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.
China’s alumina production in 2019 down by 2.47% YoY due to capacity cut and output suspension
According to Shanghai Metals Market survey, China in December 2019 produced 5.87 million tonnes of alumina, with metallurgical-grade materials accounting for 5.62 million tonnes. With this, the country’s total alumina production in 2019 came in at 70.42 million tonnes, down 2.47 per cent from the year earlier. Last month, the production of metallurgical-grade alumina averaged 181,000 tonnes per day, down 9.01 per cent year on year and 0.26 per cent month on month as Luoyang Wanji cuts its annual operation capacity to 800,000 tonnes. Also, the alumina refineries that reduced or suspended output in November due to tight bauxite supply and environmental woes did not recover in December, resulting in weaker production. Jingxi Tiangui project, on the other hand, fails to see production ramp up...
China recorded its first aluminium production fall in 10 years in 2019
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, China’s annual aluminium production fell in 2019 for the first time in a decade. 35.04 million tonnes were the total aluminium production in China in 2019, down 0.9 per cent from record levels a year earlier, showed the NBS data. Outage at some major Chinese smelters since August and close down of some of the lines at China Hongqiao Group due to flooding in Shandong province were some of the reasons behind the annual aluminium output decline. The downfall in production also indicates China’s economic slowdown. China’s annual aluminium consumption was also set to fall for the first time in 30 years in 2019, showed the research data of Antaike. In December 2019, however, the aluminium output in China stood up month-on-month by 4.9 per cent to...
Germany’s aluminium cans export to drop 24% in 2020, followed after sporadic business activities in the industry in 2019
The German aluminium industry federation Gesamtverband der Aluminiumindustrie (GDA) observed a mixed bag of business activity development in the German aluminium industry, primarily attributing to the economic downturn. In the first half of 2019, the country’s production of metal powder, foil, and thin strip fell by 3.7 per cent and 5.1 per cent, respectively, while the output of tube, aerosol, and other cans dropped even more sharply by 9 per cent. Amidst this, the international trade data has predicted the aluminium cans export from Germany to likely dip in 2020 from 113,790 tonnes in 2019 to 86,175 tonnes, down 24 per cent. In 2018, the export volume was 82,735 tonnes meaning a rise of 37.53 per cent in 2019, whereas, in 2017, the export was 98247 tonnes indicating a downfall of 16 per...
LME aluminium soared on low opening stock and plunged US dollar; SHFE rallied
The US dollar rallied from one-week lows against a basket its rivals on Thursday, January 16, as investors digested solid data on the US economy. Three-month LME aluminium climbed to a one-week high of US$ 1,818 per tonne on Thursday, before it finished the trading day 0.5 per cent firmer at US$ 1,809 per tonne. A significant increase in SHFE aluminium helped lift LME aluminium, but a stronger US dollar is likely to keep gains in LME aluminium in check. LME aluminium is expected to hover at US$ 1,790-1,820 per tonne today. LME aluminium cash (bid) price, on January 16, soared to US$ 1793.50 per tonne from US$1778 per tonne on January 15, while LME official settlement price jumped to US$ 1794 per tonne from US$ 1778.5 per tonne. 3-months bid price rose to US$ 1813 per tonne and 3-months...
6063 aluminium billets inventories in China grow for the second consecutive week
According to Shanghai Metals Market, the stocks of 6063 aluminium billets across five major consumption areas in China rose for the second consecutive week by 13,200 tonnes. From 53,200 tonnes on last Thursday, January 9, the aluminium billets inventories, as of today, January 16, have come in at 66,400 tonnes. In Foshan, the billets inventories are hovering at 30,100 tonnes after rising by 3,700 tonnes over the week, while in Wuxi, Changzhou, and Huzhou, the inventories have come in at 12,800 tonnes, 5,800 tonnes, and 16,000 tonnes after growing by 2,200 tonnes, 1,500 tonnes, and 7,000 tonnes, respectively. However, in Nanchang, the inventories have dropped from the last week to 1,700 tonnes. On the extended rise in billets inventories, the prices of aluminium alloys have declined today,...
South32’s alumina production in Q2 FY20 rose 1%, while aluminium output remained flat
South32, on Thursday, January 15, announced a quarter-on-quarter rise of 1 per cent in its alumina production for the second quarter ended on December 31, 2019. From 1.30 million tonnes in the first quarter, the company’s alumina output rose to 1.32 million tonnes in the second quarter. But during the same period last year, South32 had produced 1.38 million tonnes of the ore, meaning a year-on-year drop of 4 per cent in Q2 FY20. However, the total production in the first half of FY20 stood higher by 3.65 per cent amounting to 2.63 million tonnes, compared with 2.54 million tonnes in H1FY19. This growth, according to South32, is attributed to record year-to-date production at Brazil Alumina and also higher rates of calciner availability at Worsley Alumina. Graham Kerr, South32 CEO said,...
