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.
RUSAL deploys neural network at the Irkutsk Aluminium Smelter to detect production quality of aluminium ingots
The Russian aluminium giant, RUSAL has deployed a neural network to detect the quality of aluminium ingots produced at the Irkutsk Aluminium Smelter. The latest system automatically scans the surface quality of small aluminium ingots during production. Surface defects on each aluminium ingot are examined on the casting conveyor using a video monitoring system and special-purpose software. The neural network uncovers various types of defects, such as cracks, bumps, and foreign inclusions. It saves all the information concerning the defect and is displayed as an analytical diagram, with data available regarding the number of each type of defect per day and the number of ingots that did not pass quality assurance per shift. Employees can tweak the parameters based on which ingots are found...
Kazakhstan’s import of aluminium container during 2019-20 records impressive growth; 13% slash estimated for 2021
Kazakhstan will resist deeper integration and strengthen its ties with China and the West, while its relationship with Russia remains crucial. The country’s GDP forecast says that it will return to the pre-crisis level by the end of 2021 and the economy will pursue to be sensitive to commodity market volatility over the medium term. The Central Asian nation, Kazakhstan imported 433 tonnes of aluminium containers during 2019-20 and the expenditure occurred for the import stood at $3.79 million. In 2019, Kazakhstan’s import of aluminium containers was registered at 173 tonnes and the expenditure for the import accounted for $1.42 million, whereas, in 2020, the import recorded an impressive growth of 50.28%, as the import volume grew to 260 tonnes and the expenditure also surged to $2.37...
Ghana gets 5 year time from EU to evade carbon border tax on its aluminium
European Union is a political and economic union of 27 member states that are located primarily in Europe and released the summarized details of its carbon border tax, stressing on other nations to validate carbon pricing by 2026 instead of countering carbon border tax. The carbon tariff will apply to the energy-sensitive products imported into the EU from manufacturing countries with weaker environmental measures. Aluminium, iron and steel are among others that stand as the first contender for this carbon border tax. The EU said: “The policy is designed to stop carbon leakage and the risk companies will relocate to countries with weaker regulations.” However, multiple of the union’s trade partners are dejected by the methodology and criticized by saying “it is protectionism in a green...
Focusing global aluminium industry’s dust challenge, Hencon launch compact vacuum cleaner ‘EVY’: Fresh Thinking, Smart Cleaning
On 15th July 2021, Hencon, the globally renowned engineering company delivering solutions and services to the aluminium and mining industry launched compact vacuum cleaner ‘EVY’, keeping its tagline ‘Fresh Thinking, Smart Cleaning’. Hencon is consistently progressing new improvements and sustainable solutions that emphasise efficiency, safety, maintainability, lowering the cost of ownership, and the environmental impact of its products. One of the toughest jobs in the aluminium industry is keeping the potroom clean. Now to trouble-free the industry, a special vehicle is required, performing dust-free with a high output. Here comes, the latest development of Hencon in this domain, the first serial-produced, compact vacuum cleaner EVY with just one specification. The EVY guarantees the...
Aluminium End-user Weekly Recap: Ball Corporation to expand cans capacity with new aluminium beverage packaging plants in UK & Russia; Indian electronics brand ‘Noise’ rolls-out smartwatch made from aircraft grade aluminium
The aluminium end-user segment unfolded some of the best news from across the world. The American multi-national and the world's leading provider of innovative, sustainable aluminium packaging for beverage, personal care and household products, Ball Corporation intends to expand increase its manufacturing capacity with new facilities in the UK and Russia. Ball has recognized a site at the SEGRO Park Kettering Gateway in the UK, while the 2014 born India electronics brand ‘Noise’ rolls-out smartwatch made from aircraft-grade aluminium. CANPACK S.A. has joined ASI as a new Industrial User member, bringing the total number of ASI Members to 178. The company, founded in 1992, is a manufacturer of aluminium beverage cans. The Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) is a global,...
Weekly Aluminium Recycling Recap: Robina Town Centre announces new container recycling initiative; Corona crisis crashes the aircraft scrap metal recycling market
Aluminium recycling is a major role player for driving the sector towards low-carbon, however this week the buzz kept low. In Australia, Robina Town Centre has teamed up with not-for-profit organisation Container Exchange to launch a new container recycling initiative named Partners for Change, whereas, the aircraft scrap metal market reveals a huge downfall due to the Covid-19 pandemic. TAHA is a multi-discipline solutions provider with corporate offices in the Netherlands, offering innovative, environmentally friendly and cost-effective services, equipment and products to the aluminium and steel industries worldwide. TAHA’s environmentally friendly aluminium dross processing solutions recover metal and refine the residuals, without using salt or any other chemicals, turning the...
