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.
US aluminium scrap exports to Malaysia record 22% decline in December 2019; Exports in Q4 up from Q3
According to the latest data released by the US Geological Survey, the United States aluminium scrap exports to Malaysia declined in December 2019 by 9,000 tonnes or 22 per cent from the previous month and came in at 32,500 tonnes. In November, however, the export amount to Malaysia rose by 1,400 tonnes or 3.5 per cent from October and stood at 41,500 tonnes. In October, the export amount was 40,100 tonnes compared to 30,900 tonnes in September, meaning the US aluminium scrap exports to Malaysia in October 2019 saw a month-on-month increase of 30 per cent. Year-on-year, the export in December 2019 grew 106 per cent or by 16,700 tonnes from 15,800 tonnes in December 2018. The US aluminium scrap exports to Malaysia in the fourth quarter of 2019 thus, totalled at 114,100 tonnes, which in the...
Chinese alumina spot price starts the week with a decline of RMB33/t; A00 aluminium ingot price dwindles by RMB50/t
Since the middle of March, the average alumina spot price has been incessantly trending down, and today is of no exception. According to Shanghai Metals Market, the alumina spot price in China has shrunk by RMB 33 per tonne to stand at RMB 2,370 per tonne, as of Monday, March 30. The decline rate is 1.37 per cent compared to 0.74 per cent on the previous day, March 27. Month-on-month, the average alumina spot price is down by 195 per tonne, as of today. In the north, the price has decreased the highest today by RMB 35 per tonne to RMB 2,365 per tonne, followed by the decline of RMB 30 per tonne to RMB 2,380 per tonne in the central. In the east, the average alumina spot price has plunged by RMB 20 per tonne to stand at RMB 2,380 per tonne, as of March 30. Backed on the decline in alumina...
ALRO’s aluminium production and sales trended down in 2019; Beginning of 2020 sees COVID-19 impact
ALRO Group, one of the largest vertically integrated aluminium producers in Europe, has announced its financial results of 2019, revealing a downfall in sales from RON 2.98 billion in 2018 to RON 2.78 billion in 2019, primarily as a result of unfavourable international and national market conditions. The group in the year last registered a net loss of RON 67 million compared to a net profit of RON 235 million in 2018. The significant decrease in results was a direct consequence of a continuous downward trend of the LME and tough market conditions. Marian NĂSTASE, Chairman of the Board of Directors of ALRO, said: “Facing adverse circumstances in the market, where LME showed a 15% decrease in 2019 compared to 2018, alumina market affected by excess output that led to downward selling...
Chalco’s 2019 aluminium production stands lower by 9% while alumina output up by 2.1%
Chalco, China’s biggest state-run aluminium producer, produced 3.79 million tonnes of aluminium in 2019, down 9 per cent from the previous year, according to the company’s presentation to analysts reviewed by Reuters. With this production, Chalco just managed to retain its position as the world’s No. 2 listed aluminium producer ahead of Rusal’s 3.76 million tonnes of annual output. According to a report last week, the top producer China Hongqiao’s annual production dropped 11.3 per cent in 2019 totalling at 5.64 million tonnes. These lower production numbers come when Chinese aluminium firms are preparing to cope up a difficult 2020 with prices crashing to more than four to five years low RMB 11,340 per tonne amid supply concerns due to the outbreak of epidemic COVID-19. According to...
Amid COVID-19 Capral still continues production and distribution facilities
Australia-based aluminium extruded product manufacturing company Capral said this week that its production and distribution facilities continued to operate amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to safeguard the health of the workforce and communities, the company has put in several measures that include strict protocols for hygiene, rules for employees who are returning from travel, stopping business air travel, and restrictions on visitors to the sites. Employees of the company are also working from home as and when possible. According to Capral, although operating volumes of the company are in line with expectations, yet it is too early to predict the potential impact on the economy and business. While it is hard to find positives in the current situation, Capral believes a few factors...
COVID-19 Crisis: AMAG applies for short-time working due to downturn in orders
As the worldwide corona pandemic has started affecting the demand for AMAG products, the company has reportedly applied for short-time working at its Ranshofen plant, with effect from April 1, 2020. This will allow the plant to operate flexibly in response to the fluctuations in demand and utilisation while safeguarding jobs. As a major supplier of aluminium strip for medicine and food packaging, AMAG is classified by the Federal Ministry of the Interior as part of the “critical infrastructure” required to supply the Austrian population. So, the primary challenge for the company is to ensure the wellbeing of the workforce, and at the same time to guarantee product supplies to the processing industry. In order to protect the health of the employees, AMAG has introduced several preventive...
