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.
London Metal Exchange penalizes warehouse firm ISTIM for violating aluminium warrant rules
On 19 th June’20, The London Metal Exchange (LME) stated that it had penalized warehouse operator ISTIM 30,000 pounds ($37,000) for violating aluminium warrant rules. The LME stated in a notice to members: “Between 12 th September’19 and 9 th December’19, ISTIM erroneously instructed its London Agent to issue primary aluminium warrants containing incorrect brand names and/or shapes on five separate occasions.” It has been declared that ISTIM had also stored metal for 1,107 warrants in a warehouse that was not the one listed on the LME’s system. However, it has been brought to notice that both issues appeared to be the result of human error.
US desire to restore duty benefits to Indian exporters, sun-ray for Indian Aluminium Industry
The US has shown a desire to restore the duty benefits to Indian exporters under its Generalised System of Preferences if it receives a competent counter-offer from the Government of India. The officials of the Ministry of Commerce were closed-lipped on the kind of quid-pro-quo concession India Government would offer. However, they said the removal of the GSP benefits had a marginal impact on Indian exporters. The US-India relationship will stand stronger than before as the restoration of the benefits will be an added value. Robert Lighthizer, US Trade Representative, communicated to the US Senate Finance Committee: “We are in negotiations with India, we took away their GSP, and we’re in the process of restoring it if we can get an adequate counterbalancing proposal from them.” Lighthizer...
Aluminium bodied National Train of Turkey to run on rails in 2020
Adil Karaismailoğlu, Minister for Transport & Infrastructure, Turkey, on 15 th June during a visit to state-owned passenger rolling stock manufacturer Tüvasaş said: “National Train electric multiple-unit developed under a programme to increase the use of domestic technology and support the adoption of TSI standards has been completed and is expected to enter revenue service this year.” The 25 kV 50 Hz EMU is designed for 160 km/h operation but will be tested at up to 176 km/h. The Minister said work was continuing on the design of a 225 km/h train-set, but gave no indication when this might be ready to enter service. The National Train is incorporated with five aluminium-bodied coaches, including first-class and a buffet car, with a total of 324 seats, two spaces for disabled passengers,...
European Aluminium Rollers in the hot-list due to another US dumping investigation
The US Aluminium Association's Common Alloy Aluminium Sheet Trade Enforcement Working Group filed antidumping and countervailing duty petitions against 18 countries on 9 th March’20. This occurs just after 13 months the US Department of Commerce published AD and CVD orders on imports of common alloy sheet from China. The announcement stated: "The domestic industry's antidumping petitions allege that common alloy aluminium sheet from Bahrain, Brazil, Croatia, Egypt, Germany, Greece, India, Indonesia, Italy, Oman, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, and Turkey was dumped in the United States at margins ranging from 15.90% to 151.00% of the value of the imported common alloy aluminium sheet. Domestic producers also filed countervailing duty petitions alleging...
Oman’s Aluminium ingot export remains vacillating during 2017-20
Oman is a free market economy, but the government is at present the most important factor in the economy, both as an employer and as a purchaser of goods and services. The Omani economy has been growing steadily over the last 25 years and considerable development has taken place. Sohar Aluminium is Oman’s first foray into Aluminium industry. The Gulf Nation’s aluminium ingot export during 2017-19 exhibited with dwindling image as the export volume during the phase remained at 583,038 tonnes and the revenue income stood at $708.51 million. The estimated export volume for 2020 has been analysed at 176,942 tonnes and the income to stretch at $233.47 million. However, when the estimated export volume and income have been summed up with the existing three years it stands to 759,980 tonnes and...
“War against Plastic”: Weldtite rolls-out reusable Pure Aluminium refill bottle
Weldtite is pursuing “wage war on plastic” with the roll-out of reusable Pure Aluminium Refill Bottle. The R&D unit scouted a collection of ideas to functionally lessen the consumption of plastic and considered those refill strategies often place too much importance on the consumer returning with a plastic bottle or plastic pouches. The Pure Aluminium Refill Bottle behoved the desired choice after months of research. Sample reviews highlighting “excellent” cleaning properties as well as ease of use. At the initial stage, the aluminium bottle will be offered with a 200ml recyclable bottle of concentrated Pure Bike Wash which makes up to 2L of Bike Wash. The roll-out of the Pure Aluminium Refill Bottle is supported by a POS display which communicates the “Refill, Reuse, Reduce” concept to...
