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.
Liberty House Chairman considers buying Alcoa’s Portland aluminium smelter in Victoria
Liberty House Chairman Sanjeev Gupta is reportedly considering buying the Portland aluminium smelter in Victoria, in an attempt to save the Australian facility from likely closure. The fate of one of Alcoa’s worst-performing smelters has been under a cloud for months, as the high cost of electricity threatened its future viability. In October, the company had announced its plans to sell up to $1 billion assets as well as closures of facilities around the world, in a bid to boost its bottom line and cut greenhouse gas emissions. Gupta’s Liberty House Group has been in preliminary discussions with Alcoa and other stakeholders, including the Victorian government, over the last few weeks about the purchase of the plant, as part of a global expansion in the aluminium sector. The Liberty House...
China’s primary aluminium production in November declined 3.2% YoY, but grew 0.69% MoM
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, China’s primary aluminium production declined 3.2 per cent from a year ago to 2.9 million tonnes in November, marking the fifth straight month of year-on-year declines. The total production of aluminium in the first 11 months of 2019 totalled at 32.13 million tonnes, down 0.6 per cent from the same period last year. In October 2019, China’s primary aluminium production was 2.88 million tonnes after declining by 1.8 per cent from a year ago and 0.7 per cent from a month. This represents the fact that the world’s top aluminium maker’s production in November saw a marginal growth of 0.69 per cent month-on-month. Output until October was up by 0.7 per cent year-on-year. NBS data also showed China’s production of 10 nonferrous metals, including...
Australian Bauxite Limited to lodge mining lease application for Binjour in early 2020
According to a recent report, Australian Bauxite Limited (ABx) announced today, on December 16, that it would lodge a mining lease application early next year and if approved, it would ship unrefined bauxite produced at Binjour bauxite project from the port of Bundaberg in bulk tonnages. “A mining lease application will be lodged in early 2020, commencing with pre-lodgement discussions with government departments as soon as practicable,” the company said. Australian Bauxite has a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Port of Bundaberg to investigate the opportunity to export bauxite in bulk tonnages through the port. ABL considers its Binjour bauxite project to be the best source of gibbsite-trihydrate (THA) metallurgical grade bauxite in Queensland, which is ideal for...
Rio Tinto extends ASI Certifications to aluminium facilities in Australia and NZ
Rio Tinto has reportedly expanded the ASI Performance Standard and Chain of Custody Standard Certifications to its Amrun and Weipa bauxite mines, Yarwun alumina refinery, and the Bell Bay and NZAS aluminium smelters in Australia and New Zealand. So, the company is now committed to offering more responsibly produced aluminium, using predominantly hydro-powered electricity. To strengthen the company’s offering of aluminium throughout the global supply chain, the certification is extended to Canadian casthouses as well. The ASI Performance Standard defines environmental, social and governance principles and criteria, with the aim to address sustainability issues in the aluminium value chain. In 2018, Rio Tinto had become the first aluminium producer to offer ASI certified aluminium through a...
Primary aluminium inventories continue to fall in China and also the price of A00 aluminium ingot by RMB40/t
The social inventories of primary aluminium in China continued to fall over the weekend, found Shanghai Metals Market. Steady consumption in Guangdong and lower arrival of stocks there contributed to more than half of the decline. According to the data showed, eight consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrants, decreased by 37,000 tonnes from Thursday, December 12, to 611,000 tonnes, as of Monday, December 16. Week-on-week, the inventories are down by 61,000 tonnes, as on last Monday, December 9, the inventories were at 672,000 tonnes. In Wuxi, the inventories over the week have declined by 8,000 tonnes to stand at 198,000 tonnes, while that in Shanghai, Nanhai, and Gongyi have inched down by 11,000 tonnes, 32,000 tonnes and 5,000 tonnes to stand at 116,000 tonnes, 136,000 tonnes...
Secondary aluminium producers operating rates increased in November by more than 1 percentage points
Shanghai Metals Market survey found Chinese secondary aluminium producers operating rates continued to increase in November amidst rising demand from downstream automakers at year-end. According to the data, the operating rates across Chinese secondary aluminium producers rose to 62.57 per cent in November, up 0.05 percentage point month on month and 1.05 percentage points over the year. In October, the operating rates were 61.52 per cent after recording a rise of 0.83 percentage point from September and 4,71 percentage points from October 2018. Large-scale secondary aluminium producers contributed to most of the rise in operating rate. Also, improved orders from carmarkers boosted operating rates at some major producers of secondary aluminium to the highest level this year. However, the...
