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.
China Aluminium Processing Summit 2020: Domestic aluminium demand to remain robust till mid-June
Shanghai Metals Market chief aluminium analyst Frank Liu estimates strong domestic demand for aluminium to likely sustain till mid-June in China. Speaking at the China International Aluminium Processing Industry Summit in Yantai on June 11, Liu pointed out that although the global demand for aluminium has weakened as expected amid the Coronavirus crisis, there has been no significant impact on the domestic consumption. In China, demand from the construction industry rose since mid-March and demand from the pharmaceutical sector increased after the Chinese New Year holiday, resulting in the ramp-up in aluminium consumption. Demand from the home appliance sector, on the other hand, surged after the Labour Day holiday, becoming a key driving force for the Chinese aluminium market, said Liu....
COVID-19 Operational Update: Hydro’s bauxite production during April-May records a sweeping rise of 94%
Hydro has revealed a volumetric update for its business areas for April and May, ahead of the complete second-quarter financial results. The company shows it manufactured 1,760 tonnes of bauxite during April-May compared to 910 tonnes during the corresponding period last year. This means Hydro’s bauxite output in the second-quarter-to-date of 2020 increased by 94 per cent year-on-year, owing to the growing production at the Paragominas bauxite mine. Hydro’s alumina production rose as well by 82 per cent during the said period of 2020. In April and May 2019, Hydro’s alumina output was 543 tonnes, which in the year next increased to 989 tonnes, primarily as a result of higher production at Alunorte alumina refinery in Brazil. Primary aluminium production rose marginally by 5 per cent from...
China’s primary aluminium production in May stands highest since December: NBS
According to the data released by the National Bureau of Statistics, China’s primary aluminium production in May stood at 2.98 million tonnes, which was marginally up by 0.4 per cent from 2.967 million tonnes in April and the highest since December 2019. The launch of new smelting capacity and the incentive of higher prices kept supply levels high, resulting in a boost in production. However, year-on-year, China’s aluminium output last month was down by 0.1 per cent, said the bureau. With the latest production data, China’s aluminium output in the first five months of 2020 came in at 14.81 million tonnes, up 2.1 per cent from the corresponding period last year. China’s aluminium production is still on the upswing even as analysts estimate the country to have imported the most primary...
A00 aluminium ingot price grows by RMB20/t on further plunge in inventories, input costs remain muted
The A00 aluminium ingot price has recorded a rise of RMB 20 per tonne to stand at RMB 13,820 per tonne on Monday, June 15, following a decline from RMB 13,860 per tonne to RMB 13,800 per tonne on June 12, found Shanghai Metals Market. The hike in A00 aluminium ingot price today could be attributed to the further plunge in primary aluminium inventories by 20,000 tonnes over the weekend ending June 15. The average prices of primary aluminium ingots are expected to range between RMB 13,800 per tonne and RMB 13,840 per tonne, with spot contract to be traded at a discount and premium price of RMB 30-10 per tonne. However, since the growth in A00 aluminium ingot price has not touched upon all the major markets in China, Tianjin and Linyi have witnessed a downfall of RMB 50 per tonne and RMB 20...
China’s automobile production and sales achieve double digit growth in May, cumulative sales in five months decline: CAAM
According to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), the country’s automobile production and sales both achieved double-digit growth in May. As per the data shown by CAAM, around 2.19 million units of automobiles were produced and sold in China last month. The production rose 4 per cent month-on-month and 18.2 per cent year-on-year, much higher than the annual growth of 2.3 per cent in April. The sales increased 5.9 per cent over the month and 14.5 per cent over the year, compared to the year-on-year rise of 4.4 per cent in the previous month, the first growth in 22 months. However, despite the year-on-year growth recorded in May, China’s total car production in the first five months of 2020 stood down by 24.1 per cent from the same period last year totalling 7.79...
Recycled aluminium use in place of primary metal to gain back its pace: Rack Hu at 15th China Aluminium Processing Summit
At China Aluminium Processing Industry Summit 2020, Racket Hu, Vice President of SMM, said the usage of recycled aluminium in place of primary metal would continue in the long term, given the advantages of recycling in terms of cost and environment-friendliness. Speaking at the summit in Yantai, Hu noted that China’s demand for aluminium scrap would recover in the next decade. His prediction came just when Chinese aluminium users found their alternative in primary metal due to shortages of scrap and sharply lower primary aluminium prices on the back of the lockdown restrictions imposed by several countries outside China in late March. According to SMM data, China's secondary aluminium casting plants increased their usage of primary aluminium to a ratio of 20 per cent from earlier 2 per...
