A should-cost analysis of an aluminium tower furnace in India: Comparing the economics of LPG, PNG, and electric energy sources
In precision non-ferrous casting and high-volume die-casting operations, thermal energy conversion represents one of the largest controllable operating expenses. In modern aluminium foundries, where margins are squeezed by primary metal price fluctuations and stringent customer cost breakdowns, even a modest INR 1–2/kg variance in liquid metal melting cost can translate into tens of lakhs of rupees in annual cost differences. A rigorous, transparent should-cost benchmark is therefore essential for procurement teams, foundry managers and strategic sourcing leaders. This analysis examines a baseline should-cost model for a 1,000 kg/hour aluminium shaft or tower furnace in an industrial foundry. It compares liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), piped natural gas (PNG) and electric energy across...
Germany’s construction aluminium demand falls 12%, but 2027 recovery and recycling offer fresh growth prospects
Germany’s construction industry has endured several years of contraction, weighed down by elevated financing costs, expensive building materials and subdued residential investment. The downturn has also affected the country’s aluminium industry, with estimated construction-related aluminium consumption declining by around 12 per cent between 2022 and 2025. However, the outlook is beginning to change. With Germany’s construction industry projected to return to growth in 2026 and accelerate further in 2027, opportunities are emerging for aluminium suppliers across residential construction, transport infrastructure, energy networks and commercial developments. At the same time, efforts to strengthen closed-loop aluminium recycling in buildings could provide an additional avenue for growth....
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China reports fall in exports of unwrought aluminium and aluminium semis in April
Customs data showed China exported 400,000 mt of unwrought aluminium and aluminium semis in April, down 20,000 mt MoM and 7 per cent YoY. YTD exports through April totaled 1.48 million mt, down 10.0 per cent YoY. Rising SHFE/LME aluminium price ratio cut export profit, leading to declines in export volumes. But the decline was limited, due to two reasons. First, some exporters were still willing to take export orders so as to maintain customer relationship. Second, yuan’s exchange rate against the US dollar still brought profit for exporters.
Sapa and Norsk Hydro agree to new supply contract
Hydro Aluminium Rolled Products GmbH, a fully-owned subsidiary of Norwegian aluminium company Norsk Hydro ASA, announced yesterday that it has come to an open-ended agreement with Norwegian extruded aluminium provider Sapa AS. The new agreement, which is for Norsk Hydro to provide extrusion ingot to Sapa, is to begin next year. The new agreement between Norsk Hydro and Sapa is for Europe only, and replaces an existing agreement. The agreement currently in place was begun as the Sapa joint venture was wound up in 2013 and runs to the end of this year. According to Norsk Hydro, the agreement is to supply extrusion ingot to Sapa at the prevailing market price, and at a volume of between 250,000 and 300,000 metric tons per year, which may be adjusted by the parties on a yearly basis. “Hydro’s...
SHFE 1607 aluminium rises on pre-holiday downstream stocking
On Tuesday’s night trading, SHFE 1608 aluminium jumped to RMB 11,745/mt after opening at RMB 11,640/mt. But prices then fell back to RMB 11,590/mt and ended at RMB 11,710/mt. On Wednesday, SHFE 1608 aluminium opened at RMB 11,710/mt. Pre-holiday downstream stocking triggered short covering on SHFE aluminium market, allowing the most active contract to rise to RMB 11,895/mt before ending at RMB 11,870/mt. Trading volumes were down 57,292 lots to 241,000 lots, and positions were down 23,206 to 242,000. SHFE 1608 aluminium is expected to move widely after the holiday.
Former LME CEO Abbott in talks to build new metals trading platform
According to reports, several global base metals brokers are engaged in discussions with the former CEO of London Metal Exchange on the subject of starting a new trading platform as an alternative to the LME. Several “high-profile LME Category One” traders are believed to be in support of the initiative, which is likely to be spearheaded by former LME CEO Martin Abbott. “There have been lots of conversations, some of them I have been in, some I haven’t, but we have created a study group and now invite people to see if indeed there is sufficient appetite,” explained Abbott. According to the report, higher trading costs at the LME is the main catalyst driving the push for a new trading platform. Several members have gone on record in recent weeks and months stating that higher costs have...
June aluminium price forecast: China smelting capacity firing back up?
