AlCircle News Edited By "Debanjali Sengupta"
Debanjali Sengupta is a passionate content writer with 10 years of experience in Business writing, Web Content writing, Blogging, Editing and Research. She is responsible for generating and editing content for AlCircle Newsletter and other online and offline content for enhancing the brand value and its visibility among global users.
Power rationing in Sichuan fails to drag down China's domestic aluminium output; reflects stability at 3.488 Mt
According to the Shanghai Metals Market, China’s aluminium production in August (31 calendar days) amounted to 3.488 million tonnes, reflecting a steady trend compared to 3.5 million tonnes in the previous month and 8.16 per cent higher than in a year ago. The total output during January-September stood at 26.547 million tonnes, an increase of 2.2 per cent from the corresponding period of the last year. The daily average production of the metal was 112,500 tonnes across China in August’22 - majorly unchanged from 112,900 tonnes in July. This stable production could be accredited to steady product resumptions at companies like Gansu Liancheng, Guangxi Jili Baikuang, and Guangxi Investment Group Yinhai. According to SMM, 380,000 tonnes of capacity owned by Gansu Liancheng resumed, while new...
China’s domestic operating rates of molten aluminium casting billet plants decline in August to 67.84%
After remaining stable through the first half of 2022, operating rates of China’s molten aluminium casting billet enterprises declined in July and August, attributing to the decline in orders from downstream aluminium extruders, recurrence of the COVID-19, and power rationing in some areas. SMM survey found the average operating rates of domestic molten aluminium casting billet enterprises dropped by 3.51 percentage points M-o-M to 67.84 per cent in August 2022. The decline was contributed by central, east, and south-west China, with average operating rates fell 6.47 percentage points in east China, owing to poor demand in Shandong, which made many local billet factories and traders shift cargoes to Jiangsu, Zheijiang, and other regions. In addition, the rising cost of aluminium billets...
Global Aluminium Foil Roller Initiative re-elects Göksal Güngör as President
Göksal Güngör will continue to be a President of the Global Aluminium Foil Roller Initiative (GLAFRI) for another term as being re-elected during the 6th Global Aluminium Foil Roller Conference (GLAFCO) in Istanbul. Alexander Dörsel of Speira (Europe), Patrick Lawlor of Gränges (USA), and Simon Chan of Xiashun (Asia) are re-elected as vice presidents by the General Assembly, and they will continue to serve on the GLAFRI Board. Mr Güngör also serves Assan Alüminyum as General Manager. For being re-elected in the position of President, he expressed his gratitude and said, “I am honoured and delighted to be re-elected as President of GLAFRI. Together with my colleagues on the Board, we will continue with many exciting projects, and we will kick-off new initiatives.” He also said that the...
China’s metallurgical-grade alumina production drops 1.4% M-o-M in Aug’22, but output in Shandong and Henan reflects growth
China’s domestic metallurgical-grade alumina production in August 2022 (31 calendar days) edged 1.4 per cent lower month-on-month to total 6.844 million tonnes, found the Shanghai Metals Market. However, on a year-on-year calculation, the August output stood 11.16 per cent higher, with an average daily production at 220,800 tonnes, down by 1.38 per cent from 223,900 tonnes in July. The operating capacity in August was 80.583 million tonnes, and the operating rate stood at 85 per cent. In individual provinces like Shandong, domestic alumina production stood at 2.17 million tonnes, up 2.3 per cent month-on-month. In Henan, the output increased as well by 6.9 per cent to stand at 789,000 tonnes. In Shanxi and Guizhou, alumina production fell by 5.5 per cent to 1.698 million tonnes and 1.3...
En+ Group’s 2021 Net Zero strategy results: Purchased 99% of low-carbon electricity and cut direct GHG emissions by 11.6%
En+ Group, the largest producer of low-carbon aluminium and biggest independent renewable energy generator, announced the first year results on Net Zero strategy goals. In 2021, En+ Group was Russia’s one of the first companies to target becoming carbon neutral by 2050. The first lap of the goal was to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 35 per cent by 2030. Despite geopolitical pressure and external challenges resulting supply chain disruptions, the Group could remain committed and initiate the drive. "Despite the current geopolitical situation, we will strive to continue pursuing our objectives. Their relevance is driven by our sales markets. Sales of aluminium with a low carbon footprint under the ALLOW brand grew by 44% last year and came close to 1 million tonnes. Thanks to...
China’s primary aluminium inventories build-up 24,000 tonnes over the extended weekend: SMM
According to the Shanghai Metals Market, social inventories of primary aluminium across China’s eight major consumption areas, including SHFE warrants, accumulated 24,000 tonnes over the extended weekend ending Tuesday, September 13. Thus, as per the data, the inventories have totalled 696,000 tonnes, up by 15,000 tonnes week-on-week from 681,000 tonnes. The increase in inventories over the weekend was mainly contributed by Wuxi, Nanhai, and Gongyi, as cargoes arrivals rose during the holidays, while the pickup slowed down. The chart below indicates the current status of inventories across China in more details: In Nanhai and Wuxi, primary aluminium inventories built-up by 7,000 tonnes and 5,000 tonnes, respectively, to stand at 173,000 tonnes and 217,000 tonnes as of September 13, found...
