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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Volvo Cars gives new face to V40 with aluminium interiors
Volvo Cars gives its bestselling V40 and V40 Cross Country the new face of Volvo for Model Year 2017 with trim updates across the range. V40 will feature upscale aluminium interiors along with other critical components made from the lightweight metal. Central to the model year exterior updates are new grille meshes featuring the updated and more visually striking Volvo Iron Mark. The update also equips the V40 with the new ‘Thor’s Hammer’ headlights, resulting in a confident new look shared with Volvo’s new 90 Series cars. “The V40 is the best-selling Volvo model in Europe and the second-most popular Volvo model globally, making it a very important car for the company. With the updates for model year 2017 we make this already very successful model even more attractive to customers in the...
Hospitality and food packaging industry boom driving demand for aluminium foil
Food packaging industry is booming because of the requirement of food-on-the-go. The global packaging industry is expected to grow to $820 billion by 2016. The Indian packaging industry, growing at roughly15% annually, is estimated to become the fourth-largest in the world, with revenues of $43.7 billion in 2016, says a recent market research report. In a competitive world, packaging design and construction play a significant role in increasing revenues for hospitality industry, mostly out of ready-to-eat food and beverages segments. The changing pattern of consumption of food and beverages has been creating fresh demand for traditionally used packaging materials such as glass, aluminium, silver foils, tins, paper, paper boards and plastic. A wider variety of these materials is used in...
Linamar-GF Automotive selects Henderson County location for their new casting plant
Linamar and GF Automotive, a division of Georg Fischer, have zeroed in on Henderson County, North Carolina as the location for GF Linamar's new jointly-owned aluminium die casting plant to provide integrated light metal casting and machining solutions. Linamar and GF Automotive had jointly announced last summer that they were looking for a spot in the southeastern United States for a “high pressure, light metal die-casting plant.’’ The July news release did not specify a location, but said the companies hoped to begin operating the facility in 2017. Now that they have finalised the location, the construction work at the site will begin soon. Linamar chief operating officer Jim Jarrell said in an earlier release, the Canadian corporation would also acquire the existing Pure Power...
The Aluminum Association seeks Commission investigation into industry global competitiveness
The House Committee on Ways & Means has requested a formal investigation by the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) into the global competitiveness of the U.S. aluminum industry. The request initiates an inquiry by the U.S. government into the competitive conditions of the aluminum industry domestically and in major producing and exporting countries, such as China. The request was made in a letter from Ways & Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) to USITC Chairman Meredith Broadbent. The investigation will examine factors impacting the U.S. aluminum industry, such as excess capacity and trade practices that undercut the ability of U.S. producers to compete fairly in the global market. “An investigation by the USITC will help us address ongoing issues in the global aluminum...
India aluminium scrap prices remain stable; Norsk Hydro forecasts weaken aluminium futures
India major aluminium scrap commodities prices remained stable on Tuesday, February 23, while aluminium futures prices at Multi Commodity Exchange weakened after Norsk Hydro cuts aluminium demand growth forecasts. The major aluminium scrap commodities stayed stable on Scrap Register Price Index as on Tuesday. India's major scrap commodities like aluminium accessories scrap, aluminium cable scrap, aluminium ingots, aluminium rod company, aluminium rod local, aluminium scrap 6063, aluminium scrap taint/tabor, aluminium sheet cutting, aluminium utensil scrap, aluminium wire scrap showed a flat trend during the day. The most active February aluminium contract on Multi Commodity Exchange settled lower by 1.8 per cent to INR 107 per kilogram on Tuesday from previous close of INR 108.90 per...
South32 says to maintain lower aluminium output in S. Africa
Australian miner South32 said it plans to run its South African aluminium division at current reduced rates until at least mid-2016, as it wrestles with a sector-wide downturn. In September, South32 suspended the operation of 22 smelting pots, or electrolytic cells, equivalent to 3 percent of the unit's total aluminium-making capacity, in response to a deterioration in markets for the metal. The pots would remain offline for at least the remainder of fiscal 2016, ending June 30, the company said at a briefing after the release of its half-year results. "Any decision will be determined by where prices go," said Mike Fraser, S32's chief operating officer for the Africa region. The production loss is expected to amount to 18,000 tonnes of aluminium by the end of June. South32 produced...
