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.
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Africa & Asia’s (ex-China) robust daily average alumina production in Feb’24 suggests its growth trajectory
According to the International Aluminium Institute survey, alumina production in Africa & Asia (ex-China) during February 2024 recorded a significant annual growth of 13.8 per cent but a month-on-month fall of 3.06 per cent. As per the data, Africa & Asia’s (ex-China) alumina production in February 2024 was 1.171 million tonnes versus 1.029 million tonnes a year ago, indicating that alumina production in Africa & Asia (ex-China) is on a steady growth path. The output declined month-on-month from 1.208 million tonnes mainly because of fewer calendar days in February. Africa & Asia’s (ex-China) daily average alumina output in February 2024 further underpins the above statement as the volume stood at 40,400 tonnes, up by 3.59 per cent from 39,000 tonnes in January 2024. On a year-on-year...
China’s aluminium ingot inventory declines by 5000 tonnes, marking the first drop after CNY holiday
As the traditional peak season has set in, China’s domestic aluminium industry is making buzz with downstream processing enterprises rebounds. The purchasing sentiment is high, leading to a fall in aluminium ingot inventories at the end of March 2024, which is line with previous expectation. On Thursday, March 28, Shanghai Metals Market survey showed that the social inventories of aluminium ingots across China’s eight major consumption areas amounted to 865,000 tonnes, of which the amount for sale stood at 739,000 tonnes. The inventories were down by 5,000 tonnes from Monday, March 25, marking the first decline after the Chinese New Year holiday. The decrease occurred primarily due to the outflow of the metal. Arrivals to warehouses stood essentially steady, with a very marginal drop. In...
SMM predicts export orders to increase for China’s aluminium wire and cables in March’24; January’s export rebounded to a peak
According to China customs data, the total exports of aluminium wire and cables during January-February 2024 amounted to 37,500 tonnes at a value of $114.87 million. The export volume in January was 22,500 tonnes, up by 32.58 per cent month-on-month and 48.61 per cent year-on-year. The export volume in January recovered and stood at its peak in the past three years, but it failed to break through a three-year high. Subsequently, the export volume decreased in February as downstream companies went on holiday for the Chinese New Year. China’s aluminium wire and cables export in February was 15,000 tonnes, down by 33 per cent month-on-month. However, on an annual basis, the export volume in February stood 26.52 per cent higher. The export value in January was $68.67 million, which recorded a...
Hindalco Industries’ aluminium prices experience a slash of INR3500/t on March 28
Hindalco Industries Limited has updated its aluminium selling prices on two consecutive days this week in line with the LME aluminium benchmark price. On Wednesday, March 27, Hindalco increased its aluminium prices as the LME aluminium price rallied by 1.29 per cent over the two days to US$2,275.50 per tonne as of March 26. According to Hindalco’s price list for March 27, the company’s aluminium ingot price stood at INR 219,750 per tonne, experiencing an increase of INR 1,500 per tonne or 0.70 per cent from INR 218,250 per tonne on March 22. Hindalco’s aluminium wire rod and billet prices also saw a rise of INR 1,500 per tonne on the same day to come in at INR 231,750 per tonne and INR 233,850 per tonne, respectively, versus INR 230,250 per tonne and INR 232,350 per tonne on March 22. The...
European aluminium supply chain at risk! While domestic producers unwilling to resume operations on weak demand, bans are about to resist foreign goods
The European aluminium sector has just started adapting to the energy price shrunk due to adequate inventories and ease of power consumption restrictions. According to a report, inflation-adjusted futures prices for 2024 averaged 48 euros per megawatt hour, compared to 223 euros at the height of the crisis in August 2022. But what is still causing hurdles to the market growth is passive demand and understated buying and selling sentiments, given the ongoing inflation and economic slowdown. As a result, aluminium producers are hesitant to resume their curtailed capacity, which is evident from the lacklustre growth of primary aluminium production. In addition, various other factors are perhaps threatening the growth of the European aluminium market. Vivid view to Europe’s primary aluminium...
World alumina production in Feb’24 marks a notable annual growth despite short-term fluctuations, advocating strong fundamentals
According to the International Aluminium Institute, world alumina production in February 2024 recorded a fall of 6.89 per cent month-on-month, primarily attributed to fewer calendar days. In this respect, it should be mentioned that the world alumina output started the year with a downtrend, with January production at 11.905 million tonnes, down by 1.43 per cent from 12.078 million tonnes in December 2023. Output trend The deflation continued in the subsequent month (February 2024), bringing the world's alumina production to 11.085 million tonnes. However, compared with the same period last year, the world's alumina production in February 2024 stood 5.99 per cent higher than 10.459 million tonnes. The combined production from January to February 2024 also edged a year-on-year hike of 4.22...
