Indonesian Aluminium: The shift from mining to smelting
Indonesia is pitched as the next big Asian aluminium hub as the country has released an expansive alumina and aluminium expansion plan, based on the abundant bauxite resource in the country. China has exhausted its aluminium capacity cap and is unlikely to raise installed capacity significantly in the coming years. Additionally, geopolitical conflicts, sanctions, and tariffs have made much of global aluminium capacity inaccessible and vulnerable. This includes Russian aluminium and the Gulf output, along with restricted and costly access to Canadian aluminium for the US smelters. The already tight supply conditions have been made worse after the Iran-Israel-US war that disrupted the Gulf aluminium capacity. Under current supply conditions, India and Indonesia will play a critical role in...
Germany’s automotive industry drives 32.8% of aluminium consumption as EV production rises 23%, led by Volkswagen, BMW & Mercedes-Benz
Germany’s automobile industry is a major part of the country’s aluminium story, with the metal used in everything from vehicle body panels and chassis components to battery enclosures and electric-drive systems. As automakers develop lighter vehicles and expand their electric models, aluminium has become an important material across the manufacturing process. Germany’s automotive industry consumes around 950,000 tonnes of aluminium annually, accounting for a substantial share of the wider transport sector’s demand. In 2025, Germany’s total aluminium consumption stood at approximately 2.9 million tonnes, with the transport sector accounting for 1.35 million tonnes, representing 46 per cent of the total. This extensive use of aluminium in transport mirrors its importance to the global...
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PPB launches aluminium composites range for digital printers and fabricators
PPB has launched its first range of premium aluminium composite materials (ACM) targeted at digital printers, signmakers and fabricators. PPB said the product, proBond Aluminium Composite, offers a high-quality sheet for short-term digital print projects or high-end corporate ID signage. According to the company, proBond Premium, which is manufactured from 5005 alloy, is suitable for all signage and fabrication applications and is available in a range of colours and metallics. It is sold with a 10-year warranty. ProBond Digital White grade is said to offer strong ink adhesion from an "optimised digital paint surface" to give the good results for UV flatbed applications, including hoardings. It is made to ISO 9001 standards and has a five-year warranty. ProBond Lite has a 0.2mm aluminium...
Aluminium settled up 0.25% at 99.50, support 95.60
Aluminium was notable on account of a flurry of production announcements, not all of them bullish. Alcoa, for example, said that it would take out 500,000 tons at three of its four US smelters, although its Massena smelter was saved after NY State intervened with an aid package. However, South Carolina rejected a proposal from Century for a power deal for its Mount Holly facility, so that 224,000 unit will be closing by year-end. But cuts are not happening where they should, namely, in China. Instead, the country’s SRB is being lobbied by producers to buy up to 1 million tons of metal. The move would be ill-advised in many respects. For one thing, China does not need more aluminium stored in a national stockpile. Secondly, buying metal only postpones shutting down excess capacity, thereby...
Aluminium inches up 0.40% on spot demand
Aluminium prices edged up 0.40 per cent to INR 100.75 per kg in futures trade today as participants enlarged positions,supported by strong demand in the spot markets. However, a weak trend in the base metals pack at the London Metal Exchange (LME) capped the gains. Aluminium for delivery in January inched up 40 paise, or 0.40 per cent, to INR 100.75 per kg in a business turnover of 3 lots in futures trade at Multi Commodity Exchange. Likewise, the metal for delivery in December traded higher 30 paise, or 0.30 per cent, to INR 99.65 per kg in 88 lots. Marketmen said increased domestic demand, helped aluminium futures trade higher but metals weakness at the LME after Chinese trade data reinforced concerns over the economic deterioration of the world's biggest consumer of commodities,...
Aluminium glut piling up at hidden Asian warehouses
Falling official inventories of aluminium are offering a deceptive picture of stronger fundamentals, while unreported stocks are surging to record highs, threatening to weigh on already hard-hit prices. The build-up of inventories is off the radar of many investors since most are in unregistered warehouses in Malaysia and Korea and do not figure in official exchange stocks. Stocks of the metal used in transport and packaging have been steadily falling for the past 20 months in depots certified by the world's biggest and oldest market for industrial metals, the London Metal Exchange (LME). LME inventories have tumbled 46 percent since February 2014 to below three million tonnes, but much of that metal has merely been moved due to tough, new LME warehousing rules, analysts and industry...
