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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Indian aluminium product manufacturers post mixed results for quarter ended Dec '15
Hind Aluminium posted a net profit while ESS SEE Aluminium and Manaksia Aluminium reported a loss for the quarter ended December 2015. Hind Aluminium Industries has reported a standalone total income from operations of INR 145.67 crore and a net profit of INR 2.52 crore for the quarter ended December 2015. Other income for the quarter was INR 1.11 crore. For the quarter ended December 2014 the standalone total income from operations was INR 105.21 crore and net profit was INR 0.80 crore, and other income INR 2.45 crore. Hind Aluminium shares closed at 77.90 on February 15, 2016 (BSE) and has given -6.48% returns over the last 6 months and 60.29 per cent over the last 12 months. ESS DEE Aluminium has reported a consolidated total income from operations of INR 106.62 crore and a net loss of...
Aluminium market rises on short covering, open interest drops 6.57%
Aluminium settled up 0.54 per cent at 103.15 as support seen from ShFE aluminium which climbed 1.5 percent rallied on Tuesday on hopes that China would unleash fresh easing measures to kickstart its economy after January trade was dragged down by faltering growth in global markets. Support also seen after the Asian shares consolidated to gains as the Chinese currency and shares show signs of stability, oil prices rebound, and solid U.S. consumption data suggest last week's sell-off was overdone. Overnight trading was light with U.S. markets closed for the President’s Day holiday. Metals has been well-supported in recent weeks amid indications global economic and financial headwinds could make it tough for the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates as much as it would like this year....
LME aluminium may retrace to $1,515
LME aluminium may retrace to a support at $1,515 per tonne, as it failed to break a trendline resistance around $1,540. The trendline is a part of a triangle, which suggests that aluminium may retrace towards the lower trendline support around $1,490. Wave pattern indicates the metal is riding on a wave C, which has only briefly extended above a resistance at $1,530, its 61.8 percent Fibonacci projection level. Even if this wave is capable of travelling to $1,581, the 100 percent projection level, it may be disrupted by a correction to the 50 percent level at $1,515. A break above $1,540 could lead to a gain to $1,549, the 76.4 percent level.
Rexam supports Swedish craft brewer with first canned beer range
Southside Brewing Company has produced its first ever canned Western pacific IPA, boosting the company’s sustainability credentials. The 330ml aluminium cans, manufactured at Rexam’s Malmö plant, are available in select regions and retail channels throughout Sweden. Tommy Eriksson, owner of Southside Brewing Company, said: “I’ve been working in the craft beer industry for over 26 years and seeing the first line of our canned IPA has been monumental. Sustainability is important to the Southside Brewing Company and it made sense to use aluminium, enabling us to recycle, reduce waste and do our bit to lower our carbon footprint. We hope the change will encourage other Swedish craft brewers to do the same and we would definitely recommend Rexam to help them do so.” Arjen van Zurk, marketing...
CIT reprimands DOC for scope ruling in Chinese aluminium-curtainwall battle
The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) will have to revisit its decision to extend anti-dumping and countervailing duty orders on some curtainwall units imported from China. Last week, Judge Donald C. Pogue of the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) reprimanded the DOC for its March 2014 scope ruling that determined Yuanda’s unitized curtainwall units fall under orders on aluminium extrusions from China. Yuanda, Jango Curtain Wall Americas, Permasteelisa and their affiliates challenged the decision in the CIT, arguing that the scope ruling “is not in accordance with law, unsupported by substantial evidence, and arbitrary and capricious,” according to court documents. The United States, named as the defendant, opposed the motion, as did Architectural Glass & Aluminum Co., Walters & Wolf...
Rockman Industries targets INR 5,000 crore turnover by 2020
Rockman Industries, a Hero Group company, and one of the largest suppliers of aluminium die casting, two-wheeler alloy wheels and chain in India, has targeted a turnover of INR 5,000 crore by 2020. According to company officials, revenue grew by 20 percent YoY during FY 2014-15 when its turnover stood around INR 1,850 crore. For the ongoing financial year, the company expects to cross the INR 2,300 crore turnover mark, thereby growing by 24 percent. Talking to Autocar Professional on the sidelines of the 2016 Auto Expo – Components Show, Prashant K Gupta, AVP – sales and marketing, Rockman Industries, said: “Our 2020 target is to achieve a turnover of INR 5,000 crore, and this could be realised via organic and inorganic growth.” “Close to 80 percent of our operations cater to the...
