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.
Indian primary aluminium producers may see pressure on profits due to falling metals prices: Nalco
Falling global prices of alumina and primary aluminium are likely to put pressure on Indian primary aluminium producers, in terms of profits, warned Tapan Kumar Chand, Nalco’s chairman & MD at the company’s 38th annual general meeting on September 18, 2019. At present, the LME’s average price of aluminium is at $1,762 per tonne, down by about 14 per cent from $2,054 per tonne in the same period last year. The expected range in the entire financial year is likely to come in at $1,750 per tonne to $1,800 per tonne, said Chand at the meeting. Besides, he also pointed out that the threat of increasing aluminium import into India persists, while reminding that in FY2019 India’s aluminium import had accounted for 58.9 per cent of the total consumption. Support from the government in countering...
Increase in average alumina price, low inventories result in A00 aluminium ingot price rise today
According to Shanghai Metals Market, the average spot price of alumina has extended its rise today, September 20, by RMB 13 per tonne to stand at RMB 2,592 per tonne to conclude the week with another price hike. This marks the two consecutive rises in alumina spot price after two days of restraints at RMB 2,569 per tonne on Tuesday (September 17) and Wednesday (September 18). Other than in the east, the alumina price has recorded an increase in the central, north, and south by RMB 20 per tonne and RMB 10 per tonne to RMB2,610 per tonne, RMB 2,600 per tonne, and RMB 2,520 per tonne, respectively. In the east, the price has remained restrained at RMB 2,590 per tonne. The Australian alumina FOB price, on the other hand, has dropped by US$3 per tonne to US$ 292 per tonne, as of September 20....
Liang Xuan sees potential growth in the use of aluminium for car body panels: SMM
Liang Xuan, a senior aluminium analyst at Shanghai Metals Market, anticipates a growth in the use of aluminium in car body panels as there has been a fall in aluminium sheet cost, tightening government policies, and improving welding techniques. The potential for growth is significant given the current low level, said Mr. Xuan. Automakers face hefty cost pressure to produce a full aluminium vehicle and fail to see profits until the car is sold at above RMB 600,000. Only medium and high-end automobiles can now be spotted with aluminium engine, trunk lids and doors, according to SMM. China’s automobile market has been declining since 2018. In 2019, the production is expected to fall by about 13.5 per cent, with aluminium use in car panels slipping 3 per cent, said Liang to the delegates at...
US imports of aluminium semi-finished products from Oman grew 87% in H1 2019; Imports in June up 11% YoY
According to the data shared by the US Geological Survey, the United States imports of aluminium semi-finished products from Oman increased over the year in the first half of 2019 by 87.45 per cent to come in at 49,300 tonnes. In the same period last year, the United States had imported 26,300 tonnes of aluminium semi-finished products from Oman. {newsStudioGallery} In June 2019, the US imports from Oman stood at 7,150 tonnes, compared with 6,440 tonnes in June 2018. This indicates that the US aluminium semi-finished products imports from Oman increased year on year in June by 11 per cent. However, month-on-month, the imports dropped by 2 per cent from 7,290 tonnes in May 2019. The United States imports of aluminium semi-finished products from Oman started declining May onwards. Until...
Primary aluminium inventories continue to fall W-o-W as consumptions increase due to low ingot price
Shanghai Metals Market found social inventories of primary aluminium in China fell over the week ended on September 19, as some regions saw more outflows. SMM data shows the stocks across eight major consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrants, decreased by 6,000 tonnes from 972,000 tonnes on September 12 to come in at 966,000 tonnes. From Monday, September 16, when the inventories were at 978,000 tonnes, the stocks today declined by 12,000 tonnes. The chart below shows the current status of primary aluminium inventories in more details: As the above chart shows, the inventories in Nanhai, Guangdong; Hangzhou, Zhejiang; Shanghai; and Tianjin, have dropped by 8,000 tonnes, 1,000 tonnes, 4,000 tonnes, and 2,000 tonnes to stand at 267,000 tonnes, 50,000 tonnes, 186,000 tonnes, and...
Philippe Briand designs Nautilus 45 featuring aluminium hull and superstructure
Philippe Briand from the London-based design firm Vitruvius has reportedly designed a brand new 45-metre superyacht in collaboration with the French shipyard Ocea. The yacht named Nautilus 45 features aluminium hull and superstructure and is designed to cruise through all landscapes. It typically boasts a combination of elegance and luxury with the adventurous potential of an explorer vessel. Philippe Briand said, “Our design features simple, sleek lines with no superfluous details. The Nautilus 45 combines all the essential elements: it is the best yacht for 2020, the ultimate evolution in yacht design.” The superyacht has an accommodation capacity for total 12 guests into five large guest cabins and one full-width master suite. “The specifications of the Nautilus 45 are similar to those...
