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.
American Aluminium a paramount Industry in a moment of “National Emergency”: The Aluminium Association
On 19 th March’20, the Aluminum Association published a framework for policymakers developing economic stimulus and other programs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The document – “American Aluminum Jobs: Essential to the Nation” – emphasized the paramount nature of U.S. aluminium production, fabrication and recycling and calls for several measures to support the industry during the ongoing public health crisis. Aluminium has been long time identified as a critical mineral and both the Commerce and Defence Departments have recognized the domestic aluminium industry as “vital to national security, especially in an unexpected or extended conflict or national emergency.” The aluminium industry produces many products that are essential during a public health crisis including medical...
AVIC SAAC awards aluminium package to ThyssenKrupp Aerospace Suzhou
AVIC Shenyang Commercial Aircraft Corporation (SACC) in the northern Chinese city of Shenyang is the long-time provider of the DASH8 – Q400 fuselage to Bombardier in Canada. SACC awarded ThyssenKrupp Aerospace Suzhou for the delivery of over 1,000 cut-to-size aluminium plate items in various dimensions. ThyssenKrupp Aerospace Suzhou’s free-trade-zone facility will be managing material supply and processing nearly 500 metric tons during 2020-2022 In June 2019, Bombardier concluded the sale of the DASH8 – Q400 to De Havilland Aircraft of Canada. Patrick Marous, CEO of ThyssenKrupp Aerospace Global said: “We are proud that SACC chose ThyssenKrupp Aerospace Suzhou with its proven service base to power their raw material supply chain and to support the program under the new ownership of De...
Italian aluminium alloy producer Raffmetal closes down for two-week quarantine amid “Corona-virus” pandemic
The Italy-based aluminium alloy producer Raffmetal has extended this week’s shutdown through next week to permit employees a full two-week quarantine period amid the coronavirus pandemic. Orlando Niboli, President, Raffmetal said: "We have decided to extend the production shutdown for another week to allow all our employees to spend the necessary 14-day quarantine period at home, with a view to social responsibility and as an act of awareness and further guarantee of health safety towards our employees and their families.” Raffmetal has been operating from three plants and produces over 250,000 tonnes/ year. As per the company “The shutdown is not expected to affect product deliveries, while scrap purchases will be rescheduled for later delivery to Raffmetal's facilities.” "We will...
Azerbaijan’s Aluminium export market reflects volatility during 2017-20
Azerbaijan, a country positioned at the junction point of south-western Asia with south-eastern Europe, north of Iran and south of Russia. It shipped $19.6 billion worth of goods around the globe in 2019. The US dollar amount reflects a -55.3% decline since 2015 and a -0.9% increase from 2018 to 2019. Based on the average exchange rate for 2019, the Azerbaijani manat (currency) depreciated by -65.9% against the US dollar since 2015 but remained about the same from 2018 to 2019. Azerbaijan’s weaker local currency since 2015 makes its exports paid for in stronger US dollars relatively less expensive for international buyers. Azerbaijan’s Aluminium export market has been seen volatile for the past few years; though the total aluminium export recorded during 2017-19 was 114,117 tonnes. The...
The US aluminium recyclers reaping dividends from import tariffs
The North American aluminium recyclers and producers are taking the advantage of import tariffs to breakthrough revenue at the cost of local beer and beverage firms, even though most of the metal used in their cans is not subject to the levy. The aluminium cans of about 70% used by the US drinks firms have been recycling locally that makes it free from import taxes, while another 16% joins from domestic and Canadian smelters, that are also exempt from the tariffs. It is estimated that drinks firms paid $582 million more for approximately 3 million tonnes of metal they consumed during March’18 -December’19 than they would have if there were no tariffs. Some $81 million of that went to the U.S. government, while the lion’s share of $428 million went to recyclers, which also typically...
The “Corona” crisis hits German Aluminium Industry to drop in production
The outcome of the Corona crisis has forced customer sectors in Germany and Europe to halt or significantly reduce production. The automotive business, in particular, represents an industrial baseload in the aluminium industry. Marius Baader, MD, General Aluminum Association Gesamtverband der Aluminiumindustrie e. V. (GDA), Düsseldorf said:"The German aluminium industry is looking at current developments with great concern.” The number of break-offs from companies in the aluminium industry, primarily from the automotive business and mechanical engineering, had already shown de-growth previous year. The manufacturers of extruded products felt the drop in demand most severely; their production in Germany already lost around 10 % in 2019. Marius Baader added, "In the first quarter of 2020 we...
