ABB has secured two orders from China’s Southwest Aluminum to supply integrated automation and digital technologies for two six-high aluminium cold rolling mills, supporting the manufacturer’s wide-strip production expansion and upgrade. The projects involve a 2,500 mm two-stand mill and a 3,000 mm single-stand mill, with both lines expected to be fully commissioned and operational by the end of 2027. Chongqing-based Southwest Aluminum is a subsidiary of the Aluminum Corporation of China (Chinalco). The orders build on the longstanding cooperation between ABB and the aluminium producer, with the latest projects focusing on process stability, control precision and production performance. Explore insights and forecasts for the aluminium flat rolled products (FRP) market from our...
India-based PG Foils Limited plans to establish a downstream aluminium manufacturing facility in Bahrain, focusing on electric vehicle (EV) battery foil and pharmaceutical foil production. The proposed investment is expected to expand the kingdom’s aluminium downstream capabilities and strengthen its manufacturing base. Bahrain’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce signed a letter of intent with PG Foils for the project. The agreement was signed by Industry and Commerce Minister Abdullah bin Adel Fakhro and PG Foils Joint Managing Director Sahil Shah during the fourth edition of the Gateway Gulf expo, which opened on November 1 in Manama. Explore: The most comprehensive and forward-looking industry-focused report – Aluminum Foil Market Report Forecast Till 2035 Hosted by the Bahrain...
Grow with
AL Circle
According to the international export-import data, aluminium tubes and pipes import by Spain is likely to rise in 2019 after a drop last year. The data shows the import this year is expected to come in at 9,017 tonnes, compared with 7,871 tonnes, meaning a growth of 15 per cent. In 2018, Spain’s import had also increased by about 6 per cent year-on-year, as the import volume in 2017 was at 7,440 tonnes after recording a sweeping growth of about 110 per cent from 3,536 in 2016. In tandem with the growth in Spain’s aluminium tubes and pipes import, the cost is also foreseen to record a rise. Compared with US$30 million in 2018, Spain’s aluminium tubes and pipes import cost is likely to come in at US$38 million, up 27 per cent. The global export-import data shows that Spain’s import cost...
According to a press release from Aluminum Extruders Council, Vietnam has started its action against Chinese transhipment of aluminium. It has been reported that “Vietnamese customs discovered and seized about $4.3 billion of Chinese aluminium falsely labelled “Made-in-Vietnam” before being shipped mostly to the U.S.” According to the report Vietnamese authorities have been cracking down on Chinese efforts to circumvent U.S. trade orders by transhipping their aluminium via Vietnam. The seize was a result of such effort. A few weeks ago the Vietnamese government levied duties on a wide range of aluminium products from China. The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) decided to officially impose the highest rate of anti-dumping duties on aluminium products from 16 Chinese producers. The...
Kaiser Aluminum Corporation announced third quarter and first nine months 2019 results. The company’s net sales dropped from $393 million in Q3 2018 to $375 million in Q3 2019, reflecting a 3% decrease in shipments and a 2% decrease in average selling price. Value added revenue stood at $215 million, up from $205 million in the prior year period, driven by strong aerospace demand and value added revenue pricing. Adjusted consolidated EBITDA increased to $57 million in Q3. Net income was $25 million, compared to net income of $22 million. Excluding the impact of non-run-rate items, adjusted net income was $29 million. For the first nine months of 2019 , the company reported net sales of $1.1 billion compared to $1.2 billion, reflecting a 4% decrease in shipments. Value added revenue...
The US imports of crude metal and alloys declined 72.53% or 240,800 tonnes year-on-year to 91,200 tonnes in July 2019, according to the latest Mineral Industry Survey report from the US Geological Survey. Imports were 332,000 tonnes in July 2018. Imports reduced by 71.05% from June’s imports of 315,000 and 68.22% from May’s imports of 287,000 tonnes The US imported 1.9 million tonnes of crude metal and alloys in the first seven months of 2019, as compared to 2.62 million tonnes in the first seven months of 2018. This records a decrease of 27.48% or 720,000 tonnes. The US imports of total aluminium (crude metal and alloys, aluminium semi-finished products and scrap) in July edged lower by 48.31% year-on-year to 260,000 tonnes. Aluminium imports declined 48% from June and 45.61% from May....
Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) announced that the Japan Aluminium Association has joined ASI as an Associations member. This brings the total number of ASI members working toward a responsible aluminium value chain to 102. Japan Aluminium Association (JAA) was established in 1947. JAA represents Japanese aluminium industry and plays a central role in the industry, such as in public relations, environment, health & safety, statistics and standards, research & development, energy & environment and many more. Around 130 aluminium related companies are members of JAA. Their business fields include aluminium rolling, extruding, fabricating and trading, etc. The Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) is a global, multi-stakeholder, non-profit standards setting and certification...