US-China “Phase One” Trade Agreement signed; Aluminium Association demands structural subsidies in Phase Two
On Wednesday, January 15, the US President Donald Trump signed a partial trade deal with China aiming to resolve prevailing American concerns about Chinese trade abuses. According to a text released by the White House, the deal included several steps to strike out some practices, such as Intellectual property theft and forced technology transfers in exchange for Chinese market access, meaning the deal erased the practices that irked the US economy and trade structure. Here are some of the deal’s core pieces: China needs to submit an “Action Plan to strengthen intellectual property protection” within 30 days of the agreement taking effect. The plan should include “measures that China will take to implement its obligations” and “the date by which each measure will go into effect.” No force...
A00 aluminium ingot price grows by RMB110/t after three back-to-back declines; Aluminium alloys prices drop
According to Shanghai Metals Market, the A00 aluminium ingot price has recorded a significant rise of RMB 110 per tonne to RMB 14,310 per tonne on Thursday, January 16, after three consecutive drops from RMB 14,530 per tonne to RMB 14,200 per tonne. Since the beginning of the month, the A00 aluminium ingot price showed several downfalls on the growth of domestic stocks. But on monthly basis, the price stands higher by RMB 340 per tonne, as of today, January 16. The average prices today are expected to range between RMB 14,290 per tonne and RMB 14,330 per tonne, with spot contract to be traded a premium price of RMB 150 per tonne to RMB 190 per tonne. Among all the major cities, Wuxi has seen the highest price growth of RMB 150 per tonne to stand at RMB 14300 per tonne, followed by Gongyi...
Nalco cuts aluminium ingots prices by nearly 2% after three hikes in a row
National Aluminium Company Limited, the Navratna CPSE under Ministry of Mines, has reportedly cut its aluminium ingots prices by nearly 2 per cent, after hiking them three times in a row. The prices are now ranging between INR 150,350 per tonne and RMB 153,850 per tonne, compared to INR 152,850 – 156,350 per tonne after being hiked by 2 per cent. <iframe width="550" height="300" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oYtvY2wWiAs" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe> As considered most of the aluminium producers link their products prices to the three-month futures of aluminium on London Metal Exchange, which had been down nearly 2% so far this month, NALCO has also cut its ingot prices by almost 2 per cent....
Aleris purchase deal may delay by three months: Source says
According to a recent report, Novelis is in talks to extend the closure of its planned acquisition of US aluminium products maker Aleris Corporation by three months, as securing regulatory approvals delayed. In November 2019, a report stated that the company was expecting to close the purchase deal by January 21, 2020. Although China has cleared the deal, authorities in the US are still critically examining it. In September last year, the US Justice Department had filed a lawsuit as well, citing that this acquisition may create a monopoly in the North American market for rolled aluminium sheet for automotive applications. A Moody’s note on the 13 th of January also sounded pessimistic about the closure of the deal on scheduled date. “The EU has advised it needs additional time to review...
Both Hindalco and Vedanta cut aluminium prices by more than 1 per cent
Hindalco, with effect from Saturday, January 11, has reduced the prices of its aluminium ingots, billets, and wire rods by more than 1%, marking the second consecutive price cut in a week. While the aluminium ingot price has been reduced by 1.2 per cent from INR 145,500 per tonne on January 9 to INR 143,750 per tonne on January 11, the price of the aluminium billet is cut by 1.15 per cent from INR 152,100 per tonne to INR 150,350 per tonne. The aluminium wire rod price is now standing at INR 154,350 per tonne after being cut by over 1 per cent from INR 156,100 per tonne. <iframe width="550" height="300" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Fna0mGbz_Tk" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe> Vedanta Limited...
LME aluminium inched up by US$1 per tonne amidst steady US dollar; SHFE aluminium narrowed by 0.32%
The US dollar held steady against a basket its rivals on Tuesday, while sterling was the weakest performer after tepid growth increased the likelihood that the Bank of England will cut interest rates this month. Three-month LME aluminium retreated to its lowest in more than a week at US$ 1,788.5 per tonne in European trading hours, before it recovered some ground to close the trading day 0.77 per cent weaker at US$ 1,798 per tonne. LME aluminium gave back all the gains from the previous two days, as was expected to trade between US$ 1,780 per tonne and US$ 1,810/ per tonne on January 14. LME aluminium cash (bid) price, on January 14, came in at US$ 1767 per tonne, while LME official settlement price at US$ 1767.5 per tonne. 3-months bid price rose to US$ 1796 per tonne and 3-months offer...
