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.
SMM estimates alumina prices to continue growing in the near term
According to Shanghai Metals Market survey, alumina prices are likely to extend growth in the near term, as production cut in refineries is increasing, and so is the imbalance between demand and supply on the continued virus impact. The amount of capacity cut at Chinese alumina refineries due to the coronavirus outbreak has increased to 4.6 million tonnes per year. Thus, the domestic alumina capacity in operation has reduced to 62.21 million tonnes per year, as of February 18, found SMM. In Shanxi, about 3.8 million tonnes per year of capacity has been reduced, while that in Henan 200,000 tonnes per year. The shortage of domestic bauxite and coal gas has also been responsible for the alumina production cut. An alumina refinery in Xiaoyi at Shanxi province has scaled back operations and...
China announces to exempt tariffs on aluminium scrap and other products imported from US
China, on Tuesday, February 18, announced that it would accept applications for new tariff exemptions on aluminium and other metal scraps, besides 696 other products imported from the United States. Those products include some key agricultural and energy items and also denatured ethanol, wheat, corn, and sorghum. Firms seeking exemptions on the tariffs can submit applications from March 1, said the finance ministry, adding that the exemptions granted would be valid for one year. These exemptions are the third and most substantial set to be granted to date by China since the start of the trade dispute with the United States. According to the report, the primary purpose of waiving the tariffs by China is to achieve the purchase deal of $200 billion worth US products, as agreed and signed in...
AAL delivers 85.3-metre all-aluminium hull to a world premium yacht builder
Singapore-headquartered global multipurpose shipping operator, AAL, has reportedly delivered an 85.3-metre all-aluminium yacht hull, after completing the manufacture on time and within budget, following the specifications of cargo stakeholders. The hull is en route from Humen in South China to Henderson in West Australia, aboard the 19,000 bdwt S-Class MPV the AAL Dampier. Upon reaching the destination, the 85-metre structure will join a 1,550dwt state-of-the-art superyacht by one of the world’s premier yacht builders, whose name is unfortunately not released. The yacht would have a helicopter pad, 8 ensuite cabins across 5 decks, along with more accommodation for approximately 21 crews. The vessel is able to comfortable reach at the speed of up to 24 knot. AAL stated, “Utilising the AAL...
Average alumina spot price in China extends growth by RMB7/t, but A00 aluminium ingot price shows restraint
The average alumina spot price in China has extended its rise by RMB 7 per tonne to RMB 2,493 per tonne, as of Wednesday, January 19, according to Shanghai Metals Market. The growth rate is 28 per cent, higher than the previous day. This month has been seeing a positive trend in the alumina spot price as it has rallied from RMB 2,454 per tonne to RMB 2,493 per tonne, with only two intermittent restraints. In the east and north, the price has increased by RMB 10 per tonne to RMB 2,500 per tonne and RMB 2,510 per tonne, while that in the central and south has remained unchanged at RMB 2,500 per tonne and RMB 2,520 per tonne. The Australian alumina FOB price has also remained restrained at US$ 285 per tonne, as of today, February 19. The average A00 aluminium ingot price in the spot market...
China’s new energy vehicle production in January dropped 52.3% YoY to 48,000 units: SMM
According to Shanghai Metals Market, China’s new energy vehicle production in January 2020 recorded a decline, as producers were shut during the Chinese New Year Holiday, while some of them delayed resumption due to an epidemic outbreak. Many even trimmed output because of continued market weakness. SMM data shows about 48,000 NEVs produced in China obtained qualification certificates in January, down 52.3 per cent from a year ago. Passenger vehicles accounted for 43,000 units and buses 2,700 units. The rest 3,100 units were special vehicles. SMM data reveals a drop in the installation of power batteries as well in January to 2.3 GWh, down 53.5 per cent year on year. As the market since the second half of 2019 remained lacklustre, many electric vehicle battery producers in China began...
M-o-M slowdown in US aluminium semis imports continued in October last year - USGS data shows
The United States had been seeing a slowdown in aluminium plates, sheets and bars imports since July 2019, while October was of no exception. From 105,000 tonnes in September, the import volume in October dropped to 99,800 tonnes, down 5,200 tonnes or 4.95 per cent. In July and August 2019, the United States had imported 117,000 tonnes and 115,000 tonnes of aluminium plates, sheets and bars, representing the fact that the country’s imports in August were down by 2,000 tonnes by volume or 1.7 per cent. In September, the downfall was higher, recording a drop of 10,000 tonnes by volume or 8.69 per cent. Year-on-year, the United States imports in October registered a fall of 16.13 per cent or 19,200 tonnes by volume. In October 2018, the United States imports of aluminium plates, sheets and...
