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 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...
Spectra Aluminium to install new extrusion press and gas billet oven in Bradford, Ontario
Extrusion manufacturing facility based outside Toronto, Spectra Aluminium, has reportedly ordered a 28-MN front-loading direct extrusion press and 5,000 kg/h, high-efficiency gas billet oven from Danieli Brada for producing industrial profiles starting from 8” to 9” aluminium billets. The new extrusion press and the gas billet oven will be installed in Bradford, Ontario, Canada. The press will be equipped with the Danieli-patented Energy Saving solution ESED 4.0 that allows average energy savings of 25-30 per cent compared to traditional systems available in the market. The press will also feature fully electric billet loading right from the oven to the press, which will significantly reduce the billet heat/energy loss and improve billet temperature accuracy. The automation system, also...
China’s new energy passenger vehicle sales in March quadrupled from last month: CPCA
According to the latest data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) on Thursday, April 9, China’s wholesale deliveries of new energy passenger vehicles totalled at 56,000 units in March, down 49.2 per cent from the same period last year but grew by about three times from the last month. Wholesale volumes of plug-in hybrid vehicles accounted for 9,200 units of the total volume of new energy passenger vehicle sales. As per CPCA data, this figure is down by about 59 per cent from the corresponding period last year. Wholesale volumes of pure electric cars fell 48 per cent over the year and totalled at 47,000 units in March 2020. The robust performance of sole-proprietorship and joint-venture automakers in China primarily drove the country’s new energy vehicles market last month,...
Alumina spot price in China declines further by RMB25/t; A00 aluminium ingot price grows on first inventory decline this year
According to Shanghai Metals Market, the average alumina spot price has seen to close the week ending Friday, April 10, at RMB 2121 per tonne, down RMB 25 per tonne from RMB 2,146 per tonne on Thursday, April 9. In the central, the average alumina spot price has decreased by RMB 30 per tonne to RMB 2,130 per tonne. In the east as well, the average alumina price has come in at RMB 2,130 per tonne, as of April 10, but by declining RMB 20 per tonne. The north has also witnessed a plunge of RMB 20 per tonne in the alumina price to RMB 2,110 per tonne, while that in the south has remained restrained at RMB 2,520 per tonne. The imported alumina price has dipped today by RMB 35 per tonne to RMB 2,140 per tonne, while the Australian Alumina FOB price has continued to hover at US$225 per tonne....
Primary aluminium inventories mark first decline in China since the Lunar New Year Holiday this year
Social inventories of primary aluminium ingots have fallen this week, as demand improved and aluminium smelters held back on sales and reduced deliveries to social warehouses owing to weaker aluminium prices, learned Shanghai Metals Market. The SMM data shows the primary aluminium inventories decreased 69,000 tonnes over the week ended Thursday, April 9, across eight major consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrants. This marks the first week-on-week decline since the Lunar New Year Holiday, bringing the inventories at 1.607 million tonnes. On last Thursday, April 2, the primary aluminium inventories were at 1.676 million tonnes, up 9,000 tonnes compared to a build of 20,000 tonnes in the previous week. The chart below indicates the current status of primary aluminium inventories...
Aluminium billet inventories in China extend decline but slower than the previous week
According to Shanghai Metals Market, aluminium billet inventories in China have declined today, on April 9, for the fifth consecutive week, as stocks in east China have begun to shrink. The data shows the stocks of 6063 aluminium billets across five major consumption areas in China have totalled at 170,100 tonnes after declining by 4,100 tonnes over the week. Last week, on April 2, the inventories had plunged by 18,500 tonnes week-on-week to 174,200 tonnes. The chart below indicates the current status of aluminium billet inventories across China in more details: In Wuxi, Changzhou, and Nanchang, the aluminium billet inventories have dropped by 4,520 tonnes, 4,230 tonnes, and 1,530 tonnes to come in at 47,100 tonnes, 21,100 tonnes, and 7,400 tonnes, respectively. Foshan and Huzhou, on the...
COVID19 Crisis: Weak aluminium prices force Press Metal Aluminium to revise financial forecasts
Owing to weaker aluminium prices due to the COVID19 pandemic, Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Bhd has reportedly revised its forecasts for financial years 2020-22. For FY20, the company has cut its net profit forecasts by 29 per cent to RM 415.5, and for FY21 and FY22, 12 per cent and 13 per cent to RM 816.3 and RM 948.9, respectively. According to the report, the company has also reduced its revenue outlook to RM 7,370.2 for FY20, RM 10,866.2 for FY21, and RM 11,137.1 for FY22. FV has also been reduced by 29 per cent to RM3.03 (from RM4.24 previously) based on 15 times revised FY21F earnings per share (EPS) (from RM4.24 based on 18 times FY21F EPS previously). <iframe width="500" height="300" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AwGLceThp5w" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay;...
Average alumina spot price continues to decline while A00 aluminium ingot price records a growth today
The average alumina spot price has extended its decline further by RMB 26 per tonne to stand at RMB 2,146 per tonne, as of Thursday, April 9, found Shanghai Metals Market. This marks the sixth consecutive fall this month, bringing the average alumina spot price down by RMB 429 per tonne over the past one month. In the north, the average alumina price has declined by RMB 35 per tonne to RMB 2,130 per tonne, followed by the central and east by RMB 20 per tonne and RMB 15 per tonne to RMB 2,160 per tonne and RMB 2,150 per tonne, respectively. In the south, however, the price has continued to remain restrained at RMB 2,520 per tonne. The imported alumina price has recorded a fall as well by RMB 25 per tonne to RMB 2,175 per tonne. The Australian Alumina FOB price has slipped by US$ 6 per...
