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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Braidy Industries, a manufacturer of metals for transportation and defense industries, announced that it will break ground on its $1.3 billion aluminium rolling mill on Friday, June 1. The project will position Braidy Industries as the low-cost provider of 370,000 annual tonnes of production-ready series 5000, 6000 and 7000 aluminium sheet and plate for the automotive and aerospace industries. "To my friends in Ashland, NEK and the Commonwealth...Braidy Industries will break ground on the Ashland mill June 1, 1pm at East Park," Bouchard wrote on social media. "I’ve invited the Governor to cut the ribbon as his continuing support of your community drew us to Ashland, the place we now call home." “I would like to take this opportunity to encourage a sense of patience as well as excitement...
India and the European Union have told the World Trade Organization that they have planned to raise import duties on certain US products next month. The move is in retaliation to Donald Trump’s decision to impose tariff on aluminium and steel. Trump’s import duty has affected India’s aluminium export by $31 million and steel export by 134 million. India would levy counter tariffs on US imported products including peas, chickpeas, fresh apple, walnut, soybean oil, refined palmolein, coco powder, chocolate products, golf car and motor cycle among others. India said its proposed tariffs would come into effect by June 21, unless and until the United States removed its tariffs. The EU said Trump’s steel tariffs could cost $1.5 billion and aluminium tariffs a further $100 million. The EU may...
In a significant positive development, China and the United States agreed to back off from imposing new tariffs on each other’s imports and hold back an impending trade war that is threatening the international market especially steel and aluminium. This was confirmed by U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and China's vice-premier Liu He to respective presses on Sunday May 21. The decision came after China agreed to buy more American goods to "substantially reduce" the huge trade deficit with the U.S. Mnuchin said both the countries "made very meaningful progress and … agreed on a framework. Mr Liu, who led a high-level Chinese delegation to Washington, last week said: “The two sides reached a consensus, will not fight a trade war, and will stop increasing tariffs on each other." The...
Japan automaking association reported on Friday that it hopes country’s export partners to keep tariffs on vehicles and components low and maintain free trade relationships to promote and strengthen transparent trade, as NAFTA renegotiated and called for the enhancement of requirements for locally produced cars contents made in three signatory nations – Mexico, Canada, and the United States, where Japan automakers have factories. At the same time, the news broke out that the United States, a major market for Japanese cars, did not reprieve Japan from imported aluminium and steel tariffs exemptions. The country (United States) is also mulling tougher environmental rules for imported cars to protect US automakers. Seiichi Nagatsuka, an executive member of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers...
Following Japan, Turkey has also decided to slap the United States with retaliatory tariffs on imported products worth US$1.8 billion, state-run Anadolu Agency reported on Friday, May 18, 2018. Turkey had expected a positive response from the US in regards to aluminium and steel tariffs exemptions when Nihat Zeybekci, economy minister of Turkey, had written a letter to US commerce secretary Wilbur Ross to convey the country’s exemption demand early last month. But unfortunately, Turkey failed to secure the relief from the tariffs and thus, decides to counterattack the US with heavy duties. The report adds the tariffs worth US$1.8 billion will be applied on certain imported products from the US, including coal, paper, walnuts, almonds, tobacco, unprocessed rice, automobiles, machinery and...
Constellium has planned to expand its operations in Decin, Czech Republic, to support increasing demand for hard and soft alloy profiles and bars from automotive customers across Europe. The expansion, which is scheduled for completion by October 2019, will include a new casthouse and extrusion press, and will increase the plant’s recycling capacity. Constellium Decin, Europe’s largest integrated manufacturer and processor of hard and soft alloys profiles, manufactures customized aluminium extrusions primarily for automotive and industrial applications. With this added capacity, the plant will broaden its product portfolio to include sections for Crash Management Systems and for new aluminium applications for hybrid and electric vehicles. “As the auto industry increasingly turns to...
