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.
Russian government allocates 10 billion roubles for buying 50,000 tonnes of aluminium for state reserve
A government decree showed on Wednesday, November 28, that the Russian government may buy up to 50,000 tonnes of aluminium for the state reserve as a move to support sanctioned Russian aluminium giant UC Rusal. The decree, dated November 26, allocated up to 10 billion roubles or US$ 149 million for the plan, which was the initiative of Russian tycoon Oleg Deripaska, a government source told Reuters. However, the text in the decree did not specify the reason for the potential purchases nor gave a timeframe. At present, the purchases are considered as a one-off step, according to the government source’s statement to Reuters. Rusal and its parent company EN+ Group also declined to give out much detail. Russia’s Industry and Trade Ministry were neither very prompt in responding when requested...
Chinese primary aluminium inventories continue to shrink and so the ingot prices; Billet inventories rise slightly
According to Shanghai Metals Market, primary aluminium inventories across eight major consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrants, have recorded a drop by some 38,000 tonnes from a week ago to come in at 1.386 million tonnes on Thursday, November 29. On last Thursday, November 22, the social inventories of primary aluminium were at 1.424 million tonnes; hence, today the inventories registered a 2.7 per cent week-over-week decline exceeding the 2 per cent drop in the previous week. The reason is the declined shipment due to recent supply cuts. It is estimated to take 13.8 days to deplete current social stocks of primary aluminium ingots in China, which is a relatively high level. The below chart shows the current status of primary aluminium inventories across China as of November...
Mexico’s next government may impose tariffs on US aluminium and steel: Canacero official says
According to a senior official of Mexican steel trade group Canacero, Mexico’s next government is willing to impose tariffs on US aluminium and steel in case the Trump administration continues the duties on imported metals from Mexico. Canacero Vice President Raul Gutierrez said on Monday, November 26, that both Mexico’s present and incoming government have agreed to levy resounding mirror measures on US aluminium and steel if needed. Next day, on November 27, Canacero reported this statement at a news conference. The left-wing government of Andres Manual Lopez Obrador, which will start December 1, has pledged to impose mirror measures on US aluminium and steel in case the Trump administration does not eliminate its Section 232 tariffs or if it imposes an unacceptable export quota on the...
Third consecutive drop in aluminium futures prices sidelines spot buyers in east China: SMM
Shanghai Metals Market research found that further decline in aluminium futures prices today, on November 28, for the third day this week led to a wait-and-watch stance among downstream consumers in the east-China spot aluminium market. The SHFE 1812 contract dipped in morning trade while spot discounts stood at RMB 40 per tonne to RMB 30 per tonne in Shanghai against the contract, compared to RMB 50 per tonne to RMB 40 per tonne in the previous day. In Shanghai and Wuxi, spot transactions were done at RMB 13,620 per tonne to RMB 13,640 per tonne and that in Hangzhou at RMB 13,660 per tonne to RMB 13,680 per tonne. Across eastern markets, sellers were keen to offload cargoes, but consumers held back from making purchases. Therefore, transactions between traders remained brisk. In...
US senators request an independent review for imported aluminium and steel tariffs exemptions
A bipartisan group of the US senators has reportedly urged for an independent review into the Trump administration’s process for granting imported tariffs exemptions on aluminium and steel products. Pennsylvania Republican Pat Toomey, an ardent free-trader, joined centrist Democrats Doug Jones of Alabama and Tom Carper of Delaware on Monday, November 26, in demanding a review by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). The senators claimed that the US Commerce Department, as of last month, had processed about one-third of the nearly 50,000 requests for exemptions. “Members of Congress and U.S. businesses have repeatedly raised concerns about the pace, transparency, and fairness of the Section 232 steel and aluminium exclusion process,” the senators wrote in a letter to GAO head Gene...
Sarmin Bauxite reportedly completes an independent MRE at Lelouma, Republic of Guinea
A privately-owned bauxite company Sarmin Bauxite Limited has reportedly announced the completion of an independent Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) on its own bauxite exploration license (Lelouma Licence) located in the Republic of Guinea, West Africa. The MRE is estimated and prepared by SRK Consulting (UK) Limited (SRK) in accordance with the terms and guidelines of the Australian Code for the Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves, the JORC Code, 2012 Edition (JORC). The MRE outlines a total JORC Compliant Bauxite Mineral Resources of approximately 1 billion tonnes at 44.9 per cent Al2O3 and 2.1% SiO2. Further classification breakdown is as follows: Indicated Mineral Resource of 983 million tonnes (44.9% Al2O3, 2.1% SiO2); and; Inferred Mineral Resource of...
