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.
Africa’s July primary aluminium production rebounds to 139,000 tonnes, with daily average output growing 2% M-o-M
Along with the month-on-month hike in the world primary aluminium production during July 2022, output in Africa has recorded an increase of 4,000 tonnes or 2.96 per cent to bounce back at 139,000 tonnes in the said month. According to the International Aluminium Institute, Africa’s primary aluminium production in June 2022 had a monthly fall from 139,000 tonnes to 135,000 tonnes. On a year-on-year basis, Africa’s primary aluminium output in July 2022 also edged higher by 4,000 tonnes from 135,000 tonnes, found IAI data. In the first seven months of the year (January-July), Africa produced 941,000 tonnes of primary aluminium in total, up by 25,000 tonnes or 2.73 per cent from 916,000 tonnes during the same period last year. According to IAI data, the daily average production during...
S27 Alehouse & Brewery brings to notice the struggle of US brewers for aluminium can shortage
Lucas Szymanowski, the co-founder of S27 Alehouse & Brewery in San Jose, California, has talked about the unavailability of aluminium cans to package craft beer. In his words, "Cans have been the biggest problem for us.” Brewers across the United States are facing aluminium can shortage, which started in the spring of 2020 when the COVID-19 was in full swing leading to the closure of many bars and restaurants. Thus, more and more people were drinking at home, which drove up the demand for aluminium cans. Other beverage products were also seeking cans for packaging, but there were not enough to go around, says Bart Watson, chief economist at the Brewers Association. Since supply chains were affected by the COVID-19, there were delivery delays. But the need for cans was unwavering....
Vedanta expands its aluminium ingot price by 2% with effect from August 24
Vedanta Limited has expanded its aluminium ingot and aluminium products prices for the two back-to-back days, with effect from Wednesday, August 24. The company has increased its aluminium ingot price by INR 4,500 per tonne or 2 per cent to INR 224,750- 254,250 per tonne. On the previous day, the price stood at INR 220,250- 249,750 per tonne, seeing a rise of INR 1,250 per tonne. Vedanta’s aluminium wire rod price has also experienced a hike of INR 4,500 per tonne on August 24 to stand at INR 232,250- 239,750 per tonne versus INR 227,750-235,250 per tonne on August 23. The latest rise has brought the company’s aluminium billets price to INR 233,750 per tonne, up INR 4,500 per tonne from the earlier day. Vedanta links its aluminium ingot and aluminium products prices to the three-month...
Hindalco builds India’s first all-aluminium railway rake, says Kumar Mangalam in 63rd AGM
On Tuesday, August 23, Mr Kumar Mangalam Birla announced in the 63rd Annual General Meeting of Hindalco Industries that the company developed India’s first all-aluminium railway wagon. The railway rake made from lightweight, high strength aluminium alloys is 180-190 tonnes lighter than a steel rake. According to Mr Mangalam, the railway rake made of aluminium will be a game changer, saving 1,500 tonnes of carbon emissions a year. It will also improve the logistics efficiency of coal transportation and accelerate India’s decarbonisation journey, said Birla. He calculates that if five per cent of the 2 lakh railway wagons that India government plans to introduce are of aluminium, around 15 million tonnes of carbon emissions can be saved in a year. Hindalco’s environmental, social and...
Increasing demand for beverage cans leads to multiyear high US aluminium can sheet imports in 2Q2022
The United States imports of aluminium can body sheet hit the highest since at least 1998 in the second quarter of 2022 ended June 30, driven by a strong demand for beverage cans and increased mill investments in Asia targeting North American consumers. As per the data released by the US Department of Commerce, the imports in Q2 2022 saw a surge of 26,900 tonnes or 46.7 per cent Y-o-Y from 57,600 tonnes to 84,500 tonnes, bolstered by higher shipments from Thailand and South Korea, homes to large rolling mills operated by UACJ and Novelis, respectively. South Korea provided 30,600 tonnes of aluminium can body sheet to the US in the second quarter, threefold higher than 8,600 tonnes during the same period last year. Thailand was the second highest exporter, raising shipments by 48 per cent...
Novelis’ 14 aluminium scrap collection centres in Brazil bag ASI Performance Standard certification
On Tuesday, August 23, Novelis Inc., an American industrial aluminium company specialised in rolling and recycling, announced that it achieved Performance Standard Certifications from the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative for its 14 aluminium scrap collection centres across Brazil. This certification recognises Novelis’ responsible manufacturing practices and its strong focus on the circular economy and use of recycled aluminium across all product ranges. The certification also acknowledges the company’s ambition to be a leader in sustainability. Novelis’ 14 collection centres in Brazil accumulate post-consumer aluminium beverage cans, which are then recycled by the company into aluminium sheet products and used to make new beverage cans. This entire process takes as little as 60 days. In...
