The US aluminum trihydrate market strengthened in September 2026 as downstream procurement, rising overseas production costs, and shipping bottlenecks supported prices. In contrast, Bosnia’s market faced a quarterly correction as European buyers drew on accumulated inventories and lower caustic soda costs eased manufacturing pressures, highlighting diverging regional price trends. US aluminum trihydrate market gains on demand and supply constraints US aluminum trihydrate prices increased 2.38% month over month in September, supported by purchases from wire and cable manufacturers, electrical infrastructure compounders, and electric vehicle (EV) component producers. Demand remained particularly resilient for applications involving low-smoke cable compounds and flame-retardant materials....
China-based China Aluminum International Engineering Co., Ltd. (CHALIECO) has won a bid for an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract valued at approximately USD 833 million for a proposed alumina project in Vietnam, adding to investment activity in the country’s mineral processing sector. The project, being developed by Binh Phuoc Ore Mining and Beneficiation Joint Stock Company, is designed to process 2.4 million tonnes of alumina annually. The proposed contract is valued at around CNY 5.595 billion (USD 839.04 million), with completion expected within 27 months of the contract’s effective date. CHALIECO to oversee turnkey refinery development Under the proposed turnkey arrangement, CHALIECO’s responsibilities will cover the full project delivery process, from...
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Rusal reported 2.1% sequential increase in alumina production in Q2 2017 at 1,928 thousand tonnes. Russian alumina refineries accounted for 36% of total output. All the refineries reported optimum production volumes according to the plans. Windalco, Auginish and Bogoslovsk faced minor drop in production due to seasonal repair works, which was offset by improved production performance at Achinsk and Urals. Alumina production results Rusal completed capacity upgrades at Nikolaev and Urals refineries and both the refineries contributed largely towards the YoY production increase in Q2 2017. Bauxite output increased 7.7% QoQ to stand at 3,090 thousand tonnes. Nepheline output at Timan and Kia Shaltyr increased by 22.7% and 5.2% QoQ to meet the production plan needs of the Urals and Achinsk...
Alteo, a leading producer of high-value specialty alumina with production capacity of over 600, 000 tonnes in France, is going to increase the prices on its whole product portfolio at the end of quarter three this year. The company said, “Alumina production has suffered over the past months from significant cost increases which cannot be absorbed anymore.” The price increase will depend on markets and products. This would apply on products shipped as of September 1 st . Alteo will continue to invest in new product development and capacity expansion in order to meet the rising demand of such products. The company remains committed to supply the highest quality of specialty aluminas and level of service. The company provides its product more than 1,000 different locations worldwide with...
China alumina spot market is bracing for an increased supply as illegal aluminium capacity closure is expected to add nearly 170,000 tonnes of alumina to it, reported Shanghai Metals Market. Driven by the speculation, alumina prices in some of China’s major markets dropped significantly on Tuesday, July 25. The average alumina price in Central China market dived by 0.59 per cent from its earlier RMB 2,550 per tonne on July 24, to RMB 2,535 per tonne on July 25. The commodity has been static at RMB 2,550 per tonne level since its last drop on July 18. The drop has been steeper for alumina prices in the North China market. The commodity fell by 0.98 per cent to stand at RMB 2,525 per tonne on July 25, as compared to its last stand at RMB 2,550 per tonne on July 24. North China alumina had...
Hydro reports positive results for the second quarter of 2017, driven by better metal prices. However, underlying EBIT for Bauxite & Alumina decreased from the first quarter mostly attributed to lower realized alumina prices, driven by a weaker alumina index. Higher raw material consumption also affected the results for bauxite and alumina segment. Higher alumina sales volumes contributed positively to the results. However, the current ramp-up process of the new press filter operation to separate and recycle caustic soda from red mud has caused additional operational cost at the alumina refinery. The Alunorte alumina refinery and the Paragominas bauxite mine had higher production in the second quarter after completing planned maintenance in the first quarter. Hydro reports a total alumina...
Driven by the unstoppable China appetite, alumina prices have rallied till now in H1 2017. But a look at the current price trend will reveal a moderating pace. With China slashing aluminium smelting capacity in major production hubs and further production control looming large for Q4 FY 2017-18, the demand for the commodity is expected to weaken in the short to medium term, and this will get reflected in alumina prices for H2 2017. Currently, alumina prices are holding on around US$300-310 per tonne. So, will the alumina prices drop? - Unlikely, because there is a steep increase in alumina input cost. Caustic soda is getting costlier. Its prices have risen by 11 per cent; further, China will be soon restarting its high-cost aluminium capacities filling the gap left by the exit of low-cost...