Vedanta Aluminium recycles 15 billion litres of water in FY2024, while undertaking water restoration measures
To commemorate World Water Day under the theme' Water for Peace', Vedanta Aluminium, India's largest aluminium producer, announced that it recycled over 15 billion litres of water across its operations in FY2023-24. This quantity of water is equivalent to 6,000 Olympic-size swimming pools. In addition, Vedanta has helped restore over 60 water bodies in communities across its operational areas in rural India. The company has restored 47 water bodies in Korba, Chhattisgarh; 10 in Jharsuguda, Odisha; and 3 in Lanjigarh, Odisha. All these initiatives are bringing Vedanta close to its goal of becoming Net Water Positive by 2030. On the occasion, the company also announced its three major water management initiatives that are currently underway at its refining operations in Lanjigarh, mining...
Crown Holdings’ beverage can production facilities in Mexico bag ASI Chain of Custody Standard certification
Aluminium Stewardship Initiative has acknowledged Crown Holdings for sustainable beverage cans manufacture at Mexico facilities by granting the Chain of Custody Standard V2 (2022) Certification. Crown's headquarters in Monterrey and facilities, including Crown Ensenada, Crown Guadalajara, Crown Toluca, Crown Latas Monterrey, and Crown Cierres Monterrey, have been granted the certification for producing beverage cans, can ends, and ROPP closures. These same facilities had obtained ASI Performance Standard V2 (2017) Certification in January 2022. Crown's Mexico facilities collectively produce 6.85 billion beverage cans annually, and the Cierres Monterrey facility produces 6.7 billion can ends and 400 million ROPP closures. The ASI Chain of Custody Standard V2 Certification presents specific...
AMAG Austria invests 50 million euros in setting up an advanced aluminium surface treatment line
AMAG Austria Metall AG in Ranshofen, Austria, has reportedly invested 50 million euros in a state-of-the-art surface treatment line to strengthen its position as a leading manufacturer of high-quality aluminium surfaces. The plant is equipped with cutting-edge technologies to optimise production capacity, efficiency and quality, in view of the growing demand for top-grade and precision-processed aluminium rolled products. Aluminium surfaces are essential for bonding, welding, soldering , varnishing, and forming parts. Thus, the quality of surfaces matters a lot for further processing and coating options. The usage of aluminium surfaces is widely spread in the architectural sector, decorative surfaces in consumer electronics, the cosmetic industry, radiators and heat exchangers, and the...
2023: North America market upheaving the demand for US aluminium plates, sheets and bars, with exports growing 5.57% Y-o-Y
According to the US Census Bureau data, the United States’ aluminium plates, sheets and bars exports in 2023 experienced an annual growth of 5.57 per cent, primarily driven by Canada and Mexico, the two highest importers. As per the USGS survey, the United States aluminium plates, sheets and bars exports in 2023 totalled 770,000 tonnes compared to 736,000 tonnes in 2022. Canada accounted for 44.42 per cent of the United States total exports, while Mexico accounted for 38.31 per cent. Despite the annual growth, the exports during the last three months of 2023 saw a sequential fall. In October, the exports decreased by 6.78 per cent M-o-M from 66,400 tonnes to 61,900 tonnes, which further declined in November by 5.33 per cent to 58,600 tonnes and by 6.83 per cent to 54,600 tonnes in...
China’s aluminium ingot inventories approached 850,000 tonnes last week as per SMM’s prediction
A week ago, as of March 18, China’s domestic social inventories of aluminium ingot stood at 847,000 tonnes, of which the amount for sale was 721,000 tonnes, found the Shanghai Metals Market survey. Over the weekend, inventories grew by 4,000 tonnes and stood 356,000 tonnes higher than the pre-holiday level. But despite the recent uptrend, inventories stayed at a low level for the same period of the past seven years. Nevertheless, inventories advanced towards 850,000 tonnes, as predicted before the holiday . According to SMM data, the outflow of aluminium ingots from warehouses in the fourth week after the holiday was 109,000 tonnes, down by 6,900 tonnes W-o-W, contributing primarily to the rise in inventories. One of the primary reasons behind the decreased outflow from warehouses was the...
Century’s Green Aluminum Smelter Project is selected for $500 million funding by the U.S. Department of Energy
On Monday, March 25, Century Aluminum announced it would get up to $500 million from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations as part of the Industrial Demonstrations Program (IDP). Century's Green Aluminum Smelter Project will receive Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act funding, which is designed to demonstrate commercial-scale decarbonisation solutions to move energy-intensive industries towards net zero. Century Aluminum plans to utilise the amount for building the first new US primary aluminium smelter in 45 years, aiming at doubling the size of the current US primary aluminium industry and strengthening domestic economies and its position in the global market. The smelter will also foster domestic supply chains of a critical...
