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.
July 2024: Primary aluminium production in Russia & Eastern Europe grows 5% Y-o-Y, mirroring the same in export volume
In July 2024, primary aluminium production across Europe saw a month-on-month increase of 3.66 per cent and a year-on-year hike of 3.82 per cent, standing at 595,000 tonnes, according to the International Aluminium Institute data. The increase in July output was contributed by both Eastern Europe (including Russia) as well as Western & Central Europe. Russia & Eastern Europe Russia & Eastern Europe's primary aluminium production in July 2024 registered a month-on-month increase of 3.82 per cent and a year-on-year hike of 4.75 per cent, as per the data shown by the International Aluminium Institute. The primary aluminium output in Russia & Eastern Europe during July 2024 was 353,000 tonnes, compared to 340,000 tonnes in June and 337,000 tonnes in July 2023. The daily average production in...
China’s A00 aluminium ingot price stands at a M-o-M high, soaring by RMB540/t: SMM
According to the Shanghai Metals Market, A00 aluminium ingot price in China has initiated the week of August 26 with an increase of RMB 40 per tonne to stand at RMB 19,740 per tonne. The price has marked a week-on-week hike of RMB 280 per tonne from RMB 19,460 per tonne and a month-on-month surge of RMB 540 per tonne from RMB 19,200 per tonne. The average prices today are estimated to range between RMB 19,720 per tonne and RMB 19,760 per tonne, with a spot contract to be traded at a discount price of RMB 110 per tonne and RMB 70 per tonne. China’s domestic price of low-carbon aluminium has also seen a hike of RMB 54 per tonne on August 26 to clock at RMB 20,582 per tonne, standing at a week-on-week high of RMB 253 per tonne compared to RMB 20,329 per tonne and a month-on-month increase of...
Eskom rolls out 10 EV charging stations to support the growing electric vehicles market in South Africa
South Africa’s state-owned energy company Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd has reportedly launched electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure at the Eskom Academy of Learning (EAL) in Midrand as part of its long-term commitment to support the growth of the eMobility sector within South Africa and contribute to the nation’s broader goals of reducing carbon emissions. In collaboration with Gridcars, Eskom has installed ten EV charging stations across five sites nationwide. These sites include Brackenfell in Cape Town, Mkondeni in Pietermaritzburg, Tlhabane Customer Network Centre in Rustenburg, and Marathon Customer Network Centre in Mbombela. Each station has direct current (DC) fast chargers capable of delivering 60kW of power and dual alternating current (AC) chargers with 22kW of power,...
Fabio Roberto Martins from Alcoa joins Vedanta Aluminium as the CEO of billet division
According to a report on August 23, 2024, Vedanta Aluminium has appointed Fabio Roberto Martins as the new CEO of the aluminium billet division. Martins will lead the unit in the new role, focusing on production optimisation and efficiency. Under Martins' leadership, Vedanta Aluminium aspires to become the world's largest billet producer by expanding its capacity to 1.2 million tonnes per annum. So, Martins is expected to drive and execute commercial activities and oversee operational management, ensuring a new high for the business. Martins has 26 years of experience in the aluminium industry. His association with Alcoa, where he held various leadership roles, including Director of Operations, is seen as instrumental in enhancing Vedanta's aluminium billet business. On the appointment of...
Hindalco Industries plans to invest $10 billion in aluminium and copper expansion projects, says Chairman
Aditya Birla Group-owned Hindalco Industries announced in its annual general meeting on August 22 that it would invest $10 billion in capacity expansions. Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla distinctly outlined his plans for ongoing and near-term projects related to aluminium and copper smelters, including the Aditya flat-rolled product plant, a new alumina refinery in Rayadaga, and the Bay Minnette expansion in Novelis. Chairman said one of Hindalco's key expansion plans includes scaling up Aditya Aluminium smelter capacity by approximately 200,000 tonnes in Odisha, requiring a significant portion of power through renewable energy sources. In addition, Hindalco is establishing a greenfield alumina refinery in Rayagada, Odisha, with the first phase having a capacity of 850,000 tonnes and...
Vedanta Aluminium obtains several accolades at CII for achieving energy efficiency at Lanjigarh refinery
Vedanta Aluminium, India's largest aluminium producer, has again bagged recognition for its energy-efficient practices at Lanjigarh alumina refinery. This time, the company received several awards at the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) National Energy Efficiency Circle Competition 2024. Vedanta has reportedly obtained the first prize in the 'Best Energy Efficient Designated Consumer (under BEE-PAT scheme)' category and acquired several acclamations in the categories of 'Best Energy Efficient Organisation (Large Sector)' and 'Best Managed Electrical System for Energy Efficiency'. These awards testify to Vedanta's commitment to responsible business operations while addressing sustainability concerns. At present, more than 29 energy efficiency projects are in progress at Vedanta's...
