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.
Chalco’s executive demands bauxite-rich Shanxi to become major aluminium production hub
An executive from a closed smelting unit of state-run Aluminum Corporation of China Limited, popularly known as Chalco, has demanded bauxite-rich Shanxi to become a major aluminium production hub. China is by far the world’s biggest producer and consumer of bauxite, the main ore source of aluminium. Gao Bingwei, director of the innovation studio at Chalco unit Shanxi Huasheng and a delegate at the National People’s Congress (NPC) in Beijing, pointed out that the Northern Province houses 1.5 billion tonnes of bauxite reserves, the highest within China. However, Shanxi only has aluminium smelting capacity of 1.21 million tonnes per year, accounting for 3 per cent of China’s total aluminium capacity, despite being the second-biggest alumina producing region, said Gao, according to the...
Primary aluminium inventories expand decline over the weekend to 924,000 tonnes
According to Shanghai Metals Market, social inventories of primary aluminium ingots have expanded decline over the weekend ending May 25, owing to stable demand and limited arrivals of stocks to warehouses. SMM data found that the inventories of primary aluminium have decreased by 55,000 tonnes across eight major consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrant, to stand at 924,000 tonnes, as of Monday, May 25. On last Thursday, May 21, the primary aluminium inventories were at 979,000 tonnes after declining by 79,000 tonnes. This represents the fact that the decline in primary aluminium inventories over the weekend slowed by 24,000 tonnes. The chart below indicates the current status of primary aluminium inventories across China in more details: Wuxi has seen the highest fall in...
A00 aluminium ingot price begins the week with a hike of RMB110/t; Aluminium alloys prices grown by RMB100/t
Following the steep decline of RMB 310 per tonne on Friday, May 22, the A00 aluminium ingot price begins the week on Monday, May 25, with a rise of RMB 110 per tonne to reach at RMB 13,260 per tonne, found Shanghai Metals Market. The average prices are expected to range between RMB 13,240 per tonne and RMB 13,280 per tonne, with spot contract to be traded at a premium price of RMB 80-120 per tonne. Among the major Chinese states, Linyi has seen the highest growth of RMB 240 per tonne on May 25 to stand at RMB 13,310 per tonne, followed by the rise of RMB 160 per tonne in Foshan to come in at RMB 13,460 per tonne. In Hangzhou and Tianjin, the A00 aluminium ingot price has increased by RMB 140 per tonne to RMB 13,280 per tonne, while the price in Wuxi and Shenyang is standing at RMB 13,260...
Equatorial Guinea Ministry of Mines signs first five mining contracts with three companies
Equatorial Guinea’s Ministry of Mines and Hydrocarbons (MMH) has reportedly signed five mining contracts for the first time in its history. This followed the heels of the conclusion of the country’s inaugural mining bidding round last year. The contracts have been signed with three different companies, which include one gold exploration contract in Block I with Manhattan Mining Investment, three contracts with Blue Magnolia in Block B for bauxite and precious metals and Block K and H for gold and precious metals, base metals, and rare earth minerals. One of the five contracts also includes a prospecting contract with Shefagold in Blocks N and O for platinum, palladium, silver, magnesium, phosphorus, chrome, copper, iron ore, and other associated minerals. According to the Ministry of...
China’s bauxite imports record an all-time high at 28.41 million tonnes in Q1 2020
China’s bauxite imports rose to a record high in the first quarter of 2020, owing to greater demand and lower sea freight costs, found China customs data under HS code 26060000. In the first three months of 2020, China imported 28.41 million tonnes of bauxite, the highest quarterly import volume on record. Compared to the bauxite imported in the fourth quarter last year, the volume in Q1 2020 was up by 26.01 per cent, and when compared to the first quarter of 2019, it was higher by 9.99 per cent. The Republic of Guinea remained the top bauxite exporter to China, accounting for nearly half of China’s total bauxite imports. Guinea exported 13.37 million tonnes of bauxite to China in the first three months. Australia and Indonesia were the second and third top exporters, supplying 9.24...
Vedanta further increases its aluminium ingots and billets prices by INR 2,000/t with effect from May 22
Vedanta has further increased its aluminium ingots and billets prices, with effect from Friday, May 22. This marks the third consecutive rise in Vedanta’s aluminium prices. The prices of some aluminium ingots after the growth are hovering in the range of INR 134,000-147,000 per tonne, up by INR 2,000 per tonne or 1.5 per cent from INR 132,000-145,000 per tonne on May 20. Vedanta’s aluminium ingots prices on May 20 had also increased by 1.5 per cent from INR 130,500-143,500 per tonne on May 19. With the latest hike, Vedanta’s billets prices are now standing at INR 142,000 per tonne, as of May 22, an increase of INR 2,000 per tonne or 1.43 per cent from INR 140,000 per tonne on May 20. On May 19, Vedanta’s billets prices were INR 138,500 per tonne, meaning the billets prices on May 20 saw a...
