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’s Aughinish Alumina in Ireland books profit after revoke of US sanctions
Rusal Aughinish Alumina is the largest alumina refinery in Europe and the largest of the alumina facilities operated by UC RUSAL has declared the rise of pre-tax profits by over 30% to $54.60 million for 2019. The company has been done well following the revoke of US sanctions against its Russian owner. However, revenues dropped to $690.9 million from $757.1 million, having jumped 15% a year earlier. The US sanctions, imposed by the US Department of Treasury on the refinery’s owner the Rusal Group in 2018, abjured in late January 2019. The alumina refinery was also in the news previous year after Ireland lost a state aid appeal over a European Commission ruling that Aughinish Alumina plant received €10 million in illegal tax breaks between 2002 and 2004 through an exemption from excise...
Alunorte’s alumina production plunge, a dividend for Nalco
The Indian state-run National Aluminium Company is expected to gain, as Hydro’s Alunorte alumina refinery in Brazil will axe down production by 30-45% due to maintenance of the bauxite supply pipeline at Paragominas mine, as per market analysts. Norsk Hydro ASA, among the biggest aluminium producers, stated that it will curtail production at Alunorte alumina refinery in Brazil amid extended maintenance on a pipeline transporting bauxite from the Paragominas mine in the Latin American nation. Alumina production at Alunorte, which accounts for about 13% of the global demand, will fall to 35-45% of its full operating capacity during planned maintenance expected to last two months. Vishal Chandak, a Research Analyst at Emkay Global Financial Services, said: “This development may not have an...
Vacuum impregnation method for Aluminium castings shoulders environmental responsibility
The auto manufacturers are grasping that being environmentally responsible and profitable are not mutually exclusive. Being environmentally responsible can achieve better growth, cost savings, improve brand recognition, and increase profitability. The environmental impact of the responsible use of resources is beneficial to everyone; hence automotive manufacturers play a vital role. Environmental consciousness is occurring at all channels of the production process. Audi’s closed-loop recycling manufacturing process and Ford's closed-loop recycling manufacturing process are the leading examples. Aluminium die-casting manufacturers are reducing their carbon footprint with the use of green aluminium. Green aluminium is manufactured using less carbon-intensive hydropower rather than...
Hungary’s export of Aluminium stranded wires reports growth during 2018-19; projected marginal drop in volume for 2020, earnings to keep rising
According to the GKI Economic Research Co., the annual growth rate in the Hungarian economy is about to slow down significantly in 2020 and after 5.1% in 2019 the GDP growth rate is forecasted at 2.7%. The growth remains balanced in 2020, which means both internal trends and export promote fast growth. The major industries that contribute highly to the economy of Hungary are electrical goods, mining, metallurgy, construction materials, food processing, electronics, textiles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, motor vehicles, information technology. The landlocked Central European nation recorded aluminium stranded wires export during 2018-19 at 29,052 tonnes and the earnings stood at $48.39 million. The projected export for 2020 has been analysed to remain at 15,021 tonnes and earning to...
Hydro Paragominas Bauxite pipeline in Brazil paused for extended maintenance, production at Alunorte to shrink
Hydro has paused operation of 244 kilometer long pipeline transporting bauxite from Hydro’s Paragominas bauxite mine to the Alunorte alumina refinery for extended maintenance, temporarily suspending production at the mine. Hydro had scheduled the replacement of two sections of the pipeline in Q3 and Q4 of 2020, as part of the long-term maintenance plan for the pipeline. During the planned maintenance work in Q3, it was discovered that a section of the pipeline had deteriorated faster than expected. Based on a technical assessment, it was decided today to extend the maintenance and replace this section of the pipeline earlier than initially scheduled. The halt in bauxite supply will effect in curtailment of production at Alunorte alumina refinery which is considered as the world’s largest...
Power storage in recycled aluminium inventor Azelio ties up with ALEC Energy to build renewable energy storage site in Masdar city
Azelio, a public Swedish company specialising in thermal energy storage with dispatchable power invented a revolutionary technology for its unique capability to produce electricity and heat from the storage on-demand at all hours of the day, as the system stores energy in recycled aluminium will institute a verification project in Abu Dhabi in Q3 2020 together with Masdar and Khalifa University. The objective of the installation is to analysis Azelio's energy storage technology for inclusion in the Masdar product portfolio for current and future renewable energy projects. An agreement has now been signed with ALEC Energy to set up the Azelio project site in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi. The arrangement for Azelio's energy storage installation in Abu Dhabi is progressing as per the plan. The...
