In the final three trading days before the National Day holiday, the South China spot market stayed soft: aluminium prices continued to edge lower, the SHFE aluminium backwardation structure strengthened, and premiums over the next-month and far-month contracts were actually elevated. Ahead of the holiday, the willingness to cash out at the high basis was strong, and amid ongoing destocking, discount-priced cargoes still dominated spot circulation; demand was largely subdued, with only localized bargain-hunting replenishment and quite limited buying interest. On the whole, however, the high spot premium for aluminium ingots in South China remained largely intact. As of September 30, the SMM A00 aluminium (Foshan) spot premium over the 2610 contract stood at RMB 260 per tonne, still within...
Hindalco Industries is moving to structured digital tenders for spot sales of metallurgical-grade alumina in a bid to improve transparency, broaden market participation and strengthen price discovery in the global alumina market. The company is partnering with Metalshub for the initiative through its subsidiary Utkal Alumina International. The move comes as the alumina market continues to lack the transparent, transaction-based pricing mechanism available for aluminium. Hindalco said only around 10 per cent of the 55–60 million tonnes of alumina traded globally each year in the third-party market is sold through spot transactions, even though those sales can influence benchmark prices for a much larger volume of long-term contracts. Hindalco moves alumina spot sales to digital bidding...
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Aluminium is the sustainable material of choice since it is lightweight, robust, resilient, and endlessly recyclable. A lot of companies are taking their shift towards this sustainable metal. KOPU Water Company organised a Lunch & Learn event on April 27 to promote the importance of recycling aluminium and how it can drive towards a sustainable path. Tata Steel will present a sustainable packaging discovery developed with Grupo Calvo at the METPACK 2023 exhibition in Essen, Germany, next week. The Protact will be introduced with another new product, the Vuelca Fácil® or 'Easy Flip' aluminium film cover. Belvac, a Dover business that has been a significant global manufacturer of two-piece metal packaging for over 60 years, introduced the Servo Belvac Necker, the latest aluminium can...
Sunview Group Berhad, a well-known solar panel manufacturer, recently stated that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Vafe System Sdn Bhd, has signed a share sale agreement and shareholder agreement to purchase a 20 per cent stake in Winstar Aluminium Manufacturing Sdn Bhd for RM12 million. Aluminium, metal, and alloy are the primary products that Winstar, a limited liability business, produces, fabricates, processes, and sells. "Post-acquisitions, Sunview will have access to its own aluminium alloy solar mounting system through Winstar. The measure will allow the group to reduce its dependency on external suppliers of the aluminium alloy solar mounting system," said Sunview CEO and ED Ong Hang Ping. Sunview CEO and ED Ong Hang Ping said that the purchase of Winstar is in keeping with the...
In response to the increased focus on a sustainable environment, aluminium manufacturers throughout the globe are embracing ecologically-friendly manufacturing processes. To begin with, BMW Group, a German multinational manufacturer of luxury automobiles, unveiled a new programme named "Car2Car" that aims to boost the percentage of recycled materials used in new models to 50%. Volgron, Australia's largest bus body manufacturer, took its step towards sustainability with the Volgren Optimus E-Bus, one of the lightest zero-emission bus bodies in its class, now in service in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and Perth. Novelis, the world leader in aluminium rolling and recycling and a worldwide producer of sustainable aluminium solutions, recently launched its second Green Bond report. The report...
Through their collaboration, ASCONA and D-CUBE are transforming the aluminium industry with an innovative approach to inline surface inspection of aluminium profiles. Their joint efforts have led to the development of Promex Cyrus, a cutting-edge product that employs AI technology to benefit leading aluminium extrusion plants in Europe. This strategic partnership exemplifies the power of teamwork and demonstrates the potential for global impact in aluminium profile inspection. Promex Cyrus, with the help of artificial intelligence (AI), can identify various types of surface anomaly live, whatever the shape, number or size of the extruded aluminium profile might be. The inspection can be done in singularity or series, and Cyrus sends a warning message for the operators to rectify their...
Norsk Hydro has restarted working on a tender offer process to complete the acquisition of the 100 per cent share of Polish recycler Alumetal S.A. The tender offer was first launched in April 2022 but expired in the meantime. The European Commission’s merger review of the transaction is pending, and now the deadline is May 23, 2023. “The acquisition of Alumetal would be a strong strategic fit towards delivering on Hydro’s recycling strategy. We see a growing demand for recycled low-carbon aluminum in Europe. Forward leaning customers are leading the way in decarbonizing materials used in the production of automotive, building and construction, and consumer durables,” said Executive Vice President Eivind Kallevik, Head of Hydro Aluminium Metal. Acquiring a recycler will strengthen Hydro’s...
