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.
New and restarted smelting projects to boost China’s primary aluminium production by 3.4% in 2020
Shanghai Metals Market expects China’s primary aluminium production to be rebounded banking on new or recommenced smelting projects, while consumption to gather some pace with anticipated recovery in the automobile industry and building and construction sector. In 2020, China’s primary aluminium production is anticipated to come in at 36.64 million tonnes growing by 3.4 per cent year-on-year, while consumption at 36.19 million tonnes rising 0.3 per cent. In terms of social inventories, the level of 1 million tonnes is unlikely to be broken around the Chinese New Year holiday during January-February. Between March and May also, the stocks are less likely to record a substantial growth or decline given a traditional high consumption season and supply expansion. June onwards, the inventories...
Primary aluminium inventories increase by 14,000 tonnes after a week of restraint
After remaining restrained at 610,000 tonnes last week, the social inventories of primary aluminium on Monday, January 13, increased by 14,000 tonnes across eight consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrants, to stand at 624,000 tonnes, according to Shanghai Metals Market. Rise in primary aluminium inventories was last on January 2 by 18,000 tonnes to 610,000 tonnes, followed by the previous growth of 2,000 tonnes to 594,000 tonnes. The chart below indicates the current status of primary aluminium inventories across China in more details: In Wuxi, Gongyi, Hangzhou, Tianjin, and Chongqing, the inventories have increased by 5,000 tonnes, 7,000 tonnes, and 1,000 tonnes from last Thursday, January 9, to stand at 197,000 tonnes, 56,000 tonnes, 60,000 tonnes, and 14,000 tonnes...
Apple to use Daisy robot for recycling minerals used in iPhone
For reducing the dependence on the mining industry for recycling, Apple Inc. will reportedly use a new technology called Daisy robot that will disassemble iPhone parts to recover and reuse the minerals used in making products. Apple says the robot is part of the plan to make the manufacturing process closed-loop which would stop the company from relying on the mining industry. Lisa Jackson, Apple’s head of environment, policy and social, however, clarifies that the company has no competition with the miners and the latter should not fear in this development. Inside a nondescript warehouse on the outskirts of Austin, Texas, Daisy robot breaks apart iPhones so that 14 minerals, including lithium, can be extracted and recycled. Less than 20 yards in length, the robot follows four-step...
LME aluminium price records a drop of US$0.50/t, while SHFE grows by US$10/t
The US dollar eased against a basket its rivals on Friday, as investors digested the news of the US imposing fresh sanctions on Iran and weaker-than-expected US jobs data. As on Friday January 10, LME aluminium cash (bid) price continued to drop to stand at US$1770 per tonne, while LME official settlement price to US$1770.50 per tonne after inching down from US$1771 per tonne on January 9. 3-months bid price also decreased to US$ 1797.50 per tonne and 3-months offer price US$ 1798 per tonne. Dec 20 bid price clocked at US$ 1935 per tonne and Dec 20 offer price at US$ 1940 per tonne. The LME aluminium opening stock further declined to 1410675 tonnes, compared with 1425575 tonnes on January 9. Live Warrants totalled at 797175 tonnes and Cancelled Warrants 613500 tonnes. LME aluminium...
EGA and INALUM sign MoU for licensing UAE-developed EGA technology and developing Greenfield aluminium smelter
Emirates Global Aluminium and PT Indonesia Asahan Aluminium (INALUM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for licensing the UAE-developed EGA technology to INALUM, upgrading an existing INALUM smelter, and developing a new aluminium smelter in Indonesia. The MoU was signed by Abdulla Kalban, Managing Director of EGA, and Orias Petrus Moedak, President Director of INALUM and exchanged in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and His Excellency Joko Widodo, President of the Republic of Indonesia. Under the MoU, EGA and INALUM will also evaluate the potential to form a joint venture to develop a Greenfield aluminium smelter in Indonesia, contributing services related to...
Rahul Sharma, Vedanta Alumina Business CEO, receives recognition as Business Icon of the Year
Rahul Sharma, CEO of Vedanta’s Alumina Business, has received an award for ‘Business Icon of the Year’ from one of the leading newspapers in Odisha called Samaya. The award is in recognition of Mr Sharma’s enormous contribution towards India’s metals and mining industry and for his crucial role in the development of the sector through business excellence. He is also a key proponent of sustainable mining and exploration and has been instrumental in driving India’s metals and mineral policy and leading development of policy frameworks through the adoption of global best practices. Rahul Sharma leads the alumina business for Vedanta, providing strategic guidance to the aluminium business and introducing best-in-class operational practices to scale-up Vedanta’s world-class alumina refinery in...