BMW implements new system at Dingolfing press shop for fully recycling aluminium sheet waste
German automaker BMW AG has reportedly invested 6.5 million euros in the technical retrofitting of its Dingolfing press shop for the implementation of a new system to accomplish the goal of fully recycling its scrap aluminium waste. The new system enables the press shop to separate and recycle aluminium sheet waste to turn it into reusable products for the industry. It can also save CO2 emission of around 120,000 tonnes per annum. During the production of car components in the press shop, there is always a generation of sheet metal waste, out of which the plant’s new recycling equipment automatically can separate aluminium portions by means of scrap chutes. The chutes the deposit the aluminium scraps on a trio of conveyor belts and feed into a machine that presses the scraps into cubes....
Three-month LME aluminium slipped on strongest US dollar index in past 4 months; SHFE aluminium rose
The US dollar index held steady on Monday and climbed to the highest level at 99.211 since October 8, 2019. Three-month LME aluminium slipped to close at US$ 1,700 per tonne and finished the day 0.17 per cent lower at US$ 1,717 per tonne, primarily attributed to stronger US dollar and rebound in inventories. The trading range is expected at US$ 1,700 per tonne to US$ 1,760 per tonne today, February 18. As of Monday, February 17, LME aluminium cash (bid) price yet again recorded a sharp decline from US$ 1704 per tonne, as of February 14, to US$ 1678 per tonne, while LME official settlement price from US$ 1704.5 per tonne to US$ 1678.5 per tonne. 3-months bid price came in at US$ 1711 per tonne and 3-months offer price at US$ 1712 per tonne after declining by US$ 22 per tonne. Dec 21 bid...
GE to install digital smelter solution at Vedanta’s aluminium plant at Jharsuguda
According to a recent report, GE has signed a contract with Vedanta to install its digital smelter solution at the latter’s aluminium plant at Jharsuguda in Odisha to enhance productivity. The news came after the two companies jointly announced on Monday, February 17, that “GE and Vedanta Ltd.’s aluminium & power business signed an agreement to implement GE's digital smelter solutions at its largest smelter in India at Jharsuguda in Odisha to significantly increase its operational efficiency and productivity." For the first time, a digital twin technology will be deployed at an aluminium smelter in India, which together with advanced data analytics will expectedly reduce power consumption substantially at the plant. On every 1 per cent reduction in specific power consumption about US$ 4-5...
Rio Tinto starts dismantling its inoperative Gove refinery in the Northern Territory of Australia
Mining giant Rio Tinto has reportedly started dismantling its inoperative Gove refinery in East Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory of Australia. The refinery was mothballed in 2014, causing job loss to 1,000 workers. Smokestacks of the refinery have been already scaffolded and stripped down, with work starting on sections posing hazards to both humans and the environment. "It's all about taking down parts of the refinery that are at high risk and would make it unsafe for our people to work in the refinery area," said Gove operations general manager Alysia Tringrove. She also said that this would continue through 2020. But since plant removal is a slow process, it may not be finished until the eventual ceasing of mining, expected by 2030, according to Rio Tinto. "We're still very much...
Nalco’s financial performance to rebound in the near future with anticipated alumina price hike, analysts believe
After the second straight quarterly loss in the quarter ended December 31, 2019, National Aluminium Company (NALCO) is anticipated to see higher profits in the time to come, according to market analysts. Improved coal supplies and sober costs of critical inputs such as caustic soda, coal tar pitch, and calcine petroleum coke is believed to bolster the potential future hike of the company’s profits. Besides, expected strengthening in alumina prices would also contribute to the rebound, said analysts. “The company had to battle business headwinds in the form of softening international alumina prices and acute coal crunch in the domestic market. This led to spike in costs of metal production that reflected in the company’s earnings, pushing Nalco to rare back-to-back quarterly losses”,...
Prices of A00 aluminium ingot and aluminium alloy(A356) record the fourth consecutive day of fall
The A00 aluminium ingot price has recorded further downfall of RMB 40 per tonne, marking the fourth consecutive day of decline, found Shanghai Metals Market on Monday, February 17. The price has thus, come in at RMB 13,550 per tonne. The average prices are expected to range between RMB 13,530 per tonne and RMB 13,570 per tonne, with spot contract to be traded at a discount price of RMB 40-0 per tonne. The back-to-back fall in ingot price could be attributed to the slower consumption in comparison with the stocks arrived. Delay in production resumption after the Chinese New Year Holiday due to the outbreak of epidemic Coronavirus has primarily slowed the transaction process in the Chinese market. A maximum number of Chinese cities, as of today, have seen the ingot price fall of RMB 20 per...