Federal Government’s new bill seems to be a saviour for Alcoa Intalco aluminum smelter
Alcoa Intalco aluminum smelter sees a silver lining once again to restart its operation, as the climate and health care bill has been passed by Congress and signed by President Joe Biden with provisions that could help the resumption of the smelter’s operation. Already the reopening campaign for the smelter is in full swing since the rise of the aluminium spot price to a record high in March 2022. But what appears as a hurdle is the affordable source of electricity for energy-intensive aluminium production. So far, the smelter has been unable to reach an agreement with the Bonneville Power Administration, which sells electricity generated by federal Pacifica Northwest dams. As per the Seattle Times report, the climate and health care bill has dubbed the Inflation Reduction Act, which...
Jamalco alumina refinery operation resumption is expected to cheer up Jamaica’s economic growth
Domestic alumina production recovery in Jamaica is expected to counterpoise the slowdown in economic growth for the financial year 2022-23, caused by the country’s one of the main alumina refineries suspension. The Bank of Jamaica is projecting GDP growth of 2.5-4.5 per cent for the fiscal year ending March 2023. The bank’s governor Richard Byles said in a statement, “The forecasted growth reflects the recent resumption of production at the Jamalco alumina plant” In August 2021, Jamalco had to shut down its operation after a major fire accident but the 1.42 million tonnes refinery has now resumed. Jamalco is a joint venture between General Alumina Jamaica, a member of the Noble Group, and Clarendon Alumina Production, controlled by the Jamaican government. The former owns 55 per cent of...
EGA’s net profit exceeds previous record in only six months of 2022 amounting to AED 5.9 billion
Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), the biggest premium aluminium producer in the world, has announced its best-ever half-year results, driven by strong operational performance across the value chain resulting in robust earnings. EGA has reported a net profit of AED 5.9 billion for H1 2022, which exceeds the net profit of AED 5.5 billion in the entire year of 2021 and stands 247 per cent higher than AED 1.7 billion in H1 2021. Adjusted EBITDA was a record at AED 7.6 billion in the first half of 2022, compared to AED 3.5 billion during the same period last year. Revenue totalled AED 18.3 billion, up by 69.44 per cent from AED 10.8 billion a year ago. This record-breaking fiscal result could be attributed to increased sales, shipments, and production across the value chain. EGA has mentioned...
Vedanta’s aluminium ingot price gains INR1250/t on August 23 after two cuts in a row
After the two consecutive cuts, Vedanta’s aluminium ingot and products prices have seen a slight rise on Tuesday, August 23. The company has increased its aluminium ingot price by INR 1,250 per tonne to INR 220,250-249,750 per tonne, following a reduction of INR 2,500 per tonne on August 20 to INR 219,000-248,500 per tonne. Vedanta’s aluminium billet price has also seen a rise of INR 1,250 per tonne, resulting in INR 229,250 per tonne as of August 23. On Saturday, August 20, the price was cut by INR 2,500 per tonne from INR 230,500 per tonne to INR 228,000 per tonne. Vedanta’s aluminium wire rod price has come in at INR 227,750-235,250 per tonne on August 23 versus INR 226,500-234,000 per tonne on August 20. This reflects no exception but also an increase of INR 1,250 per tonne. Vedanta...
Primary aluminium inventory collects 3,000 tonnes this weekend, led by stock arrivals in Wuxi & Hangzhou
Social inventories of primary aluminium in China have witnessed a slight rise of 3,000 tonnes over the weekend across eight major consumption areas, including SHFE warrants. Shanghai Metals Market data shows the inventories have totalled 683,000 tonnes as of August 22, compared to 680,000 tonnes on Thursday, August 18. Last week, on Thursday, primary aluminium inventories slipped sharply by 13,000 tonnes week-on-week and 18,000 tonnes from Monday, August 15, to clock at 680,000 tonnes. Cargo outflows from warehouses increased by 7,300 tonnes week-on-week, but inventories were offset by the arrivals of stocks in Wuxi and Hangzhou. Change in inventories in each Chinese province is further detailed in the chart below: Primary aluminium inventories in Wuxi and Hangzhou have accumulated 2,000...
Hindalco's aluminium wire rod price further slumps by INR2500/t in line with LME aluminium price shrink
Hindalco Industries Limited has continued to reduce its aluminium products and aluminium ingot prices, in tandem with an uninterrupted downfall in the LME aluminium benchmark price for three days in a row. With effect from Saturday, August 20, Hindalco’s aluminium wire price has been decreased by INR 2,500 per tonne or 1.07 per cent to INR 232,100 per tonne versus INR 234,600 per tonne on August 18. Hindalco’s aluminium billets price has witnessed a cut of INR 2,500 per tonne from INR 237,600 per tonne on August 18 to INR 235,100 per tonne on August 20. With the last cut, Hindalco’s aluminium ingot price has come in at INR 221,000 per tonne against INR 223,500 per tonne on August 18. Hindalco Industries links its aluminium ingot and aluminium products prices to the three-month futures of...
