AlCircle News Edited By "Sarnali Chakraborty"
Sarnali Chakraborty is a content writer with 2 years of experience. She has written articles on various genres like technical, creative, medical, to name some. Here in Alcircle she will be curating articles on the metal industry, writing newsletters and other online and offline content.
AlCircle launches new report "Aluminium Industry Recap 2021"
As the year 2021 ends, AlCircle brings its latest report - Aluminium Industry Recap 2021, summarising the important changes throughout the year. The report highlights the major inventions, expansions, growth, investments, and other important legislative changes that reshaped the global aluminium sector value chain 2021. All the events mentioned in the recap are analysed analytically to ensure the readers with a critical comprehension of all the movements that had taken place in the aluminium value chain in the said year. Overall, 2021 was a year of recovery from the devastation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020. To begin with, according to the International Aluminium Institute, the world primary aluminium production amounted to 61.792 million tonnes during January-November 2021,...
Alumina spot price in China steps up by RMB 4/t to RMB 2,849/t; A00 aluminium ingot price slips by RMB 100/t
On Thursday, January 13, the average alumina spot price has inched by RMB 4 per tonne to stand at RMB 2,849 per tonne, found the Shanghai Metals Market. The average alumina spot price in Shandong, Henan and Shanxi has hiked by RMB 5 per tonne to total at RMB 2,900 per tonne, RMB 2,865 per tonne and RMB 2,875 per tonne, for the same day respectively. On the other hand in Guizhou, the price has remained restrained to peg at RMB 2,740. In Lianyungang and Bayuquan, the price has moved up by RMB 15 per tonne to register at RMB 2,940 per tonne and RMB 2,990 per tonne. In Guangxi, the price has climbed up by RMB 20 per tonne to close at RMB 2,720 per tonne. The Australian alumina FOB price has remained the same since December 15, 2021. However, on Thursday, January 13, the Australian alumina FOB...
Summerland council catches the eye of Green Hydrogen Power
Summerland is the latest community in the South Okanagan to catch the eye of Green Hydrogen Power (GH), a Toronto-based firm planning to establish a plant that transforms waste aluminium into hydrogen and heat for use as an energy source. The firm, formerly Frontenac Energy, presented its green-energy strategy to the Penticton council in August and then paid a visit to the Summerland council on Monday. The two municipalities run their electrical systems, which is unusual in British Columbia. VP of business Steve Neil described hydrogen as an "essential pillar" for achieving net-zero emissions, estimating market size of $2.5 trillion. "We plan to be a big part of that in this country and beyond," said Neil. The unique method and procedure transform scrap aluminium — everything from...
Europe: Aluminium price elevates due to increasing energy cost and production curbs
Aluminium prices are reaching new highs for European consumers as a result of rising energy costs and production cuts, which have worsened metal shortages in the power, building, and packaging industries. Consumers who buy aluminium on the physical market normally pay the London Metal Exchange's benchmark price — roughly $2,950 per tonne on Tuesday — plus a physical market premium that often covers transportation expenses and taxes. However, due to shortages, dealers and manufacturers with inventories may fetch a far higher premium, which has risen nearly 30% to a record $428.75 per tonne in Europe since the start of 2022. “With around 650,000 tonnes of capacity cut so far in Europe, we believe that another 900,000 tonnes of output is at risk of closing down fully or partially,” said...
LME aluminium price hikes by US27/t to peg at US$2,950/t; SHFE price increases by US$28/t
LME aluminium opened at US$2,953.5 per tonne on Tuesday and closed at US$2,983 per tonne, an increase of US$50 per tonne or 1.7%. On Tuesday, January 11, LME aluminium cash (bid) price hiked by US$26 per tonne or by 0.88% to peg at US$2,948 per tonne. On the other hand, LME aluminium official settlement price also showed a surge of US$27 or by 0.92% to register at US$2,950 per tonne, for the same day. 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price clocked at US$2,960 per tonne and US$2,962 per tonne. December 22 bid price and December 22 offer totalled at US$2,727 per tonne and US$2,732 per tonne. LME aluminium opening stock closed at 902850 tonnes. Live warrants and Cancelled warrants closed at 516425 tonnes and 386425 tonnes. LME aluminium 3-month Asian Reference Price came in at US$2,958.62...
Kaiser Aluminum acquisition of Warrick acclaimed as positive element in its 2020 sustainability report
The purchase of the Warrick, Missouri, smelter and rolling mills by California-based Kaiser Aluminum is mentioned as a positive element on its sustainability scorecard in the company's 2020 sustainability report. “Our Warrick rolling mill is one of only four dedicated rolling mills in North America for beverage and food packaging and is the first facility of its type in this market to achieve Aluminium Stewardship Initiative Performance Standard certification for responsible sourcing and stewardship of aluminium,” stated Kaiser president and CEO Keith A. Harvey. “Customers and their customers have established sustainability targets to increase the recycled content from the industry-leading 73 percent to ensure aluminium beverage cans and bottles remain the most sustainable packaging on...
