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.
Primary aluminium production in North America deteriorates during Jan-Feb'23, but in South America gains 21%
In the first two months of 2023, North America produced 613,000 tonnes of primary aluminium, of which 321,000 tonnes was produced in January and 292,000 tonnes in February, found the International Aluminium Institute. The data indicates the output in February fell by 9.03 per cent month-on-month. However, on a year-on-year calculation, North America’s primary aluminium production in February’23 recorded a very marginal growth of 1,000 tonnes from 291,000 tonnes. The production in the first two months of this year also recorded an increase of only 1,000 tonnes from 612,000 tonnes, according to IAI. The daily average output of primary aluminium in North America stood at 10,400 tonnes during February 2023, reflecting no major change from 10,300 tonnes in January. On an annual basis, the...
Alpha HPA receives grant worth up to $2.17 million for Stage 2 of its first high-purity alumina facility in Gladstone
Queensland Government has reportedly offered a grant of up to $2.17 million to Alpha HPA, the Australia-based and globally focused high-purity aluminium products manufacturer. The funding will be used to support Stage 2 of Alpha’s first high-purity alumina facility in Gladstone. In a statement to the ASX on Wednesday, April 5, Alpha said the funding from Queensland Government would support capital expenses for Stage 2 of the high-purity alumina plant. Stage 1 of the plant is currently undergoing a ramp-up to produce the full-range of Alpha’s high-purity materials, receiving support from a $15.5 million Critical Minerals Accelerator Initiative in April 2022. Alpha HPA’s Managing Director Rimas Kairaitis said, “Alpha welcomed the funding, and we welcome the state’s recognition of Alpha’s...
US aluminium plates, sheets and bars exports improve by 14% M-o-M in January 2023
In January 2023, the United States exported 63,000 tonnes of aluminium plates, sheets and bars compared to 55,200 tonnes in December 2022. That reflected an increase of 7,800 tonnes or 14.13 per cent month-on-month, found the US Census Bureau data. However, in December, the export volume plunged by 8,900 tonnes month-on-month from 64,100 tonnes. On a year-on-year calculation, the United States aluminium plates, sheets and bars exports in January 2023 reflected a sharp rise of 29,900 tonnes or 90.33 per cent from 33,100 tonnes. To Mexico, the second highest destination of aluminium plates, sheets, and bars exports, the United States supplied 23,600 tonnes of FRPs in January 2023. That was a month-on-month increase of 8.26 per cent from 21,800 tonnes and a year-on-year rise of 97 per cent...
IMMT scientists find rare earth elements in Odisha red mud
On April 3, scientists from the Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (IMMT), Bhubaneswar, reported the estimated quantity of rare earth elements that can be recovered from red mud in Odisha, a toxic byproduct generated in abundance during the processing of bauxite into alumina. Rare earth elements are crucial components for electronic and electric systems, devices used to produce green hydrogen, and electric vehicles. It is a known fact that red mud contains rare earth elements, but the amount of elements present depends on the origin of bauxite and how it is processed into alumina. A recent study published in Current Science on March 25 revealed that the fine-grained content of red mud at NALCO’s Damanjodi alumina refinery contained 433 ppm of rare earth elements like cerium,...
New Zealand Aluminium Smelter agrees with Meridian on flexible power demand to combat crisis
According to a report on April 5, the New Zealand Aluminium Smelter (NZAS) and Meridian Energy are likely to sign a new deal agreeing on flexible power demand from the smelter during grid stress or hydro shortage. The news came after Meridian submitted an application on Wednesday with the Electricity Authority, which holds the right to approve the deal within 45 business days. The new deal will give authority to Meridian to ask the smelter cut electricity demand by up to 50 megawatts when the energy system goes through a crisis, such as during winter peak periods or when generation or transmission experiences an outage. In return for the demand cut, Meridian will pay the smelter a fee and an amount per megawatt reduction. The new agreement will be valid until December 31, 2024, like the...
Bonnell Aluminum expands its TSLOTS operation in Newnan, Georgia
On Tuesday, April 4, Bonnell Aluminum, a leading US-based producer and supplier of the highest quality custom fabricated and finished aluminium extrusions, announced the operation expansion of its TSLOTS line of aluminium structural framing system into the Southeastern region of the United States. Bonnell is adding a new manufacturing and distribution site at Newnan, Georgia, to its existing facilities in Clearfield, Utah and Niles, Michigan. This expansion will make the TSLOTS product line more easily accessible to customers in the Southeastern United States. The TSLOTS aluminium framing system enables the creation of light, durable, versatile, and functional structures using T-slotted aluminium extrusions and connection hardware. Randy Johnson, Senior Brand Manager for TSLOTS by Bonnell...
