
Across Europe, aluminium extrusion has become closely woven into some of the region’s biggest industrial and construction markets. From automotive and transport to buildings and industrial applications, extruded profiles are finding demand across a wide range of sectors. This is reflected in Europe’s position in the global market: the region accounted for 12 per cent of global aluminium extrusion capacity, making it the second-largest regional contributor after China. At the same time, Europe represented 10 per cent of global aluminium extrusion usage, out of total global usage of 35.35 million tonnes . With production capacity and usage shares relatively close, Europe’s extrusion capacity and consumption are broadly at par. If we break down Europe’s 10 per cent share of global aluminium...
Taber Extrusions has launched a $70 million expansion in Russellville featuring North America’s largest aluminum extrusion press, with production scheduled to begin Wednesday and 70 new jobs expected at the facility. The company marked the grand opening of the expanded facility Tuesday, unveiling the new 10,000-metric-tonne aluminium press. Taber Extrusions has operated in the Russellville community for more than 50 years, making the latest investment a significant addition to its long-standing local presence. Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders attended the ceremony and said the project would strengthen manufacturing employment in the River Valley while supporting the US industrial base. "This will be another major employer for Russellville and the entire River Valley. It will further...
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Norway is the largest aluminium producing country in Western Europe, and almost 80-90% of its output is exported to the international market. Primary aluminium is produced at seven works around the country, with Norsk Hydro as the largest company in this sector. Raw Aluminium is one of the top export items of Norway, other than Crude Petroleum, Petroleum Gas, Non-fillet Fresh Fish and Refined Petroleum. The international trade data indicates Norway’s export of Aluminium Bar Rods and Profiles market is volatile. Norway’s total export of aluminium bar rods and profiles from 2017-19 was posted 72,098 tonnes, which accounted $20.66 million. The year 2020 has been projected a downturn of 25.17%, when added, the estimated export volume with the previous years it stands at 89,585 tonnes and...

Aluminium Stewardship Initiative has announced that it certifies a Novelis plant at Ohle, Germany, for its responsible production, sourcing, and stewardship of aluminium. The plant supplies foil and packaging products for diverse applications, including coffee capsules, foil trays for the food industry, aluminium coil cores, and flexible tubes for Automotive and Caravan. Earlier in January 2019, the Alunorf plant, which is a joint venture of Novelis and Hydro, had also secured the ASI Performance Standard Certification. The ASI Certification programme is the only comprehensive voluntary sustainability standard initiative for the aluminium value chain. The ASI Performance Standard defines environmental, social and governance principles and criteria, intending to address sustainability...

Aludium has recently announced that it appointed Lionel Chapis as the company’s new Chief Executive Officer, with effect from March 1, 2020. Chapis recently worked with Consetellium as a Managing Director, Automotive Solutions, and brings more than two decades of total experience in the aluminium industry. Oliver Bell, who has served Constellium as Interim Chief Executive Officer, will support Chapis during the transition period through March and then continue in his role as member of the Board of Directors and Operating Partner of Atlas Holdings, which owns Aludium. “We are extremely pleased to announce that Lionel Chapis has agreed to join our team and serve as Aludium’s next Chief Executive Officer,’ Bell said. He added, “Having served in several senior leadership roles at companies...

According to Shanghai Metals Market, the 6063 aluminium billet inventories across five major consumption areas in China have increased by 46,800 tonnes over the last two weeks. From 100,000 tonnes on January 23, the inventories, as of today, February 6, jumped to 146,800 tonnes, marking the fourth consecutive week of increase. The chart below indicates the current status of aluminium billet inventories across China in more details: As the above chart suggests, the inventories in Foshan have increased by 9,000 tonnes from January 23 to come in at 59,200 tonnes, while that in Wuxi and Changzhou by 8,600 tonnes and 7,900 tonnes to stand at 23,500 tonnes and 18,800 tonnes, respectively. Huzhou and Nanchang have also seen the growth in inventories of about 7,000 tonnes and 4,300 tonnes to...

Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), India’s largest fuel retailer, has joined hands with Israel-based start-up Phinergy for development, manufacturing, assembly and sale of aluminium-air batteries. “IndianOil has taken a minority equity stake in Phinergy (Israel). IndianOil and Phinergy are now in the process of forming a Joint Venture in India for collaboration in the field of Al-Air battery system including research & development, customization, manufacturing, assembly, sale and service of aluminium-air energy systems technology,” the company said in a statement. In a bigger picture, the major intention of the joint venture will be to set up a factory in India to manufacture aluminium-air batteries (Al-Air Batteries) for electric vehicles and stationary applications and facilitate the...

Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), India’s largest fuel retailer, has joined hands with Israel-based start-up Phinergy for development, manufacturing, assembly and sale of aluminium-air batteries. “IndianOil has taken a minority equity stake in Phinergy (Israel). IndianOil and Phinergy are now in the process of forming a Joint Venture in India for collaboration in the field of Al-Air battery system including research & development, customization, manufacturing, assembly, sale and service of aluminium-air energy systems technology,” the company said in a statement. In a bigger picture, the major intention of the joint venture will be to set up a factory in India to manufacture aluminium-air batteries (Al-Air Batteries) for electric vehicles and stationary applications and facilitate the...

Braidy Industries has announced that Chairman and CEO Craig Bouchard will step down from his current position. But he will remain a member of Braidy Industries’ Board of Directors. President Tom Modrowski, who has been with Braidy since its inception, has been named interim CEO of Braidy Industries and current board member Mr. Charles Price has been named Chairman of the Board of Braidy Industries. “The board is grateful to Craig for his vision, energy and dedication to the Kentucky operation,” said Charles Price, Chairman of the Board. “Tom and the board will continue to focus our efforts on completing fundraising and planning for construction of the Ashland mill.” Braidy Atlas aluminium rolling mill project, a state-of-the-art low-emissions greenfield manufacturing facility at EastPark...

The Group General Manager Des Benson of Wight Aluminium communicated that Whanganui plant embarked its production as on 13th January’20. The building comprises a huge floor size of 8000 square metres and it is erected in a new industrial area of Castlecliff. It took two long years to develop the building. It is also the head office for Wight Aluminium, the largest suppliers of aluminium windows and high-rise facades in New Zealand. Damon Wagstaff, Whanganui-based company director said: “Wight Aluminium had grown considerably, particularly in the last five years.” The total staff strength of the organization is 120, out of which 60 staffs are based at Whanganui. Wight Aluminium a year ago opened another new purpose-built factory in Hamilton, and in Auckland, the company owns its design and...

According to a recent study, the worldwide market value for aluminium powder is expected to expand at a CAGR of roughly 2.5 per cent over the next five years to reach US$ 1060 million in 2024 from US$ 910 million in 2019. Amidst this bullish aluminium powder market trend, Germany is also likely to generate higher revenue this year from its aluminium powder and flakes export. From US$61 million in 2019, the country’s revenue in 2020 is estimated to increase by 6.5 per cent to US$ 65 million, suggests the global trade data. In fact, the country has been seeing a year-on-year rise in aluminium powder and flakes export value over the past four years. In 2017, the value was US$ 41 million, which in 2018 grew 24.3 per cent to US$ 51 million. In 2019, this growth did not cease but continued by...

Mitsui & Co., Ltd. has joined as a General Supporter member of Aluminium Stewardship Initiative’s (ASI). This brings the total number of ASI members to 112. “We are very pleased to join the ASI community. Sustainability has always been one of the most important values for Mitsui & Co., Ltd. and we look forward to working together with the ASI community to create more responsible and sustainable aluminium industry and a brighter future,” Hiroyuki Aoyagi, General Manager, New Metals & Aluminium Division, Mitsui & Co., Ltd. ASI is a global, multi-stakeholder, non-profit standards setting and certification organisation that aims to recognise and foster the responsible production, sourcing and stewardship of aluminium. In Mineral&Metal Resources Business Unit, the company secures stable...

Alcomet, a Bulgaria-based company that is principally engaged in the production of aluminium rolled and extruded products, reported a drop in non-consolidated net profit and revenue in 2019. The company’s net profit dropped from 13.6 million levs in 2018 to 9.4 million levs in 2018. Revenue stood at 353.5 million levs, down from 368.2 million levs a year earlier. The company said the decline in revenue was due to lower sales revenue. Sales of extruded products increased by 2.7% year-on-year to 22,719 tonnes in 2019. Rolled products sale came in at 43,020 tonnes, down 2.7% year-on-year. Total sales declined 0.9% to 65,739 tonnes. Germany accounted for 24% share of all sales. It was followed by Italy with 14.6% and Poland with 11%. Alcomet offers a broad range of aluminium semi-finished...

