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.
Valmec upgrades gas supplying station, advantage to Alcoa Pinjarra Alumina Refinery
According to a recent report, Valmec has completed the upgradation work on Australian Gas Infrastructures Group’s (AGIG) Alcoa Pinjarra Meter Stations, which supplies gas to Alcoa’s Pinjarra Alumina Refinery in Western Australia. Alcoa Pinjarra Refinery refines 4.2 million tonnes of alumina per annum. The news came after all the upgradation works were completed and Valmec declared the completion of the project removing the temporary bypass piping. The upgradation project included offsite fabrication, installation of temporary bypass piping to allow required isolations to take place without interrupting gas supply, upgrading metering runs one and two, valve replacements and pipe stool refurbishment. Besides Alcoa, AGIG’s Alcoa Pinjarra Meter Stations supplies gas to a range of industrial...
NALCO cuts aluminium ingots and products prices by INR2,600/t with effect from June 17
Following the two consecutive hikes, National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) has decreased its aluminium ingots and aluminium products prices by INR 2,600 per tonne or 1.8 per cent with effect from Wednesday, June 17. NALCO’s aluminium ingots price is thus, now hovering at INR 139050-142550 per tonne as compared to INR 141,650-145,150 per tonne as of June 11. With the latest cut, the prices of aluminium billets have come in at INR142,500-145,150 per tonne, while the prices of aluminium wire rods have pegged at INR 143,550 – 147,900 per tonne. Indian aluminium producers generally link the prices of its products to the three-month futures of aluminium on the London Metal Exchange. The three-month futures of aluminium are down by more than 10% so far in 2020 due to slower global demand...
A00 aluminium ingot price declines for the second consecutive day to RMB13,910/t; Price of aluminium powder dips 0.57%
According to Shanghai Metals Market, the A00 aluminium ingot price has recorded a decline for the second consecutive day of RMB 60 per tonne to stand at RMB 13,910 per tonne, as of Friday, June 19. The average prices are expected to range between RMB 13,890 per tonne and RMB 13,930 per tonne, with spot contract to be traded at a premium price of RMB 160-200 per tonne. Hangzhou, Shenyang, and Linyi have seen the highest decline today of A00 aluminium ingot price among the major Chinese markets by RMB 70 per tonne to stand at RMB 13,920 per tonne, RMB 13,855 per tonne, and RMB 13,840 per tonne, respectively. Foshan, Wuxi, and Chongqing have seen a plunge of RMB 60 per tonne to, respectively, hover at RMB 14,000 per tonne, RMB 13,910 per tonne, and RMB 13,870 per tonne. In Gongyi, the price...
Chinese secondary aluminium operating rates inch up 1.6 percentage points in May 2020
According to Shanghai Metals Market, operating rates across China’s secondary aluminium industry increased 1.6 percentage points month-on-month to stand at 48.69 per cent in May. In April, China’s secondary aluminium industry’s operating rates were 47.08 per cent, lowering 0.22 percentage point from the previous month. However, year-on-year, China’s May secondary aluminium operating rates inched down by 5 percentage points, showed the SMM data. The month-on-month hike in Chinese secondary aluminium operating rates in May could be attributed to the ramp-up of operations with the slight improvement of auto sales amid the government’s stimulus efforts. Industry data showed China’s production and sales of automobiles recorded double-digit growth in May from a year ago. On the other hand, the...
Rusal announces the commencement of a new foundry complex to produce high silicon aluminium alloy
Rusal, a leading global aluminium producer, has announced the beginning of a new foundry complex, having a production capacity of 120 thousand tonnes of alloys per year, at the Boguchansky aluminium smelter. The new foundry will produce high silicon aluminium alloy with increased strength, which is commonly used in the automotive industry for manufacturing wheels, engine units, and various automobile spare parts. Demand for this alloy is strong in Japan, Indonesia, Turkey, South Korea, Germany, and the United States. Rusal for this fully automated foundry complex has invested over 600 million rubbles. The foundry produces ingots through continuous casting technology that eliminates the formation of any slag inclusions and other defects, unlike in traditional casting methods. Evgenii...
Vedanta hikes its aluminium prices by INR 2,000 per tonne following two back-to-back cuts
According to the recent report, Vedanta has increased its aluminium ingots prices by INR 2000 per tonne or 1.47 per cent with effect from Thursday, June 18. The prices are thus, now ranging between INR 137,750 per tonne and INR 150,750 per tonne, as compared to INR 135,750-148,750 per tonne on Saturday, June 13. With the latest hike following two consecutive declines last week, Vedanta’s aluminium billet price has come in at INR 145,750 per tonne, also up by INR 2000 per tonne or 1.39 per cent from INR 143,750 per tonne on June 13. Like any other Indian aluminium producers, Vedanta also links its aluminium and aluminium products prices to the three-month futures of aluminium on the London Metal Exchange. The three-month futures of aluminium are down nearly 11% so far in 2020 due to slower...
