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.
Renewable energy adoption, record-breaking production, and nearing 10 billion EBITDA target is all about Vedanta’s FY2025
Vedanta Aluminium, India's largest aluminium producer and one of the leading global players in the industry, has garnered worldwide attention this year with its bold moves towards sustainability and highest-ever half-yearly production. Indeed, the company has marked several milestones from the very beginning of the year by securing #Rank 1 as the most sustainable aluminium producer in the esteemed S&P Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA) rankings for the assessment period 2023. Then on, Vedanta awed the global aluminium industry with one after another sustainable aluminium production tactics, with an unwavering focus towards shifting to renewable energy. Image Source: Vedanta Aluminium The former CEO of Vedanta Aluminium, John Slaven, made a strong opinion by stating, "We are...
South America’s alumina production hits YTD high with M-o-M increase of 9.3%
Alumina production in South America reached this year’s peak, marking a month-on-month hike of 9.3 per cent and a year-on-year increase of 5.52 per cent, found the International Aluminium Institute (IAI) survey. This significant increase in South America’s alumina production contributed to the world’s output to a new high, in addition to many other major alumina-producing countries or regions. Image Source: IAI According to IAI, South America produced 1.07 million tonnes of alumina during October 2024, compared to 979,000 tonnes in September and 1.014 million tonnes in October 2023. The daily average output was 34,500 tonnes in October, reflecting a month-on-month increase of 5.83 per cent from 32,600 tonnes and a year-on-year rise of 5.5 per cent from 32,700 tonnes. From January to...
Uptrend seen in China’s aluminium wire and cable export orders likely to offset year-end decline; SMM projects 4% growth
China’s aluminium wire and cable exports recovered in October 2024, marking a month-on-month surge of 53.8 per cent and a year-on-year increase of 13.64 per cent. However, the monthly uptick in October was not enough to counter the sluggish performance throughout the year-to-date, attributed to tight domestic end-user sector demand, particularly from the building and construction sector. Image Source: Made-in-China According to the Shanghai Metals Market survey, the export volume in October was 14,300 tonnes versus 9,300 tonnes in September , generating a value of $41.5 million compared to $28.06 million. Thus, the export value also demonstrated M-o-M hike of 47.9 per cent. Specifically, exports of steel-core aluminium-stranded wire and similar products were 8,480 tonnes, up 82 per cent...
August 2024: Increased aluminium scrap exports to India and Malaysia bring stability to the United States' monthly exports
Aluminium scrap exports from the United States stabilised in August 2024, following two months of decline. According to the US Census Bureau survey, the export volume remained at 168,000 tonnes in August, unchanged from July's figures. Back-to-back, in June and July, the United States' aluminium scrap exports decreased while the imports grew in both months. In June, the export volume dwindled by 10.42 per cent M-o-M from 192,000 tonnes to 172,000 tonnes, while the import during the same month increased from 57,400 tonnes to 58,900 tonnes. In July, the exports decreased further by 2.33 per cent M-o-M to stand at 168,000 tonnes, whereas the imports continued to increase to 65,600 tonnes, marking an impressive M-o-M growth of 11.38 per cent. During January- August, the United States' total...
China’s export tax rebate cancellation sparks mixed reactions, where SMM’s positive outlook on aluminium semis industry stands out
The Chinese aluminium market has been in deep thought since the Ministry of Finance announced the removal of export tax rebates for a wide range of products, including aluminium plates, sheets, strips and foils. The concern is clear, as exports of aluminium plate, sheet and strip make up 50 per cent or above of the country’s total aluminium semi-finished product exports. Image Source: The Wall Street Journal According to the Shanghai Metals Market, China’s monthly aluminium semis exports in recent years have ranged between 400,000 and 600,000 tonnes, of which aluminium plate, sheet and strip exports account for 200,000 to 350,000 tonnes. Additionally, aluminium foil exports exceed 100,000 tonnes each month. Together, aluminium plates, sheets, strips, extrusions, and foils represent over...
Africa’s primary aluminium production in October shows growth amid daily output shortfall
According to the International Aluminium Institute data, Africa’s primary aluminium production recovered in October 2024, experiencing an increase of 3,000 tonnes or 2.24 per cent M-o-M. The monthly gain occurred amid daily average output shortfall of 100 tonnes. In the said month, Africa’s primary aluminium production stood at 137,000 tonnes versus 134,000 tonnes in September. Compared to the same period of the previous year, Africa’s monthly and daily production of primary aluminium stood restrained. The monthly gain in Africa’s primary aluminium production during October took the output at the second-highest volume after 138,000 tonnes in August. However, the monthly gain caused no difference in Africa’s contribution to the world's primary aluminium production. In September and...