Malaysia’s Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Bhd announced results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2018.The company’s revenue increased from RM1.93 billion in Q1 2017 to RM2.13 billion in Q1 2018, driven by higher aluminium prices. The company’s profit before tax rose 5.5 per cent to RM210.2 million, from RM199.3 million in the same quarter of the preceding financial year. The increase was mainly due to the higher metal price during the current year quarter under review. Group Chief Executive Officer, Tan Sri Paul Koon said: “We are pleased with our results despite headwinds in the first quarter. We recognise that there will be continuous shifts and reactions in global aluminium markets caused by unsettled development from U.S. sanctions.” “Recent production volume disruption from...
The NHK channel reports that Japan government is all set to impose retaliatory tariffs against the US for not receiving an exemption from the imported aluminium and steel tariffs. It also says that the country is taking final steps to notify the World Trade Organisation (WTO) about the plan and necessary procedure under global trade rules later this week. Being one of the major allies of the United States and having a close tie between its Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the US President Donald Trump, Japan is under a complete shock as it failed to secure a waiver from US imported aluminium and steel duties, says the source. Tokyo’s decision to impose retaliatory tariffs on US exports is part of its planned move so that Washington considers adding Japan to the list of exempted countries....
Hindalco Industries Ltd, a producer of aluminium and copper products, posted 25 per cent decrease in profit in the fourth quarter ended March 31.The company's profit stood at INR 377 crore, from INR 503 crore a year earlier. Revenue stood at INR 11,681 crore in the three months through March 31. For FY2018, Revenue for Hindalco’s India operations reached INR43, 451 crore. Earnings before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortisation (EBITDA) increased 11 per cent to INR 7,154 crore, supported by higher aluminium and copper volumes and better realisation. The company said its aluminium (Hindalco plus Utkal) revenue for FY2018 stood at INR 21,089 crore, driven by higher sales of aluminium metal, better realisations and supportive macros. Hindalco achieved record production of aluminium at...
Manaksia Aluminium Company Limited has released the financial results of for the year ended 3lst March, 2018. March quarter net loss stood at INR 5.9 million rupees in comparison with the total profit of INR 5.8 million a year ago. March quarter revenue from operations stood at INR 473.4 million in comparison with INR 648.4 million a year ago. Net loss for the year ended 3lst March, 2018 stood at 12.4 million in comparison with a total profit of INR 53.5 million a year ago. Revenue for the full year stood at INR 2301.8 million in comparison with INR 2438.5 million a year ago. Manaksia Aluminium Company Limited is a vertical of India based Manaksia Group that produces rolled aluminium products and secondary aluminium alloy. Manaksia is one of the leading producers of Aluminium flat rolled...
Novelis Inc. has broken ground on its $300 million automotive aluminium sheet manufacturing facility in Guthrie, Kentucky. The 400,000 square foot facility will create approximately 125 jobs and produce annual nameplate capacity of 200 thousand tons. Image Source: novelis.com The aluminium rolling and recycling manufacturer will begin producing automotive aluminium at the site in 2020.The automotive aluminium facility will include heat treatment and pre-treatment lines, which prepare aluminium for use in vehicle parts such as body-in-white, hoods, doors, lift gates and fenders. Steve Fisher, President and CEO, Novelis Inc said: "The increased adoption of aluminium in cars, trucks and SUVs, coupled with more automotive manufacturing plants in the southeast makes Guthrie a strategic...
The recent aluminium price rise after the U.S. sanction of Rusal, the leading Russian aluminum producer has created concern among buyers and sellers of the metal and also is threatening end user companies with profit drops. During April, aluminium prices swung over their widest monthly range since at least 1997, according to an analysis by WSJ Group. The sudden rise in aluminium price threatens to squeeze profit margins of some of the biggest consumers of aluminium while they are already concerned over the higher fuel prices. The unpredictable aluminium prices also have contributed to worries over higher inflation and higher borrowing costs. Jeff Henderson, president of the Aluminum Extruders Council, which represents aluminium extruders agreed that aluminium product manufacturers are...