Average alumina spot price in China ends the week with a drop of RMB18/t, while A00 aluminium ingot price remains restrained
The average alumina spot price in China on the last day of the week, dated March 27, has recorded a downfall of RMB 18 per tonne to stand at RMB 2,403 per tonne. In the east and north, the price has dwindled by RMB 20 per tonne to RMB 2,400 per tonne, while that in the central has plunged by RMB 15 per tonne to RMB 2,410 per tonne. In the south, however, the price has registered no change from RMB 2,520 per tonne. The imported alumina price has decreased by RMB 10 per to come in at RMB 2,420 per tonne. The Australian alumina FOB price has neither been an exception and recorded a dip of US$ 2 per tonne to stand at US$ 267 per tonne. The A00 aluminium ingot price, on the other hand, has remained restrained at RMB 11,520 per tonne, after two consecutive rises of RMB 300 per tonne in total....
Top 5 aluminium plates, sheets and bars exporters to the US in 2019
According to the US Geological Survey data, the United States' total imports of aluminium plates, sheets and bars dropped year-on-year in 2019. Compared to 1.41 million tonnes in 2018, the import volume in 2019 came in at 1.34 million tonnes, which represents a down of 5 per cent. The top five exporters in the year last were Canada, China, Germany, Oman, and Indonesia. Canada topped the list of aluminium plates, sheets and bars exporters to the US 2019, with the total volume supplied 182,000 tonnes. In 2018, Canada had exported 230,000 tonnes of aluminium flat-rolled products, meaning the US in 2019 imported 21 per cent lesser volume of products from Canada. In the first half of 2019, the United States had imported 92,800 tonnes of aluminium plates, sheets and bars from Canada, while the...
EGA’s 2019 revenue declines 12% despite higher sales volume of value-added products
Emirates Global Aluminium, the world’s largest premium aluminium producer, has revealed its financial and operational reports of 2019, where it has mentioned that its revenue totalled at AED 20.5 billion ($5.6 billion) during the year. In 2018, EGA’s revenue was AED 23.5 billion ($6.4 billion), which means 2019 saw a drop in revenue of about 12 per cent. The primary reason for the revenue downfall could be attributed to the lower world prices of aluminium, although partially offset by a higher sales volume of value-added products. As per the report, EGA’s adjusted EBITDA came in at 2.5 billion ($693 million) in 2019, compared to AED 4.4 billion ($1.2 billion) in 2018. Lower prices for finished metals were one of the reasons for this fall, besides proportionately higher prices for raw...
Aluminium billet inventories in China continue to fall for the third consecutive week
According to Shanghai Metals Market, aluminium billet inventories in China fell for the third consecutive week ended March 26, due to stable deliveries and reduced arrivals. SMM data shows the 6063 aluminium billet stocks stand at 192,700 tonnes, as of March 26, after inching down by 4,900 tonnes from 197,600 tonnes on last Thursday, March 19. The chart below indicates the current status of aluminium billet inventories across China in more details: In Foshan, the aluminium billet inventories have declined by 10,800 tonnes to stand at 79,800 tonnes, while that in Huzhou have decreased by 1,000 tonnes to 22,000 tonnes. In Changzhou and Nanchang, on the other hand, the inventories have increased by 4,700 tonnes and 2,400 tonnes to stand respectively at 27,700 tonnes and 9,600 tonnes. In...
EGA’s Al Taweelah Refinery records 1.1 million tonnes alumina output: Sheikh Hamdan at DH annual meeting
In the annual general meeting of DUBAL Holding LLC, on Wednesday, March 25, H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, praised the company’s good operational performance during 2019. He also mentioned Dubal’s 50 per cent subsidiary firm EGA and its great performance despite huge challenging market conditions and drop in aluminium price on the global stock exchange. Sheikh Hamdan briefed on the production performance of EGA Al Taweelah Alumina Refinery, which commenced production in April 2019 and recorded an output of 1.1 million tonnes during the year. While briefing on EGA’s bauxite mining project at the Republic of Guinea, he mentioned that it started in August 2019 and mined a total of 1.7 million tonnes in the year. He also spoke about...
LME aluminium price declined sharply to $1507.5/t; SHFE rose for the fourth day in a row to $1632/t
The US dollar extended its decline on Wednesday as a US$ 2 trillion US stimulus bill helped boost risk appetite and reduced demand for the safe haven currency. The US dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of its peers, hits its lowest in a week. Three-month LME aluminium pulled back after the European trading session began. It touched its lowest since May 2016 at US$ 1,535 per tonne before recovering some ground to end at US$ 1,548 per tonne. LME aluminium bucked the uptrend across nonferrous metals on Wednesday. It is expected to continue to hover between US$1,540-1,600 per tonne today. As of Wednesday, March 25, both LME aluminium cash (bid) price and LME official settlement price recorded a sharp decline from US$ 1532.50 per tonne to US$ 1507.50 per tonne. 3-months...