Weekly Aluminium Downstream Recap: Sanjeev Gupta battles to save its Belgian aluminium rolling mill from US equity firm AIP; Alucast’s £200,000 investment supports to bounce back from pandemic
The global aluminium downstream sector is gradually regaining its power following the severe crisis rooted in multiple waves of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Indian born British metal magnate Sanjeev Gupta battles to save its Belgian aluminium rolling mill from US equity firm AIP and the British firm Alucast’s £200,000 investment supports to bounce back from pandemic has created significant noise this week, whereas in the market dynamics the price and import-export demand reflects the rise and also decline. Hindalco Industries Limited increased its aluminium products and aluminium ingot prices on Saturday, July 10, a day soon after it sharply reduced the prices. The company grew its aluminium wire rod price by INR 2,750 per tonne to sell the product at INR 226,100 per tonne. On Friday, July...
Mubadala Investment eyes excess of $20 billion for EGA in IPO
The UAE based sovereign wealth fund Mubadala Investment Company is aiming at a value excess of $20 billion comprising debt for Emirates Global Aluminium PJSC as it moves closer to listing the business, according to an industry expert. The industry expert also added that Mubadala Investment has urged banks to onset pitching for roles on an initial public offering of EGA. Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, CEO and Managing Director of Mubadala Investment stated in April that the company was very near to going public, having seen a previous plan to do so postpone in 2018 after then-U.S. President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on aluminium imports from the United Arab Emirates. As per our information, Goldman Sachs, Bank of America Corp. and JPMorgan Chase & Co. worked on the plans for the earlier...
Uruguay’s import of aluminium bar rods and profiles during 2019-20 reveals marginal growth; 10% growth predicted for 2021
The economy of Uruguay economy is heavily dependent on its neighbours, Brazil and Argentina. In 2020, the country’s GDP plunged by an estimated 5.7%, primarily due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic not only in the country but also in its neighbours. However, it should be considered that the pandemic had a relatively minor impact on the Uruguayan economy when compared to other countries in the region. The economy is still expected to recover in the coming years, with the IMF's April 2021 estimates predicting growth of 3% for 2021 and 3.1% for 2022, subject to post-pandemic global economic recovery. The South American nation, Uruguay imported 6651 tonnes of aluminium bar rods and profiles during 2019-20 and the foreign revenue expended for the import stood at $21.75 million. Uruguay’s...
Indian electronics brand ‘Noise’ rolls-out smartwatch made from aircraft grade aluminium
The Indian consumer electronics brand, Noise which started in 2014 founded by Amit Khatri and Gaurav Khatri has developed to be a popular wearable brand, now rolled out another smartwatch in the market. On 15 th July 2021, the electronic company revealed Noise ColorFit Ultra at an online event. The ColorFit Ultra comes with the biggest display Noise has ever floated. The smartwatch is tooled with magnificent features including Calls and SMS quick reply, 60 sports modes, a blood oxygen monitor and more. The dial of the smartwatch is featured square-shaped and is made up of aluminium alloy. During the online event, the company disclosed that the aluminium used in the Noise ColorFit Ultra is aircraft-grade aluminium. Noise ColorFit Ultra is yet another smartwatch that the company has...
South Korean aluminium and steel industry to face trouble from EU's new carbon policy
On 15th July 2021, South Korea's Ministry of Industry stated that the nation's aluminium and steel sectors are expected to be counter trouble from the European Union’s carbon border tax. The announcement from the ministry came a day after the EU declared its intention to implement the Border Carbon Emissions Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), aimed at imposing a ‘carbon price’ on imports of certain products in the country. Importers need to purchase ‘carbon certificates’ equating to the amount of carbon spent to manufacture the products. Subsequently, products with higher carbon emissions will lose their competitiveness in the European market. South Korea assumes that the new policy could register a negative impact on the aluminium and steel industry. Asia's fourth-largest economy, South Korea...
Hungary’s export of aluminium plates, sheets and strips during 2018-20 demonstrates instability; 10% growth predicted for 2021
Hungary economy is an export-oriented market economy with a substantial significance on foreign trade. The country is the 35th largest export economy in the world. The ERSTE Research predicted that the Hungarian economy to grow by 3.90% in 2021. The landlocked central European nation, Hungary recorded an export of 208,308 tonnes of aluminium plates, sheets and strips during 2018-20 and the revenue earnings accounted for from the export stood at $510.32 million. Hungary’s export of aluminium plates, sheets and strips in 2018 was registered at 47,299 tonnes and the earnings recorded was $116.83 million, whereas, in 2019, the export surged to 89,068 tonnes, demonstrated growth by 88.30% and the earnings also shot up to $218.76 million. In 2020, Hungary’s export of aluminium plates, sheets...
