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.
Chinese A00 aluminium ingot price records fourth consecutive rise to the highest this month
The A00 aluminium ingot price has once again recorded a rise today, on February 18, by RMB 70 per tonne to stand at RMB 13,410 per tonne, found Shanghai Metals Market. This marks the fourth back-to-back growth and the highest in comparison with the previous three price rise. The aluminium ingot price, as of today, also stands the highest this month. The average prices are expected to range between RMB 13,390 per tonne and RMB 13,430 per tonne, with spot discounts to settle at RMB 60 per tonne to RMB 20 per tonne. As the ingot price growth has touched upon all the major markets in China, the markets in the east (Wuxi and Hangzhou) have witnessed price rise by RMB 65 per tonne and RMB 50 per tonne to settle at RMB 13,385 per tonne and RMB 13,390 per tonne. In the southern and northern...
Aluminium shipbuilder Breaux Brothers christens latest vessel for Holland America Lines
The US-based aluminium shipbuilder Breaux Brothers Enterprises reportedly christened its latest vessel Half Moon Clipper on February 14, 2019, in Loreauville. The ship is 105-foot long and weighs 94 tonnes when empty and 154 tonnes when loaded with fuel, water, and becomes absolutely ready for work, said Breaux Brothers’ co-owner and Vice President Vance Vic Breaux. The ship is built for Holland America Lines with a total passenger capacity of 193 people. The vessel will serve as a crew boat for the company’s employees and guests visiting Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas. Holland America Manager of Marine Services/Fleet Operations Larry Bischoff said “It will carry people, food and beverages to the island, and then unload them using the crane on the back deck. They will bring supplies for the...
South32’s alumina and aluminium production in FY2019-20 to be tad higher than current fiscal
Australia-based metals and mining company South32 has reportedly maintained its production guidance of alumina and aluminium in the fiscal years 2018-19 (July-June) and 2019-20. The company projects volumes in the coming fiscal tipped to be marginally higher. For 2019-20, South32 flagged total alumina production of 5.335 million tonnes, 15,000 tonnes more than 5.32 million tonnes forecast for the current fiscal year. South32’s share of alumina production from the Worsley Alumina mining, refining, and port operations in Western Australia is expected to be steady at around 3.965 million tonnes per year during the two fiscal years. Out of an annual 4.6 million tonnes of Worsley’s alumina production, South32 accounts for 86 per cent control. Contribution from the Alunorte alumina refinery to...
MIIT reveals first batch of recommended NEV models for 2019: SMM
Shanghai Metals Market updates that China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has released this year’s first batch of recommended new energy vehicle (NEVs) models. The news came after MIIT released in a statement on its website on Thursday, February 14. The first batch of NEVs includes 106 vehicle types from 49 auto companies, according to the released statement on MIIT website. In 2018, the number of models released in the first batch was 118, which means this year MIIT released lesser number of models, as fewer electric buses and special vehicles were included. Higher requirements for NEVs and technical constraints of special vehicles weighed on the launch of new models, said Cui Dongshu, secretary general of the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA). All...
Baphlimali Bauxite Mine faces show cause notice from SPCB on environmental non-compliance
According to a recent report, a show cause notice has been served to the Utkal Alumina’s Baphlimali Bauxite Mine for cancellation of mining lease for allegedly failing to comply with environmental norms. As per the report, the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) has served a show cause notice on the bauxite mining asking for a reply from its director with 15 days as to why the consent granted for mining should not be revoked. Sources said Utkal Alumina International Limited is operating the mine at Paikkupakhal in Rayagada district over a leasehold area of 1,388.74 hectare. SPCB officials detected discrepancies in environmental compliances when they had gone for inspecting the mine on January 16 and January 17. The notice was served to the mine on February 12, stating that fugitive dust...
Chinese A00 aluminium ingot price records third back-to-back rise; Input costs remain unchanged
According to Shanghai Metals Market, the A00 aluminium ingot price has registered a rise today, on February 15, by RMB 20 per tonne to RMB 13,340 per tonne. This marks the third back-to-back growth in ingot price since February 13. The average prices are expected to range between RMB 13,320 per tonne and RMB 13,360 per tonne, with spot discounts to settle at RMB 20 per tonne. Although there is no trace of the price rise of input costs in the past few days, yet the aluminium ingot price is found growing. Also, the social inventories of primary aluminium are on the rise since the opening of the market after CNY. The average spot alumina price has been showing no change in price after a dip on February 13, from RMB 2,808 per tonne to RMB 2,793 per tonne. The bauxite price is also on...
