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.
3-year power deal with Santee Cooper shields Century’s Mount Holly smelter from rising energy costs
Century Aluminum’s three-year power contract with Santee Cooper signed in 2021 is believed to have been shielding the company’s Mount Holly smelter near Goose Creek from rising energy costs. It is helping Chicago-based Century Aluminum combat the second biggest expense after payroll - the escalating costs of electricity. On June 2022, Century announced to idle its Hawesville, Ky., smelter for up to a year, hoping the energy prices to become normal. This shutdown will affect more than 600 workers in the Bluegrass State. CEO Jesse Gary revealed that power costs at the Hawesville smelter, the company’s largest, tripled their historic average expenses in recent months. Meanwhile, another smelter of Century, located off US Highway 52, is amidst an expansion worth $100 million, including the...
Commissioning of new 12.9 million tonnes of Chinese alumina capacities pulls down domestic prices
June 2022 witnessed the commissioning of 8.45 million tonnes of new alumina capacities in China, including Jingxi Tiangui’s Phase II project with 850,000 tonnes of capacity, Bosai Wanzhou with 4.8 million tonnes, Hebei Wenfeng with 2.4 million tonnes, and Aokaida Chemial with 400,000 tonnes. Another 4.45 million tonnes of alumina capacity is also expected to come into production, bringing a total amount of 12.9 million tonnes of new capacity this year. Given the commissioning of new alumina capacities, high-cost alumina refineries are likely to face huge pressure, especially those located far away from ports like the ones in Shanxi, Henan and Guizhou. On the other hand, refineries in inland areas like Shandong, Guangxi and Hebei will lack cost advantages over their competitors,...
China’s A00 aluminium ingot price builds up by RMB120/t after two back-to-back falls; Imported bauxite price gains US$1.5/t
A00 aluminium ingot price in China has opened the week with a hike of RMB 120 per tonne, following two consecutive downfalls from RMB 19,370 per tonne to RMB 19,050 per tonne, found the Shanghai Metals Market. Hence, on Monday, July 4, the price has come in at RMB 19,170 per tonne, with average prices to range between RMB 19,150 per tonne and RMB 19,190 per tonne and spot contract to be traded at a discount price of RMB 60-20 per tonne. Gongyi has seen the highest growth in A00 aluminium ingot price by RMB 170 per tonne to RMB 19,120 per tonne, following the increase of RMB 140 per tonne in Foshan to RMB 19,160 per tonne. In Wuxi and Hangzhou, the primary aluminium ingot price has escalated by RMB 120 per tonne to come in at RMB 19,160 per tonne and RMB 19,210 per tonne, respectively,...
Hindalco trims its aluminium ingot price for the second day in a row by INR3500/t w.e.f. June 30
Hindalco Industries Limited reduced its aluminium ingot and aluminium products prices, with effect from Thursday, June 30. The company trimmed its aluminium ingot price by INR 3,500 per tonne to INR 225,250 per tonne. On the previous day, June 29, Hindalco’s aluminium ingot price stood at INR 228,750 per tonne, seeing a slash of INR 5,250 per tonne. With effect from June 30, Hindalco’s aluminium wire rod price came in at INR 236,350 per tonne, down by INR 3,500 per tonne from INR 239,850 per tonne. Aluminium billets price also saw a cut of INR 3,500 per tonne on the said day from INR 242,850 per tonne to INR 239,350 per tonne. Hindalco links its aluminium ingot and aluminium products prices to the three-month futures of aluminium on the London Metal Exchange, which as per the data,...
200 new units of Vande Bharat train on the way with aluminium, sleeper coaches
Indian Railways has floated a tender worth INR 26,000 crore for manufacturing 200 units of Vande Bharat train with aluminium coaches, following the government’s commitment to launch new Vande Bharat trains during the budget announcements. The new Vande Bharat train in version 3 will have sleeper coaches, including AC-1, AC-2 and AC-3, to facilitate comfortable long distance overnight journeys, as well as AC chair car seating format. Until now, 102 Vande Bharat Express trains have been launched but they come with only seating arrangements. To build lightweight trains, specifications have been given for lightweight bogies, transformers and motors. Hence, the trains will be lighter, more energy-efficient, and have more modern conveniences and passenger facilities. The Railway Ministry wishes...
Vedanta deducts INR4750/t from its aluminium ingot price with effect from July 1
Vedanta Limited has deducted INR 4,750 per tonne from all its aluminium products and aluminium ingot price, with effect from Friday, July 1. With this cut, Vedanta’s aluminium ingot price has come in at INR 220,500-253,500 per tonne, in contrast to INR 225,250- 258,250 per tonne on June 30. The company’s aluminium wire rod price is currently ranging between INR 228,000- 235,500 per tonne, as against INR 232,750- 240,250 per tonne on the previous day. From today, Vedanta is selling its aluminium billet at INR 229,500 per tonne in contrast to INR 234,250 per tonne on June 30. Vedanta Limited links its aluminium ingot and aluminium products prices to the three-month futures of aluminium on the London Metal Exchange, which is on downward trend since June 29. On Wednesday, June 29, the LME...