JW Aluminium, the US-based leading producer of flat-rolled aluminium products, announced on its website early last week that it plans to close its foil plant in St. Louis, Missouri, on May 30, 2020. China’s aluminium semis exports in large and increasing volumes have been held responsible for the closure of the plant, which is likely to affect about 190 employees. JW Aluminium claims that Chinese exports have not only disrupted the markets in the United States but also the world. "This outcome is one we all worked diligently to prevent. However, even with multiple tariffs and duties now in place, it hasn't been enough to overcome the devastating effects of China's market-distorting behaviour," said Lee McCarter, JW Aluminium's chief executive, in a statement. JW Aluminium had acquired the...

President Joko Widodo government in Indonesia is in constant motivation to increase the national aluminium production. The focused figure is 1.5-2 million tonnes per annum by 2025, keeping in mind the present production 250,000 tonnes. The government is seeking to enable manufacturers to align with the growing export market demand. Aluminium bar rods has recorded with an import of volume 35,017 tonnes from 2017-2019, which posted in payment of foreign revenue of $108.7 million. The projected import for Aluminium bar rods in 2020 is 11,795 tonnes, which when added to 2017-19 touches 46,812 tonnes. The amount projected in 2020 import of Aluminium bar rods is $48.53 million, which when comprises with the existing year 2017-19 comes to $157.23 million. In 2017 Indonesia’s Aluminium Bar Rods...

The possibility of job cuts seems to fear as part of Arconic’s efforts to compensate for the suspended production of the Boeing 737 MAX. Though it has been communicated that there would be no impact on the Arconic local operations at Massena. Arconic was formed in 2016 in a split with Alcoa, creating two publicly traded companies — Alcoa Corp. and Arconic. Under a planned reorganization that will take place this year, one segment of the company will be focusing on structural parts for airplanes such as the Boeing 737 MAX. The upstream company, which operates under the Alcoa name, consists of five business units that make up global primary products — bauxite, alumina, aluminium, casting, and energy. Arconic, the value-added company, is composed of global rolled products, engineered...

Arconic, in its quarterly and full-year performance report, has updated that the company’s revenue in the fourth quarter of 2019 came in at $3.4 billion, registering a drop of 2 per cent year on year. However, the organic revenue was up by 1 per cent over the year, noted the company in its report. The operating income and net income were also high at $416 million and $309 million, or $0.70 per share, respectively, compared to $323 million and $218 million, or $0.44 per share, in Q4 2018. Net income excluding special items in Q4 2019 was $234 million, or $0.53 per share, which during the same period in 2018 was $162 million, or $0.33 per share. Also, operating income excluding special items in Q4 2019 recorded a growth of 37 per cent over the year to $444 million, showed Arconic’s report....

As updated by Shanghai Metals Market, inventories of aluminium billet rose for the third consecutive week. Stocks of 6063 aluminium billet across five major consumption areas in China increased by 33,700 tonnes from Thursday January 16 to stand at 100,000 tonnes as of Thursday January 23, after rising 13,200 tonnes in the previous week. The chart below indicates the current status of aluminium billet inventories across China in more details: Inventories of aluminium billet in Foshan and Wuxi stood at 40,200 tonnes and 14,900 tonnes on Thursday, January 23, up 10,100 tonnes and 2,100 tonnes from January 16. Stocks in Changzhou, Huzhou and Nanchang rose 5,100 tonnes, 7,000 tonnes and 9,300 tonnes to stand at 10,900 tonnes, 23,000 tonnes and 11,000 tonnes. As of Thursday, January 23, the...

Aluminium wires, for having characteristics like electrical-conductivity, corrosion-resistance, lightweight, high-strength, and low cost to produce, are nowadays becoming increasingly popular for electrical wiring and in utility grid transmission and distribution networks. Through 2021, the global aluminium wire market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of almost 2 per cent. To support the demand, Bahrain has emerged as one of the world’s largest aluminium wire producers and exporters over the recent decades. Let us here see the country's trend of aluminium wire exports over the last few years and how it is likely to be in this ongoing year. According to the international export-import data, Bahrain in 2020 is likely to export 154,467 tonnes of aluminium wire, of which 34,226 tonnes to Egypt....

Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) announced Merit Aluminum Inc. has become a new Production & Transformation member of the ASI. This brings the total number of members working toward a responsible aluminium value chain to 111. Merit Aluminum delivers high quality extrusions within customers’ requirements and on time. The company has three extrusion presses with 55,000, 000 lbs of annual capacity, state of the art automated handling equipment, a computer controlled Anodizing Line, and 2 state of the art Powder Coating Lines. “Merit Aluminum Inc. is committed to responsible environmental practices that protect our planet. Global warming is the existential threat to humanity. It is everyone’s responsibility to reduce their carbon footprint in their daily lives, and even more so for...