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 product exports to the European Union under carbon tariff fell 30% in 2023
On Monday, February 5, the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association communicated that aluminium product export from China to the European Union, covered by the carbon border tariff, fell 30 per cent Y-o-Y in 2023. The Association showed that China exported 689,000 tonnes of aluminium products under the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism target in 2023. The European Union first imposed the carbon border mechanism in October 2023 to stop acquiring polluting foreign products that might hinder its green transition. While the European Union countries will not collect any carbon dioxide emission charges at the border until 2026, importers must report the greenhouse gas emissions of the imported products, including aluminium, cement, and steel. The types of aluminium products China exported...
LME aluminium price marks the third consecutive day of fall to US$2183.5/t; SHFE price gains US$10/t overnight
LME aluminum opened at US$2,236.50 per tonne on Monday, with its high and low at US$2,236.50 per tonne and US$2,203 per tonne, respectively, before closing at US$2,204.5 per tonne, down 1.43 per cent. On Monday, February 5, LME aluminium cash bid price plunged by US$25.50 per tonne to reach US$2,183 per tonne, while LME aluminium official settlement price contracted by US$26 per tonne to settle at US$2,183.50 per tonne. The LME aluminium benchmark price marked the third consecutive day of downfall, bringing the price M-o-M down by US$32 per tonne from US$2,215.50 per tonne 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price descended by US$26.50 per tonne, standing at US$2,219 per tonne and US$2,219.50 per tonne, respectively. Both December 25 bid price and December 25 offer price shrank by US$30...
US aluminium plates, sheets and bars imports record M-o-M drop of 4.6% in Nov’23, but imports from S. Korea grow by 19%
The United States' aluminium plates, sheets and bars imports from January to November 2023 totalled 916,000 tonnes, experiencing a year-on-year fall of 33.14 per cent from 1.37 million tonnes, found the US Census Bureau data. In November, the United States imported 74,000 tonnes of aluminium plates, sheets and bars, down by 3,600 tonnes or 4.64 per cent from 77,600 tonnes in October 2023. On an annual basis, the imports plummeted by 41,000 tonnes or 35.65 per cent from 115,000 tonnes. It is to be noted in the above graph that November 2023 was another alternative month to have witnessed a fall in the United States' aluminium plates, sheets and bars imports. Post April 2023, the US imports of aluminium plates, sheets and bars experienced a downfall in every alternate month. In May, the...
New recycling process ShAPE transforms aluminium scrap into building components, promoting 90% energy savings
A new recycling technique is doing rounds in the market, capable of giving a new life to broken bicycle frames, used car parts, and twisted aluminium mesh in the form of door and window frames. The US Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in Washington has developed a new process called Shear Assisted Processing and Extrusion Process (ShAPE) that can transform 100 per cent post-consumer aluminium scrap into usable extrusions. Also, the products made out of the process meet or exceed stringent ASTM standards (American Society for Testing and Materials) in terms of strength and flexibility for common building-grade alloys. The most significant advantage of this new process is that it can save almost 90 per cent of energy when making aluminium building...
Unabating bauxite supply crisis in China knocks down domestic alumina output in January 2024
According to the Shanghai Metals Market, China’s metallurgical-grade alumina production in January 2024 (31 days) saw a 1.1 per cent dip month-on-month at 6.72 million tonnes. But on a year-on-year basis, the output grew by 5.5 per cent from 6.37 million tonnes. The daily average production stood at 216,800 tonnes per day in January 2024, with a production capacity of 100 million tonnes, and an operating capacity of 79.14 million tonnes. According to SMM, the national operating rate was 79.1 per cent. As per the SMM’s forecast for January 2024, the operating capacity stood 1.36 million tonnes behind the estimated capacity of 80.50 million tonnes, while the daily production was 3,700 tonnes less than the prediction. Alumina output across Chinese provinces In Shanxi, the operating rate of...
Evtec to supply aluminium auto components for Jaguar Land Rover’s new line of luxury EVs
Evtec Aluminium Limited, a leader in designing and manufacturing complex aluminium castings, has reportedly entered into a supply contract with Jaguar Land Rover. According to the deal, the former will supply automotive components to Jaguar for its new line of electric vehicles. Evtec is a world-class manufacturer of lightweight aluminium parts for electric vehicles and luxury automobiles. For Jaguar, it will be a single-source supplier for key components, generating over $67 million in its auto part sales. Jaguar’s new line of luxury electric vehicles will include a four-door GT model and a luxury sedan that is expected to have a range of over 435 miles and are capable of fast charging 200 miles in about 15 minutes. On signing the contract with Jaguar, Evtec chairman David Roberts said,...