Aluworks urges Ghana government to stop low-quality aluminium imports
Aluworks Limited, an aluminium continuous casting and cold rolling mill located at Ghana, has reportedly urged the government to stop aluminium imports of inferior country, in a bid to protect the local aluminium industry. The Managing Director of the company Kwasi Okoh said the government must implement stricter laws to prevent aluminium companies from importing cheap and low-quality aluminium. He pointed out Chinese companies in Ghana often charge lower prices for goods, which gives an ample opportunity to China to dump goods into Ghana at cheaper costs than in their own country. Mr. Okoh explained prices in China include freight costs, paying landing cost to clear, and also the cost of transportation to the sellers. All these costs together increase the prices of the goods, resulting...
Dajcor Aluminium to recruit 200 employees for its first U.S. operation
Dajcor Aluminium Limited, the leading Canadian supplier of extruded, fabricated/machined and anodized aluminium components and assemblies, is reportedly looking for qualified candidates for die correctors and polishers for its first U.S. operation near Hazard, Gov. Matt Bevin. The company is in need of mechanically sound candidates who will be able to meet all the job requirements, as per the report. Trish Adams, Industry Liason for Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program, Inc. (EKCEP) said, "They really want the core team to have had some type of manufacturing experience or some type of manufacturing knowledge. Of course, they'll be able to do some on the job training with them as needed." The factory plans to recruit over 200 new positions over the period of time. It says, "As...
China's new energy vehicle sales growth rate sharply dropped to 5.1% in 2019, shows CPCA
China in 2019 saw a sharp fall in the growth of new energy vehicle sales, revealed the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA). The reason for this has been attributed to Beijing’s subsidy cut to wean the sector off government support. On Thursday, January 9, CPCA data showed new energy passenger vehicle sales totalled at 1.06 million in China in 2019 in terms of wholesale volume, up 5.1 per cent from 2018. In contrast to this, new energy passenger vehicle sales in 2018 had recorded a year-on-year increase of 88.5 per cent to 1.01 million units. In December 2019, wholesale sales of new energy passenger vehicles in China soared 73.5 per cent month-on-month to 135,700 units, revealed CPCA. But year-on-year, the sales declined by 15.1 per cent. China’s retail sales of passenger vehicles also...
LME aluminium continued to drop as US dollar increased for the third day in a row; SHFE extended growth
The US dollar increased for a third straight day to two-week highs against a basket its rivals on Thursday; investor sentiment improved on the back of easing US-Iran tensions and ahead of the signing of the phase one US-China trade deal. Three-month LME aluminium rallied to an intraday high of US$1,817 per tonne on Thursday, before it gave back much of those gains to close just 0.19 per cent higher at US$ 1,804 per tonne. It was likely to move at US$1,790-1,820 per tonne. As on Thursday, January 9, LME aluminium cash (bid) price dropped marginally from US$ 1771.50 per tonne to US$1770.50 per tonne, while LME official settlement price to US$1771 after inching down from US$1771.50 per tonne on January 8. 3-months bid price stood at US$ 1799 per tonne and 3-months offer price US$ 1799.50 per...
Alumina price in China grows by RMB9/t after week-long restraint; A00 aluminium price marks third rise in a row
After remaining restrained for a week at RMB 2,437 per tonne, the average alumina spot price has recorded an increase today, on January 10, of RMB 9 per tonne to RMB 2,446 per tonne, found Shanghai Metals Market. The alumina price in the east, central, and north has climbed up by RMB 10 per tonne to RMB 2,440 per tonne and RMB 2,460 per tonne respectively, while that in the south has remained unchanged at RMB 2,520 per tonne. The Australian alumina FOB price has dropped, on the other hand, by RMB 2 per tonne to RMB 278 per tonne. On the rise of alumina spot price, the A00 aluminium ingot price has registered a growth as well of RMB 60 per tonne to RMB 14,530 per tonne, marking the third rise in a row, according to SMM. The average prices are expected to range between RMB 14,510 per tonne...
Aluminium billets inventories record a growth of over 3,000 tonnes today after 12 weeks of decline
According to Shanghai Metals Market, the stocks of 6063 aluminium billets across five major consumption areas in China have grown today, on January 9, after three months of back-to-back decline. Compared with 49,900 tonnes on last Thursday, January 2, the billets inventories today, on January 9, are hovering at 53,200 tonnes. This means the stocks have increased by 3,300 tonnes over the week, in comparison to the decline of 700 tonnes last week. The below chart indicates the current status of aluminium billets inventories across China in more details: Among all the Chinese cities, Foshan has only witnessed a growth of 39 per cent to stand at 26,400 tonnes. In other cities like Wuxi, Changzhou, and Huzhou, the inventories have declined from 12,100 tonnes to 10,600 tonnes, 4,800 tonnes to...
