Downstream aluminium is where geopolitics meets the shop floor. Tariffs, shipping disruption, regulation and shifting demand are deciding who rolls the metal, who gets it and what it becomes, whether a beer can, a battery housing or a length of wire. Fifteen recent developments across North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Oceania depict how aluminium flat rolled products (FRPs), packaging and electric vehicle (EV) demand are being rerouted, and where traders, exporters and buyers may need to adjust. Aluminium FRP and wire: tariffs and policy redraw the flows The tariff debate has reached the bar counter. In Virginia, Democrat Tom Perriello is campaigning on aluminium tariffs that he says raise brewers’ packaging costs. Across the border, a Windsor, Ontario brewery reports its...
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...
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LME aluminium opened at US$3,876 per tonne on Monday and hit a high of US$4,073.5 per tonne before closing at US$3,740 per tonne, a drop of US$100.5 per tonne or 2.62%. Supply disruptions due to increased sanctions on Russia have caused the LME aluminium cash bid price and LME aluminium official settlement price open the week on Monday, March 7, with yet another high. For the same day, both LME aluminium cash bid price and LME aluminium official settlement price augmented by US$133.5 per tonne or 3.46% to peg at US$3,983.50 per tonne and US$3,984.50 per tonne. 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price also elevated to score at US$3,966 per tonne and US$3,968 per tonne. December 23 bid price and December 23 offer price stood at US$3,400 per tonne and US$3,405 per tonne. LME aluminium...
The forerunner company of Titagarh Group, Titagarh Wagons Limited had secured the order for 34 Metro trains having 3 coaches each by the Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation for the city of Pune, located in the western Indian state of Maharashtra. However, the initial Metro train produced by Titagarh at the facilities of its subsidiary in Italy, while 31 trains will be manufactured in India by Titagarh in its facilities under the ‘Make in India’ and Self-Reliant schemes of the Indian government. On 6 March 2022, Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India flagged the Pune metro and after buying a ticket from the kiosk from an app on his mobile, took a ten-minute ride from Garware Station to Anand Nagar Station in Pune. During his travel, he interacted with the passengers including...
Ball Corporation, a leading US-based can producer, has begun constructing the UK’s largest aluminium can production facility in Kettering in response to the increased demand for cans as an alternative to plastic. The company reported the plant is set for completion in January 2023, aiming at meeting accelerating demand for infinitely recyclable aluminium drink cans. The plant will be built across 56,000 square metres, with space to expand production capacity later. In the first year, the facility will produce over one billion fully-recyclable cans, generating 200 local jobs. Carey Causey, Ball Beverage Packaging Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia (EMEA) president, said: “As environmental awareness increases, consumers are insisting on more sustainable drinks packaging. This new...
The year 2022 brings with it a beam of fresh hope and aspiration for the metal industry. It is anticipated that 2022 will have in store a lot of new investments, changes and projects in the metal industry. With this, team AlCircle has launched its latest research report, “Global Aluminium Industry Outlook 2022,” which provides an in-depth analysis and projection into the shaping of the aluminium industry in 2022, while keeping a tab on the earlier investments, policy changes and price trend. New projects and development plans are anticipated to boost worldwide bauxite output by around 1.6% in 2022. The output for 2022 is expected to be 383 million tonnes in volume. With upcoming investments, bauxite output is expected to increase significantly, at a rate of roughly 4% per year in 2022 and...
According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), on December 2021 US exported 11,900 tonnes of US aluminium scrap to China, showing a month-on-month jump of 3,790 tonnes or 46.73%, from 8,110 tonnes in November. On a month-on-month scale there was a decline of 1,850 tonnes or 18.57% from 9,960 tonnes in October 2021. On a year-on-year calculation, US aluminium scrap exported to China fell sharply by 8,840 tonnes or 288.88% from 3,060 tonnes in December 2020, shows USGS. From January to December, the exported aluminium scrap to China pegged at 220,000 tonnes. For the same period last year, the amount registered at 154,000 tonnes. The total amount of plates, sheets, bars, crude metals and alloys, and scrap exported to China in December 2021 recorded at 12,700 tonnes, showing a year-on-year...
