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’s aluminium output records a 3.5% M-o-M growth in May 2024; June looks positive with more capacity resumptions
In May 2024 (31 calendar days), China's domestic aluminium production was 3.637 million tonnes, an increase of 3.47 per cent M-o-M from 3.515 million tonnes and a hike of 4.61 per cent year-on-year. The rise in output during May 2024 was primarily driven by the resumption of aluminium plants in Yunnan and Inner Mongolia. However, the proportion of aluminium liquid saw a slight drop due to the reduction in aluminium billet production, down by 0.7 percentage points M-o-M and 2.3 percentage points Y-o-Y to around 73.27 per cent. According to SMM's aluminium liquid proportion data, the volume of aluminium ingot production in May rose 14.24 per cent year over year to approximately 971,000 tonnes. Production capacity According to SMM statistics, China's domestic aluminium capacity at the end of...
Aluminium extrusions: Quenching the thirst for ‘Green Metal’ among manufacturing sectors
It is no secret that aluminium is now a popular choice of metal in architectural, automotive, electronics, aerospace, energy, and other industries. But do you know which form of aluminium is used in these industrial sectors? Yes, aluminium extrusions, which are created by extruding aluminium through a die to create complex shapes, making the metal versatile for numerous applications. Driven by a deliberate transition towards a 100% recyclable metal to promote sustainability, the demand and use of aluminium extrusions in end-user products is on a steady rise. In 2023, the estimated usage of aluminium extrusions stood at 31.5 million tonnes, and with the growth projection, it is expected to reach 40.1 million tonnes by 2030, marking a CAGR of 3.51 per cent. World aluminium extrusions usage,...
China’s A00 aluminium ingot price declines for the fourth day, marking a W-o-W fall of 2.5%
China’s domestic A00 aluminium ingot price has descended for the fourth day in a row by RMB 130 per tonne against the backdrop of subdued manufacturing activity growth in the country. According to SMM, China’s A00 aluminium ingot price has come in at RMB 20,660 per tonne, bringing the price 2.5 per cent lower week-on-week than RMB 21,190 per tonne, but remains higher than a month by 1.13 per cent compared to RMB 20,430 per tonne. The average prices are expected to range between RMB 20,640 per tonne and RMB 20,680 per tonne, with spot contract to be traded at a discount price of RMB 30-10 per tonne. In Tianjin, A00 aluminium ingot price has shrunk by RMB 150 per tonne on June 13, closing at RMB 20,740 per tonne, followed by a downfall of RMB 140 per tonne in Wuxi to RMB 20,660 per tonne....
Primary aluminium production in North and South America demonstrates steady annual growth during April 2024
According to the International Aluminium Institute (IAI), North America’s primary aluminium production dwindled over a month in April 2024 but did not shy away from recording an annual hike. Total production in the four months of 2024 also increased on an annual basis, indicating an overall positive trend of operation at North American smelters. As per the data revealed by IAI, primary aluminium production in North America during April 2024 amounted to 331,000 tonnes, reflecting a fall of 2.93 per cent or 10,000 tonnes from 341,000 tonnes a month ago. However, on a year-on-year calculation, the output stood at 11,000 tonnes or 3.44 per cent higher compared to 320,000 tonnes. From January to April 2024, North America produced 1.329 million tonnes of primary aluminium, which marked an...
NALCO trims its aluminium ingot price by INR3500/t with effect from June 8
National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) reduced its aluminium prices with effect from Saturday, June 8, in line with the downtrend of the LME aluminium benchmark price. The company trimmed its aluminium ingot price by INR 3,500 per tonne or 1.35 per cent on June 8 from INR 254,950-258,450 per tonne on June 1. Thus, the current price of NALCO’s aluminium ingot price stands at INR 251,450-254,950 per tonne. NALCO also reduced its aluminium wire rod price and aluminium billets price by INR 3,500 per tonne, with effect from June 8. That brought the prices at INR 260,450-264,800 per tonne and INR 255,900-258,550 per tonne, respectively, versus INR 259,400-262,050 per tonne and INR 263,950-268,300 per tonne. Like any other Indian aluminium companies, NALCO links its aluminium prices with the...
May 2024: China’s alumina production continues to grow annually nearing 7 million tonnes
According to the Shanghai Metals Market survey, China's metallurgical-grade alumina production in May 2024 (31 calendar days) recorded a monthly hike of 4.64 per cent, reaching 6.989 million tonnes versus 6.679 million tonnes. The daily average output stood at 233,000 tonnes per day, reflecting an increase of 4.67 per cent from 222,600 tonnes in April 2024. The accumulated production of China's metallurgical-grade alumina from January to May 2024 amounted to 33.451 million tonnes, up 3.42 per cent Y-o-Y. At the end of May 2024, China's alumina capacity was 100 million tonnes, with an operating capacity of 82.29 million tonnes and an operating rate of 82.3 per cent. In April 2024, China's operating capacity was 81.27 million tonnes, with an average operating rate of 81.3 per cent. Alumina...