LME aluminium price showed growing trend throughout this week on decline opening stock; SHFE contract recorded downfall
The US dollar on Monday, February 10, rose to a four-month peak against the euro, but eased off on the subsequent day. However, on February 12 and 13, it again increased, as investors expressed confidence that the novel coronavirus outbreak would be contained soon. Three-month LME aluminium dropped and finished the Monday session at US$ 1,707 per tonne. On Tuesday, it rallied 1.87 per cent to end at US$ 1,739 per tonne. On Thursday, it advanced to a two-week high before it finished the trading day 1.15 per cent higher at US$ 1,755 per tonne. LME aluminium cash (bid) price throughout the week during February 10-14 showed a growing trend, ranging between US$ 1,675.5 per tonne and US$ 1704 per tonne. Only on Thursday, February 13, the price recorded a steep decline from US$ 1,706.5 per tonne...
Gulkula Mining receives Performance Standard provisional certification from ASI
Gulkula Mining Company has reportedly received a Performance Standard provisional certification from Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASIS) for its bauxite mine operation on the traditional lands of the Yolngu people in East Arnhem in Australia’s Northern Territory. Gulkula commenced operations in 2017 and delivers all stages of the bauxite mining process, starting from drilling and testing to mine rehabilitation that brings the land back to its original landscape and to the requirements of its Traditional Owners. Gulkula is the first indigenous owned and operated bauxite mine to achieve ASI Certification. Fiona Solomon, Chief Executive Officer at ASI said “ASI warmly congratulates Gulkula Mining Company on their ASI Performance Standard Certification with provisional status. We take...
Tom Dobbins joining Aluminum Association as the group’s new president & CEO from March 16
On Thursday, February 13, the Aluminum Association announced about the joining of Tom Dobbins as the group’s new president & CEO from March 16. Tom already spent 13 years as the head of the American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA), the largest trade association in the world that represents composites manufacturers and their suppliers. Accepting the new role Tom Dobbins said, “I’m thrilled to be taking on this new role during an incredibly important time for the U.S. aluminum industry.” He also said, “The Aluminum Association has a proud legacy as one of the leading voices for the materials manufacturing sector in Washington and beyond. I look forward to taking on a leadership role as the team continues to execute on the recently developed Aluminum Agenda – from policy advocacy...
Alpha HPA decides on Gladstone for building high purity alumina industrial plant
New South Wales-based $200 million worth advanced manufacturing business Alpha HPA has reportedly selected Gladstone over two potential sites in Newcastle and Kwinana for its high purity alumina industrial plant. Negotiation of final purchase terms for the land with the state government will be done soon. The news came after Queensland’s Minister for Manufacturing Cameron Dick officially announced this on Tuesday, February 11. While announcing the news, the Minister also spoke about the rapidly-growing market of high purity alumina, mostly driven by the demand for high-technology items like lithium-ion battery separators used in electric vehicles, particularly in Europe and China. With the port nearby which is export-ready and likely suppliers closeby whose by-product will be used to...
Chinese secondary aluminium operating rates in February estimated to fall to a record low: SMM
According to Shanghai Metals Market survey, secondary aluminium operating rates in China are likely to fall to a record low of 33 per cent in February, primarily due to a week or two delays in production resumption and the slow return of workers and downstream demand after the Chinese New Year Holiday because of Coronavirus outbreak. Due to the virus outbreak, only a few major secondary aluminium producers could begin operations on February 10, while most of the other producers are likely to resume not before the 18th of the month. In January as well, Chinese secondary aluminium producers reduced operations due to a holiday lull. Large-scale producers were mostly closed after January 20, while medium-scale and small plants had put production on halt between January 10 and January 15. SMM...
LME aluminium recorded steep decline on continuous US dollar rise; SHFE fell too for the second consecutive day
The US dollar continued to rise on Thursday as investors expressed confidence that the novel coronavirus outbreak will be contained soon. Three-month LME aluminium advanced to a two-week high before it finished the trading day 1.15 per cent higher at US$ 1,755 per tonne. Falling inventories across LME-listed warehouses supported the prices. Today, LME aluminium is seen hovering at US$ 1,720-1,760 per tonne, with the most-liquid SHFE contract at RMB 13,600-13,800 per tonne. As on Thursday, February 13, LME aluminium cash (bid) price declined straight from US$ 1706.5 per tonne to US$ 1701.00 per tonne, while LME official settlement price from US$ 1707 per tonne to US$ 1701.50 per tonne. 3-months bid price came in at US$ 1727.00 per tonne and 3-months offer price at US$ 1727.50 per tonne....