EGA to acquire an 80% stake in Spectro Alloys to tap into the world's second-largest aluminium recycling hub
According to a recent report, Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) will most likely obtain a major stake in Spectro Alloys Corporation, the world’s leading recycling company headquartered in the United States, subject to regulatory approvals. The news came after EGA and Spectro Alloys signed an equity purchase agreement, according to which EGA would acquire 80 per cent of the recycling company. As per the report, the transaction is expected to close during the third quarter of 2024. Upon acquiring a stake in Spectro Alloys, EGA will expand its business in the United States and gain further recognition in the global aluminium recycling industry. EGA has been solidifying its identity in the worldwide recycling industry by recently acquiring a German speciality foundry, Leichmetall . Expanding...
ABx Group promotes aluminium and rare earth elements at Parliament, talking about hydrogen fluoride project
ABx Group, a uniquely positioned, high-tech Australian company delivering materials for a cleaner future, recently advocated rare earth elements, green metals like aluminium, and clean energy from the perspective of environmental well-being. ABx Group's managing director, Dr Mark Cooksey, took the discussion straight to the Parliament House, explaining Australia can become a clean energy superpower just by increasing aluminium production and supporting local rare earth projects. Representing the aluminium industry, Dr Cooksey illustrated their roadmap to develop local rare earth supply chains. In addition, he explained the role of ABx Group in the Australian Aluminium Council and the importance of aluminium to Australia's sustainable future, and also provided insights into the $474,126.21...
Alba collaborates with NAIRDC to impart knowledge on advanced AI and its benefits in industrial operations
In response to an unwavering commitment to upgrade its employees on latest technology and knowledge for improved daily operations, Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) has collaborated with the Nasser Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Centre (NAIRDC), the research and development arm of the Nasser Vocational Training Centre (NVTC), to deliver a comprehensive three-day course on 'Advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) Applications in Industry 4.0' to 35 of its employees. This three-day course offers a wide array of knowledge on artificial intelligence, touching upon some of the critical points that would help employees enhance their daily operations, complementing the future trend. The topics include modern applications, future trends, and fundamentals of generative AI and prompt...
Exlabesa to expand recycling capacity for aluminium billet production with new Hertwich continuous homogenising furnace
Exlabesa, an aluminium extrusion manufacturing company with the conviction of bringing imaginations to life, is reportedly expanding its recycling capacity to produce recycled aluminium billet at a plant in the province of A Coruña, Spain, installing technology once again supplied by Hertwich Engineering, an SMS group company. As per the report, Hertwich will supply a continuous homogenising furnace equipped with an air cooling station, a long-billet stacker, and a semi-automatic PET strapping system. This new furnace will exclusively produce recycled aluminium billet from post-consumer scrap, complementing the existing second melting furnace at the plant. The new furnace is designed to produce aluminium billets with a diametre of 178 to 406 millimetres and a length of 7 metres. The...
Baotou Aluminum installs the first wind turbine of renewable energy power plant project in Damaoqi, Inner Mongolia
Baotou Aluminum (Group) Co., Ltd., a first-class large enterprise in China with ten aluminium smelting enterprises, has reportedly installed the first wind turbine of self-owned power plant, which replaced the 1200 MW new energy project in Damaoqi with renewable energy. This action is in line with Baotou Aluminum’s dual carbon goals, aimed at accelerating the company’s transformation to a clean energy power supply for smelting. Baotou Aluminum’s coal-fired power plant with renewable energy project is located in Damao Qi, Baotou City, in Inner Mongolia, China. The project has a renewable energy generation capacity of 1,200 MW, encompassing 1000 MW wind power, 200 MW photovoltaic, two 220kV booster stations, delivery lines and Baotou demonstration project 900,000 kW lines. The project is...
China’s July primary aluminium imports grow 7% M-o-M, but net imports drop due to increased exports
According to the General Administration of Customs, China’s primary aluminium imports in July 2024 recorded a month-on-month rise of 7.2 per cent and a year-on-year increase of 11.4 per cent. With the latest hike, China’s primary aluminium imports in July reached 129,900 tonnes, bringing the cumulative import volume in the first seven months of the year to 1.349 million tonnes, up 124 per cent Y-o-Y. The customs data even showed China’s primary aluminium exports were at nearly 190,000 tonnes, moving up by 169.4 per cent month-on-month but down by 16.7 per cent year-on-year. From January to July, China exported 47,200 tonnes of primary aluminium, about 41 per cent less than a year ago. Taking into account the export volume, China’s net import volume of primary aluminium came in at 111,000...
