AlCircle News Edited By "Rupankar Majumder"
A professional with a technical background, specialising in producing insightful content centred around metals, particularly aluminium, passionately engaged in the intricacies of the recycling sector.
Slovenia’s alumina export during 2018-21 reveals a fluctuating movement
As a member nation of the European Union, Slovenia has a mixed economic system in which the country is considerably involved in centralized planning, but there is private sector freedom. Slovenia with an advanced high-income economy is considered a developed state and ranks very high in the Human Development Index. The central European nation, Slovenia with GDP highly supported by industries like ferrous metallurgy and aluminium products, lead and zinc smelting, etc. The country exported 359,390 tonnes of alumina during 2018-20 and the earnings incurred from the export accounted for $187.16 million. In 2018, Slovenia registered 68,780 tonnes of alumina and the earnings counted to $36.18 million, whereas, in 2019 the export revealed a notable growth by 120.13%, as the export demand surged...
AAI’s plea continues to CIL for immediate coal supply
On 14th October 2021, the institution that caters for the needs of the Indian Aluminium Industry, the Aluminium Association of India (AAI) pleaded to the Indian government-owned coal mining and refining corporation, Coal India Limited (CIL) for prompt resumption of coal supplies for the domestic aluminium industry stating that the ongoing severe crisis of the fossil fuel due to several factors has developed insecure circumstances. The statement has emerged at a situation when multiple power plants in the nation are encountering a scarcity of coal. The AAI in its letter to Pramod Agrawal, Chairman of CIL said: “Despite untiring efforts of MoC (Ministry of Coal) and CIL (Coal India Ltd) to support the industry, the current acute coal crunch due to various factors has created an immensely...
Energy crisis defers China Hongqiao's plan of aluminium capacity relocation to Yunnan
On 13th October 2021, the Chairman of the world's largest aluminium producer, China Hongqiao Group stated that the company is deferring the plan to reposition aluminium capacity to Yunnan province precisely for energy restrictions imposed by the provincial government. The Chinese aluminium giant, Hongqiao planned to relocate 2 million tonnes of capacity to Wenshan prefecture and 1 million tonnes to Honghe prefecture in Yunnan province, which is almost half of its 6.46 million tonnes authorised annual primary aluminium capacity for uncomplicated access to hydropower, a move towards green. Hongqiao’s Chairman Zhang Bo said that they have rolled back the relocation idea due to power restrictions. However, 1 million tonnes of capacity had started in Wenshan last year. He further added, “The...
Cameroon’s import of aluminium plates, sheets and strips during 2019-20 reflects remarkable demand; 32% downfall estimated for 2021
As per the global standard, the aluminium industry considers: “Aluminum from 0.008 inches to less than 0.25 inches thick is considered sheet. Thinner aluminium is foil and aluminium 0.250 inches and thicker is plate. Strips are sheets that are machined into units with smaller width for specific applications.” Cameroon's market-based, diversified economy features oil and gas, timber, aluminium, agriculture, mining and the service sector. The country has a mixed economic system that incorporates a variety of private freedom, combined with centralized economic planning and government regulation. Cameroon being a part of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), imported 27,314 tonnes of aluminium plates, sheets and strips during 2019-20 and the expenditure counted for the...
Airbus initiates production of first aluminium panel skin for Skynet 6A
On 11 th October 2021, the European multinational aerospace corporation, Airbus initiated the production of the introductory aluminium panel skin for the Skynet 6A military communications satellite at its facility in Stevenage, on an occasion in the presence of the UK’s minister of defence procurement Jeremy Quin. Quin stated: “Secure military SATCOM is vital for our ability to conduct operations on a global scale.” “Seeing the first hardware for the next-generation Skynet 6A satellite shows we are on track for launch in 2025 and ready to upgrade and enhance the UK’s global military communications network”, the minister added. The international pioneer in the aerospace sector, Airbus in July 2020 secured the contract to design and develop Skynet 6A from the UK Ministry of Defence. In...
A00 aluminium ingot price rises by RMB90/t to settle at RMB23330/t; Aluminium alloy (A356) price soars to RMB27450/t
A00 aluminium ingot price witnessed a third-day rise in price as of the week. According to SMM, the primary aluminium ingot price has soared by RMB 90 per tonne to come in at RMB 23,330 per tonne. However, the average prices are expected to range between RMB 23,280 per tonne and RMB 23,320 per tonne, with spot contracts to be traded at a premium price of RMB 40-0 per tonne. In Hang Zhou the prices have surged the highest among other Chinese cities by RMB 360 per tonne to 23,580 per tonne, followed by Wu Xi the price climbed by RMB 350 to RMB 23,570 per tonne. A00 aluminium ingot price in Chong Qing shoot up by RMB 130 per tonne to RMB 23,310 per tonne, pursued by Shen Yang with a growth in price by RMB 120 per tonne to settle at RMB 23,320 per tonne. In Tian Jin, the price increases by...
