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.
Australia’s aluminium foil import to drop in 2019 after three consecutive years of rising
Aluminium’s unique ranges of properties make it the perfect material for many packaging requirements. Approximately 75% of aluminium foil is used for the packaging of foods, cosmetics, and chemical products, and 25% used for industrial applications such as thermal insulation, cables, and electronics. According to a report, the global market for aluminium foil packaging is expected to grow at 4.8 per cent CAGR through 2025. In Australia, the aluminium foil import market has also been found rising over the years since 2016. According to our third-party data, Australia in 2016 had imported 19,919 tonnes of aluminium foil, which in 2017 increased to 22,104 tonnes, up 11 per cent. In 2018, the amount rose further by 11 per cent to 24,521 tonnes, learned the data. This shows that aluminium foil...
China’s Henan Shenhuo Group starts construction of an aluminium smelting project
China’s Henan Shenhuo Group announced that it started the construction of an aluminium smelting project investing around RMB 6.75 billion ($996.59 million). The company also said that its new project, located in the southwestern province of Yunnan, would be having an annual capacity of 900,000 tonnes. The expected time to launch the project is in next two years. The first phase will have a capacity of smelting 451,100 tonnes of aluminium per annum. The project is the latest case illustrating Yunnan’s increasing popularity as a location for aluminium smelters in China due to abundant hydropower resources, which is cheaper and cleaner, compared to coal fired power. Henan Shenhuo Group Co., Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, produces aluminium and related products, such as electrolytic...
Australia, Guinea & Indonesia to lead bauxite mining till 2029: Source says
Global bauxite production is expected to rebound this year with new projects coming up in Guinea and Australia and with some expansions across India and Indonesia. Consultancy group Fitch Solutions notes that Australia is currently holding 12 of the 29 new bauxite projects, which is more than any other country. The consultancy firm forecasts that bauxite production in Australia will increase by 15 per cent in 2019, compared with 4 per cent in 2018. “While bauxite accounts for less than 5% of Australian mining value, the country is the global top producer, accounting for an estimated 28.8% of total global output as of 2018. Australia will remain a top bauxite exporter to China, although the country may lose some market share over the coming quarters to returning Indonesian supply,”...
Alcoa seeks to increase nameplate capacity of Pinjarra alumina refinery
The US-based world’s eighth largest aluminium producer Alcoa is reportedly planning to increase the nameplate capacity of its biggest alumina refinery at Pinjarra by almost 20 per cent. Per the report, the company has written an application to the Environmental Protection Authority seeking for an approval to shift bottlenecks at the Pinjarra refinery so that it can increase its capacity to 5 million tonnes of alumina per year, the maximum allowed under current environmental approvals. The current nameplate capacity of the Pinjarra refinery is 4.2 million tonnes per year. But in 2018, it had produced 4.5 million tonnes per year, according to 40 per cent owner Alumina. Alcoa and Alumina also together own 2.6 million tonnes per annum Wagerup and 2 million tonnes per annum Kwinana refineries....
ABx confirms production and shipment of 32,447 tonnes of cement-grade bauxite
On May 8, 2019, Australian Bauxite Limited (ASX:ABx) confirmed that it produced and loaded 32,447 tonnes of cement-grade bauxite onto the customer’s ship at Bell Bay Port. This was in the upper range of the contracted tonnage target of 30,000 to 33,000 of cement bauxite grade which ABX had achieved about a month ago, said the company itself. Till late April 2019, ABx continued to produce additional bauxite-products at its Bald Hill Bauxite Project. It received more orders for fertilizer-grade bauxite that gives a clear indication that ABx bauxite has clean chemistry ideal for acid-processing to produce high-quality fertilizer in demand. China’s metallurgical bauxite import in February 2019 had reached record levels of 8.9 million tonnes, provided mainly by Guinea amounting 4.4 million...
Chinese primary aluminium inventories continue to fall; A00 aluminium ingot price shows restraint
Primary aluminium inventories in China have recorded further downfall this week ended on May 9 due to limited arrivals and strong demand, found Shanghai Metals Market. This has brought down the stocks to 1.409 million tonnes, down 33,000 tonnes from 1.44 million tonnes on May 5 across eight major consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrants. In Wuxi and Jiangsu, the primary aluminium inventory has dropped by some 11,000 tonnes to stand at 506,000 tonnes; while that in Shanghai, Nanhai and Guangdong, and Gongyi and Henan, the inventories are down by some 7,000 tonnes to hover at 277,000 tonnes, 9,000 tonnes to 310,000 tonnes, and 2,000 tonnes to 99,000 tonnes, respectively. The chart below indicates the current status of primary aluminium inventories across China in more details:...