Secondary aluminium processing project construction begins in Yunxian County, China
According to a recent report by Shanghai Metals Market, the construction of a 100,000 tonnes per year secondary aluminium processing project and a 60,000 tonnes per year waste battery treatment project began in Yunxian County in Southwest China’s Yunnan province on Tuesday, May 12. The total estimated investment for the secondary aluminium processing project is RMB 84.54 million, while that for the battery treatment project is RMB 95.94 million. As per the report, the secondary aluminium project will primarily produce secondary aluminium and casting alloy, and the battery treatment project will generate 2# lead, lead-base alloy, sodium sulphate, and plastic housing. The projects followed the commissioning of two more key projects of waste tire processing and high-purity alumina production...
Indian aluminium producers to overcome COVID-19 impact with rising exports and low input costs: Crisil
A new sector report by Crisil indicates that Indian aluminium producers are likely to sail through the COVID19 impacts smoothly with rising aluminium exports, lower input costs, and cost efficiency strategies curated by the industry. "The domestic sales loss has been offset by companies adroitly exporting more, thanks to high cost-competitiveness that stems from improved sourcing and lower input costs,” said the report. At the beginning of the financial year 2021, the aluminium price was hovering 4-years low at US$ 1,450 per tonne on the London Metal Exchange, while the domestic demand was bleak due to the COVID-19 pandemic-driven lockdown. Although this will squeeze bottom lines this fiscal, but efficient cost structure and adequate cash will lend support to credit profiles and help...
LME aluminium price jumped to US$1487/t, while SHFE continued to decline by US$22.89/t
The US dollar rebounded on Thursday, while stocks on Wall Street fell as growing Sino-US tensions and dismal economic data weighed on investor sentiment. The US dollar index, which measures the greenback’s strength against a basket of currencies, rose 0.26 per cent to 99.4425. Three-month LME aluminium rose for a second straight day on Thursday, May 21, advancing to a one-month high of US$ 1,524.5 per tonne before ending up 0.4 per cent at US$ 1,521 per tonne. Optimism surrounding economic recovery that will boost demand, coupled with arbitrage trades, is expected to remain supportive of LME aluminium, which is expected to move at US$ 1,490-1,530 per tonne today. As of Thursday, May 21, LME aluminium cash (bid) price and LME official settlement price recorded a jump of US$ 33 per tonne to...
Primary aluminium inventories expand decline by 79,000t W-o-W to fall below 1 million tonnes
Social inventories of primary aluminium ingots have continued to fall to as low as 979,000 tonnes, across eight major consumption areas, including SHFE warrants, as of Thursday, May 21, according to Shanghai Metals Market. Last week on Thursday, May 14, the primary aluminium ingots inventories were at 1.058 million tonnes after declining by 114,000 tonnes. This week, the downfall is by 79,000 tonnes, slower by 35,000 tonnes than the previous week. The chart below indicates the current status of primary aluminium inventories across China in more details: As the above chart suggests that the decline in inventories this week has not touched upon all the major Chinese provinces such as in Hangzhou, Tianjin, the primary aluminium stocks have increased by 1,000 tonnes to stand at 112,000 tonnes...
Reynaers Aluminium appoints Steve Hubbard as new operations director
Reynaers Aluminium has reportedly appointed Mr Steve Hubbard as a new operations director. Hubbard comes with more than 30 years of experience in driving operations through process efficiency and best practice implementation. On being appointed by the Reynaers Aluminium, Hubbard said, “These unprecedented times make for difficult trading conditions across almost every sector. Reynaers’ has a strong history and position as a well-respected leader within the industry, being well placed to support customers and I’m excited to be embarking on a significant new chapter in my career and playing a meaningful role in the company’s future growth. He also said. “Through my position, I will be leaning on my experience to drive process efficiency and further strengthen Reynaers’ operations,...
China’s aluminium billet inventories register second consecutive week of decline; Stocks hovering at 92,800 tonnes
China’s aluminium billet inventories, across five major consumption areas, expanded decline this week ending on Thursday, May 21, by 20,000 tonnes to stand at 92.800 tonnes, according to Shanghai Metals Market. Stable shipments from warehouses in contrast to limited arrivals could be attributed to the extended decline in China’s aluminium billet stocks. Last week between May 6 and May 14, the inventories had shrunk by 19,300 tonnes to come in at 112,800 tonnes, following a rise in the previous week by 2,700 tonnes to 132,100 tonnes. The chart below indicates the current status of aluminium billet inventories across China in more details: So, as the above chart suggests, Foshan has seen the highest downfall in aluminium billet inventories this week. The stocks there are standing at 53,100...