AZ China consultancy joining both ends of the world in a unique virtual conference about the future of aluminium
AZ China is taking virtual conferences to new horizons, where delegates will have a near to real-life experience attending and smart networking opportunities to make participation rewarding, profitable and fun. We are on the cusp of an amazing new world and this conference will create a space to discuss the compelling future for our industry with admired and expert speakers and people from all over the world. When the world looks stretched apart and far apart, there has never been a time more important to stay connected. This conference brings it all to you, the excitement of networking, the interesting debates, the hot topics, the live forums and Q&As. It is all there with a touch of a button, all live, fresh in a fascinatingly close to reality platform from the ease of your office and...
Alcoa, FYI Resources start-off alumina production trials at pilot plant
Alcoa and FYI Resources, the Australian listed resources company that aims at developing an innovative and vertically integrated high quality, high-purity alumina will commence the HPA trials at FYI’s pilot plant facility in Welshpool, Western Australia in October 2021. The trials are part of the initial phase for the two companies that conducted joint development projects. On 19th October, the pilot plant production is slated to commence and will pursue for 24 hours per day across the preceding two weeks. A further two weeks of continuous operations will happen at the pilot plant, after a short break to analyse the initial production data. The pilot plant’s trial position is to denote processing efficiencies through the production of HPA with the product to be utilized for further...
Croatia’s aluminium household articles importation during 2018-21 signifies a volatile trend
The international financial institution World Bank has classified Croatia as a high-income economy and ranks very high on the Human Development Index. 25% of the country’s GDP is accounted for by the industrial sector. Economically the most developed European nation, Croatia imported 5915 tonnes of aluminium household articles during 2018-20 and the revenue expended for the import accounted for $25.22 million. In 2018, Croatia imported aluminium household articles for 804 tonnes and the expenditure counted for the import was $3.60 million, whereas, in 2019, the import reflected an excellent growth by 261.56%, as the import volume shoot up to 2907 tonnes and the expenditure also climbed to $11.57 million. Croatia’s export of aluminium household articles in 2020 illustrated a downfall by...
Global power crisis spins aluminium prices to cross $3,000 per tonne
The high power-intensive produced metal aluminium escalated to new heights since 2008, as the global power distress plunges the metal supplies utilized for the manufacturing of beverage cans to world-class mobile phones. The metal aluminium consumes around 14-megawatt hours of power for one-tonne output, which is considered enough to ferry an average home in Britain for more than three years. China initiated first to curb the aluminium production to restrict its industrial energy usage. However, ahead of the present energy crisis, China has placed a hard cap on the future capacity that assures to conclude years of over-expansion and augments the possibilities of a profound global shortfall. These days, with the soaring energy costs across Asia and Europe, there’s a looming threat of...
European aluminium strongly oppose suspension of long-overdue anti-dumping duties
The voice of the European aluminium value chain, European Aluminium Association hails the European Commission’s final confirmation of the definitive anti-dumping duties required to hinder the impact of Chinese dumping of flat-rolled products (FRPs) on the EU market. Correspondingly, European Aluminium strongly opposes the contradictory 9-month suspension of these duties officially announced by the European Commission on 11 th October 2021. European Aluminium is ready to follow all available avenues to combat the unjustified suspension of the long-overdue trade defence measures. The European Commission’s Definitive Findings in the anti-dumping investigation into certain aluminium flat-rolled products (FRP, case AD668) clearly confirmed that China practices injurious dumping of aluminium...
Transition to green is under threat unless govt. supports: Norsk Hydro Chief Executive
On 11th October 2021, Hilde Merete Aasheim, CEO of Norwegian aluminium and one of the largest aluminium companies worldwide, Norsk Hydro said: “The green transition is under threat unless governments can level the playing field between metal producers who are forced to pay offset costs for their emissions and those who are not.” In a keynote speech at the opening of LME Week in London, the metal industry's yearly summit, Hilde Merete Aasheim said: “Some are subject to the world's most ambitious climate policies, while others are not.” "If some of the world's greenest production has higher CO2 costs than many of those producing with a formidable CO2 footprint, that is not an efficient incentive structure to promote a speedy and successful green transition," she added. The metal giant’s CEO...
