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.
Israel’s import of aluminium wire during 2018-20 manifests gradual downfall
Israel’s composite state of economy index recoils in February 2021, as the Bank of Israel marked the rise by 0.40% M-o-M in seasonally-adjusted terms in February (January: -0.26% m-o-m), supported by the weakening of the third lockdown, whereas, on an annual basis, economic activity dropped at a more moderate pace of 0.2% in February (January: -0.6% y-o-y). The country’s economy expanding 4.9% in 2021, up 0.2% points from February 2021 forecast, before growing 4.0% in 2022, as envisioned by FocusEconomics analysts. The Middle-Eastern nation on the Mediterranean Sea recorded 9509 tonnes of aluminium wire importation during 2018-19 and the expenditure that occurred for the import accounted for $24.27 million. The import for 2020 stood at 3325 tonnes and the expenditure remained at $7.77...
April 25 onward Vietnam hikes anti-dumping duties on Chinese aluminium imports
The Southeast Asian nation, Vietnam, onward 25 th April 2021 will impose anti-dumping duties of 4.39%-35.58% on aluminium products imported from China. According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, “The anti-dumping duties will apply to certain extruded aluminium products produced by 18 Chinese companies, with the tax rate depending on the Chinese producer.” The ministry had already imposed anti-dumping duties of 2.49%-35.58% on aluminium products of 16 Chinese companies in October 2019. “The Chinese firms’ dumping activities had seriously hurt domestic aluminium producers, some of whom had to halt production and lay off large numbers of workers”, stated the ministry. The ministry added: “In some cases, the aluminium, which had already been blocked by other countries with trade...
Insane market, industry fighting over aluminium and metals: Alumeco
The Danish aluminium and metal supplier Alumeco, providing aluminium solutions for the metal-consuming industries are experiencing a fierce battle for raw materials, which has also risen in prices. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the balance of demand and supply. Since May’20, the price of aluminium has soared by 55%, while the price of copper has risen by 80%. Jakob Jespersen, Sales Director, Alumeco, said: “We are reluctant to disappoint our customers, but the risk has become greater and greater in recent times when the battle for deliveries of everything from aluminium and copper to brass has exploded.” “A very chaotic situation exists at the moment. There is a total imbalance in supply and demand. This has made it very difficult for us to keep items on the shelves and we risk...
“Heading towards a catastrophic situation”, says Director of aluminium-based materials producer in Aube
Larbaletier Group, the manufacturers of aluminum-based materials in Aube, North-east of France, stated the economic recovery is on the way, while the surge in the price of raw materials is the new problem which is alarming and the outcome could be dreadful to the sector and the organization. Olivier Choiselat, Director of the Larbaletier Group located in Fontaine-Les-Grès in the Aube department, France said: "We had to put employees on short-time work during the crisis because orders were missing, now the order books are full and we risk putting employees back on short-time work, because we do not have enough raw materials. The situation is mind-blowing.” “It must be said that the problem affects many manufacturers in France and worries more and more. In fact, for the past few weeks, the...
Italy’s export of aluminium powder and flakes during 2018-20 unfolds steady rise with a gradual drop
IMF has revised the GDP growth projections for Italy to 3% in 2021 and 3.6% in 2022, in its January 2021 update of the world economic outlook. The European nation with a long Mediterranean coastline recorded export of 3453 tonnes of aluminium powder and flakes during 2018-19 and the revenue earnings that occurred for the export was $6.08 million. The export for 2020 remained at 1394 tonnes and the earnings stood at $2.77 million. However, when the export volume and earnings of 2020 get assorted with the existing two years, it denotes 4847 tonnes and $8.85 million respectively. Italy’s export of aluminium powder and flakes in 2018 was documented at 1684 tonnes and the earnings accounted for $2.26 million, whereas, in 2019, the export saw growth by 5.04%, as the export volume rose to 1769...
Bauxite mining company ‘Cita Mineral Investindo’ yields positive result in 2020 amid COVID-19 pandemic
The Indonesia based PT Cita Mineral Investindo Tbk (CITA), a bauxite mining company and the first Smelter Grade Alumina (SGA) producer in the nation through its associated entity PT Well Harvest Winning Alumina Refinery (WHW), yielded a positive performance in 2020, amid the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. All over 2020, CITA posted a net income of IDR 4.34 trillion and the realization was an upswing of 11.55% compared to CITA's 2019 net income which was only IDR 3.89 trillion. Yusak Lumba Pardede, Director, CITA, said: “Despite the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, during 2020 CITA succeeded in strengthening the Company's financial position. This can be seen from the significant increase in the value of equity and a decrease in the liability component.” “The company is optimistic about...
