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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According to the estimate of The Aluminum Association, shipments of aluminium products in U.S. and Canada drop slightly YOY in October 2016. During October 2016, shipments of can stock by domestic producers totalled 310.4 million pounds, a drop of 12% from the October 2015 total of 354.5 million pounds. Sequentially, shipments dropped 12.6% from the September 2016 total of 355.1million pounds. YTD shipments from January to October 2016 were 3,496.0 million pounds which recorded a slight drop over the same period of 2015. While producer shipments of can stock to U.S. markets dropped 10.4% to 271.5 million pounds in comparison to October 2015, exports recorded a drop of 25% to 38.8 million pounds. U.S. and Canadian producers shipped an estimated 78.3 million pounds of aluminium foil during...
Deliveries of aluminium foil from European rollers fell by 1.6% in Q3, putting year-on-year targets under pressure, according to figures released by EAFA, the European Aluminium Foil Association. Total deliveries for the first nine months of 2016 stand at 655,800 tonnes, down slightly, by 0.4%. Thinner gauges, used mainly for flexible packaging and household foils, have dropped by 1.1% year on year and by 2.0 % in the three months to the end of September. This continues a trend seen over the first two Quarters, reflecting flat demand. Unexpectedly, production of thicker gauges, used typically for semi-rigid containers and technical applications, dropped, by 1.0% in the same period, following strong growth in the last quarter. However, the first nine months still remain positive, 0.9%...
The Aluminum Association released the latest edition of the Aluminum Statistical Review for 2015 on Nov.21st. The latest edition of the Review, which features a new design and statistics through 2015 in the North American market, includes information on every cycle of the aluminum production process from primary aluminum to markets for finished goods to the recovery of aluminum scrap. For the first time, the full report is available for free for producer members of the Aluminum Association. This year’s Review shows continued growth in demand for the metal and positive trend lines in many key market sectors. Among key findings for the North American industry, the report found that in 2015: Demand for aluminum (producer net shipments and imports) increased by eight-tenths of one percent to...
Oversupply of commodity grade aluminium alloy, 226, has continued to put pressure on prices and squeeze European producer profit margins. German producer Stockach Aluminum (StockachAlu) was one of the first casualties this week following its decision to close its 25,000 mt/year facility by the end of 2016. “The decision was made against the background of the enormous oversupply on the market, which no longer allows for production at sufficient margins,” the company said in a statement dated Thursday. StockachAlu plans to focus on its wrought alloy production and the production of casting alloys will be concentrated at the locations of its sister company, Oetinger aluminium, in Weissenhorn and Neu-Ulm, which have a joint capacity of around 190,000 mt/year. Both Oetinger aluminium and...
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba), the Bahrain-based international aluminium smelter, has successfully upgraded its Casthouse 2 to produce T-Ingot foundry alloy for the first time, which will significantly boost the Company’s Value-Added Product portfolio. Alba’s Casthouse Department, in cooperation with Customer Technical Support and Marketing Departments, accomplished this feat following a series of enhancements to the existing facilities and by relying solely on in-house expertise as well as capitalising on the existing resources. Speaking about this achievement, Alba’s Chief Executive Officer, Tim Murray said: “Value-Added Sales is a key priority for Alba smelter in line with its strategic growth roadmap as it grants the Company higher flexibility to optimise its product portfolio and...
Aluminium and steel auto parts maker Transtar Holding Co. filed for bankruptcy Sunday after reaching a deal with its senior lenders to swap their debt for ownership of the company. The company filed for chapter 11 protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New York with a “prepackaged” chapter 11 plan after garnering support from its creditors to support the restructuring proposal. Such preapproved plans are becoming increasingly popular with companies and investors, who want to minimize the time and expense of chapter 11 balance sheet restructuring. The plan calls for the senior lenders, led by Silver Point Capital, to swap about $425 million in debt for 100% of the equity in the reorganized company. Joseph Santangelo, Transtar’s chief financial officer, blamed the company’s chapter 11...