Bauxite price surge regains market confidence at ASX, with stocks projected to return to IPOs
In conversation with Stockhead, a business news publication dedicated to connecting investors with emerging ASX-listed companies, Lowell Resources Fund's chief investment officer, John Forwood, highlights that the booming bauxite prices are bringing attention back to ASX stocks and how. To his surprise, the unprecedented rise in bauxite and alumina prices has made some of Australia's top fund managers vigilant of these commodities. Image Source: The Australian Aluminium Council In the Chinese market, the world's largest consumer of bauxite and alumina, Guinea bauxite price is currently standing at US$92 per tonne, marking an increase of about 20 per cent since the bauxite export suspension by EGA-owned Guinea Alumina Corporation (GAC) in early October. Since the beginning of the year, the...
Upstream aluminium recap: World alumina output hits record; Analysts expect volatile market with new trade policies
Updates like record-high alumina production in October, Antam committing $723 million for mining expansion, and global aluminium producers offering 31-49 per cent higher shipment premium to Japanese buyers have taken the aluminium industry by storm this week, indicating an increasing effort towards upstream aluminium production amid a critical supply-chain flow due to revised trade policies. The ongoing gap between demand and supply is likely to increase with the implementation of policies like China’s aluminium export tax rebate cancellation or the United States’ increased tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China. On Monday, November 25, US President-elect Donald Trump reaffirmed on social media that he would impose 25 per cent tariffs on all imports from Mexico and Canada, the United...
Japan’s aluminium shipment premium offer grows 31-49% for Q1 2025 on supply crunch anticipation
One month to go to 2025, and global aluminium producers have begun to offer new premiums to Japanese buyers for the first quarter of the New Year. And not much to our surprise, the premium offered for the March quarter is 31 to 49 per cent higher than the current quarter’s premium, anticipating a supply crunch in Asia following the 13 per cent tax rebate cancellation for aluminium semi-manufactured products by the Chinese government from December 1, 2024. Image Source: LinkedIn According to three sources involved in quarterly pricing talks on Friday, global aluminium producers have offered $230-260 per tonne of premiums to Japanese buyers versus $175 per tonne of premiums in Q4 2024. The premium is cost paid for primary aluminium shipments agreed to pay over the London Metal Exchange...
World alumina production in October surpasses all historical records with highest-ever daily average output
According to the International Aluminium Institute survey, the world’s alumina production in October 2024 reached a new high in tandem with the growth across all the major producing regions. The daily average output also exceeded all the previous records, reflecting a month-on-month increase of 2.26 per cent. The monthly production stood at 12.61 million tonnes in October, up by 5.6 per cent from 11.94 million tonnes in September and 3.62 per cent more than 12.17 million tonnes in October 2023. This trend of monthly and year-on-year growth in alumina production is typical for this time of year. Historical data from the International Aluminium Institute (IAI) shows that global production of aluminium ore has consistently exceeded 12 million tonnes every October since 2022. Daily average...
China’s aluminium plate, sheet and strip exports grow aligned with rising production; SMM finds a 34% Y-o-Y hike
China's aluminium plate, sheet and strip exports trended up in October 2024, both monthly and annually. According to China customs data, the export volume in the said month stood at 300,300 tonnes, reflecting a Y-o-Y hike of 34 per cent and a M-o-M rise of 4 per cent. Image Source: Mingtai Aluminium Of the total exports, 177,600 tonnes were destined for China's top ten export destinations, accounting for about 59.16 per cent of the total export volume. In descending orders, the top ten destinations included Mexico, Vietnam, Canada, South Korea, Thailand, the United States, Australia, Indonesia, Brazil, and Malaysia. Mexico, the highest importer of China's aluminium plate, sheet and strip, secured 40,690 tonnes of product in October 2024 for US$3,308 per tonne. Vietnam, the second-highest...
ASI grants South32 Worsley Alumina with Chain of Custody Standard V2 (2022) Certification
Aluminium Stewardship Initiative has presented Chain of Custody (CoC) Standard V2 (2022) Certification to South32 Worsley Alumina for mining and alumina refining operations at its Boddington Bauxite Mine and Worsley Alumina Refinery in Collie, Australia. The certification also acknowledges the associated port facility in Bunbury, Australia. Boddington Bauxite Mine produces 18.8 million tonnes of bauxite annually, and Worsley Alumina Refinery churns out about 4.6 million tonnes of alumina. South32 Worsley Alumina acquired the ASI CoC Standard Certification after meeting all the standards required to create a Chain of Custody for material produced and processed through the value chain into diverse downstream sectors. The CoC Standard Certification also confirms that the company adheres to...