China Aluminium Processing Summit 2020: Aluminium consumption in automobile to grow at 8.9% CAGR
Aluminium consumption in China’s automotive industry is expected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.9 per cent to 10.7 million tonnes by 2030. The news came after Tao Zhimin, auto sheet project manager at Nanshan Aluminium, said this at the China Aluminium Processing Industry Summit 2020. Speaking at the 15th China International Summit in Yantai, Shandong province on Friday, June 12, Tao pointed out that China’s automotive industry in 2018 had consumed 3.8 million tonnes of aluminium, of which 72 per cent was for passenger vehicles. By 2030, electric vehicles, including passenger vehicles, buses and e-bikes, are estimated to account for 34 per cent of China’s aluminium consumption in automobiles, said Tao. Tao also predicted that aluminium consumption per unit is...
Aluminium billet inventories gain 900 tonnes this week on increased stock arrivals
According to Shanghai Metals Market, the 6063 aluminium billet inventories on Thursday, June 11, gained 900 tonnes over the week to stand at 74,000 tonnes, following a drop of 4,000 tonnes on last Thursday, June 4, to 73,100 tonnes. SMM estimated that the growth in stock arrivals in contrast to lower shipments from inventories could be attributed to the slight rise in aluminium billet inventories on June 11. The chart below indicates the current status of aluminium billet inventories across China in more details: Nanchang saw a rise in billet inventories of about 2,120 tonnes, while Wuxi and Changzhou witnessed growth of 970 tonnes and 360 tonnes, respectively. Thus, the stocks in Nanchang are presently at 6,220 tonnes and that in Wuxi and Changzhou at 12,300 tonnes and 7,780 tonnes. In...
LME aluminium price declined sharply to US$1582/t on US dollar gain; SHFE fell to US$1949/t
The US dollar gained on Thursday, June 11 as US stocks plunged amid reduced expectations that the global economy would recover swiftly from the coronavirus pandemic, following Wednesday’s economic outlook from the Federal Reserve. The three-month LME aluminium declined, closing the day 2.03 per cent lower at US$ 1,594 per tonne. On Thursday, June 11, both LME aluminium cash (bid) price and LME official settlement price declined sharply by US$ 31.5 per tonne to stand at US$ 1582 per tonne. 3-months bid price and 3-months offer price decreased by US$ 32.5 per tonne to come in at US$ 1605.5 per tonne. Dec 21 bid price and Dec 21 offer price hovered at US$ 1705 per tonne, down by US$ 30 per tonne from US$ 1735 per tonne. The LME aluminium opening stock decreased from 1541125 tonnes on June 10...
Primary aluminium inventories in China decline below 800,000 tonnes
The primary aluminium ingot inventories in China have continued to trend down today, on June 11, found Shanghai Metals Market. The stocks across eight major consumption areas, including SHFE warrants, have decreased by 60,000 tonnes over the week to stand as low as 787,000 tonnes, following a decline of 46,000 tonnes to 847,000 tonnes last Thursday, June 4. The chart below indicates the current status of primary aluminium inventories across China in more details: The primary aluminium inventories in Wuxi have seen the highest fall today of 41,000 tonnes to 285,000 tonnes, while the stocks in Nanhai have plunged by 17,000 tonnes to stand at 161,000 tonnes. In Gongyi, the inventories have decreased by 3,000 tonnes to 42,000 tonnes and in Hangzhou by 2,000 tonnes to 104,000 tonnes. In...
Rusal seeking alternative railway route for raw material sourcing to Achinsk refinery, heavy rains disrupt existing route
Rusal, the largest aluminium producer outside China, is seeking alternative routes for sourcing raw materials to its Siberian Achinsk alumina refinery as damaged rail infrastructure has interrupted supplies. Such was the news that came after Rusal reported on Wednesday, June 10. A section of Russian railways, the state-owned railway monopoly, used by Rusal’s Achinsk refinery, was damaged by heavy rains on Sunday, June 7. Railways said the area received half a typical month’s rainfall in 24 hours. Rusal said in a statement that it was corresponding with Russian Railways for an alternative route to the refinery, the largest in Russia. The refinery supplies the ore to Krasnoyarsk aluminium smelter. Rusal also said that as of today, the supply of bauxite and other raw materials to its Achinsk...
Vedanta expands its aluminium price hike to nearly 3% with effect from June 11
According to a recent report, Vedanta has further increased its aluminium ingot and billet prices with effect from Thursday, June 11, marking the third consecutive growth. While the rate of price hike has increased from the earlier time to 2.77 per cent or INR 3,750 per tonne, the aluminium ingot price of Vedanta is now ranging between INR 139,250 per tonne and INR 152,250 per tonne, compared to INR 135,500-148,500 per tonne on June 6. In the latest hike, Vedanta’s aluminium billet price has also increased by INR 3,750 per tonne or 2.61 per cent to stand at INR 147,250 per tonne. Earlier, after the price growth on June 6, Vedanta’s aluminium billet price was standing at INR 143,500 per tonne. Vedanta’s price hike today follows its aluminium Cost of Production cut report yesterday, on June...