AMAG Austria Metall AG, the leading Austrian premium supplier of high-quality aluminium cast and flat rolled products, reported significant year-on-year profit growth in the January to September period, continuing its positive earnings trend in the third quarter of 2016. The €687.1 million revenue during the first nine months of 2016 was 2 % below the previous year’s figure, but effects from the lower aluminium price were almost offset by higher shipment volumes, especially in the Rolling Division. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) were up by 7 % year-on-year during the first three quarters of the year, growing from €102.1 million to € 109.7 million, while the operating profit (EBIT) amounted to €58.6 million, 17 % above the previous year’s level of...
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India’s imports of aluminium products have been rising over the last two years though at a ‘not-so-unusual rate’ as has been the buzz in certain segments of the industry in recent times. Considering the country’s overall growth, the imports have shown a rather marginal increase. Aluminium products including aluminium bars, rods, and profiles, wire, foils, cans and containers, plates, sheets and strips, and structures comprise a major percentage of India’s total aluminium import which has charted a year-over-year growth as depicted in the below table: Data Courtesy: Industry Source From the above table it is evident that imports have grown marginally by 1, 79,431 mt only in absolute terms in 4 years from 2011-12 to 2015-16 but as a percentage in terms of India’s production of aluminium, it...
The U.S. is one of the largest producers of aluminium cans in the world. Aluminium can manufacturers in the U.S. are an important part of the economy. Can manufacturers and the supplier of can sheets put together, form one of the largest job providers and a revenue sources to the state and federal governments. The U.S. is also one of the leading exporters of aluminium cans around the globe. The U.S. is estimated to export 90991 tons of aluminium cans in 2016 as compared to 50711 tons of aluminium cans in 2015. This records a growth of about 80 per cent YOY. In last two years, US export of cans is increasing with capacity ramp up in the US facilities and also because of the growing demands for can globally. The estimated total cost for the export volume amounts to US$ 432 million in 2016...
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Aleris Corporation reported results for the Third Quarter and first nine months ended September 30, 2016. Though Aleris is making net loss consecutively, net loss decreased to $22 million in the Q2 2016 from $25 million in Q3 2015. Adjusted EBITDA dropped to $53 million from $68 million in Q3 2015. Though rising demand in global aerospace & automotive sector helped in squeezing the net loss, production issues and other bottlenecks stopped them from fully capitalizing on strong demand from the end-uses. Third quarter net loss and Adjusted EBITDA were attributed to a number of factors in the company press release: • A fall in overall sales volumes, below anticipation distributor volume, slow truck trailer volume, production outrage and an unfavourable mix of products sold pulled down the...
A joint venture between the UAE and Singapore plans to invest $120 million in Abu Dhabi's industrial zone to manufacture aluminium rolled products, the company said on Monday. The United Arab Emirates is investing billions of dollars in industry, tourism and infrastructure as it diversifies its economy away from oil. Emirates Aluminium Rolling (Emiroll), a joint venture between Dubal Holding, Dubai Investment Industries (a subsidiary of Dubai Investments PJSC and Madar Aluminium Rolling Singapore (MARS) said it is setting up the plant in Abu Dhabi's Khalifa Industrial Zone. The plant will produce 65,000 tonnes of aluminium coils annually for use in the oil and gas refining industries, Emiroll said in a statement, adding it will go on-stream by the third quarter of 2017. The UAE was ranked...
The globally leading manufacturer of aluminium alloy wheels for the automobile industry- CITIC Dicastal Wheel Manufacturing Co., Ltd., announced breaking of ground on its expansion project in China's Hunan province, on November 5, reported Shanghai Metals Market (SMM). The large-scale aluminium alloy wheels project to be built at a total investment of USD 5 million will produce 12 million pieces of aluminium wheels in a year, on completion. The plant will also churn out 40,000 tonnes of aluminium castings per annum, reported SMM. CITIC Dicastal Wheel Manufacturing was the first aluminium alloy wheel manufacturer in the Chinese mainland. After almost 3 decades of its inception in 1988, it has now become one of the leading manufacturers of aluminium wheels in the world. CITIC Dicastal is...