India’s aluminium scrap imports from the United States in December 2021 edged a downfall of 6,600 tonnes or 13.50 per cent month-on-moth to stand at 42,300 tonnes, found the US census bureau data. In November, India’s aluminium scrap imports were at 48,900 tonnes from the US, down by 13.30 per cent from 56,400 tonnes in October. However, India’s total aluminium scrap imports from the US in the fourth quarter of 2021 witnessed a quarter-on-quarter growth of 17.61 per cent to 147,600 tonnes. In Q3 2021, India’s aluminium scrap imports from the US were at 125,500 tonnes, up by 42.61 per cent from 88,000 tonnes in Q2 2021. On a year-on-year calculation, India’s aluminium scrap imports from the US in December 2021 recorded a hike of 38.24 per cent from 30,600 tonnes. In full-year 2021, India...
On Saturday, March 5, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) stated in a report at the National People’s Congress that they will closely observe the availability and pricing of some raw materials as well as tighten commodities reserves of aluminium to maintain supply chain security. In addition to this, NDRC has also decided to come up with a forewarning against the risks involved in industrial and supply chains, as well as speed up the construction of national commodities reserves for aluminium and transportation base. “Demand is weak and supply is constrained, while commodity prices such as energy and minerals remain high, pressuring companies’ key production and operation indicators,” added the NDRC. According to the report, NDRC promised to stabilise the supply and...
The Malaysia-based aluminium company with a profound global presence, Press Metal is functioning up its production capability to manufacture more value-added aluminium products ensuing the thorough commissioning of its new phase three smelter in Samalaju Industrial Park in Bintulu, the central region of Sarawak. Tan Sri Paul Koon Poh Keong, the Group CEO said, “Press Metal is working to further enhance its value-added capabilities and extrusion product portfolio.” “The move is aimed at increasing the group’s presence in the global consumer product-related sectors.” The world-class aluminium producer, Press Metal holds two extrusion plants in Klang, Selangor and Guangzhou, China with an annual production capacity of 50,000 tonnes and 160,000 tonnes, respectively. The facilities produce an...
Following a decline in price on Friday, the A00 aluminium ingot price has recorded a sharp increase of RMB 420 per tonne to score at RMB 23,860 per tonne, as of Monday, March 7. According to the Shanghai Metal Market, the average prices are expected to hover between RMB 23,840 per tonne and RMB 23,880 per tonne, with spot contract to be traded at a premium price of RMB 110-70 per tonne. For the same day in Gongyi and Wuxi, the price has hiked by RMB 410 per tonne to register at RMB 23,670 per tonne and RMB 23,850 per tonne. In other Chinese provinces like Shenyang and Tianjin, the price has heightened by RMB 420 per tonne to come in at RMB 23,790 per tonne, found the Shanghai Metals Market. In Foshan and Hangzhou as well, there was a gradual uptrend of RMB 420 per tonne and RMB 415 per...
Three-month LME aluminium opened at US$3,765 per tonne last Friday and hit a high of US$3,867 per tonne before closing at US$3,840.50 per tonne, an increase of $74 per tonne or 1.96 per cent. On Friday, March 4, LME aluminium benchmark prices continued to rise exponentially to exceed US$3,800 per tonne, driven by the on-going fear of supply disruption due to sanctions on major producer Russia. While LME aluminium cash bid price surged by US$122 per tonne to stand at US$3,850 per tonne, LME aluminium official settlement price soared by US$122.50 per tonne to come in at US$3,851 per tonne. 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price expanded by US$115.50 per tonne and US$116 per tonne, respectively, to close at US$3,819 per tonne and US$3,820 per tonne. December 23 bid price and December 23...
The holding company of Russian aluminium behemoth United Company RUSAL is envisaging by creating its global business to a different organization, as reported by industry experts to whom the company management and non-Russian investors claimed. However, the discussion inherits that the Ukraine-Russia military standoff has shot down the shade on any expectations of corporate integration among Russia and the world. Assuming, the deal gets approval, it would be far-flung to unravel the 2007 combination that created the present-time Rusal with the aspiration of building a Russian assets giant that might confront any façade of Rio Tinto Group and BHP Group on the global platform. The anticipated deal is designed in a way that would leave it in two companies, which is illustrated by, “A new...
The Ireland government has been petitioned to disallow all Russian ships to enter Irish territorial waters following a Russian cargo ship rejected its strive to collect a bulk load of alumina produced at the Rusal owned Aughinish Alumina refinery near Askeaton on 2 nd February 2022. According to the marine traffic tracker website, a 2018 built general cargo ship, Pola Feodosia, currently sailing under the Russian flag and whose home port is St Petersburg took a one-eighty degree turn in the Shannon Estuary and was navigating for Denmark. The Russian aluminium giant, Rusal operated Aughinish Alumina refinery is the largest alumina producer in Europe and employs more than 450 staff. Dr Cathal Berry, an Independent TD for the constituency of Kildare South, who has spent 23 years in the Irish...
