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.
CUMI launches its home-grown monocrystalline alumina at GrindTec Fair in Leipzig, Germany
Carborundum Universal Limited (CUMI), one of India's largest and oldest conglomerates and leading manufacturers of abrasives, ceramics, refractories, aluminium oxide grains and machine tools, unveiled its new product 'CUMI Monk' at GrindTec Fair in Leipzig, Germany. CUMI Monk or Monocrystalline Alumina is an electro-fused abrasive produced by blending high-purity alumina and special additives. Each particle of CUMI Monk is a single crystal of alpha-phase alumina. The uniqueness of the material is the little grain boundaries in the grains. The unique process applied to making CUMI Monk creates rough surfaces with firm cutting edges that give better bonding and sharper cutting actions compared to conventional alumina grains used in the abrasive industry, said the company during the product...
Hydro’s HalZero primary aluminium production technology to enter a new development phase
Hydro is on the way to initiate a new development phase of its one-of-a-kind production technology -HalZero, a brand new process for primary aluminium production. With the Norwegian government's support, the company will invest in a test facility, hoping the technology will help deliver pilot production of zero-carbon primary aluminium by 2030. The total investment required for the project is approximately NOK 400 million, of which the Norwegian government, via state enterprise Enova, has granted NOK 141 million for the construction of a test facility. Hydro has been working on early phase development of the HalZero technology at Hydro's Technology Centre in Porsgrunn, Norway, for the past seven years. In the HalZero production process, only oxygen will emit instead of carbon dioxide. If...
Vedanta Lanjigarh, the first in India, receives ISO 17025:2017 certification for calcined alumina testing
Vedanta Limited, Lanjigarh, announced last month that its in-house laboratory received an official certification, the first in India, for its ability to test calcined alumina on all relevant physical and chemical parameters such as Bulk Density, BET Surface Area, Iron, Silicon, and Sodium. That marked a new, significant achievement among many in its relentless pursuit of operational excellence. The National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) issued the ISO 17025:2017 certification to Vedanta Lanjigarh’s Quality Control and Laboratory for meeting specialized requirements vital for competent calcined alumina testing. What makes this certification more remarkable is the Vedanta Lanjigarh team independently completed the NABL certification process in one go...
Hindalco sharply cuts its aluminium ingot price by INR6000/t with effect from March 7
Hindalco Industries Limited significantly reduced its aluminium ingot and aluminium products prices on Wednesday, March 7, in line with the LME aluminium price plunge over the past three days. The company has axed its aluminium ingot price by INR 6,000 per tonne or 2.67 per cent, with effect from March 7, bringing it to INR 218,750 per tonne. Hindalco’s aluminium wire rod price has also experienced a sharp cut of INR 6,000 per tonne from INR 235,850 per tonne on March 2 to INR 229,850 per tonne on March 7. The company’s aluminium billets price stands at INR 232,850 per tonne, down by 2.51 per cent from INR 238,850 per tonne about a week ago. Hindalco links its aluminium ingot and aluminium products prices to the three-month futures of aluminium on the London Metal Exchange, which shrank...
Alumina production in Europe (incl. Russia) registers a 6% fall M-o-M during January 2023
Alumina production in Europe (incl. Russia) stood at 517,000 tonnes during January 2023, which was down by 6.17 per cent or 34,000 tonnes from 551,000 tonnes in December 2022, found the International Aluminium Institute. On a year-on-year calculation, the output recorded a plunge of 41.58 per cent from 885,000 tonnes. In the entire year of 2022, alumina production in Europe (incl. Russia) totalled 8.219 million tonnes, reflecting a sharp decline of 20.97 per cent from 10.4 million tonnes a year ago. In January 2023, the world’s alumina production amounted to 11.647 million tonnes – 0.42 per cent less than 11.696 million tonnes a month ago. On a year-on-year basis, the output edged 1.09 per cent less than 11.775 million tonnes. In Europe, daily average alumina production during January...
Hindalco’s Hirakud flat-rolled products plant bags dual ASI certification
Last week, Hindalco Industries Limited reportedly bagged dual certification from the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative – 1) Performance Standard V2 (2017) and 2) Chain of Custody V1 (2017) for its aluminium rolling operations at Hirakud FRP (flat rolled products) plant in Odisha, India. Hindalco achieves ASI certification for the second time. Earlier, it received Performance Standard Certification for its Mouda aluminium foil plant. In May 2022, Hindalco’s Hirakud plant joined Aluminium Stewardship Initiative as a new production and transformation member. At the Hirakud plant with 135,000 tonnes of capacity, Hindalco produces thin-gauge tight tolerance flat rolled products, including ultra-light gauge foil stock for making aseptic carton packs, can body stock for beverage cans, closure...
