AL Circle Analysis: Aluminium’s recycling economics, trade walls and carbon rules converge
The story of the aluminium industry is starting a chapter wherein scrap availability, recycling technology, trade policy, carbon costs and demand growth are becoming increasingly interconnected. From the US and Canada to Europe, India, New Zealand and China, recent developments show that the global aluminium supply chain is being reshaped on several fronts at once. These developments point to a changing aluminium business model: access to metal alone may no longer be enough. Quality of recycled feedstock, domestic processing capacity, carbon intensity, trade exposure and the ability to meet increasingly specific customer requirements could become equally important competitive factors. Join the fourth edition of the webinar “Hedging for recyclers - Become an expert in 6 hours” by Jorge...
Europe holds 10% of global aluminium extrusion demand, supported by Germany’s Constellium, France’s Hydro Extrusions & Italy’s Metra
Across Europe, aluminium extrusion has become closely woven into some of the region’s biggest industrial and construction markets. From automotive and transport to buildings and industrial applications, extruded profiles are finding demand across a wide range of sectors. This is reflected in Europe’s position in the global market: the region accounted for 12 per cent of global aluminium extrusion capacity, making it the second-largest regional contributor after China. At the same time, Europe represented 10 per cent of global aluminium extrusion usage, out of total global usage of 35.35 million tonnes . With production capacity and usage shares relatively close, Europe’s extrusion capacity and consumption are broadly at par. If we break down Europe’s 10 per cent share of global aluminium...
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JPMorgan reduces aluminium stockpile at LME
JPMorgan Chase has quietly reduced its multibillion-dollar stockpile of aluminium as the London Metal Exchange moves to introduce new rules on the reporting of outsized positions. Until last week, one party - identified as JPMorgan by traders, brokers and warehouse owners - was holding more than half of the 2.8 million tonnes of aluminium in the LME system. The size of that position has now fallen to between 30 and 40 per cent as of March 23, according to exchange data. The bank’s holding, which at its height could have covered 40 years of Coca-Cola’s UK drinks can demand, has been the source of much disquiet in London’s tight-knit metal market. The position, which is not against LME rules, has been blamed by some brokers for pushing up the price of near-term contracts, even though the...
India Aluminium futures weaken on global cues
Aluminium prices were down 0.10 per cent to INR 101.95 per kg in futures trade as investors reduced exposure amid weak global cues. Besides, sluggish demand in the domestic spot markets weighed on the metal's prices. At the Multi Commodity Exchange, aluminium for delivery in April eased 0.10 per cent to INR 100.95 per kg in a business turnover of seven lots. Similarly, the metal for delivery this month traded lower by 0.05 per cent, to INR 99.20 per kg in 113 lots. Marketmen said the weakness in aluminium in futures trade was mostly in step with a weak trend at London Metal Exchange ( LME) due to a steady dollar and lackluster demand in China, the world's biggest user.
Aluminium rebounds as China premier offers reassurance on economy
Aluminium rebounded from the lowest level in two months as China’s Premier Li Keqiang said that the world’s second-largest economy saw positive signs of change this year, bolstering the outlook for demand. The lightweight metal rose as much as 0.4 per cent to $1,486 a metric ton on the London Metal Exchange and traded at $1,485.50 at 11:41 a.m. in Shanghai after closing at $1,479.50 on Wednesday, the lowest since January 25. Aluminium had dropped for the past few days as a strengthening dollar hurt demand. Speaking in a keynote speech at the Boao forum in Hainan, southern China, Li said China was confident of maintaining more than 6.5 per cent growth rate over the next five years. The job market was steady in the first two months and the quality of economic growth is improving, he said....
Automakers switch to cheaper aluminium to reap weight and cost benefits
The automotive sector being driven largely by innovation is steadily moving away from copper toward lightweight aluminium to help the industry cut vehicle weight. This has become imperative since they need to meet stricter emission standards. Having already switched to aluminium radiators from copper, it had been cautious of expanding the use to wiring, partly because aluminium is more susceptible to corrosion. But Japan's Furukawa Automotive Systems, a unit of Furukawa Electric Co, has developed new corrosion-proof terminals for aluminium wires in a harness, the backbone of a car's electrical system, a spokesman said. Furukawa has been supplying aluminium wire harness systems to Honda's light vehicles and Toyota's luxury vehicles. "We expect aluminium wire harnesses for use in vehicles...
Constellium to supply advanced aerospace aluminium solutions to Airbus
Constellium N.V. announced today that it has signed a contract with Airbus to support all of their leading aircraft programs. The agreement – currently under Airbus Group Corporate approval - further solidifies Constellium’s longstanding partnership with Airbus and confirms its position as a leading partner for aerospace aluminium products and solutions. Under the new agreement, Constellium will supply Airbus with a broad range of advanced aluminium rolled products for airframes including wing skin panels, aero-sheets for fuselage panels, as well as rectangular and pre-machined plates for structural components. Constellium and Airbus will deepen their cooperation in logistic and recycling solutions to reduce inventories along the supply chain and support the ramp up of key Airbus programs...
