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.
DNV GL grants first type approval for ship aluminium cables
When owners and operators from the shipping industry are largely looking for effective measures to reduce the increasing cost pressure, DNV GL has developed the first type approval scheme for the use of ship aluminium cables and connectors. The use of aluminium cables were under evaluation for the past three years in a multi-purpose offshore support vessel. Recently, DNV GL experts, together with representatives from the cable manufacturer Amo Specialkabel AB, checked those cables with a thermographic camera for more than 11,000 operating hours and then granted the approval. Traditionally, copper used to be the key metal for power cables for marine use. But of late, aluminium is replacing the use of copper, owing to its ability to reduce one-third of electricity consumption. Moreover, the...
India to join Norway in WTO consultations over US aluminium and steel tariffs
In a communication to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), India expressed its willingness to join Norway as a third party member in WTO dispute consultations over US’ decision to impose higher tariffs on aluminium and steel products imports. India had dragged the United States earlier as well to the World Trade Organisation for dispute settlement mechanism over the imposition of higher customs duties. "India hereby notifies its desire to join the consultations requested by the Government of Norway...with respect to certain measures imposed by the US to adjust imports of steel and aluminium into the US...and exempting certain selected WTO members from the measures," the WTO said. An official from India further clarified that the country, being a notable steel and aluminium products...
Traders in east China keen to purchase primary aluminium on wider spot discounts
On the face of widened spot discounts on Thursday, June 28, traders in the east China aluminium market showed keen interests in purchasing cargoes, according to Shanghai Metals Market. Such high buying interests also spurred trading liquidity. Producers in east China showed interests to offload cargoes for repaying loan interest towards the mid-year while downstream consumption was relatively weak. This widened the spot discounts. In Shanghai, the transactions were done at RMB 14010 per tonne to RMB 14040 per tonne, with spot discounts settled at RMB 90 per tonne to RMB 80 per tonne against the SHFE 1807 contract. The discounts were about RMB 80 to RMB 70 per tonne a day earlier. Transactions in Wuxi and Hangzhou, on the other hand, were heard at RMB 14010 per tonne to RMB 14040 per tonne...
Coca-Cola Turkey uses thermochromic inks for its summer promotional aluminium cans
Coca-Cola Turkey has reportedly obtained thermochromic ink technology from one of the renowned packaging product suppliers called Crown for designing its new aluminium beverage can. For the first time, the company is using thermochromic ink technology as a decorative tool, which is otherwise known for using one or two thermochromic inks to communicate its temperature changes. Using four different thermochromic inks, Coca-Cola Turkey is creating bright designs for its new cans. The designs although colourless at ambient temperature display colourful patterns when the cans are chilled or drinks are ready for consumption. The designs for Coke Red and Coke Zero beverage cans feature summer themes ranging from ice cubes and palm trees to sandals and sailing boats. These new aluminium-made...
The Indo-Italian MetalHub event: A doorway to India, Italy cooperation
The Indo-Italian MetalHub event, to be held in Milan on July 2, is expected to mark a new definition of cooperation between the intellectual inquiry and industrial districts of Italy and India as it is going to witness a significant moment of interaction between the two countries in the field of metals and materials engineering. The initiative is dedicated to the industrial and cultural resources of India and features a special focus on the State of Odisha in Eastern India, where a large part of India’s mineral and metallurgical resources are concentrated. The event will be hosted at the Belvedere of Palazzo Lombardia, in the Panoramic Room on the 39th floor of the Regione Lombardia Headquarters in Milan: Italy’s highest conference room. It will be a day of dealing with crucial issues,...
China’s aluminium inventory down on increasing consumption: A00 ingot price rises
The incessant price fall of primary aluminium in China and increasing consumption among downstream consumers, as a result, led to the further decline of primary aluminium inventory over this week ended June 28, 2018, according to Shanghai Metals Market. Limited arrivals to the warehouses also contributed to this plunge. As of Thursday, June 28, inventories of primary aluminium, including SHFE warrants, across eight major Chinese markets dropped from 1.87 million tonnes, as of Monday, June 25, to 1.84 million tonnes. Compared to the last Thursday, June 21 when the inventory was at 1.88 million tonnes, the inventory today shrank 40,000 tonnes, as SMM data showed. The inventory in Wuxi and Jiangsu dropped to 777,000 tonnes, while in Shanghai, the inventory dipped to 429,000 tonnes. Nanhai...