Ireland implements Deposit Return Scheme w.e.f. February 1 to ramp up aluminium cans recycling
With effect from Thursday, February 1, Ireland has launched the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), a simple incentive system to encourage consumers to recycle aluminium cans and plastic bottles. So, from February 1, on purchasing an aluminium can or a plastic bottle with the Re-turn logo, customers will have to pay a small deposit over and above the drink’s price. They will get a full refund of the deposit when they return their empty and undamaged containers to any participating retail outlet. Containers ranging from 150ml to 500ml will require a 15-cent deposit, while containers between 500ml and 3 litres will have a 25-cent deposit. Nearly five million drinks are consumed in single-use containers in Ireland daily. The Deposit Return Scheme aims to reduce the volume of littered cans and...
Africa & Asia’s alumina output rebuilds in H2 2023 much above 6.5 Mt, but annual output still fails to grow
According to the International Aluminium Institute survey, Africa & Asia’s (ex-China) alumina production from January to December 2023 totalled 13.31 million tonnes, accounting for 9.37 per cent of the world’s total output. On a year-on-year calculation, Africa & Asia’s alumina output in 2023 edged a fall of 3.48 per cent from 13.79 million tonnes. In December, Africa & Asia’s alumina production amounted to 1.22 million tonnes, reflecting a month-on-month rise of 6.09 per cent from 1.15 million tonnes and a year-on-year increase of 7.96 per cent from 1.13 million tonnes. That brought the total production in the fourth quarter of the year to 3.51 million tonnes, up by 2.03 per cent from 3.44 million tonnes in Q3. The decline in Africa & Asia’s annual alumina production of 2023 was...
Alcoa to supply ELYSIS aluminium to Nexans for low carbon footprint cable production
On Thursday, February 1, Alcoa Corporation announced its aluminium supply deal with global cable producer Nexans. Alcoa will supply aluminium produced through its breakthrough ELYSIS process that eliminates all direct greenhouse gas emissions from the smelting process. Nexans will be the world’s first cable manufacturer to use aluminium produced from the ELYSIS technology. The technology uses proprietary materials, including inert anodes, first developed at the Alcoa Technical Centre near Pittsburgh. Nexans facilities in Western Europe and Scandinavia will use ELYSIS technology-produced aluminium for their various types of cables, from low to medium to high voltage. Using ELYSIS aluminium will enable Nexans to reduce their carbon footprint across the cable range. This latest deal further...
Hydro to build a new aluminium recycling plant at EUR 180 million in Torija, Spain
Norsk Hydro, a leading aluminium and energy company, is reportedly investing EUR 180 million in constructing a new state-of-the-art aluminium recycling plant in Torija, Spain, in a bid to increase its low-carbon aluminium offerings in Europe and pave the path to green transition. The new recycling plant will have an annual capacity of producing 120,000 tonnes of low-carbon recycled aluminium like aluminium extrusion ingots, primarily used in the transportation & automotive industry, building & construction, renewable energy installations, and consumer durable markets. The facility should be able to recycle up to 70,000 tonnes of post-consumer scrap by applying process technologies developed at the recycling plants in Clervaux, Luxembourg, and Azuqueca, Spain. The facility will produce...
Canned food market in Saudi Arabia to grow at a 3.55% CAGR by 2028, promising aluminium usage growth in the packaging sector
According to a research report, the Saudi Arabia Canned Food Market is anticipated to grow at a robust compound annual growth rate of 3.55 per cent from 2021 to 2028. This elevation is expected to bring the market value to US$1,132.689 million at the end of the forecast period compared to US$887.449 million in 2021. Saudi Arabia’s food processing industry has grown over the years, attracting noteworthy investments. By 2030, the investments are estimated to peak at $70 billion, representing a 59 per cent increase from 2016. The continued robustness of the food sector is expected to grow to about $20 billion by 2035, stimulating the canned food market extensively, particularly within the key industries like beverages, dairy, and ready-to-eat sectors. As highlighted in AL Circle’s recent...
EGX-listed firm Egyptalum posts a 101% leap in net profit for H1 FY2023-24
On Wednesday, January 31, Egypt Aluminum, popularly known as Egyptalum, the largest aluminium producer in Egypt, announced that its net profits after tax during the first half of FY2023-24 ended December 31 amounted to EGP 3.43 billion, registering a jump of 101 per cent year-on-year from EGP 1.70 billion. The revenues surged by 60 per cent to EGP 13.38 billion during the first six months of FY2023-24 from EFP 8.35 billion. Earnings per share also rose significantly during the said period from EGP 2.40 to EGP 4.83. Financial growth in Egyptalum was even observed in the first quarter of FY2023-24 ended September 30. The EGX-listed firm posted a 61 per cent hike Y-o-Y in net profits after tax from EGP 642.63 million to EGP 1.63 billion. Revenues also expanded in the September quarter by 42...
