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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Three-month LME aluminium opened at US$3,285 per tonne on Tuesday morning, and gained US$13 per tonne or 0.4% to close at US$3,303 per tonne. On Tuesday, February 22, LME aluminium cash bid price had escalated by US$106 per tonne or by 3.19% to settle at US$3,419 per tonne. LME aluminium official settlement price also soared up by US$105 per tonne or by 3.16% to total at US$3,420 per tonne. Aluminium prices have been increasing steadily due to three main reasons. First is that energy costs have been rising, the second is that there is a bit of a shortfall due to decreasing Chinese output, and the third is that there has been some worry due to the developing tensions between Russia and Ukraine. 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price registered at US$3, 366 per tonne and US$3,366.50 per...
The developer of the first complete suburb – Amber Forest in Romania, Alesonor inks a partnership with Reynaers Aluminium Romania. The European developer of aluminium products for the building sector, Reynaers Aluminium will supply premium aluminium solutions for doors and windows, Reynaers Masterline 8 High Isolation, the latest system that incorporates high generation technology, for added energy efficiency and functionality. However, the co-operation supports Alesonor’s goals of delivering Amber Forest green homes (both villas and apartments) at the highest levels of quality, comfort, energy efficiency and modern design. Reynaers Aluminum has designed the new solutions according to the latest trends in the construction of low-energy buildings with maximum access to natural light,...
On 18 th February 2022, the national mining company of Cameroon, Sonamines through its Director-General Serge Boyogueno, signed a memorandum of understanding with China Railways No. 5 Engineering Group Co. (CREC 5), a subsidiary of China Railways Group Ltd., to support Sonamines in the development of bauxite deposits in Ngaoundal and Makan, Adamaoua. Serge Hervé Boyogueno exemplifies, “Cameroon has three world-class bauxite deposits in Adamaoua (Minim-Martap, Ngaoundal, and Makan). Currently, their combined resources are estimated at one billion tonnes.” In July 2018, Cameroon awarded three exploration permits covering those deposits to a mining operator, the Australian firm Canyon Resources for a 3-year, non-renewable period. The three permits expired on July 11, 2021, and the operator...
Sanjeev Gupta's GFG Alliance metals empire has filed a last-ditch bid in London's high court to recapture a coveted aluminium smelter in northern France from a US private equity firm. Two GFG Alliance firms have launched a lawsuit against a fund owned by American Industrial Partners (AIP), which has been operating the smelter in Dunkerque since October after receiving government licence. The allegation is based on a complicated set of loan arrangements, but GFG's court documents imply that the action might lead to more examination of Gupta's business. According to court records, AIP claimed in September that it was unable to receive payments from GFG relating to the loans because of an accusation that GFG entities had infringed Romanian law. The complicated dispute over the smelter's...
Norsk Hydro, a Norwegian aluminium producer, posted record quarterly and yearly earnings on Tuesday, owing to a boom in global commodity prices, and indicated its dividend payout for 2021 will more than quadruple. In the October-December quarter, adjusted profits before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) increased to 9 billion Norwegian crowns ($1 billion), up from 3.4 billion the year before. Analysts had expecting 9.31 billion. Global supply-chain bottlenecks, rising energy prices, and inflationary threats are all sources of concern for the organisation. "There is an increasing uncertainty about the outlook," said Hydro. Hydro's board suggested a 5.4 crown annual dividend, with 2.0 crowns designated as an exceptional distribution, although analysts had projected a...
In Hong Kong, shares of United Co. Rusal International fell as much as 22% as investors watched the dramatic escalation in the West's standoff with Moscow over Ukraine. This is the greatest drop since April 2018, when Rusal was struck by an earlier wave of US sanctions in response to what the US Treasury at the time referred to as Russia's "malign behaviour throughout the world." The Ukraine situation heightens the dangers for the world's largest aluminium production, as worries grow that escalating tensions or additional fighting in Ukraine could impede trade and lead to further sanctions against Russian firms. The US government has stated that fresh measures would be announced on Tuesday; however it is unclear what those sanctions will be. As the currency plummeted and oil rose, Rusal...