Downward pressure on Indian aluminium prices to continue: CRISIL
Non-ferrous metal prices plummeted in 2015 due to global slowdown and massive overcapacity, especially in China. Tailing these global trends, aluminium prices in India are estimated to decline by 15-17 per cent in the current fiscal. Consequently, the operating margin of aluminium sector is expected to tumble by 1,000-1,200 basis points (bps). In the wake of deteriorating profitability and rising imports, the government imposed a minimum import price (MIP) on 173 steel products on February 5, 2016, for six months. This levy comes as a breather for the ailing industry, as it is expected to curb imports and also marginally improve pricing flexibility of producers in the short term. No MIP/similar measures have been announced to help the Indian aluminium industry. Hence, it is expected...
Aluminium export from Rio Tinto Alcan smelter comes to a halt
Aluminium offloading at the Rio Tinto Alcan aluminium smelter has finally come to a halt after workers went on strike at midnight last night. Rio management is hoping to do the jobs of the employees, but who may work where is being disputed. The workers involved in the strike all belong to the trade union Hlíf, who oversee the export division of Rio Tinto Alcan in Iceland. With the start of these stoppages, no aluminium produced at the smelter will be offloaded, distributed, or shipped out to other countries, effectively rendering any aluminium production superfluous. Workers at the aluminium smelter have been in negotiations with management since at least 2014, where they have been fighting for wage increases. It was forecast that the smelter would be shut down altogether last December,...
Meridian offers $150 mln in bonds as key Tiwai Point aluminium smelter decision looms
Meridian Energy is considering a retail offer of up to $150 million of unsecured, unsubordinated fixed rate bonds to institutional and retail investors in early March, which is shaping as a crucial month for decisions on the future of its largest customer, the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter. No funds are being sought for the bond offer yet and ANZ has been appointed as lead manager, co-managed by First NZ Capital and Forsyth Barr, but Meridian chief executive Mark Binns urged institutional analysts at a briefing to take up the offer, which was "better than putting money in the bank" at current low interest rates. Binns told the briefing that a key event for both Meridian and New Zealand Aluminium Smelters, the Rio Tinto-controlled operator of the Tiwai Point smelter, would be next month's...
Writedowns and restructuring costs weigh on Alumina
Alumina reported an annual loss in 2015 linked to restructuring costs and asset writedowns. The Australian-listed company said it recorded a net loss of $US332.6 million for last year, versus a loss of $US370.1m a year earlier. Alumina reported $US169.9m in so-called significant items, which included expenses related to a recent restructuring of its operations and an impairment charge against a smelter in southeast Australia. The company's key asset is a 40 per cent stake in the Alcoa World Alumina and Chemicals venture with Alcoa Inc, the world’s largest alumina producer. The venture has shuttered operations and overhauled others amid a downturn in world commodity prices. Alumina swung to an underlying profit of $US88.3m from an underlying loss of $US98.3m a year earlier, “reflecting in...
LME aluminium to test support at $1,563
LME aluminium is expected to test a support at $1,563 per tonne, a break below which could cause a loss to the next support at $1,549. These supports are identified respectively as the 86.4 per cent and the 76.4 percent Fibonacci projection levels of an upward wave C, the third wave of a three-wave cycle from the January 7 low of $1,451.50. This wave has stopped around a key resistance at $1,581, the 100 per cent level. Chances are it may have completed. Only a rise above $1,581 could signal its extension towards $1,600, the 114.6 per cent level.
Chinese aluminium scrap prices rise on Index
The Chinese aluminium scrap prices increased marginally on the Scrap Monster Price Index on February 19th, Friday. 6063 Extrusions witnessed a rise of CNY 50 per MT over the previous day. Aluminium radiators and transformers prices increased by CNY 50 per MT each. E.C aluminium wire prices jumped higher by CNY 50 per MT to touch CNY 10,900 per MT. Old Cast prices too appreciated by CNY 50 per MT. The prices of aluminium radiators and Old Sheet saw marginal rise of CNY 50 per MT each. UBC and Zorba 90% INF prices too increased by CNY 50 per MT each over the previous day.