Environmental upgrading, maintenance and losses kept China’s April alumina output away from SMM’s expectations
China’s production of metallurgical-grade alumina in April failed to meet Shanghai Metals Market expectations despite expanding 0.1 per cent year on year to peg at 5.81 million tonnes, found SMM survey on Wednesday, May 8. Environmental upgrading, maintenance, and losses were some of the factors that hindered the release of capacity in April, according to SMM. Daily alumina output averaged 194,000 tonnes in April, flat from March and down 7,000 tonnes from February. However, the total output during January-April still stood higher by 5.71 per cent year on year, coming in at 23.59 million tonnes. About 70.64 million tonnes of capacity on an annualised basis were in operation last month, the same as that in March. In April, equipment upgrading for environmental standards affected production...
Uncertainties over China’s scrap import rules taking toll on country's secondary aluminium smelters: Source says
According to China Nonferrous Metal Industry Association, a large number of secondary aluminium smelters in China, especially those with limited feedstock options, are being affected by uncertainties over scrap import rules like the license awarding criteria, the volume each company will be allowed to import, and the duration of license validity. July onwards China will restrict importing category six scrap or mixed metal containing non-metallic content. In the same month, Ministry of Environment and Ecology will issue import licenses and quota volume to secondary aluminium smelters, told an official of China Nonferrous Metal Industry Association to S&P Global Platts. Per the report, some Chinese smelters have already suspended import while some stepped up purchases ahead of July. One...
South Africa’s alumina import to rise in 2019 after a drop last year
The aluminium industry in South Africa is one of the driving forces of the country’s economy. Along with the economic impact and contribution to the fiscus, the industry generates significant foreign exchange revenues and provides an estimated 11,600 employees in the sector with decent jobs. Manufacturing of aluminium products and components play a vital role in the architectural, building and construction, automotive, transport, consumer durable, electrical, packaging, chemical and explosives, and general engineering sectors. In March 2019, the total aluminium production in South Africa was at 89,000 tonnes. {newsStudioGallery} Since the aluminium supply chain commences with the primary smelters producing 99.7% pure aluminium from alumina, South Africa imports a large amount of the ore....
Hydro’s new CEO Hilde Merete Aasheim aiming to lift profitability and drive sustainability
Hilde Merete Aasheim has reportedly assumed the position as Hydro’s new President and CEO with an intention to boost profitability and speed up the company’s drive to become a leading provider of advanced, low-carbon products and solutions, based on a more sustainable footprint through the value chain and lifecycle of aluminium. “Customers are increasingly seeking advanced solutions with the lowest-possible impact, from building and construction to automotive, packaging and electronics. This enables us to commercialize our best-in-class footprint and leading positions within process technology and product innovation,” said Aasheim in a statement. As per the report, Aasheim has also started taking several measures in support of her business agenda, which include renewing company’s...
Shanxi Chinalco Huarun to commission 52 electrolytic baths for more aluminium alloy production
According to an update from Shanghai Metals Market, Shanxi Chinalco Huarun is set to commission 52 more electrolytic baths, in a bid to reach to full production of its phase-one aluminium alloy project. As per the report, Shanxi Chinalco Huarun intends to achieve this by mid to late June. Previously, April 22, it had put 40 electrolytic baths into use, learned SMM further. The commissioning of 52 more electrolytic baths will bring the total number to 92, with a capacity totalling at 125,000 tonnes. Till August 31, the project will enjoy a preferential electricity price of RMB 0.286 per kWh. Nonetheless, from September the prices will not be higher than RMB 0.3 per kWh. SMM learned there is more capacity in the pipeline, with construction likely to complete by the end of this year. The...
Van der Valk launches all-aluminium yacht model in its BeachClub 600 range
Dutch yard Van der Valk has reportedly unveiled the first model in its BeachClub 600 range. It is all-aluminium, semi-custom 19.05 metre yacht designed by Cor D Rover. After being launched in the Netherlands, the yacht will now undergo sea trials and then appear at a number of major boat shows this summer. A second model in the range, the 20.5 metre BeachClub 660 Flybridge, is also under construction and on track for delivery this summer. “Having contemporary and dynamic appearance,” as the yard said, both the yachts will be perfectly suited to sailing hotspots, such as the South of France, Florida, and the Caribbean. Both the models feature increased interior and exterior volume that is achieved by placing the engine compartment within the swimming platform. The move “opens up tremendous...
