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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The scientists at the Isfahan University of Technology in Iran association with their colleagues from Germany have developed high-purity alumina nanoparticles using a green laboratorial method. Alumina nanoparticles are largely used in oil refinery for controlling the emission of greenhouse gases. Alumina, a ceramic, is widely used in many industrial sectors due to its reasonable production cost and a host of versatile physical and chemical properties. Alumina has good thermal stability, high specific area, high surface acidity, and noticeable interaction with metals, and finds use in petrochemical and oil refinery processes as sorbent in adsorption and catalyst. It is very important to invent new and efficient methods to produce oxide nanoparticles such as alumina. According to Iran...
As a counter effect of the falling commodity price, Hindalco Industries will go ahead with plans to sell its alumina plant and mines in Brazil. According to an Economics Times report, Hindalco wants to use the money to pay off loans and focus on the domestic business to be competitive to stiff import from China and Middle East and leverage upon the slowly improving downstream demand. The sale deal is expected to be in the range of $90 million to $100 million. To survive the volatile commodity market, Metal and commodity companies around the world are selling off assets to refinance old expensive loans and cut costs. Though Global metal prices have recovered from multi-year lows but demand is still not growing at expected rate and profit margins are very low for the commodity traders as...
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WEG Industries, one of the noted names in the global electric engineering, power and automation technology domain, has been signed in as the sole supplier of all low to medium voltage Induction motors for an upcoming alumina refinery in the UAE. This is WEG's second foray into the Middle East Aluminium Industry after Ma’aden Aluminum's project in Saudi Arabia where it had supplied all electric motors and also helped in their successful commissioning. The new aluminium refinery is coming up inside the aluminium cluster at the Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (“KIZAD”). Being developed by Emirates Global Aluminium (“EGA”), the Phase I of the project will have an annual production capacity of 2 million tonnes. On completion, it will be operated by EGA subsidiary, Al Taweelah Alumina. EGA...
Rising alumina prices and falling aluminium prices have reduced profit at Chinese aluminium smelters, SMM learned. Chinese aluminium smelters in SMM survey sample reported profit of 1,000-1,160 yuan per tonne last week. Alumina prices gained another 30 yuan per tonne, while average spot aluminium price in Shanghai dropped 142 yuan per tonne to 12,552 yuan per tonne last week, SMM data showed.
The Australian alumina market firmed marginally Thursday, driven by a new surge in China’s domestic alumina prices and increasing smelting rates. Platts Australian alumina daily assessment rose 50 cents/mt day on day to $230/mt FOB Thursday, and was up $1.50/mt week on week. The premium for Western Australian alumina to Chinese domestic material continued to dwindle, slipping to about $8.50/mt and Yuan 57/mt Thursday in import parity terms for tons from Shanxi province. The premium was around $29/mt and Yuan 193/mt a month ago. Consumers have made a number of inquiries in recent weeks for alumina shipments in October and November but have yet to follow through with purchases. Sellers were holding out for $234-$235/mt FOB Australia. Smelters appeared to be warming to the notion of having...
Orbite Technologies Inc. today provided an update on commissioning and start-up of its high purity alumina ("HPA") plant. Activities continue to progress towards beginning of production in Q3, as communicated previously. Commissioning of the decomposer and calciner scrubber and the CMI exhaust gas cleaning and acid recovery systems has been successfully completed. Subsequently, heating of the decomposer and calciner ovens commenced over the Labour Day long weekend. Ovens are running with all the required service and support systems, including water cooling, CMI exhaust gas cleaning and acid recovery, steam generation, superheater, compressed air, and ventilation. Accordingly, more than 50% of the plant is now in hot start-up operations. Using hot air only from the superheater system, the...
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Alumina prices in major China markets have been rising steadily over the last few weeks and the Bull Run will likely continue, predicted Shanghai Metals Market. As per SMM survey, trading activity has turned active. There are few large aluminium smelters that are yet to join the trading bandwagon, but low metal stocks have encouraged big alumina producers to hold onto their offers. Luoyang Xiangjiang Wanji Alumina Plant resumed production two weeks ago, but this is unlikely to have any significant impact on alumina supply in the market this month because the refinery first needs to clear orders received earlier before they can process further orders, SMM updated. As per SMM data, weighted average traded price for alumina was 1,863 yuan per tonne in the week ending September 2, up 1.18 per...
Alcoa Inc. (NYSE:AA) (“Alcoa”) and Alumina Limited (ASX:AWC) (“Alumina”) today announced that they have agreed to make certain changes to the Alcoa World Alumina and Chemicals (“AWAC”) joint venture that will enhance value for Alcoa, Alumina, and their respective shareholders. In conjunction with these amendments, the parties have agreed to terminate their litigation in the Delaware Court of Chancery relating to Alcoa’s pending separation into two independent, publicly traded companies. Alcoa Inc. remains on track to complete its separation in the second half of 2016. In general, the changes to the joint venture agreements are intended to align more closely the partners’ interests in AWAC, while establishing greater strategic flexibility and autonomy for both partners. Effective upon the...
Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) is inching towards commissioning of an alumina refinery next to its Al Taweelah aluminium smelter in Abu Dhabi, reported industry sources. The refinery, once commissioned, would then be tied in to bauxite- sourced from Guinea bauxite mines for which EGA already has the mining rights. The Dubai and Abu Dhabi government-owned aluminium producer boasting per annum output of 2.4 million tonnes will be the first company to make investment in an alumina refinery in the UAE. “The refinery will produce 2 million tonnes of alumina each year, reducing our dependency on alumina imports by more than 40 per cent,” said said Yousuf Al Bastaki, Executive Vice-President — Upstream at EGA. “As with every other global business, we’ve identified the need to go beyond our...
