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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Upslope Brewing Co. had decided not to lay off any of its 73 employees as a result of the COVID-19-related shutdowns and limitations. When inside seating restrictions were imposed, the Boulder craft brewer did everything it could to make its patio appealing. The brewery's most recent problem is to locate a new supplier for the cans that house its IPAs, lagers, and limited-release brews. Starting March 1, Ball Corp., the world's largest beverage-can producer, will increase its minimum order fivefold. “For us, it created quite a scramble. We went down the path of trying to figure out how to react and how to make our business sustainable,” said Matt Cutter, Upslope Brewing’s founder and president. During the pandemic, demand for Ball, located in Westminster, and other aluminium-can makers...
In January 2022, world alumina production totalled 11.569 million tonnes, down by only 0.13 per cent from 11.584 million tonnes in December 2021 and 0.46 per cent less than 11.622 million tonnes in January 2021, found the International Aluminium Institute data. In the full-year 2021, world alumina output amounted to 138.077 million tonnes, up by 3.76 per cent from 133.078 million tonnes a year ago. The world’s daily average alumina production in January 2022 came in at 373,200 tonnes, seeing a month-on-month dip of 500 tonnes from 373,700 tonnes. China, the world’s leading producer of alumina, churned out 6.250 million tonnes in January 2022, marginally up by 0.11 per cent from 6.243 million tonnes a month ago. But compared to the same period last year, the output stood the same at 6.250...
Hindalco Industries Limited has hiked its aluminium ingot and aluminium products prices, with effect from Tuesday, March 1, in response to LME aluminium benchmark price surge to a new high owing to more sanctions imposed on major producer Russia over the weekend, heightening supply disruptions. Hindalco has raised its aluminium ingot price by INR 8,500 per tonne to INR 297,000 per tonne as of March 1. On February 26, the price stood at INR 288,500 per tonne, seeing a sharp downfall of INR 13,250 per tonne from the previous day. Hindalco’s aluminium billets price has also seen a surge of INR 8,500 per tonne, with effect from March 1, to stand at INR 311,100 per tonne versus INR 302,600 per tonne on February 26. The company’s aluminium wire rod price also climbed INR 8,500 per tonne from...
Altek Metal, a manufacturer of finely machined 5083 alloy aluminium cast plates under the Aludur and Aludur Plus trademarks, receives 18 million Euro joint investment from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Garanti BBVA to construct aluminium recycling casthouse with a 50,000 tonne per year capacity, in Çerkezköy, Turkey. The main aim of this investment is to help Altek Metal expand its company ensure the long-term viability of its high-quality aluminium products. At this time, Altek Metal is the only business in the Turkish aluminium industry that is getting active investment from the EBRD. This investment will also enable Altek Metal to manufacture slabs and billets, reducing its reliance on slab imports. “We are proud to receive investment from EBRD to help...
On Monday, February 28, Russian aluminium producer Rusal, the world’s top metal producer ex-China, suspended alumina shipments from its Nikolaev refinery in Ukraine, resulting in increased supply disruptions across the alumina and aluminium market, reported consultancy firm Wood Mackenzie. Ami Shivkar, the principal analyst in Wood Mackenzie’s aluminium team, said alumina produced at Nikolaev refinery is transported to Rusal’s aluminium smelters in Russia, supporting 900 thousand tonnes per annum of output, which is 23 per cent of Rusal’s primary aluminium production. However, Shivkar noted that “a halt in alumina shipments doesn’t mean an immediate cut in smelter output although the supply chain in Russia is tight, with weeks of alumina stocks on site rather than months.” He added that...
According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the United States exported 7,690 tonnes of US aluminium crude metals and alloys in November to Mexico. On a month-on-month scale, there was an escalation of 920 per tonne or 13.58%. In October 2021, 6,770 tonnes of US aluminium crude metals and alloys was exported to Mexico, showing a decline of 360 tonnes from 7,130 tonnes in September 2021. On a year-on-year calculation, US aluminium crude metals and alloys exported to Mexico in November 2021 fell sharply by 2,610 tonnes or 25.33% from 10,300 tonnes in November 2020. From January to November, the exported aluminium crude metals and alloys to Mexico pegged at 100,000 tonnes. For the same period last year, the amount had registered at 83,100 tonnes. Based on the data from the USGS, the total...
