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...
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Guangxi which is already one of China’s top five aluminium centres, recording 3.88 million tonnes of aluminium production last year, is reportedly crafting a plan to expand its production capacity further. According to the information posted on the Guangxi government’s website, the southern region of Guangxi is likely to develop a high-end aluminium production base in the city of Nanning. This new production base is planned to be comprised of four industrial parks over an area of 533 hectares by 2022, involving around RMB 4.5 billion of investment in infrastructure, Guangxi government said. Target applications for the production include aviation, automotive, rail transit, green buildings, and aluminium alloy. By the end of 2020, Nanning’s aluminium processing and downstream industries are...
U.S. Metal Powders’production facility Ampal, Inc. in Palmerton, Pennsylvania, USA, has received a $10,000 investment from Ben Franklin Technology Partners of North-Eastern Pennsylvania. The investment is part of a series of investments amounting to about US$535,000 made in the region by BFTP/NEP on ten different companies. The investments are aimed at enabling Northeastern Pennsylvania to create a ‘better economic future by building partnerships that develop and apply technology for competitive advantage.’ It is to be noted that Ampal Inc.’s parent company, U.S. Metal Powders Inc., recently filed tariff exclusion requests with the U.S. Department of Commerce. The Company President Louise Ramsey Thomas filed a request to pull off the tariffs on aluminium imports from Canada in the...
Aluminium extrusion is one of the highest growth aluminium product segments along with rolled products and castings. Currently, aluminium extrusions capacity across the world stands at around 41.5 million tonnes per annum. Of this, Chinese extruders account for about 56%, equating to about 23.5 million tonnes per annum. As for the usage is concerned, world usage grew at a fast pace of 6% per annum during the last five years and is estimated at 28 million tonnes in 2017. China accounts for an estimated 63% of the total aluminium extrusions usage and the country’s share of global extrusions usage is expected to increase to 69% by 2025. The demand for extrusion is forecast to grow at 5.4% per annum till 2025 to cross the 40 million tonne mark. A number of leading producers have been taking...
Arconic Inc., the Alcoa spin-off, reported Q2 2018 results on July 31 with revenues of $3.6 billion, up 10% YoY. Organic revenue was up 5% YoY, driven by higher volumes in the commercial transportation, automotive, aerospace engines, defence, and building and construction markets. Arconic reported a drop in net income to US$120 million from net income of $212 million in Q2 2017. Net income excluding special items increased to $185 million from $165 million in Q2 2017. The company also reported operating income of $324 million, up 1% YoY and operating income excluding special items of $381 million, down 2% YoY. In Q2 2018, cash provided from operations stood at US$176 million, up from US$79 million in Q2 2017. Arconic Chief Executive Officer Chip Blankenship said, “In the second quarter,...
According to the latest update by Shanghai Metals Market, demand in the aluminium plate/sheet and strip industry weakened in China, which as a result boosted the inventories of finished products across all major Chinese consumption areas. Plants grappled with tight cash flows amid growing competition due to increasing recommencement of productions and also because of the narrow export market, as a consequence of the United States higher anti-dumping and anti-subsidy measures on China. The aluminium foil industry also showed a dent in its performance in the month of July, buoyed by a plunge in demand for beer foil, household foil, and air-conditioner foil, observed SMM. New orders for air-conditioner foil fell sharply as most air-conditioner manufacturers began a seasonal break. The low...
According to the global export-import data, China’s aluminium foils export to the United States is estimated to see a decline in calendar year 2018 after successive hikes in past two consecutive years. In 2018, the expected export volume from China to the US stands at 1, 80, 475 tonnes, 9.5 per cent down from 1, 97, 704 tonnes in calendar year 2017. In contrast to this, both the calendar years 2016 and 2017 recorded sweeping growth in aluminium foils export from China to the United States. In 2016, the volume rose by 51 per cent from 1, 12, 699 tonnes in 2015 to stand at 1, 70, 803 tonnes, followed by a further hike by 15 per cent to 1, 97, 704 tonnes in 2017. Along with the volume, the export revenue also recorded a surge. In 2016, China’s aluminium foils export revenue from the US...