“India will be a global manufacturing hub for EV within the next five years”: Minister of Road Transport, Govt. of India
On 18 th June’20, Nitin Gadkari, Indian Union road transport minister communicated that he believes India will be a manufacturing hub for electric vehicles (EV) and too within the next five years. He added to his statement that multiple countries are folding there are folding their hands from China post-COVID-19 breakout. This can be a big-time opportunity for India. The minister has urged the Indian automotive companies to foster their EV technology and should also put efforts on discovering options to lithium-ion battery technology. This will be like a supporting pillar to make India the next global manufacturing hub for electric vehicles. Mr Gadkari said: “I am confident that in five years Indian will become the number one hub for manufacturing electric buses, cars and two-wheelers....
COVID-19 frontline warriors: Utkal Alumina Awards Ex-gratia payments
Hindalco’s Utkal Alumina International Ltd (UAIL) revitalized the frontline COVID-19 warriors by offering an ex-gratia, as recognition which will act as a self-esteem enhancer and catalyst for stimulating the good work. In acclamation towards those personalities that stood at these tough times and showed a high level of commitment, dedication whiles the entire world is suffering due to the epidemic, Utkal Alumina rolled out one-time Ex-gratia payment. The front line warrior in the categories of contractual workmen, operators & supervisory staff who have put additional effort, who has relentlessly worked during the lockdown, was rewarded. The payment ranging from INR 8000 up till INR 20000/- is done for the period of March 23rd 2020 till 4 th May’20 for those who were present on duty and...
The “Corona” crisis: Capral Aluminium in Australia operates without any major disruptions
Extruded aluminium manufacturer Capral is continuing to function without major interruptions, in spite of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. The virus has created economic insecurity and uncertainty globally; however, the company has managed to evade most of the impacts. This has been exhibited in Capral’s result for the first quarter’20, which were aligned with the firm’s budget and guidance. Some minor impacts began to reflect in March’20 when demand for the company’s aluminium products started to slow down. This conflicted with the execution of COVID-19 limitations and social distancing policies in Australia. Yet Capral was largely capable to alleviate these initial issues through several cost-saving measures. These included 20% reductions in staff salaries with reduced working hours and use...
Greece export of Aluminium foil indicates rapid growth during 2017-20
Greece has a capitalist economy with a public sector accounting for about 40% of GDP and with per capita GDP about two-thirds that of the leading euro-zone economies. Greece's Industrial production fell 9.9 % YoY in Apr 2020, following an increase of 0.4 % YoY in the previous month. The aluminium foil exportation market of Greece has recorded robust growth during 2017-19, as the total export volume stood at 158,432 tonnes and the revenue income reported was $478.39 million. The projected export volume for 2020 has been analysed at 71,722 tonnes and the revenue also rose to $225.54 million. However, when the estimated import volume and income gets added to the preceding three years, it reflects 230,154 tonnes and $703.93 million respectively. In 2017 the nation aluminium foil export has...
“COVID-19” strike: Manohan Aluminium in Fiji remains unaffected
Manohan Aluminium in Fiji Islands has managed to run normal operations during the COVID-19 epidemic. The 40 years old aluminium extrusion and downstream supply company has been employing about 60 people and is continuing with construction projects around the island nation. The COVID-19 breakout has forced many businesses to lay off their workers as a measure for cost-cutting. Raj Mahohan, MD, Manohan Aluminium said: “We have retained all their employees.” “At this time, we have the Coronavirus. We never lay off anybody, we never cut anyone’s wages and we continue as normal. In this industry, it is very critical and difficult to train people. The thing is that, as I said it’s not about the profit. It’s over the last 40-years we built assets and we are utilizing that to keep our staff...
European Aluminium demands action on subsidized Chinese supply
The Brussels-based European Aluminium said: “The European aluminium industry needs additional instruments to address the harmful effects of Chinese subsidies.” European Aluminium is a trade group consisted of more than 80 producers of the metal. The organization lauded that it is calling upon the European Commission “to effectively address the distortive effects of foreign subsidies in the EU single market and help create a level playing field for the aluminium industry in Europe.” European Aluminium stressed a proposed white paper on the topic: “Must be urgently translated into effective measures. The European aluminium industry is buckling under the pressure of subsidized excess capacity from China.” Gerd Götz, Director General of European Aluminium said: “The EU’s current trade toolbox...
