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.
China put a cap on renewable energy usage for aluminium production
According to a report on Friday, August 2, China has limited the usage of renewable energy for aluminium production. Shandong province, China's biggest aluminium producer, is allowed to account for 21 per cent of the total energy usage, while Inner Mongolia and Yunnan province are eligible to use up to 29 per cent and 70 per cent, respectively. This move follows a drought-like situation in Yunnan due to erratic rainfall that hampered the area's hydroelectric power supply. In November 2023, Yunnan primary aluminium smelters were asked to reduce power consumption, leading to a production capacity cut of more than 1.1 million tonnes. According to Kunming Power Exchange Centre, Yunnan's hydropower generation suffered a setback in 2023, as demonstrated in the graph below. Yunnan Power...
US aluminium crude metal and alloy imports declined 8% during Jan-May’24, contributed by lacklustre supply from UAE
The United States imports of aluminium crude metals and alloys in May 2024 reflected a decline of 18.18 per cent month-on-month to return to the import volume seen in March. Compared to a year ago, the United States aluminium crude metal and alloy imports in May plunged by 33.66 per cent. According to the USGS data, the United States aluminium crude metal and alloy imports in May 2024 stood at 270,000 tonnes, compared to 330,000 in April and 407,000 in May 2023. In two months of the second quarter, the United States imported 600,000 tonnes of aluminium crude metals and alloys. If this trend continues for one more month, the total imports for Q2 will still be below the 911,000 tonnes imported in the first quarter. The United States’ year-to-date imports totalled 1.51 million tonnes, down...
Ball Corporation posts a robust growth in H1 earnings despite a drop of over 8% in Q2
Ball Corporation, the world's leading producer of sustainable aluminium packaging, announced its second quarter results of 2024, whereby its net earnings attributable to the corporation were $158 million or total diluted earnings per share were 51 cents, down by 8.67 per cent from net earnings of $173 million during the corresponding period of the previous year. The company's earnings decreased in line with declining sales during the same period. According to Ball's report, sales dropped by 3.58 per cent Y-o-Y from $3.07 billion to $2.96 billion. The company's total earnings in the first six months of 2024 were $3.84 billion against sales of $5.83 billion, compared to $350 million of net earnings last year on sales of $6.05 billion. Second quarter and year-to-date 2024 comparable earnings...
Primary aluminium production in North & South America sees over 4% rise in H1 amid periodic declines
Data revealed by the International Aluminium Institute indicates a year-on-year increase in both North and South America's primary aluminium production during the first half of 2024. Even amid occasional declines in some months, primary aluminium output in North America rose by 4.35 per cent, while South America saw an increase of 4.74 per cent by the end of H1 2024. In North America, primary aluminium production in six months of 2024 amounted to 1.992 million tonnes versus 1.909 million tonnes during the corresponding period of the previous year. In South America, the output totalled 751,000 tonnes compared to 717,000 tonnes a year ago. Overview of quarter-wise output In June, North America's primary aluminium production stood at 325,000 tonnes, down by 3.85 per cent from 338,000 tonnes...
India remains the world’s second-largest primary aluminium producer, recording a 1.2% output growth in Q1
India has witnessed a continued increase in metals and minerals production during the first quarter of FY2024-25, following a record output level in FY2023-24, said the Ministry of Mines in a statement on Thursday, August 1. According to the data revealed by the Ministry of Mines, India’s primary aluminium production in the June quarter of FY2024-25 increased by 1.2 per cent year-on-year to 10.43 lakh tonnes from 10.28 lakh tonnes. With this hike, India has secured the significant global position as the second-largest producer of aluminium. The rise in aluminium production indicates robust economic activity across industrial sectors like energy, infrastructure, building and construction, automotive, and machinery. In 2023, India accounted for 6 per cent of global production, churning out...
Vedanta Aluminium receives BIS certification for high-quality 12 mm aluminium wire rods
Vedanta Aluminium has received a certification from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) for its 12 mm aluminium wire rods manufactured at the BALCO facility in Korba, India. In addition, the company has acquired six renewed certifications for other products. Vedanta had launched these 12 mm wire rods last year, particularly for the electrical industry. These wire rods have several applications in power and electrical transmission owing to exceptional conductivity, low weight, and toughness. Vedanta Aluminium was the first company in the Indian aluminium industry to obtain BIS certification for its wide range of aluminium products. Vedanta’s BALCO facility produces EC ingots, alloy ingots, primary ingots, rolled sheets, rolled conductor plates, and rolled plates for general engineering...