A00 aluminium ingot price in China returns to RMB18470/t on March 8; Aluminium alloys prices lose RMB100/t
A00 aluminium ingot price in China has again lost RMB 100 per tonne, which it gained the earlier day, according to the Shanghai Metals Market survey. Therefore, as of March 8, the price has returned to RMB 18,470 per tonne, with average prices estimated to range between RMB 18,450 per tonne and RMB 18,490 per tonne. The spot contract will likely trade at a discount price of RMB 70-30 per tonne. Foshan has seen the highest decline of the day by RMB 110 per tonne to stand at RMB 18,490 per tonne, followed by the downfall of RMB 100 per tonne to peg at RMB 18,540 per tonne. In Wuxi and Hangzhou, the primary aluminium ingot price has dwindled by RMB 95 per tonne and RMB 85 per tonne to rest at RMB 18,470 per tonne and RMB 18,490 per tonne, while the price in Shenyang has decreased by RMB 80...
Vedanta’s aluminium products prices see a slash of INR5750/t with effect from March 7
Vedanta Limited has axed its aluminium products prices by INR 5,750 per tonne on Tuesday, March 7, following a hike last week. The company’s latest price slash has brought its aluminium wire rod price to INR 227,250-234,750 per tonne versus INR 233,000-240,500 per tonne on March 2. Vedanta’s aluminium billet price has come in at INR 228,750 per tonne as of March 7, compared to INR 234,500 per tonne on March 2. The company’s aluminium ingot price has also been reduced by INR 5,750 per tonne to INR 219,750-250,250 per tonne from INR 225,500-256000 per tonne. Vedanta links its aluminium ingot and aluminium products prices to the three-month futures of aluminium on the Londom Metal Exchange, which shrank by US$45 per tonne or 1.90 per cent from US$2,366.50 per tonne on March 2 to US$2,321.50...
EGA announces record revenue of $9.4 billion for 2022, along with a sales hike to 2.72 million tonnes
Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) has published its financial and operational results for 2022, reporting a record revenue of AED 34.6 billion ($9.4 billion), up by 36 per cent from AED 25.5 billion ($6.9 billion) in 2021. Net profit also grew significantly to stand the highest ever at AED 7.4 billion ($2.0 billion), up 34 per cent AED 5.5 billion ($1.5 billion) in 2021. Adjusted EBITDA mounted to AED 12.4 billion ($3.4 billion) - 37 per cent higher than AED 9.0 billion ($2.5 billion) in 2021, backed on the average realized LME price of $2,715 per tonne. Cash generated from operating activities was AED 12.7 billion ($3.4 billion), reflecting a 70 per cent surge from AED 7.5 billion ($2.0 billion) a year ago. The company’s revenue grew last year in line with a record sales volume of 2.72...
US crude and dried bauxite imports grow quarterly by 13% in 4Q2022; imports from Jamaica hike to 593,000 tonnes
The United States crude and dried bauxite imports stood highest in the fourth quarter of 2022 than all the prior quarters, found the US Census Bureau in its latest survey. The country imported 757,000 tonnes of bauxite in Q4, significantly up by 13.15 per cent or 88,000 tonnes from 669,000 tonnes in Q3 . In Q1 and Q2, the United States bauxite import volume was 736,000 tonnes and 644,000 tonnes, respectively. However, despite the Q-o-Q hike, the US bauxite imports in Q4 edged an annual downfall of 3.44 per cent or 27,000 tonnes from 784,000 tonnes . In the entire year of 2022, the United States imported 2.80 million tonnes of crude and dried bauxite – 9.39 per cent less than 3.09 million tonnes a year ago. The year-on-year fall extended as the import volume in 2021 stood 2.83 per cent...
Global aluminium producers offer $125-145/t shipment premiums to Japanese buyers for 2Q2023
According to Marubeni Corp, a major Japanese integrated trading and investment business conglomerate, global aluminium producers have mutually agreed to propose $125-145 per tonne of premiums to Japanese buyers for the second quarter of 2023. The news came on March 6 after five sources directly involved in quarterly pricing talks said. Compared to the premiums agreed upon in the last quarter, proposed premiums for Q2 stand 45-71 per cent higher than $85 per tonne. If Japanese buyers accept the new offer, the premiums will mark the first increase in six quarters and the highest since October-December quarter in 2022. Global aluminium producers have offered such high premiums considering the possible demand hike from automakers. Japan is Asia's biggest importer of aluminium and the premiums...
US aluminium plates, sheets and bars exports hike 48% in 4Q2022; exports to Canada grow 7.63% to 74,800 tonnes
In December 2022, the United States aluminium plates, sheets and bars exports stood at 55,200 tonnes, down by 13.88 per cent or 8,900 tonnes month-on-month from 64,100 tonnes, according to the US Geological Survey data. However, on a year-on-year calculation, the export volume edged 26.63 per cent or 14,700 tonnes higher than 40,500 tonnes. In the fourth quarter of the year, the United States aluminium flat rolled products exports totalled 180,600 tonnes, significantly up by 47.67 per cent from 122,300 tonnes in Q3 2022. That brought the country’s total exports in the second half of the year to 302,900 tonnes. From January to December 2022, the United States exported 736,000 tonnes of aluminium plates, sheets and bars versus 626,000 tonnes in 2021. Canada was the higher consumer of the...
