Jamalco’s new owner – Century Aluminum Company, which acquired a 55 per cent share in the refinery. "We are a non-incorporated joint venture, so we...
Green bond issuance is likely to climb further in 2023 as major governments and transnational institutions increase sales, while other types of sustainable debt are expected to develop much more slowly. The Climate Bonds Initiative estimates that green bond issuance totalled $487.1 billion last year, down from $522.7 billion in 2021. According to Moody's Investors Service, the broader sustainable bond market, which includes green, social, sustainability, and sustainability-linked bonds (GSSS), witnessed a fall year on year in 2022 for the first time since 2011. Apple Inc. invested $4.7 billion in the form of green bonds , which have supported revitalizing the development of new low-carbon manufacturing and recycling technologies. Since 2016, Apple has issued three green bonds, with...
Aluminium, with its fantastic recycling properties, has caught the attention of many heavy industry manufacturers in recent years. The metal is widely used in automobile, aviation and construction industries, but that doesn't narrow its scope of venturing into other essential commodities or zones. The rising popularity has also caused critical mineral-intensive firms like Apple , Lenovo and Huawei to shift toward a greener pasture using aluminium in their commercially favoured products for reducing carbon emissions in the entire value chain, from production to recycling. Instances of aluminium use: Electronic gadgets Laptop Mobile Keypads Smart Watch Smart Ring Earphone LED Light Solar Panel Electronic gadgets accessories Laptop stand CPU cover SSD and SFF cases Phone case Tripod The most...
Naim has unveiled a special edition Nait 50 integrated amplifier to commemorate their 50th anniversary at the High End 2023 show in Munich. With a half-width design, aluminium chassis, and chrome bumper style, the Nait 50 looks similar to the Nait 1. The new amplifier is an updated version of their iconic Nait 1 model, which was first released in 1983, and is part of the company's Classic 300 Series range. Naim's Nait 50 has a compact size of 8.7 x 20.7 x 32.1cm and offers a pure analogue specification and feature list that gives it a distinct retro charm. The British audio engineering firm has chosen aluminium because of its lightweight and tensile properties. Many other electronic brands have incorporated aluminium into their production value chain, and we've seen how effective it has...
BrewDog, a multinational brewery and pub chain based in Scotland, is reintroducing their ‘Fifty Fifty’ canned beverage in 330ml aluminium cans. This was initially launched in 2020. It claims to be the #1 Craft Brewer in Europe, with a production capacity of over 800,000 hectolitres. James Watt and Martin Dickie, who hold 46% of the firm, launched it in 2007. “Summer is coming back, and so is Fifty Fifty. Grab your shorts. Blow up the paddling pool. Brace yourself for wasps. Shandy season is here. A crisp pilsner malt base gives way to a zesty sherbet kick for a sharp and refreshing summer shandy,” said BrewDog. Global aluminium use in packaging applications was predicted to be 14.7 million tonnes in 2022, expected to reach 15.2 million tonnes by 2023, a 3.3 per cent increase. Beverage...
Employees at the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) recycled 221,900 aluminium cans and plastic bottles from October last year through the end of April 2023, which were passed over to a local manufacturing firm and utilised to make around 11,600 T-shirts and other items. The use of recycled aluminium is also expected to increase in the following years since it aids in decarbonising the industrial value chain. "Placing great importance on environmental sustainability across all (our) projects in line with (our) vision to become a globally leading sustainable innovative corporation committed to achieving Net Zero by 2050. Protecting the environment is a top priority for Dewa, which aims, during the Year of Sustainability, to increase awareness among employees and customers on the...
US-based energy company AES Corporation has signed an agreement with Solarcycle, a solar recycling company, to recycle and repurpose modules from AES’ projects at Solarcycle’s Texas facility. Solar panels are composed of large amounts of aluminium and silica. The agreement formalizes the collaboration between the two companies. This partnership began in April when decommissioned panels from an AES plant in Arizona were recycled at Solarcycle’s Odessa, Texas location. AES has also announced a pilot program to assess end-of-life and construction breakage waste across its solar PV portfolio. Unlike other materials, aluminium can be recycled repeatedly, creating a circular economy. Solar panels are also the epitome of an eco-friendly lifestyle. What metal can do more justice to the...
Wheels India Ltd, a major player in the automotive wheel industry, has allocated INR 200 crore towards capital expenditures in FY23-24. This is part of the company's plan to gradually increase wheel production for commercial vehicles, tractors, aluminium wheels, and windmill machining segments. In 2022, the company had a capex of Rs 143 crore. According to Srivats Ram, MD of Wheels India , the company holds a 5% market share in the domestic aftermarket segment. The company is expanding its relationships with global customers and exploring new platforms. Cast aluminium is a strong suit for the company, and the first supply of these wheels will be made this month, with the possibility of adding another customer in Q3 of this year. The company has increased its exports in Q4, and the MD...
Headquartered in Japan, Technics has announced two new versions of noise-cancelling wireless earbuds (EAH-AZ80 and EAHAZ60M2), which feature new 10mm free-edge aluminium diaphragms designed to provide less distortion and a smoother sound. In addition to improved sound quality and battery life, the earbuds are the first wireless earbuds to increase Bluetooth Multipoint from two to three simultaneous connections. This would enable the earphones to remain linked to two cell phones and a laptop, or a laptop, a phone, and a television, without having to detach and reconnect when switching devices. Both versions incorporate wireless charging, first seen on Technics wireless earbuds this year. They have an IPX4 classification and are protected from SOME water immersion. "This new generation has...
The 2023 Cannes Film Festival has finally rolled out the red carpet, and it is a sight to behold. Celebrities continue to showcase outstanding ensembles that stay retained in our memory for free all year long. Cannes, a resort town on the French Riviera, is famous for its international film festival. Talking about Cannes, one such celebrity that has been a veteran and a definite showstopper is Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. This year, she wore a black and silver hooded gown from the Sophie Couture collection. The dress was made up of delicate and beautiful elements like aluminium, crystal, and silver sequins. Sophie Couture characterised the outfit as a "mind-blowing piece from their Cannes Capsule Collection," with lightweight aluminium accents, a characteristic corset, and crystals. Founded by...
On May 16, the National Bureau of Statistics of China's data revealed that China's primary aluminium output in April 2023 declined by 1.2 per cent when analyzed with March 2023 due to an energy restriction policy in southwest China that restrained aluminium production. The National Bureau of Statistics reported that China produced 3.33 million tonnes of primary aluminium in April, down from 3.37 million tonnes in March but up 0.8 per cent from the same phase of the previous year. The National Bureau of Statistics is a deputy-cabinet-level agency under the China State Council. Established in August 1952, the bureau collects, investigates, researches and publishes statistics concerning the nation's economy, population and other aspects of society. Yunnan, China's fourth-largest aluminium...