Africa’s primary aluminium production closed 2023 at a 1.48% Y-o-Y low despite sequential growth each quarter
In 2023, Africa's primary aluminium production reached 1.596 million tonnes, with an output of 133,000 tonnes in the last month of the year. According to the International Aluminium Institute survey, Africa's primary aluminium production in 2023 registered a fall of 1.48 per cent from 1.62 million tonnes in 2022. The decline in annual output during 2023 was primarily due to abysmally low production during February at 123,000 tonnes and April at 129,000 tonnes. The production in December stood at 133,000 tonnes, up by 1,000 tonnes from November 2023 but down by 8,000 tonnes or 5.71 per cent from 140,000 tonnes. Africa's daily average production in December was 4,300 tonnes, slightly less than in November despite the rise in monthly output. On a year-on-year calculation, the daily...
Vedanta intends to adopt biofuel as an energy source for carbon footprint reduction: CEO
On winning the first position in the prestigious S&P Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA) rakings, Vedanta Aluminium, a business of Vedanta Limited, said that their commitment towards increasing resource efficiency, using more renewables in the energy mix and converting waste into wealth is now stronger than ever before. CEO John Slaven commented in a statement that Vedanta Aluminium had been partnering with its community members, prioritising energy and performance efficiency and inclusive development. Vedanta’s vision to sustainability goes beyond business compliance. They want to make positive impact on the environment, and their top rank in the S&P Global CSA testifies their commitment . John Slaven said, "We have embarked on a transformative journey where our commitment to...
Japan’s aluminium rolled product shipments in 2023 fall to a 20-year low
According to the data shared by the Japan Aluminium Association, aluminium rolled product shipments in 2023 declined year-on-year by 6.5 per cent, reaching the lowest point in the past 20 years. The shipment volume through the year totalled 1,707,547 tonnes, falling below the levels observed during the COVID-19 disaster and the Lehman shock period in 2009, when the shipment volume was 1.72 million tonnes and 1.74 million tonnes, respectively. Over the past six years, Japan’s aluminium rolled products shipment stood below 2 million tonnes. The downfall in Japan’s rolled product shipment in 2023 could be attributed to the slow production of construction materials and materials used for electronic communication equipment. The surge in automotive materials production, surpassing 200,000...
2023 world alumina production displays a Y-o-Y drop despite the bounce back in H2
According to the International Aluminium Institute survey, world alumina production in December 2023 stood at 12.298 million tonnes, bringing the whole year output at 141.924 million tonnes, slightly down from 142.23 million tonnes in 2022. Further introspection into global production The decline in annual output was due to slow production in the first half of 2023. From January to June, the world alumina production stood below 12 million tonnes. July onwards, the output gained momentum and mostly stood above 12 million tonnes through H2 2023. The production in December experienced an increase of 3.4 per cent month-on-month from 11.894 million tonnes and rise of 3.5 per cent year-on-year from 11.878 million tonnes. The world’s daily average production in December 2023 was 396,700 tonnes,...
Novelis responds well to the aluminium packaging growth trajectory in North America, signs yet another can sheet supplying contract
On Monday, January 29, Novelis Inc., the world-leading producer of flat-rolled aluminium products and the largest aluminium recycler, announced that it signed a new contract with Ardagh Metal Packaging USA Corp., under which the former would supply aluminium beverage packaging sheet. As per the report, Novelis' aluminium beverage packaging sheet will be used by Ardagh's production facilities in North America. This is the third major contract signed by Novelis in less than seven months for the beverage packaging market in North America. It testifies that the beverage packaging market is growing strong in North America. Steve Fisher, president and CEO of Novelis, said: "Finalising another meaningful customer agreement in North America is a testament to the strength of the beverage packaging...
China’s annual unwrought aluminium alloy imports edge a decline of 11.4% during 2023
In December 2023, China’s unwrought aluminium alloy imports stood at 112,900 tonnes, reflecting a slight rise of 1 per cent over a month, showed China customs data. On a year-on-year basis, the December imports edged a hike of 22.3 per cent, bringing the total imports through 2023 to 1.1325 million tonnes, which was, however, down by 11.4 per cent Y-o-Y. Import sources In December, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Russia, and South Korea were the five main sources for China’s unwrought aluminium alloy imports. Of them all, Malaysia was the highest exporter, accounting for 42 per cent of China’s imports in December. According to customs data, Malaysia exported 47,100 tonnes of unwrought aluminium alloy. Thailand was the second largest exporter of unwrought aluminium alloy to China, supplying...