Rolls-Royce tests all-new aluminium architecture, will discontinue current Phantom models
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars announced that the current seventh generation of Phantom will enter the last stages of its celebrated life. Calling it the time to take the next step in the luxury journey, the carmaker will not renew the Phantom Coupé and Drophead Coupé models in the future. A special collection of only 50 cars called Phantom Zenith will roll out to commemorate the iconic Phantom line-up. Over 13 years ago, on 1 January 2003, the production of the seventh generation of Phantom started in Goodwood. Thereafter, the resurgence of the new Rolls-Royce cars was underpinned by the production of the Phantom. From 2005, new variants of Phantom VII were added. The very last Phantom Coupé and Drophead Coupé will be built at Goodwood in November this year. These models will not be replaced. To...
Trainee welders in Oman are learning a trade with KEMPER technology
The first 50 welding apprentices, who will be deployed to handle high-quality occupational safety equipment, have successfully completed their training at the new Welding Centre of Excellence in Oman's capital, Muscat, which is equipped with technology by KEMPER GmbH. The manufacturer of extraction and filter systems for the metal-processing industry has supplied all of the centre's occupational safety equipment, which includes welding cabins made from noise-absorbing cassettes and protective plating for each welding station, as well as a smooth-running cantilever extraction arm to capture harmful substances. A total of 100 welding cabins are connected to four central KEMPER System 9000 extraction systems, which reliably filter even ultra-fine nanoparticles from the air. "The fact that...
Orbite strengthens Board of Directors
Orbite Technologies Inc. has announced the appointment of Pierre Gignac as an independent member to the company's Board of Directors. Prior to his retirement in 2015, Mr. Gignac spent 17 years at Export Development Canada ("EDC") in a variety of senior roles, including Interim Chief Executive Officer. EDC, a Crown corporation, is Canada's export credit agency, providing financing and insurance solutions locally and around the world to help Canadian companies of any size respond to international business opportunities. Before joining EDC, Mr. Gignac worked in several senior positions at Metropolitan Life, one of the world's largest insurance and financial services companies, lastly as Vice-President and Actuary, responsible for the Actuarial/Financial Management Department, the Life and...
Environmental group calls for Pahang bauxite moratorium extension
An environmental group has casted doubts on whether Pahang authorities would meet the terms of the ongoing bauxite moratorium to tackle pollution caused by rampant mining in the state for over a year. National Treasures Protection Society (Peka) Pahang chapter president Khaidir Ahmad said the government should consider extending the moratorium for another three months, following the failure of Kuantan port authorities to meet the phase one dateline, which ended on February 15. The moratorium began on January 15. The first month of the moratorium should see all stockpiles cleared from the port, which had been the main cause of sea pollution, where the waters off Kuantan turned red. "The first phase of moratorium is to clear all the stockpiles at the port area, but they have only cleared...
Indian aluminium industry smarts from inverted duty structure
The inverted duty structure in the aluminium sector has compounded the woes of the domestic industry, which is reeling under the impact of increased import of the metal from China and West Asia. As a result of this structure, manufacturers face a price disadvantage in the domestic market vis-à-vis imports, as they pay a higher price for raw material in terms of duty, while finished products land at lower duty. “Import duty on some raw materials used for aluminium production is either equal to or more than the duty on primary metal. This has put domestic producers at a disadvantage," says Satish Pai, deputy managing director, Hindalco. Currently, basic Customs duty is five per cent, whereas duty on some critical raw materials and alumina is equal to or above five per cent. The Aluminium...
MSP John Finnie meets owners of Rio's Fort William aluminium plant amid fears for its future
Highlands and Islands MSP John Finnie has held talks with the owners of the Rio Tinto Alcan aluminium smelter at Fort William, amid fears for its future. The Canada-based metals and mining giant is undertaking a review of its assets, including the smelter, which employs about 150 people, a hydroelectric power station at Kinlochleven and 116,000 acres of mountain terrain in Lochaber. Senior management from the firm’s Montreal headquarters visited the Scottish Parliament for talks with the independent MSP and others. Finnie said: “I was impressed by the open nature of our meeting which mirrored an earlier conversation with the local manager, Brian King. Like every listed company, Rio Tinto has an obligation to its shareholders. However, I impressed on them the very significant social...