Spot Alumina prices have remained flat throughout all China markets as there no clarity on the proposed smelter cuts. The average spot alumina prices in South China market and North China markets stand at RMB 2,490/t and RMB 2,550/t respectively on July 21. Market price difference between North China and South China stands at RMB 60/t. For East China and Central China market, average alumina prices settle at RMB 2,565/t and RMB 2,550/t . Large scale producers are still conservative on their alumina prices. Chalco alumina prices and average imported alumina prices remain flat at RMB 2,650/t and RMB 2,800/t. According to a Platt’s report despite the July deadline by Xinjiang authorities, no confirmed aluminium capacity cut has been reported yet. Media reports said cutbacks in the Xinjiang...
Alumina Limited, the AWAC joint venture, has announced its second quarter results for Alcoa Bauxite and Alumina Segment. The 2017 EBITDA for Bauxite and Alumina fell to total $325 million. According to Alumina Limited, the fall in earning was caused by lower production and higher maintenance costs in the segment. The Alumina segment, as said by the company was negatively impacted by an 11 per cent fall in the Alumina Price Index (API) or Australian Alumina FOB prices. However the negative effect was partially offset by higher sales and favourable currency movements. Alcoa has been focusing on restructuring its portfolio to leverage on low cost refinery assets and third party bauxite sales. This, the company believes will bring long term profitability to the company. Commenting on the...
Iceland, this tiny island country which was once known only for its huge fish production and export is the new hub for aluminium and on the way to produce more aluminium in 2017 than the United States in the same way like two other countries with hydropower- Canada and Norway. Major Aluminium producers like Alcoa and Century Aluminum which have closed smelters in the U.S. have their smelters running in Iceland, mostly because of the cheaper hydroelectricity in the country. {newsStudioGallery} This indicates the significant of alumina import for the country which is entirely dependent on alumina to feed its smelters. There are currently three aluminium smelters in operation with a total capacity of over 800,000tpy, which puts Iceland at the 11th position among aluminium-producing countries...
Government initiated wide-scale aluminium capacity cuts in China has triggered oversupply in the domestic alumina market thereby putting a downward pressure on alumina prices. The prices of the commodity used as a key raw material in aluminium smelting (as electrolyte in Hall–Héroult method) were down across four major markets in China. The highest price drop was registered in South China alumina prices, for which the average price on Tuesday, July 18, stood at RMB 2,490 per tonne, down 0.40 per cent from its earlier price of RMB 2,500 per tonne on July 13. The average prices of alumina in East China, Central China, and North China markets stood at RMB 2,565 (-0.19%), RMB 2,550 (-0.39%), and RMB 2,550 (-0.39%) per tonne respectively as on July 18. The average imported alumina price in...
The global demand of alumina, the key electrolyte for aluminium production through Hall Heroult method, though rising significantly is lending little support to Australia’s exports. The largest exporter of alumina in 2016 is nearing a drop in the mineral commodity export, if quarterly estimates are to be believed. For the entire year of 2016, Australia’s estimated alumina export totalled at 8.4 million tonnes. In the first quarter of the current financial, that is, during May-June 2017, total alumina export from the country is estimated to reach 2.3 million tonnes, down from 4.93 million tonnes in the corresponding period previous year. The estimates are bleak for the next quarter as well. In Q2 FY 2017-18, alumina exports by Australia will reach 2.5 million tonnes, down from 4.98 million...
Alumina and electricity are the two key inputs that go into aluminium production which also play a very significant role in determining the price of aluminium. Integrated aluminium producers like Alcoa, Norsk Hydro and Rio Tinto (RIO) have both alumina refining as well as aluminium smelting operations. Alumina prices were strong last year driven by capacity curtailments in China and higher thermal coal prices and high demand in China. Alcoa’s alumina segment posted a sharp increase in profitability due to higher alumina prices. However, API prices (alumina price index) have fallen drastically in 2017. This could be a concern for Alcoa as lower alumina prices would have a negative impact on the profitability of its alumina operations. Secondly, low alumina prices could also bring down...