Tiwai aluminium smelter owner’s refused direct payment from NZ Govt., OIA reports
The fresh documents released under the Official Information Act, an important part of New Zealand's constitutional framework showcased, in 2020, the owners of the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter refused the offer of direct payment from the Government. As an opening offer to the aluminium smelter, a payment of between $15 million and $35 million was at one stage being discussed by officials, the documents reveal. The payment would have been conditional on the Tiwai smelter spending more than the $300 million it has currently allocated to clean up the smelter site following its shut down and tied to the smelter staying open until 2024. In November’20, an offer was made by the government, which was called "Southland Transition Bond”. However, the released document by OIA clearly states the...
RUSAL starts rolling test shipments of the world's lowest carbon footprint aluminium
RUSAL has started rolling the test deliveries of an entirely new product, aluminium produced by a revolutionary technology on inert anode cells. The usage of an inert anode in the electrolysis process drives it achievable to almost eliminate greenhouse gas emissions. RUSAL urges prospective partners and market leaders to test a pilot batch of this aluminium produced by the company using inert anode technology. Combined with renewable hydropower, inert anode technology provides an unprecedented low carbon footprint in metal production - less than 0.01 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per ton of metal (Scope 1, Scope 2 - direct and indirect emissions). This is tens of times lesser than the industry average for aluminium production. Roman Andryushin, Sales and Marketing Director of RUSAL said: “We...
Rolled aluminium specialist ‘Gränges’ upgrades 2025 sustainability targets
The aluminium technology company that drives the development of lighter, smarter and more sustainable aluminium products and solutions, Gränges has showcased that sustainability is a strong driver and enabler in long-term competitiveness and value creation. In March 2019, Gränges floated sustainability targets to 2025 and since then advancement has been achieved towards many of these. Gränges is now upgrading selected sustainability targets to reflect the stronger than anticipated development in the sustainability performance as well as to meet the increased interest and expectations from customers and other stakeholders. The targets revealed Gränges’ efforts to further incorporate sustainability across the company and the value chain, executed through the company’s five sustainability...
Slovakia’s export of aluminium tubes and pipes during 2018-20 records nominal growth to potential plunge
Slovakia has encountered sustained and steady GDP growth since its inclusion into the European Union in 2004, except for the financial plunge of 2008-2009 and the Eurozone crisis of 2011-2012. The Slovak economy in recent years had returned to growth, powered by the return of internal and European demand. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and the global crisis it caused pushed the country into a heavy recession in 2020, with GDP estimated to have dropped by 7.1% due to a sharp shrink in investments, low foreign demand and a rapid drop in private consumption. The IMF forecasted a growth of 6.9% for 2021, followed by 4.8% in 2022 when GDP should return to its pre-crisis income level. The landlocked country in Central Europe has registered the importation of 1546 tonnes of aluminium tubes and...
American Industrial Partners buy debt of Sanjeev Gupta’s two European aluminium assets
As per industry sources, the private equity firm, American Industrial Partners has been building great industrial business for over 30 years has bought the senior debt of the two Sanjeev Gupta’s European aluminium assets, initiating the process to take over. Recently, the New York-based firm, AIP, which seeks to invest in B2B companies in manufacturing or industrial service sectors, has bought debt linked to Sanjeev Gupta’s Dunkirk aluminium smelter in France as well as refinancing the senior debt of the Duffel rolling mill in Belgium, as reported by sources. The founder of Liberty House Group, Sanjeev Gupta has been looking out for new financing as the metal baron struggles to safeguard his metals empire following the collapse of its biggest lender, Greensill Capital, in the previous...
ELYSIS selects Rio Tinto’s Alma smelter for foremost installation and demonstration of its inert anode technology at a commercial size of 450 kA
On 20 th April 2021, ELYSIS made public that it has selected the Rio Tinto’s Alma smelter in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec, for the foremost installation and demonstration of its inert anode technology at a commercial size of 450 kiloamperes (kA), which is a common capacity for modern, full-scale smelters. An Alcoa and Rio Tinto joint venture company, ELYSIS is working to commercialize a new technology to make aluminium that eliminates all direct greenhouse gases (GHGs) from the traditional smelting process and instead produces oxygen. As part of its technology development and scale-up, ELYSIS will install industrial inert anode prototype cells at the end of an existing potline at the Alma smelter to demonstrate the technology’s effectiveness at a commercial scale in an industrial...