China aluminium stockpiling on the table, SMM learns
Aluminium prices in China got an immediate boost on Wednesday as news on aluminium ingot stockpiling has been confirmed. SMM has learned that aluminium ingot stockpiling is in the cards, although who and how much to stockpile remains in the air. Major Chinese aluminium smelters have gathered together to discuss matters concerning aluminium ingot stockpiling, and the meeting result will be announced soon. In fact, aluminium supply in China is already beginning to tighten as recent production cuts have pushed down aluminum stocks in east and south China, major consumption hubs. This, together with stockpiling, will continue offering upward momentum to aluminium prices in the near future, SMM expects. SHFE 1512 aluminium contract closed at 10,390 yuan per tonne as of November 9.
China’s aluminium plants to meet to discuss output cuts
China's leading aluminium smelters have been reported to be meeting today to discuss possible output cuts amid plunging metal prices. This is supposed to be a definitive step taken by the embattled base metals industry to mull a coordinated action plan against rising metal glut. The meeting will be held in the southwestern city of Kunming. As many as 14 smelters, including Aluminium Corp of China, known as Chalco, will meet and analyse the situation strategically. The companies will discuss cutting production among other measures, although there is no guarantee that any action will be taken, the report said.
Nalco appoints five independent directors
The state-owned aluminium maker national aluminium Company (Nalco) on Friday, last week, named five independent directors on its board. "Part-time non-official (independent) directors have been appointed on the board of the company with effect from November 21, 2015, vide order dated November 17, 2015," Nalco said in a filing to Bombay Stock Exchange. The appointees are Damodar Acharya, Dipankar Mahanta, P K Nayak, Maheswar Sahu and S Sankararaman, the filing said. Last month, Coal India had also appointed five independent directors out of seven posts that had been lying vacant for over a year. As per the diversification plan, Nalco has ventured into renewable energy space, its website showed.
Altech Chemicals inches towards German credit support for HPA
Altech Chemicals has taken a step closer to clinching the support of an export credit insurance scheme which could cover most of the total capital cost of the company’s high-purity alumina (HPA) project. Altech has received a letter of interest from the administrator of Germany’s export credit agency (ECA) confirming that the group would, in principle, support the project, which encompasses kaolin mining in Western Australia and a proposed HPA processing plant in Malaysia. ECA debt is expected to cover about US$40 million of the project’s total capital expenditure of about US$77 million. After including an expected additional senior debt requirement of about US$15 million, total project debt financing would be around US$55 million. Interest rates charged by lenders on debt that is...
First Bauxite Corporation gets mining licence extended
First Bauxite Corporation announced today that the Government of Guyana (GoG) has granted a two-year extension to the construction commencement date under the Bonasika Mining Licence from January 31, 2016 to January 31, 2018. In addition, the GoG may grant a further one year extension to January 31, 2019 if it is satisfied after a review of the performance and financial standing of the Company that such an extension has merit. The Company will now discuss with the GoG specific modifications that are required to the Mineral Agreement, BML and Environmental Permit to reflect the new Bonasika Ceramic Proppant Project scope. First Bauxite is also pleased to provide a general business update and detail on the expected use of proceeds from the US$15 million private placement of secured...
Bauxite Resources receives SASAC approval for sale of Yankuang interest in JV
Bauxite Resources Limited has been advised that State-Owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the Peoples Republic of China ("SASAC") approval, which was one of the conditions of the agreements with Yankuang Resources Pty Ltd (Yankuang) and Yankuang Group Company Ltd ('YGL')') for the sale of Bauxite's interest in the Bauxite Alumina Joint Venture, and the Buy-back of Yankuang's shares, has now been satisfied. The transaction is now only conditional on BRL Shareholder approval. The Notice of Extraordinary General Meeting to seek shareholders’ approval of the transaction was dispatched to shareholders today with the meeting to be held on Monday 18th January 2016. Key terms of the transaction: • The joint ventures with Yankuang will be terminated • Yankuang will pay BRL...
Wise Alloys LLC exploring alternatives to refinance its existing ABL
Constellium N.V. today announced that its indirect wholly-owned subsidiary Wise Alloys LLC is exploring alternatives to refinance its existing Asset Based Lending facility, including engaging in discussions with both current and potential new lenders. Wise currently intends to seek to refinance its existing ABL with a facility that will have a maturity of five years and will be secured by the same collateral as the existing ABL, but which will not be guaranteed by Constellium. This is one of the actions in connection with the ongoing exploration of alternatives for Wise, which Constellium announced on November 5, 2015. There can be no assurance as to when or whether Wise will refinance its existing ABL facility, and the terms of any such refinancing are not agreed at this time. Neither...