Indonesia’s import of aluminium containers during 2019-20 illustrates enterprising growth; 48% downfall predicted for 2021
The aluminium food container is considered one of the budget-friendly food-grade containers and one of the customarily used packaging solutions across food industries. As metal aluminium is a poor insulator and doesn’t permit the heat to pass through, this makes aluminium foils and containers, the most preferred packaging solution. Aluminium foil reflects the thermal energy back to the food maintaining the inherent aroma, moisture, and flavour of the food. The economy of Indonesia is a market-based economy, where the government plays a vital role, including administering prices for some basic goods such as fuel, rice and electricity. It is the world's fourth most populous nation and 10th largest economy in terms of purchasing power parity. The transcontinental nation in Southeast Asia and...
Every Can Counts partners with White Claw to encourage recycling of beverage cans
The not-for-profit communications programme working to inspire, encourage and empower people to recycle their empty drink cans, Every Can Counts has made public its partnership with global hard seltzer brand, White Claw, to succour inspire and encourage drink can recycling. The partnership beholds White Claw to collaborate with Every Can Counts, drink can manufacturers and the wider recycling industry to up-rear awareness of the importance of recycling and enlarge recycling rates across both the UK and Ireland. As part of the alliance, White Claw will bestow funding to the Every Can Counts programme, with both brands working together to spread the message that drinks cans are infinitely recyclable. Every Can Counts dispensed recycling support at White Claw’s summer pop-up brand activation...
Downstream Products weekly Recap: Hong Leong anticipates rosy earnings prospects for Press Metal Aluminium in FY2022-23; BAGR Berliner Aluminumwerk appoints Oleg Hoffmann as new Managing Director
The week witnessed some major events in the global aluminium industry’s downstream segment. German aluminium precision expertise alimex GmBH joins ASI as Production & Transformation member. UK Trade Remedies Authority to investigate aluminium road wheels imports from China to decide anti-dumping duties. The major public listed banking group in Malaysia, Hong Leong expects rosy earnings prospects for Press Metal Aluminium in FY2022-23. Press Metal’s Phase 3 Samalaju expansion project is also expected to be a vital catalyst for the company’s earnings growth in FY2022-2023. Hindalco Industries Limited decreased its aluminium products prices with effect from Friday, October 1, a day after it increased the prices on September 30. The latest cut has brought the company’s aluminium billets price...
Rio Tinto’s Tiwai aluminium smelter closure not final in 2024
According to the documents revealed under the Official Information Act, New Zealand, Rio Tinto and ministers’ discussion varied the global metal giant’s proposal to shut down the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter in 2024. In January 2021, Rio Tinto majority-owned aluminium smelter declared that it would functionalize NZAS until the end of 2024, following thumping down Meridian Energy on the price it pays for power supply. However, the documents disclosed under the OIA delivers a clear image that the date for shutting down New Zealand’s only aluminium smelter that accommodates around 800 staff and contractors is not yet ‘final’. On 6th May, Ivan Vella, Global of Aluminium for Rio Tinto met the Finance Minister of New Zealand Grant Robertson, Energy Minister Megan Woods and Environment Minister...
Netherlands export of aluminium scrap during 2018-21 marks multi-million dollar revenue transaction
The economic freedom score of the Netherlands is 76.8, driving its economy the 16th freest in the 2021 Index. The country has a mixed economic system that comprises a variety of private freedom, fused with centralized economic planning and government regulation. The advanced transportation infrastructure navigates the country to become such a mammoth economic player. The world’s 10 th best nation, Netherlands recorded 1.03 million tonnes of aluminium scrap during 2018-20 and the revenue generated from the export accounted for $1.01 billion. In 2018, Netherlands exported 119,320 tonnes of aluminium scrap and the earnings counted from the export was $123.51 million, whereas, in 2019, the export observed a revolutionary growth of 284.71%, as the export volume surged to 459,043 tonnes and the...
Coal stockpiles for only one to two days, aluminium production to slash: FIMI
According to India’s apex industry body, the Federation of Indian Mineral Industries (FIMI), the drastic coal crisis in India has developed a situation like “swimming in a rough ocean” for the aluminium producers as the reserve of the fossil fuel sink to a scathing level. B.K. Bhatia, Additional Secretary General, FIMI said: “Most aluminium factories, which have their power generation plants, have stockpiles for only one to two days. While aluminium output hasn’t been affected so far, there may be production cuts by the end of the month if coal supplies don’t recover.” The Aluminium Association of India stated that the stiffening supplies of coal have tripped a power emergency in India as around 70% of the country’s electricity is fossil-fuel-fired. A load-shedding for more than two hours...