RUSAL and other companies must allow union representation: Joseph Hamilton, Labour Minister - Guyana
Joseph Hamilton, Guyana’s Minister for Labour on 17 th August’20 has prepared to lead a government delegation into talks with RUSAL. The Minister pledged RUSAL and other companies that they must allow workers from being represented by trade unions. Hamilton said: “Workers will not be denied their right to form representative organisations or to be represented by union or unions of their choice. That is the policy position of the Ministry and the policy position of the government.” Joseph Hamilton pledged to abide by Guyana’s constitution and law in dealing with workers’ rights. The Labour Minister and officials of the Ministry of Natural Resources are due to discuss whether the RUSAL-controlled Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc. (BCGI) would be restarting operations at its Upper Berbice River...
Indonesia’s Alumina import pick-up reflects in 2017-18; remains stable during 2018-20
Indonesia’s state aluminium company PT Indonesia Asahan Aluminium (Inalum) expects to stop importing alumina by 2022 as it expected to complete the construction of alumina refinery, but the COVID-19 pandemic might cause delays in the planning. The country’s demand for the alumina has been supported by importation from the multiple nations like Australia, Austria, Bahrain, China, Canada, France, Germany, India, Netherlands, South Korea, etc. Indonesia’s import of alumina during 2017-18 has been recorded with 667,209 tonnes. In 2017 the alumina import volume was 227,316 tonnes, whereas in 2018 it surged to 439,893 tonnes, rise by 93.51%. The Island nation’s alumina import in 2019 has been recorded with a marginal drop by 0.92%, as the import volume remained at 435,820 tonnes and the revenue...
Novelis couples with Nespresso to supply highly recycled content Aluminum for coffee capsules
Novelis Inc., the world leader in aluminium rolling and recycling, on 17 th August’20, declared that it has partnered with Nespresso, the pioneer of premium portioned coffee, to roll-out the first coffee capsule made from 80% recycled aluminium. The highly recycled, a sustainable alloy is featured in Nespresso's new coffee capsules. Stephen Boney, Vice President, Specialties, Novelis Europe, said: "This achievement is an important step in helping Nespresso reach its sustainability goals. We have a longstanding partnership with Nespresso that is focused on implementing more sustainable manufacturing processes throughout the supply chain. As such, we have increased the amount of recycled aluminium content in coffee capsules and developing additional end-of-life recycling solutions for...
Japanese aluminium metal producers exhibit rise-in demand from the auto industry following Q1 drop
Japanese manufacturers of aluminium metals saw their output drop in the April-June quarter as automakers temporarily close-down plants to control the spread of the COVID-19 virus and to match slide in demand. The industry is expecting a gradual pick-up in metals used in automobiles and other industries toward March’21, but not enough to bring demand back to pre-pandemic levels, suggesting a smaller annual import of raw materials such as primary aluminium ingots. Japan Aluminium Association said: “The nation’s production of aluminium rolled products slid 15% in the quarter.” The auto segment accounts 15-18% of the supplies of rolled aluminium products. The recovery in car production has been a vital factor for the suppliers’ recuperation from devastated earnings. UACJ Corp Japan’s biggest...
Lanka Aluminium Industries appoints Dinal Peiris as Chairman
Sri Lanka’s premier producer of high-quality aluminium extrusions for high-rise buildings and other applications Lanka Aluminium Industries PLC appoints Dinal Peiris as Chairman. Mr Peiris is an experienced and multi-skilled business professional, who was holding the position of Managing Director in the organization since 1999. Lanka Aluminium has grown and diversified into many related businesses under the leadership of Dinal Peiris. The company is recognized undoubtedly the most innovative and technically competent company with in-house ability for high tech applications. Peiris completed his degree in Mechanical Engineering from The City University, London and his MBA from the prestigious London Business School. He is an associate member of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, UK....
Colombia’s import of Aluminium Foil during 2017-19 remains steady: Projected with 79.69% growth for 2020
The economy of Colombia is the fourth largest in Latin America as measured by gross domestic product. Colombia has experienced a historic economic boom over the last decade. In 1990, Colombia was Latin America's 5th largest economy and had a GDP per capita of only $1,500, by 2018 it became the 4th largest in Latin America, and the world's 37th largest. Aluminium foil importation market of Colombia during 2017-19 exhibited steady growth, as the import volume recorded was 6849 tonnes and the revenue expenditure stood at $27.64 million. The projected import for 2020 has been analysed at 5265 tonnes and expenditures to reach $18.26 million. However, when the analysed import volume and expenditures for 2020 has been added with the previous three years, it depicts 11,754 tonnes and $45.90...
