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 ingot inventory slumps at a higher rate as downstream operations continue to recover
On the recovery of downstream operating rates last week, the consumption of aluminium ingots rose leading to a decline in social inventories, found the Shanghai Metals Market. According to SMM data, the average operating rate across major aluminium processing enterprises stood at 64 per cent last week from April 1 to 5, as a result of increased operating rate of primary aluminium alloy companies and stable operating rate of aluminium wires and cables producing enterprises and aluminium extrusion firms Due to the increased consumption of aluminium ingots by downstream sectors and low arrivals of stocks to warehouses, social inventories of aluminium ingots last week dwindled by 18,000 tonnes week-on-week to amount to 847,000 tonnes, of which 721,000 tonnes was for sale. In the earlier week,...
Adani ventures into polysilicon production to boost solar module manufacturing; Aluminium sector set to thrive with surge in solar projects
According to a report, Adani Group, a leading integrated business conglomerate, has commenced the commercial production of polysilicon wafers and ingots at its factory in Gujarat to increase the supply of raw materials for the manufacture of in-house solar power cells and modules. Vneet S Jaain, a director at Adani New Industries Ltd (ANIL), said: "We are the first company in India which has set up ingot and wafers factory of 2 gigawatts and we have already started production." The Group aims to become India's first integrated renewable energy player, in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of India becoming a net-zero country by 2070. By 2030, the Adani Group, led by billionaire Gautam Adani, aims to generate 45 gigawatts (GW) of renewable power, the two-thirds of which is to...
Craftsman Automation to build a lightweight aluminium auto components plant in Alwar, India
Craftsman Automation, an Indian company specialised in diversified casting solution of highly complex lightweight aluminium components for the automotive & industrial engineering sectors, has reportedly signed an agreement with Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation (RIICO) to set up a plant in Alwar city of Rajasthan. The news came on Monday, April 8, after they announced about the signing of project agreement. As per the report, the initial investment for the plant would be INR 150 crore. The South India-based company will invest this amount for developing the first phase of the project, which will come up in Salarpur industrial area of Bhiwadi, Rajasthan. This location is extremely strategic for its proximity to major cities like Delhi and Gurgaon. The...
US aluminium scrap exports in Jan’24 show a slight recovery M-o-M but strike an annual downtrend of 3%
According to the US Census Bureau survey, the United States aluminium scrap exports initiated the year 2024 with an annual decline of 5,000 tonnes or 3.13 per cent, reaching 155,000 tonnes. In January 2023, the United States aluminium scrap exports amounted to 160,000 tonnes. The year-on-year drop in aluminium scrap exports could be attributed to the lower volume of scrap recovery. In January 2024, the United States recovered 275,000 tonnes of aluminium scrap – 3,000 tonnes less than 278,000 tonnes in January 2023. However, the scrap recovery increased month-on-month in January 2024 by 13,000 tonnes or 4.96 per cent from 262,000 tonnes. Thus, the exports also rose, albeit at a lower rate than scrap recovery growth, from 152,000 tonnes. The United States aluminium scrap exports rose...
A stable operating rate is seen across Chinese downstream aluminium sectors, achieved by lower processing fees
According to the Shanghai Metals Market survey the average operating rate of major aluminium processing enterprises decreased by 0.5 percentage point week-on-week to 64 per cent in the last week, from April 1 to April 5. The secondary aluminium alloy sector primarily contributed to the fall, while the other sectors remained stable. Many downstream companies reduced their product processing fees to attract new orders and seize market share, but the actual demand was limited. In the short term, leading companies may maintain a high operating rate by exchanging price for volume, but profitability will most likely remain low. The average operating rate of downstream sectors is also stable for now, notwithstanding the aluminium price surge through the week and a slight tremble in the...
China’s aluminium scrap imports in the first two months of 2024 see an annual increase of 19%
According to China customs data, China's total aluminium scrap imports from January to February 2024 amounted to 289,000 tonnes, reflecting an annual hike of 19.2 per cent. In individual months, the imports stood at 171,000 tonnes and 118,000 tonnes, respectively, experiencing a significant rise of 68 per cent and a fall of 16.1 per cent annually. Malaysia was the highest exporter of aluminium scrap to China, with 54,000 tonnes of volume, accounting for 18.7 per cent of the latter's total imports during January-February. Thailand was the second-highest exporter with 39,000 tonnes, accounting for 13.6 per cent, followed by Japan with the export volume of 30,000 tonnes, accounting for 10.4 per cent, and the UK and the US with a combined 46,200 tonnes, accounting for 16 per cent. Guangdong...
