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...
Grow with
AL Circle
About 60% of bauxite waste affected areas cleaned up in Pahang
The state Fire and Rescue Department, Pahang, confirmed that about 60% of the bauxite waste affected areas has been cleaned up since the cleaning works began on January 14. Its director Datuk Abdul Wahab Mat Yasin said cleaning was expected to be completed earlier than the scheduled date on February 14. "However, the Department of Environment will check and determine whether we still need to do more cleaning. We will comply and utilise all the facilities we have, including the road sweeper, mobile water tank and manpower," he said after attending the department's annual parade here recently. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had recently directed the Urban Well-Being, Housing and Local Government Ministry to conduct cleaning up works in the bauxite mining affected areas here. The...
LME aluminium neutral in $1,453-$1,511 range
LME aluminium looks neutral in a range of $1,453- $1,511 per tonne, and an escape will point a direction. The range is formed by the 50 percent and the 23.6 percent Fibonacci projection levels of a downward wave C, the third wave of a three-wave cycle from the September 9, 2015 high of $1,655.50. It could be hard to conclude that the bounce from the January 12 low of $1,449 has extended or the drop from the December 24, 2015 high of $1,564 has resumed, until the metal leaves the range. A break below $1,453 could cause a loss to the 61.8 percent level at $1,426, while a break above $1,511 could lead to a gain to $1,531, the 14.6 percent level.
Nashtec: Current supply of APYRAL® 40 CD from Sherwin Alumina is secure
Nashtec LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, is a joint venture company between Nabaltec (which holds 51% of the membership interests in Nashtec) and Allied Alumina LLC (which holds 49% of the membership interests). On Monday January 11, 2016, Nashtec’s supplier of aluminum hydroxide required for the production of APYRAL® 40 CD, Sherwin Alumina LLC, filed a petition in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Corpus Christi, Texas, for relief under chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. Sherwin is continuing to operate its business in the ordinary course while under bankruptcy court protection. At the Nashtec facility, this will also cause no supply limitations to the customers. Sherwin’s filings with the bankruptcy court included a proposal to sell its alumina production plant and all of its...
Accuride introduces new lightweight aluminium wheels at HDAW’16
Accuride Corporation, a leading supplier of components to the global commercial vehicle industry - announced it has added two new lightweight aluminium wheels to its product offering today at Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week 2016 in Las Vegas. The wheels are part of Accuride’s effort to provide customers the lightest high-performance steel and aluminium wheels possible. Re-engineered to reduce weight by 5-7 percent, the new aluminium wheels are both standard type 22.5 x 9.00 wheels produced at the company’s aluminium wheel production facility in Erie, Pa. The new wheels will be available effective April 1, 2016. Accuride continues to redesign and light-weight its popular aluminium wheel product portfolio to reduce weight and improve fuel savings for its fleet and aftermarket customers without...
Chelsea FC chooses Sapa's Technal systems for academy extension
Aluminium façade systems from the Technal brand have been specified for a third project at Chelsea Football Club’s training academy campus in the UK - a seamless below-ground extension to an existing pavilion. Sited on green-belt land, the extension demanded a sensitive architectural approach to ensure minimum visual impact in the landscape. Designed by AFL Architects and using the same palette of materials as in the original building at Cobham, in Surrey, the basement extension - now complete - provides additional gym, medical treatment and rehabilitation areas immediately adjacent to the existing fitness and related activities. Excavation of a moat enabled the project to avoid any further outward construction or compromise the original design for the campus. In order to maintain natural...
SaucePM launches ergonomically shaped aluminium beverage can
Packaging and print consultancy SaucePM has developed a new concept within drinks packaging - an ergonomically shaped aluminium can. The innovative packaging format, called Recanize, has been launched today. The shaped can aims to emulate on-trade glassware while offering all the benefits of a traditional aluminium drinks can. Aimed at off-trade brand owners, its launch presents the off-trade with the opportunity to purchase a manufacturing licence for the “revolutionary packaging concept”, SaucePM said. The company has also produced a short video to introduce brands to the Recanize concept, which benefits from global patent protection. SaucePM managing director Neil Shackleton said: “Recanize completed its patent application and is now ready for mass production. To kickstart the launch,...
