The global aluminium industry is entering a new phase of competition, with access to raw materials, affordable energy and production capacity increasingly shaping the position of major producers. China is preparing a large overseas smelting expansion, Ghana is attracting investment in its bauxite reserves, and India and Vietnam are advancing new aluminium projects. However, the expansion drive comes against a complicated market backdrop. Alumina prices have fallen sharply, energy and logistics costs remain significant, and trade policies are reshaping the economics of production and exports. Together, these developments point to a market in which securing resources is only part of the challenge; converting them into competitive aluminium will matter just as much. Africa’s bauxite...
Bell Bay Aluminium (BBA), Australia's oldest aluminium smelter, is reviewing its workforce and offering redundancies for a small number of positions, just over a month after receiving an AUD 200 million (USD 137.52 million) government support package aimed at securing the facility's future until at least 2031. Up to 10 roles are understood to have been affected by the review, although the smelter is expected to retain its existing workforce of approximately 550 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees. Some redeployment opportunities will also be available, while the positions identified are not understood to involve frontline services. The changes reportedly include some former participants in Bell Bay Aluminium's graduate programme. Rio Tinto, which operates the smelter near George Town in...
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Next Level Racing® is one of the leading simulation brands, transforming simulation with its industry-leading product range. As of Monday, April 4, the company announced the release of the GTElite, a mid-range aluminium profile cockpit, as well as an extension of the class-leading Elite series line of equipment and accessories. As an aluminium-profile cockpit, the goal is to give limitless accessory and peripheral flexibility for racing aficionados. This implies that a handbrake or a seat, for example, maybe placed precisely where you want them. . The pre-machined holes should make this a breeze, based on previous Next Level Racing configurations. The GTElite will be available in two versions: GTElite Wheel Plate Edition and GTElite Front & Side Mount Edition, both of which are completely...
Aurukun Bauxite Project is being felicitated as the newest member of the exploration membership class by the Australian Aluminium Council. It is a joint venture between Glencore and MDP Bauxite Pty Ltd (under Mitsubishi subsidiary) and is extended all over the bauxite mining area near Aurukun situated on the west coast of Cape York, Queensland. This project has the potential to yield 8 million metric tonnes of bauxite per annum, sustaining the unit for at least a decade from inception. The project would need approval from the government and other regulatory boards along with an acceptance document coming from the traditional owners of the mining ground. When operational and at its full capacity, the project would employ at least 400 people. Another 300 would receive daily wage employment...
As the fiscal year 2022 ends, National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) further chops its aluminium ingot and aluminium products prices, with effect from April 1 FY2023. The company’s aluminium ingot price has seen a sharp cut of INR 13,000 per tonne or 4.20 per cent to INR 296,250- 299,750 per tonne. The previous price cut was on March 30 by INR 8,200 per tonne to the range of INR 309,250- 312,750 per tonne. Vedanta’s aluminium wire rod price has also been reduced by INR 13,000 per tonne, with effect from April 1, to come in at INR 298,750- 303,100 per tonne. Aluminium billets price is hovering around INR 299,700- 301,200 per tonne versus INR 312,700- 315,350 per tonne on March 30, meaning the product saw a cut of INR 13,000 per tonne as well over the two days. NALCO links its aluminium...
The global aluminium sector has been in highlights again due to the Ukraine-Russia stand-off. In 2021 the aluminium industry countered Covid pandemic challenges following the coup in Guinea, the leading bauxite exporter in the world. This did not end soon, but new difficulties aroused like a surge in gas prices and an energy crisis that led to an axe in the production of aluminium. Now, the military conflict between the two neighbouring nations has driven the industry's situation to a more complex one. The Russian aluminium giant suspended alumina shipments from its Nikolaev refinery in Ukraine, which triggered a rise in supply disruptions across the alumina and aluminium sector. The Norwegian aluminium company, Hydro affirmed that its pre-booked Russian aluminium of 4000 tonnes was on...
On Monday, April 4, 2022, mining giant Vedanta Limited announced that its aluminium and zinc production grew by 8 per cent in the fourth quarter ended March 31, while the output of iron ore increased by 18 per cent, as compared to the figure in the same period last year. From 531,000 tonnes in Q4 FY2021, the company’s cast metal aluminium production in Q4 FY2022 improved to 572,000 tonnes, bringing the total output in FY2022 to a record high of 2.268 million tonnes. That was an increase of 15 per cent year-on-year from 1.969 million tonnes, said Vedanta in a BSE filling. As the miner’s zinc production also saw a rise of 8 per cent in the March quarter, the output stood at 211,000 tonnes compared to 195,000 tonnes a year ago. Its integrated zinc output in FY2022 came in 776,000 tonnes...