Maybank Investment estimates Press Metal’s Q1 FY2024 net profit to grow up to RM365 million
Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Berhad, a Malaysian-based integrated producer of aluminium, is likely to register a higher net profit for the first quarter (Q1) of 2024, in support of higher spot prices of the metal, notwithstanding volatile production costs. Maybank Investment Bank Bhd (MaybankIB) estimates Press Metal's core earnings for Q1 2024 between RM315 million and RM365 million. In the previous quarter (Q4 FY2023), the company's core earnings totalled RM328.4 million. The bank has projected this increased quarter-on-quarter earnings based on the uptrend of the aluminium spot price on the London Metal Exchange at the average of US$2,243 per tonne in Q1 2024. "Our 1Q24E core net profit estimate implies that PMETAL's earnings would come in at 22-25 per cent of our revised financial...
Vedanta posts a 3% rise in FY2024 aluminium production despite a retreat from the highest-ever quarterly output in Q4
On Thursday, April 4, India's diversified natural resources firm Vedanta Limited announced its Q4 FY2024 and full-year operational results, revealing both aluminium and alumina output volume. Aluminium production Vedanta said its aluminium production in Q4 FY2024, which ended March 31, stood at 598,000 tonnes, reflecting a 4 per cent year-on-year increase from 574,000 tonnes. However, on a quarter-on-quarter calculation, Vedanta's aluminium production in Q4 FY2024 recorded a slight dip of 1,000 tonnes from 599,000 tonnes, the highest quarterly output ever. Nevertheless, Vedanta's total aluminium production in FY2024 grew annually by 3 per cent from 2.291 million tonnes to 2.37 million tonnes. The Group stated today that it aims to increase its aluminium production capacity to 3 million...
Vedanta nears two-third of its nameplate capacity goal at Lanjigarh alumina refinery by adding 1.5 MTPA
On Wednesday, April 3, Vedanta Aluminium reported that it commissioned an additional 1.5 million tonnes of annual alumina capacity at its Lanjigarh refinery in Odisha. Earlier, the refining capacity of the unit was 2 million tonnes per annum, and with the new capacity, it has increased to 3.5 million tonnes, said Vedanta Aluminium in a statement. Vedanta's plan is to add 1.5 million tonnes of capacity more to the refinery and bring it to a total of 5 million tonnes per annum. The Group also aims to increase its aluminium production capacity to 3 million tonnes per annum from 2.37 million tonnes at present. All these expansion efforts will bring Vedanta closer to its ultimate goal of becoming one of the top three global producers in the world aluminium market. Vedanta Aluminium CEO John...
Lotte Aluminium decides to split into two new entities to nurture the respective areas of strength
On Wednesday, April 3, Lotte Aluminium Co., Korea’s biggest comprehensive packaging material company under Lotte Group, announced that it would split into two entities – Lotte Infracell and Lotte Packaging Solutions. The company believes that this move will enable them to focus on respective areas of expertise. While Lotte Infracell will focus on secondary battery materials, Lotte Packaging Solutions will look after the packaging business. Lotte Infracell will nurture its expertise in secondary battery materials, inheriting the aluminium foil business from Lotte Aluminium’s BM business division. Lotte Infracell aims to enhance the production and supply of high-quality battery-grade aluminium foil to tap the fast-growing EV battery market. On the other hand, Lotte Packaging Solutions will...
NALCO’s stock hits 52-week high on record-breaking production of upstream aluminium
On Wednesday, April 3, National Aluminium Company’s stock price (NALCO) reached a 52-week high in the wake of highest-ever production of aluminium, record excavation of bauxite, and best ever metal sale, surpassing all previous records since inception. According to the report, NALCO’s share price stood at INR 176.20 on BSE following the PSU’s FY2024 result announcement. The share price marked a jump of 6.05 per cent from the closing price of INR 166.15 on the previous day. On Wednesday, April 3, NALCO’s stock opened at INR 167.20. The PSU’s stock traded higher by 4.91 per cent, or INR 8.15, at INR 174.30 at 11:57 am on Wednesday. On Tuesday, April 2, NALCO announced that it achieved a record-breaking primary aluminium production of 4,63,428 tonnes, utilising its annual nameplate capacity...
KYOCERA AVX unveils new RES Series radial-leaded aluminium electrolytic capacitors
KYOCERA AVX, an American manufacturer and supplier of advanced electronic components and innovative sensor, control, connectors and antenna solutions, has reportedly unveiled new RES Series radial-leaded aluminium electrolytic capacitors that are engineered to deliver high CV values in small case sizes. The new RES Series wet aluminium electrolytic capacitators also offer long-lifetime endurance of 5,000-7,000 hours at 105 degree celsius and high ripple current to help manufacturers save board space in high-density PCB assemblies. These new RES Series capacitors are compatible and compliant with the RoHS, REACH, and CA Prop 65 directives, enhancing suitability in industrial, communications, and consumer electronics applications, such as computers, access points, and other networking...