India aluminium scrap prices remain flat
India major aluminium scrap commodities prices remained flat on Friday, last week, while aluminium futures prices at India's Multi Commodity Exchange settled slightly lower, tracking weakness in other base metals counters as market is witnessing under long liquidation. The major aluminium scrap commodities dropped on Scrap Register Price Index as on Friday. India's major scrap commodities like aluminium accessories scrap, aluminium cable scrap, aluminium ingots, aluminium rod company, aluminium rod local, aluminium scrap, aluminium scrap taint/tabor, aluminium sheet cutting, aluminium utensil scrap and aluminium wire scrap remained flat on Friday. The most active January aluminium contract on Multi Commodity Exchange settled slightly lower by 0.30% to INR 100.75 per kilogram on Friday...
NALCO: If you cannot beat Middle Eastern aluminum smelters, join them
India’s National Aluminium Co. (NALCO) seems to be declaring it will, indeed join them. The state-owned aluminium producer is sending a team to Iran, Qatar and Oman to explore opportunities for setting up a gas-fired thermal power plant and associated aluminium smelter next month according a report in the India Times. NALCO has been looking at a $2 billion project to set up a smelter in Iran’s Kerman province, but sanctions meant it never got beyond the feasibility stage. Now, with sanctions lifted, the firm is exploring all locations in addition to the Iranian project probably with the intent that they can show the Iranians they have other options and negotiate a better deal. New Suitors India is reported by the Indian Aluminium Association (IAA) to have the world’s fourth-largest...
Metro Mining sees major profit hike in doubling bauxite plans
Metro Mining released results of a Pre-feasibility Study showing considerable benefits in increased production under an Environment Impact Statement process. Late last year the State Government requested Metro undertake an Environment Impact Statement - rather than the less onerous Environmental Approval process - for the Bauxite Hills Project. Bauxite Hills is 95 km north of Weipa on western Cape York. Metro’s Pre-feasibility Study (PFS), released to the Australian Stock Exchange today, is based on bauxite production of 4 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa). The company had previously restricted proposed mining to 2 Mtpa. Metro CEO Simon Finnis says increasing production required only minor changes to capital, operational and equipment requirements. “Importantly, the environmental impact of...
XINFA Aurum Exploration Fiji reports decline in bauxite export
XINFA Aurum Exploration (Fiji) Ltd confirmed yesterday a decline in their bauxite export caused due to global recession that hit the economies last year. Ever since then, the demand for bauxite has dropped sharply affecting shipments departing from the shores of Bua. XINFA Aurum Exploration executive Derek Qiu said they only exported two bauxite shipments in 2015, and hoped to resume exports this year. However, he could not confirm any date. Refering to China, the biggest buyer of the aluminium ore, Mr. Qiu said, "Because of the global economy recession, the bauxite mining demand went down;" the demand somewhat declined from the Chinese aluminium producers as well. Mr Qiu added mining works was still in progress despite the low demand from the market. Mr Qiu also added, despite the...
China aluminium stocks fall faster on output cuts and pre-holiday stocking
Aluminium stocks in China’s five major trading markets fell at a faster pace, SMM has learned. SMM attributes the decline to production cuts and downstream stocking before the 2016 Chinese New Year holiday in early February. Production cuts continued affecting aluminium ingot shipments from Northwest China and other regions into China’s major consumption hubs. Some warehouse owners expect arrivals to remain low this week, judging from short-term shipment plans. Aluminium stocks in China’s five major trading markets will continue falling this week, due to low arrivals and pre-holiday downstream stocking, SMM aluminium analyst expects. The table below shows details of aluminium stocks at China’s five major markets:
Job loss fears loom over Fort William aluminium smelter workers
Workers at the aluminium smelter at Fort William have been told that the owners are reviewing its operations. The announcement from Rio Tinto said the review would include its assets in Lochaber. The plant is one of the largest employers in the area. It is thought to support more the 160 full-time jobs. The Scottish government said Highlands and Islands Enterprise was "engaging with the company" to understand the potential impacts of the announcement. The smelter is Rio Tinto's only operational site in the UK and is unique in that it generates its own power from two hydro electric schemes. One is in Fort William and the other at nearby Kinlochleven. The Fort William hydro-powered smelter has more than 160 employees. Around a quarter of them managers and technical specialists. It was...