The Illinois Chapter of the National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA), located in Arlington, has testified in opposition to legislation that would establish a deposit-return system (DRS) for beverage containers like aluminium cans, bottles, etc in that state. The proposed State Beverage Container Recycling Refunds Act (Senate Bill 85) would create a container recycling redemption return programme, which the NWRA chapter claims would increase the cost of household recycling programmes. According to the NWRA, the legislation is unlikely to be introduced during the spring 2023 legislative session. In the Prairie State, NWRA Illinois Chapter member John Pausma of Homewood, Illinois-based Homewood Disposal spoke on how, in his company's opinion, a bottle charge would raise the cost of home...
Liquid Death Canned Water has recently launched the Liquid Death Enema of the State Collectible Enema Kit in collaboration with famous drummer Travis Baker. The kit consists of a single 19.2 oz can of Liquid Death water and a "custom-branded enema bulb," as stated on the Liquid Death website. The artist's expertise has shaped a pleasing 8-pack Liquid Death range available via Amazon. The collective item, autographed by Barker, was sold out even before the second shipment of cans could make its way to the store. It is tough to figure out whether the wholesome sale was influenced by Blink-182's "Enema of the State" album snippet on the exterior part of the aluminium can or if it was due to the Liquid Death canned water drinkers' enthusiasm. This brand has taken the hydration game by storm...
Taparia Tools has launched aluminium oxide Cut-off Wheels for fast-cutting applications. These wheels sound impressive, as they're made by bonding together Aluminium Oxide. It's great that they can be used in various metal & stainless-steel cutting applications. It makes us wonder if they'll be a game-changer for people working with these materials. Taparia Tools hailing from India, is an accredited company with ISO-9001. This company started manufacturing hand tools in 1969 and did it in technical collaboration with a well-respected company called Bahco of Sweden. It's pretty enigmatic that they've been around for so long and still managed to maintain such a high level of quality. It's clear that they care about their customers and want to ensure they are always protected. The aluminium...
According to the Shanghai Metals Market survey, social inventories of primary aluminium ingot across eight major consumption areas, including SHFE warrants, stood at 853,000 tonnes on Thursday, April 27, experiencing a plunge of 53,000 tonnes week-on-week from 906,000 tonnes. Compared to Monday, April 24, the inventories decreased by 32,000 tonnes from 885,000 tonnes. Hence, at the end of April 2023, the inventory declined by 235,000 tonnes through the month. The destocking was mainly due to fewer cargo arrivals. Also, the increasing share of molten aluminium being cast into intermediate products or sold to downstream plants nearby caused less shipment to major markets, resulting in the downfall of inventories. However, it has been noticed that the weekly decline of inventories has slowed...
The "Play Clean" recycling programme at Ball Arena has been running for 15 years, and this year marks the third year of collaboration between Ball Corporation and Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE). Together, they have made the venue's beverage packaging infinitely recyclable, increased on-site aluminium recycling , and used in-venue messaging and other marketing tools to educate fans and the Denver community about the importance of their packaging choices and aluminium recycling. The partnership aims to produce 100 per cent aluminium packaging for all fan-facing beverage containers and ample on-site aluminium recycling, including placing more than 240 recycling bins around the arena and mobile recycling backpacks carried on the backs of on-site ambassadors to bring recycling directly...
The global mining and metal giant Rio Tinto has entered into a binding agreement to acquire the Platina Scandium Project, a high-grade scandium resource in New South Wales, from Platina Resources Limited for $14 million. The project, located in central New South Wales close to Condobolin, includes a long-life, high-grade scalable resource that has the potential to produce up to 40 tonnes of scandium oxide annually for a projected 30 years. Scandium is one of the best elements for strengthening aluminium while improving flexibility and heat and corrosion resistance. As a result, it is employed to make high-performance aluminium alloys for various uses that call for lightweight, robust, and heat-resistant materials, such as 3D printing, aerospace, automotive, heat exchangers, sporting...
In February 2023, the United States exported 159,000 tonnes of aluminium scrap, almost consistent compared to 160,000 tonnes in January, found the US Census Bureau data. On a year-on-year calculation, the export volume jumped 358 per cent from 34,700 tonnes. In the first two months of 2023, the United States’ scrap exports totalled 319,000 tonnes, up by 375 per cent from 67,100 tonnes during the corresponding period of the previous year. India, one of the leading destinations of the United States scrap exports, hauled 31,000 tonnes in February 2023 compared to 29,300 tonnes in January. As per the USGS data, the United States exports to India grew both month-on-month and year-on-year. On a monthly basis, the export to India rose 5.8 per cent, and on an annual calculation, it leaped 167 per...
