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.
Rio Tinto’s bauxite production in Q1 2020 records a YoY growth of 8%, while aluminium output takes a dip
An Anglo-Australian multinational and the world's second-largest metals and mining corporations, Rio Tinto, has released the operational results of the first quarter of 2020, mentioning that its bauxite production has increased year-on-year by about 8 per cent to stand at 13.8 million tonnes. But when compared to the previous quarter, the output has been found decreased by 9 per cent. The growth in the year-on-year production of Rio’s bauxite followed the successful ramp-up of its Amrun mine in 2019 and the 7 per cent increase in third party shipments to 9.5 million tonnes in the first quarter. The company’s aluminium production, on the other hand, has dipped in the first quarter by 2 per cent year-on-year to 0.8 million tonnes, with ISAL operating at 85% capacity in line with our value...
LME aluminium price increased to $1476/t amidst one-week high US dollar; SHFE expanded to $1715/t
The US dollar rose to a one-week high on Thursday as investors continued to search for safe haven following gloomy US jobless data. The dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of other currencies, added 0.28 per cent and ended at 99.9. As of Thursday, April 16, both LME aluminium cash (bid) price and LME official settlement price increased by US$ 6.5 per tonne to US$ 1476 per tonne. 3-months bid price and 3-months offer price also grew by US$ 6.5 per tonne to come in at US$ 1514 per tonne. Dec 21 bid price and Dec 21 offer price hovered at US$ 1647 per tonne. The LME aluminium opening stock stood at 1261475 tonnes, compared to 1261550 tonnes on Wednesday, April 15, meaning it remained flat. Live Warrants totalled at 1137900 tonnes and Cancelled Warrants 123575 tonnes....
In conversation with Mr José María Gerbolés, CEO of Salico
AlCircle is pleased to interview Mr José María Gerbolés, CEO of Salico, a dedicated Italian-Spanish company to the conception, engineering, manufacturing, putting into operation, training, and servicing of equipment for processing, finishing, and cutting for both ferrous and non-ferrous metal strip. In the interview, Mr Gerbolés has shared the journey of the company, its innovations and inventions, product range, key markets, and his own exclusive outlook for the short, mid, and long-term outlook. That’s not all, Mr Gerbolés has also shared its take on COVID19 and what measure he has taken for the company to combat the crisis and to be able to continue to offer sustainable solutions ahead. Here is an excerpt from the interview: AlCircle: Please take us through Salico’s 40 years journey as...
Aluminium billet inventories record a higher fall this week: Stocks total at 164,900 tonnes
Extending decline for the sixth consecutive week, aluminium billet inventories in China have totalled at 164,900 tonnes, as of Thursday, April 16, found Shanghai Metals Market. SMM data shows the stocks of 6063 aluminium billet have reduced by 5,200 tonnes today, compared to 4,100 tonnes last week, across five major consumption areas. This indicates a growth in the week-on-week decline of aluminium billet inventories this week. The chart below indicates the current status of aluminium billet inventories across China in more details: Foshan, Huzhou, and Nanchang have seen declines in aluminium billet inventories today, among which Foshan has seen the highest fall. In Foshan, the billet inventories have reduced by 6,900 tonnes to stand at 69,600 tonnes, while that in Huzhou and Nanchang...
Wenshan Aluminium’s 500,000 tonnes of smelting project soon to start the first potline
According to a recent report, Wenshan Aluminium’s 500,000 tonnes of aluminium smelting and hydropower project in southeast Yunnan’s Wenshan prefecture will start the operation of its first potline at the end of April. The project is estimated to require a total of more than RMB 4 billion of investment, as per the report. Yunnan Aluminium’s subsidiary Wenshan Aluminium runs an alumina refinery as well, which in the first quarter of 2020 produced 266,000 tonnes of alumina. There are 3.43 million tonnes of aluminium smelting and hydropower capacity that is under construction or has been built in Wenshan prefecture, according to official data.
A00 aluminium ingot price extends growth to RMB12,000/t on supply shortage and increased consumption
A00 aluminium ingot price has extended growth today, on April 16, for the sixth day in a row to touch the level of RMB 12,000 per tonne, learned Shanghai Metals Market. Yesterday, the price was RMB 11,910 per tonne, which represents that today it has increased by RMB 90 per tonne. The average prices are expected to range between RMB 11,980 per tonne and RMB 12,020 per tonne, with spot contract to be still traded at a discount and premium price of RMB 30 per tonne to RMB 10 per tonne. Wuxi has seen the highest growth of RMB 120 per tonne to RMB 12,010 per tonne, followed by the growth of RMB 115 per tonne in Hangzhou to stand at RMB 12,030 per tonne. In Gongyi, the price has increased by RMB 105 per tonne to RMB 12,035 per tonne and that in Foshan, Chongqing, and Linyi by RMB 100 per tonne...