As aluminium prices have whittled away their May gains by the beginning of June, news from a Goldman Sachs report indicates Chinese aluminium output is about to get ramped up again. Bloomberg recently reported that “with most producers in the world’s largest supplier [China] posting solid margins,output growth will accelerate to 4 per cent year-on-year in the second half after contracting 1.7 per cent in the first four months,” according to a Goldman report released Monday. As capacity fires back up, “the bank sees prices dropping to $1,450 a metric ton in three months, $1,400 in six months and to $1,350 in a year, reiterating previous forecasts.” SMM spot aluminium price gained 200 yuan/tonne week-on-week to 12,574 yuan/tonne in the week ending June 3. This expanded profit at smelters in...
Alba participates in Harbor’s 9th Aluminium Outlook Summit
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba), the Bahrain-based international aluminium smelter, strengthened its business relations and networking opportunities with the global aluminium industry by participating in Harbor’s 9th Aluminium Summit, taking place from June 7 to 9, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Alba’s Chief Executive Officer, Tim Murray delivered a keynote address on ‘Alba’s Line 6 Expansion Story’ at the Summit on June 8, 2016, during which he spoke about Alba’s plans to sustain its business through its upcoming sixth potline which will make Alba the largest single-site smelter in the world. Murray said: “Alba, through its Line 6 Expansion Project, is confident of building an enduring and successful future for the Kingdom of Bahrain and its economy. While we look forward to producing...
Hydro and WWF: Cooperating on climate
Norwegian aluminium producer Hydro and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) have entered into a one-year cooperation agreement. The goal is to develop innovative solutions that can help cut emissions related to climate change. Inger Sethov, Head of Communication & Public Affair’s in Hydro and Nina Jensen, WWF-Norway’s secretary general. Both Hydro and WWF are working to helping Norway meet is climate targets for 2030. Now Norway’s largest industrial concern and the Nowegian chapter of the world’s largest environmental organization are joining to find good solutions for a renewable society. The one-year agreement says the two shall “stimulate to identify and develop new business opportunities toward a low-carbon society.” “This is a cooperation I am looking forward to! The point is that we...
Yunnan discovers large bauxite deposit
A large bauxite deposit was found in Ludian County, Yunnan Province, the China Geological Survey (CGS) reported. The deposit is estimated to have 20.1 million tonnes of reserves, the CGS added.
US-China meeting deepens financial ties but fails to find solution to global aluminium surplus
China has, for the first time, included the United States in a government scheme allowing American banks to clear renminbi-denominated transactions - in one of the few positive outcomes of the two sides' high-level dialogue that failed to narrow their differences over certain other issues like the South China Sea disputes that are of high strategic significance. China will grant the United States a 250 billion yuan (S$52 billion) quota under its Renminbi Qualified Foreign Institutional Investment (RQFII), significantly expanding the programme that stood at 501.77 billion yuan last month. The move makes the US the second-largest quota holder, behind Hong Kong with 270 billion yuan. The other countries involved in the scheme include Singapore, which joined the programme in 2013 and got its...
Scrap metal recycler MetalX adds aluminium executive
MetalX LLC, Waterloo, Indiana, has announced that auto and aluminium industry veteran Kevin Moore has joined the company, effective immediately. As a senior marketing executive, Moore will be focused on managing aluminium trading activities for scrap and refined products, hedging and risk management, scrap agency and industrial management programs and corporate strategic planning. Moore also will continue to provide a full range of consulting services to companies in the metals and mining sector, as his All Raw Material Consulting business will also become a part of the MetalX portfolio of services, according to the firm. Moore’s background includes having spent 30 years at General Motors (GM). His career was originally focused on aluminium casting operations and procurement and at GM...
China alumina imports tumble 71.5% MoM in April
According to China Customs, China imported 102,600 mt of alumina in April, down 71.5 per cent MoM. The share of Australian alumina to China’s total imports surged from 42.6 per cent in March to 95.1 per cent in April. Imports from India, Vietnam and Brazil all fell to less than 1,000 mt, with their share to China’s total imports at less than 1per cent. SMM attributes the dramatic fall in China’s alumina imports to two factors. First, China’s alumina supply grew due to production resumptions at alumina producers. Second, trading of imported alumina at domestic ports was poor as imported alumina enjoyed no price advantage over domestic alumina. SMM learned that the Port of Lianyungang reported no arrivals of bauxite in April and saw just two ships of bauxite arrived as of May 24.