Three-month LME aluminium opened at US$3,407 per tonne on Monday, February 28, and closed at US$3,395 per tonne, an increase of US$15 per tonne or 0.44 per cent. LME aluminium benchmark prices grew another record high after Western nations unveiled more sanctions on major producer Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine. While LME aluminium cash bid price surged by US$93.5 per tonne or 2.79 per cent to US$3,448 per tonne, LME aluminium official settlement price increased by US$94.50 per tonne or 2.82 per cent to stand at US$3,450 per tonne on February 28. 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price soared by US$133 per tonne to come in at US$3,445 per tonne and US$3,447 per tonne. December 23 bid price and December 23 offer price also scored higher at US$3,133 per tonne and US$3,138...
Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Bhd, a Malaysia-based extrusion producing company, announced last week its record annual net profit of RM1.03 billion for the financial year ended December 31, 2021, following its fourth quarter’s earnings nearly doubled to RM285.82 million from RM145.25 million. The surge in Q4 earnings could be attributed to the increased revenue of 63.9 per cent to RM3.37 billion from RM2.05 billion, driven by higher average aluminium prices and increased output from Phase 3 of Samalaju Smelter. Press Metal’s annual net profit for FY2021 increased by 124 per cent Y-o-Y from RM459.85 million, while revenue grew 47 per cent to RM10.99 billion from 7.48 billion in FY2020. The Group declared a fourth interim dividend of 1 sen per share for FY2021, payable on March 31, 2022,...
The European leader in the business of manufacturing and sales of aluminium rolled products for diverse industries worldwide, ALVANCE Aluminium Duffel will supply its range of aluminium products Ecolite and Superlite to Mercedes-Benz AG to fit in Mercedes-Benz EQS’ wings, doors, roof and side frame panels. Mercedes-Benz EQS’ is an all-electric 5 seater luxury sedan. The aluminium components are ideally suited for this particular section due to their lightweight. The green metal is also an inherently sustainable material, as it can be recycled infinitely, all while preserving its unique properties. Ecolite is manufactured at ALVANCE Aluminium Duffel as a range of products for inner panels and structural applications, while Superlite is the range of products for outer body panel...
Tom Giddings has been named Executive Director of Alupro, an organisation that recycles aluminium packaging. Giddings, who was formerly Interim General Manager, takes up the position immediately. As Executive Director, Giddings will be in charge of directing Alupro in its efforts to achieve and surpass the industry's recycling objectives for aluminium packaging. He will represent the industry as an independent voice on matters of government policy and legislative development, as well as drive Alupro's consumer education programmes Every Can Counts and MetalMatters. Giddings, who joined Alupro as Sustainability and Public Affairs Manager in June 2020, has firmly established himself as a driving force in the industry. Prior to joining Alupro, he worked at DS Smith as a Sustainability Data...
On 25 th February 2022, the Mumbai, India headquartered Hindalco Industries publicized that it has entered into a share purchase agreement with Terrabel Empreedimentos Ltda, to divest the entire equity shareholding of Hindalco Do Brazil Industria Comercia de Alumina LTDA (HDB). Terrabel Empreedimentos Ltda, a Brazilian firm who are in the business of commercial and industrial machinery and equipment rental and leasing. The Brazil-based Hindalco Do Brazil Industria Comercia de Alumina with its head office in Ouro Preto is a wholly owned step-down subsidiary of Hindalco Industries, the metals flagship company of the Aditya Birla Group, and is the world's largest aluminium rolling and recycling company. However, the consideration received from disposal is one Brazilian real, whereas,...
Canyon's Makan and Ngaoundal bauxite research licences, which border the Minim-Martap Project in Central Cameroon, Africa, have been awarded two-year extensions. Camalco, a subsidiary of Canyon (ASX:CAY), is still waiting for an exploitation licence for the Minim-Martap research permit, but expects it to be granted soon, as does Camalco's and Cameroon's entrance into the Mining Convention for the project. On February 18, the Société Nationale des Mines (Sonamines) and China Railway No. 5 Engineering Group (CREC 5) announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to conduct research in the Makan and Ngaoundal research permits areas. However, Camalco was not a part of the agreement (MoU) and also unaware about the fact that Sonamines and CREC 5 were negotiating a research permit...
