China's 22.87 Mt extrusion market faces a structural shift as 317 GW solar growth counters weak construction demand
The global aluminium extrusion landscape is undergoing a structural transition driven by industrial decarbonisation, global electrification, and the rapid deployment of clean energy infrastructure. Historically anchored by civil engineering and residential real estate, demand for extruded aluminium profiles in China, the world’s dominant manufacturing hub, is decoupling from traditional property sectors. Persistent structural weakness in China’s domestic construction market has slowed the consumption of conventional architectural profiles such as window frames, door sections, and curtain walls. Conversely, advanced industrial applications, specifically solar photovoltaic (PV) racking, battery energy storage systems (BESS), power grid modernisation, and electric vehicles (EVs), have...
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...
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Alcoa celebrates one billionth milestone in bauxite mining
Alcoa’s workforce is celebrating an historic milestone after achieving one billion tonnes of bauxite mined, following 53 years of operation in Western Australia. President Alcoa Mining Garret Dixon saluted the hard work and tireless efforts of past and present employees who have worked across its mining operations at Jarrahdale, Huntly and Willowdale. “We’re very proud of this achievement and also our decades-long, internationally recognised land rehabilitation program - one of the most critical parts of the mining process which sees jarrah forest ecosystems restored,” said Mr Dixon. Mr Dixon said Alcoa had built a world-class integrated mining, refining and smelting system in Australia with a strong sustainability record. “In Australia, our bauxite is used to produce alumina to supply...
Aluminum Extruders Council reacts to DOC's delay in Zhongwang Case
The Aluminum Extruders Council (AEC) is disappointed that the Department of Commerce (DOC) has decided to delay its decision on the Scope Clarification/Circumvention filing against Chinese aluminium extruder Zhongwang Group. The AEC called for several governments, including the U.S., to investigate a variety of charges leveled against Zhongwang and its U.S. affiliates in the Dupre Report that surfaced last July. “While the DOC postpones its decision, the U.S. aluminium extrusion industry is watching its trade orders, which it fought hard to win, being evaded by a renewed flood of unfairly traded aluminium for which there is no buyer,” said AEC Director of Operations and Fair Trade Committee director Jeff Henderson. According to the evidence provided in the AEC submission to the Department...
Aluminium MMI: Alcoa stock plunges to a 7-year low
Although other base metals made new lows in January, aluminium prices held steady. The aluminium MMI fell only one point to 71. What didn’t fare well in January was Alcoa‘s stock price, which fell sharply to its lowest level since March 2009. Lower aluminium prices where the main cause driving the company’s shares down over the past months. In addition, the recent turmoil in stock markets is not helping matters. A combination of both made Alcoa’s stock price to plunge in January. Midwest Premiums Rising domestic premiums help Alcoa to improve its margins. Since September, premiums in US rose from the lows of $0.06 per lb., mainly because of the production cutbacks announced by domestic producers in Q4 2015. However, we haven’t seen falling stockpiles and we’ll probably not see a major...
Honor’s £189 aluminium 5x phablet debuts in the UK
Honor’s 5x phablet is poised to make debut in the UK market. The gadget comes with an updated Qualcomm Snapdragon 616 processor, compared with the 615 found on other versions. It is still made from aluminium material which it claims will not warm up even for those using it for hard core gaming. Honor even tried using a chainsaw on the phone to prove its strength, sending sparks across the stage at the launch event in Munich. Key features of Honor’s aluminium 5x phablet include enhanced fingerprint recognition security, featured on the back of the device – comparable to the Huawei Mate S launched at IFA way back in September. In addition to security, the finger print recognition function can be used to access and to select “your favourite” apps. Other features include dual sim...
Southern Aluminum Finishing Co. selected as Atlanta Metro Export Challenge semi-finalist
Southern Aluminum Finishing Co. received a $5,000 grant and is a semi-finalist in the inaugural Atlanta Metro Export Challenge, a grant competition powered by Chase which boosts support for small and medium-sized businesses looking to begin exporting or to increase their export programs. Thirty-five companies from metro Atlanta were selected as semi-finalists and will each receive a reimbursement grant of up to $5,000 to apply toward expenses related to building export capacity and activities. SAF won the grant based on several criteria. Chiefly, SAF is one of five continuous coil anodizers in North America. Additionally, SAF scored points because of its pro-active international efforts to expand its distribution of anodized aluminum sheet, aluminum extrusions, and fabricated painted and...