The European aluminium market still suffers from muted demand, demonstrated by a 6% fall in foil deliveries
The extended period of weak demand for aluminium has adversely affected both prices and metal deliveries. This trend is evident in European aluminium foil shipments, which totalled 217,800 tonnes in the first three months of 2024. According to the European Aluminium Foil Association, this shipment figure represents a year-on-year fall of 6 per cent compared to 231,700 tonnes. Europe is the second-largest consumer of aluminium foil globally, accounting for 15 percent of the world's usage . China remains the largest, representing approximately 49.5 percent of global consumption. The decline in shipments during Q1 2024 stemmed from a 3 per cent drop in demand. The downtrend in foil demand during the first quarter of 2024 was not only limited within the domestic market but also branched out...
LME aluminium price hikes by US$90.5/t following supportive economic measures from China; SHFE price gains another US$21/t
On July 31, the LME aluminium three-month contract opened at US$2,234.50 per tonne, reached a high of US$2,324.50 per tonne and a low of US$2,229.50 per tonne, and closed at US$2,315 per tonne, up US$77 per tonne or 3.44 per cent. After a month-long relentless decline, LME aluminium cash bid price and LME aluminium official settlement price gained US$89 per tonne and US$90.50 per tonne, respectively, on July 31. The prices thus stood at US$2,250 per tonne and US$2,252 per tonne, buoyed by increased market liquidity after China lowered its deposit rates and Canada’s rate cut met expectations. To boost market confidence further, China has made some more systematic arrangements. On the same day, 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price also increased by US$70.50 per tonne and US$72 per...
World alumina production in H1 2024 heightens 2.34% Y-o-Y despite sluggish contribution from Oceania
World alumina output in the first half of 2024 scaled up 2.34 per cent year-on-year, owing to enormous production above 12 million tonnes in March and May 2024. Almost all the leading alumina-producing regions, except for Oceania, drove the worldwide alumina production hike in H1. Overview of H1 output According to the International Aluminium Institute data, the world alumina production in H1 2024 totalled 70.965 million tonnes, of which 58 per cent was contributed by China. Compared to the past year, global alumina production grew by 2.34 per cent in H1 2024, while China’s contribution to the output remained essentially unchanged in comparison with 57.97 per cent last year. The contribution of Oceania to the H1 alumina production decreased year-on-year from 13.51 per cent to 12.50 per...
Constellium bags ASI Performance Standard Certification for aluminium automotive structure manufacturing
Constellium SE, a global leader in the development, manufacturing, and recycling of aluminium products and solutions, has successfully acquired the Performance Standard V3 (2022) Certification from Aluminium Stewardship Initiative. The certification recognises Constellium’s two facilities that are primarily engaged in manufacturing automotive structures. The two facilities include Constellium Engley in Changchun and Constellium Automotive in Nanjing, China. In 2023, Constellium Engley in Changchun produced over 6,000 tonnes of aluminium automotive structure, and Constellium Automotive in Nanjing facility produced 30,000 sets of front rails. The ASI Performance Standard V3 (2022) certification was launched in May 2022 after multiple revisions over several years. The certification defines...
Capral Aluminium completes trials and becomes Alba’s first customer for EternAlTM low-carbon aluminium
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C.’s (Alba) new range of low-carbon aluminium EternAl TM has reportedly gained access to the Australian manufacturing sector through its first customer Capral Aluminium. The latter has completed its trials of both EternAl-15 and EternAl-30 for using it in producing extruded aluminium products destined for the marine, defence, transport, construction, signage, and general fabrication industries. Securing Capral Aluminium as the first customer for EternAl TM low-carbon aluminium range, Alba has stepped up towards its goals to reach out to worldwide customers with its brand new line of sustainable aluminium. The amalgamation of Alba’s EternAl TM low-carbon aluminium into Capral’s extruded aluminium products will introduce a new range of sustainable raw materials for...
China’s primary aluminium imports continue to downtrend in June by 23.22% M-o-M due to a closed import window
China’s primary aluminium imports in June 2024 recorded a month-on-month decline of 23.22 per cent but a year-on-year rise of 35.61 per cent to 121,200 tonnes, found the Shanghai Metals Market survey. In May 2024, the import volume stood at 158,000 tonnes, down by 27.8 per cent from the previous month. Thus, the data represents a higher rate of decline in China’s primary aluminium imports during June 2024. China’s primary aluminium exports in June stood at approximately 7,000 tonnes, and thus the net import volume in the said month was 114,200 tonnes, up 102.5 per cent Y-o-Y, but down by 24.41 per cent M-o-M. From January to June 2024, China’s cumulative primary aluminium import volume was 1.219 million tonnes, up 151.1 per cent Y-o-Y. The total net import volume was 1.191 million tonnes...