Vedanta’s aluminium ingot price grows sequentially to reach INR210500-240000/t on Sept. 10
Vedanta Limited back-to-back increased its aluminium ingot and aluminium products prices, with effect from Saturday, September 10. The company expanded its aluminium ingot price by INR 2,000 per tonne or 1 per cent to INR 210,500-240,000 per tonne. On September 9, the price stood at INR 208,500-238,000 per tonne, seeing a growth of INR 1,500 per tonne from September 8. Vedanta’s aluminium billets price also saw an increase of INR 2,000 per tonne on September 10 to INR 219,500 per tonne, following a rise of INR 1,500 per tonne on the previous day to INR 217,000 per tonne. With the latest rise, the company’s aluminium wire rod price came in at INR 218,000-225,500 per tonne, also up by INR 2,000 per tonne from INR 216,000-223,500 per tonne. Vedanta back-to-back expanded its aluminium ingot...
LME aluminium price edges US$34.50/t lower this week to US$2,280/t; SHFE grows to US$2709/t
The LME aluminium benchmark price has slumped this the week by US$34.50 per tonne. On Monday, September 5, LME aluminium cash bid price and LME aluminium official settlement price decreased by US$18 per tonne and US$18.50 per tonne to stand at US$2,290 per tonne and US$2,290.50 per tonne, respectively. The next day, the prices lost US$32 per tonne and US$30.50 per tonne, arriving at US$2,258 per tonne and US$2,260 per tonne. On Wednesday, September 7, LME aluminium cash bid price reached US$ 2,230 per tonne, seeing a fall of US$28 per tonne, while LME aluminium office settlement price parked at US$2,230.50 per tonne, rolling down by US$29.50 per tonne. The prices continued to decline further on September 8 to rest at US$2,255.50 per tonne and US$2,256 per tonne, respectively. However, on...
Novelis to launch laminated aluminium beverage can end surfaces at ALUMINIUM 2022, Düsseldorf
Novelis Inc., an American industrial aluminium company, has reportedly announced the launch date and venue of its new laminated aluminium surfaces for beverage can ends. As per the report, the product will be showcased on September 27-29 at ALUMINIUM 2022 in Düsseldorf. Laminated with black film, the can ends are particularly popular in premium and innovative beverage products. They are expected to advance the aluminium beverage packaging industry, improving container appearance, increasing process efficiency, and reducing carbon emissions for European beverage can makers. The laminating film is free of Bisphenol A (BPA) and per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and meets all food and beverage industry requirements. At Novelis’ Göttingen site in Germany, which specializes in rolled...
NALCO sharply cuts its aluminium ingot price by INR15900/t with effect from September 9
After two weeks of price hike on August 26, National Aluminium Company Limited’s (NALCO) both aluminium ingot and aluminium products prices have seen a sharp cut, with effect from Friday, September 9. NALCO has axed its aluminium ingot price by INR 15,900 per tonne or 7 per cent to INR 210,150- 213,650 per tonne. NALCO's aluminium wire rod price has also been chopped by INR 15,900 per tonne from INR 229,550-233,900 per tonne on August 26 to INR 213,650- 218,000 per tonne. Seeing a cut of the same amount, NALCO’s aluminium billets price is ranging between INR 214,600- 217,250 per tonne versus INR 230,500-233,150 per tonne two weeks ago. NALCO has sharply cut its aluminium ingot and aluminium products prices in response to the downtrend of the LME aluminium benchmark price. Between August...
Alcoa earns ASI certification for its oldest aluminium site in Brazil, Poços de Caldas
On Thursday, September 8, Alcoa Corporation announced it received certification from the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) for its remaining Poços de Caldas operation in Brazil. Now, all of Alcoa’s Brazil operations are ASI-certified, bringing the total number of the company’s ASI Performance Standard certifications to 17. Alcoa’s Poços de Caldas site is the company’s first site in Brazil, founded in 1965, comprised of a bauxite mine, alumina refinery, and aluminium casthouse. All of them passed the required criteria to earn the ASI Performance Standard certification. Poços de Caldas is also Alcoa’s sole producer of aluminium power. “This certification marks an important milestone in our efforts to ensure that all of our Brazilian operations adhere to the highest sustainability...
Aughinish Alumina gets red mud pond expansion permission at West Limerick refinery until 2039
An Bord Pleanála, an independent, statutory, quasi-judicial body in the Republic of Ireland, has granted permission to the Russian-owned Aughinish Alumina Limited to enlarge its bauxite residue disposal area (BRDA) on the Shannon Estuary to continue to operate until 2039. The permission followed a formal application by the refinery last year, notwithstanding several oppositions from local farmers and environment groups like Environmental Trust Ireland and Futureproof Clare. The BRDA, also known as red mud pond, currently has a capacity for bauxite reside until 2030 at the refinery site in West Limerick. The new expansion plan will extend the lifetime of the BRDA until 2039, enabling the residue deposition of 1 million m3 per annum and even 8 million m3 as projected for the future. The...