China’s alumina spot price drops by RMB5/t; A00 aluminium ingot price registers a W-o-W decline of RMB140/t
The average alumina spot price in China has started the week on Monday, March 6, with a drop of RMB 5 per tonne (US$0.73/t) to stand at RMB 2,936 per tonne (US$425.81/t), found the Shanghai Metals Market. In Guangxi, the alumina price has decreased by RMB 20 per tonne (US$2.9/t) to peg at RMB 2,835 per tonne (US$411.16/t), while in all other provinces stood restrained. According to SMM survey, the Australian alumina spot price has shed off US$3 per tonne to amount to US$366 per tonne as of March 6, 2023. A00 aluminium ingot price has shrunk by RMB 80 per tonne after three consecutive hikes last week. According to SMM, the primary aluminium ingot price has amounted to RMB 18,470 per tonne as of March 6, down by RMB 140 per tonne from RMB 18,330 per tonne a week ago . On a month-on-month...
Top innovative aluminium applications in the building and construction sector in 2022
Aluminium has become a metal of choice in the building and construction sector for its intrinsic properties like lightweight and corrosion resistance. The metal is commonly used for wall panels and roofing solutions like finished roofs and domed structures, drains, fenestration casings and decorative purposes. Since aluminium can be extruded, rolled or cast to form commonly used products in the construction industry, its applications are exponentially growing each year. Furthermore, the metal can be customised based on design needs through die-casting processes or machine treated on existing profiles. In 2022, the building and construction sector accounted for 57 per cent of the aluminium extrusion usage worldwide, as per the data published in our Global Aluminium Industry Outlook 2023 ....
China’s primary aluminium inventories reflect a W-o-W growth of 1.7% this week: SMM
According to the Shanghai Metals Market, social inventories of primary aluminium totalled 1.269 million tonnes across eight major consumption areas in China, including SHFE warrants, as of Thursday, March 2, 2023. Compared to a week ago, February 23, the inventories have accumulated 21,000 tonnes this week but stand almost muted as against 1.268 million tonnes on Monday, February 27. The chart below indicates the current status of primary aluminium inventories across China in more details: In Gongyi, primary aluminium inventories gained the highest this week, with the end of the inflow controls. SMM survey showed inventories in Gongyi increased by 10,000 tonnes to stand at 258,000 tonnes on March 2. In Wuxi, primary aluminium inventories climbed 8,000 tonnes over a week to rest at 447,000...
Glencore to debut in aluminium scrap & dross recycling operation in USA by 2023-end
Glencore, one of the world's largest globally diversified natural resource companies, has reportedly entered into a partnership with scrap brokerage Zeb Metals to advance its aluminium scrap and dross recycling operation at a new plant in South Carolina, USA. The plant is scheduled to commence production by the end of 2023, with two rotary furnaces to recycle aluminium dross and industrial scrap for regional consumption. Glencore has a long experience in copper scrap and precious metal scrap recycling at facilities in the United States, Canada, Italy and Chile. Now it will debut in aluminium scrap recycling when the industry is seeing the highest investments in decades. "Recent government policies, such as the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the EU's proposed Green Deal Industrial...
Vedanta’s aluminium wire rod price undergoes a hike of INR4500/t with effect from March 2
Vedanta Limited elevated its aluminium products prices by INR 4,500 per tonne on Thursday, March 2, after the last revision about a week ago on February 25. The latest hike has brought the company’s aluminium wire rod price to INR 233,000-240,500 per tonne versus INR 228,500-236,000 per tonne on February 25. Vedanta’s aluminium billet price stands at INR 234,500 per tonne, with effect from Thursday, March 2, compared to INR 230,000 per tonne on February 25. The company’s aluminium ingot price experienced no exception but saw an increase of INR 4,500 per tonne from INR 221,000-251,500 per tonne on February 25 to INR 225,500-256000 per tonne on March 2. Vedanta links its aluminium ingot and aluminium products prices to the three-month futures of aluminium on the Londom Metal Exchange, which...
Vedanta celebrates National Science Day with students to make them learn ‘Science of Aluminium’
To commemorate National Science Day, India's largest aluminium producer Vedanta Aluminium organised a visit for Women's Degree College students to their mega aluminium smelter at Jharsuguda to learn and experience the 'Science of Aluminium' as part of the Campus Connect Programme. The aim was to inspire students to pursue higher education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and opt for careers in the manufacturing industry. Vedanta's Science of Aluminium is a unique initiative to enable students to witness the concepts live that they may have learnt theoretically. Employee volunteers demonstrated scientific concepts behind aluminium production, such as Bayer's, Hall-Héroult, power generation, and casting processes. Vedanta also wants to encourage female students,...