On Monday, 4 th of April, LME aluminium cash bid price stopped at US$3,443.50 per tonne and LME aluminium official settlement price was last recorded at US$3,444 per tonne, with a 1.12 per cent downfall, in comparison with the records of the previous week, both witnessed a decline of US$39 per tonne. We have reached the 40 th day of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and US president Joe Biden has already called against Putin, branding him a war criminal. Certainly due to the rising tension between the two nations, Ukraine was unable to address the UN officially till date. But now there are reports of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy finally breaking his silence and speaking to the UN Council. Progress in the peace talks might eventually standardise the price of commodity products,...
Recycling aluminium is a simpler process in comparison to the process of alumina extraction from bauxite ore. A countrywide study carried out in the US shows the benefit of increasing the country’s aluminium can recycling rate. The above-stated research, named ‘Recycling Aluminium Cans Is Good Business’, was initiated by Ball Corporation, the world's leading provider of innovative, sustainable aluminium packaging for beverage, personal care and household products and Resource Recycling Systems (RRS), a consulting firm lending ideas to big businesses. The study unleashed a very important finding, that the current recycling bar of 38% if raised to 90% tops, could be very economic and environmental friendly for us human beings. Recycling aluminium is a very sustainable method since the...
On Friday, April 1, the London Metal Exchange had halted the shipment of some Russian-produced metals to its permitted warehouse in the United Kingdom, although no Russian metals are currently stored in its facilities. The decision was taken in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine earlier this year. The exchange, which is run by Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Ltd, said in a statement that there was a substantial possibility that anybody acquiring such metal from British storage would face exorbitant extra expenses. One of the extra levies mentioned by the LME is the 35 per cent tax imposed two weeks ago on copper, lead, basic aluminium, and aluminium alloy. Some LME members have urged for Russian metals to be banned from the exchange's system, but the world's largest and oldest...
South32, hailing from Perth, Australia is a mining and metals company that declared on the 30 th of March, that there has been a delay in their possession of additional shares in Mozal aluminium from MCA Metals Holding GmbH (Mitsubishi). However, once the approval of the Competition Regulatory Board in Mozambique is availed, the acquisition would not take more than mid-2022 while previously it was anticipated to be over by March 2022. The group was not very keen on sharing any more details. The agreement incorporates some valid points, while one of them is, that the companies are going to share the profit it makes with Mitsubishi from the period of 1 st July 2021until the transaction is accomplished. South32, Mitsubishi, the Industrial Development Corp of South Africa and the Mozambique...
In February 2022, primary aluminium production in North America stood at 291,000 tonnes, compared to 321,000 tonnes in January. That was a downfall of 30,000 tonnes or 9.35 per cent month-on-month, found the International Aluminium Institute. Also, on a year-on-year calculation, the output in February edged a decline of 5.52 per cent from 308,000 tonnes. In the first two months of the year, primary aluminium production in North America totalled 612,000 tonnes, down by 5.56 per cent or 36,000 tonnes from 648,000 tonnes. South America’s primary aluminium production also recorded a month-on-month downfall in February 2022. From 102,000 tonnes in January, the output in South America slipped to 91,000 tonnes. That was a decline of 11,000 tonnes or 10.78 per cent, found the IAI data, On a...
On Sunday, April 2, Brazilian aluminium manufacturer Companhia Brasileira de Alumínio (CBA) announced that its controlling shareholder, conglomerate Votorantim SA, will sell 34 million shares in the firm in a follow-on offering. Votorantim SA has a 75.9% interest in CBA, says data from Refinitiv Eikon. Last week, the company said it was considering a secondary offering to increase the liquidity of CBA's stock. The move would also fit perfectly with Votorantim's portfolio diversification plan. If demand allows, CBA said the offering might be raised by up to 85 per cent, or 28.9 million shares. It will also contain a price-stabilization greenshoe option of up to 5.1 million shares. On April 6, the offering will be priced. If all of the extra shares and greenshoe are sold, CBA will raise...