French govt. undertakes to support Alvance Aluminium Wheels plant for three months, uncertainty remains
The mayor of Châteauroux, Gil Averous and Christian Baron, mayor of Diors met in a videoconferencing with Bruno Le Maire, French Minister of Finance and Economy and the minister confirmed the state support for the Alvance Aluminum Wheels plant. But the concern remains alive for the future of Alvance Aluminum Wheels, following the meeting with Bruno Le Maire. On 19 th the minister discussed this mayor of Châteauroux and president of Châteauroux Métropole and said: "The State undertakes to find financing for the company for the next three months, the time to find a buyer.” The idea of this support is although not clear, the insight is to save a little time and peace of mind when the situation is extremely delicate for the only manufacturer of aluminium rims production in France, which has...
Capral Aluminium rejects Allegro’s purchase offer
Australia's largest extruder and distributor of aluminium products, Capral Aluminium with five manufacturing sites strategically placed across the country have rejected Allegro's purchase offer due to critical assessment from shareholders. A few days earlier, the company acknowledged a takeover proposal and recommended its shareholders vote in favour of the proposed transactions. The company with a mission to invest in rebuilding great businesses and developing specialised talent through transformational capital, Allegro proposed a 100% acquisition of Capral’s share for $7 each. However, following this announcement, the aluminium extrusion company’s Board of Directors has received feedback from multiple shareholders to not progress with the deal, as it undervalues the company. The company...
Switzerland’s export of aluminium cylinder for compressed gas during 2018-20 illustrates downfall to enterprising growth
The economy of Switzerland is expected to grow at more than double its usual rate in 2021 and 2022, with GDP rising by around 4% in both years as output recovers from the coronavirus epidemic, as stated by the Swiss Government’s chief economist. The central European nation’s export of aluminium cylinder during 2018-19 has recorded at 397.02 tonnes and the revenue earnings accounted for $1.09 million. The export for 2020 remained at 534.65 tonnes and the earnings stood at $3.21million. However, when the export volume and earnings for 2020 gets assorted with the existing two years, it illustrates $931.67 tonnes and $4.30 million respectively. The Swiss export of aluminium cylinder for compressed gas in 2018 was registered at 214.67 tonnes and the earnings occurred from the export was $0.89...
Fisher Group selects AP&T’s solution for hot forming of high-strength aluminium parts
The German metal components manufacturer Fischer Group has selected the industrial enterprise active in the sheet metal forming AP&T’s solution for hot forming of high-strength aluminium parts. The outstanding technology is capable of delivering extremely rational and cost-effective production of complexly designed components of various aluminium alloys (6000 and 7000). High-strength aluminium outperforms conventional sheet metal and results in a 40% reduction in weight of the components without compromising strength. This also develops an increase in the usage of this type of materials in cars, jets and other applications for reducing energy consumption and increasing safety. Hans-Peter Fischer, CEO of Fischer Group, said: “We have chosen AP&T as a partner for this innovation due to...
Marie-Guite Dufay floats a rescue plan for MBF Aluminum foundry, the first private employer in Saint-Claude
The Saint-Claude based MBF Aluminum foundry in France employs 284 people and its two primary customers are Renault and Stellantis. The aluminium foundry manufactures engine parts for the two French automobile giants. However, it is currently placed in receivership and its liquidation could be pronounced on 27 th April 2021. According to our report, Marie-Guite Dufay, President of the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region, is launching a rescue plan, to deliver financial assistance to pay the salaries for April. The regional council was requested by the court administrators and the administrators are asking the region for financial support of €500,000 for a possible rescue plan. Marie-Guite Dufay's document mentions three potential buyers and this aid should allow them to give them additional...
Uniseven rolls-out ‘Collector Bar’ for aluminium smelters
The Kolkata based Uniseven Engineering & Infrastructure Pvt Ltd, being a solution provider in the Aluminium value chain business for the last four decades and possess a rich experience in the industry by providing value-added services, is now manufacturing the Collector Bar (CB) that goes into the potlines in Aluminium Smelter. Uniseven partnered with Jekay International Track Pvt Ltd. of Kolkata, one of the largest integrated manufacturer and exporter of Rail Track Fittings, Turnouts & Steel Structures (Heavy, Medium & Small sections), for manufacturing the CB. There are two manufacturing units: Unit-1 situated at Liluah, Howrah, West Bengal, where different kind of fabrication work like Channel sleeper, H Beam Sleepers, Base plates, Fish plates related to the Railways sector being...