LME aluminium to extend gains
The US plans to levy petroleum tax, boding well for crude oil prices. The US dollar index took a hit following dovish speech by US Fed official. Risk aversion will prevail on the last trading day before the holiday. LME aluminium is expected to rise to USD 1,520-1,560/mt today. SHFE 1604 aluminium should range RMB 10,750-10,900/mt. In China’s spot aluminium market, spot discounts of RMB 80-50/mt are expected over SHFE 1602 contract.
MCX aluminium up by 0.4% on strong demand
Aluminium prices edged up 0.44% to INR 103.35 per kg in the futures trading today as participants enlarged positions, supported by strong demand in the spot markets and base metals strengthened overseas. Aluminium for delivery in current month inched up 45 paise, or 0.44%, to INR 103.35 per kg in a business turnover of 141 lots in futures trade at the Multi Commodity Exchange. Likewise, the metal for delivery in March was trading higher 45 paise, or 0.43%, to INR 104.10 per kg in one lot. Marketmen said besides increased domestic demand, strength in base metals pack at the London Metal Exchange as China's central bank sought to support the property market with steps that may spur investment in the country and demand from the construction industry, helped aluminium futures to rise.
SNC-Lavalin awarded engineering contract by Emirates Global Aluminium
SNC-Lavalin has been awarded an engineering services contract by Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) to provide operations support services to EGA’s two aluminium smelters in the United Arab Emirates - namely Emirates Aluminium (EMAL) and Dubai Aluminium (DUBAL). SNC-Lavalin will provide engineering packages and manpower services to DUBAL and engineering and project management services to EMAL Engineering to ensure optimal delivery of a portfolio of projects and operations support. The mandate covers a period of three years, ending in July 2018. The stock is up 4.22% or $1.65 after the news, hitting $40.76 per share. About 233,403 shares traded hands. SNC-Lavalin Group Inc has declined 8.32% since June 29, 2015 and is downtrending. It has underperformed by 1.02% the S&P500. SNC-Lavalin Group...
Hindalco Industries Ltd hits 52-week low
The stock of Hindalco Industries Ltd hit a new 52-week low and has INR 63.37 target or 5.00 per cent below today’s INR 66.70 share price. The 9 months bearish chart indicates high risk for the INR 143.28 billion company. The 1-year low was reported on February 4. If the INR 63.37 price target is reached, the company will be worth INR 7.16 billion less. The 52-week low event is an important milestone for every stock because it shows very negative momentum and is time when sellers come in. During such technical setups, fundamental investors usually stay away and are careful buying the stock. The stock decreased 2.70 per cent or INR 1.85 on February 3, hitting INR 66.7. Hindalco Industries Ltd has declined 36.02 per cent since July 7, 2015 and is downtrending. It has underperformed by 28.51...
PPG launches innovative internal powder liner for aluminium aerosol cans
PPG Industries' packaging coatings business has announced that it will feature HOBA™ PURAIR™ coating, an innovative Bisphenol A non-intent (BPA-NI, or with no BPA intentionally added) powder liner for the internal protection of aluminium aerosol cans, during the Aerosol and Dispensing Forum in Paris, February 3-4. The product from PPG’s brand HOBA Purair contains no solvent. It helps canmakers meet environmental and sustainable technology goals such as reducing volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions and providing high utilization and recycling capability. Powder coatings are just emerging into limited use for monobloc aerosol packaging, according to Robyn McMillan, PPG global segment manager for monobloc aerosol and tube coatings. “Powder coatings can play a key role in aerosol...
China names ex-Chalco Chairman to lead State Assets Regulator
A former aluminum executive who oversaw China’s biggest mining acquisition was named head of the country’s state-owned assets regulator as Beijing overhauls its bloated industrial sector. Former Aluminum Corp. of China President Xiao Yaqing was appointed chairman and Communist Party deputy secretary of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, according to the agency’s website Wednesday. Xiao replaced Zhang Yi, who remains the party chief of SASAC, which manages non-banking state-owned assets and reports to the State Council, China’s cabinet. Xiao led Aluminum Corp. of China, also known as Chalco, and was chairman of its listed unit until 2009, when he was appointed vice secretary general of the State Council. He managed the aluminum producer’s 2008 joint purchase...
Metro Mining extends takeover offer period for Gulf Alumina
Metro Mining has extended the takeover offer period for Gulf Alumina Limited by one month to the 15th March 2016. Metro’s offer opened on Christmas Eve 2015, and is progressing in parallel as the company rapidly advancing its own project. The details of the offer include: 3.3 Metro shares for every 1 Gulf share; Ownership Outcome Under Offer 56 per cent Metro / 44 per cent Gulf; Minimum 50.1 per cent acceptance. The merger would create a much larger independent Cape York bauxite company with enhanced market relevance, and would effectively double the reserve base of circa 96 million tonnes. The new entity would also realise significant operational synergies, such as economies of scale and enhanced financing capability given improved economics and enhanced investor appeal.