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 totalled an estimated 216,817 tonnes during June 2018, an increase of 2.8 per cent over the June 2017 total of 210,920 tonnes. Shipments were down 2.5 per cent from May 2018. YTD shipments through June 2018 were up 5.1 per cent to 1.3 million tonnes, over the same period of 2017. Estimated shipments of Aluminum Drawing Stock, Bare Wire and Rod & Bar by U.S. and Canadian producers stood at 48,534 tonnes during June 2018, an increase of 9.3 per cent over the June 2017 total of 43,998 tonnes. Shipments decreased 8.9 per cent from May 2018. YTD shipments through June 2018 increased 5.5 per cent to 294,835 million pounds,...
JSE-listed aluminum producer, Hulamin, on Monday reported a 77 percent decline in headline earnings per share for the six months ended June 30, down to 13 cents per share as the rand was stronger against the dollar in the reporting period. The local manufacturer said that volatility in its markets was largely driven by socio-political changes in South Africa and by US government intervention in metal markets globally, especially the duty on steel and aluminum imports imposed by the Trump administration. Richard Jacob, Hulamin's chief executive, said the US steel and aluminum duties heavily affected their business. "Uncertainty around vacillating US trade actions affected our products directly. As a result of the duties now in place, imports into the USA have been significantly curtailed,...
Novelis Inc., the world leader in aluminum rolling and recycling, today announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Aleris Corporation, a global supplier of rolled aluminum products, for approximately $2.6 billion including the assumption of debt. For Novelis, Aleris, and their customers, the proposed acquisition will deliver a number of significant benefits by: Establishing a more diverse product portfolio, including aerospace, beverage can, automotive, building and construction, commercial transportation and specialty products. Integrating complementary assets in Asia to include recycling, casting, rolling and finishing capabilities and allowing Novelis to more efficiently serve the growing Asia market. Broadening Novelis' automotive business to meet growing demand and...
On Wednesday, July 25, the head of a Japan trade body said that the country’s aluminium industry seems to be more concerned over the possible US tariffs on automobiles and automobile parts than the duties on aluminium. That’s because Japanese firms are confident that the kind of high-end semi-finished aluminium products they export to the US are not easily replaceable by domestic products due to unavailability and therefore, the tariffs are less likely to create impact on Japan’s export or its economy, so to say. According to global export-import data, Japan is estimated to export 27,989 tonnes of aluminium plates, sheets and strips to the US in 2018 and earn revenue of US$ 93 million. In 2017, the export volume higher at 35,268 tonnes and yielded revenue of around US$ 136 million, after...
Aluminum extrusions are a high-growth industry due to growing demand in the building and construction and transport sector. Construction sector contributes about 62% of the global extrusion market, while transport sector contributes about 14%. A number of leading producers have been taking up Greenfield and Brownfield projects in the extrusion sector and merger and acquisitions have been taking place for business growth. Solid extrusion demand growth is expected in several key regions in the period from 2018 to 2025. US housing market is still sustaining positive momentum and the demand is on the rise slowly. Construction activity in Europe is restarting and gradual improvement is expected. South America is returning to positive from low levels. Softer construction growth has affected...
According to the latest data by Shanghai Metals Market, aluminium billet inventory in China has extended growth over the week ended on July 26, amid low season and sluggish consumption. It has increased by 8,600 tonnes from 70,800 tonnes on last Thursday, July 19, and hovering at 79,400 tonnes across five major consumption areas. This marks a surge for the fourth consecutive week. The inventory in Foshan and Guangdong has increased from 42,000 tonnes, as on July 19, to 47,400 tonnes on July 26, while in Wuxi and Jiangsu, the inventory has registered a hike from 5,600 tonnes to 11,000 tonnes. Other Chinese cities have recorded a slight tumble, compared to the previous inventory status on July 19. For more details, refer the chart below: The average aluminium alloy (ADC 12) spot price,...
