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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Stuck deals to get ‘million-dollar’ push with tweaked mining law
India will see billions of dollars moving into deals stuck in the power, cement and steel sectors, as the Cabinet on Thursday approved the amendments to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act, 1957). This will pave the way for transfer of captive mining leases not granted through auction. The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval for the amendment to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act, 1957), according to an official statement from the Ministry of Mines. The MMDR Act, which regulates mining activities in the country through the MMDR Amendment Act, 2015, restricted the scope of transferability of concessions granted through auction, and led to termination of deals — the latest ones...
Technavio announces top bauxite vendors in the Brazilian mining industry
Technavio has announced the top five leading vendors in their recent Brazilian mining industry outlook 2015-2019. Out of the top five vendors, three hail from the aluminium value chain, that is, they either have operations in bauxite mining or run integrated facilities including alumina refinery. Following are the leading bauxite vendors in the Brazilian mining industry: Alcoa Alcoa operates through its subsidiary Alcoa Alumínio in Brazil. In 1984, it collaborated with Rio Tinto Alcan and BHP Billiton to form Alumar Consortium. Alumar is headquartered in São Luis, Brazil and is active in the production of primary aluminum and alumina in Brazil. Mineração Rio do Norte Founded in 1979, Mineração Rio do Norte is headquartered in Oriximiná, Pará, Brazil. The company extracts, processes, and...
Aluminium market rises on short covering, open interest drops 11.1%
Aluminium on MCX settled up 0.75 per cent at 107.4 driven by expectations for demand recovery in Chinese aluminum market. The first half of the year will not see massive restarts of idled aluminum capacity and commissioning of new aluminum capacity in China. At its annual policy meeting over the weekend, China set a growth target of 6.5 percent as the baseline of a range through 2020, less than the 6.9 percent pace last year. Premier Li Keqiang acknowledged there would be some difficult battles ahead as he outlined plans to clean up the environment, boost innovation, further urbanize and cut excess capacity. Last week investors welcomed the move by China's central bank to reduce the amount of cash that banks must hold as reserves for the fifth time since February last year. Some big...
Aluminium-clad blocks used for University of Portsmouth's new architecture school building
The new architecture school building at the University of Portsmouth, England, is donning a suave, contemporary look, thanks to the designing expertise of architects from Penoyre & Prasad. Aluminium-clad blocks on concrete piers have been used for construction of this building around a landscaped courtyard. The building provides a new home for the School of Architecture and Interior Design, flanking a new courtyard at the heart of the institution's city-centre campus. The facility has been built as part of a masterplan to improve connectivity between various campus buildings. Glazed teaching spaces jut out above the entrance, continuing the line created by the curtain wall of an adjoining remodelled building. The openings in the northeast corner are surrounded by angled aluminium frames...
Aluminium chassis components in demand
Aluminium casting firm, Sarginsons Industries Ltd., has reported a growing demand for hollow aluminium chassis components for use in electric vehicles. The Coventry-based manufacturer reports it is increasingly being asked to develop lightweight parts for electric vehicles, from self-driving cars through to buses and recycling trucks, necessitating the need for aluminium to replace the more traditional steel. But replacing a solid steel component with a hollow aluminium one and keeping the same strength and safety of the heavier part is not without its challenges. Anthony Evans, managing director at Sarginsons, explained: “Lightweighting is increasingly important in the automotive sector, particularly in electric vehicles as it contributes vastly to increased battery range and makes...
Wide aluminium Butech Bliss Cut-To-Length line installed at Champagne Metals facility
Champagne Metals, a leading aluminium service center based in Glenpool, Oklahoma, recently commissioned their new Butech Bliss state-of-the-art 111 inch wide Cut-To-Length Line at its newly constructed Middlebury, Indiana facility. This line is one of the widest aluminium Cut-To-Length lines in North America and will satisfy the ever growing demand of aluminium material by the marine, commercial transportation, consumer electronics and appliances industries. The Cut-To-Length Line will feature entry equipment, over and under coil payoff capabilities, a hydraulic crop shear with auto-gap adjustment, side trimmer (up to 8” per side), scrap chopper, hydraulic roller cassette leveler and direct drive flying shear. The new line’s capabilities include the ability to process aluminium up to...