China’s secondary aluminium operating rate increased in August as downstream plants began restocking
Shanghai Metals Market found secondary aluminium producers continued to increase their operations in August as downstream plants in north China restocked in advance on worries about environmental curbs before the Nation Day on October 1. Data shows that the operating rates in August increased to 54.46 per cent, up 1.18 percentage points from July and 3.34 percentage points from August 2018. Consumption of secondary aluminium picked up in late-August after the seasonal lull in May-July reduced inventories of both feedstock and finished products across secondary aluminium producers. As the latest import quotas for aluminium scrap barely shrank, ample supply of cheap overseas scrap also bolstered higher operation across secondary aluminium smelters that use seaborne materials as feedstock....
Aughinish Alumina’s pre-tax profits in 2018 shrank YoY despite a 15% growth in revenues
A recent report shows the revenues of Aughinish Alumina refinery in 2018, ended on December 31, increased by 15 per cent over the year to stand at $757.1 million (€684 million) in spite of the US Treasury sanctions imposed on Aughinish’s parent company Rusal. During the time of the sanctions, the US treasury department had permitted the Rusal group to continue operating at Aughinish Alumina by issuing it with a number of general licenses. But despite the higher revenues, pre-tax profits of the company decreased by 19 per cent to $40.9 million in 2018, primary because of the increased operating costs by about 18 per cent from $606.53 million in 2017 to $715.2 million. Staff costs also grew from $52.8 million to $57 million that includes directors’ remuneration of $1.36 million. Directors...
A00 aluminium ingot price records a slight rise today after two significant declines; Input costs remain restrained
After the two significant declines by RMB 150 per tonne and RMB 70 per tonne on September 16 and September 17, the A00 aluminium ingot price has recorded a slight rise today, on September 18, by RMB 10 per tonne to stand at RMB 14,340 per tonne, found Shanghai Metals Market. The average prices are expected to range between RMB 14,320 per tonne and RMB 14,360 per tonne, with spot contract to be traded at a discount price of RMB 10-50 per tonne. In Foshan and Tianjin, the A00 aluminium ingot price has registered the highest rise of RMB 30 per tonne to hover at RMB 14,380 per tonne and RMB 14,350 per tonne, followed by Chongqing and Gongyi where the ingot price has increased by RMB 20 per tonne and RMB 15 per tonne to RMB 14,370 per tonne and RMB 14,225 per tonne. In other cities like Linyi,...
Chery to build production plant in China for electric light commercial vehicles
According to a recent report, Chinese automotive manufacturer Chery, in association with German electric vehicle producer Steatscooter, will build a production plant for manufacturing electric light commercial vehicles for postal and parcel transport use. As per the report, both Chery and Streatscooter will invest 500 million euros to build the plant in China, with an output capacity of 100,000 units per year. 2021 is the estimated time for the plant to be launched. Chery is one of the earliest new energy vehicle (NEV) producers in China. In 2018, it sold 60,000 NEVs, ranking behind BAIC Motor and BYD Auto. In 2020, it aims to produce 200,000 units. Data from China Industry Association showed the country’s production of new energy vehicles during January-August rose by 31.6 per cent over...
Satish Pai sees 2019 as a tough year for metals market: Source says
According a recent report, Hindalco managing director Mr. Satish Pai said in an interview that he believed the ongoing year (2019) to be a tough year for metals and commodities, with the US and China showing no sign of easing trade tensions. He pointed out the US-China trade wars which were expected to be sorted by the second half of the year did not yet happen, resulting in no growth in worldwide demand for metals. Commenting on the one-time plastic ban and aluminium being a better option, he said: “We took people from the Brazilian government to meet Niti Aayog on this topic because Brazil is a country that recycles a lot of more aluminium from cans and metals in general than this.” “Many countries in the world have started to ban single-use plastic and in general plastic in the forms...
UAE’s alumina imports from India to drop by 1% from the year ago, but from Indonesia to rise 8.4%
According to the global export-import data, the United Arab Emirates’ alumina imports from India is likely to drop marginally this year, in tandem with the current estimation of year-on-year decline in the UAE’s total imports of alumina. In 2019, the country’s alumina imports from India are estimated to come in at 607,085 tonnes, down 1 per cent year-on-year. The country’s total alumina imports are currently estimated to decline by about 4 per cent from 1.03 million tonnes in 2018 to 986,118 tonnes in 2019. But as far as the UAE’s alumina imports from Indonesia are concerned, the volume is estimated to grow this year by around 8.4 per cent to 296,168 tonnes. {newsStudioGallery} As the above graph shows, the United Arab Emirates’ alumina imports from India had even dropped in 2018 from...