The increased number of sanctions due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict has sent shockwaves across the metal industry, including the alumina industry. As a result of which, Russian aluminium producer Rusal ceased alumina export from its Nikoleav refinery in Ukraine, resulting in increased supply disruptions across the alumina market. Also, Ireland's Foreign Minister, Simon Coveney, is claimed to be eager to engage with the management of the Aughinish Alumina refinery in Askeaton to lessen the impact of sanctions imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. Apart from this, there was significant slump of alumina output in Europe (including Russia) fell by 3,000 tonnes or 0.34% month-on-month in January 2022, to 885,000 tonnes. On 25th February 2022, the Mumbai, India headquartered Hindalco...
Supply disruptions, high logistical costs driven by Russia-Ukraine conflict and several international sanctions on Russia were some of the concerns in the global primary aluminium market, resulting in rallied metal prices. Starting the week on February 28 at US$3,450 per tonne, LME aluminium benchmark price surged through the week to stand at an all-time high of US$3,728.50 per tonne. 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price closed the week higher at US$3,703.50 per tonne and US$3,704 per tonne, respectively. To know more: https://www.alcircle.com/news/lme-aluminium-hits-all-time-high-at-us3728-50-t-amidst-supply-woes-shfe-price-descends-by-us6-t-76766 Alcoa’s chief financial officer Willian Oplinger also predicted this week that aluminum prices would continue to inflate while alumina...
Hindalco Industries Limited yet again increased its aluminium ingot and aluminium products prices significantly, with effect from Friday, March 4, in line with the LME aluminium price hike to an all-time high on rising fear of supply disruptions. Hindalco’s aluminium ingot price experienced a surge of INR 10,000 per tonne or 3.22 per cent to INR 320,750 per tonne from INR 310,750 per tonne on March 3. Hindalco Industries grew its aluminium wire rod price also by INR 10,000 per tonne to INR 331,850 per tonne, with effect from March 4. On Thursday, March 3, the price stood at INR 321,850 per tonne, seeing a rise of INR 13,750 per tonne from the previous day. The company’s aluminium billets price came in at INR 334,850 per tonne versus INR 324,850 per tonne on March 3. Hindalco links its...
On 3 rd March 2022, the primary stock exchange in the United Kingdom and the largest in Europe, the London Stock Exchange (LSE) announced that it had suspended with immediate effect the trading of global depository receipts (GDRs) of various Russia-based companies including En+ Group. The London Stock Exchange has 24 companies incorporated in Russia trading on its bourse, out of which 17 are suspended. However, GDRs are negotiable certificates provisioned by a bank that represent shares in a foreign company but traded locally. Notwithstanding, the suspension also impacted several other Russian companies such as En+ Group, the majority owner of Rusal, which is incorporated in the United Kingdom. LSE revealed in a statement, "Further to recent sanctions in connection with events in Ukraine,...
In January 2022, alumina production in Europe (incl. Russia) recorded a downfall of 3,000 tonnes or 0.34 per cent month-on-month to stand at 885,000 tonnes, found the International Aluminium Institute. In December 2021, alumina output in Europe amounted to 888,000 tonnes, up by 50,000 tonnes from 838,000 tonnes in November. On a year-on-year calculation as well, alumina production in Europe (incl. Russia) in January 2022 stood lower by 4,000 tonnes or 0.45 per cent from 889,000 tonnes. In the last quarter of 2021, alumina production in Europe (incl. Russia) totalled 2.598 million tonnes, down by 1.85 per cent from 2.647 million tonnes in the previous quarter. World alumina production in January 2022 stood at 11.569 million tonnes, 0.13 per cent lower than 11.584 million tonnes in December...
According to the US Geological Survey (USGS) statistics, 196,000 tonnes of US aluminium crude metals and alloys were imported from Canada on December 2021, showing a month-on-month sharp decline of 39,000 per tonne or 16.59%. In November 2021, US imported 235,000 tonnes of US aluminium crude metals and alloys to Canada, showing a hike of 2,000 tonnes or 0.85% from 233,000 tonnes in October 2021. Imports of US aluminium crude metals and alloys from Canada escalated by 35,000 tonnes or 21.73% year-on-year, from 161,000 tonnes in December 2020. From January to December, the imported aluminium crude metals and alloys settled at 2,530,000 tonnes. For the same period last year, the amount scored at 2,300,000 tonnes. The total amount of US aluminium plates, sheets, bars, crude metals and alloys,...