DRDO: Made in India Aluminium bodied automatic sanitizer dispensing unit now entering the households as mini version floats
Publicizing a first of its kind innovation, Riot Labz presents a small version of Oakmist – automatic mist based hand sanitizer dispensers, named “Oakmist Mini”. This was designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The Mini version is being floated to meet the sanitisation needs of Indian households. Oakmist mini is precisely designed for the sanitisation needs of the Indian households during this COVID-19 epidemic and carries a one year warranty. Oakmist mini has been immutably tested for more than 100,000 spray cycles and is encased in an aluminium body. It uses a high clarity ultrasonic sensor to detect the hands to spray a mist of hand sanitizer. Oakmist mini has a capacity of around 1200 ml and works with any liquid sanitizer based on Isopropyl...
Alcoa: Onset for a formal consultation process with Spanish works council regarding San Ciprián Aluminum Smelter
On 17 th June’20, Alcoa Corporation, a global leader in bauxite, alumina and Aluminum made public that from 25 th June’20, it plans to begin the formal process for the collective dismissal of employees at its San Ciprián aluminium facility in Spain. On 28 th May ’20, Alcoa set forth an informal process with the workers’ representatives to discuss significant and unsustainable circumstances at the aluminium plant. The Company now intends to begin the formal 30-day consultation period with the Works Council to achieve the best possible outcome for the Company and its workforce. The Company envisions a restructuring for the aluminium plant that retains a portion of the cast-house in operation. A collective dismissal could potentially affect up to 534 employees of the aluminium plant. No...
China’s tension with India will upsurge India’s domestic production, including Aluminium
“The scaling tensions with China create an accelerated expectation of India’s attempt slow down its import dependency from its neighbour of North and shift the required demand to the local manufacturing” – as per industry experts. Even though China has cropped up to be India’s biggest trading partner with imports accounting for close to 16% of the total. As per experts opinion, any obstruction will have a comparatively brief impact on the domestic industry. The disarray engendered to raw material supplies from China due to COVID-19 has prepared local companies to deal with such events. Vinnie Mehta, Director General of Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA), which represents auto parts companies said: “The COVID-19 situation has underlined the need to enhance deep...
Kyrgyzstan’s import of Aluminium Bar Rods and Profiles remains flat during 2018-19: Projected 65.17% growth for 2020
Kyrgyzstan is a Central Asian country which is landlocked with mountainous terrain. It is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west and southwest, Tajikistan to the southwest and China to the east. Kyrgyzstan is a member of the Russia-backed Eurasian Economic Union. Its economy is heavily dependent on gold exports and remittances from Kyrgyzstani migrants working in Russia and Kazakhstan. FocusEconomics panellists forecast GDP contracting 1.8% in 2020, which is down 4.0 percentage points from last month's estimate. For 2021, the panel sees GDP growth at 5.7%. The country’s import of aluminium Bar Rods and Profiles during 2018-19 has remained flat, as the import volume stood at 5749 tonnes and the expenditure remained at $16.76 million. However, the estimated import for...
Transpower advises Tiwai Point Smelter to hold-up a year for discount, Rio Tinto voices its “urgent”
The Tiwai Point aluminium smelter with 800 employees near Bluff in New Zealand might have to hold up for a year to find out whether their jobs are safeguarded as the combat over its power bill continues. The Electricity Authority of New Zealand last week covered the way for the smelter to apply for a discount potentially worth $10 million a year on the transmission charges it pays Transpower to connect to the national grid. However, Transpower declared on 17 th June’20 that it might be at least a year before it is ready to consider any application. Transpower said: “Any discounts on transmission charges would need to wait on other decisions Transpower needs to make about how to implement a broader instruction issued by the authority for it to adopt more of a user-pays model for...
Audi reduces carbon footprint by using closed aluminium circulation
Since 1994, Audi has been plying aluminium in its car bodies, but aluminium production is very energy-intensive. That is the reason Audi has been using a closed circulation of this material. It was introduced in 2017 at the Neckarsulm factory, and at the beginning of this year also at the Ingolstadt plant. This mechanism saves valuable primary raw materials and makes cars enter service with a more favourable ecological balance. In the production process of the Audi A3, A4, A5, A6, A7 and A8 model lines, as well as the Audi e-tron and e-tron Sportback components, compressors in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm use recycled aluminium. Marco Philippi, Director, Supply Strategy said: “Efficient and economical resource management is as important to us as the reduction of CO2 we emit. The amount of...