Indian aluminium makers demand ban on bauxite exports
Battling a spate of cheaper aluminium imports from China and West Asia, aluminium producers have made a strong pitch to the Government of India to either ban bauxite exports or raise exports duty to 50 per cent. The proposal to ban exports of bauxite, the key raw material in aluminium production, is one of the flagship demands of the domestic producers in the run up to the 2016-17 Budget. Bauxite exports from the country are chiefly to China which adds value to the raw material and dumps them back in the form of aluminium and other finished products. Thus, China generates employment in their country and provides export rebate to value added products which are shipped back to India where aluminium manufacturers are forced to operate at depleted capacities. In the last one year, bauxite...
Indian aluminium in 2016: can a turnaround happen?
Aluminium producers in India are looking to the US and other export markets with hope in the new year, after the double whammy of cheap Chinese imports and low prices for the silver -white metal for almost all of 2015. As in other countries, the overall global commodity free fall was the main cause of the mayhem for Indian producers. Aluminium prices dropped from a monthly average of $2,455 a metric ton in 2011 to the recent $1,468 per mt. A large number of Indian aluminium majors are now staring down capacity shutdowns and operational losses. Companies such as Vedanta have been negatively affected. What can save Indian aluminium? There are three factors aluminium producers are banking on: more and newer innovative uses of aluminium, especially by US companies, India’s economy improving...
Schuler adapting hot-forming technology to the rising demand of automotive aluminium alloys
Schuler, the technological and global market leader in metal forming equipment such as presses, automation, dies, with deep process know-how is adapting the technology of hot forming to the special demands of high-strength aluminium alloys used in automobile manufacturing. The lightweight construction material, aluminium, is becoming increasingly important for the automotive industry, due to its high strength and low weight. High-strength aluminium alloys offer the greatest potential for weight reduction in body construction. With the newly developed technology of hot forming of aluminium sheet, now it is possible to produce complex geometries. High-strength aluminium alloys make special demands on shaping processes with regard to formability. In a cold state it is only possible to form...
Environment Ministry re-issues APs for bauxite mining in Pahang
The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry has approved the re-issuance of Approved Permits (AP) for bauxite-mining near Kuanatan area in Pahang. Its minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the APs to be given back to the mining sites were to enable the relocation of the 70,000 metric tonnes of bauxite to other areas. He said the process to release the licence will be done by the Chief Secretary to the Government today, and they hope that the relocation could be done by tomorrow latest. “I had ordered the issuance of the APs yesterday. This is to enable them to export the bauxite to other areas for clearing purposes. We do not want them to throw the bauxite into the river and pollute the water. The Chief Secretary to the Government will process it by today and hopefully...
Aluminium-intensive JLR lines up for 2016 Qatar Motor Show
Jaguar Land Rover MENA and its exclusive retailer partner in the State of Qatar, Alfardan Premier Motors Co., have confirmed their participation in the sixth edition of the Qatar Motor Show. Running from January 28th to February 1st 2016, the Qatar Motor Show will take place at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC). Celebrating British innovation at its best, Alfardan Premier Motors will be displaying the All-New Jaguar XF on stand giving motoring fans a glimpse at the dynamic, coupé-like, aluminium-intensive, lightweight saloon vehicle. Underpinned by class-leading driving dynamics and refinement, the All-New Jaguar XF brings an unrivalled blend of design, luxury, technology and efficiency to the business car segment. The car’s dynamic design is formed around Jaguar’s...
Russia's Rusal eager to enter China's aluminium sector
Russia's leading aluminum maker Rusal wants to enter China's aluminum downstream production industry through joint ventures, Rusal CEO Vladislav Soloviev said at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Friday. Soloviev said he sees the downstream aluminum production industry, which makes aluminum products such as wires and alloys, has big potential to develop in China as the country has the benefit of economies of scale and market demand. Currently Rusal has a partnership with China North Industries Corporation established in 2011, under which Rusal bought a 33 percent stake in Shenzhen North Investments Corporation Limited, a trading affiliate of China North Industries Corporation specializing in aluminum, alloys and non-ferrous metals. The share purchase led to the establishment of the...