Chinese primary aluminium inventories grow 55,000 tonnes: SMM
According to Shanghai Metals Market, social inventories of primary aluminium across eight major consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrants, have extended growth by 55,000 tonnes to 1.617 million tonnes over the week ended on February 14. On Monday, February 11, the primary aluminium inventories were at 1.562 million tonnes. Therefore, the inventories today have grown by about 3.5 per cent, SMM data showed. Stocks in Wuxi and Hangzhou have grown from 578,000 tonnes to 608,000 tonnes, up 5 per cent while that in Shanghai have increased from 310,000 tonnes to 312,000 tonnes, up by about 1 per cent. In other markets like Nanhai and Guangdong, and Gongyi and Henan, the inventories are up 7 per cent and 2 per cent to stand at 294,000 tonnes and 145,000 tonnes respectively. The below...
Germany’s aluminium cans export to decline YoY in 2019; France to be the leading importer
The global metal can demand is projected to reach 431,573.9 million by 2020, growing at a CAGR of 2.9 per cent from 2014 to 2020. With a large number of aluminium can manufacturers stepping up their product differentiation and innovation pursuits the demand for the aluminium cans is expected to rise further in the medium to long term. But here while taking a look at Germany’s estimated aluminium can export in 2019 through our available third-party data, we find that the country will likely export a lesser volume. In contrast to the estimated 76,826 tonnes in the year last, Germany’s aluminium can export is projected to stand at 62,025 tonnes by the end of this year, down 19 per cent. In 2017, the export volume was forecast at 76,525 tonnes, marginally down from 2018, but up 23 per cent...
Chinese A00 aluminium ingot price continues to grow even though input costs show restraint
According to Shanghai Metals Market, the A00 aluminium ingot has extended its price today, on February 14, to RMB 13,320 per tonne. On February 13, the price was at RMB 13,290 per tonne, which means today the aluminium ingot price has recorded rise by RMB 30 per tonne. The average prices are expected to range between RMB 13,300 per tonne and RMB 13,340 per tonne, with spot discounts to settle at RMB 30 per tonne to RMB 10 per tonne. The spot discount thus has registered a rise by RMB 20 per tonne, found SMM. In the east (Wuxi and Hangzhou), the aluminium ingot price has climbed up by RMB 20 per tonne to stand at RMB 13,320 per tonne. In the southern markets, the ingot price has also inched up by RMB 20 per tonne and clocked at RMB 13,350 per tonne; while in the north, the price has...
Pilot processing plant to help FYI Resources to build HPA plant
FYI Resources declared that it will get help from a pilot processing plant for getting offtake partners and finances to build high purity alumina (HPA) plant. FYI will build a smaller and cheaper version of pilot plant as part of advance studies into its Cadoux project in Western Australia. The idea is to boost confidence in the company’s design before it commits large amounts of cash to full-scale commercial production. It will produce HPA products for product testing and off-take negotiations for potential customers, which will also support project financing talks. Demand for HPA is soaring. The sales which were at US$2 billion in 2015 are now expected to hit US$5 billion in the near future. HPA is used in LED lighting and lithium batteries. FYI shares which had been ranging between...
Spot aluminium transactions grow across east and south China on improved downstream purchases
According to Shanghai Metals Market, large purchases among downstream consumers today, on February 13, have bolstered further improvements in spot aluminium transactions across east and south China markets. This could be possible as many downstream consumers have resumed work from the Chinese New Year holiday, SMM found. The front-month aluminium contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange came off from earlier highs this morning. Spot discounts in Shanghai were seen at RMB 30 per tonne to RMB 10 per tonne against the SHFE 1902 contract, down from a day ago. In Shanghai, Wuxi and Hangzhou, spot transactions were heard at RMB 13,290 per tonne to RMB 13,310 per tonne, RMB 20 per tonne higher than the previous morning. A buyer procured close to 9,000 tonnes of spot aluminium in the eastern...
Chinese spot alumina price drops today after two weeks of restraint; Aluminium ingot price rises
After remaining restrained since the end of January, the alumina spot price today, on February 13, has recorded a plunge by RMB 15 per tonne to RMB 2,793 per tonne, found Shanghai Metals Market. From January 29 to February 12, the price of alumina stood at RMB 2,808 per tonnes with no intermittent rise or fall. In the east and central, the spot alumina price has dropped by RMB 20 per tonne to stand at RMB 2,830 per tonne and RMB 2,810 per tonne respectively. In the south and north, on the other hand, the price has dipped by RMB 10 per tonne and by RMB 15 per tonne to hover at RMB 2,770 per tonne and RMB 2,795 per tonne. The Australian alumina FOB price has also registered a plunge today by US$5 per tonne to US$375 per tonne. Unlike Chinese alumina price, the global price had recorded a...