According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the United States imported 7,190 tonnes of US aluminium plates, sheets and bars from Thailand in November, showing a month-on-month drop of 100 per tonne or by 1.37%. In October 2021, 7,290 tonnes of US aluminium plates, sheets and bars were imported from Thailand, showing surge of 4,910 tonnes from 2,310 tonnes in September 2021. On a year-on-year calculation, US aluminium plates, sheets and bars imported from Thailand, in November 2021 ascended by 6,437 tonnes or by 854.84% from 753 tonnes in November 2020. From January to November, the imported aluminium plates, sheets and bars from Thailand, in November 2021 settled at 63,400 tonnes. For the same period last year, the amount registered at 30,100 tonnes. As per the data shared by the USGS,...
LME aluminium opened at US$3,265.5 per tonne on Monday and closed at US$3,290 per tonne, an increase of US$23.5 per tonne or 0.72%. On Monday, February 21, LME aluminium cash bid price remained the same as Friday, February 18, to close at US$3,313 per tonne. But, LME aluminium official settlement price inched up by US$1 per tonne or 0.03% to peg at US$3,315 per tonne. 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price scored at US$3,269 per tonne and US$3,270 per tonne. December 23 bid price and December 23 offer price registered at US$2,938 per tonne and US$2,943 per tonne. LME aluminium opening stock closed at 843475 tonnes. Live warrants and Cancelled warrants for the same day settled at 541300 tonnes and 302175 tonnes. LME aluminium 3-month Asian Reference Price totalled at US$3,254.68 per...
On 21 st February 2022, the world leader in aluminium rolling and recycling, Novelis Inc. publicized that it will invest approximately $50 million towards establishing a recycling center at its Ulsan Aluminum joint venture in South Korea. The project is fully financially backed up by Novelis, the Ulsan Recycling Center will have an annual casting capacity of 100 kilotonnes of low-carbon sheet ingot. Once functionalized, it is anticipated that the recycling center will lessen the company's carbon emissions by more than 420,000 tonnes each year. Pierre Labat, the Senior Vice President, Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer at Novelis Inc. said, “This latest capital investment in recycling is another example of our company purpose of 'Shaping a Sustainable World Together' in action.” "I...
The Minister for Transport and Mining of Jamaica, Audley Shaw stated his gratification that despite the negative impacts of the previous year’s fire at Jamalco, the refinery has been able to safeguard the jobs of around 1,000 employees. Audley Shaw while speaking to a local media said, “I am glad that, despite the fire, which has closed down the operations, we have still kept 1,000 workers on the job, doing maintenance, upgrading, and other types of work, which keeps them occupied. So I commended them for that and, of course, they are to reopen sometime in the summer.” “Jamalco plant currently falls under the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, under whose portfolio is the Government-owned Clarendon Alumina Production (CAP) Limited, which shares a 45% to 55% ownership of the...
On 21 st February 2022, the leading aluminium rolling and recycling firm, Speira declared that it has signed a definitive agreement towards the acquisition of the European business of Real Alloy ("Real Alloy Europe"). However, the finalization of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and approvals. The European leader in the recycling of aluminium and magnesium scrap and related by-products, Real Alloy Europe functionalizes with seven facilities and around 600 employees across Germany, Norway, France and the United Kingdom. The acquisition will upgrade Speira's expertise to utilize recycled metal in its production and supply high-quality, low carbon rolled aluminium products to its customers. Einar Glomnes, the CEO of Speira stated, "The integration of Real Alloy...
The year 2021 instituted an immensely optimistic result for the Salzburger Aluminium Group, an Austrian family business with 1100 employees worldwide. The market leader for aluminium tanks for trucks, despite challenging situations spawned by the Covid pandemic, supply chain problems, the semiconductor crisis and the resulting production stoppages at OEMs, reported an outstanding hop in turnover achievement in 2021. The global supplier to all well-known OEMs, SAG’s sales emerged by more than 35% to EUR 207 million, the EBIT margin to7%. This is in regards to the demand for SAG fuel tanks for trucks being unbroken and more and more OEMs –particularly in the field of e-mobility - are relying on customised aluminium castings made by SAG, which are manufactured in Lend using the perfected...