New aluminium murals installed at the Legion, Canada
Royal Canadian Legion Branch 269 has new murals up on the building. Legion president Bill Cavanagh said about four years ago they realized that something had to be done about the old murals as they were falling apart. He added that when the Legion approached an artist, they realized restoration wasn’t possible with the material that was there so it had to be replicated. “The original mural is 16 years old and we are looking to hopefully get it down to the museum, at least the portion [of the mural] with the people on it. It can’t be restored. It can be kept as original artwork,” he said. The new murals are made of aluminium instead of plywood and hence have a longer lifespan. “Murals on aluminium panels instead of plywood so they can’t corrode or rot,” said Cavannah. The old murals will...
Hull manufacturer Eltherington on target with former Seven Seas site development
A hull manufacturer is on target with its multi-million-pound investment in a new factory site in east Hull, United Kingdom. Eltherington, which supplies architectural aluminium and fabrication services to the construction, modular and leisure home sectors, is due to complete the latest phase of its development of the former Seven Seas site in Hedon Road next month. The next phase will see two glazing factories move into a new 9,000sqm factory in August and the company will then move its leisure cladding operation into the same building. By the end of the year, Eltherington's leisure business will be managed and produced from the new Hedon Road site.
Global HVDC capacitor market to grow at 15% to reach $4.36 bln by 2020
Global HVDC capacitor market is forecasted to grow at 15.19 per cent CAGR and reach $4.36 billion by 2020. The rising demand for electricity has placed huge pressure on the current power generation infrastructure. Besides power generation, transmission loss is also one of the key concerns because enormous transmission losses are being incurred by the existing AC transmission. Hence, HVDC transmission has become an interesting substitute across the globe due to its asynchronous interconnection, low transmission losses, and the capability to deliver bulk power for long distance transmissions. The declining technology cost and growing government incentives is aiding the implementation of the HVDC technology. HVDC capacitors have many applications in commercial, energy and power, industrial,...
Rising demand for lightweight vehicles to drive automotive aluminium pistons market growth
The global market for lightweight aluminium pistons is growing owing to the rising sales of automobiles. A recently published market research observes, the stakeholders of the global automobile industry are focusing on the lightweight vehicles for better fuel efficiency in turn increasing the market demand for the lightweight aluminium pistons market. Abundant availability of raw material and mass production facilities for lightweight aluminium pistons are also driving the market demand for the global lightweight aluminium piston market, the report suggests. Automotive pistons are metal piece, tubular in shape which provides mechanical energy by moving up and down in engine cylinder which is necessary to drive shaft and in turn the vehicle wheels. A piston should have low weight,...
Rexam supports Hobsons with move to aluminium beverage cans
Rexam, a leading global can maker, has partnered with British craft beer brand, Hobsons, to launch ‘The Hat Collection’, the brand’s first ever range of canned beers. Traditionally a cask and bottled brewer, Hobsons is moving to aluminium beverage cans with a range that includes The Skimmer (Straw Boater), an easy, light and fruity Pale Ale, The Explorer (Pith Helmet), a bold, amber and tropical IPA and The Stove Pipe (Top Hat), a smooth, dark and malty Stout. The new range, inspired by the symbolic coke hat, showcases the Hobsons logo with each beer named and designed around a different hat’s personality. Translated onto can by Rexam’s experts, the bold, bright designs reflect the different flavour profiles of the beers and are finished with a matt over varnish, giving a premium look and...
Aluminium die casting machinery market to grow at CAGR 7% during 2016-2020
The global aluminium die casting machinery market is slated to grow at a CAGR of 7 per cent during the period 2016-2020, indicates data released in a recently published market research report. The aluminium die casting machinery is used to produce cast aluminium parts for applications in various end-user sectors, namely automotive, aerospace and defense, marine, telecommunications, and others, such as electronic appliances and renewable energy sectors. Aluminium cast parts offer several benefits over other types of nonferrous metals: • The use of aluminium for die cast makes it possible to attain complex designs and forms • Production rate is higher and faster than other nonferrous alloys and metals • Aluminium castings possess the strength of steel cast parts but are lighter in weight...
Sapa invests in new site in southern France
Sapa is consolidating its position in the aluminium extrusion sector in France by investing in new value-adding services in Le Garric, extending the company's ability to meet the growing needs of customers. Sapa opened its new 2,400 square-meter machining workshop at the Le Garric site, north of Albi, on May 20. The workshop provides additional production capacity to expand its machining capabilities and enhance its product line. The capacity will allow Sapa to offer more complex parts to current and future customers, says Gilles Le Bouquin, managing director of Sapa Extrusion France. “This new workshop will enable us to meet the growing needs of our customers. Our key skills lie in providing aluminium solutions and state-of-the-art machining,” says Le Bouquin. Sapa's new fabrication...