Nigeria’s largest aluminium recycling plant is making its way with TLG’s $10 million credit facility
In collaboration with Wema Bank, the pioneer of Africa's first fully digital bank, TLG Capital, a private investment firm, has reportedly confirmed a structured private credit facility worth $10 million for one of the largest aluminium recyclers in Nigeria. According to TLG Capital, this investment will build Nigeria's most significant and first industrial-scale aluminium recycling facility. However, the identity of the fund's recipient is not being disclosed by TLG. The recycling facility, once operational, is poised to make a significant environmental impact. It is projected to reduce the carbon footprint over the next five years, equivalent to removing 100,000 passenger vehicles off the road. In comparison to solar PV energy in the region, this initiative is expected to deliver twelve...
US aluminium crude metals and alloys imports upswing in Q1 2024; Canada tops supplier list despite lower export volume
The latest data revealed by the US Geological Survey indicates a sequential increase in the United States’ aluminium crude metals and alloys imports during the first quarter of 2024. On an annual basis, the imports also recorded an upswing, showed the USGS data. In Q1 2024, the United States imported 911,000 tonnes of aluminium crude metals and alloys, up by 5.81 per cent Q-o-Q from 861,000 tonnes and 1.12 per cent Y-o-Y from 901,000 tonnes. The United States Q1 imports recorded an uptrend, both on a sequential and annual basis, despite a drop in March 2024. In the said month, the United States imports of aluminium crude metals and alloys amounted to 270,000 tonnes, down by 19.48 per cent from 344,000 tonnes in February 2024 and 12.34 per cent less than 316,000 tonnes in March 2023. In...
Kaiser Aluminum confirms closure of its Sherman facility by this summer
Kaiser Aluminum Corporation, an American aluminium producer, has reportedly confirmed the permanent closing of its Sherman facility this summer. The news followed a statement from Kaiser Aluminum representative Anne McGuinness that stated the decision was due to business challenges at the Sherman location. About two years ago, Kaiser Aluminum faced a mishap at Sherman plant for a furnace explosion causing a fire outbreak. Following the accident, Kaiser Aluminium had to prepare for a production cut. McGuinness commented, “Any impacted customers have been or are in the process of being relocated to other Kaiser facilities to continue serving them in line with Kaiser’s corporate value to be a preferred supplier.” Currently, the facility’s 75 employees are working on termination benefits and...
Sohar Aluminium takes interest in the proposed aluminium industry cluster in Suhar Industrial City
The project team involved in implementing an integrated economic cluster for aluminium in Suhar paid a visit to Suhar Industrial City and discussed comprehensive action plan for developing the aluminium industry cluster. The team looking after the project includes representatives from OPAZ, the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates “Madayn”, the National Programme for Economic Diversification “Tanwee”, the National Programme for Investment and Exports Development “Nazdaher”, and the Industrial Innovation Academy. During the visit, the team met the executive management of Sohar Aluminium, a key player in the Sultanate’s aluminium industry, and toured several downstream aluminium manufacturing factories to understand their day-to-day challenges and identify investment opportunities...
China’s domestic A00 aluminium ingot price slumps by RMB360/t over the weekend; Alumina price inches up by RMB1/t
According to the Shanghai Metals Market survey, China’s domestic A00 aluminium ingot price has plummeted by RMB 360 per tonne over the weekend to reach RMB 20,810 per tonne as of Tuesday, June 11. That brought the price week-on-week lower by 1.79 per cent from RMB 21,190 per tonne. Today, the average prices are estimated to range between RMB 20,790 per tonne and RMB 20,830 per tonne, with a spot contract to be traded at a discount of RMB 70-30 per tonne. The A00 aluminium ingot price fell over the weekend on mixed trading sentiment and a rise in dollar value. In Foshan, A00 aluminium ingot price has also plunged by RMB 360 per tonne to RMB 20,690 per tonne, followed by a downfall of RMB 340 per tonne in Hangzhou and Linyi to come in at RMB 20,830 per tonne and RMB 20,860 per tonne,...
China increasingly indulges in aluminium scrap imports from the US, representing a 39.5% growth Y-o-Y
The year-end statistics of 2023, as reported by the United States Census Bureau and the US Geological Survey, revealed a significant strategic shift in the non-ferrous scrap export market, particularly aluminium, with a notable increase in buyers from China. Through 2023, the United States exported 33.6 per cent of its aluminium scrap production. Domestic furnaces melted 4.06 million tonnes of scrap, of which 2.06 million tonnes were sent by sea container or crossed the border to Canada or Mexico. Of the 2.06 million tonnes of scrap exported, China (including Hong Kong) received 212,000 tonnes, which accounted for 10 per cent of the exports. This figure equates to about 3.5 per cent of aluminium scrap collected in the US last year. The above data also demonstrates that China's aluminium...