Aluminium billet inventories in China decline by 2,500 tonnes on increased shipments from warehouses
Inventories of aluminium billets in China have declined this week ending on Thursday, June 18, as shipments from warehouses increased while arrivals decreased in contrast, found Shanghai Metals Market. SMM data shows, aluminium billets inventories today have declined by 2,500 tonnes across the five major consumption areas in China to stand at 71,500 tonnes, following a build-up of 900 tonnes last week, on June 11. The chart below indicates the current status of aluminium billets inventories across China in more details: As the above chart shows, the decline in aluminium billets inventories has not touched upon the major Chinese markets, except Foshan, where the inventories have plunged by 6,400 tonnes to stand at 33,300 tonnes. In Wuxi and Nanchang, the billet stocks have rather increased...
Hindalco increases its aluminium prices by 1% with effect from June 18 after two consecutive declines last week
Hindalco Industries Limited has increased its aluminium products prices with effect from Thursday, June 18, after two consecutive declines last week. With the latest hike, the company’s aluminium ingot price is now standing at INR 139,500 per tonne, an increase of INR 2,250 per tonne or 1.63 per cent from INR 137,250 per tonne on Saturday, June 13. The prices of Hindalco’s wire rods and billets have also been grown by INR 1,750 per tonne or 1 per cent from INR 148,350 per tonne and INR 144,350 per tonne on June 13. As of today, June 18, Hindalco's wire rods and billets prices are hovering at INR 150,100 per tonne and INR 146,100 per tonne, respectively. The Indian aluminium producers generally link prices of its products to the three-month futures of aluminium on the London Metal...
LME aluminium price grew for the second consecutive day to $1577.50/t; SHFE price plunged by $16/t
The US dollar continued to move higher on Wednesday, June 17, as investors safe haven demand increased amid concerns about the coronavirus pandemic with a surge in cases in some US states. Three-month LME aluminium ended higher for the third consecutive day, as it bounced back after dipping to a session low of US$ 1,591 per tonne, finishing the day 0.22 per cent higher at US$ 1,607.5 per tonne. Open interest shrank 15,022 lots to 838,000 lots as shorts covered their positions. On Wednesday, June 17, both LME aluminium cash (bid) price and LME official settlement price stood at US$ 1577.50 per tonne after growing by US$ 4 per tonne. 3-months bid price and 3-months offer price also rose but marginally by US$ 0.5 per tonne to come in at US$ 1600 per tonne. Dec 21 bid price and Dec 21 offer...
Alba’s Spent Pot Lining Treatment Plant construction is progressing as per schedule: CEO Ali Al Baqali
In early June 2020, Alba’s executives, along with the Chief Executive Officer Ali Al Baqali, visited the company’s Spent Pot Lining (SPL) Treatment Plant construction site. Upon the visit, the CEO reported that the construction is progressing as per schedule. In line with Bahrain’s National Waste Management Strategy, this project will provide a value-creating and sustainable solution to treat SPL, ensuring zero-waste. Bahrain’s National Waste Management Strategy is led by His Highness Shaikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Personal Representative of His Majesty King of Bahrain, and President of the Supreme Council for Environment. Ali Al Baqali, said: “Being one of the blue-chip assets of the Kingdom of Bahrain, our aim is to lead the fields in sustainability – in line with the Kingdom of...
Belgium-based startup creating a new metal 3D printing technology using aluminium
Belgium-based startup ValCun is reportedly creating a technology to make metal 3D printing more affordable and convenient than before. The company reports that it is using fresh and recycled aluminium, even cans, as input for its products. As mentioned in the available reports, ValCun refers to the technology as “molten metal deposition.” The technology uses aluminium wire feedstock, which looks like a spooled metal wire that is melted. The process of the technology is described to be as follows: the metal is first melted, then the workpiece is heated using plasma, and then finally, the material is deposited. This procedure leads to less heat and energy expended compared to heating an entire chamber. Jonas Galle, the inventor of the technology and founder of ValCun, said this process of...
China expands aluminium scrap import quotas by 5840 tonnes in the eighth batch for 2020
Shanghai Metals Market reveals that China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment has issued the eighth batch of copper and aluminium scrap quotas for 2020 on Tuesday, June 16. The authorities confirmed that the eighth batch of metal scrap quotas would allow additional 5,840 tonnes of high-grade aluminium scrap to enter China. This marks a significant rise of 4,360 tonnes from 1480 tonnes allowed in the seventh batch . While in the sixth batch, the ministry had granted 1,030 tonnes of additional imports to China. Thus, with the latest expansion, the cumulative quotas for this year have reached 483,999 tonnes, according to Shanghai Metals Market. China is expanding its aluminium scrap import quotas anticipating the usage of secondary aluminium to replace the primary metal. At China Aluminium...
