AL Circle Analysis: US scrap imports hit 580kt as China slips 3.2%, who drives aluminium recycling?
Aluminium scrap is no longer a side story in the metal’s market. Rather, aluminium’s next standoff is over scrap. As US imports surge 37 per cent while China’s purchases decline, manufacturers in Europe and India are confronting a common challenge of securing affordable, reliable raw materials. With recycling rates, trade barriers and low-carbon production reshaping market, the global industry faces a critical question: who will control the metal that powers its circular future? Join the fourth edition of the webinar "Hedging for recyclers - Become an expert in 6 hours" by Jorge Dyszel. A 1.1-billion-tonne stockpile: US stocks up, China steps back, India asks for access The US imported 580,000 tonnes of aluminium scrap worth USD 2.07 billion in H1 2026 , with Canada accounting for 63.62...
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...
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Rio Tinto's Q1 2016 bauxite production rises 6% YoY
Rio Tinto released robust first quarter production results for FY2016. Despite weakness in global commodity prices, the mining and metals giant reported year-over-year increase in production of bauxite, the prime ore for aluminium production. Bauxite production of 11.1 million tonnes during the first quarter of 2016 was a six per cent increase on the first quarter of 2015 and was in line with the previous quarter. Strong performance in ramping up the Gove mine increased production by 30 per cent to 2.2 million tonnes and record production at Sangaredi(CBG), at 1.9 million tonnes, was 16 per cent higher compared with the first quarter of 2015. Third party shipments of 6.8 million tonnes were six per cent higher than the first quarter of 2015.
Japan aluminium stocks fall 5.5% in March
Aluminium stocks at three major Japanese ports stood at 345,600 tonnes at the end of March, down 5.5 per cent from a month earlier, trading house Marubeni Corp said on Friday, April 15. Marubeni collects data from the ports of Yokohama, Nagoya and Osaka.
USTR signs trade agreement with China on ending aluminium export subsidies
The People’s Republic of China has agreed to end export subsidies that have helped to drown the aluminium market (among others) in an oversupply of the metal. United States Trade Representative Michael Froman made the announcement regarding an agreement ending the subsidies in question last week Wednesday. “Today we have signed an agreement with China to eliminate export subsidies that the United States challenged because they are prohibited under WTO rules,” said U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman. “This is a win for Americans employed in seven diverse sectors that run the gamut from agriculture to textiles to medical products, who will benefit from a more level playing field on which to compete. This agreement once again underscores that President Obama’s commitment to enforce our...
Vedanta kicks off ramp up of second aluminium smelter at Jharsuguda
Diversified metals and mining major Vedanta Resources has initiated the ramp up of its second aluminium smelter at Jharsuguda. Vedanta aims to commission two potlines of the smelter to reach a capacity of 0.6 million tonne per annum (mtpa) by the end of this financial year. The second smelter with a rated capacity of 1.25 mtpa is located within the product specific SEZ (Special Economic Zone) developed by Vedanta close to the site of its standalone smelter. "The second smelter at Jharsuguda has been lying idle for three years mainly due to want of power. Now that we have got a favourable order from the state power regulator to use two units (600 Mw each) from our own power plant (of 2400 Mw capacity), we are in a position to expand capacity of this smelter. We have also decided to raise...
LME aluminium to take hit from falling crude oil
Base metals are expected to fall today, dragged down by crude oil prices. No agreement was reached at the Doha meeting on crude oil freeze plan. The next meeting on oil issue will be held in June. Crude oil prices plunged 6 per cent after opening during Asian trading hours, and are expected to fall initially before rising this week, weigh down base metals. This will weigh ME aluminium down to USD 1,530-1,550/mt on Monday. SHFE 1606 aluminium is expected to drop to RMB 11,840-11,950/mt. In China’s spot aluminium market, spot discounts of RMB 0-30/mt and spot premiums of RMB 0-10/mt are expected over SHFE 1605 aluminium contract.
Ma’aden announces interim financial results for quarter ended on March 31
Saudi Arabia Mining Company (Ma'aden) announced Sunday the interim financial results for the quarter ended on March 31 (three months). Financial highlights of the quarter vs same quarter last year Revenue declined by 17 per cent due to lower commodity prices for all products and decrease in aluminium sales volume. The average realized prices DAP and ammonia declined by approximately 30 per cent, whereas aluminium prices (including premium) declined by around 25 per cent compared to the same quarter of last year. The impact of profitability from the decline of revenues was partly offset by 16 per cent reduction in cost of sales through lower raw material costs and the effects of the company's ongoing initiative to reduce operating costs. This initiative led to a reduction in exploration...