US primary aluminium production grows in March 2024 but fails to offset Q1 decline
The United States' domestic primary aluminium production in March 2024 recorded a month-on-month increase after two back-to-back months of decline in January and February. However, on a year-on-year calculation, the United States' primary aluminium production in March was 12.31 per cent less than 65,000 tonnes. According to the latest data revealed by the US Geological Survey, the United States produced 57,000 tonnes of primary aluminium in March 2024, which reflected an increase of 8,000 tonnes or 12.30 per cent in February 2024. It is to be noted here that despite the month-on-month increase in March 2024, primary aluminum production in the United States experienced a decline for the entire Q1 period when compared both quarter-on-quarter and year-on-year. The United States accumulated...
LME aluminium benchmark price loses US$8.5/t on mixed trade numbers; SHFE declines by US$8/t
LME aluminium opened at US$2,633.50 per tonne, reached a high of US$2,673 per tonne and a low of US$2,628.50 per tonne, and closed at US$2,647.50 per tonne, up US$12.50 per tonne or 0.47 per cent. On Friday, June 7, LME aluminium cash bid and LME aluminium official settlement price decreased by US$8 per tonne and US$8.5 per tonne, respectively, to close the week at US$2,578 per tonne and US$2,578.50 per tonne. The LME aluminium benchmark price fell on mixed trade numbers and a rise in the US dollar. On the same day, 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price shrunk by US$15.5 per tonne and US$15 per tonne to settle at US$2,628 per tonne and US$2,629 per tonne. December-25 bid price and December-25 offer price stood at US$2,737 per tonne and US$2,742 per tonne, down by US$23 per tonne from...
Guinea seals an alumina refinery deal with EGA’s subsidiary
According to a report on Friday, June 7, Guinea will house its second major alumina refinery, which will be constructed by a subsidiary of Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA). The news came after two senior officials of Guinea's mines ministry told Reuters that a non-binding agreement was signed between Guinea and EGA's subsidiary company. The agreement, known as a Term Sheet, states that EGA's subsidiary Guinea Alumina Corporation (GAC) will build the 2 million tonnes capacity refinery in west Guinea by September 2026, initially producing 1.2 million tonnes annually. The signing was presided over by Djiba Diakité, Minister and Chief of Staff at the Office of the Presidency of the Republic, and Chairman of the Strategic Monitoring Committee for the Simandou project, at the Petit Palais of the...
Speira strategically turning Europe into an aluminium recycling hub, investing millions of euros in new capacities
To position as a top aluminium recycler in Europe, Speira is increasingly investing in building new or expanding existing recycling capacities. According to a recent report, the European company is investing 40 million euros for an additional recycling capacity and revamping the Rheinwerk plant to enable it to save up to 1.5 million tonnes of CO2 per year at the site. Concerning the project, Boris Kurth, Head of the can business at Speira as well as the recycling and foundry operations at the Rheinwerk, said: "We want to become the number 1 in aluminium recycling in Europe. Over the past 20 years, we have already built furnaces with leading recycling capacity in Europe and Europe's most modern sorting plant for UBC scrap, substituting the highly energy-intensive primary production of...
Kaiwera Downs wind farm expansion to provide further oxygen to Tiwai Point aluminium smelter
Rio Tinto, a leading mining group, reportedly acquired approval for wind farm expansion within a week of signing a groundbreaking electricity deal to power its New Zealand Tiwai Point aluminium smelter. On Thursday, June 6, the New Zealand-listed energy company Mercury said it would start working on expanding Kaiwera Downs wind farm near Gore on the South Island at a cost of $486 million. After expansion, the wind farm's total capacity will grow to 198 MW, becoming the second largest in New Zealand. The wind farm will then be able to generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of around 73,000 tonnes per year. The Tiwai Point aluminium smelter's total need for 572 megawatts (MW) of power would be met by several electricity generators including Meridian Energy, Contact Energy,...
China’s A00 aluminium ingot price marks a W-o-W decline of RMB70/t; Bauxite price in Guizhou gains RMB10/t
According to the Shanghai Metals Market, A00 aluminium ingot price has dropped slightly by RMB 20 per tonne after a rise of RMB 120 per tonne on the previous day. Therefore, the ingot price has closed the week at RMB 21,170 per tonne on June 7, registering a week-on-week fall of RMB 70 per tonne from RMB 21,240 per tonne. The average prices are estimated to range between RMB 21,150 per tonne and RMB 21,190 per tonne, with spot contract to be traded at a discount price of RMB 90-50 per tonne. In Gongyi, A00 aluminium ingot price has slipped by RMB 40 per tonne to settle at RMB 21,080 per tonne, followed by the decline of RMB 30 per tonne in Foshan, Hangzhou, Shenyang, and Linyi to stand at RMB 21,050 per tonne, RMB 21,170 per tonne, RMB 21,090 per tonne, and RMB 21,200 per tonne,...