IBAAS 2016 to unfold “Aluminium Industry- The Evolving Asia-Pacific Story”
The International Bauxite, Alumina & Aluminium Society has announced that the fifth IBAAS International symposium (IBAAS-2016) will be held in Goa, India during September 26 - 28, 2016. The theme of the IBAAS-2016 symposium is “Aluminium Industry- The Evolving Asia-Pacific Story”. The first day of the Symposium is entirely devoted to Energy Reduction in Aluminium Smelting Industry and is organized jointly with the Indian Institute of Metals. The symposium organizing committee is formulating a world class program focusing on key topics and issues in the bauxite, alumina, non-metallurgical applications of bauxite and its derivatives, aluminium and aluminium downstream industry and secondary sectors. Objectives of the Symposium: • Develop a Road Map for Aluminium Smelters in India • Provide...
Nabaltec AG to form a wholly-owned subsidiary in Tokyo
Nabaltec AG, the leading German supplier of functional grade aluminium oxide and aluminium hydroxide for numerous innovative applications, will be further expanding its operations in Asia in the first quarter of 2016 with the formation of a wholly-owned subsidiary based in Tokyo, Japan. Nabaltec Asia Pacific K.K. is to be engaged in marketing and sales for Nabaltec AG's entire product portfolio, working closely with regional sales partners. This will give Japanese customers a direct contact person on-site while at the same time advancing the company's business in the Asian market through this new presence. Johannes Heckmann, Member of the Board of Nabaltec AG stated as follows: "We have been operating in the Asian market for almost two decades, we have been working closely and...
I cannot stop all imports, says Nirmala Sitharaman; Indian aluminium producers get the message
Even as the clamour against increasing imports from countries like China has been growing louder, commerce and industry minister Nirmala Sitharaman said last week that the onus was on the industry to deal with rising imports of several essential items. “I cannot stop all imports... but India’s manufacturing companies have to capture this market and identify how they can link themselves to the global value chain,” she said at the Make in India event in Mumbai last week. Sitharaman’s remarks came shortly after K.M. Birla, chairman of the Aditya Birla Group, took strong objection to dumping by China. “It’s creating an unlevel playing field. It’s like asking someone to play cricket with one hand,” said Birla. Birla’s firm Hindalco Industries Ltd, India’s second largest aluminium producer, has...
JVM Castings appoints Group Sales Manager to steer growth in new markets
JVM Castings has announced the appointment of Bob Freeman as the new Group Sales Manager. Bob, who brings with him 32 years of experience in the castings and automotive industries, will help JVM meet and exceed its growth targets over the next few years. In recent years, Bob has served important Sales & Purchase Management roles at King Automotive Systems Ltd and Sarginsons Industries Plc. His background in aluminium castings for the automotive, construction and civil engineering sectors made him a natural choice for JVM Castings. As Group Sales Manager at JVM, Bob will be responsible for enhancing the development of the company throughout its existing customer base, ensuring current clients receive the maximum value and support as well as seeking opportunities across new markets. Bob...
Biosca new business area president for Sapa Building Systems
Karsten Lundgaard is leaving his role as president of Sapa's aluminium building systems business area to seek new opportunities outside the Sapa group. He had been responsible for the operations since July 2014. As of Monday, February 15, Salvador Biosca will assume the role as business area president in Sapa Building Systems (SBS). Biosca has extensive international experience within the industry and Sapa, from several line positions in both aluminium extrusion and tubing. In 2013, he became president of Sapa's Precision Tubing business area. "SBS has been through a tremendous turnaround over the past two years, and the performance in safety, productivity and profitability has been considerably improved. I'm a strong believer in the further potential and future of SBS, and I am very...
Guinea general strike will not affect bauxite production, miners assure
A general strike in Guinea that began on Monday, February 15, will not curb production of bauxite, the country's top producer Guinea Bauxite Company (CBG) said on Tuesday. The miners, however, have announced their support for a nationwide protest against lowering of wages and high fuel prices. Guinea holds nearly a third of the world's reserves of bauxite, a metal used to make aluminium, and currently produces around 18 million tonnes a year. Workers at CBG, Africa's biggest bauxite mining company, received a notice from their union asking them to show solidarity for the nationwide strike demanding wage hike and lowering of fuel prices. "The CBG and Guinea Gold Corporation (AngloGold Ashanti ) joined the movement," Mamady Mansaré, general secretary of the National Confederation of Workers...