LME aluminium to drop to $1,531
LME aluminium is expected to drop to $1,531 per tonne, following the completion of a three-wave cycle from the Nov. 23, 2015 low of $1,432.50. Labelled c, the final wave of the cycle could be divided into five small waves. Such a division is a strong signal that the cycle has ended. The fifth wave of the wave c, the wave 5, has been developing within a narrow channel, from which, a duplicated channel suggests a target at $1,531, the 61.8 percent level Fibonacci projection level of a bigger wave C from the Jan. 12 low of $1,449 . A further bounce could be limited to $1,581, the 100 percent level.
Aluminum Association steps up on trade
The U.S. aluminium industry is working through multiple channels to address China’s production overcapacity and resulting glut in the global market. The “China Trade Task Force,” a cooperative effort between smelter Century Aluminum and the United Steelworkers, has been the face of the drive to slow imports of cheap Chinese product, which is undercutting U.S. prices. But now the Aluminum Association has broken its silence. China is “not slowing down their run-up in capacity,” Charles Johnson, the Aluminum Association’s vice president for policy, told in a recent interview. “We believe we have to get to the underlying issue.” The group is working toward the overall goal having the U.S. negotiate an agreement with Beijing to cut back production for which there is no demand. Meanwhile, the...
Russia's RUSAL to start Boguchansk aluminium smelter in H1
Russia's Rusal Plc plans to start its new Boguchansk aluminium smelter in the first half of 2016, the company said on Wednesday, after reporting a 53 percent slide in its fourth-quarter core profit. Rusal, the world's largest aluminium producer, has been hit by weak metal prices and the start of its Boguchansk smelter in Russia's Krasnoyarsk region has been repeatedly postponed. "Everything is ready from the technical point of view, and the first stage is running in a test mode," said Oleg Mukhamedshin, deputy chief executive. The smelter's first stage has a capacity of 147,000 tonnes of aluminium per year. The company will announce the start of the smelter's production as soon as it receives approval from Russian authorities, he told reporters. Rusal, controlled by Oleg Deripaska and...
Rexam showcases European wide support for craft brewers with Spanish Arriaca partnership
Embracing the global trend (which has seen a number of craft brewers move to the packaging format), the Spanish craft brewer will package its Rubia, IPA and Vikingathor expressions in Rexam’s 330ml aluminium cans, launching in March 2016. Designed by Arriaca with the support of Rexam, the minimalist yet bold aluminium can designs reflect the rebellious nature of the pioneering brand. Rexam’s value added matt over varnish gives the cans a premium finish, echoing the quality of the beer and appealing to Arriaca’s discerning target audience. Speaking about the collaboration, Jesus León, CEO Cervezas Arriaca, says, “We made this decision having recognised the benefits of the aluminium can in terms of sustainability and its capacity to conserve liquids. Rexam is well known in the industry for...
Scientists perfected first ever grain refiner master alloy for magnesium-aluminium alloys
Scientists at Brunel University London have perfected the first ever grain refiner master alloy for magnesium-aluminium alloys. A team led by Dr Hari Babu Nadendla from the Brunel Centres for Advanced Solidification Techniques found a patented niobium-based master alloy not only filled the missing gap in grain refiners for magnesium alloys but offered significant advantages over titanium in aluminium-silicon alloys. Said Dr Nadendla: “The Nb-based master ally is shown to be effective in refining aluminium-containing magnesium alloys which are typically processed using sand or high pressure die casting or direct-chill casting. Our research showed significant improvements in both tensile strength and ductility after using the niobium master alloy. “But we were also delighted to discover...
Aleris Q4 and Full-year 2015 results reflect demand growth for aerospace & automotive products
Aleris Corporation today reported results for the three months and year ended December 31, 2015. Except as otherwise indicated, all amounts reflect the divested recycling and extrusions businesses as discontinued operations. Fourth Quarter Summary • Adjusted EBITDA of $39 million, in line with the fourth quarter of 2014 • Global automotive volumes up 33 percent compared to prior year • Global aerospace volumes up 15 percent compared to prior year • Solid productivity savings in North America and Europe • Challenging metal spread environment caused by continued depressed aluminum price • Lower year-over-year North America building and construction volumes • Stronger U.S. dollar positively impacted Europe profitability • Positive Adjusted EBITDA generated by Asia Pacific Full Year Summary •...