A00 aluminium ingot price grows for the third consecutive day to cross RMB14000/t; Input costs remain muted
The A00 aluminium ingot price in China has recorded a hike for the third straight day on Wednesday, June 17, found Shanghai Metals Market. Following the growth of RMB 150 per tonne on June 16, the A00 aluminium ingot price today has climbed by RMB 110 per tonne to stand at RMB 14,080 per tonne. With this, the price of aluminium ingot has crossed the 14K level since early February of this year. The average prices today are expected to range between RMB 14,060 per tonne and RMB 14,100 per tonne, with spot contract to be traded at a premium price of RMB 180-220 per tonne. Foshan, among all the major Chinese markets, has seen the highest growth today in A00 aluminium ingot price by RMB 140 per tonne to peg at RMB 14,160 per tonne. Wuxi and Chongqing have witnessed an increase of RMB 120 per...
US aluminium plates, sheets and bars exports in Q1 2020 down by 8.41% year-on-year
According to the latest data released by the US Geological Survey, the United States in March 2020 exported 69,900 tonnes of aluminium plates, sheets and bars, bringing the total export amount in the first quarter of the year to 207,000 tonnes. Year-on-year, the United States’ aluminium semis exports in March 2020 was down by 7.78 per cent from 75,800 tonnes. Also, the total exports in Q1 2020 recorded a downtrend compared to 226,000 tonnes of the total exports of aluminium plates, sheet and bars by the US in Q1 2019. In February 2020, the US aluminium semis exports were 68,600 tonnes, meaning the exports in March dropped by 1.86 per cent month-on-month. The exports in February remained flat compared to 68,200 tonnes of exports in January 2020. The exports in January, however, registered...
Viridor once again bags Ealing Council’s dry mixed recycling five-year contract
The United Kingdom-based waste management company Viridor has once again bagged the contract, worth £10 million, to process Ealing Council’s dry mixed recycling, with effect from June 6. As per the contract, Viridor is accountable for processing around 24,000 tonnes of dry recycling annually collected in Ealing for the next five years. Recycling would include aluminium cans, glass, paper, card, and plastics, and the processing would be done at Viridor’s Crayford Materials Recycling Facility (MRF). Earlier, Viridor won the same contract in 2016 and processed Ealing’s recycled material for the past four years, following Ealing Council’s decision to move to a comingled recycling collection service. Crayford Materials Recycling Facility currently receives 300,000 tonnes of comingled dry...
Parkers Beverage Company intends to expand its aluminium canned water business in Singapore
Parkers Beverage Company, based in New Zealand, is now eyeing Singapore’s convenience stores to roll out its aluminium canned water, after first entering the country via e-commerce late last year. Currently, Parkers’ still and sparkling canned water is available only on online platform RedMart in Singapore at SGD27 (US$19) for 24 cans. Receiving positive responses with 30,000 units sold, the company is now planning to expand its sales channels by collaborating with convenience stores in Singapore. Doug Speedy, managing director of Parkers Beverage Company, said: “We feel the best channel will be small retails and convenience shops like 7-Eleven, where people patronage these stores everyday and can buy a small snack with a drink. If they buy a can, they know they can easily recycle in the...
US bauxite and alumina imports shrink by over 22% in Q1 2020; Jamaica & Brazil continue to be the top two exporters
According to the data shown by the US Geological Survey on bauxite and alumina imports in the first quarter of 2020, the United States imported 775,000 tonnes of crude and dried bauxite, down by 22.5 per cent from 1 million tonnes of imports in the fourth quarter of 2019. However, when compared to the data year ago, the United States’ bauxite imports in Q1 2020 stood higher by 3.61 per cent. In Q1 2019, the United States had imported 748,000 tonnes of crude and dried bauxite. Jamaica continued to be the leading supplier of bauxite to the US in the first quarter of 2020, but lesser than the previous quarter. While in the fourth quarter of 2019, Jamaica exported 702,000 tonnes of crude and dried bauxite, in the first quarter of 2020, it exported 554,000 tonnes, down by 21.08 per cent....
LME aluminium price slipped by $4/t on higher opening stock; SHFE price declined to US$1947/t
The US dollar declined on Monday amid mounting fears of a second wave of the coronavirus pandemic. The Federal Reserve announced it would buy individual corporate bonds in the secondary market, and this sparked a risk-on move, sending US stocks higher and safe-haven assets like the US dollar lower. Against a basket of currencies, the dollar eased but still held close to a more than one-week high hit in the previous session. Three-month LME aluminium regained losses from early session last night, as it rallied from a session low of US$ 1,564.5 per tonne and closed 0.73% higher on the day at US$ 1,587.5 per tonne. Open interest added 1,243 lots to 869,000 lots as longs loaded up their positions. On Monday, June 15, both LME aluminium cash (bid) price and LME official settlement price...