Aluminium Association demands 2.5-5% import duty hike across all aluminium products
According to a recent report, the Aluminium Association of India has urged the government to raise basic customs duty across all aluminium products in a range of 2.5 per cent to 5 per cent for restricting metal scrap imports. The association suggests the duty to be incorporated in the upcoming Union Budget for the financial year 2020-21. The association has pointed out that despite sufficient domestic capacity of scrap, India imports 60 per cent of its consumption, primarily from China, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and West Asia. “These countries support their aluminium industry and provide concessions/subsidies with low interest rate loans, cheaper power tariffs, preferential gas allocation, raw materials availability, tax benefits and export tax incentives bringing...
Turkey’s bauxite exports to Greece to continue to grow by 16% in 2019
Greece is the third-largest destination for Turkey’s bauxite exports after the United States and China. With the year-on-year growth in Turkey’s total bauxite exports, the country’s exports to Greece have also been found growing over the years. According to the international trade, Turkey’s bauxite exports to Greece in 2019 is likely to come in at 143,378 tonnes, after recording a rise of 16 per cent from 123,427 tonnes in 2018. In 2017, the export amount by Turkey was 85,020 tonnes, which indicates the fact that the country in 2018 had witnessed a significant year-on-year growth of 45 per cent in its bauxite exports to Greece. Along with the growth in the export volume, Turkey’s earnings from bauxite exports to Greece have also been growing, and 2019 is expected to be of no exception....
CAAM estimates China’s automobile sales to remain sluggish in 2020
China Association Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), the country’s top auto industry body, expects automobile sales in China to slip 2 per cent to 25.32 million units in 2020. Xu Haidong, assistant secretary general of CAAM, said at a conference on Thursday, December 12, that China’s auto market, which is the world’s biggest, is unlikely to rebound until 2022. He also said that during 2023-2025, the market is expected to see an annual expansion of about 4 per cent. Earlier this week, data from CAAM showed that China’s auto sales in the first 11 months of the year fell 9.1 per cent year on year to come in at 23.11 million units. For new energy vehicles, production and sales came in at 110,000 and 95,000 units in November, down 36.9% and 43.7% year on year, respectively. Pure electric...
Hindalco reduces aluminium prices by more than 1 per cent this week
Hindalco Industries Limited has reportedly reduced the prices of aluminium ingots, billets and wire rods for the second time this week. With effect from Wednesday, the prices are cut by more than 1 per cent. While the ingot price is reduced from INR143,250 per tonne, as on last Friday, December 6, to INR 141,500 per tonne, the prices of billets and wire rods are down from INR 149850 per tonne to 148100 per tonne and from INR 153850 per tonne to INR 152100 per tonne, respectively. Hindalco generally links its products’ prices with those of the metal in international markets. The three-month futures of aluminium are up nearly 3 per cent on the London Metal Exchange so far in the current quarter. In August and September, the aluminium prices had recorded a fall on LME. The aluminium...
Increasing use of aluminium in US growing scrap availability; Recyclers to expand capacity
Significant growth in the use of aluminium in transport and packaging industries in the US has resulted in the increasing availability of aluminium scrap and thereby, encouraging recyclers to expand their capacity. Those who are already expanding include Novelis, Matalco, and JW Aluminium. Novelis last month had announced its plan to invest $36 million to boost and upgrade recycling capacity at its Greensboro facility in the US. The project is expected to complete during the second half of 2021. Matalco is also planning a new $80 million aluminium recycling facility in Wisconsin, while JW Aluminium is expanding its facility in Goose Creek in South Carolina. The increasing availability of aluminium scrap in the US has lowered the price, on the other hand. A proxy for auto scrap is the...
Chinese alumina price extends decline by RMB10/t; A00 aluminium ingot price also falls despite further dip in inventories
The average spot price of alumina in China continues to plunge for the fifth day in a row on December 12 by RMB 10 per tonne to RMB 2,429 per tonne, found Shanghai Metals Market. In all the major markets in the east, north, and central as well, the price has declined by RMB 10 per tonne to RMB 2,430 per tonne and RMB 2,450 per tonne, respectively. In the south, however, the price has remained restrained at RMB 2,520 per tonne. The imported alumina price and also the Australian Alumina FOB price have shown no sign of change from RMB 2,500 per tonne and US$ 280 per tonne. The A00 aluminium ingot price has also recorded a drop today, on December 12, despite the further fall in primary aluminium inventories. According to SMM, the aluminium ingot price has come in at RMB 14,080 per tonne after...