Mexico’s aluminium scrap imports from US record a drop in February 2020 after a rise month ago
According to the Geological Survey of the United States, Mexico imported 16,800 tonnes of aluminium scrap from the US in February 2020. The import was down by 2.33 per cent from 17,200 tonnes in January 2020. In December 2019, Mexico imported 13,100 tonnes of scrap from the US, meaning January saw a rise of 31.30 per cent in imports month-on-month. Mexico’s imports from the United States in December plunged by 20.12 per cent from 16,400 tonnes in November to stand at 13,100 tonnes. Year-on-year, Mexico’s aluminium scrap imports from the United States in February 2020 stood almost flat. In February 2019, the import volume was 16,200 tonnes, down by 600 tonnes from February 2020. The total aluminium scrap imports by Mexico from the United States in the first two months of the year were...
A00 aluminium ingot price in China extends decline to RMB13460/t; Aluminium fluoride price down by RMB300/t
According to Shanghai Metals Market, the A00 aluminium ingot price has extended decline from RMB 13,480 per tonne on May 20 to RMB 13,460 per tonne on Thursday, May 21. The average prices are expected to range between RMB 13,440 per tonne and RMB 13,480 per tonne, with spot contract to be traded at a premium price of RMB 180-220 per tonne. Linyi has seen the highest fall in primary aluminium ingot price today of RMB 60 per tonne to stand at RMB 13,400 per tonne, followed by the fall of RMB 30 per tonne in Wuxi and Hangzhou to hover at RMB 13,440 per tonne and RMB 13,460 per tonne, respectively. In Tianjin and Gongyi, the price has dwindled by RMB 20 per tonne to RMB 13,420 per tonne and RMB 13,435 per tonne, while that in Chongqing has dropped by RMB 10 per tonne to RMB 13,520 per tonne....
LME aluminium price declined by US$10/t on opening stock hike by 30,050 tonnes; SHFE price dropped
The US dollar index rose slightly on Thursday morning, after touching its lowest since May 1 at 99.0014 overnight. Three-month LME aluminium resumed its rally on Wednesday, gaining 1.78 per cent to end at a three-week peak of US$ 1,515 per tonne. Optimism surrounding economic recovery is expected to bolster LME aluminium to US$1,490-1,530 per tonne today. As of Wednesday, May 20, both LME aluminium cash (bid) price and LME official settlement price decreased from US$ 1464 per tonne on May 19 to US$ 1454 per tonne. 3-months bid price and 3-months offer price declined from US$ 1498 per tonne to US$ 1486.50 per tonne. Dec 21 bid price and Dec 21 offer price stood at US$ 1610.50 per tonne, compared to US$ 1623.50 per tonne on the previous day. The LME aluminium opening stock increased from...
Why buy AlCircle’s Report on “Energy Consumption in Aluminium Smelting and Changing Technologies Towards Gas Emission?
As aluminium enters markets that had earlier been dominated by traditional metals, especially steel, competition and comparisons on energy consumption have caught the eyes of end-use sectors across the world. In 2019, to produce one tonne of aluminium, the average total energy (AC) intensity across the world stood at about 14.2 MWh, while the average process energy intensity stood at 13.4 MWh. Globally, the aluminium industry emits around 450 MT per annum of CO2 equivalents, accounting for about 1% of the world’s total emission. At this juncture, it becomes an absolute imperative to address the issue of high energy-intensive process of aluminium smelting. AlCircle, being always at the forefront of the aluminium industry information circle, has therefore, presented a new Sector Focus...
After December, US aluminium crude and alloys exports to Canada drop in February by 9% MoM
The Geological Survey of the United States found that after December 2019, the US aluminium crude and alloys exports to Canada fell in February 2020. The decline, as recorded by the USGS data for February, was 8.71 per cent or 740 tonnes month-on-month to come in at 7,760 tonnes. In contrast to this, the decline in exports was higher in December, as the United States had exported 6,920 tonnes in the said month, down by 15.71 per cent or 1,290 tonnes from November. In January 2020, the United States’ crude metal and alloys exports to Canada were 8,500 tonnes, registering a hike of 22.83 per cent or 1,580 tonnes from the month ago. In November 2019, the exports were 8,210 tonnes, down by 7.95 per cent or 710 tonnes month-on-month. In October, however, the amount of export from the US to...
Richardson Devine Marine hand over a unique, all-aluminium ferry “Nairana” to Sealink Tasmania
According to a recent report, Australian shipbuilder Richardson Devine Marine (RDM) has delivered the Incat Crowther designed unique, all-aluminium ferry named Nairana to ferry owner and operator Sealink Tasmania. Nairana, equipped with state-of-the-art propulsion solutions from SCHOTTEL, is built entirely from aluminium. So, the vessel is light-weight and consumes less fuel. It can travel longer distances, ensuring excellent manoeuvrability. Being light-weight yet robust, the vessel is extremely economical to operate. Roger Janes, Sales and Marketing Manager of RDM: “The brief was to provide two unique, new vessels that are highly manoeuvrable to facilitate rapid turnaround times, have multiple engines for redundancy, and are economical. Overall, they needed to be uncomplicated and...