Vedanta’s aluminium ingot price sees a cut of INR4000/t with effect from September 7
Vedanta Limited has again reduced its aluminium ingot and aluminium products prices, with effect from Wednesday, September 7, following an intermittent raise on September 3. With the latest cut, the company’s aluminium ingot price has come in at INR 209,250- 238,750 per tonne, down by INR 4,000 per tonne or 2 per cent from INR 213,250-242,750 per tonne. Vedanta’s aluminium wire rod price has also experienced a cut of INR 4,000 per tonne from INR 220,750-228,250 per tonne on September 3 to INR 216,750- 224,250 per tonne on September 7. Aluminium billet price is now ranging between INR 218,250 per tonne versus INR 222,250 per tonne on September 3. Vedanta has again cut its aluminium prices, linked to the three-month futures of aluminium on the London Metal Exchange. Over the past three...
European aluminium production cut already exceeds 1 Mt, likely to downsize further in winter
The Ukraine-Russia conflict has caused relentless aluminium production cuts at European smelters this year. In addition, the indefinite suspension of the “North Stream No. 1” gas pipeline in Russia, coupled with the electricity price surge, has worsened the situation further. It is reported that the largest aluminium smelter in Europe will step up its output cut next week. European aluminium production capacity cut has already reached beyond 1 million tonnes to date and is likely to be reduced further before winter. But due to relatively a smaller size of production capacity of about 4.8 million tonnes in Europe, the output cuts have had limited impact on the total supply so far, resulting in global aluminium price boost. Since the electricity supply in Europe is primarily dependent on...
Sortera Alloys to shift operations to a new 200,000 sq. ft. processing facility in Markle, hoping to scale up alloy scrap recycling
On Wednesday, September 7, Sortera Alloys, Inc., an Indiana-based producer of low-cost, high-quality aluminium alloys, announced its expansion plan on a new 200,000 sq. ft. processing facility in Markle. As per the report, formal groundbreaking of the new site will take place in the fourth quarter of 2022 and the construction in the first quarter of 2023. The announcement of new facility followed Sortera’s fund raising of $10 million to advance end of life recycling for automotive metals. Michael Siemer, CEO of Sortera Alloys, said: “The new facility represents a significant milestone for Sortera as we look to scale our operations and capture a large chunk of the 4 billion lbs. of scrap alloy that is currently sent overseas. This will allow us to fill the increased demand for high-quality...
Hindalco continues to cut its aluminium billets price by 1% with effect from September 7
Hindalco Industries Limited has continued to reduce its aluminium products and aluminium ingot prices, with effect from Wednesday, September 7, in response to the relentless downfall of the LME aluminium benchmark price. Hindalco has cut its aluminium billets price by INR 2,500 per tonnes or 1.12 per cent to INR 221,350 per tonne. Hindalco’s aluminium wire rod price has also experienced a cut of INR 2,500 per tonne to stand at INR 218,350 per tonne on September 7 versus 220,850 per tonne on September 2. With the latest cut, the company’s aluminium ingot price is standing at INR 207,250 per tonne, in contrast to INR 237,850 per tonne last week. Hindalco links its aluminium ingot and aluminium products prices to the three-month futures of aluminium on the London Metal Exchange, which...
Speira decides to cut 50% of production at Rheinwerk aluminium smelter, concerning havoc energy price
The insurmountable energy price has hit another European aluminium company – Speira GmbH. On Wednesday, September 7, Speira, a Germany-based global aluminium company, has announced its decision to reduce 50 per cent of its aluminium production at Rheinwerk smelter in Neuss until further notice. Going ahead, the company will cut its output to 70,000 tonnes of primary aluminium per year. The production curtailment process will start in early-October 2022 and is likely to be completed in November. Speira has planned to meet the future demand with external metal supplies in place of its in-house metal. Speira CEO Einar Glomnes commented, “We are facing similar challenges as many other European aluminium smelters. Energy prices have reached too high levels over the last months, and we don´t...
AAI draws PM’s attention to a recurring coal supply shortage for the energy-intensive aluminium sector
The Aluminium Association of India (AAI) has once again attempted to bring the Prime Minister’s attention to the shortage of coal, seeking his immediate intervention for the resumption of sufficient coal supplies to the domestic non-power sector. In a letter to the PMO office, the association has mentioned that around 6,233 railway rakes, representing 25 million tonnes, is due as long-pending supplies to the non-power industries. AAI has also noted that challenges due to coal shortage have continued to hit the non-power sector despite improvements in Coal India’s production performance. Previously, AAI had written a letter to the PMO when Coal India decided to restrict coal deliveries to the non-power sector in March, asking for an immediate supply of coal to the highly energy-intensive...