FYI Resources continues to progress its high purity alumina project amid COVID19 pandemic
FYI Resources Limited has reportedly taken necessary measures to ensure safety and wellbeing of its staff and to preserve shareholder funds during the COVID19 crisis. At the same time, it is maintaining positive progress at its high purity alumina (HPA) project in Western Australia. As per the report, all non-executive directors of the company have agreed to suspend payment in cash of their director fees, while the managing director has agreed to suspend his salary, with effect from March 1, to save the company's cost. Besides, corporate overheads have been reduced and lower priority expenditure, such as non-essential research and development activities, has been curtailed to execute operations seamlessly. On the other hand, management staff and project contractors have adjusted their...
Rio Tinto aluminium laboratories turn into temporary hand sanitiser development centres to combat COVID19
In addition to the New Zealand Aluminium Smelter (NZAS) at Tiwai Point, Rio Tinto’s other aluminium laboratories such as its Tasmania’s Bell Bay site, the Yarwun refinery in Gladstone have all become the temporary hand sanitiser development hotspots. The mining giant aims to ease the demand for hand sanitiser products during the COVID19 pandemic, as well as to help prevent the spread among its own staff. With such aims, Rio Tinto Aluminium has transformed its laboratory spaces in Australia and New Zealand into spaces for chemists and researchers to develop sanitiser. The laboratories are making the sanitiser by following the World Health Organisation (WHO) standards, ensuring the utmost safety and cleanliness. While it’s been already reported that the NZAS team has produced 103 litres of...
China to have 10 times more charging piles this year for the development of EVs charging network
On Tuesday, April 14, China’s State Grid announced to invest RMB 2.7 billion in total to construct charging piles. It said it plans to build 78,000 charging piles in 2020, which is 10 times more than the addition last year. The state-owned electric utility giant also announced that it would kick off construction of 126 charging pile projects across 18 Chinese provinces and cities to facilitate the development of electric vehicle charging network. This will require a total investment of RMB 360 million. China’s wholesale deliveries of new energy passenger vehicles almost quadrupled in March from the previous month and stood at 56,000 units, according to the data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) last week. Among this, wholesale volumes of plug-in hybrid vehicles accounted for...
Novelis announces the completion of Aleris acquisition
Novelis Inc., the world leader in aluminium rolling and recycling, announced on April 14 that it completed the acquisition of Aleris Corporation, a global supplier of rolled aluminium products. Thus, Novelis is now better positioned to meet customers’ demand for aluminium, with a wider product portfolio, skilled and diverse workforce, and higher commitment towards safety, sustainability, quality, and partnership. In regards to the acquisition, Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman Aditya Birla Group and Novelis Inc., said: "The Aleris deal marks a major milestone for Novelis, on its path to global leadership. The closure of this deal amidst challenging market conditions, reflects our conviction in the Aleris business and its value to our metals portfolio. Periods of turmoil have historically...
Three-month LME aluminium rebounded at $1515/tonne; SHFE aluminium grew to RMB1681/t
The US dollar declined on Tuesday as risk appetite returned to the market after the better-than-expected economic data from China dispelled some concerns about the coronavirus impact on the world’s second-largest economy. The dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of other currencies, eased 0.63% and ended at 98.875. Three-month LME aluminium rebounded after the decline, closing up 2.09 per cent higher on the day at US$ 1,515 per tonne with short covering their positions. The most-traded SHFE contract has increased to a more than three-week high, with the trading range expected between RMB 11,600 per tonne and RMB 11,850 per tonne today. As of Tuesday, April 14, both LME aluminium cash (bid) price and LME official settlement price stood at US$ 1456 per tonne, after...
China allows 191,000 tonnes of aluminium scrap in its fifth batch of import quotas for 2020
China’s environmental authorities on April 10 reportedly issued the fifth batch of aluminium scrap import quotas for 2020 to allow additional 191,100 tonnes of high-grade aluminium scrap to enter China. With this, the total aluminium scrap imports allowed to China at present is 475,600 tonnes. China, in the first two months of the year, imported 122,000 tonnes of aluminium scrap in total, down 40.7 per cent from a year earlier, according to customs data. This suggests that a large amount of import quotas has remained unused. According to China Customs data, China, during January-April 2019, had imported 490,000 tonnes of seaborne aluminium scrap. The import quotas for this year are so far sufficient in volumes, but the supply in Chinese market is unlikely to increase soon due to subdued...