Declining aluminium prices hit Hydro's earnings, production soars in Brazil
Norwegian aluminium giant Norsk Hydro has announced fourth quarter results of 2015. The underlying earnings before financial items and tax declined to NOK 1,566 million in the fourth quarter, down from NOK 2,215 million in the third quarter of 2015. The decline mainly reflected lower aluminium and alumina prices and a continued decline in realized premiums, partly offset by positive currency effects. Underlying EBIT: For the full year 2015, Hydro’s underlying EBIT climbed to NOK 9,656 million from NOK 5,692 million in 2014, lifted by positive currency effects and supported by successful industry-leading improvement programs across Hydro. "The decision to build the Karmøy technology pilot marks an important milestone for aluminium, and our ambition to be the industry leader on technology...
Orbite ships additional 5N and 5N+ Alpha high purity alumina samples
Orbite Technologies Inc. announces it has shipped five additional high purity alumina samples to prospective customers. Four of the five prospective customers have received, for the first time, 5N (99.999%) samples as per their required specifications, while the fifth received a 5N+ (greater than 99.999%) sample. This customer is currently also assessing Orbite's HPA in gamma crystalline form. The samples shipped continue to show the same consistent product quality as previously shipped samples, confirming the stability of and the control Orbite has over its process. To date, Orbite has shipped a total of 22 samples to 16 prospective customers including 3 repeat orders. Additionally, Orbite has successfully commissioned its milling equipment at the Cap-Chat facility and will be shipping...
Drinks can makers Ball, Rexam launch US$3b asset sale ahead of merger
Drinks can manufacturers Ball Corp and Rexam Plc have begun the process of selling assets, potentially worth more than US$3 billion, to meet antitrust regulations ahead of their planned merger, several people familiar with the matter said. Both companies are expected to meet with representatives of buyout groups Blackstone , Apollo , CVC, Onex and Madison Dearborn, as well as with peers Silgan and Ardagh, before final bids are due in mid-March, the sources said. US-based Ball's planned £4.4-billion (US$6.4 billion) takeover of Britain's Rexam will merge the world's two largest beverage can makers by volume - which supply Coca-Cola Co and Anheuser-Busch InBev - and should improve efficiency and cut costs. However, the deal triggered concerns in the European Commission that it would drive...
Alcom on track to profitability after three years of losses
Aluminium Co of Malaysia Bhd (Alcom) is on track to return to the black for the financial year ending March 31, 2016 after three years of losses. The aluminium sheet and foil producer told Bursa Malaysia that it made a net profit of RM3.11mil in the third quarter ended December 31, 2015 compared with a loss of RM1.65mil a year earlier. “The improved revenue per metric tonne, especially for the export sales, and a tight rein on direct costs were the main contributory factors for this improved result,” the company said. The better third-quarter performance led the Klang-based company to swing to a net profit of RM2.14mil for the nine-month financial period ended December 31, 2015, from a loss of RM3.93mil in the previous corresponding period. Revenue for the financial year to-date grew 3.9%...
Work stoppages announced at Rio Tinto Alcan
Rio Tinto has finally announced work stoppages at the smelter to be effective next week. This will bring aluminium exports to a stand-still, as workers try to gain leverage for wage increases. Vísir reports that the stoppages are to begin on February 24, and will continue indefinitely. The workers involved 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. As reported, workers at the 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...
Rusal sees global aluminium surplus reversing into deficit in 2016
Rusal expects global aluminium market to swing into deficit in 2016 from 2015’s surplus, according to its recently released 2015 annual report. The global aluminium giant sees global aluminium market in 1.2 million tonne deficit in 2016, reversing from 600,000 tonne surplus in 2015. Rusal sold more aluminium than it produced in 2015. Its report showed its aluminium sales were 3.64 million tonnes in 2015, which not only beat its aluminium production (3.6 million tonnes), but also rose 3.2% from 2014. Rusal expects global aluminium demand to grow 5.7% to 59.5 million tonnes in 2016, citing strong demand in North America, Europe and Asia.