Aluminium manufacturers to benefit more due to increased demand of electric vehicles
According to a new study, the growing use of electric vehicles (EVs) in global transportation is excellent for aluminium manufacturers like Hindalco but bad for steel producers. For investors interested in metal equities, global investment firm Jefferies predicts Hindalco's stock price to return roughly 30% higher than rival steel manufacturers Tata Steel and JSW Steel. Aluminium is the cheapest and lightest metal utilised in the production of electric vehicles, as well as in the aerospace sector, where it helps decrease total structure weight while preserving structural strength. According to reports, the average non-EV automobile consumes 50-70 kilogrammes (kg) of aluminium per year, whereas a motorbike consumes 20-30 kg. Each electric vehicle is estimated to have roughly 250 kg of...
Average alumina spot price in China soars up by RMB 12/t to stand at RMB 2,841/t; A00 aluminium ingot price hikes by RMB 390/t
On Tuesday, January 11, the average alumina spot price in China has increased by RMB 12 per tonne to stand at RMB 2,841 per tonne. In Shandong, the price has inched up by RMB 5 per tonne to peg at RMB 2,880 per tonne. On the other hand, in Henan and Shanxi, the price has hiked by RMB 10 per tonne and RMB 15 per tonne. The price for the same has been recorded at RMB 2,855 per tonne and RMB 2,865 per tonne. The average alumina price in Lianyungang and Bayuquan, the price has climbed up by RMB 35 per tonne and RMB 50 per tonne to register at RMB 2,925 per tonne and RMB 2,975 per tonne. The A00 aluminium ingot price has soared up by RMB 390 per tonne to clock at RMB 21,610 per tonne. The average price is expected to orbit between RMB 21,590 per tonne and RMB 21,630 per tonne, with spot...
LME aluminium price inches up by US$3.5/t to peg at US$2,923/t; SHFE price ascends by US$69/t
LME aluminium opened at US$2,920 per tonne on Monday and closed at $2,933 per tonne, an increase of US$10.5 per tonne or 0.36 percent. On Monday, January 10, LME aluminium cash (bid) price inched up by US$3 per tonne or by 0.10% to settle at US$2,922 per tonne. On the other hand, LME aluminium official settlement price also increased by US$3.5 per tonne or by 0.11% to close at US$2,923 per tonne. 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price for the same was recorded at US$2,934 per tonne and US$2,934.50 per tonne. December 22 bid price and December 22 offer price was registered at US$2,693 per tonne and US$2,698 per tonne. LME aluminium opening stock pegged at 911500 tonnes. Live warrants and Cancelled warrants stood at 536175 tonnes and 375325 tonnes. LME aluminium 3-month Asian Reference...
RUSAL announces the opening of the first phase of Taishet Aluminium Smelter (TaAZ) in Siberia
Taishet Aluminium Smelter (TaAZ), RUSAL's first phase of what it claims is the world's most modern low-carbon aluminium manufacturing plant, opened in Siberia. The state-of-the-art smelter claims to be one of the cleanest in the world, since it runs on clean energy from Siberian hydroelectric power plants, and has a low environmental effect thanks to advanced gas cleaning technology and a closed water circulation system. CO2 emissions from the entire project will be among the lowest in the industry. Verifications and testing for the pre-operation phase will begin today. TaAZ is RUSAL's third low-carbon aluminium smelter, with a total cost of more than $1.69 billion and over 1,000 local jobs. The smelter is planned to produce 428.5 thousand tonnes of low-carbon aluminium per year in its...
“GMG hopes to go into commercial production of 'Graphene Aluminium Ion batteries' in the near term”, Craig Nicol, Founder, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Graphene Manufacturing Group (GMG)
Craig Nicol with a successful career of over 20 years in delivering large scale innovation including leading multi-billion-dollar gas and LNG value chains in Australia and the Asia Pacific and managing sales and marketing teams across the Asia Pacific working for Shell International. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Manufacturing Systems (Honours) and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Marketing from the Queensland University of Technology. We at AlCircle got a wonderful opportunity for an interview in regards to graphene aluminium-ion batteries ("G+AI Battery") with Mr Craig Nicol , Founder, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Graphene Manufacturing Group (GMG) in regards to graphene aluminium-ion batteries ("G+AI Battery"). AlCircle : With the G+AI batteries already...
Coffey Architect uses perforated aluminium to design Norwich technology hub
At this digital technology education complex designed by London studio Coffey Architects for City College Norwich in Norfolk, white perforated metal panels generate a sensation of "light and airiness." The Digi-Tech Factory, including robotics laboratories, digital studios, classrooms, and support areas, houses the college's technology, engineering, and design courses in one facility. Coffey Architects employed off-the-shelf components for the structure, including an exposed steel frame, composite panels, and glass-encased by a perforated aluminium shell, in the spirit of industrial architecture. The aluminium shell defines a covered outdoor plaza and terraces surrounding the structure, which is raised one level on steel columns and placed away from the building's thermal envelope. The...