According to the latest report from Aluminum Association, shipments of aluminum extruded products (extruded shapes, pipe & tube, and rod & bar) by U.S. and Canadian producers stood at 191,960 tonnes during September 2019, down 6.1 per cent YoY. Compared to the previous month, shipments decreased 7.6 per cent from the August 2019 revised total of 207,745 tonnes. YTD shipments through September 2019 stood at 1.9 million tonne, off 3.4 per cent from YTD 2018. Estimated shipments of aluminum drawing stock, bare wire and rod & bar by U.S. and Canadian producers stood at 37,194 tonnes during September 2019, a drop of 15.3 per cent YoY. Compared to the previous month, shipments rose 3.6 per cent over the August 2019 revised total of 35,833 tonnes. YTD shipments through September 2019 stood at...
According to the preliminary estimates from Aluminum Association, aluminium demand in the United States and Canada (shipments by domestic producers plus imports) totalled an estimated 7.5 million tonnes from January to July 2019, an increase of 1.3 per cent over YTD 2018. The U.S. accounted for the larger share in it. {newsStudioGallery} As shown by data from US Geological Survey, US imported 2.8 million tonnes of aluminium and semi-finished aluminium in the period from January to July 2019, a drop of 17.6% from 3.4 million tonnes in the same period of 2018. The import of crude aluminium and alloy dropped about 27% to 1.9 million tonnes from 2.6 million tonnes in the first seven months of 2018. On the other hand, imports of semi-finished aluminium have registered an increase during the...
The US exports of aluminium semi-finished products (plates, sheets, bars, etc.) stood at 74,200 tonnes in July 2019, off 9.4% from last year’s total of 81,900 tonnes. Exports increased by 8.16% from June’s export volume of 68,600 tonnes and 0.54% from May’s export volume of 73,800 tonnes, according to the latest Mineral Industry Survey report from the US Geological Survey. In the first seven months of 2019, semi-finished products export reduced 17.27% or 109,000 tonnes year-on-year. The US exported 522,000 tonnes of semi-finished products in January-July 2019 as compared to 631,000 tonnes in January-July 2018. The US exports of total aluminium including scrap increased 0.41% year-on-year to stand at 245,000 tonnes in July 2019. The export volume decreased by 0.81% from June’s export...
As updated by Shanghai Metals Market, Inventories of aluminium billet continued to decline on the back of decent consumption. Stocks of 6063 aluminium billet across five major consumption areas in China declined 11,100 tonnes from October 17 to stand at 118,100 tonnes as of Thursday October 24, after a drop of 7,600 tonnes in the previous week. Inventories of aluminium billet in Foshan, Guangdong and Wuxi, Jiangsu stood at 64,000 tonnes and 18,900 tonnes as of Thursday, down 9,200 tonnes and 300 tonnes from 73,200 tonnes and 19,200 on October 17. Stocks in Changzhou, Jiangsu increased 300 tonnes to stand 16,000 tonnes. Aluminium billet stocks in Huzhou, Zhejiang and Nanchang, Jiangxi declined 1,000 tonnes each from October 17 to 10,000 tonnes and 9,200 tonnes. The price of aluminium alloy...
Constellium reported results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2019. For the third quarter of 2019, the company reported shipments of 395,000 tonnes, up 4% year-on-year due to higher shipments in the Packaging and Automotive Rolled Products segment, partially due to the consolidation of Bowling Green. Revenue increased by 2% to €1.5 billion, primarily due to the consolidation of Bowling Green and improved price and mix, partially offset by lower metal prices. Net income stood at €1 million, from €217 million last year. Adjusted EBITDA rose 18% to €139 million on improved results in the Packaging and Automotive Rolled Products and the Aerospace and Transportation segments. For the first nine months of 2019, shipments were up 5% YoY to 1.2 million tonnes. Revenue came in at €4.5...
According to the global export-import data, the export of aluminium bar rods and profiles by Malaysia is expected to grow this year by 58 per cent to stand at 84,069 tonnes. In 2018 as well, the export volume had grown by about 44 per cent to come in at 53,253 tonnes. Only in 2017, the volume was year-on-year down to 37,001 tonnes, compared with 69,236 tonnes in 2016, showed the international data. After 2016, Vietnam is expected to be the top importer of aluminium bar rods and profiles from Malaysia this year by securing 22,616 tonnes. In 2017 and 2018, Australia was the leading export destination for Malaysia. In 2017, Australia had imported 10,116 tonnes, while that in 2018 13,428 tonnes, up 33 per cent year-on-year. In 2016, Vietnam had sourced 48,757 tonnes of aluminium bar rods and...