NAPCO hired as official aluminium extruder for Oman project
National Aluminium Products Company (NAPCO) has entered into an agreement with Profils Systemes Gulf for a partnership project in Oman. Under the terms of the agreement, NAPCO will be the official aluminium extruder for windows and doors for the premium beachfront development. The mixed-use Saraya Bandar Jissah property, nestled amid the picturesque natural Bandar Jissah beach, features luxury villas, hotels, a spa, a heritage village built around an archaeological site, a recreational centre with restaurants, retail outlets, social club and sports amenities. Robert Holtkamp, CEO, NAPCO, said: "In a landmark deal, Profils Systemes has sub-contracted us to be the aluminium extruder for the Saraya Bandar Jissah development in Oman. "The deal is a valuable addition to our portfolio of elite...
Alba gears up for Line 6 expansion project
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba), one of the world’s leading aluminium smelters, continues to look forward as the company prepares for future growth according to a statement issued by the Chairman of Alba’s Board of Directors, Shaikh Daij Bin Salman Bin Daij Al Khalifa. The statement was made following the fourth quarterly meeting for the year 2015, which was held on Wednesday, December 09, 2015 at Alba. The Board approved minutes of the previous meeting, which was held on September 30, 2015 as well as discussed matters arising from the same. At this meeting, the Board reviewed and approved the 2016 Annual Operating Plan which is forecasting a very difficult year as a result of the collapse of the All-In-Aluminium prices. The Board also reviewed the2015 Corporate Governance Report and Q3...
Aluminium MMI falls, battered by the almighty dollar
The December Aluminium MMI index fell 3% to 70 points, yet another all-time low. Aluminium prices fell in November, although they held much better than other base metals. Still, three-month alumiinum on the London Metal Exchange hit a new low at $1,432/mt. As with the rest of the base metals complex, a strong dollar is driving prices down. China is still overproducing According to the latest data, Chinese aluminium output has risen 18% on the year to date despite falling demand. This has led to a 14% increase in aluminium exports this year (to date). One of the reasons China doesn’t cut production is its smelters’ ability to withstand low international prices. Recently, China’s government announced its plans to introduce more competition into its power sector that could potentially lower...
Alba key participant and sponsor of 2nd Energy Management Conference & Exhibition 2015
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C (Alba), one of the leading companies in Bahrain, is a key participant and sponsor of the 2nd Energy Management Conference & Exhibition 2015 being held from December 6 to 8, 2015, at Gulf Hotel, Manama, Bahrain. Organised under the patronage of His Excellency Dr. Abdul Hussain bin Ali Mirza, Minister of Energy, this conference is a leading platform for key energy consumers, producers and investors in the region to share best practices in the field of Energy. This year, many subjects such energy efficiency, renewable energies, private sector and climate change will be focussed upon. Alba’s Chief Marketing Officer, Khalid A. Latif and Director Power & Utilities, Amin Sultan, were amongst the key attendees at the 2nd Energy Management Conference & Exhibition 2015,...
U.S. extends deadline for investigating China aluminium extrusions
The U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration extended its Dec. 7 deadline for initiating an investigation into allegations that a Chinese aluminium extruder had been evading U.S. import duties by 45 days, according to documents filed on Monday, December 7th. ITA determines it "shall require additional time" to initiate its investigation or issue its final ruling, citing "issues concerning key terms used in the scope of the Orders."
CRP Automotive offers aluminium stretch bolts for BMW 6-CYL engine applications
CRP Automotive now offers Rein Automotive Aluminum Stretch Bolts for BMW engine applications. These stretch bolts are designed as replacements for the “one time use” only fasteners used by BMW to mount components such as transmissions, oil pans, water pumps, power steering pumps, and alternators to their engine assemblies. Rein Automotive brand manager, Paul Swyter, explains, “BMW uses a magnesium-aluminum composite to make their 3.0 in-line six, one of the world’s lightest 3.0 liter gas engines. While this reduced weight improves performance, efficiency, and overall block strength, it comes at a price. The magnesium in the block can cause electrochemical corrosion from contact with other materials such as iron. As a result, steel bolts cannot be used in engine assembly and BMW has...
Chinese and global aluminium alloy cable market poised to grow over 2015-2020
Replacement rate of copper by aluminium in cable manufacturing sector is increasing steadily. Currently, aluminium-replace-copper rate in China stands at a low level, barely at 3 – 5%. In the United States, however, the aluminium alloy-replace-copper rate or almasilium-replace copper rate stands at around 70%-75%. In Japan, too, the replacement ratio is 55%. Since, the new energy market is developing pretty fast in China, aluminium alloy cables are expected to be widely adopted in the following years. Aluminium alloy cable has been the general product used in power transmission lines in many foreign countries. According to the data obtained from countries using substantial quantity of aluminium alloy cables, the market has already entered the growth phase; it is here to stay and gain...