Altech at Germany continuing research on lithium-ion battery separator for HPA battery
Altech Chemicals is reportedly continuing its research on high purity alumina battery applications with a focus on lithium-ion battery separator technologies and the impact of alumina impurities on battery safety. The research is being performed at the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems, or IKTS, in Dresden, Germany. The worldwide popular Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft research organisation is specifically working on the contamination that impurities from low-quality alumina may have on the battery electrolyte. The impurities are a cause of lithium battery thermal runaway, and efficiency and life-cycle reduction, according to Altech. Altech is looking to use this research to target customers for its ultra-pure HPA product, once the Malaysian plant in complete and running....
From extending labour contract to reducing cost - Century Aluminium taking a host of measures to contain COVID-19
Century Aluminium Company announced on Tuesday, March 24, that together with the United Steel Workers Local 9423, it has agreed to extend the labour contract for one year. The contract was set to expire on April 1, 2020. Michael Bless, President and Chief Executive Officer of Century Aluminium, said: “We want to thank the representatives of the local and international unions for the partnership evident in this development. We all share the clear focus on the health and welfare of our employees, their families and our communities, as well as on the importance of sustaining the operations of the plant; this dedication is consistent with the approach at all of our facilities.” Commenting on the measures taken by Century Aluminium to contain the spread of COVID-19, Mr Bless said they already...
US bauxite imports rise 8% in Q4 2019 while alumina imports drop 2.71%; Jamaica and Brazil top the exporters list
As shown by the latest US Geological Survey data on bauxite and alumina imports in the fourth quarter of 2019, the United States imported 1 million tonnes of crude and dried bauxite, up 8 per cent from 929,000 tonnes in the third quarter and 15 per cent more than 840,000 tonnes in the fourth quarter of 2018. With this, the US’ total bauxite imports in 2019 came in at 3.71 million tonnes, as compared with 3.33 million tonnes in the whole of 2018. Jamaica was the leading supplier of bauxite in Q4 2019, followed by Brazil and Turkey. While Jamaica exported 702,000 tonnes accounting for 70 per cent of the total bauxite import by the US, Brazil contributed 27 per cent by supplying 272,000 tonnes. From Turkey, the US imported 28,200 tonnes in Q4. Imports of alumina during Q4 2019 totalled at...
Hike in A00 aluminium ingot and aluminium alloy prices indicates growth in demand and purchase
After remaining restrained at RMB 11,220 per tonne on March 24, followed by a havoc downfall of RMB 570 per tonne on the preceeding day, the A00 aluminium ingot price today, on March 25, has gained RMB 110 per tonne to stand at RMB 11,330 per tonne, found Shanghai Metals Market. The average prices are expected to range between RMB 11,310 per tonne and RMB 11,350 per tonne, with spot contract to be traded at a discount price of RMB 110 per tonne to RMB 70 per tonne. Wuxi and Gongyi have seen the highest rise of RMB 125 per tonne to RMB 11,335 per tonne and RMB 11,375 per tonne, respectively. In Foshan and Chongqing, the price has increased by RMB 110 per tonne to RMB 11,320 per tonne and RMB 11,380 per tonne, and that in Tianjin, Shenyang, and Hangzhou has grown by RMB 90 per tonne, RMB 80...
COVID-19 outbreak affects China’s alumina exports during Jan-Feb: Down by 82.7% to 30,000 tonnes
The impact of the Coronavirus outbreak is seen in China’s alumina exports as well. During January-February this year, China could export as minimum as 30,000 tonnes of alumina in total, down 82.7 per cent from the same period last year, according to China Customs data. Along with the export amount, China’s alumina export value decreased as well by about 83.1 per cent year-on-year to stand at RMB 97.39 million during January-February 2020, showed the data. Separately, China’s exports of unwrought aluminium and aluminium semi-finished products hovered at 669,208 tonnes in the first two months of the year, down 25.3 per cent from a year earlier. The export value was lower by 21.5 per cent standing at RMB 12,898.21 million. China’s imports of unwrought aluminium and aluminium semis, however,...
Primary aluminium inventories gained 17,000 tonnes over the weekend ended March 23
According to Shanghai Metals Market, the social inventories of primary aluminium ingots rose by 17,000 tonnes over the weekend across eight major consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrants, as of Monday, March 23. The price thus, came in at 1.664 million tonnes, in contrast to 1.647 million tonnes on last Thursday, March 19. The chart below indicates the current status of primary aluminium inventories across China in more details: As the above chart shows, the inventories in Shanghai, Nanhai, Hangzhou, and Wuxi grew by 7,000 tonnes, 5,000 tonnes, 2,000 tonnes, and 1,000 tonnes, respectively, to stand at 158,000 tonnes, 432,000 tonnes, 132,000 tonnes, and 650,000 tonnes. In Chongqing, the inventories increased by 4,000 tonnes to 21,000 tonnes, while that in Gongyi have dropped by...