South32 warns of job cuts at its Worsley alumina refinery
South32 has warned of job losses at its Worsley alumina operation in the South West after announcing big staffing cuts at its South African manganese operation and flagging a writedown of $US1.7 billion. The BHP spin-off employs about 1800 workers at its bauxite mine near Boddington, its alumina refinery near Collie and port operations at Bunbury. The Perth-headquartered company's Worsley operation is one of the largest and lowest-cost alumina refineries in the world. But sagging commodity prices have forced the company to review its activities worldwide. “Our teams are currently finalising plans that will deliver a meaningful reduction in costs at Illawarra Metallurgical Coal (NSW), Cerro Matoso (Colombia), Worsley Alumina (WA) and Australia Manganese (NT and Tas),” South32 said in a...
Hindalco said to face threat of Baphlimali mine closing
Hindalco Industries Ltd., India’s second- largest producer of aluminum, may have to halt mining at its biggest bauxite reserve after part of the land was recently deemed forest, requiring a new permit, people with knowledge of the matter said. The company needs to obtain approvals by 9 March and is running out of time, one of the people said. Hindalco has already filed the papers and the eastern state of Odisha, where the mine is located, needs to decide whether to extend the deadline, another person said. When Hindalco won the lease more than a decade ago, the area wasn’t marked as forest land, both said, asking not to be identified as they aren’t authorized to speak on the subject. Failure to get the license in time may either force Hindalco to cut aluminum production or import ore,...
Long-term impact of Kuantan's unregulated bauxite mining a cause of concern
Rampant, unregulated bauxite mining in Malaysia’s Kuantan and its impact on the region’s environment and economy have revealed loopholes more than one in the country’s industrial regulatory system. Why only Malaysia’s? - The setback has unearthed many gaps existing within the mining industry’s value chain across economies. These include issues relating to ethical mining and sustainability which have long been overlooked by the mineral development companies. It is high time the industry addressed these issues; otherwise it could experience bigger setbacks in the days to come, opine industry experts and scientists. Environmentalists are concerned over the long-term impact on Kuantan’s environment, ecosystem and economy due to the damage done by unbridled bauxite mining activities....
CRL-U.S. Aluminum partners with ARCOM to integrate its architectural glazing systems into MasterSpec
CRL-U.S. Aluminum, the leading manufacturer and supplier of architectural glazing systems in North America, and ARCOM, the leader in building specification services and tools, has announced a partnership that will incorporate CRL-U.S. Aluminum products into MasterSpec. As the most trusted and widely used specification software in the construction industry, MasterSpec allows architects, engineers, and design professionals to write customized specifications for clients. With the addition of CRL-U.S. Aluminum products, it will make the product selection process easier, improving project efficiencies. CSI product categories from CRL-U.S. Aluminum that will be added to MasterSpec include: 08 41 13, Aluminum Framed Entrances and Storefronts; 08 44 13, Glazed Aluminum Curtain Walls; and 10 22...
Jaguar Land Rover makes £36m emissions reduction pledge
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) will invest £36m over the next three years in renewable energy, energy efficiency and process improvements, according to the British carmaker's latest sustainability report. In its latest responsible business performance update, released yesterday, 2 February, JLR said an increased investment in energy efficiency is needed to reduce manufacturing emissions, which have increased by 12 per cent in absolute terms due to ‘rapid business expansion’. “As we invest in new and existing manufacturing facilities around the world, we’re drawing on our expertise in environmental innovation to reduce the energy and natural resources we use to build our vehicles,” reads the report . “We’re also investigating significant opportunities to reduce emissions through low carbon...
US grants aid to Alcoa smelter workers after China complaint ruling
The US government has granted aid to workers at Alcoa's Intalco aluminium smelter in Washington state, after they complained that Chinese dumping threatened their jobs, according to a federal ruling. The US Department of Labour (DOL) granted Trade Adjustment Assistance to the 500 workers at the 279 000 t/y facility, which is slated to suspend production at the end of the second quarter, in a letter signed late last week and published on Tuesday. The programme provides payments and job training to workers who lose their jobs because of competition from abroad. The ruling in favor of the Alcoa workers could serve as evidence in a potential trade case as tensions with China's aluminum industry build. The approval also comes as low aluminum prices have forced U.S. smelters to stop or slow...