The largest primary aluminium in the GCC region and the biggest non-oil industrial entity of UAE, Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) booked a record whopping 1,140% rise in net profits for 2021 to $1.5 billion. The company earning depicts a bulls-eye of sharp turn following the disruptions rooted in the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The adjusted EBITDA more than doubled to AED 9.0 billion ($2.5 billion) for 2021, from AED 4.1 billion ($1.1 billion) for 2020. However, net profit was AED 5.5 billion ($1.5 billion), an increase of 1,140% compared to AED 445 million ($121 million) in 2020. EGA’s delivered the strongest-ever results and accredits it to the strong global market for aluminium as economies recovered from COVID-19, solid operational performance throughout the value chain, and a focus on...
According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the United States imported 20,100 tonnes of US aluminium plates, sheets and bars from Canada in November, showing a month-on-month growth of 600 per tonne or 3.07%. In October 2021, 19,500 tonnes of US aluminium plates, sheets and bars were imported from Canada, showing a fall of 400 tonnes from 19,900 tonnes in September 2021. On a year-on-year calculation, US aluminium plates, sheets and bars imported from Canada in November 2021 nosedived by 300 tonnes or 1.47% from 20,400 tonnes in November 2020. From January to November, the imported aluminium plates, sheets and bars from Canada, in November pegged at 219,000 tonnes. For the same period last year, the amount closed at 193,000 tonnes. Based on the data shared by the USGS, the total amount...
The Australia-based hi-technology and explorer-developer company, ABx Group Limited has signed a joint venture agreement with Alumin Pty Ltd (Alumin) towards the development of the Sunrise Bauxite Project, which comprises a bauxite mine at Binjour plateau and port operations at Bundaberg in Queensland. Binjour is located 115km inland of Bundaberg. Alumin Pty Ltd. is an Australian special purpose vehicle company correlated with ABx Group’s strategic marketing partner, Rawmin India, that have substantial experience in funding long term sustainable investments in the development of projects involving mining and bulk-shipping of metallurgical grade bauxite to end-users around the world. In accordance with the agreement, Alumin will finance up to A$18 million of the development costs. However,...
LME aluminium opened at US$3,376 per tonne last Friday and closed at U$3,380 per tonne, an increase of US$15 per tonne or 0.45%. On Friday, February 25, LME aluminium cash bid price recorded a fall of US$163.5 or 4.64% to total at US$3,354.50 per tonne. For the same day, LME aluminium official settlement price also nosedived by US$163.5 or 4.64% to score at US$3,355.50 per tonne. 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price pegged at US$3,312 per tonne and US$3,314 per tonne. December 23 bid price and December 23 offer price came in at US$2,972 per tonne and US$2,977 per tonne. LME aluminium opening stock scored at 823125 tonnes. Live warrants and Cancelled warrants for the same day stood at 579875 tonnes and 243250 tonnes. LME aluminium 3-month Asian Reference Price recorded at US$3,358.28...
The global manufacturing industry encountered the deadly Covid pandemic with plenty of dents, the aluminium sector was also one of those challenges. However, India’s mining and metal giant, Vedanta's aluminium business, counter the pandemic well and was not heavily impacted. Now, it tends to focus on backward integration in the next fiscal and plans to functionalize two of its coal mines in Odisha to secure the supply of raw materials at its Captive Power Plants, as reported by a top-level executive of the company. Rahul Sharma, the CEO of Vedanta Aluminium said, “In the coming financial year, the company's 'focus would be on backward integration.” "Second is the raw material. We have some mines. We would like to operationalise one or two mines so that our raw material security becomes...
The Defence Secretary of the United Kingdom, Ben Wallace has stated his words very strongly following the ongoing Russia-Ukraine military conflict that the former Energy Minister Lord Barker must step down from his Chairmanship at the Russian aluminium and energy giant En+ Group and also must resign from the House of Lords. Lord Barker holds the post of executive chairman at En+ after the group’s major shareholder Russian industrial tycoon Oleg Deripaska stepped down in regards to sanctions-related matters. However, Lord Barker preserves his seat in the House of Lords while working full-time for the company. On 27 th February 2022, the Defence Secretary further added to his statement, “Lord Barker must sever ties with the Russian company and quit the House of Lords for good.” During the...