US alumina imports flaunt an 8% Q-o-Q hike for 1Q2022 despite a fall from its highest exporter Brazil
In the first quarter of 2022, the United States imported 445,000 tonnes of alumina, recording a quarter-on-quarter hike of 8.27 per cent or 34,000 tonne from 411,000 tonnes. On a year-on-year basis, the imports during the said quarter grew by 6.97 per cent from 416,000 tonnes, showed the US Census Bureau data. Brazil, the highest exporter of primary aluminium raw materials to the US, supplied 319,000 tonnes of alumina in Q1, compared to 341,000 tonnes in the previous quarter. That showed a Q-o-Q downfall of 6.45 per cent despite the rise in the United States total imports in the first quarter. On a year-on-year calculation, the US alumina imports from Brazil surged by 45 per cent from 220,000 tonnes. Spain emerged as the second leading exporter of alumina to the US in 1Q2022, supplying...
The sole Romanian calcined alumina producer to halt operations from August 1 due to electricity & natural gas price surge
The electricity and natural gas price surge has led the sole Romanian alumina producer to temporarily suspend operations. According to a report on Thursday, June 30, Alum Tulcea, an alumina refinery controlled indirectly by Vimetco through the aluminium producer Alro Slatina will halt production from August 1, 2022. The refinery has claimed that import will be cheaper at the present scenario than producing the aluminium ore. The leader of trade union from Alum Tulcea has reported that out of over 700 employees, 259 will retain the job. As per the report, Alro and Alum will bring imported alumina through the port of Constanta. "Under the new conditions of activity at Alum, the organizational chart of the company was revised, taking into account the maintenance of a core of specialists from...
Hydro Karmøy plant manager Ingrid Guddal promoted to operational director of recycling plant in Cassopolis
According to a report on Wednesday, June 29, the plant manager at Hydro Karmøy, Ingrid Guddal, has been promoted to Operational Director for the company’s new aluminium recycling plant in Cassopolis, Michigan. Guddal worked at Hydro Karmoy primary aluminium plant for four years, since 2018. She started her career from Hydro as a trainee in 1993 and gained extensive experience from varied management roles. She headed the local start-up team in Azuqueca, Spain, and later on appointed as plant manager. She was also the casthouse manager at Søral (now Hydro Husnes) and HR Business Partner and other management positions at Hydro Husnes. She comes with a master’s degree in Process Engineering from Technische Universität Berlin, Germany, and an Executive MBA in Strategic Management from the...
Japanese aluminium buyers agree to pay a premium of $148/t for the third quarter shipments
Some Japanese aluminium buyers have reportedly agreed to pay a premium of $148 per tonne over the benchmark price for the shipments in the September quarter. Compared to the premium payment of $172 per tonne in the ongoing quarter, it is down by 14 per cent. The news came on Wednesday, June 29, after two sources involved in the pricing talks reported. As per the calculation, the premium price for 3Q2022 has marked a downfall for the third consecutive quarter. In Q2 2022, ending in June, the price has recorded a quarterly drop of $5 per tonne or 2.8 per cent from $177 per tonne in 1Q2022. The premium for 3Q2022 is also lower than the initial offers of $172-$177 made by some producers. In the first quarter of the year, the premium of aluminium shipments to Japan had seen a significant fall...
Vedanta Lanjigarh alumina unit bags Kalinga Environment Excellence Award 2021 for unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability
Vedanta Limited’s Lanjigarh unit, India’s premier producer of metallurgical grade alumina, has received a prestigious recognition from the Kalinga Environment Excellence Award 2021 for being consistent to its commitment and contribution towards environmental sustainability. The award acknowledges Vedanta Lanjigarh’s unique approach towards environmental sustainability like Zero Harm, and Zero Waste and Zero Discharge. These initiatives are multi-dimensional aiming at reducing carbon, managing energy, and conserving water and biodiversity. Some of the best-in-class technologies adopted by Vedanta for environmental sustainability include: Development of a bauxite residue filtration unit for effective waste management High concentrated slurry disposal and dry fog systems to improve air...
Alumina production in Africa & Asia (ex-China) continues to reflect a monthly hike of 2.6% during May’22
In Africa & Asia (ex-China), alumina production during May 2022 extended growth by 2.63 per cent month-on-month to stand at 1.210 million tonnes, according to the International Aluminium Institute. In April 2022, alumina output in the region was 1.179 million tonnes after seeing a rise of 8.36 per cent from 1.088 million tonnes in March. On a year-on-year basis, alumina production in Africa & Asia (ex-China) during May’22 recorded a hike of 6.70 per cent from 1.134 million tonnes. In the first five months of the year (January-May), alumina output in Africa & Asia (ex-China) totalled 5.701 million tonnes, reflecting a rise of 5.75 per cent from 5.391 million tonnes during the corresponding period of the last year. World alumina production during May 2022 came in at 11.728 million tonnes,...