Audubon selects Corsicana in Texas for its second aluminium scrap sorting facility
Audubon Metals LLC, located in Henderson, Kentucky, has reportedly selected the city of Corsicana in Texas for building its second aluminium scrap sorting and aluminium alloys production facility. This project is Audubon’s old plan. In 2016, the company had negotiated with Bexar County in Texas to set up the plant there. However, according to the recent report, Audubon has now reached an agreement with officials in Corsicana and Navarro County, Texas, to build the facility there by investing $50 million. Audubon President Brian Hawkes said that as per the agreement, the 95-acre facility is to be located at Highway 31 Industrial Park in Corsicana, employing approximately 100 personnel. Although sever permits are yet to be obtained for building the facility but if construction proceeds as...
China’s new-vehicle market contracted in 2019 for the second consecutive year; Sales declined 8.2%
China’s new-vehicle market contracted in 2019 for the second consecutive year as weak economy and prolonged trade war with the United States continued to supress demand. According to China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), new-vehicle sales declined 8.2 per cent to just below 25.8 million units. Sales of new car and light truck as well as of commercial vehicles, including buses and trucks, also fell by 9.6 per cent and 11 per cent respectively to below 21.5 million units and 4.3 million tonnes in the whole year of 2019, CAAM showed. Shi Jianhua, a senior official at CAAM, commented, "We have moved away from the high-speed development stage. We have to accept the reality of low-speed development." He added, "We had high-speed growth for a consecutive 28 years, which was...
Guinea’s bauxite exports to continue to grow by 3% in 2020 driven by new investments and expansions
Guinea’s bauxite-aluminum industry is undergoing a significant expansion of investment, concession agreements, and in-country mining and refining operations. Emirates Global Aluminium's Guinea Alumina Corporation (GAC) project is likely to boost the industry further, being one of the largest Greenfield investments in Guinea in the last 40 years, involving US$1.4 billion for the development. In August 2019, the first bauxite ore exports from GAC had taken place, marking the completion of EGA’s strategic upstream expansion in the aluminium value chain. So, with all these new investments and expansions in Guinea, the country is more likely to record a growth in bauxite exports. According to the international trade data, Guinea in 2020 is expected to export 66.15 million tonnes, up 3 per cent...
Vedanta Ltd SEZ Unit in Jharsugda gets ISO 50001:2011 certification for energy-efficient aluminium production
According to a recent report, Vedanta Limited, Jharsugda’s Special Economic Zone unit (Plant 2) has received the coveted certification of ISO 50001:2011 (Energy Management System), with effect from December 19, for energy-efficient production and supply of primary aluminium, aluminium ingots, and wire rods and billets. ISO 50001 encourages and supports organizations in all sectors to use energy more efficiently through the development of an energy management system (EnMS). On receiving the certification, Mr. CN Singh, CEO – Vedanta Ltd., Jharsuguda said, “As India’s largest producer of primary aluminium, we work diligently to ensure that our operations strive for global benchmarks in sustainability indices. The ISO 50001 certification is a testimony to the company’s vision to create and...
A00 aluminium ingot price extends decline by RMB100/t on rising inventory trend; Aluminium alloy (A356) price drops too
After a rise of 14,000 tonnes in primary aluminium inventories on Monday, January 13, the A00 aluminium ingot price has further recorded a decline of RMB 100 per tonne to RMB 14,300 per tonne, as of January 14, according to Shanghai Metals Market. The average prices are expected to range between RMB 14,280 per tonne and RMB 14,320 per tonne, with spot contract to be traded at a discount price of RMB 20-160 per tonne. Foshan, Gongyi, and Chongqing have witnessed the highest plunge of RMB 120 per tonne to stand at RMB 14,280 per tonne, RMB 14,340 per tonne, and RMB 14,100 per tonne respectively. Wuxi, Shenyang, and Linyi have seen a drop of RMB 110 per tonne and RMB 100 per tonne to RMB 14,240 per tonne, RMB 14,290 per tonne, and RMB 14,310 per tonne. In Hangzhou and Tianjin, the price has...
Alba’s ACEO Ali Al Baqali conducts his first Annual Majlis 2020 to set whole year project plan
Alba’s Acting Chief Executive Officer (ACEO) Ali Al Baqali held his first Annual Majlis today, Monday, January 13. Today’s was the first session of the many to be held over the week for Alba’s Executive Management, Directors, Management and employees from various departments at the Alba Oasis Hall. The Annual Majlis is a platform wherein the company’s ACEO communicates with the employees and engages with the workforce whose primary interests revolve around the aluminium industry and its contribution to Bahrain. Speaking to the audience at the Annual Majlis 2020, the ACEO Ali Al Baqali said: “At a time when the only constant in life is change, we as a Company must have the right preparedness to adapt to the changes amidst market uncertainty. As we set Alba’s 2020 Expectations – Safety...