HINDALCO: Ambassador of Indian Aluminium industry to the world
In the year 1958, Hindalco Industries started with an aim to produce primary aluminium and brownfield expansion, whereas, from 2020 onwards, Hindalco has grown through acquisitions and FDI investments. The primary aluminium business generated non-uniform cash-flow due to the fluctuation in the international prices. Hindalco planned to de-risk, so it increased the share of the downstream activities and in 2007 Hindalco acquired Novelis, the world’s largest aluminium rolling company for around $6 billion, followed by more downstream investments in India. In 2020 Hindalco acquired Aleris to build competency in aluminium rolled products. Hindalco also invested about $5 billion in upstream projects which incorporates the aluminium smelting and alumina refinery facilities and focus on the...
Aluminium foundry alloy premiums in Europe swing up after two long years
On 14 th August’20, aluminium primary foundry alloy premiums in Germany and Eastern Europe swing up, after two long years. The growth has sent a positive note to the industry breaking the downfall trend that initiated in 2018. Premiums for aluminium primary foundry alloy in Europe reflected upward inclination on 14 th August’20 for the first time in two years ahead of 2021 negotiations for annual supply in the region. The aluminium primary foundry alloy silicon 7 ingot premium, ddp Germany and the aluminium primary foundry alloy silicon 7 ingot premium, ddp Eastern Europe at $280-300 per tonne, with both up from $270-290 per tonne the month before. As per the industry experts, automotive manufacturing production has increased in recent weeks up to 70-100% capacity - which is boosting...
European Commission commences anti-dumping probe for Chinese flat-rolled aluminium products
The European Commission on 14 th August’20 commences an investigation for allegedly dumped imports of certain aluminium flat rolled products from China in the 27-country European Union based on a complaint by a European group of producers. The EU moves is accompanied by another anti-dumping investigation which was rolled out in February’20 into Chinese aluminium extrusions. European Aluminium represents more than 25% of the total EU production of aluminium flat-rolled products, took its outrage to the association’s executive in June’20, saying: “Imports of the product have increased overall in absolute terms and terms of market share.” The Commission stated there was adequate evidence which showed that “due to significant distortions affecting prices and costs, the use of domestic prices...
Slovenia’s export of Aluminium scrap remains positive during 2017-20
The economy of Slovenia is developed and the country enjoys a high level of prosperity and stability as well as above-average GDP per capita by purchasing power parity at 83% of the EU28 average in 2015. The major Slovene industries that contribute to the economy are electrical equipment, electronics, trucks, chemicals, processed food, ferrous metallurgy and rolling mill products, aluminium reduction and rolled products, and lead and zinc smelting. The Central European nation’s export of aluminium scrap remained robust during 2017-19, as the export volume stood at 130,958 tonnes and the revenue earnings stood at $119.07 million. The projected export for 2020 has been analysed at 52,771 tonnes and the earnings to reach $52.94 million. However, when the estimated export volume and earnings...
"Alumina Ltd.” operates successfully amid COVID-19 pandemic: Radovan Višković, Prime Minister of Srpska
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Srpska, said on 13 th August’20 in Zvornik that the company "Alumina", regardless of the COVID-19 pandemic, is operating successfully. "The number of workers who worked before the pandemic and now is the same, there were no layoffs, production is slightly lower than planned, but enough that the factory is not at a loss," Viskovic told after talks with the management of Alumina and with the bankruptcy trustee of the Alumina Factory "Birač". Viskovic pointed out that the factory was on the metallurgical program a couple of years ago, and today it is 100% on the non-metallurgical program, and that thanks to the workers, technologists and experts, it was saved from going into scrap metal. "In the process, they changed the production program, adjusted to...
Aluminium remains fastest-growing automotive material, emerging as preferred metal for electric vehicles: A survey by DuckerFrontier
DuckerFrontier, a Washington headquartered global research and consulting agency delivering clients with high-quality insights for making valuable decisions, on 12 th August’20 came up with a survey, which confirms that aluminium already is the rapidly growing automotive material and is expected to grow to content levels of £514 per vehicle (PPV) by 2026, up 12% from 2020 levels. The survey analyzes the latest information on material content for North American light vehicles from the full automotive value chain, including automakers and their suppliers, and credits aluminium content penetration increases to its growing use in vehicle closure parts, body-in-white parts and chassis applications in traditional vehicles, as well as the growth of electrified powertrain and battery electric...