A press release from the Aluminum Extruders Council confirms that the U. S. Department of Commerce has ruled that jalousie shutters exported from the Dominican Republic fall under the scope of the Aluminum Extruders Council trade orders against the Chinese aluminium extrusion industry. This is a key decision for the U.S. aluminium industry because these shutters are made from window frame aluminium extrusions imported from China. Jalousie shutters are glass-less louver windows composed of parallel aluminium slats set in a frame, which are joined on an aluminium track. The shutters tilt open and shut together to control airflow. The Ruling document from Department of Commerce stated, “…we also find that record evidence establishes that China is the country of origin, and that the further...
Nemak, a leading provider of innovative light weighting solutions for the global automotive industry, published its operational and financial results for the third quarter of 2019. The company’s revenue was down 16.4% YoY to US$963 million in 3Q19, mainly due to lower shipments and aluminium prices. Total sales volume decreased by 13.8% year-on-year to 10.6 million equivalent units during 3Q19. This was due to a less favourable product mix in North America and softer customer production in China. Nemak manufactures aluminium components for powertrain and body structure applications. It generated revenue of US$4.7 billion in 2018. EBITDA came in at US$139 million, a drop of 13.1% YoY. “This variation followed a lower volume, unfavourable exchange rate effects, and non-recurring expenses...
High cost saving is one of the factors that has been increasingly bolstering the shift from using copper wire to aluminium wire and therefore, the demand for the latter. Considering a transformation cost of US$1,5 per kg for copper and US$ 5 per kg for aluminium, the final cost for the user will be almost similar, but the weight of aluminium is 1/3 of copper. And even considering 10% more consumption of aluminium, saving is approximately 60% of the cost of the coil. {newsStudioGallery} Aluminium wires are widely used in various home electrical appliances, switches, circuit breakers and motors. Beside cost saving and light-weight properties, aluminium wires are corrosion resistant. So, backed on the increasing demand, the exports and imports of aluminium wire have also been found growing...
The global export-import data shows that after a year-on-year rise in Saudi Arabia’s aluminium plates, sheets and strips import last year, the country this year is likely to see a drop of 16 per cent to 89,966 tonnes. In 2018, Saudi Arabia's import was approximately at 106,936 tonnes, up 29 per cent from 83,053 tonnes in 2017. In 2016, the import amount was at around 59,353 tonnes, which indicates that the import volume had recorded a rise in 2017 as well, by about 40 per cent. As far as the import cost is concerned, Saudi Arabia’s aluminium plates, sheets and strips import is estimated to be valued lower than the previous year, in tandem with the drop in import volume. Compared with US$491 million in 2018, the country’s import cost this year is likely to come in at US$ 317 million, down...
HRL Laboratories research center sold its first order of 7A77 aluminium 3D printing powder to NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) in Huntsville, Alabama. The material was sold by HRL Additive, a newly established 3D printing entity from HRL Laboratories just one week after the commercial launch of the product. The company would supply the aluminium powder to the aerospace and automotive sectors. MSFC aims to explore the potential of 3D printing large-scale aerospace components using 7A77 powder. “Certainly, the 7A77 feedstock powder could unlock the production of large-scale components produced via fusion-based additive manufacturing,” explained Omar Rodriguez of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. HRL Laboratories is jointly owned by General Motors, and the Boeing aerospace...
The US imported 117,000 tonnes of aluminium semi-finished products (plates, sheets, bars, etc.) in July, with a year-on-year increase of 11.43%, as updated by the US Census Bureau. This is the fourth straight month of decline in the imports of semi-finished. The imports dropped by 10.69% from June’s imports of 131,000 tonnes, 13.33% from May’s imports of 135,000 tonnes, and 18.18% from April’s imports of 143,000 tonnes. Imports of aluminium semi-finished products stood at 925,000 tonnes in the first seven months of 2019, indicating an increase of 10.38%. The US had imported 838,000 tonnes in the first seven months of 2018. The US imports of total aluminium (crude metal and alloys, aluminium semi-finished products and scrap) in July edged lower by 48.31% year-on-year. Imports stood at...
AlCircle has launched a new Sector Focus Report – "Aluminium Foil and its End uses: Current Trends and Forecast” into its 2019 Report portfolio. AlCircle has been into the business of information for pretty long and has already become the reference point for the aluminium industry as far as news, analysis, blogs and events are concerned. The portal, on regular interval, offers exclusive sector specific reports that are designed to help industry participants in better decision making with current information, data and market analysis. Due to its versatility and multiple uses, aluminium foil turns out to be one of the most consumed aluminium products across the world. Growing at 3.9% per annum, the global aluminium foil usage reached 5.33 million tonnes in 2018 and is further, forecast to...