Alumina is on an uptrend across major Chinese markets. However, analysts at the Shanghai Metals Market (SMM) warn it is too early to rejoice. According to them, the recent price gains are being driven mainly by the alumina refineries holding back alumina stocks and traders coming in numbers with growing enquiry volumes. Market trend says, trading has not been very active. Aluminium smelters are sitting pretty with enough raw material stocks and hence, are not in a rush to make immediate purchases, SMM learned. Source : Shanghai Metals Market Analysts expect alumina prices to plateau near the current levels in the short term. For there to be any further spike, aluminum smelters have to speed up their raw material buying procedures, SMM added. According to the latest SMM data, alumina...
Al-Futtaim Engineering (AFE) has been awarded with a multi-million dollar contract by Petron Emirates for providing access scaffolding solutions for Emirates Global Aluminum' (EGA)-owned Al Taweelah Alumina Refinery project. Headquartered in Dubai, Al-Futtaim company's Scaffolding and Access Solutions division will be providing access solutions to Bechtel Petrofac Joint Venture- the main contractor to install 30-metres high permanent steel structures. AFE will be also providing access to install a conveyor belt through suspended scaffolds from these steel structure. According to AFE's official release, the project team from the company will follow the European EN12811 standards while also adhering to EGA's regular safety norms. The European EN12811 standards specify performance...
Noted Jamaican aluminium industry analyst Terece Muir, who is currently working with CRU Analysis, opined that the plans drawn by the Chinese firm Jiuquan Iron and Steel Company (JISCO) for its recent buy- Alpart alumina refinery stand to raise concerns about the likely impact of the plant's operations on alumina and aluminium prices in the international market. Muir said in a recent communication, "Near term, there is some concern that the restart of Alpart, as early as 2017, will raise the alumina surplus in the world excluding China, and add downward pressure to alumina spot prices." JISCO, soon after buying the Alpart alumina refinery from UC Rusal laid out plans for major expansion at the plant. They also intend to set up a thermal-powered aluminium smelter in Nain, St Elizabeth,...
China alumina prices, which have been on a downward track over the last few months, are unlikely to deteriorate further in the second half of the current financial year, analysts at the Shanghai Metals Market expect. Presently, the Chinese alumina market is in a demand-supply balance with small supply deficits existing in a few pockets. Most of the newly installed alumina refineries have started operations this year, while few other awaiting commissioning in the remaining half 2016, will contribute output only next year, showed a survey conducted by SMM. Unit: RMB/mt Source: SMM Analysts believe, even if alumina prices take a U-turn and start declining, the range of downside will be limited, given the fact that that prices are now near cash costs. Meanwhile, some white and brown fused...
Alumina Ltd. ended the first half of 2016-17 financial year on a glum note. The dual-listed mineral company's H1 net profit went down to $US7.8 million ($A10.2 million) from $US122 million same period previous year, amid high market volatility. The financial result for the period under review was impacted upon by lower realised prices by its AWAC joint venture with aluminium giant Alco, in addition to impairment charges against various assets. Other highlights: • EBITDA decreased by US$450 million to US$281 million • EBITDA margin for alumina of US$46 per tonne • Cash for operations declined by $561 million to negative $240 million Alumina CEO Peter Wasow said, “The company delivered a strong financial performance despite tough market conditions, reflecting in part the benefits of...
Chinese spot alumina prices firmed further Tuesday as market sentiment remained strong and offer levels continued to rise, sources said. The Platts ex-works Shanxi alumina price stood at Yuan 1,840/mt ($276/mt) full cash terms, up Yuan 40/mt from Monday, and up Yuan 90/mt week on week and Yuan 140/mt month on month. In Henan province, tradeable spot alumina prices were indicated at Yuan 1,850-1,880/mt cash, up from Yuan 1,830-1,850/mt previously. Ex-works Guangxi prices were also heard higher at between Yuan 1,800-1,850/mt cash Tuesday, compared with Yuan 1,750-1,800/mt last week. Prices have been on an uptrend in recent weeks after two refineries shut in Henan and Shanxi — Henan Wanji Aluminium’s 1.2 million mt/year refinery earlier this month due to red mud issues, and Chalco’s 2...
The first alumina shipment from Indonesia's first alumina producer left for China on August 12, reported local industry sources. The shipment volume totalled 50,000 tonnes. PT.Well Harvest Winning Alumina Refinery is a joint venture among China's Shandong Hongqiao Group, Indonesia HARITA Group and Singapore Winning International Group. The expansion work at the one million tonnes per annum-capacity alumina refinery has completed recently, but the JV has already been successful in churning out its first alumina output out of its first line (500,000-tpy) on May 9. The second line having 500,00-tpy capacity will be entering operations in June next year.
In a move to boost its rivalry in base metals trading against the London Metal Exchange (LME), the oldest and largest market for industrial metals, Chicago-based CME Group, one of the world’s paramount exchange operators, today said it will launch two aluminium futures contracts next month. The new offering includes the introduction of Alumina FOB Australia futures and Alumina FOB Australia futures. Pending relevant regulatory reviews, both contracts will begin trading on September 26, 2016. The world’s largest futures market operator said in a statement that new contracts will be available for trading on CME Globex, submission for clearing through CME ClearPort, and will be listed according to COMEX rules. The new contracts will provide CME’s investors with an effective and...
Alumina production in China hit this year’s high in July, but will fall back in August, SMM expects. The country’s alumina output totalled 5.05 million tonnes in July, up 3.8 per cent from June and 4.49 per cent from a year ago, SMM statistics showed. Release of new and restarted capacity contributed to the growth, SMM explained. SMM expects national output to drop to 5.01 million tonnes in August, due to production cuts at some producers for various reasons.