A-Tech Australia to build aluminium components factory at former Electrolux site
A-Tech Australia, a leading supplier, manufacturer and installer of aluminium for Sydney’s urban landscape, has reportedly placed a plan with Orange City Council to redevelop the former Electrolux site for starting an aluminium factory. Under the proposal, A-Tech will locally produce aluminium components for the building industry, including windows, doors, curtain walls, facades, pergolas, and skylights, by investing around $30 million. “Currently around two-thirds of the local aluminium market (worth $832 million a year) is met by imports from China and Vietnam,” said A-Tech Australia CEO, Charlie Ibrahim. He also said, “By boosting the local aluminium manufacturing industry, home-grown businesses can substitute a significant proportion of these imports with locally-made products.” The...
Aluminium cans recycling rates in the US outperform plastic and glass bottles, reports Aluminium Association
A report from the Aluminium Association and the Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI) showed early last week that aluminium cans outperformed other competitive packaging types and materials based on several sustainability metrics. The report - “The Aluminium Can Advantage: Key Sustainability Performance Indicators 2019” revealed that aluminium cans were recycled nearly double the rate of glass or plastic bottles. While the consumer recycling rates of plastic bottle came in at 29.2 per cent and glass bottle at 26.4 per cent, the recycling rates of aluminium cans stood at 49.8 per cent. The average recycled content for an aluminium can produced also rose from 70 per cent to 73 per cent in the United States, compared to 23 percent for glass and 3 percent for plastic. As a result, the value of...
EGA publishes second annual Sustainability Report in accordance with ASI Performance Standards
After the first annual Sustainability Report last year for 2014, Emirates Global Aluminium has published its second report on September 15, with details of EGA’s management approach and sustainability performance at its operations and projects in both the UAE and Guinea for 2018. EGA has reportedly followed the Global Reporting Initiative Standards, the international benchmark for the public disclosure of economic, and environmental and societal performance while preparing its Sustainability Report. The report also meets the reporting and disclosure requirements set by the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative Performance Standards, which define environmental, social, and governance performance standards for sustainability issues specific to the aluminium value chain. EGA was the first Middle...
Primary aluminium inventories grow by 6,000 tonnes after three weeks of decline
According to Shanghai Metals Market, the social inventories of primary aluminium in China have increased over the weekend as stocks across eight major consumption areas, including SHFE warrants, have grown by 6,000 tonnes from Thursday, September 12. The inventories are thus standing at 978,000 tonnes as of Monday, September 16. Week-on-week, the inventories have increased by 14,000 tonnes as stocks on last Monday, September 9, were at 992,000 tonnes. The chart below shows the current status of primary aluminium in China in more details: The primary aluminium stocks in Gongyi, Henan; Hangzhou, Zhejiang; and Chongqing have grown by 5,000 tonnes, 2,000 tonnes, and 3,000 tonnes to 86,000 tonnes, 53,000 tonnes, and 20,000 tonnes respectively. In many other cities like Nanhai, Guangdong,...
Week-long alumina price restraint ends with a growth of RMB22/t; A00 aluminium ingot price declines significantly
After remaining restrained at RMB 2,547 per tonne from September 6-12, the average spot price of alumina has recorded a growth of RMB 22 per tonne today, on September 16, to stand at RMB 2,569 per tonne, found Shanghai Metals Market. Witnessing the highest rise the alumina spot price in the north has grown by RMB 30 per tonne to RMB 2,590 per tonne. In the east and central, the price has increased by RMB 20 per tonne, on the other hand, to stand at RMB 2,570 per tonne, while that in the south is standing at RMB 2,510 per tonne after climbing up by RMB 5 per tonne. The Australian alumina FOB price has remained muted at US$ 293 per tonne since September 11, according to Shanghai Metals Market data. Among the other input costs, the price of aluminium powder has recorded a decline by RMB 0.10...
Alba certified to ISO 27001:2013 Information Security Management System Standard
According to a recent report, Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C (Alba), soon to be the world’s largest aluminium smelter with Line 6, has been certified to the ISO 27001:2013 Information Security Management System standard. The ISO 27001 is an international standard that sets out the requirements for an Information Security Management System (ISMS). To achieve this certification, a company requires demonstrating a systematic and ongoing approach to managing security risks to the company’s information systems. Speaking about receiving the certification, Alba’s Acting Chief Executive Officer Ali Al Baqali said: “As we progress to become the world’s largest aluminium smelter, we want to assure our stakeholders – shareholders, clients, and suppliers – that we are fully committed to the security of our...