In the upcoming week, Tata Steel will uphold a sustainable packaging discovery it has produced in collaboration with Grupo Calvo at the METPACK 2023 exhibition in Essen, Germany. The new item called Protact will be launched alongside another innovation, the Vuelca Fácil® or 'Easy Flip' aluminium film lid. Tata Steel's partnership with Grupo Calvo has given birth to this new can format that curtails food waste, induces a circular economy and elevates the standards of lightweight packaging in the beverage sector. Tata Steel's Protact uses a revolutionary layering of polypropylene (PP) which is compatible with the newly enhanced direct seal module. This technology has been claimed to make a can 24 per cent lighter than the conventional weight. With the elaborative use of the coating, Grupo...
The London Metal Exchange (LME) for non-ferrous metal prices kept falling, as recorded on April 25, 2023. The three-month contract for aluminium futures fell 1.9 per cent to $2,335/t. To $2,600/t, zinc prices decreased by 2.6 per cent. Lead prices dropped 1.7 per cent to $2,106/t. The price of nickel decreased by 5 per cent to $23,341/t. The price of copper futures dipped 2.3 per cent to close at $8,528/t. In March 2023, the year-on-year (y-o-y) increase in Australia's monthly Consumer Price Index (CPI) was 6.3 per cent, a decrease from the 6.8 per cent rise witnessed in February 2023. This figure was also lower than the market anticipation of 6.5 per cent. The drop represented the third consecutive month of declining annual inflation and marked the "slowest growth rate" since May 2022....
The Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI) and the Illinois Environmental Council (IEC) applauded the Senate Executive Committee's hearing on Sen. Laura Murphy's bill (SB 85) to establish an Illinois beverage container recycling rebate programme. SB 85 would impose a refundable tax of 10 cents for containers weighing less than 24 ounces and 15 cents for containers weighing more than 24 ounces. When customers finish their beverage, they return the aluminium cans or beverage containers to a convenient redemption spot to get their reimbursement. "Recycling refund programs play a vital role in raising beverage container recycling rates, and this legislation would have a significant impact on improving Illinois's environment and boosting its economy," said Scott Breen, CMI's vice president of...
Alcoa Corporation, the world’s eighth largest producer of aluminium, announced the first quarter 2023 results, reporting steady revenue earning at $2,670 million compared to $2,663 million in the previous quarter, attributed to the 8 per cent increase in average-realized third-party alumina price and 7 per cent in aluminium price. However, on a year-on-year calculation, the revenue decreased by 18.92 per cent from $3,293 million, as higher prices were partially offset by reduced shipments. In the alumina segment, third-party shipments dwindled by 13 per cent sequentially due to lower production, especially at the Kwinana refinery in Australia and San Ciprián in Spain, caused by the lack of natural gas supply. Third-party aluminium shipments fell 6 per cent Q-o-Q due to fewer trading...
On April 27, 2023, Constellium SE, the global leader in developing and manufacturing high-value-added aluminium products and solutions and aluminium recycling, announced its agreement with Renault Group to establish a closed-loop recycling process for the all-new Megane E-TECH Electric. Lightweight and fully recyclable aluminium is the material of choice for the automotive fleet's electrification. Constellium is well-positioned to support this transition with advanced products and solutions. Renault Group has created a closed-loop recycling mechanism that directs manufacturing scrap from the stamping process back to Constellium, resulting in a lower CO 2 footprint. Based on best practices at Renault Group to avoid combining 5xxx and 6xxx alloys and compact scrap for optimal logistics, the...
LME aluminium opened at US$2,332 per tonne on Thursday and closed at US$2,326 per tonne, down 0.21 per cent. Growing concerns around inflation in the West have simultaneously raised brows in the trade sector, with LME maintaining a below US$2,500 per tonne mark and the Chinese inventories on a destocking spree. On April 27, Thursday, the LME aluminium cash bid price came in at US$2,301.50 per tonne and the LME aluminium official settlement price settled at US$2,302 per tonne, with a loss of US$37.50 per tonne or 1.6 per cent. The 3-month bid price plunged by US$45.50 per tonne or 1.93 per cent to settle at US$2,309.50 per tonne, and the 3-month offer price dived down US$46 per tonne or 1.95 per cent halting at US$2,310 per tonne. December 24 bid price and December 24 offer price halted at...