Chinese alumina price lowers decline to RMB6/t, while A00 aluminium ingot price lowers growth to RMB20/t
According to Shanghai Metals Market, the average alumina spot price in China has lowered its decline to RMB 6 per tonne today, on April 14, to stand at RMB 2,073 per tonne. In many parts of China, the price has remained restrained, such as in the east and north at RMB 2,100 per tonne and RMB 2,050 per tonne, respectively. In the central, however, the price has recorded a plunge of RMB 10 per tonne to RMB 2,090 per tonne. The imported alumina price in China has declined the highest today by RMB 45 per tonne to RMB 2,075 per tonne. The average prices of imported alumina are expected to range between RMB 2,050 per tonne and RMB 2,100 per tonne. The Australian Alumina FOB price has remained unchanged at US$ 225 per tonne, as of April 14, learned SMM. The A00 aluminium ingot price has extended...
Backlog orders shield aluminium processors operating rates in China last week
On surveying 41 major aluminium processors in 12 provinces across China last week, Shanghai Metals Market found their average operating rate dropped marginally by 0.6 percentage point on a weekly basis to 74.4 per cent. Backlog orders could be a reason behind this overall steady operating rate, in addition to the robust performance of construction-related processors and less effect on exports. But export orders for May are likely to fall sharply, creating an impact on the operating rates of aluminium plate/sheet, strip and foil producers, as the latter largely rely on exports for their business. Also, the operating rates this week may get slightly affected due to fewer exports off late. Operating rates at major aluminium processors by industry (updated on April 10): Aluminium extrusion:...
Alba wins RoSPA’s Gold Medal Health and Safety Award this year for seven times in a row
According to a recent report, Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba), the world’s largest aluminium smelter outside China, has bagged the 2020 Gold Medal Health and Safety Award from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) for the seventh year in a row. Alba is honoured with the recognition from RoSPA for its health and safety performance during January 01, 2019 to December 31, 2019. RoSPA is a British charity that works to prevent accidents in the UK and around the world. It works to stop the needless loss and devastation that accidents cause to individuals, families, communities, businesses, and society as a whole. On receiving the prestigious award from this organisation for seven times in a row, Alba’s Chief Executive Officer Ali Al Baqali said: “Alba is pleased to be...
China’s primary aluminium inventories extend decline over the weekend on improved demand
Shanghai Metals Market found a further decline in social inventories of primary aluminium ingots over the weekend ended Monday, April 13, bolstered by improved demand and reduced arrivals of stocks to warehouses. According to the SMM data, the inventories decreased 59,000 tonnes from last Thursday, April 9, across eight major consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrants, to stand at 1.548 million tonnes. From Tuesday, April 7, the primary aluminium stocks have reduced by 128,000 tonnes. The chart below indicates the current status of primary aluminium inventories across China in more details: The primary aluminium inventories in Nanhai have decreased by 23,000 tonnes over the weekend to come in at 366,000 tonnes, while that in Wuxi and Gongyi by 18,000 tonnes and 17,000 tonnes to...
Alumina price in China extends decline by RMB42/t; A00 aluminium ingot price grows on further inventory fall
The average alumina spot price has declined by RMB 42 per tonne to stand as low as RMB 2,079 per tonne, as of Monday, April 13, found Shanghai Metals Market. The northern market of China has seen the highest decrease in the price of RMB 60 per tonne to RMB 2,050 per tonne, while that in the east and central has reduced by RMB 30 per tonne to RMB 2,100 per tonne. In the south, the price has continued to remain restrained at RMB 2,520 per tonne. The imported alumina price has dipped by RMB 20 per tonne to RMB 2,120 per tonne, but the Australian Alumina FOB price has remained unchanged at US$ 225 per tonne. The A00 aluminium ingot price, on the other hand, has extended its growth for the third consecutive day, although slower than the previous day. The price is standing at RMB 11,790 per...
Weekly Update 1: COVID19 effects on global aluminium industry during April 1-10
Right from the aluminium raw material to the end-use sector, the effect of COVID19 pandemic is evident in every vertical of the industry. Unavailability of adequate labourers and transport disruption due to the worldwide lockdown is taking a constant toll on the aluminium industry, resulting in production cut at many smelters and semi-finished products plants. Therefore, the demand for the metal is drowning, and so the global benchmark prices of both aluminium and aluminium input costs. Let us here take a quick glance at how the COVID19 outbreak has created an impact on the aluminium industry in the last 10 days of the month. The Argentine giant Aluar Aluminio Argentino SAIC is reducing its output by an additional 25% at its Puerto Madryn plant in the south, in response to the indication...