Indian companies ask government to place restrictions on aluminium imports from China
According to the presentation made by the Aluminium Association of India (AAI) and reviewed by Business Standard, the Indian aluminium industry has been suffering over the years because of the unfavourable Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) that allowed China to dump a huge amount of aluminium in India. Hence, as per the Business Standard report, the Indian aluminium companies, including Hindalco and Vedanta have asked the government to place restrictions on aluminium imports from China. Recently, executives from companies had met Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) Secretary Ramesh Abhishek and requested for quantitative restrictions on aluminium imports, which shot up over the past two years, a commerce ministry official said. The AAI sought in the presentation “the...
US’ tariff on imported passenger vehicles likely to cost domestic consumers $45 billion
An automotive trade group believes that US’ tariff of up to 25 per cent on imported passenger vehicles if imposed, will likely cost domestic consumers US$45 billion annually or US$5800 per vehicle. Gloria Bergquist, the national spokesperson for auto industry on environmental and safety matters, said, “Nationwide, this tariff would hit American consumers with a tax of nearly $45 billion, based on 2017 auto sales. This would largely cancel out the benefits of the tax cuts.” On Tuesday, June 26, the automotive trade group reported that it would warn the Trump administration about the passenger vehicles price hike on the imposition of imported vehicle tariff. “The alliance of automobile manufacturers, a group representing General Motors Co, Toyota Motor Corp, Volkswagen AG and other major...
Alumina spot price in China sees a further decline, while A00 aluminium ingot price grows
After rallying at RMB 2786 per tonne for two days in a row on June 25 and 26, alumina spot price plunged to RMB 2745 per tonne in China today, on June 27, 2018, according to Shanghai Metals Market. The average price is expected to hover at RMB 2745 per tonne. In the east, the alumina price dropped to RMB 2765 per tonne today after hovering at RMB 2805 per tonne on June 25 and 26, while the average prices are expected to range between RMB 2750 and RMB 2780 per tonne. In the central, on the other hand, the price dipped to RMB 2765 per tonne from RMB 2790 per tonne from June 19 to 26, with average price same as in the east. In north and south, the prices declined from RMB 2785 per tonne to RMB 2730 per tonne and from RMB 2770 per tonne to RMB 2725 per tonne. The average prices are expected...
Army Laboratory to issue license to its nanogalvanic aluminium powder discovery
The US Army Research Laboratory (ARL) plans to issue a license to its new discovery of aluminium-based nanogalvanic alloy powder. When combined with water or any water-based liquid, this alloy powder reacts to produce on-demand hydrogen for power generation without a catalyst. "This powder-based alloy includes material that disrupts the formation of an encapsulating aluminium oxide layer, allowing for the continuous production of hydrogen that can be used at the point of need to power a wide range of devices via fuel cells and internal combustion," said Dr. Anit Giri, a scientist with the lab's Weapons and Materials Research Directorate. "The powder can be easily manufactured to scale, and can be conveniently and safely transported via tablets or vacuum pouches, thus eliminating reliance...
China’s aluminium inventory sees marginal decline on lower consumption: A00 ingot price dips
The primary aluminium inventory in China, including SHFE warrants, saw a slower decline over the weekend as environment probe deterred downstream consumption. As of June 25, 2018, primary aluminium inventories across eight major consumption areas in China shrank 15,000 tonnes to stand at 1.87 million tonnes, compared to 1.88 million tonnes on last Thursday, June 21, 2018, Shanghai Metals Market observed. This indicates a drop of 32,000 tonnes recorded on last Tuesday, June 19, 2018, when the inventory was at 1.89 million tonnes. While in Wuxi and Jiangsu, the inventory dropped from 795,000 tonnes, as of June 21, to 789,000 tonnes on June 25; in Shanghai, the inventory remained unchanged and hovered at 433,000 tonnes. Other major Chinese cities like Nanhai and Guangdong and Linyi and...
Russia seeks third-party status from WTO to join EU-US consultations on aluminium and steel
The Government of the Russian Federation announced on Tuesday, June 19, that it requested to join consultations between the European Union and the United States at the World Trade Organisation over the US imported metal tariffs. The request was submitted in an official letter, dated June 15, 2018. The letter revealed that Moscow wanted to be included in the proceedings as a third party since the measures at issue are applied to the Russian aluminium and steel exports as well. A statement in the letter reads, “The application by the United States of the challenged measures has significant detrimental effect on Russia's trade interests." Should the Russian Federation receives third-party status, it will have the right to send representatives to attend the talks, listen, and present own...