United States’ focus shift to secondary aluminium leads to a 12.3% Y-o-Y decline in primary metal production for May
According to the US Census Bureau survey, the United States' primary aluminium production demonstrated a slight change in monthly trend during May 2024, reflecting an increase of 2,000 tonnes or 3.64 per cent. However, on an annual basis, the output in May extended its declining movement by 8,000 tonnes or 12.31 per cent. As per the recently revealed data, the United States' primary aluminium output during May 2024 stood at 57,000 tonnes versus 55,000 tonnes a month ago and 65,000 tonnes a year earlier. The monthly increase of 2,000 tonnes in May led the output to rebound to the production level seen in March 2024. The average daily production in May was 1,840 tonnes, which was essentially unchanged from 1,850 tonnes in April 2024 but edged a decline of 11.96 per cent year-on-year from...
DGTR suggests anti-dumping duty of up to INR577/t on Chinese aluminium frames
Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has reportedly put forward the proposal of imposing an anti-dumping duty of up to INR 577 per tonne on aluminium frames originating from China. The news came last week after the Directorate stated the plan, explaining its aim to combat unfair trade practices and protect the domestic aluminium industry from the adverse effects of cheap imports. The Directorate further alleged that China is flooding the Indian market with its low-quality aluminium frames, which are being sold at prices below fair market value, impacting domestic Indian manufacturers and leading them to face distorted market and financial losses. The proposed duty intends to make the domestic market more competitive and safeguard India’s...
Upstream Weekly Recap: World’s H1 aluminium production grows as expected; EGA, first in the world to digitise metals quality analysis system on LME
This week, the primary aluminium sector was under a havoc media spotlight from the entire upstream aluminium industry, featuring many crucial events and updates. Besides the global aluminium prices reaching almost a four-month low, what made several round-ups on the internet were Emirates Global Aluminium becoming the first in the world to digitise quality analysis system on LME and Tiwai Point Aluminium Smelter to cut power usage by 185 megawatts due to electricity constraint. This week, on July 25, the LME aluminium benchmark price closed at US$2,218.50 per tonne, reflecting a 5 per cent decline W-o-W and marking the lowest in almost the past four months. On the same day, China’s domestic A00 aluminium ingot price decreased by RMB 190 per tonne to settle at RMB 19,010 per tonne, but...
AMAG Austria reports modest financial results for H1, attributed to weak demand for rolled aluminium in Europe
AMAG Austria Metall AG, a leading Austrian supplier of primary aluminium, premium cast, and rolled aluminium products, announced its financial results for the first half of 2024 ended June 30, whereby it said the challenging environment in terms of demand for aluminium rolled products continued in the second quarter resulted in weaker revenue and net income. Although the increased aluminium prices in the June quarter cushioned worldwide subdued demand for aluminium rolled products, AMAG's revenue stood less in H1 2024 at EUR 707.7 million versus EUR 796.4 million in H1 2023. AMAG's net income after taxes was EUR 33.4 million in H1 2024, down 34.51 per cent Y-o-Y from EUR 51 million. EBITDA was also below the H1 2023 level, standing at EUR 95.3 million, but better than the second half of...
H1 2024: Africa’s primary aluminium production contracts by 2.8% Y-o-Y due to reduced output at Mozal Aluminium
According to the International Aluminium Institute, primary aluminium production in Africa during the first half of 2024 demonstrated a year-on-year downswing, mostly due to the bearish Q1. As per IAI data, Africa's total primary aluminium output in H1 2024 edged a fall of 2.8 per cent Y-o-Y from 788,000 tonnes to 766,000 tonnes. In the June quarter (Q2), the output amounted to 388,000 tonnes, which was 2 per cent lower than 396,000 tonnes in Q1 2023 but 2.65 per cent higher Q-o-Q compared to 378,000 tonnes. Analysis of the production downfall The above data demonstrates a quarterly rise in Africa's primary aluminium output, but it has been enough to offset the annual downtrend. The decline in Africa's primary aluminium production could be primarily attributed to Mozal Aluminium, which...
A00 aluminium ingot price recovers RMB190/t from the previous day’s loss; Aluminium alloy prices garner RMB200/t
According to the Shanghai Metals Market survey, A00 aluminium ingot price has recovered RMB 190 per tonne to close the week on Friday, July 26, at RMB 19,200 per tonne. However, despite the latest rise, the price is down week-on-week by RMB 290 per tonne and month-on-month by RMB 860 per tonne. The average prices today are estimated to range between RMB 19,180 per tonne and RMB 19,220 per tonne, with a spot contract to be traded at a discount price of RMB 60-20 per tonne. China’s domestic low-carbon aluminium price has also escalated by RMB 175 per tonne, standing at RMB 20,021 per tonne. However, on a week-on-week basis, the price has edged a fall of RMB239 per tonne from RMB 20,260 per tonne, and on a month-on-month calculation, the price stands RMB 766 per tonne lower than RMB 20,787...
