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.
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...
Why buy AlCircle’s Report on "Industry 4.0 in Aluminium"?
After the success of the E-Magazine “Aluminium Industry 4.0: Drivers & Change Makers” last year, AlCircle has come up with a report on the same topic, but with more information and awareness on Industry 4.0. The report titled "Industry 4.0 in Aluminium" is an attempt to highlight how the implementation of Industry 4.0 and ‘smart manufacturing’ is revolutionising the aluminium manufacturing and processing. Industry 4.0 is used interchangeably with the fourth industrial revolution and represents a new stage in the organization and control of the industrial value chain. It represents the current systems and technologies for automation, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data exchange used in the manufacturing and industrial sector. In short, the concept of Industry 4.0 is about...
Average alumina spot price extends decline by RMB33/t; Prices of A00 aluminium ingot, aluminium alloys remain restrained
The average alumina spot price has extended decline by RMB 33 per tonne to stand as low as RMB 2,498 per tonne, as of Tuesday, March 24, found Shanghai Metals Market. In the east and central, the price has inched down by RMB 40 per tonne to hover at RMB 2,500 per tonne and RMB 2,510 per tonne, respectively. In the north, the price has decreased by RMB 30 per tonne to RMB 2,500 per tonne, but that in the south has remained restrained at RMB 2,520 per tonne. The imported alumina price has fallen today by RMB 70 per tonne to RMB 2,510 per tonne after remaining restrained throughout the month until March 23 at RMB 2,580 per tonne. The average imported alumina prices today are expected to range between RMB 2,480 per tonne and RMB 2,540 per tonne. <iframe width="500" height="300"...
Three-month LME aluminium ended the day lower at $1,560/t; SHFE aluminium records a hike to $1603/t
The US dollar dropped against a basket of currencies overnight after the US Federal Reserve the Federal Reserved announced aggressive asset purchases to support markets. Three-month LME aluminium rebounded to an intraday high of US$ 1,580 per tonne after plumbing its lowest since June 2016 at US$ 1,538.5 per tonne in late Asian trading hours. It later eased to end the day lower at US$ 1,560 per tonne, with the build-up of short positions primarily accounting for the loss. LME aluminium is expected to move between US$ 1,540 per tonne and US$ 1,600 per tonne today. As of Monday, March 23, LME aluminium cash (bid) price inched down from US$ 1580 per tonne to US$ 1536 per tonne. LME official settlement price dipped to the same amount from US$ 1580.5 per tonne. 3-months bid price and 3-months...
China Hongqiao Group earns greater profit in 2019 despite lower production and revenue
On Friday, March 20, the world’s biggest aluminium producer China Hongqiao Group announced that despite a significant drop in production, it could see a rise in net profit of 12.7 per cent in 2019. According to the group, lower production costs were a significant reason for the increase in its net profit. In contrast to RMB 5.407 billion in 2018, the net profit in 2019 came in at RMB 6.095 billion, said China Hongqiao Group during a Hong Kong stock exchange filing while warning that coronavirus could have a profound impact on global supply chains. The group’s revenue in 2019 declined by 6.7 per cent to come in at RMB 84.18 billion, along with the drop in its aluminium alloy production to 5.644 million tonnes. The company attributed the higher profit to lower purchase prices for raw...
Vedanta’s Jamkhani coal block expected to help company reduce aluminium production cost
Coal production from Jamkhani coal block is expected to take Vedanta an inch closer to its goal to reduce aluminium production cost to US$ 1,500 per tonne. Vedanta Limited had acquired the Jamkhani coal block with 220 million tonnes deposits at competitive auctions in Odisha. An increase in domestic coal production will boost power supplies, a critical input in aluminium smelting accounting for around 40 per cent of the metal production cost, and will also help Vedanta reduce imports, resulting in cost savings. <iframe width="500" height="300" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WBvFA8cngMo" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe> Srinivasan Venkatakrishnan, chief executive officer (CEO) of Vedanta Limited...
Hammerer Aluminium bags ASI Performance Standard Certification for its re-melting and casting plant in Ranshofen
Hammerer Aluminium Industries' re-melting and casting facility in Ranshofen, Austria, has been awarded ASI Performance Standard Certification. The news arrived after Aluminium Stewardship Initiative announced that it certified Hammerer Aluminium with its performance certification. The plant produces extrusion billets and rolling ingots from recycled aluminium scrap, which are then destined for various downstream uses in the automotive, electronics, transportation, and building and construction sectors. The ASI Performance Standard defines environmental, social and governance principles and criteria, aiming to address sustainability issues in the aluminium value chain. Fiona Solomon, Chief Executive Officer at ASI, said: “Our congratulations go to Hammerer Aluminium Industries on their ASI...
COVID-19 wrecks aluminium prices and input costs in China: Primary ingot price declines by RMB570/t and alumina price by RMB32/t
A00 aluminium ingot price has again recorded a sharp decline of RMB 570 per tonne to stand to the further lowest at RMB 11,220 per tonne on Monday, March 23, according to Shanghai Metals Market data. On Thursday, March 19, the price had recorded a decrease of RMB 790 per tonne to RMB 11,730 per tonne. Today, the average prices are expected to range between RMB 11,200 per tonne and RMB 11,240 per tonne, with spot contract to be traded at a discount price of RMB 100 per tonne to RMB 60 per tonne. Shenyang has seen the highest decline of RMB 610 per tonne, followed by Hangzhou RMB 590 per tonne, Foshan RMB 580 per tonne, Wuxi and Linyi RMB 570 per tonne, and RMB Gongyi RMB 560 per tonne. In Tianjin and Chongqing, the A00 aluminium ingot price has reduced by RMB 540 per tonne and RMB 520 per...