LME aluminium dipped to US$1771.50/t on rising trend of US dollar; SHFE extends growth
The US dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket its rivals, rose on Wednesday, as investors grew more optimistic that Iran’s attack on US forces in Iraq was unlikely to escalate into a full-blown regional conflict. Three-month LME aluminium extended its decline on Wednesday, shedding 0.96 per cent to end at US$1,800.5 per tonne. The build-up of short positions primarily accounted for the loss. LME aluminium is expected to trade at US$1,780-1,820 per tonne today. As on January 8, Wednesday, LME aluminium cash (bid) price after dipping from US$ 1793.50 per tonne stood at US$ 1771.50 per tonne, while LME official settlement price at US$1771.50 after inching down from US$1794 per tonne. 3-months bid price stood at US$ 1805 per tonne and 3-months offer price US$ 1806 per...
JPMC and Alufluoride Ltd to jointly set up aluminium fluoride factory in Jordan
On Wednesday, January 8, the Jordan Chemicals Company, fully owned by the Jordan Phosphate Mines Company (JPMC), and Alufluoride Limited of India signed an agreement to set up an aluminium fluoride factory in Jordan. As per the deal signed, the first phase of the project includes building the factory, worth $25 million, in Al Shidiyeh region in Maan, and also the modernisation of the JMC’s aluminium fluoride plant in Aqaba for producing aluminium fluoride at the same cost. The JPMC will reportedly supply 20,000 tonnes of fluosilic acid annually to the new factory. Fluosilic acid is a secondary product of phosphate extraction in the Shidiyeh mines. Commenting on the agreement, JPMC Chairman Muhammad Thneibat said it was important as part of the company’s efforts to move towards conversion...
Alba marks a new milestone by producing above 1.36 million tonnes aluminium in 2019
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba), the world’s largest aluminium smelter ex-China, has announced that its aluminium production in 2019 exceeded 1.36 million tonnes, marking a new milestone. Compared with 1,011,101 tonnes of production in 2018, Alba’s output in 2019 increased by 35 per cent over the year and stood at 1,365,005 tonnes. Besides this record production, Alba also achieved Zero Fatality and Zero Lost Time Injuries (LTIs) operations in 2019, said the company itself at a small gathering held at Alba Oasis on Tuesday, January 7, 2020. The gathering was attended by Alba Executive Management, Directors, Managers and employees from various departments. While commenting on setting a new milestone, Alba’s Chairman of the Board of Directors Shaikh Daij bin Salman bin Daij Al Khalifa said:...
A00 aluminium ingot price records a marginal growth of RMB10/t today after three consecutive rises
After three consecutive declines ranging between RMB 14,560 per tonne and RMB 14,450 per tonne on January 3, 6, and 7, the average A00 aluminium ingot price has recorded a marginal rise of RMB 10 today, on January 8, to stand at 14,460 per tonne. The average prices are expected to range between RMB 14,440 per tonne and RMB 14,480 per tonne, with spot contract to be traded at a premium price of RMB80-120 per tonne. Except Hangzhou, where the aluminium ingot price has increased by RMB 10 per tonne to RMB 14,440 per tonne, other major cities in China have witnessed shrink in the price today, found SMM. While in Foshan and Chongqing, the price has declined by RMB 50 per tonne, in Linyi and Gongyi, the price has dwindled by RMB 20 per tonne and RMB 15 per tonne to RMB 14,460 per tonnes and RMB...
Bridgnorth Aluminium achieves certification against ASI Performance Standard
According to a recent report, the UK-based aluminium flat-rolled products company Bridgnorth Aluminium has successfully secured ASI Performance Certification for responsible production, sourcing and stewardship of aluminium. The certification covers the manufacture of lithographic coils, foilstock, transformer windings and formable aluminium strips/coils for automotive heat and sound absorbing components. The operations of Bridgnorth include casthouses, rolling mills, two Litho Centres, a multi-slitting line and finishing lines. Since 1933, the company has been manufacturing aluminium strips. The ASI Certification is the only comprehensive voluntary sustainability standard initiative for the aluminium value chain. It sets out 59 criteria under the three sustainability pillars of...
Weiqiao cuts prebaked anode purchasing price by RMB70/t; Average prebaked anode price in China remains unchanged
According to Shanghai Metals Market, Shandong Weiqiao Group, the top aluminium producer in China has cut its prebaked anode benchmark purchasing price for January. The price is reduced by RMB 70 per tonne from December, marking the seventh straight month of cut. SMM data shows the prebaked anode purchasing price for January is RMB 2,600 per tonne in cash. The price in December was RMB 2,670 per tonne, after declining by RMB 130 per tonne from RMB 2,800 per tonne in November. In September and October, Weiqiao’s prebaked anode benchmark purchasing price was RMB 2,925 per tonne and RMB 2,900 per tonne, respectively. However, despite the cut in Weiqiao’s benchmark purchasing price, the average prebaked anode price in east China has remained unchanged today, on January 7, from RMB 2,780 per...