Integrated aluminium industry to generate US$1 trillion revenue and create 2 million jobs for Ghana -Samuel Abu Jinapor
On Tuesday, April 4, Samuel Abu Jinapor, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources of Ghana, revealed his anticipation that a comprehensive development of an integrated aluminium industry, with an estimated bauxite resource base of over 900 million tonnes, would create around 2 million sustainable jobs and generate US$1 trillion of revenue for the country. He said the real benefit of the country’s mineral resources is in the value they add. He stated, for instance, that bauxite sells at around US$40 to US$60 per tonne, while alumina for over US$400 per tonne and primary aluminium for US$2,000 per tonne, on average. Mr Jinapor said all this at a Downstream Aluminium Industry Workshop hosted by the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC)at Senchi in the Eastern Region,...
China’s aluminium ingot inventories continue downtrend posting 22,000 tonnes of fall over the weekend
According to the Shanghai Metals Market, China’s social inventories of primary aluminium across eight major consumption areas, including SHFE warrants, stood further down over the weekend by 22,000 tonnes as of Monday, April 3. Thus, SMM data showed the inventories totalled 1.066 million tonnes on April 3 compared to 1.088 million tonnes on Thursday, March 30. On a week-on-week calculation, China’s aluminium ingot inventories on Monday shrank by 44,000 tonnes from 1.11 million tonnes, but up 10,000 tonnes a year ago. As expected, the inventory maintained a downward trend, with smelters raising the share of molten aluminium output, resulting in lesser ingot output. To know more about the current status of primary aluminium ingot across China, refer to the chart below: Wuxi recorded the...
Health-Ade’s Kombucha tea makes fresh appearance in aluminium cans
Health-Ade has reportedly lent a new packaging to its high-quality fermented Kombucha tea by embracing aluminium cans. To promote the flagship drink in new packaging, the Los Angeles-based brewing firm has entered into a two-season partnership with the L.A. Dodgers baseball team. Kombucha tea in new 11.5-ounce aluminium cans will be available in select flavours in Dodgers Stadium and retailers worldwide. “There’s a ton of overlap with the L.A. kombucha consumers and the L.A. Dodgers,” Health-Ade CMO Charlotte Mostaed told Marketing Daily. According to a survey, out of 600 non-kombucha drinkers described as health-and-wellness-minded, 55 per cent were ready to choose Health-Ade over soda and 30.5 per cent over alcohol. Research also found that Health-Ade’s kombucha tea could have had...
Vedanta posts a new record-high aluminium production at 2.291 million tonnes for FY2023
On Monday, April 3, Vedanta Limited, India’s leading multinational mining company, announced that its aluminium and high refined metal production reached record levels in the fiscal year of 2022-23 ended March 31. In a regulatory filing, the company said it produced the highest-ever amount of aluminium at 2.291 million tonnes in FY23, compared with 2.268 million tonnes in the earlier financial year . That reflected a year-on-year increase of 1.01 per cent, attributed to Jharsuguda ramp-up. In the fourth quarter of FY23, Vedanta’s aluminium production amounted to 574,000 tonnes, also up by 1 per cent from 566,000 tonnes in the third quarter. But compared to the same period of the previous year, Vedanta posted a subdued performance as the aluminium output in Q4 FY2022 was at 572,000 tonnes....
US aluminium scrap exports to Malaysia start 2023 with a monthly hike of 12.45%
According to the US Census Bureau data, the United States aluminium scrap exports to Malaysia initiated the new year with an increase of 3,400 tonnes or 12.45 per cent month-on-month. In January 2023, the exports grew to 30,700 tonnes, following a plunge from 33,400 tonnes to 27,300 tonnes in the previous month. On a year-on-year calculation, the United States aluminium scrap exports to Malaysia jumped in January 2023 from 3,400 tonnes. Last year in January, India was the highest importer of aluminium scrap from the United States, hauling 11,300 tonnes. But this January, Malaysia took over the position exceeding India’s import volume. In January 2023, India imported 29,300 tonnes of aluminium scrap from the United States, up by 159 per cent from a year ago. In January 2023, the United...
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Europe’s (inc. Russia) alumina production in Feb’23 records seventh month fall to 492,000 tonnes
Alumina production in Europe (inc. Russia) continued to fall during February 2023, marking the seventh consecutive month of decline. According to the International Aluminium Institute, Europe’s (inc. Russia) alumina output in the stated month stood at 492,000 tonnes, reflecting a month-on-month plunge of 4.84 per cent or 25,000 tonnes from 517,000 tonnes. In the previous month, the aluminium ore production in Europe (inc. Russia) amounted to 517,000 tonnes, registering a decrease of 34,000 tonnes or 6.17 per cent from 551,000 tonnes in December 2022. On a year-on-year calculation, alumina production in Europe (inc. Russia) during February 2023 slumped by 36.6 per cent from 776,000 tonnes, found IAI. The annual and monthly decline in Europe’s alumina output could be attributed to output...