NEVs sales in China during January-March up 109.7% Y-o-Y; Overall sales of cars down 11.3%
According to China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), about 298,000 units of new energy vehicles (NEVs) were sold in China in the first three months of 2019, up 109.7 per cent from the same period last year. Out of 298,000 units, pure electric cars accounted for 227,000 units, up 121.4 per cent year on year. Sales of plug-in hybrid rose 79.1 per cent to 72,000 units, showed the data of CAAM. Overall sales of cars in China, on the other hand, dropped year-on-year by 11.3 per cent during January-March to come in at 6.37 million units. However, the year-on-year drop in auto sales in March was much smaller compared with the declines in January and February. This indicates a sign of recovery in the market. According to another update from Shanghai Metals Market, sales of heavy...
Bauxite miner PT Gunung Bintan Abadi's export permit cancelled, says Ministry
The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry of Indonesia has officially cancelled the export permits of five mining companies as they failed to show progress in developing smelters as per the prevailing laws and regulations. The five mining companies are PT Surya Saga Utama, PT Genba Multi Mineral, PT Modern Cahaya Makmur, PT Lobindo Nusa Persada and PT Integra Mining Nusantara. However, the government will return the permits to these companies if they can show significant progress in building smelters, said the ministry’s mineral director Yunus Saefulhak in a statement. He particularly said, “This is a temporary revocation. We will activate their permits when they manage to show progress in smelter development. We have to be firm in enforcing the law on the smelter requirement.” He also...
A00 aluminium ingot price extends its fall today by RMB30/t
According to Shanghai Metals Market, the price of A00 aluminium ingot extends its drop today, on May 7, by RMB 30 per tonne to RMB 14,050 per tonne. The average prices are expected to range between RMB 14,030 per tonne and RMB 14,070 per tonne. Spot aluminium contract is likely to be traded at a discount of RMB10 per tonne to a premium of RMB30 per tonne. After a rise on April 29, the A00 aluminium ingot price has been declining, marking today the third consecutive drop. In major cities like Foshan, Hangzhou, Chongqing, and Shen Yang, the aluminium ingot price has declined by RMB 30 per tonne, while in Wuxi by RMB 10 per tonne, Tianjin by RMB 50 per tonne, Linyi by RMB 20 per tonne and in Gongyi by RMB 25 per tonne. As far as the prices of raw materials are concerned, the spot alumina...
Demand for PV aluminium extrusion expected to rise in next two months in China
According to Shanghai Metals Market, domestic demand for photovoltaic (PV) aluminium extrusion is expected to rise in the next two months due to speed-up installations of new solar power plants before the lower feed-in tariff (FiT) subsidies take effect on July 1. According to a statement by the National Development and Reform Commission on April 28, China will cut the FiT for newly-operated PV power plants by RMB 0.1 to 0.15 per KWh. This adjustment will bring the subsidies to RMB 0.4 per kWh, tax included for Category I region of northern China, to RMB 0.45 kWh for Category II region of the western and central China, and to RMB 0.55 kWh for the rest of the country for Category III zone. However, for village-level poverty alleviation solar PV power projects, the FiT will remain unchanged...
Ukraine’s 2019 bauxite import to record steady growth both in terms of volume and cost
Bauxite import by Ukraine has been recording a steady growth year over year since 2016. According to our third-party data, Ukraine had imported an estimated amount of 3.2 million tonnes in the said year, which in 2017 had risen to 4.8 million tonnes. Therefore, in 2017, Ukraine’s bauxite import had recorded a jump of 50 per cent year-on-year. In 2018, the estimated import amount grew further to 5 million tonnes, up 4 per cent from 2017. This year is expected to show no exception either, as the amount of bauxite import by Ukraine is expected to climb 8 per cent year-on-year to 5.4 million tonnes. Alongside, Ukraine’s bauxite import cost has been growing as well. From US$122 million in 2016, the country’s estimated cost of import had grown to US$212 million in 2017, up 74 per cent. The year...
Aluminium billet inventory records growth of some 2,700 tonnes; aluminium alloy price inches down
On more cargo arrivals in China post Labour Day Holiday from May 1 to May 4, stocks of 6063 aluminium billet across five major consumption areas recorded a growth on May 5, found Shanghai Metals Market. The inventories thus, stood at 94,900 tonnes after rising by some 2,700 tonnes from April 25. After seven consecutive weeks of decline until April 25, 6063 aluminium billet inventories finally marked a rise yesterday. As of April 25, inventories had fallen some 6,400 tonnes from April 18, to come in at 92,200 tonnes, SMM data showed. Coming back to today’s inventory status, Changzhou, Jiangsu and Huzhou, Zhejiang registered a growth yesterday by some 1,000 tonnes and 2,000 tonnes from April 25 to stand at 7,500 tonnes and 10,000 tonnes respectively. Recording the highest jump, the billet...