VIASEE sent a petition to the Prime Minister of Vietnam for Bauxite mining solution
Vietnam Association of Environmental Economics (VIASEE) has just sent a petition to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on strategies and solutions for Bauxite mining, promoting the development of the aluminium industry in the Central Highlands. The contribution of ideas toward the construction and completion of the draft of the XIII Party Congress Document on socio-economic issues by the Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, as the head of the Subcommittee. The matter is of great strategic significance, contributing to creating a large revenue source for the State Budget to help promote the country's socio-economic development. The Vietnam Association of KTMT evaluates Bauxite as a mineral resource with large reserves and value in the largest category of our country today. It has been...
The gradual recovery of Bangladeshi aluminium import market during 2017-20
The economy of Bangladesh is a developing market economy and it the 39 th largest in the world in nominal terms, and 29 th largest by purchasing power parity. It is classified among the Next Eleven emerging market middle income economies and a frontier market. In the first quarter of 2019, Bangladesh's was the world's seventh fastest-growing economy with a rate of 7.3% real GDP annual growth. The demand for the aluminium importation in Bangladesh is showing a recovery trend. But the domestic aluminium production is not showing a positive trend. The total import of aluminium by Bangladesh from 2017-19 stood at 282,291 tonnes, whereas the import projected for 2020 stands at 95,534 tonnes. When added with the previous 3 years the total import reflects at 377,825 tonnes. In 2017 the total...
Logan Aluminum in the US validates COVID-19 precautions
Logan Aluminum, an aluminium rolling mill with 1300+ employees in Russellville, Logan County, Kentucky, nestled in beautiful rolling hills and surrounded by trees, nature, and wildlife. The Kentucky based aluminium company has been in full effort to deliver information from appropriate sources, assessing risks, and has implemented adjustments to their business with the specific outcome to keep their employees, families, and their community safe and healthy. As of 18 th March’20, Logan Aluminium has not been reported of any employee health and safety issues or business hampering as a result of COVID-19. The company has advised its employees for social distancing as key critical prevention. All business units are aligned in this belief and are working with employees to exercises...
“Corona-virus” outbreak in Italy halts the manufacturing process of aluminium-body Pune Metro coaches: Titagarh Firema S.P.A.
Titagarh Wagons of India, the major stakeholder of Italy’s Titagarh Firema S.P.A., has announced the deferment of the inauguration of manufacturing the prototype of the new aluminium-bodied Pune Metro coaches. The plant operation has been suspended due to the COVID-19 outbreak in Italy. The commencement of the prototype manufacturing was supposed to set in motion on 8 th April’20. It was adjourned as the complete operations of the factory were halted till 31 st March’20 post an advisory from the Italian government. In August’19 Titagarh Firema S.P.A. secured an INR.1100 crore international bid to deliver Pune Metro rail as many as 102 avant-garde aluminium-bodied coaches. The Kolkata city (in India) based wagon maker Titagarh Wagons Ltd took over Italy’s Firema Trasporti in 2015 and...
EGA marks Global Recycling Day post achieving highest-ever levels of recycling last year
Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), the largest industrial company in the United Arab Emirates outside oil and gas, on 18 th March’20 marked Global Recycling Day and announced that the company’s recycling of industrial waste increased by more than a third last year to almost 140,000 tonnes, whilst regular waste generation decreased. EGA’s long-term aspiration is to send zero process waste to landfill, and the company focuses on reducing waste generation in its operations as well as developing opportunities for unavoidable waste to be used as feedstock for other industries. Waste generation decreased by five per cent, excluding spent pot lining. Generation of spent pot lining varies because it is generated only when reduction cells require re-lining after several years of operation. EGA is a...
Alba focus to meet its 2020 objectives: aims on Safety, Production and Cost
Bahrain was the pioneer country in the Arab region to start an aluminium smelter. Starting as a 120,000 tonne per annum smelter in 1971, Alba today is a 1.36-plus million tonnes smelter. As the on-going global headwinds, volatile LME price and weak economic sentiment across the markets, Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) remains committed to ensuring the safety of its employees and contractors. Alba focuses to achieve its production target of more than 1.54 million tonnes by 2020 Production and continue to be a lean aluminium producer by building on the legacy of its cost-improvement Project Titan Programme. On this occasion, Alba’s Chief Executive Officer Ali Al Baqali emphasised: “Alba can only control what is intrinsic to its operations i.e. Safety, Production and Cost. In light of the...