Restriction on the export of raw mining goods like bauxite to continue, says Indonesian President Jokowi
Indonesian President, Joko Widodo stated that the government will continue to enforce the restriction on the export of raw mining commodities. “After nickel, [we will ban] bauxite export. The regulation is being finalized. We are preparing a smelter,” said Joko Widodo. Following bauxite, the President claimed that the administration tried to prohibit tin and copper shipments. Through the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministerial Regulation No. 11 of 2019, signed by then-Minister Ignasius Jonan on August 28, 2019, the government restricted nickel ore exports on January 1, 2020. “It's already been 19 months of the surplus trade balance. Where did that come from? From stopping nickel exports. The figure was recorded at US$20.8 billion. In the past, the nickel ore exports were at least US$2...
Average alumina spot price in China surges by RMB 11/t to close at RMB 2,829/t; A00 aluminium ingot price grows by RMB 180/t
According to the Shanghai Metals Market, the average alumina spot price in China has opened the week on Monday, January 10, with an increase of RMB 11 per tonne to close at RMB 2,829 per tonne. The average alumina spot price in Shandong and Shanxi has gone up by RMB 15 per tonne to clock at RMB 2,875 per tonne and RMB 2,850 per tonne, for the same day. On the other hand in Henan and Guizhou, the price has surged by RMB 10 per tonne to stand at RMB 2,845 per tonne and RMB 2,750 per tonne. In Lianyungang, the price has hiked by RMB 15 per tonne, to total at RMB 2,890 per tonne. Only in Guangxi and Bayuquan, the price has remained unchanged to peg at RMB 2,700 per tonne and RMB 2,925 per tonne, for the same day, respectively. The A00 aluminium ingot price has also shown growth by RMB 180 per...
Downstream weekly recap: Impol-TLM to invest 24 million euros in building an aluminium block casting plant; EEC initiates extension of 0% customs duty on vanadium-aluminium ligature imports
The beginning of 2022 has been quite eventful for the global aluminium downstream industry. A lot of new events, projects, has kept the downstream sector under the spotlight. To begin with, Ehab El Elwany, marketing head and spokesman for Egypt Aluminum (Egyptalum) (EGAL), announced that the business has kept its aluminium providing pricing to companies and merchants constant for January 2022. El Elwany stated that the price of local aluminium, excluding taxes, is between EGP 52,000 and EGP 64,000. This was followed by the news of Jindal Aluminium Limited starting production at the Bhiwadi plant after completing a Rs 100-crore acquisition of Indo Alusys Industries Limited (IAIL) assets. Also, the news of Hindalco Industries Limited increasing the pricing of its aluminium goods and ingots...
Dunkirk aluminium smelter to trim production by 15% in total due to towering energy rates
In reaction to rising power rates, a large aluminium smelter in northern France will cut production by 15%, according to a representative for the plant. According to a spokesperson, Dunkirk aluminium smelter, which has an annual capacity of roughly 285,000 tonnes, has already reduced output by 10% and will reduce it by 5% again in the upcoming week, according to a spokesperson. Dunkirk is one of several European aluminium facilities that have reduced output since last month as a result of high power costs that have harmed the energy-intensive industry's profitability. A spokesperson for the company declined to comment on the possibility of further production reduction. If power rates do not fall, a CGT union leader at the plant, Laurent Geeraert, warned local radio station Delta FM that...
South32 exploring solutions to secure green electricity for Hillside Aluminium smelter
South32, a diversified mining firm, is exploring solutions for securing green power at the Hillside Aluminium smelter in the Kwazulu-Natal (KZN) area of South Africa. Given the introduction of carbon border taxes and end-user demand for green aluminium, if South32 is unable to secure an inexpensive supply of low-carbon power for Hillside, this vital KZN business risks becoming uncompetitive in the international market over time. South32 has begun just transition planning to support options for the smelter if its energy transition is not economically successful and the smelting becomes uncompetitive, due to the smelter's enormous economic and social relevance. Around 30% of Hillside's sales are to South African consumers, supporting local downstream industries and employment. Hillside has...
World’s largest aluminium yacht Sea Eagle II seen in Whangrei Harbour
Locals were pleased to see the now-familiar Sea Eagle II when she glided into Whangrei Harbour after Christmas, anticipating her return. The world's largest aluminium boat, which was docked at Port Nikau for a six-month refurbishment, came to our shores in April. Her 62.5m towering triple-lit masts were a pleasant addition to the night skyline for many people, and they were missed when she left sail in early October for a sea trial and to be reunited with her owner, reputedly Taiwanese billionaire businessman and philanthropist Samuel Yen-Liang Yin. Captain Tod Thompson stated that they hoped to return in the early months of 2022. On December 27, however, she resurfaced, much to the surprise of spectators. Local Ashton Pattenden was kayak fishing off Waikaraka and was taken aback when he...