World primary aluminium production reaches a new high in July’24, registering an annual growth of 2.4%
The world’s primary aluminium production increased in July 2024, driven by robust output across all the major primary metal-producing regions. On a month-on-month basis, the world’s primary aluminium production in July registered an increase of 3.54 per cent, while that on an annual calculation recorded a rise of 2.41 per cent, found the International Aluminium Institute. In July, the global output of primary aluminium stood at 6.194 million tonnes, reaching a new high, compared to 5.982 million tonnes in June 2024 and 6.048 million tonnes in July 2023. Total production through the first seven months of the year was 42.074 million tonnes, up by 3.78 per cent from 40.543 million tonnes. The daily average production in July was 199,800 tonnes, 400 tonnes more than 19,400 tonnes in June and...
Ardagh Metal Packaging appoints Stefan Schellinger as the new Chief Financial Officer
Ardagh Metal Packaging S.A., a global supplier of sustainable, infinitely recyclable packaging solutions, has appointed Stefan Schellinger, who will succeed David Bourne as a new Chief Financial Officer (CFO). The appointment will be effective from September 1, 2024. Schellinger will join Ardagh with more than 25 years of experience in finance and commerce. He also has a strong background in relevant industrial end markets as he previously worked as CFO and Executive Director at ContourGlobal plc and Essentra plc. Schellinger served ContourGlobal plc as Executive Vice President, Global Chief Financial Officer, and a member of the Board of Directors from 2019 to 2023. Before that, he was Group Finance Director and Executive Director of the diversified industrial company Essentra plc from...
Aluminium beverage can industry in Brazil shines through H1 2024, indicating a potential 5% sales growth at year-end
Aluminium can manufacturers in Brazil have reported a delightful H1 2024 owing to encouraging beverage can sales led by favourable macroeconomic conditions. On the continuity of this trend, beverage can sales are set to poise a 5 per cent growth at the year-end, compared to an annual increase of 1.65 per cent last year, according to Cátilo Cândido, president of the Brazilian Association of Aluminum Can Manufacturers (Abralatas). The association's president also apprised that the current production rate of aluminium beverage cans in Brazil is 32.6 billion can units per year, while per capita consumption is 165 12-can packages per year. In an interview with S&P Global Commodity Insights, Cândido shared his perspective on aluminium can sales, stating that it is a complex interplay of scale,...
Alpha HPA begins Stage 2 construction of high-purity aluminium materials manufacturing facility
Alpha HPA has reportedly started the construction for Stage 2 of the HPA First Project following the confirmation of fire safety technology. Upon completion, this project will be the world’s largest high-purity aluminium materials manufacturing facility. This project represents a development benchmark as it progresses in commercialising its proprietary solvent extraction and refining technology. The facility aims to produce ultra-pure aluminium for tech sectors such as semiconductors, lithium-ion batteries, and LED lighting. The construction of Stage 2 of HPA started under the leadership of Matthew Callanan, who was appointed as GM Manufacturing in Gladstone and Lisa Roobottom for the Stage 2 project. Alpha HPA had also expanded its team and capabilities before building Stage 2 of the...
Hulamin sees a 19% drop in H1 earnings due to poor export market; positive domestic demand drives expansion projects
Hulamin, a South African company that manufactures rolled aluminium products for precision and high technology applications, has reportedly announced its H1 financial performance ended June 30, 2024, highlighting reduced earnings caused by export pricing pressure and market challenges. As per the data revealed, Hulamin’s earnings before interest taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) decreased 19 per cent Y-o-Y to R343 million, with rolled product sales down 3 per cent Y-o-Y to 87,340 tonnes. The group’s operating profit fell 8 per cent Y-o-Y to R433 million, while earnings per share plunged by 38 per cent to 43c. Amid this subdued fiscal outcome, Hulamin reported strong aluminium demand in the local market, up by 8 per cent, helping to offset weaker export market demand. CEO Mark...
European aluminium foundry market sees headwind due to subdued domestic automotive production
Analysts from Fastmarkets have reported a slowdown in aluminium consumption in the European automotive industry, underpinning muted economic factors. A considerable decline in automobile production due to the ill effects of the cost-of-living crisis has resulted in reduced applications of lightweight metal, according to Fastmarkets analyst James Moore. Kirstine Veitch, principal consultant at Fastmarkets, also explained: “The real issue is the low level of vehicle output in Europe. While automotive output remains depressed, the European PFA sector will remain challenging.” The effect of the decreased production of automobiles is also seen in the premiums of primary foundry alloy (PFA), which is primarily used in automotive parts. According to Fastmarkets data, premiums for aluminium...