JISCO to invest $3 billion to develop Gansu Industrial Park and Special Economic Zone
Gansu Industrial Park and Special Economic Zone in Nain, St. Elizabeth, where China-based Jiuquan Iron and Steel Company (JISCO) operates the Alpart alumina refinery is going to get a facelift, as the company itself will invest over US$3 billion for the development. Pivotal to Jamaica’s Logistics Hub Initiative (LHI), this park is one of the largest business parks developed by the Jamaica Special Economic Zone Authority (JSEZA) and is expected to generate 60,000 jobs on further development. Chairman of the JSEZA, Metry Seaga, provided all the possible details of the development during a media briefing at the authority Waterloo Road, St. Andrew, on Wednesday, June 20. He said this development would involve the establishment of a bauxite/alumina refinery, an electricity plant to power the...
UC Rusal resumes operations at its Friguia alumina refinery
Russian aluminium giant UC Rusal-operated Friguia alumina refinery in Guinea has restarted its operations on Wednesday, June 20, 2018. The news came to focus when the West African country’s mines minister reported to Reuters yesterday, on June 21, 2018. According to the update in May 2017, the refinery was planned to restart in April this year, with an alumina production capacity of 65,000 tonnes per year. But the US-sanctions hit since April 2018 on all Russian aluminium companies, including Rusal, could be the cause for delayed recommencement of the Friguia refinery. Friguia officially resumed its operations just a day after Rusal declared the beginning of bauxite shipment from its Dian-Dian bauxite project in Guinea to alumina refineries in other countries. “The recovery of the Friguia...
A00 aluminium ingot price rises marginally, while alumina price shows no change
After showing a restraint yesterday, on June 21, at RMB 14120 per tonne, the average A00 aluminium ingot price saw a marginal growth today, June 22, to RMB 14130 per tonne, according to Shanghai Metals Market. The prices are expected to range between RMB 14110 per tonne and RMB 14150 per tonne, with spot discount to settle at RMB 50 per tonne to RMB 10 per tonne. However, not all major markets in China witnessed a rise in the A00 aluminium ingot price today. While in east and south, the prices plunged from RMB 14105 per tonne to RMB 14095 per tonne and from RMB 14235 per tonne to RMB 14230 per tonne respectively, in the north, the price registered a growth by RMB 10 per tonne to stand at RMB 14150 per tonne. The table below shows the movements of primary aluminium prices across the major...
Rio Tinto obtains infrastructure material for its $2.6 billion Amrun bauxite project
Rio Tinto, one of the world’s largest metals and mining corporations, has reported the receipt of vital infrastructure pieces for its US$2.6 billion Amrun bauxite project on Cape York Peninsula, Queensland. The infrastructure pieces include 550t stacker and 1700t reclaimer, which arrived after 16 months of fabrication in Western Australia and a nine-day voyage to the Far North Queensland site. Rio Tinto Amrun project general manager Marcia Hanrahan said, “The infrastructure has created employment on both sides of Australia with fabrication and part-commissioning of the modules generating 150 jobs for West Australians and 100 jobs for Queenslanders, who will construct and fully commission the units now they have arrived at site.” The shiploader, final piece of infrastructure outstanding...
India to impose retaliatory measures on US exports from August 4
India today, on June 21, 2018, notified that it would impose retaliatory tariffs against 30 US products from August 4, 2018. The products are worth of US$240 million to counter Trump administration’s move to unilaterally hike duties on Indian aluminium and steel exports. Although the Indian retaliatory tariffs could have come into effect immediately, the country seems to be given some more time to the US keeping in mind the upcoming negotiations for a trade package with the US. Assistant US trade representative (USTR) Mark Linscott is likely to visit India last week of this month to begin the negotiations. Last week on June 13, India had intimidated the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to impose duties on 30 US products , including motorcycles with engine capacity over 800cc (including...
Anrak Aluminium to revive its 1.5 million tonne alumina refinery in Vizag
Anrak Aluminium Limited (AAL), a joint venture of Penna Group and Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority, is reportedly taking a serious effort to recommence operations at its alumina refinery in Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The company is planning to arrive at a one-time settlement with the SBI-led consortium of banks for putting its 1.5 million tonne alumina refinery in order. A few years ago, the refinery was built after acquiring 2,300 acres of land through the AP Industrial Infrastructure Corporation at Rachapalli, 80 KM away from AAL’s alumina refinery at Makavaripalem in Vizag. The refinery project was completed in 2013, along with a 72x3-MW captive power plant, with a total investment of 6000 crore, which was half of its loan through the consortium. Earlier, many other refinery...