Yunnan aluminium industry is in woes due to the dry season, with nearly 400,000 tonnes of output cut
According to a report on Monday, March 25, the aluminium industry in Yunnan province has encountered a significant hit due to dry weather, resulting in production cuts. China’s Yunnan province is otherwise known for its hydropower generation and supply. Beijing Capital Futures released a report this month stating that a power shortage enforced restrictions on electricity consumption since November 2023, when the dry season started, causing aluminium companies to gradually cut production. By the end of February, the report showed that local aluminium production had been reduced by about 400,000 tonnes. On Friday, March 22, the Ministry of Water Resources initiated a Level IV emergency in response to drought in Yunnan and Sichuan provinces. Some aluminium companies in Yunnan are resuming...
GCC's daily average primary aluminium production remains steady in Feb'24; monthly output fall is due to fewer calendar days
According to the International Aluminium Institute survey, primary aluminium production in the Gulf Cooperation Council plunged by 37,000 tonnes or 6.95 per cent month-on-month, standing at 495,000 tonnes in February 2024 (29 calendar days). The fall in Gulf primary aluminium production led to a decline in the monthly global output. In February, the world primary aluminium production stood at 5.54 million tonnes, down by 8.58 per cent from 6.06 million tonnes. However, on a year-on-year basis, primary aluminium production in the Gulf Cooperation Council stood 2.91 per cent higher than 481,000 tonnes. The combined production in the first two months was 1.03 million tonnes, which also registered a year-on-year increase of 2.39 per cent from 1.006 million tonnes. But looking at the daily...
LME aluminium price sheds off US$17/t but still stands 1% W-o-W high; SHFE price grows by US$16/t
LME aluminum opened at US$2,310 per tonne in the previous trading day, with high and low at US$2,312.50 per tonne and US$2,281 per tonne, respectively, before closing at $2,309 per tonne, unchanged from the previous trading day. On Friday, March 22, LME aluminium cash bid price and LME aluminium official settlement price shed off US$17 per tonne and US$17.50 per tonne, respectively, following a jump to an eleven-week high due to rising buying interest in China. With the latest decline, the prices derived at US$2,246 per tonne and US$2,246.50 per tonne. Even after the fall, the LME aluminium benchmark price stood week-on-week high by 1 per cent from US$2,224.50. On the same day, 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price decreased by US$17 per tonne to close the week at US$2,294.50 per...
Jan-Feb 2024: Open import window boosts China’s primary aluminium imports by 214.7% Y-o-Y
According to China customs data, China’s domestic primary aluminium imports during the first two months of 2024 amounted to 472,000 tonnes, encountering a year-on-year surge of 214.7 per cent. The primary import sources were Russia, India, Indonesia, China, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, and others. Among them, Russia was the highest exporter, supplying 277,000 tonnes in two months, accounting for 58.7 per cent of China’s total imports. On an annual basis, the import volume recorded an increase of 163.2 per cent. The import volume from Russia stood at approximately 161,800 tonnes and 115,400 tonnes each month. In January, the imports increased by 299.6 per cent year-on-year and 34.4 per cent month over month, accounting for 65.3 percent of the total. From India, China’s primary...
Associations demand North American Aluminum Trade Committee formation for the close monitoring of cross-border trades
The Aluminum Association, Instituto Mexicano del Aluminio, and the Aluminium Association of Canada demand the creation of a North American Aluminum Trade Committee (NAATC). On Thursday, March 21, the associations wrote a letter to trade officials in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, conveying their demand while highlighting the importance of fair aluminium trade within North America. The letter notes, “The free and fair trade of aluminum within North America has benefited our respective industries and the hundreds of thousands of well-paying manufacturing jobs they represent. We stand together in our continued commitment to the USMCA framework to set the conditions through which aluminum can be freely and fairly traded in the region. Looking ahead to the 2026 review of the USMCA, we...
Shyam Metalics announces to invest INR 450 crore in setting up an aluminium flat-rolled plant
Shyam Metalics & Energy Limited, an Indian metal producing company, headquartered in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, has reportedly announced its ambition of investing into a greenfield project focused on manufacturing aluminium flat-rolled products. As per the report, the company is willing to invest INR 450 crore in the project, aiming at expanding the capacity and generating about 1,000 employments, including both direct and indirect jobs. This investment will increase the production of aluminium flat-rolled products to bridge the demand and supply gap. It will also make the company self-reliant for the raw materials of aluminium foil business. Shyam Metalics & Energy will set up the plant in Odisha, with an annual capacity of 60,000 tonnes per year. This project will support India's...