Hindalco eyeing lithium for strengthening its aluminium business
According to a report by Business Standard, Hindalco Industries is eyeing lithium in the minor mineral space for strengthening its aluminium business. Managing Director Satish Pai said: “Lithium is the closest to our (aluminium) business, and in India, there could be some opportunities in this minor mineral. We are watching. If we get an opportunity we will get into this minor mineral.” Per the report, India’s one of the largest aluminium producer and part of the $44.3-billion Aditya Birla Group is targeting the minor mineral via its mining arm Essel Mining and Industries (EMIL). At present, Essel Mining is into coal and iron ore mining contract, operating in 35 countries. “It is Essel Mining, the group’s mining arm, which is looking into this,” Pai said, without divulging any detail...
UAE should not take sides in trade war between US and China, says Minister Al Mansouri
The United Arab Emirates Minister of Economy Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri reportedly said on Monday, February 11, that the UAE should not take sides between the US and China. He also alerted that the trade war between the world’s top two economies may harm all of us. On Monday, a team of US negotiators reached China to restart trade talks in order to thrash a deal before March 1. US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin will join for the main event on Thursday and Friday. The US President, on the other hand, has postponed the plan to increase 10 per cent tariff to 25 per cent on Chinese imports worth US$200 billion for allowing negotiators some time to thrash out a deal. However, the US and China have already slapped each other with tariffs on...
Operating rates across Chinese downstream aluminium processors to fall m-o-m to 65% in January
According to Shanghai Metals Market, operating rates across Chinese processors of aluminium plate, sheet, and strip are estimated to decline to 65 per cent in January, down three percentage points from the revised reading in December. On a yearly basis, operating rates in January are expected to decline two percentage points, SMM learned. The reason behind this estimated fall in downstream aluminium operating rates in January could be the week-long Chinese New Year break as it affected some operations. While some processors started their CNY holiday as early as on January 20, reducing the average operating rate in the industry. On the other hand, though some large-sized firms with annual capacity above 150,000 tonnes maintained stable operation during the holiday, their year-end...
Germany’s total aluminium scrap exports to drop in 2019; shipments to Austria, Italy may stand low
German aluminium producers and processors produce about 560,000 tonnes of aluminium, out of which 260,000 tonnes is comprised of primary aluminium and 300,000 tonnes recycled aluminium. This indicates that Germany produces recycled aluminium more than primary, thanks to its world’s largest auto-making sector. Besides using this large amount of scrap for producing secondary aluminium domestically, the country is also known for exporting a substantial amount every year. According to the available data, Germany this year is estimated to export around 1.06 million tonnes of aluminium scrap, down 11 per cent from 1.19 million tonnes in 2018. In 2017, the country’s scrap export volume was at 1.08 million tonnes, down 9 per cent from 2018, but up 2 per cent from 2019. This shows that after a...
A00 aluminium ingot price in China shows restraint except at some major markets
After a plunge yesterday from RMB 13,300 per tonne to RMB 13,270 per tonne, the A00 aluminium ingot price decides to remain unchanged today, on February 12, Shanghai Metals Market learned. The average prices are expected to range between RMB 13,250 per tonne and RMB 13,290 per tonne, with spot discounts to settle at RMB 80 per tonne and RMB 40 per tonne. The average spot discount has increased by RMB 40 per tonne to stand at RMB 60 per tonne. But in some of the major markets, the A00 aluminium ingot price has recorded a rise such as in Wuxi in the east Chinese market where the price is up by RMB 10 per tonne to RMB 13,280 per tonne. However, the price in Hangzhou in the east has shown restraint, while in the south and north, the prices have increased by RMB 20 per tonne and RMB 45 per...
Altus dissolves joint venture deal with Canyon Resources
TSX-V-listed Altus Strategies has reportedly reached a Joint Venture Termination agreement and a Sale & Purchase agreement with ASX-listed Canyon Resources, which dictate the dissolution of their existing partnership dated back to December 23, 2013. Per the agreements, Altus will transfer all of its share capital in subsidiary Aucam Resources Ltd. to Canyon. Aucam is the holder of Altus' Birsok and Mandoum licences in central Cameroon. The licences cover the Minim Martap bauxite deposit. In return, Altus will receive 30 million Canyon shares, valued at about GBP3.4 million. Altus will also receive a royalty of USD1.50 per tonne on bauxite ore mined and sold from Minim Martap project. Earlier, Canyon Resources had announced a JORC compliant resource estimate for the Minim Martap project of...