Nampak to spend US$7.2 million towards ramping up aluminium cans production
Africa’s biggest producer of beverage packaging Nampak is reportedly ramping up the production of aluminium cans as a response to customers’ global retreat from plastic. “Consumer sentiment against plastic packaging that cannot be recycled is very clear,” Chief Executive Officer Andre de Ruyter said. “Aluminum is a valuable metal and so people have the incentive to recycle it.” Andre de Ruyter also mentioned that the company had been putting greater emphasis on cardboard cartons and developing a type of renewable plastic lid made from sugarcane. That’s due to a growing concern about the impact of plastic on the environment, particularly on items such as single-use straws. Nampak and other container markers are able to boost aluminium can production alongside expanding into fast-growing...
Early drop in aluminium prices lead to unenthusiastic cargoes offloading by sellers: SMM
Shanghai Metals Market research found that spot aluminium sellers across south-China markets showed reluctance this morning, on November 27, in offloading cargoes as future aluminium prices fell in early trade. Both traders and downstream consumers were cautious in making purchases because of which the overall trades across the southern markets remained thin, SMM found. The SHFE 1812 contract declined in early morning trade while the most spot transactions in Guangdong were found at RMB 13,730 per tonne to RMB 13,740 per tonne, with Guangdong-Shanghai spread narrowed to RMB 40 per tonne. Spot transactions in Shanghai, on the other hand, were done at RMB 13,700 per tonne to RMB 13,710 per tonne with discounts at RMB 50 per tonne to RMB 40 per tonne against the SHFE 1812 contract, compared...
An AlCircle exclusive interview with Hugues Vincent, CEO of the Aluminium Division of Fives
Fives is a business conglomerate from France having diversified business interest. The company specialises in designing and supplying machines, process equipment, and production lines for the world’s largest industrial groups including the aluminium, steel, glass, automotive, aerospace, logistics, cement, and energy sectors. AlCircle had the opportunity to meet Mr. Hugues Vincent, CEO of the Aluminium Division of Fives and discuss about its business and current projects catering to the aluminium sector on the sideline of the Arab International Aluminium Conference (ARABAL), the premium platform for the aluminium industry that took place in Kuwait city from 11-13 November, 2018. AlCircle could get an insight into the latest innovations and developments in the industry, directly from a key...
Joel Rawlins and crew design to create customisable aluminium skateboards from recycled aluminium
Joel Rawlins and crew at Beercan Boards in the United States have reportedly designed to create customisable aluminium longboard skateboards from recycled aluminium. Not only so, Rawlins and crew have also added a finishing touch to their creativity with vivid powder coated colours together with laser cut grip designs. Available in different lengths and widths, the aluminium skateboards are offered depending on specific need and style. Reportedly, the starting price of the product is US$ 199. “Beercan Boards are as unique as you are. They’re strong but lightweight, made from recycled aluminum right here in the USA. And they’re super customizable: Pick any of our 9 shapes, make it any of our 10 colors. Pick from our 20 different wheel colors – you can even have all your wheels match or...
China Hongqiao Group asked to close up to 550,000 tonnes of aluminium production for winter: Source says
Going by Chinese consultancies AZ China and CRU’s calculations based on a local government document Reuters reports that China Hongqiao Group has been asked to close up to 550,000 tonnes of annual aluminium smelting capacity this winter. That is about equal to 1-1/2 days of aluminium consumption in China, noted AZ China Managing Director Paul Adkins. The city of Binzhou in Shandong province, where all of Hongqiao’s 6.46 million tonnes per year of aluminium capacity is located, reportedly listed pot closures at five Hongqiao smelting facilities in a document outlining winter restrictions. Some of the closures which have a total production capacity of 8.5 per cent of that of Hongqiao’s need to cut production for December and January instead of the full four-months winter heating season...
Trimet cuts its P1020 aluminium ingot production on tight global alumina supply
German aluminium producer Trimet has reportedly reduced the production of its P1020 ingot in response to tight global alumina supply. The firm had started a gradual reduction in its output from autumn, but exactly when the ingot production started being affected is unknown. The company’s board member Thomas Reuther said, "Due to a supply-shortage on the alumina market, Trimet has temporarily reduced its production of primary aluminium by approximately 10pc. Trimet expects to resume to full capacity in early 2019.” The company’s casting production, however, remains unaffected and expected to meet all the delivery commitments, said Trimet itself. Many other European smelters were hit similarly or more by the 50 per cent output cap at Norwegian producer Norsk Hydro’s Brazilian Alunorte...