Ikea readies to launch its first flat-pack aluminium bicycle
Swedish furniture giant Ikea is all set to take on the transport market by launching a self-assembly aluminium bicycle. In grand Ikea tradition, the new product will receive a guttural Scandinavian moniker – the Sladda, Swedish for "to skid" or "to slip sideways". Made in partnership with Veryday, a design studio whose clients range from Swedish supercar maker Koenigsegg to Scandi-stroller firm BabyBjörn, the new unisex bicycle will be available in one colour, two sizes, and have a host of customisable add-ons and extras. The aluminium bicycle is being billed as a lightweight, low-maintenance bike perfect for urban living. "Sladda is like a tablet with apps," says Oskar Juhlin, Director of Industrial Design at Veryday, "in the sense that you can customise it with several different...
Gravita India starts aluminium recycling at Jaipur plant
Shares of Gravita India rose 4.3 per cent intraday Monday as it has started commercial production of aluminium alloys. The company has made an entry into aluminium recycling at its new recycling plant at Phagi, Jaipur with an initial capacity of 6000 MTPA of aluminium alloy production. The company will be manufacturing aluminium automobile alloy by recycling aluminium scrap. "This entry into aluminium recycling will not only help in reducing India's carbon foot prints but will also enhance the recycling DNA of the group," company said in release. At 09:51 hrs Gravita India was quoting at INR 24.65, up INR 0.45, or 1.86 per cent on the BSE.
UK aluminium packaging recycling rate underestimated by 10,000 TPA
A study commissioned by the Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation (Alupro) into the UK’s ‘real’ recycling rate for aluminium packaging in 2015 has revealed that over 10,000 tonnes of material went unreported. According to official figures the UK’s recycling rate for all aluminium packaging hit 55 per cent in 2015, up from 48 per cent. However, Alupro added that the estimated recycling rate for aluminium drinks cans has reached 69 per cent, up from 60 per cent, but the figures could be even higher, according to a study commissioned by Alupro. It also noted that according to packaging waste recovery data recently released by the Environment Agency the “business” recycling rate for all aluminium packaging exceeded its 2015 target (49 per cent), reaching 76,027 tonnes. The research...
Alba appoints Bechtel as EPCM contractor for Line 6 Expansion Project
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba), the Bahrain-based leading international aluminium smelter, is pleased to announce International Bechtel Co. Ltd. (Bechtel) as the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction Management (EPCM) contractor for its landmark Line 6 Expansion Project. Under the terms of the contract, Bechtel will be responsible to design and construct the sixth potline as well as support industrial services. Alba will be the world’s largest single-site aluminium smelter upon completion of the Line 6 Expansion Project, which will boost its production by 540,000 metric tonnes per annum (mtpa) bringing Alba’s total production capacity to 1,500,000 mtpa. Line 6 will have 424 pots that will use the proprietary EGA DX+ Ultra technology thus significantly increasing operating...
ARENA backs plan to use solar energy for alumina refining
A project that could lead to the use of solar thermal technology by Australia’s large industrial sector – and cut its reliance on fossil fuels in half – has been selected by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency in its latest round of funding. Led by the University of Adelaide, the project will work with Australian aluminium giant Alcoa to evaluate the potential for using concentrating solar thermal technologies to generate the industrial process heat used in its alumina refineries in Australia and beyond. The $15 million project – which ARENA chief Ivor Frischknecht has described as “essential” – was awarded a $4.5 million from the Agency, making it “the biggest project in the round by far.” “This is about turning bauxite into alumina. It uses a huge amount of heat,” Frischknecht said...
Noranda gets go-ahead for ending its bauxite supply contract with Sherwin Alumina
An American bankruptcy court judge has given the go-ahead for Noranda Bauxite Limited (NBL) to pull out of its lossmaking, long-term contract to supply Jamaican-mined ore to Sherwin Alumina Company for its refinery at Gramercy on the US Gulf Coast, saying that maintaining the deal would make it difficult for Noranda to reorganise its business and emerge from bankruptcy. "NBL has met its burden of proving that the rejection of the Sherwin contract is an exercise of sound business judgement, showing that it is in the best interest of the estate," Judge Barry S. Shermer of the US Bankruptcy Court of the Eastern Distinct of Missouri, said in his ruling issued a week ago. "Overall, the evidence shows that rejection of the Sherwin agreement is necessary if NBL is to effectuate a restructuring....