China's export of aluminium products has barely taken a backseat despite the worldwide hue and cry over aluminium makers losing their markets to the China onslaughts. Time and again various industry bodies have voiced their concern over the alleged ‘non-competitive’ trade initiatives that China is taking resort to; but that has hardly had any effect on the exports. Given the rising capacity addition in the country along with old capacity restarts, it is very obvious that the excess output will go out of the country to the international markets after meeting domestic demand. The restraint which the Chinese government and aluminium makers should have shown in dealing with the capacity rise and overflow of aluminium products, however, has not been there. China’s export of aluminium...
Arconic announced today that R&D Magazine has named Arconic Micromill an R&D 100 Award winner. The 54th annual R&D 100 Awards, known as the “Oscars of Invention”, is an international competition that recognizes the 100 most technologically significant products introduced in the marketplace over the past year. The Arconic Micromill technology is the fastest, most productive aluminium casting and rolling system in the world. It reduces the production time to create rolled coil from hot metal from 20 days to 20 minutes. The Micromill’s unique production process dramatically changes the microstructure of the metal, allowing for higher formability, greater strength and lighter weight at the same time. It produces metal that is 40 per cent more formable and 30 per cent stronger than today’s...
Constellium, a leading manufacturer of high-quality aluminium products and solutions in the world has reported results for Q3 2016 on Thursday, November 10. Overall, the company reported an adjusted EBITDA of €97 million in Q3, up 23% YOY. The Automotive Structures & Industry segment achieved an adjusted EBITDA of €25 million in Q3 2016; representing a 13% increase from the Q3 2015 as a result of continued operational improvements. Total revenue dropped by 8% to €242 million due to product mix changes which was partially offset by 4% growth in total shipments. For the first three quarters from January to September 2016, adjusted EBITDA was €81 million, up 32% from the same period of 2015, as a result of positive impact from North American automotive structures market. Shipments remained...
Constellium N.V. today reported results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2016. Highlights below are in comparison to the third quarter 2015. • Shipments of 377 thousand metric tons, in line with prior year • Revenue of €1.2 billion, down 5% on a product mix shift • Net income of €15 million compared to a net loss of €45 million in the prior year • Adjusted EBITDA of €97 million, up 23% • P&ARP Adjusted EBITDA up 49% to €60 million, AS&I up 13% to €25 million, and A&T unchanged from prior year at €20 million Third quarter 2016 Adjusted EBITDA of €97 million increased 23% over the prior period, reflecting strong operational improvements in our P&ARP segment, in particular at Muscle Shoals, solid execution in our AS&I segment and stable results in our A&T segment. Commenting on the...
Showa Denko, a major manufacturer and marketer of chemical products, has decided to integrate the aluminium forging plant of SHOTIC Singapore Pte. Ltd. (STS), located in Singapore, with the aluminium casting plant of SHOTIC Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. (STM), located in Johor, Malaysia, aiming to strengthen competitiveness of its SHOTIC business. STM will start to produce forged aluminium products in the first half of 2017. Showa Denko Group's SHOTIC(TM) continuously-cast aluminium rod has homogeneous and fine metal structure realized by the Group's proprietary continuous-casting technology and the properties of high-temperature strength, wear and corrosion resistance. By utilizing this continuously-cast aluminium rod as a material, the Showa Denko Group also manufactures forged aluminium products...
The U.S. has a big market for aluminium foils as flexible packaging is one of the most profitable industries in the nation. According to the Aluminum Association, the aluminium foil market is worth about $5 billion, and about 36% of it is supplied by imports, up from only 16% in 2007. As an interesting observation, net U.S. exports of aluminium sheets, plates, and foil displayed a generally upward trend from 2007 to 2013. However, after that, the trend started shifting resulting in a fall almost three times larger in value in last 2 years. Let’s analyse the trends in aluminium foil trades in the U.S. in last two years. The U.S. imported 240,673 tons of aluminium foil in 2016 as compared to 235,222 tons of aluminium foil in 2015. The amount of import remains flat in last two years....