President-elect Donald Trump reaffirms tariff plans on social media, targeting aluminium and steel industries
On Monday, November 25, US President-elect Donald Trump reiterated his tariff plans on social media, including a 25 per cent duty on all imports from Mexico and Canada. According to Citibank analysts, the tariff on Mexico and Canada would affect the global commodity market, but the maximum impact would be on aluminium and steel. Canada and Mexico are the United States' two most significant trading partners as the largest suppliers of aluminium and steel. The United States heavily depends on imported aluminium, with 60 per cent coming from Canada. Mexico and Canada are also notable steel suppliers to the US, with the former contributing 15 per cent and the latter accounting for 25 per cent of the United States' total steel imports. Besides a 25 per cent tariff on Mexico and Canada, Trump...
HAI installs Nitrex nitriding system at Romania facility for decarbonised aluminium extrusion production
Hammerer Aluminium Industries (HAI), the Austria-based aluminium solutions provider, has reportedly deployed a Nitrex nitriding system at its facility in Romania. The system improves the wear and corrosion resistance, allowing for higher volume production with minimal operator involvement if integrated into automated manufacturing facilities. Thus, the installation of this cutting-edge technology modernizes HAI's extrusion plant in Romania, ensuring sustainable manufacturing practices. Image Source: Wikipedia HAI Romania has been a leading manufacturer of aluminium casting products since its establishment in 2009. The plant, located in western Romania near the Hungarian border, operates five extrusion presses - a 5-inch (127 mm), a 7-inch (178 mm), two 8-inch (203 mm), and a new 10-inch...
European aluminium foil shows positive market sentiment, with deliveries growing by 15% in Q3 2024
The European aluminium foil industry demonstrated strong performance in the domestic market this year, with increased deliveries, according to the European Aluminium Foil Association (EAFA). In the third quarter of 2024, which ended September 30, Europe's domestic foil deliveries rose 15 per cent year-on-year, contributing to an overall year-to-date gain and indicating a recovery in demand and applications, particularly in the food and packaging industries due to evolving consumer demands and technological breakthroughs. Guido Aufdemkamp, Executive Director of EAFA, said: "While demand for packaging applications and household foil remained strong, demand for technical applications is still weak due to sluggish activity in the automotive and construction sectors. The current upward trend...
Hydro Alumetal to install solar panels for low-carbon, recycled aluminium production
Polish aluminium recycling company, wholly owned by Hydro, will increase the use of renewable energy at its Kety plant, leveraging 1,000 MWh of electricity to be generated annually from the new solar panels, expected to be installed and operational during the second quarter of 2025. Image Source: Hydro Increasing the use of renewable energy will enable Alumetal’s Kety recycling plant to enhance the production of low-carbon aluminium, advancing the European green transition initiative. This move will also drive Hydro’s decarbonisation roadmap and contribute to a 30 per cent carbon emissions reduction goal by 2030. “Power is an important input factor for the aluminium industry and switching to renewable energy is critical to decarbonise our value chain. Even if aluminium recycling only...
Suriname bauxite project attracts Chinalco; Chinese miner agrees to pump in $426 million
Aluminium Corporation of China Limited, popularly known as Chinalco, a state-owned multinational company, is likely to invest around $426 million in bauxite mining in Suriname, said the chairman of a Surinamese presidential mining commission on Monday, November 25. If this investment is approved by parliament, Chinalco will begin bauxite mining by the middle of 2025 to produce 6 million tonnes of the key ore of aluminium annually, reported government advisor Daniel Lachman. The Surinamese presidential mining commission also said that Suriname, the South American country, is likely to have a 13 per cent share in the project. Bauxite mining and processing is the major industry that drives the economy in Suriname, with reserves present in the Bakhuis region of western Suriname. The Bakhuis...
Rusal to cut 6% annual aluminium production due to alumina price surge and decreased domestic demand
United Company Rusal, the world’s second-largest aluminium company by primary metal output, has announced a reduction of 6 per cent in production in response to the global alumina price surge, causing skyrocketed production costs. Slow economic progress dampening domestic demand for aluminium is also a reason for Rusal to cut its output. Image generated by AI for representational purpose Rusal explicitly said it would reduce its production by 250,000 tonnes annually due to the global alumina price rally buoyed by output suspensions in Australia, the world’s second-largest alumina producer, upon bauxite supply disruptions from Guinea and Brazil, without specifying the timeline when the production cuts would begin and also not naming the smelter that would witness the reduction. The company...