Hydro Sunndal strike starts; 20% production to ramp down within the next four weeks
According to a report on Monday, August 22, strike at Hydro Sunndal aluminium plant has come into effect today, which will result in the implementation of production cut agreement. Also, as a result of the strike, around 30 members of Industri Energi will not report to work at the aluminium plant. The strike is expected to cause a supply disruption, as 20 per cent of the production will initially be reduced within the next four weeks. A pause in the shipment of products from Hydro Sunndal to customers during the strike will also be an added factor for the supply irregularities. If the strike continues for more than four weeks, then another 10 per cent of production will be cut each week until one section of production line remains. More Industri Energi members will go on strike gradually,...
Alumina spot price loses RMB5/t to start the week at RMB2953/t; but A00 aluminium ingot price edges up to cross RMB18500/t
The average alumina spot price in China has again recorded a drop of RMB 5 per tonne on Monday, August 22, after an intermittent restraint on Friday, August 19, found the Shanghai Metals Market. The decline today has brought the alumina spot price to RMB 2,953 per tonne. In Shandong and Shanxi, alumina spot price has decreased by RMB 10 per tonne to stand at RMB 2,920 per tonne and RMB 2,905 per tonne, with average prices estimated to range between RMB 2,860-2,980 per tonne and RMB 2,880-2,930 per tonne, respectively. However, in other provinces like Henan, Guizhou, and Guangxi, alumina spot price has remained muted at RMB 3,025 per tonne, RMB 2,900 per tonne, and RMB 2,950 per tonne. The Australian alumina FOB price has continued to remain restrained at US$330 per tonne since August 17,...
Vedanta’s aluminium wire rod & billet prices shrink by INR3000/t on August 18 after an intermittent raise
Vedanta Limited again reduced its aluminium products and aluminium ingot prices on August 18 after an intermittent raise on August 17. Vedanta cut its aluminium wire rod price by INR 3,000 per tonne or 1.29 per cent to INR 229,000-236,500 per tonne as of August 18 versus INR 232,000-239,500 per tonne on August 17. Aluminium billet price also saw a cut of INR 3,000 per tonne on Thursday, August 18, from INR 233,500 per tonne to INR 230,500 per tonne. With the last cut, Vedanta’s aluminium ingot price is hovering around INR 221,500-251,000 per tonne, compared to INR 224,500-254,000 per tonne on August 17. Vedanta links its aluminium ingot and aluminium products prices to the three-month futures of aluminium on the London Metal Exchange, which slipped by US$28 per tonne on August 17 from...
Daiki Aluminium books 1.4% higher profit with net sales of 72.43 billion yen for 1QFY23
Daiki Aluminium Industry has recorded a year-on-year increase in profit of 1.4 per cent for the first quarter of the financial year 2023 ended June 30. From 4.01 billion yen in Q1 FY2022, Daiki Aluminium’s profit decreased to 4.07 billion yen ($30.1 million) during the same period this year. Earnings per share also grew by 1.4 per cent from 97.56 yen to 98.93 yen, while net sales jumped by 46.2 per cent to 72.43 billion yen. The Japan-headquartered secondary smelting and alloying aluminium company has projected an attributable profit of 6.4 billion yen for the first six months of FY2023 ending September 30. The net sales is anticipated to reach 143.2 billion yen. For the entire fiscal year 2023, the company estimates attributable profit and net sales to hover around 12.37 billion yen and...
Record domestic aluminium production in China led to a fall in July imports
In July 2022, China’s unwrought aluminium and aluminium products imports, including alloys, plunged by 38.3 per cent year-on-year to stand at 192,581 tonnes, showed the General Administration of Customs on Thursday, August 18. This shrink in imports could be attributed to the domestic production rise to a record high and overseas supply disruption. Increase in domestic aluminium suppliers this year is also an important factor for the fall in China’s imports. China, the world’s biggest aluminium producer and consumer, made a record output of 3.43 million tonnes as smelters did not have to face power restrictions as much as last year. This discouraged imports from overseas. On the other hand, energy crisis was at its peak outside China, which contained the production of aluminium, an...
Sumitomo Corp. anticipates Japanese aluminium premiums to trade between US$125 and US$175 a tonne in 2023
Sumitomo Corporation, one of the world’s largest trading companies, has anticipated Japanese aluminium premiums to range between US$125 and US$175 a tonne next year, compared to $148 a tonne in the September quarter, unless a disruption on the domestic supply side due to production cut or supply hindrance from Russia. "Japanese premiums will likely drop further next quarter amid concerns over a global recession," said Yasushi Miyachi, manager of Sumitomo's light metals trading team. Russia was the second-biggest supplier of primary aluminium to Japan in 2021, providing 237,777 tonnes of the metal, which accounted for 17 per cent of Japan’s total imports. Japan is Asia’s biggest aluminium importer, and the premiums it agrees to pay over the LME cash price each quarter set a benchmark for...