Global aluminium extrusion market to exceed 22 mln mt by 2019
According to a latest market research study, the global aluminium extrusion market is expected to exceed 22 million metric tonnes by 2019, growing at a CAGR of almost 7 per cent during the forecast period. According to Chandrakumar Badala Jaganathan, a noted analyst for metals and minerals industry, “The demand for aluminium extrusions from the building and construction industry is resulting in the rapid growth of the market. Aluminium extrusions are gaining popularity among builders as they help them to attain green status for their buildings.” The global aluminium extrusion market can be segmented into three broad categories on the basis of the product type: • Global mill-finished aluminium market • Global anodized aluminium market • Global powder-coated aluminium market Global...
Best welding solution: KEMPER's CleanAirTower wins at STOM trade fair in Poland
Excellent KEMPER technology- CleanAirTower has been awarded as the best product in the field of welding at the STOM trade fair, Poland's most important platform for metal finishers. The general ventilation system was singled out by the independent panel of experts in particular due to its innovative function. The trade fair highlighted to the company that a further development in the Polish market was worthwhile. The mobile extraction and filtering devices were the focus of the trade fair visitors in particular. KEMPER is preparing to be become more active in Poland. “We are already synonymous on the Polish market for high-quality extraction and filter technology for the metal-processing industry," says Poitr Kruk, who became Head of MEE Sales at KEMPER last year. The STOM trade fair in...
China Zhongwang announces proposed spin-off of industrial aluminium extrusion business
China Zhongwang Holdings Limited, the world's leading processed aluminium product developer and manufacturer, announced details of the proposed spin-off of the Group's industrial aluminium extrusion business. The Group, through an indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary, entered into an asset purchase agreement with CRED Holding Co. Limited, a Shanghai A-share listed company, for the purchase of the entire equity interests in Liaoning Zhongwang Group Co., Ltd. which focuses on the industrial aluminium extrusion business. The consideration will be settled in the form of share issue by CRED Holding to China Zhongwang, and through injecting its extrusion business into CRED Holding, China Zhongwang will achieve a spin-off listing on the A-share market. The initial valuation of Liaoning Zhongwang...
Alcoa shares squeezed like aluminium can under china pressure
China's persistent metals glut has lately been putting pressure on shares of Alcoa (AA), as dismal forecasts Wednesday contributed to the New York-based aluminium manufacturer's decline in share price of more than 5 per cent. "China's campaign to cut industrial overcapacity could be derailed by mounting debts," Deutsche Bank analyst Jorge Beristain said in a Wednesday report. For Huaibei Mining alone, one of China's largest coal-producing mining corporations, "debt in steel, coal, cement, and non-ferrous metal sectors totals 10 trillion Chinese yuan (about $1.6 trillion)," Beristain said in the report. "Although the Chinese government is providing more than 100 billion Chinese yuan ($15 billion) aid to handle layoffs in steel/coal industries, the funds will be made available only after...
Aluminium Bahrain launches Project Titan Phase II
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba), the Bahrain-based leading international aluminium producer, announced the launch of Phase II of its company-wide, cost reduction programme Project Titan with the aim to reduce cash cost by US$ 100 per metric tonne of aluminium and step-up its production capacity to 1,000,000 metric tonnes per annum by end of 2017. Project Titan Phase II, focused on optimizing operational costs and boosting the Company’s production, is an integral part of Alba’s strategy for value creation and reflects the current and expected market conditions in the aluminium industry. Explaining further, Alba’s Chief Executive Officer Tim Murray said: “Given the tough market conditions, we believe that we can do more than necessary and push ourselves in order to maintain our position as...
Metro Mining increases offer for Gulf Alumina Limited
Metro Mining has increased the offer for Gulf Alumina Limited. In December 2015, Metro announced an all scrip merger offer of 3.3 shares in Metro for every 1 share of Gulf. On 8 March 2016 the Original Offer was declared to be free of all conditions. Metro said that as a result of acceptances of the Original Offer by a number of Gulf shareholders, Metro is currently entitled to over 22 per cent of the fully paid ordinary shares in Gulf. Metro has now outlined an improved offer for all of the ordinary shares in Gulf of 3.5 Metro Shares for every 1 Gulf Share, subject to: (i) Metro having a relevant interest in more than 50 per cent of all Gulf shares by or before the end of the offer period which, unless extended, will end at 7.00pm on 15 April 2016; and (ii) there being no change to...