Back-to-back lowered alumina spot price in China leads to extended drop in aluminium ingot price
Backed on lowered alumina spot price for the two consecutive days, the A00 aluminium ingot price extended a plunge today by RMB 60 per tonne to RMB 13,690 per tonne, Shanghai Metals Market found. Yesterday, on November 26, the alumina spot price dropped from RMB 3131 per tonne to RMB 3119 per tonne, which further continued to plunge by RMB 25 per tonne to RMB 3094 per tonne today, on November 27. In the east and north, the alumina spot price today recorded a dip by RMB 30 per tonne to stand at RMB 3120 per tonne and RMB 3080 per tonne respectively; while in the central and south, the prices plunged by RMB 20 per tonne and RMB 25 per tonne to clock at RMB 3100 per tonne and RMB 3105 per tonne. As far as other input costs are concerned, bauxite showed no change in price from RMB 580 per...
Strautmann presents beverage bottle including aluminium can recycling machines
According to a report, a Germany-based company named Strautmann Umwelttechnik presented two beverage bottle recycling machines - LiquiDrainer and BrikPress at the BrauBeviale trade fair in Nuremberg, Germany, in mid-November. As told by the company, the machinery offers reliability and innovation for the emptying and compaction of PET bottles, aluminium beverage cans, and TetraPak cartons. At the mid-November trade fair, Strautmann offered information and display on the machines and said customers could get an immediate optimisation of their recycling processes. The LiquiDrainer handles full beverage containers, which can be introduced manually, by conveyor belt or forklift. Up to 10,000 one-litre (32-ounce) beverage bottles can be inserted and emptied with an hour. A fee rocker feeds the...
SMB to build US$ 1.2 billion railway to link its bauxite mining area with Dapilon port
According to an update by Shanghai Metals Market, Guinea-based bauxite producer Societe Miniere de Boke (SMB) plans to spend US$ 1.2 billion to build a railway track that will link its bauxite mining business with Dapilon port. The news came after the Guinea’s government spokesman Aboubacar Sylla announced that in an e-mail. Societe Miniere de Boke (SMB) is a joint venture of three companies like Shandong Weiqiao Aluminium in China, Winning Shipping in Singapore, and UMS International in Guinea. The railway track will be 135 kilometres long and expected to start operating with the next 18 months. Mr. Sylla also mentioned in an emailed statement that this initiative would expand SMB’s bauxite mine as well, building facilities to process bauxite into alumina and to purchase rail vehicles....
Mexico’s aluminium plates, sheets and strips import to rise in 2018; USA to be the top exporter
Having limited resources of bauxite from which alumina is extracted and converted to aluminium, Mexico has no alumina refineries in the country, and for the same reason, its aluminium industry is highly dependent on imports and recycling of aluminium products. Mexico’s aluminium industry has been reportedly growing steadily at a 13 percent annual rate since 2011 and producing 1.6% of the world’s global production. Moreover, it contributes to the country’s own economy by contributing about US$7 billion to GDP. According to the global export-import data, Mexico’s aluminium plates, sheets, and strips import is likely to grow in 2018 after a slight plunge in the previous year. In 2017, the country’s estimated import volume was at 260,669 tonnes. This year, it may grow 44 per cent to stand at...
Bauxite miners at Raipur stage protest against CMDC appointed contractor for violating promises
Bauxite mining workers in Raipur have reportedly refused to work as a form of protest demanding full wages and alleging that the contractor appointed by Chhattisgarh Mineral Development Corporation (CMDC) was treating them unfairly and giving insufficient money. The protesting miners from the surrounding villages even shut down the weighbridge so that the bauxite laden trucks could not be weighed before dispatched. Violence erupted when the contractor tried to forcibly load the bauxite. At Narmadapur, Mainpat, around 400 villagers were working as labourers in the bauxite mines of government-run CMDC. The contractor promised to pay Rs. 350 for mining a tonne of bauxite but paid Rs. 102 instead. The labourers reportedly lodged a complaint to CMDC senior officials but no action taken till...
Ardagh produces new aluminium can for Spain’s cured ham brand Coren
The Luxembourg-based glass and metal products producer Ardagh group has reportedly provided new 235ml triangular shaped aluminium can to Spain’s cured ham brand Coren. The can features an advanced shape with wider at the top or otherwise called as shoulder, and a special easy release lacquer that makes the content simpler and quicker to serve in one piece. The product also includes easy open lid, enabling consumers to apply less force to open it. Ardagh, producing the can at own facility in Schweighouse of France, has designed it with a slightly conical angle for facilitating easy stacking, while the striking red colour ensures better shelf appeal. In October this year, Ardagh unveiled new Willian Grant whiskey bottle, which had been redesigned for the worldwide relaunch of its whiskey...