apt Extrusions GmbH & Co. KG, Monheim, Germany has inaugurated a new 27-MN front-loading press supplied by SMS group. The company has replaced the 20-MN press with the new 27-MN extrusion press. image Source: SMS group “The scope also comprises related billet heating equipment including an extrutec GmbH gas heating furnace combined with an IAS induction furnace and a new runout system from OMAV. apt selected SMS group as supplier of the extrusion press for reasons of safety, energy efficiency, productivity and product quality. All of these factors had played a crucial role in apt’s future orientation towards the production of aluminum profiles for the automotive and construction industries as well as for industrial customers”, Thomas Boddenberg, Managing Director of apt Extrusions GmbH &...
While speaking to reporters in Parliament on the outcomes of Wednesday’s (May 9, 2018) fortnightly cabinet meeting, Nomvula Mokonyane, Minister of Communications reported that Cabinet was disappointed at United States’ decision to not exempt South Africa from its imported aluminium and steel tariffs. She also said that the country would continue discussing the matter with the US to find a solution which would benefit both the countries, adding that South Africa had no intention in leveraging on its United Nations votes against the US’s wishes as a retaliatory act. “The South African government will continue to engage with US authorities to find a mutually acceptable outcome. Cabinet also encourages domestic importers to continue to lobby US buyers to apply for product exemptions, as South...
Vietnam’s imports of aluminium bar rods and profiles increased during the last three years. The country imported about 2 million tonnes of aluminium bar rods and profiles in 2017. The figure represented an increase from the previous year’s import volume when it reached 1.5 million tonnes. The aluminium bar rods and profiles import is again expected to rise reaching 3 million tonnes by December end. Aluminium bars accounts for 4.2 per cent of total imports of the country. The major countries from where Vietnam has been importing its aluminium bar rods and profiles include China, Mexico, the USA, Malaysia, South Korea, and Thailand. According to recent estimates, in the first quarter of 2018, Vietnam’s aluminium bar rods and profiles import reached an estimated total of 629540 tonnes. The...
Magna has opened its new aluminium casting facility in Telford to supply automotive aluminium products to Jaguar Land Rover, a leading vehicle manufacturer in the U.K. and Magna’s long-time customer. The aluminium die casting plant will use Magna's innovative high-pressure vacuum die casting process to produce a number of advanced lightweight aluminium castings. The lightweight aluminium castings help maximize strength and stiffness and minimize weight. The 225,000 square foot aluminium casting facility is expected to create 300 jobs in Telford. “With this new aluminum casting facility, we have established a world-class center of excellence to bring the most advanced structural casting technologies to the U.K.,” said John Farrell, President of Cosma International. Ben Goater, General...
Novelis Inc., the world leader in aluminium rolling and recycling, reported record results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2018. The company reported net income of $106 million for the fourth quarter and $635 million for the full year. The increase is driven by its focused strategy to improve operational efficiencies, increase shipments of premium products, and make key investments to grow automotive capacity. Excluding tax-effected special items in both years, Novelis reported net income of $101 million in Q4 and $420 million in fiscal year 2018. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018, net sales increased 17% over the prior year to $3.1 billion, driven by higher average aluminium prices, higher total shipments, and a favorable impact from record automotive shipments. Shipments of...
China's exports of aluminium increased in April as U.S. import tariffs failed to have any strong impact on outbound shipments from the country, Reuters reported.China exported 451,000 tonnes of unwrought aluminium and aluminium product last month, a 0.2 per cent increase from 450,000 tonnes exported in March and up 4.9 per cent from 430,000 tonnes in April 2017, according to the General Administration of Customs. Aluminium prices jumped 12.5 per cent on the London Metal Exchange last month after US imposed sanctions on Rusal, the world’s second-biggest aluminium producer. The United States imposed a 10 per cent tariff on aluminium imports, effective from March 23 as U.S. President Donald Trump sought to protect domestic producers. The United States accounts for 14 percent of China's total...