AlCircle Prime: Grow your Business Intelligence & Establish your Digital Footprint
When the whole wide world is sparing no effort to have a digital presence, then what are you waiting for? Just in case you wonder what digital presence is, then it simply refers to how your business appears online and what people find about you when they search for your business or company over the internet. Besides being one of the most cost-effective ways of marketing and ability to reach the global community, having a digital presence can also help your business enhance credibility and strengthen brand. AlCircle, with its vision of creating a virtual aluminium ecosystem, is committed to help companies in the aluminium value chain grow their businesses in the ever-changing digital landscape. To help you grow your business intelligence & assist in establishing a digital footprint, the...
Norway’s aluminium wire exports to Sweden to drop by 15% in 2019, but to increase to Netherland by 20%
According to the international trade data, Norway’s aluminium wire exports to Sweden are likely to stand lower at the end of this year, while its exports to the Netherlands are likely to amount higher. Norway in 2019 is estimated to export 27,521 tonnes of aluminium wire to Sweden, down 15.44 per cent from 2018. The country’s export volume to Sweden in 2018 was also slightly lower from its previous year at 31,771 tonnes. In 2017, Norway’s aluminium wire exports to Sweden were approximately 32,008 tonnes. To the Netherlands, Norway’s aluminium wire exports in 2019 are likely to come in at 18,183 tonnes, up 20 per cent from 15,212 tonnes in 2018. In 2017, the export amount was 16,701 tonnes, which means the country’s aluminium wire exports to the Netherlands in 2018 were down by about 9 per...
Q-railing unveils its brand-new aluminium railing system: Easy Alu
Balustrade specialist Q-railing has reportedly manufactured a brand-new high-grade aluminium railing system called Easy Alu. It has a modern look and is available with various finishes and custom options. The Easy Alu aluminium parts, available with a brushed anodised finish, mill finish, or powder-coating in any RAL colour, are convenient to assemble into ready-to-install modules before they are even at the project site. They can be pre-assembled by yourself or by the company. Either way, they are easy to work within tight time slots for the final installation. Q-railing Product Manager Jeffrey Meijer said, “We know that aluminium railings aren't new to the market. People are familiar with benefits such as attractive pricing and the low weight of components, but we wanted to offer...
SRG Global secures multi-disciplinary services contract from Alcoa’s alumina refinery in Kwinana
Alcoa of Australia has reportedly handed over major multi-disciplinary services contract worth $90 million to SRG Global. The scope of services includes heavy mechanical and electrical maintenance, specialist rope access and scaffold services at Alcoa’s alumina refinery in Kwinana, Western Australia. This contract is valid for five years. Early next year, SRG Global is expected to commence mobilisation to the site. According to SRG Global managing director David Macgeorge, this contract is a very significant announcement for the company as it will help in their asset services division. He also said, “It showcases our ability to deliver multi-disciplinary integrated solutions for Tier 1 customers.” Alcoa’s Kwinana refinery extracts alumina from bauxite produced in the company’s Huntly and...
China’s new energy vehicle sales slumped in November by 41.7% Y-o-Y
China’s new energy vehicle (NEV) sales in November fell year-on-year by 41.7 per cent to 79,000 units, as reported by the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) on Monday, December 9. This marks the fifth consecutive month of decline in new energy vehicle sales since the sharp cut on NEV subsidies went into effect in late June. However, on monthly basis, the sales of new energy vehicles increased from 66,000 units in October, which in September was even lower by 1 per cent from the succeeding year. During January-November, China’s NEV sales amounted to 923,000 units, up 7.7 per cent from the same period last year. China’s retail sales of passenger vehicles also declined for the fifth straight month in November by about 4.1 per cent from a year earlier to 1.94 million units, according to...
Carl Friedrik launches new suitcase featuring aluminium frame and Italian leather detailing
Carl Friedrik unveils a new suitcase, the Carry-on, featuring a rigid aluminium frame and Italian leather detailing, which represents nothing less than style yet practical designing. The case, which is carry-on sized, has a dark grey polycarbonate shell and leather detailing offered in cognac, chocolate, and black. The handle is made of vegetable-tanned Vachetta leather that promises to age over time and develop a tasteful patina on more usage. Inside the suitcase, there is a large zip compartment on one side and compression straps on the other. That way, the users can keep their clean and dirty clothes separate from each other. There are also an optional and removable battery slots inside the case that provide power through a USB port located behind the deployable handle to enable users...