US domestic primary aluminium production begins 2024 with an annual drop on account of reduced capacity
The US Census Bureau data showed that the country's domestic primary aluminium production marked a slight slowdown at the beginning of 2024. The year began by continuing the downtrend of 2023 when the US primary aluminium production amounted to 750,000 tonnes compared to 861,000 tonnes in 2022. According to the USGS data, in January 2024, the United States produced 63,000 tonnes of primary aluminium, reflecting a drop of 1,000 tonnes from the previous month. On an annual basis, the output in January 2024 also saw a decline of 1,000 tonnes. The continuous shutdown and operation cuts of aluminium smelters in the United States could be attributed to the fall in domestic production. At present, Alcoa's two potlines out of three at Warrick smelter are operative, Century's Hawesville is...
Nemak receives ASI Performance Standard Certification for its three aluminium auto component facilities
Nemak S.A.B de C.V, popularly known as Nemak, specialised in developing and manufacturing aluminium components for e-mobility, structure and chassis, has reportedly received Aluminium Stewardship Initiative’s Performance Standard V3 (2022) Certification for its three global production facilities in Poland, Slovakia, and Brazil. The three facilities, named Nemak Slovakia s.r.o., near Ladomerská Vieska, Slovakia; Nemak Poland Sp. z o.o. in Bielsko-Biała, Poland; and Nemak Alumínio do Brazil Ltda. in Betim, Mato Grosso, Brazil, produce a wide range of automotive components. While the Slovakia facility manufactures engine blocks, transmission cases, and housing for electric engines, the Poland facility produces high-pressure diecasting, with production departments focused on powertrain...
Revival in the automobile sector likely to buoy Japan’s aluminium demand in FY2024
Japan is one of those countries exhibiting a buoyant aluminium market for the fiscal year 2024, driven by potential demand due to the revival in the semiconductor and automobile sectors. According to the estimated data shared by the Aluminum Research Committee, Japan’s demand for aluminium products will most likely reach 3.85 million tonnes in FY 2024, marking an increase for the first time in three years. Only the demand for rolled aluminium products is projected to fall short of the 4 million tonnes target, remaining at 1.73 million tonnes through FY2024. The Committee, comprising seven industry organizations, estimates that Japan’s aluminium product demand will grow 2.1 per cent compared to the previous year, buoyed by projected automobile sales to grow by 3.7 per cent. Domestic demand...
Vedanta Aluminium hosts a one-day safety training programme to implant ‘Safety-First Culture’ among diverse industries
On March 31, Vedanta Aluminium hosted a one-day industrial safety training programme at its Jharsuguda operations in collaboration with the Directorate of Factories and Boilers, Government of Odisha. This training programme extended across diverse industrial zones within the state, aiming to promote a robust safety culture in the manufacturing industries. The eminent personalities present in the programme were Shri R.S. Gopalan, IAS Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Labour & ESI Dept., Govt. of Odisha, and Dr Malay Kumar Pradhan, Deputy Director of Factories & Boilers (Safety), Govt. of Odisha. Others who joined virtually included Shri Swaroop Jena, Deputy Director of Factories & Boilers, Sambalpur Division., Govt. of Odisha; Smt. Archana Das, Asst. Director of Factories & Boilers, Jharsuguda,...
Market apprehensions for tight production in Yunnan lead to SHFE price growth for the fourth day
The SHFE aluminium benchmark price has continued to grow on Tuesday, April 2, albeit at a lower rate. According to the data, the price has increased by US$3 per tonne to reach US$2,721 per tonne. Compared to the same period last year, the price is 0.33 per cent higher than US$2,712 per tonne. On a week-on-week basis, the SHFE price is up by US$13 per tonne or 0.48 per cent from US$2,708 per tonne. Overnight, the most-traded SHFE 2405 aluminium contract opened at RMB 19,760 per tonne, with its lowest and highest at RMB 19,710 per tonne and RMB 19,805 per tonne before closing at RMB 19,725 per tonne, up RMB 5 per tonne or 0.03 per cent. China’s primary aluminium domestic price has been on a rising spree for the past week. Due to dry weather, limited production in one of China’s leading...
CANPACK to produce limited-edition beer cans for United Dutch Breweries using Quadromix technology
United Dutch Breweries has reportedly collaborated with CANPACK for the production of limited-edition 330 ml aluminium cans of its flagship drink, Royal Dutch Premium Lager, using Quadromix can printing technology. This initiative by United Dutch Breweries is to celebrate football with the world and create a real standout on the shelf. For this special edition, the classic Royal Dutch label is printed in specially commissioned lithography on colourful cans that capture all the emotion and drama of football. This will give a special character to the flagship drink, a superior and refined lager in the best Dutch tradition, respected around the world for its classic flavour and rich history. United Dutch Breweries that carries a brewing heritage of 500 years has a long-term relation with...