Constellium N.V. reported results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2018 on July 25. The aluminium product maker reported total shipments of 397 thousand tonnes in Q2 2018, up 4% YoY. Automotive shipments increased 20% contributing significantly to net income. The company reported revenue of €1.5 billion, up 7% YoY. Net income stood at €55 million compared to net income of €15 million in Q2 2017 and adjusted EBITDA stood at €151 million, up 19% YoY. For the First half 2018, Constellium reported shipments of 785 thousand tonnes, up 4% compared to H1 2017. The H1 Revenue stood at €2.9 billion, up 6% compared to H1 2017. Net income increased to €31 million from €28 million in H1 2017 and adjusted EBITDA was up 22% YoY to €268 million. The company also reported cost savings of €32 million...
Chinese aluminum foil producer Shantou Wanshun Package Material Stock Co. on Monday said its subsidiary is suing the United States over twin anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties Washington imposed on its shipments. In a statement to the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, Wanshun said Jiangsu Zhongji Lamination Materials, which was hit with a countervailing duty of 17.14 percent and an anti-dumping duty of 37.99 percent earlier this year, had filed a lawsuit with the U.S. Court of International Trade. Zhongji was among the Chinese foil companies that unsuccessfully filed a joint “no injury” claim with the U.S. International Trade Commission last year as Washington probed whether the companies were unfairly subsidised, and is now trying to reverse the duties on its own. The total duties of 55.13...
Arfin India, which is one of India’s leading aluminium products manufacturing companies has been consistently upgrading its product categories through innovative techniques and research to stand tall in its category. The company has consistently improved its earnings before interest, depreciation, tax and amortisation (EBIDTA) margin from 3.4 per cent in FY13 to 8.1 per cent in FY17, through cost optimisation, scale and better pricing. The company’s newly added value added product portfolio has been contributing to overall margin increase. During 2013-17, volumes grew 22 per cent annually and revenues rose at CAGR 20%. During FY18, it delivered a strong 40 per cent sales growth and 67 per cent increase in net profit to INR 21.7 crore. Arfin manufactures aluminium wire rod, aluminium deox,...
Novelis, the US-based downstream arm of India’s largest aluminium producer Hindalco Industries Ltd, is closing in on a $2.3-2.5 billion acquisition of Aleris Corp. Talks between both sides are gathering momentum after a lull of over six months, said several people with knowledge of the matter. The discussions are now being steered by Aditya Birla Group chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla himself, they said. He stepped in to lead talks with the private equity owners of Aleris to get negotiations moving again. This follows talks of more than a year between China Zhongwang Holdings Ltd,that country’s biggest supplier of processed aluminium, and the Cleveland-based aluminium parts maker having floundered on heightened US national security concerns. This follows talks of more than a year between...
Right from Amazon to Toyota to Alcoa, big companies in the United States are striving hard to discourage the US President Donald Trump from tearing up trade agreements or introducing additional imported tariffs on aluminium and steel and foreign vehicles, but without getting involved into any kind of confrontation. Amazon, the world’s largest online retailer and cloud-computing company is planning industry-wide advertising campaigns or more extensive government lobbying to dissuade Trump from tariff plans, fearing that they could hurt their items sold through website and components for data centres. A person familiar with the matter reported this news to Reuters on condition of anonymity. Amazon, however, refuses to decline anything on this report. Toyto Motor North America has sent...
Benada Aluminum, an American owned and operated aluminium extruder located in Sanford, Florida USA has recently added dozens of jobs for a new production line at its Sanford factory. The company is of the view that the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration “have levelled the playing field” for domestic producers. It's the first Central Florida company to say it is benefiting from the tariffs. The production expansion will add 35 jobs and by September. Jim Piperato, president of Benada says demand for U.S.-made aluminium goods has gone up because the addition of 10 per cent tariff on imported aluminium has made domestic prices more competitive. He says that if factories around the world can be subsidized by governments or benefit from lower energy costs to run operations, they can...