Ahmed Osman, a researcher at Queen’s University Belfast, has successfully recycled aluminium foil waste into an alumina based biofuel catalyst. The chemical is found to be more reactive yet cheaper than commercial alumina refined from bauxite. The out-of-the-box approach if adopted in mainstream aluminium recycling could reduce the amount of foil waste that goes to landfill while lessening the damaging impact of bauxite mining on environment. Previously, Osman developed a way by which soiled aluminium foil can be converted into alumina catalysts for producing the biofuel dimethyl ether (DME). Now, his team has invented a crystallization method using which pure aluminium salts can be obtained from even contaminated waste aluminium foil. Explaining the process developed, Osman said, “It is...
The U.S. primary aluminium industry is slowly picking up the pieces on the back of positive expectations generated by the Trump’s ministry. Along with the fall of the primary industry a number of alumina refineries in the U.S. have closed down in 2016, including the shutdowns of the alumina refineries in Gregory, TX, by Sherwin Alumina Co. and in Point Comfort, TX, by Alcoa Corp. An analysis of the foreign trade patterns of alumina for the first quarters of 2016 and 2017 (calendar year) will show us the changed occurred in the alumina market in the U.S. {newsStudioGallery} According to the latest report from U.S. Geological Survey, imports of alumina by the U.S. during Q1 2017 were 308,000 t, 16% more than the amount in the fourth quarter of 2016 and 17% more than those in the first...
Spot Alumina prices in major China markets have registered a further fall after the last registered drop in July 7. According to a report from Shanghai Metals Market yesterday, the production of alumina is expected to increase to 5.9 million tonnes in July, and the daily average production to stand at 190,000 tonnes. The production is likely to increase due to increase in production at Yunnan Aluminum’s phase two alumina projects in Wenshan. This news had an impact on the tight alumina market. The average spot alumina prices in South China market dropped to RMB 2,525/t on July 11. In the North China market, spot alumina prices dropped to RMB 2,570/t today. Market price difference between North China and South China also dropped to RMB 45/t today. For East China and Central China market,...
According to recent statistics showed by Shanghai Metals Market, China’s production of alumina increased year-on-year in June, and the daily average production climbed month-on-month. The production of alumina is expected to increase in July. China produced 5.66 million tonnes of alumina in June, up 16.4 per cent year-on-year. The daily average production stood at 189,000 tonnes, up 3.0 per cent month-on-month, SMM statistics indicated. The production of alumina is expected to increase to 5.9 million tonnes in July, and the daily average production to stand at 190,000 tonnes. The production is likely to increase due to increase in production at Yunnan Aluminum’s phase two alumina project in Wenshan. Jinzhong Chemical resumed production in June. Tianyuan Chemical completed production...
Spot alumina prices in major China markets plunged ahead of the impending rise which is almost certain as Xinjiang East Hope has announced capacity cut at its smelter. While imported alumina price remained unchanged and Chalco made no change to the price it offers to the markets, spot alumina traded majorly down in North, South, east and Central China. As on Friday, July 7, the revised spot alumina prices are as follows: Unit: RMB per tonne Spot alumina price in the South China market witnessed the highest fall. Currently, the average price of the mineral stands at RMB 2,540 per tonne, down 2.31 per cent from its previous price of RMB 2,600 per tonne on July 6. Shanghai Metals Market observes that spot alumina in South China will range at RMB 2,510-2,570 per tonne in the short term. Spot...
A media report says Suriname is to receive a $40m investment loan from Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) which will help increase tax revenue and improve its public spending. The South American country, the smallest on the continent has been facing budget deficit due to the fall in commodity prices and a halt in alumina production, which used to be the prime export of Suriname. Alcoa Corporation, which was the owner of the Suralco alumina refinery and bauxite mines in Suriname, announced full closure of operation of the facilities in January 2017. The operations were on halt since November 2015 amid bauxite supply scarcity and unfavourable market conditions. The Government of the Republic of Suriname and Alcoa continued to develop definitive agreements concerning Suralco’s remaining...
Ukraine is a sovereign state in Eastern Europe, bordered by Russia to the east, northeast, and south. Ukraine has a very large heavy-industry base and is one of the largest refiners of mineral and metallurgical products in Eastern Europe. Rusal has two refineries in Ukraine producing about 1.7 million tonnes of alumina annually. The alumina is usually exported to Russia to feed Rusal’s smelters. {newsStudioGallery} As shown by our data, Ukraine exported 1.46 million tonnes of alumina in 2015. In 2016, the country is estimated to export about 1.48 million tons of alumina. Considering the data for the last two years, Ukraine is estimated to export 1.5 million tons of alumina in 2017. The trend shows a steady rise in alumina export by Ukraine. The total value of alumina export stood at USD...