The Western US State of California is holding a US$600 million stockpile of unsigned deposits of recyclable aluminium cans and bottles and of which now wants to give some of that back to users. The administration of California has revealed a plan, where the 40 million residents of the state to recycle more and send more deposits back to them by temporarily doubling to a dime the refund for a 355 millilitres bottle or can. For now, California pays US10 cents on containers over 24 ounces and that would temporarily double by US20 cents. To get the state's nearly 40 million residents to recycle more and send more deposits back to them, Governor Gavin Newsom's administration unveiled a plan to temporarily double to a dime the refund for a 12-ounce (355 millilitres) bottle or can. California...
Geomega Resources, located in Montreal, has won funds to construct a C$4 million alumina waste processing plant in Quebec. Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC), a federal agency that funds small and medium-sized enterprises will provide C$1.5 million. Rio Tinto, a Geomega partner, will contribute C$1.2 million in funding. Quebec produces half of Rio Tinto's global aluminium production. In the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean area, Rio Tinto runs an alumina refinery, four smelters, six hydropower plants, its Arvida Research and Development Centre, and the Aluminium Operational Centre, a rail network, and one port. Geomega creates cutting-edge methods for extracting and separating rare earth elements and other key metals that are necessary for a long-term future. It is the developer of...
In the first two months of 2022, alumina production in Africa & Asia totalled 2.224 million tonnes, with the output in February at 1.075 million tonnes, down by 6.44 per cent month-on-month, found the International Aluminium Institute’s data. In January, alumina production in Africa & Asia stood at 1.149 million tonnes, also down by 3.29 per cent month-on-month from 1.188 million tonnes. Africa & Asia’s total alumina production in two months included 2.159 million tonnes of metallurgical grade, up by 7.57 per cent from 2.007 million tonnes during the same period last year. On a year-on-year calculation, Africa & Asia’s alumina output in February 2022 stood 4.78 per cent higher than 1.026 million tonnes. According to IAI data, alumina production in Africa & Asia during the second half of...
On the 31 st of March 2022, Linamar Corporation announced their agreement with GF Casting Solutions (GF) to earn 50% interest in their joint venture, GF Linamar LLC which is located near Mills River, North Carolina. GF Casting Solutions is an extended arm of Georg Fischer which was founded in 1802 and is one of the most trusted manufacturing units in Switzerland and also greater Europe. Two of them had primarily formed a pact in 2015 but following this announcement, Linamar will inherit 100% ownership and operational control of the business. The agreement has been documented and passed, however, there are no pre-closing steps or required regulatory approvals. GF Linamar LLC (GFL) is a joint venture native to North America which is co-chaired by Linamar Corporation and GF casting...
Ball Corporation, the US-based, one of the world’s leading aluminium beverage cans producing companies, has enlisted its name to the list of companies who are downsizing their businesses in Russia. Last week, Ball announced that it is reducing operations at three of its manufacturing plants in Russia due to the continued conflict with Ukraine. In a statement, Ball said that it is highly affected by the war, which has already created four million refugees and killed thousands of people, adding to which, the company stated that it plans to sell off all its assets in Russia. Ball’s three Russian plants collectively produce 5.6 billion cans each year, representing four per cent of the company’s total net assets. Worldwide, the company produces more than 11.25 billion cans each year. The...
The scrap metal of the aluminium is generated in various ways in the manufacturing process and used by the end-user. However, nowadays, the processing of aluminium scrap primarily chips and used drink cans have attracted increasing observation. Earlier, the usage of recycled or secondary scrap was a done in a little portion compared to the global aluminium industry’s production, while the situation has changed now due to the environmental impact and sustainability reasons. The World Bank has reported that the petroleum-based wealthy economy of Kuwait drives the nation to be the fifth richest in the world by gross national income per capita. A highly developed welfare state with a free-market economy, Kuwait exported 28,564 tonnes of aluminium scrap from 2019 to 2021, incurring revenue...
Envisage Technologies which is a part of the global Envisage Group has decided to install two new Belloti 5-axis CNC machines for its Herald way machining Centre in Coventry in the wake of April. An investment of £1.5 million has already been made for the procurement of the above stated machines along with the complete modernisation of its existing MECOF Agile 5.3 axis CNC machine. The organisation claims that the addition of these machines is going to be very productive for them. A facility close to this one, situated at Doyle Drive, Coventry, will also enjoy the fruits of this upgrade as it houses an existing MECOF Agile 5.3 machining centre. New machines will help Envisage to cater to the high demand of the market for OEMs made of aluminium, composite and resin milled products etc....