LME aluminium opened at US$3,257 per tonne last Friday and closed at US$3,266.5 per tonne, an increase of US$8 per tonne or 0.25%. On Friday, February 18, LME aluminium cash bid price surged by US$21 per tonne or 0.63% to close at US$3,313 per tonne. On other hand, LME aluminium official settlement price also soared up by US$20 per tonne or by 0.60% to peg at US$3,314 per tonne, for the same day. 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price recorded at US$3,263 per tonne and US$3,265 per tonne, for the same day. December 23 bid price and December 23 offer price scored at US$2,917 per tonne and US$2,922 per tonne. LME aluminium opening stock settled at 849275 tonnes. Live warrants and Cancelled warrants for the same day also came in at 849275 tonnes and 282975 tonnes. LME aluminium 3-month...
On 21 st February 2022, the global mineral and metal giant Rio Tinto signed a new partnership agreement with Tasmanian State Government at the Bell Bay Aluminium smelter towards working together to ensure a strong and sustainable future economy for George Town, the Tamar Valley region and Tasmania. The new partnership will endeavour to propel the economic growth and employment outcomes in the State and support the Tasmanian Government’s target of doubling renewable electricity generation by 2040. The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) states that the Tasmanian Government and Rio Tinto will jointly investigate in regards to the smelter’s manufacturing capability and electricity demand that can support the development of new industries and more renewable energy supply in the region. Rio...
According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the United States imported 4,650 tonnes of US aluminium plates, sheets and bars from Turkey in November, showing a month-on-month descend of 630 per tonne or by 11.93%. In October 2021, 5,280 tonnes of US aluminium plates, sheets and bars were imported from Turkey, showing a drop of 200 tonnes from 5,480 tonnes in September 2021. On a year-on-year calculation, US aluminium plates, sheets and bars imported from Turkey, In November 2021 hiked by 3,250 tonnes or by 232.14% from 1,400 tonnes in November 2020. From January to November, the imported aluminium plates, sheets and bars from Turkey in November 2021 closed at 56,200 tonnes. For the same period last year, the amount scored at 37,900 tonnes. As per the data shared by the USGS, the total...
The global aluminium industry’s downstream segment is regaining its earlier form gradually, as the week observed Fehrmann Tech Group on-boarded 3D printing intellects to support its further expansion, The Austrian metal company AMAG revealed high in its earnings for FY2021 shouldering on aluminium shipments above the pre-crisis level. Wheels India Group is eying to raise its export contribution to one-third of sales especially targeting aluminium wheels. The aluminium billet inventories in China decreased by 2,900 tonnes or 1.08% week-on-week across five major consumption areas. As a result, the inventories closed at 264,000 tonnes, as of Thursday, February 17. To know more:...
The oldest communist party of the country, Communist Party of India’s (CPI) general secretary D Raja has delivered a written statement to Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi appealing him to repeal the Govt. of India’s decision towards privatisation of state-owned integrated aluminium company NALCO. D Raja’s letter quoted, “There is widespread resentment among the workers to the move. We request you to roll back your government's move to privatise the National Aluminium Company Ltd (NALCO). We vehemently oppose the disastrous plan of your government to implement 100% strategic disinvestment in the National Aluminium Company Ltd by way of privatisation.” “NALCO, established in 1981, is a Navaratna company under the Ministry of Mines and has been the topmost Central Public Sector...
The global aluminium giant, Norsk Hydro has reported that one of the four production lines at its part-owned aluminium smelter in Brazil, Albras was shut down on the morning of 19 th February 2022 due to an internal power distribution failure. The power distribution failure appeared within one potline at Albras, which accordingly lead to a shutdown of the affected potline. The potline impacted by the power disruption produces 110,000 tonnes of liquid aluminium annually. However, the other three potlines at Albras were not affected and are functioning normally. Albras Alumínio Brasileiro S.A., the second-largest aluminium producer in Brazil further stated, “It remains too early to assess financial implications from the incident, as well as timing for restart. Albras will investigate the...