$40m bauxite mine at Weipa shows promise for 250 jobs next year
A new $40 million bauxite mine is on track to start production next year with jobs for up to 250 people over the life of the project. Bauxite Hills, north of Weipa on Western Cape York, has a Direct Shipping Ore resource of 65.3 million tonnes, worth about $3 billion at today’s prices, and a mine life in excess of 13 years. Metro Mining chief executive Simon Finnis said the Environment Impact Statement had been submitted to the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection, another key milestone. He said it appeared the company was on track to begin mining by September 2017. “Metro believes final determination of the EIS may be achieved later this year, enabling site construction to start straight after the wet season, and mining operations to commence in September next year,” Mr...
JNARDDC with NALCO develops high strength ceramic balls from bauxite ore and flyash
The Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development and Design Centre (JNARDDC) has developed a unique product; very high strength ceramic balls or granules made from one of the waste components (partially lateritized khondalite or PLK) of bauxite ore and flyash. The centre is in the process of developing these balls using another waste found in the ore saprolite. These small balls (measuring just 0.5mm to 1.5mm) are technically called proppants and used by oil and gas industry in exploration for oil. The balls developed by JNNARDC cost just INR 2,000 per tonne, as compared to the as yet imported variety costing INR 20,000 per tonne. JNARDDC has already patented the technology. The imported ceramic balls have an unusual strength of 10-12,000 pounds square inch (psi) and are used by the...
Aluminum Extruders Council to develop industry-wide EPD
The Aluminum Extruders Council (AEC) announced that it has launched a program to develop a set of industry-sanctioned Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) that will document the environmental performance of aluminium extrusions produced in the U.S. and Canada. An EPD is an independently verified document that communicates information about the lifecycle environmental impact of the subject product(s). Created and verified in accordance with International Standard ISO 14025, EPD’s include information on the impact of raw material acquisition, energy use, emissions, waste generation, etc. In North America, EPDs are increasingly being requested, both to meet the requirements of the upcoming v4 of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Program and to meet...
Aluminium architectural solution manufacturer announces product expansion
AB Glass, one the UK’s leading architectural aluminium manufactures and installers, has launched a new range of bespoke, aluminium folding doors for homes, which are all made from sustainable materials. Smart Bi-folds by AB Glass will feature high specification aluminium lifestyle designer products including: aluminium bi-folding doors, sliding doors, entrance doors, roof lights and windows. This type of door has grown in popularity in recent years as more architects and homeowners opt for designs that offer a more seamless transition between indoor and outdoor spaces. Alan Brayley, managing director of AB Glass, said: “Aluminium is the alpha material for modern day living and products are highly resistant to corrosion with a life span measured in decades rather than years. The natural...
Sapa Profiles provides design consultation and fabrication for DawesGuard safety system
Dawes Highway Safety Ltd recently turned to Sapa Profiles UK for support with the design, extrusion and fabrication of profiles for its DawesGuard DropDown Technology safety system. Sapa Profiles provided initial design consultation and aided Dawes with fabrication processes including machining and anodising, as well as quality control for the extrusions. James Dawes, founder and managing director, Dawes, said: “I was impressed by the service we received from Sapa from the start." “Our products were delivered ahead of schedule and have passed quality control with flying colours. As a company we are satisfied that our tooling investment is in safe hands and we have gained an invaluable ‘production partner’ for our component supply chain.” DawesGuard DropDown Technology is a fully...
Bell Bay Aluminium prepares to cut more power use as Tasmanian energy crisis drags on
Tasmania's biggest electricity user, Bell Bay Aluminium, is preparing for more power rationing, if the state's energy crisis worsens. Bell Bay Aluminium has already cut production by 10 per cent for five months to save electricity as the state grapples with record low Hydro Tasmania dams and the extended outage of Basslink's undersea power cable to Victoria. A Labor and Greens dominated Senate committee examining the energy crisis is holding its first hearings in Hobart. Bell Bay's general manager Ray Mostogl told the inquiry the company was preparing for further power rationing at its smelter if the crisis drags on. "We've made contingency plans on site to work out if we have to shed more load how would we do it," he said. "They're more longer type decisions, so we've been busy doing...