Groupe BEL achieves dual certification from ASI for responsible sourcing and stewardship of aluminium for product packaging
For the first time in history, a company from the food industry has attained the Aluminium Stewarship Initiative’s dual certification – Performance Standard and Chain of Custody Standard. As per the report released by ASI on Tuesday, June 28, Groupe BEL, a multinational cheese marketer centred in France, has bagged the certifications for responsible sourcing and stewardship of aluminium used for its product packaging. ASI has clarified that dual certification is for the aluminium-related activities at the Sablé-sur-Sarthe plant and material stewardship related activities at Groupe BEL headquarters in France. ASI Performance Standard certification focuses on material stewardship issues such as product design, life cycle assessments, management of process scrap and collection and recycling...
Alliance partners in Saxony-Anhalt declare joint commitment towards a sustainable future of the European aluminium industry
Step towards a sustainable future of the aluminium industry is expanding across the world. Such was the event in Saxony-Anhalt when alliance partners Aluminum Germany, IG Metall, IG BCE, the Ministry for Science, Energy, Climate Protection and the Environment, and the Ministry for Economics, Tourism, Agriculture and Forestry of the State signed a joint declaration at Novelis in Nachterstedt for a sustainable future of the industry in German state. The news came after the signing of declaration on Tuesday, June 27, which marks a strong commitment of the alliance partners to successfully transform the aluminium industry in Saxony-Anhalt to a sustainable one and strengthen the competitiveness of the industry. Saxony-Anhalt is an important location of aluminium production, with Novelis...
Vedanta’s aluminium wire rod price builds up INR1500/t in line with LME price rise
Vedanta Limited has expanded its aluminium products and aluminium ingot prices, with effect from Tuesday, June 28, by INR I,500 per tonne or 0.65 per cent. That has brought the company’s aluminium wire rod price to INR 231,000-238,500 per tonne from INR 229,500-237,000 on June 25. Vedanta’s aluminium billet price has come in at INR 232,500 per tonne, as against INR 231,000 per tonne on the previous day. Aluminium ingot price is standing at INR 223,500-256,500 per tonne versus INR 222,000-255,000 on June 25. Vedanta Limited links its aluminium ingot and aluminium products prices to the three-month futures of aluminium on the London Metal Exchange, which built up by US$17 per tonne to stand at US$2,453 per tonne on June 27 from US$2,436 per tonne on June 24. Vedanta’s aluminium business...
Century Aluminum shutdown to put Hawesville at revenue loss besides creating unemployment
Century Aluminum facility in Hawesville has already started its idling process from Monday, June 27. According to Mike Baker, Director of Economic Development for the Industrial Foundation, the shut down of the plant is hurting a lion share of revenue in the region, besides creating unemployment. To support this belief, Baker has further noted that Century Aluminum accounts for nearly $1 million of the country’s tax revenue. ”Hopefully this will be a temporary set back. Obviously we count on our industry for financial support for this community. Our industrial base is the economic engine of our community,” said Baker. Although Century officials are projecting the shutdown to last for nine to twelve months, Baker is worried about the future. According to him, “That’s a long time for a...
Hindalco’s aluminium ingot price sees a rise of INR1250/t on June 28 after an intermittent cut last week
Hindalco Industries Limited has again increased its aluminium ingot and aluminium products prices, with effect from Tuesday, June 28, following an intermittent cut of INR 3,500 per tonne on May 25. Today, on June 28, Hindalco’s aluminium ingot price has seen a rise of INR 1,250 per tonne or 0.56 per cent to INR 223,500 per tonne. After a deduction on the previous day, May 25, the price stood at INR 222,250 per tonne. Hindalco’s aluminium wire rod price has also experienced a rise of INR 1,250 per tonne on June 28 to come in at INR 234,600 per tonne versus INR 233,350 per tonne on June 25. The company's aluminium billets price has recorded no exception but a growth of INR 1,250 per tonne to settle at 237,600 per tonne today, as against INR 236,350 per tonne on May 25. Hindalco links its...
World alumina monthly production records a 3% rise to 11.728 Mt, but daily output shrinks to 378,300 tonnes
According to the International Aluminium Institute (IAI), world alumina production in May 2022 recorded a month-on-month rise of 3.09 per cent to 11.728 million tonnes (including 10.983 million tonnes of metallurgical-grade alumina), following almost a restraint in the previous month. In April, the output was 11.376 million tonnes, compared to 11.373 million tonnes in March 2022. However, on a year-on-year basis, world alumina output during May reflected a downfall of 3.08 per cent from 12.101 million tonnes, found IAI data. In the first five months of the year, world alumina production totalled 56.222 million tonnes, down by 2.47 per cent from 57.647 million tonnes. Daily average production of alumina in May 2022 stood at 378,300 tonnes, which registered a dip of 0.24 per cent M-o-M from...