Alumina spot price in China extends growth to RMB2247/t; A00 aluminium ingot price also echoes the uptrend
According to Shanghai Metals Market, the average alumina spot price has extended its growth by RMB 9 per tonne to stand at RMB 2,247 per tonne on Thursday, June 11. In the east and central, the price has increased by RMB 10 per tonne to RMB 2,225 per tonne and RMB 2,250 per tonne, while that in the north and south has remained restrained at RMB 2,245 per tonne and RMB 2,520 per tonne, respectively. The imported alumina price has displayed no change as well from RMB 2,190 per tonne, while the price of Australian alumina FOB has grown by US$ 3 per tonne to US$ 255 per tonne. Backed on the rise in the average alumina spot price, the A00 aluminium ingot price has recorded a hike of RMB 40 per tonne to come in at RMB 13,860 per tonne. The average prices are expected to range between RMB 13,840...
LME aluminium price surged to US$1613.5/t on extended loss of US dollar; SHFE price grew further by US$13/t
The US dollar extended losses on Wednesday, falling to a fresh three-month low against a basket of major currencies after the Federal Reserve made no policy changes, as expected. Three-month LME aluminium recovered its declines from March as it climbed on a softened US dollar, hitting a session high of US$ 1,640 per tonne and ending higher on the day at US$ 1,627 per tonne. It is expected to trade between US$1,600 per tonne and US$ 1,650 per tonne today. As of Wednesday, June 10, LME aluminium cash (bid) price and LME official settlement price jumped to US$ 1613.50 per tonne, an increase by US$ 48 per tonne. 3-months bid price and 3-months offer price also climbed from US$ 1592.50 per tonne to US$ 1638 per tonne. Dec 21 bid price and Dec 21 offer price came in at US$ 1735 per tonne, up by...
Press Metal’s low-cost structure and scarcity premium for aluminium to underpin its stock price
Press Metal Aluminium Holding Bhd’s low-cost structure, good track record under the present management, and scarcity premium for aluminium are likely to support its share price. The company’s operating cash flows also look healthy as reflected in the financial results of Q1 CY2020 March 31, said Affin Hwang Investment Bank Bhd. The group generated a positive operating CF of RM348 million in Q1 compared to RM206 million previously. Affin Hwang said in a report today, "Although the demand for its value-added products was negatively affected by the slowdown in global aluminium demand, the group managed to mitigate the impact by shifting to produce more primary ingots." The investment bank also noted that Press Metal assured of having enough operating CF to sustain its operations. Press...
India’s first spring water beverage "Responsible Whatr" launched in recyclable aluminium cans
Fabonest Food and Beverages Pvt Ltd has reportedly launched India's first spring water beverage "Responsible Whatr" in sustainable and endlessly recyclable aluminium cans, canned at the brand’s state-of-the-art plant. The water is rich in naturally balanced essential minerals and is directly sourced from a virgin and a completely natural source in Solan, Himachal Pradesh. The brand aims at working in line with the government’s provisions of the plastic waste management rules and their ambitious target of eliminating single-use plastics by 2022. Ankur Chawla, Co-founder of Responsible Whatr, said: “Currently, the plastic waste generation in India is roughly estimated at 9.46 million tonnes annually, of which 40 percent remains uncollected. Keeping India’s plastic consumption in mind and...
“The unfortunate pandemic that we are facing is a catalyst for the Industry 4.0,” Éloïse Harvey, B.Eng. & Mgmt, President of Mecfor
Éloïse Harvey is president of Mecfor, a Quebec-based company that supplies and manufactures specialized equipment for heavy industry, primary aluminium smelters and secondary plants, mining, rail and nuclear. Éloïse Harvey has been working for the heavy industry (with a strong focus on the aluminium sector) since 1999 holding various positions related to sales, marketing and business development for MECFOR and today she is president for Mecfor. We are glad to get an opportunity to interview Ms Harvey to know her individual insights into the Industry 4.0, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. She thinks implementation of new technologies in the aluminium industry does change the dynamic that exists between equipment manufacturers and aluminium producers. She says COVID-19 has...
“Before the pandemic, we saw the need for connectivity and moved into Industry 4.0,” Peter Unwin, AMETEK Land and AMETEK Surface Vision’s Global Industry Manager – Metals
Peter is a chartered mechanical engineer and long serving member of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). He has worked in the metals industry for over 30 years during which time he has gained a broad knowledge of the production of steel and aluminium from smelting through to finished products. He has spent the majority of his time leading technical sales teams and developing close customer relationships globally in the flat metals sector specialising in equipment for casting and rolling steel and aluminium strip products. Here, we have Mr Unwin with us sharing some of his views on the importance on Industry 4.0 during the on-going COVID-19 pandemic. In his view, Industry 4.0 facilitates you to access accurate data at any point in time and from anywhere, which is exactly a need...