A00 aluminium ingot price shrinks over the weekend to RMB18610/t; Prebaked anode price slumps by RMB520/t
According to the Shanghai Metals Market survey, A00 aluminium ingot price has slipped by RMB 60 per tonne over the weekend ended April 3, 2023. Following the increase of RMB 90 per tonne to RMB 18,670 per tonne on March 31, the price has trended down to RMB 18,610 per tonne on April 3. The average prices are expected to range between RMB 18,590 per tonne and RMB 18,630 per tonne, with spot contract to be traded at a discount price of RMB 70-30 per tonne. Foshan has seen the highest fall for the day of RMB 70 per tonne to rest at RMB 18,730 per tonne, following the fall of RMB 60 per tonne in Wuxi, Tianjin, and Linyi to stand at RMB 18,605 per tonne, RMB 18,590 per tonne, and RMB 18,640 per tonne. In Chongqing and Gongyi, the primary aluminium ingot price has shrunk by RMB 50 per tonne and...
China’s aluminium billet inventories bid goodbye to 9,600 tonnes this week
According to the Shanghai Metals Market survey, China’s social inventories of aluminium billet plunged by 9,600 tonnes week-on-week to settle at 158,400 tonnes as of March 30. The inventories extended downfall at a higher rate this week compared to a drop of 1,500 tonnes in the week ended March 23 . Some warehouses in east China stopped obtaining billet stocks, contributing to lower inventories. Besides, a generous amount of billet stocks directly arrived at downstream processing plants instead of social warehouses, which also contributed to the weekly inventory downfall. To know more about the current status of aluminium billet inventories across China, refer to the chart below: Wuxi and Huzhou were the two provinces this week that contributed to the fall of aluminium billet inventories....
Russia & Eastern Europe’s primary aluminium output descends 10% M-o-M during Feb’23
In Russia & Eastern Europe, primary aluminium production during February 2023 stood at 310,000 tonnes, reflecting a month-on-month decrease of 9.88 per cent, according to the International Aluminium Institute. In January, the output was 344,000 tonnes, negligibly up from 343,000 tonnes in the previous month. Also, on a year-on-year calculation, Russia & Eastern Europe’s primary aluminium production recorded a decline of 4,000 tonnes or 1.27 per cent from 314,000 tonnes. In the first two months of 2023, the output in Russia & Eastern Europe totalled 654,000 tonnes, down by 1.36 per cent from 663,000 tonnes during the corresponding period of the previous year. Meanwhile, despite the monthly fall in Russia & Eastern Europe’s primary aluminium output during February, average daily production...
Speira’s aluminium recycling capacity doubles to 650,000 tonnes with the acquisition of Real Alloy Europe
According to a report on Friday, March 31, German aluminium company Speira has expanded its aluminium recycling capacity by two-fold to 650,000 tonnes as it completes the acquisition of Real Alloy Europe. This capacity boost will help the company use more recycled metal to make low-carbon rolled aluminium products. The acquisition includes three aluminium and magnesium recycling facilities in Germany and an aluminium recycling plant and a salt slag recycling facility in Norway, said Speira in a statement. Speira first announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire the European business of Real Alloy on February 21, 2022. Speira’s chief executive Einar Glomnes said, "Today marks a milestone on Speira´s transformation journey to becoming a leading aluminium rolling and recycling...
NALCO, Hindalco, Vedanta lift aluminium ingot price this week in response to LME price rally
India’s top three aluminium players – NALCO, Hindalco, and Vedanta have elevated their aluminium ingot and aluminium products this week in tandem with the LME aluminium benchmark price hike. NALCO this week, with effect from Tuesday, March 28, lifted its aluminium ingot price by INR 5,600 per tonne or 2.6 per cent to INR 221,450-224,950 per tonne versus INR 215,850- 219,350 per tonne on March 18. NALCO’s aluminium wire rod and billets prices also experienced an increase of INR 5,600 per tonne from the previous prices , settling INR 225,950-230,300 per tonne and INR 225,900-228,550 per tonne, respectively. Hindalco’s aluminium ingot price saw two consecutive hikes this week on March 28 and March 30 by INR 3,500 per tonne and INR 6,000 per tonne, respectively. With the two successive hike,...
AS Oxidwerke receives ASI Performance Standard V3 (2022) Certification for aluminium salt slags recycling
On Thursday, March 30, Aluminium Stewardship Initiative announced that it successfully certified AS Oxidwerke against Performance Standard V3 (2022) Certification for recycling aluminium salt slags of varying compositions into aluminium components, salt, and oxides. AS Oxidwerke has a processing capacity of around 55,000 tonnes of aluminium salt slag per year, from which more than 20,000 tonnes of salt, 1,000 tonnes of aluminium, and 30,000 tonnes of oxide are recovered annually. The recovered aluminium is then used to make new aluminium products, salt for aluminium melting process, and oxide for construction materials such as cement. The ASI Performance Standard V3 (2022) was launched in May 2022. The certification defines 11 principles and 62 criteria under three sustainability pillars...