Cameroon’s aluminium producer ALUCAM suspends formerly declared 8% price rise
The Cameroonian aluminium producer ALUCAM on 13th July 2021 puts suspension on its declared around 8% price rise which was effective from 12th July 2021. The aluminium company did not come up with any clarifications; expect it stipulated that the cause of suspension remains in the hands of internal administration. While as per our country sources, the suspension on the price hike was due to compulsion exercised by the government, through the Ministry of Trade, which is against the price hike for the moment. ALUCAM professed to its customers that the price hike was due to the surge in prices of the raw materials and the additional costs induced in regards to logistics chain disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The price rise suspension prevents the speculation fears, which would...
Concord Resources acquires majority stake in New Day Aluminum
The global resources company founded by a group of experienced and largely American natural resources investors, Concord Resources Holdings Limited has acquired the majority ownership in New Day’s principal holdings, which include its Noranda Alumina refinery and NICHE Chemical non-metallurgical alumina business in Gramercy, Louisiana, as well as its Noranda Bauxite mine operations in St. Ann, Jamaica owned in partnership with the Government of Jamaica. Since 2018, Concord Resources was a minority partner in New Day Holdings, while now it acquired the majority interest from other shareholders in the DADA Holdings Group. The headquarters of New Day will remain in Gramercy, Louisiana. Concord Resources was founded in 2015 and it runs one of the largest independent smelter grade alumina...
Romanian aluminium producer Alro Slatina secures €34 million financing from state-owned lender EximBank
On 14th July 2021, the largest aluminium and aluminium alloy producer of Romania, Alro Slatina received a €34 million financing facility from EximBank, a state-owned lender. Exim Bank is the Export-Import Bank of Romania based in Bucharest. Alro said in a statement filed with the Bucharest Stock Exchange, BVB that the funds disbursed are purposeful to deliver the requisite liquidity for the operations of the company and were sanctioned with a state guarantee provided under the Covid-19 state aid scheme dedicated to large companies. Alro Slatina, a subsidiary of Vimetco N.V. is one of the largest vertically integrated aluminium producers in Europe, having an installed production capacity of 265,000 tonnes per annum of electrolytic aluminium, 35,000 tonnes per annum of recycled aluminium...
Corona crisis crashes the aircraft scrap metal recycling market
The journey by aeroplane is considered as one of the fastest and sophisticated in the world for decades. Thousands of aeroplanes carry millions of passengers to reach their destinations. Now, aeroplanes also have a life-ending process, or we say retirement, but in reality, an aeroplane never dies, its parts and components get recycled and it is gradually becoming a broad sector. However, the Covid-19 pandemic has crashed the aeroplane scrap market’s growth rate. It has been reported that presently an around 470-550 aeroplanes are tear down or dismantled, while the reported number is envisioned to grow and stand 2000 plus planes by 2030 every year. As per the industry report, around 80%-90% of an aircraft’s weight can be recycled for re-utilized in aviation or other industries. Aluminium...
Germany’s export of aluminium household articles during 2018-20 unfolds robust growth with marginal fall; 9% drop estimated for 2021
As per ‘Economic Key Facts Germany’ by KPMG, the German started to augment in Q2 2021, with all major indicators now signifying to growth. The economy will regain strength and is predicted to grow by almost 4% in 2021. After the contraction in GDP of 4.9% in 2020, KPMG expected economic output in Germany to expand by 3.6% year on year in 2021. The development of the economy is fuelled by the vaccination programme in Germany, which has delivered doses to almost 60% of the population with about 40% now being fully vaccinated. The seventh-largest country in Europe, Germany recorded export of 46,812 tonnes of aluminium household articles during 2018-20 and the revenue earnings accounted for from the export was $358.75 million. In 2018, the Western European nation registered 11,961 tonnes of...
Saudi Arabia: Ma'aden inks calcined petroleum coke supply deal for Ras Al Khair aluminium smelter
On 13th July 2021, the Saudi Arabian Mining Co, Ma'aden inked a five-year deal to procure calcined petroleum coke from a Saudi company for its Ras Al Khair aluminium smelter. Ma'aden Aluminium smelter in Ras Al Khair will procure 100,000 tonnes a year of the calcined petroleum coke, which will be used in the manufacture of aluminium, once commercial production commences at the end of 2024 from a facility owned by Saudi Calcined Petroleum Coke Company (SCPCC). Calcined petroleum coke is the major raw material required for the production of carbon anodes used in the aluminium smelting process. The $40 million worth yearly contract is a part of a plan by the Gulf region’s biggest miner, Ma'aden to procure 320,000 tonnes of calcined petroleum coke from domestic sources yearly. Abdulaziz...