Qatalum aluminium smelter acknowledged for using best baffle-less baking furnace
On the 14-18 February 2016, at the TMS annual meeting and exhibition, where aluminium smelters and mining companies display their latest improvements and achievements, the Qatalum Anode Baking furnace was rated as the AP technology benchmarks, which means the best in the world for baking homogeneity and refractory status. Qatalum is one the few smelters in the world that uses baffle-less flue walls in its bake furnaces, an RTA (Aluminium Pechiney) technology, aimed to improve upon the traditional baffle flue walls used in most bake furnaces around the world. The excellence reflects Qatalum’s mission of creating a future of opportunities by setting the standard in operational excellence, therefore contributing towards Qatalum’s vision to be world class Aluminium Company. Carbon management...
Altech Chemicals announces kaolin mining rights agreement terminated
Altech Chemicals Limited announced that it has terminated the agreement with Dana Shipping and Trading S.A. to grant Dana the exclusive right to mine up to 10Mt of kaolin from the company's Meckering kaolin deposit. Under the terms of the kaolin mineral rights agreement, if the First Condition had not been satisfied by the First End Date, being 28 January 2016, then either party may terminate the Mining Rights Deed by notice to the other. As the First Condition has not yet been satisfied, Altech has elected to terminate the Mining Rights Deed and to continue to be focussed on finalising the detailed design and securing funding for the construction of its High Purity Alumina (HPA) project.
Niyamgiri bauxite mining logjam continues
Peeved over the Odisha government’s fresh bid to go for bauxite mining in Niyamgiri hills despite rejection by the Gram Sabhas, the Niyamgiri Suraksha Sangram Samiti has threatened to launch a big stir. Tribals of Niyamgiri on Tuesday sought the intervention of Governor SC Jamir to stop the State Government from trying to convene gram sabha meetings again for bauxite mining in the hills, an area sacred for Dongoria Kondhs and other scheduled tribes. Niyamgiri Suraksha Sangram Samiti and Lokshakti Abhijan, fighting for the rights of Dongoria Kondhs, submitted a memorandum to the Governor seeking his intervention in the matter as the chairman of Tribes Advisory Council (TAC). The State government had last month petitioned the Supreme Court for holding a fresh Gram Sabha in the Niyamgiri...
China's bauxite hunger still not that big
China imported 5.3 million tonnes of bauxite in January 2016, up 104.91 per cent from a year ago, but down 25.4 per cent from prior month, revealed data released by the China Customs. Clearly, the country’s appetite for bauxite, the principal ore of aluminium, is still not that big. Following production cuts in domestic alumina market, the demand for bauxite has fallen and will take some time to rebound, SMM observes. The falling prices of alumina in the world market has also led to the decline of demand for bauxite in China. Besides, Malaysia’s three-month ban on bauxite mining, which has been effective January 15, 2016, also contributed to the drop, an analyst added. China imported 2.16 million tonnes of bauxite from Malaysia, still China’s top supplier.
Pennar Aluminium approves appointment of Additional Directors
Mr. Andi Rajender has been appointed as an Non-Executive Director (Additional Director) of Pennar Aluminium Company Ltd with effect from February 20, 2016. The Board has approved the same by passing a Board Resolution. Shares of PENNAR ALUMINIUM CO.LTD. was last trading in BSE at INR 0.37 as compared to the previous close of INR 0.38. The total number of shares traded during the day was 33800 in over 13 trades. The stock hit an intraday high of INR 0.39 and intraday low of 0.37. The net turnover during the day was INR 12546.
US military contractor develops improved laser using aluminium composite crystal
A United States defense contractor has developed a laser amplifier using Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (YAG) nanopowder. The new amplifier allows for rapid target engagement, low cost, and a high quantity of rounds. nGimat, Co., a contractor to the Air Force Research Laboratory, developed the technology on a small scale with financial assistance from the United States Army. However, when another defense contractor expressed interest in a scaled-up version of the technology, nGimat lacked the capital to meet such a demand. When the Army was unable to fund the project, the Air Force, via its Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR), stepped in and provided a US$750,000 grant to make the project happen. “The Department of Defense has worked hard to improve...