Resumption of bauxite mining contingent on compliance: Malaysia Natural Resource Minister
Malaysia’s Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Datuk Dr. Haji Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar addressed reporters yesterday on the subject of the ongoing bauxite moratorium and cleanup, and new rules that are expected to take effect when mining is again allowed in the area. Wan Junaidi said that the drafting of such regulations is at the final stages, and would be ready once mining resumes. “During the moratorium, the ministry had engaged the related parties to review regulations, procedures and guidelines of activities to mine and export bauxite for improvement,” he explained. “It encompassed numerous aspects including management at the bauxite extraction points, transportation, harbor stockpile management and bauxite export permit issuance.” He went on to explain that mining would...
China’s bauxite imports surged 52.4% YoY during Jan-Feb 2016
China, the largest aluminium consuming country in the world, imported 8,524,531 mt of bauxite during January to February, marking a whopping 52.4 per cent increase from the corresponding period previous year. In February alone, the country imported 3,221,722 mt of bauxite, an increase of 7.11 per cent year-on-year, as per data released by the General Administration of Customs, China, on March 21. Australia ranked first among the countries supplying bauxite to China. Australia shipped 1,057,321 mt of the aluminium ore in February and 2,255,857 mt during January - February. However, the figures indicated decline in exports during both the periods under review year-on-year. Shipment of bauxite from Malaysia to China, on the other hand, grew 45 per cent year-on-year in February and 208 per...
Chrysler turns to aluminium to make minivans lighter, safer
In the ongoing race to make vehicles more fuel efficient while making them safer as well, one automaker addressed the issue by increasing the use of aluminium in the manufacturing of their offering, making it the lightest vehicle in its class in the process. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ new 2017 Chrysler Pacifica will hit the showroom floors later this year with a curb weight of 4,315 lbs. This represents a 250-lb. weight reduction over the model’s replacement, the Town & Country, and makes it the lightest minivan on the road at the present time. “What we decided to do was support the structure where it needed to be reinforced and take away weight everywhere we knew could,” explained Jessica LaFond, chief engineer of minivans for FCA. “And then went after just every ounce.” The process...
Strong aircraft demand to fuel consumption of aluminium alloys
The aerospace industry growth trajectory reflects a strong aircraft demand in the foreseeable future. This will drive demand for aluminium alloys over the long term. The worldwide commercial passenger and cargo aircraft fleet, as well as the annual number of passengers, are forecast to double over the next two decades. According to Deloitte, over the next 20 years, passenger and freight traffic are expected to grow at an average annual growth rate of 4.6 per cent and 4.4 per cent respectively, contributing to increases in aircraft production. The need for improvements in fuel burning, lower maintenance costs, and reduced noise and emissions alongside will drive aircraft manufacturers to optimise design solutions for a new generation of aircraft. Airbus Group and Boeing had a combined...
German aluminium semis producers upbeat for 2016
Despite a slight decline in production in 2015, the German aluminium semis industry is looking forward to 2016 with optimism. 'Although we recorded growth in the automotive sector, other markets like the building and construction industry remained flat,' explained Bernd Schafer, chairman of the Semi-Finished Products Trade Association of Gesamtverband der Aluminiumindustrie (GDA), speaking at the association's General Meeting mid-March in Düsseldorf. 'Our outlook for 2016 is positive,' he added. 'Good demand in particular from European markets will boost production at our rolling mills and extrusion plants continually. The most important markets like automotive, building and construction industry and packaging are showing stable growth, demand is decreasing and our capacity utilisation is...
Aleris International announces launch of senior secured notes offering
Aleris International, Inc., the direct wholly owned subsidiary of Aleris Corporation, yesterday announced that it intends to commence a private offering of $450 million aggregate principal amount of senior secured notes due 2021 (the "Notes"). The Notes will be guaranteed by Aleris and certain of the company's subsidiaries. The Notes will be secured by a first-priority lien on substantially all of our and the guarantors' U.S. real property, equipment, intellectual property and stock of the issuer and the guarantors and other subsidiaries, but subject to permitted liens and excluding (i) inventory, accounts receivable, deposit accounts and related assets, which assets secure the company's $600.0 million asset backed revolving credit facility on a first-priority basis, and (ii) the assets...
Odisha clears INR 47,569 cr investments; to include power and downstream aluminium projects
In a bid to re-position itself as an investor friendly state, Odisha approved investment proposals worth INR 47,569.41 crore. The nod was given to 35 proposals spanning a cross section of industries including power, aluminium, food processing, healthcare, and logistics. The projects approved promise an employment potential of 11,738. Bahrain based Midal Cables got the nod of the State Level Single Window Clearance Authority (SLSWCA) for setting up a rod and wire conductor unit at a cost of INR 350 crore. The downstream unit is coming up at the aluminium park at Angul, jointly developed by National Aluminium Company (Nalco) and state owned Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco). In the power sector, the state government okayed the plan by Mahandai Aban Power...