The continuous downfall of Norway’s Aluminium export during 2017-20
Norway is ranked as the fourth largest aluminium exporter in the world and has occupied a 5.8% share of a worldwide export market that is worth $41.7 billion annually. Norway’s total aluminium export from 2017-19 was recorded at 4.55 million tonnes. The export forecast for 2020 has been at 1.3 million tonnes, when adding from 2017-19 it stands at 5.85 million tonnes cumulatively. In 2017 the aluminium export was recorded at 1.61 million tonnes, whereas in 2018 a fall by 4.34% export has been noticed and the total export volume stood at 1.54 million tonnes. The aluminium export volume in 2019 shows a negative trend, as there is a downfall of 9.09%. The total export volume stood at 1.40 million tonnes and the revenue earned was recorded at $2.55 billion. The projection for Norway’s...
Jamaica’s Bauxite export curtails due to “Corona-virus” attack
Dr Peter Phillips, President of the People’s National Party of Jamaica, has called on Governor-General, Sir Patrick Allen, to declare a national day of prayer as Jamaica battles the Corona-Virus. During the budget session in parliament on 17 th March’20, Phillips made the call after briefing a raft of suggestions to address the anticipated COVID-19 fallout Dr Peter also stated apart from the possibly devastating impact of the physical health of Jamaicans, the economic effects must be considered. Jamaican island has already begun to see the impact in the main productive sectors, mainly Bauxite and tourism. As the cargo, stop-over, and cruise shipping numbers have been hugely affected. The demand for bauxite and alumina has already been curtailed and bauxite prices continue to fall due to...
Bosnian company defamed for selling Aluminium Oxide to Iran’s nuclear programme
The Bosnian official authorities stated that a company from the town of Zvornik held talks with Iranian officials for selling aluminium oxide. This could have been used in Tehran’s nuclear programme. Fahrudin Radoncic, Bosnian Security Minister published on 16 th March’20 that a Bosnian company had discussed with officials at the Iranian embassy in Sarajevo for the possibility of selling aluminium oxide powder to Tehran in breach of US and EU sanctions. <iframe width="500" height="300" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bBbcVJJjc5U" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe> According to reports from Bosnia: “the Executive Directors of a company called Alumina spoke to the Iranians about arranging the purchase...
Volkswagen auto plant closes in Slovakia; Renault pulls down factories in France: Demand for secondary aluminium on hard brakes
The secondary aluminium is likely to be negatively affected post the German automaker Volkswagen declared on 15 th March’20, that it will be suspending the production at its European output hub in Bratislava, Slovakia on 23 rd march’20. VW's move came after the Slovakian government declared a state of emergency earlier on Sunday due to the spread of the novel coronavirus. There were reports of a suspected case of the virus at the plant, but that has not yet been confirmed by the company. Secondary aluminium alloys, such as DIN226 in Europe, are used in diesel-engine cars, and production cutbacks will weaken demand for the material, according to some market participants. VW's announcement comes after Europe’s largest secondary aluminium producer, Italy’s Raffmetal, which supplies material...
Austria’s Bauxite import market remains oscillating during 2017-20
The bauxite import of Austria remains dwindling, as the total volume of bauxite imports from 2017-2019 stood at 39,679 tonnes, whereas the total revenue expended was $10.34 million. The bauxite import in 2020 is forecasted at 11,088 tonnes, when added to 2017-19 the import stands to 50,767 tonnes and the projected amount is $3.46 million. When the projected amount is added to the previous few years, it stands to $13.38 million. In 2017 the bauxite import for Austria was recorded at 12,086 tonnes, while the foreign revenue expended was $2.89 million. The bauxite import for Austria in 2018 saw a huge jump by 41.29%, as the total import remained at 17,077 tonnes. The revenue paid for the import stood at $4.32 million. In 2019 the bauxite import saw a steep fall of 38.42%. The total amount...
RUSAL declares additional safety measures in response to the spread of “Corona-Virus”
RUSAL, the leading global aluminium producer has declared the introduction of additional preventive measures in response to the current issue of “Corona-virus” to best ensure the health and safety of all employees. Starting from 17 th March’20 employees from head office and staff who are not involved in the production process will be told to work from home. Operations will continue uninterrupted. There will be exceptions if only be made in the instance when the tasks cannot be performed without coming to the office. All staff who will be working from home has been strongly advised against attending public functions or unnecessarily going to public spaces. Everyone who is currently on a business trip is required to return as soon as possible. All new business trips have been put on pause....
