AL Circle Analysis: Bauxite developments, alumina trade & primary aluminium market dynamics across Australia, Guinea, US & India
The aluminium industry is entering another phase of supply-chain repositioning. Across bauxite, alumina and primary aluminium, companies are investing in new resources, consolidating strategic assets and expanding processing capacity, while governments are increasingly treating domestic supply as a strategic priority. The latest developments from Australia, Guyana, Guinea, Indonesia, the US and India point to a market where resource security, processing location and control over supply chains are becoming as important as production growth. At the same time, new trading mechanisms and changing investment patterns are beginning to influence how aluminium and its raw materials reach the market. Bauxite supply expands, but securing the right tonnes is becoming harder In Western Australia, VBX...
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...
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Aleris strengthens leadership team
Aleris announced today two leadership appointments to its senior management team. Mike Keown has been named senior vice president and general manager of Aleris North America. Ronald Lane has been named senior vice president, Global Manufacturing. Both executives report directly to President and CEO Sean Stack. “Mike and Ron are two seasoned leaders who have played a critical role in helping Aleris build considerable momentum over the past year as we drive our growth strategy and strengthen our operations and our position as a supplier to fast-growing industries like automotive, aerospace and building and construction,” Sean Stack, Aleris President and CEO said. Mr. Keown most recently served as vice president, Marketing and Supply Chain for North America. Prior to that Mr. Keown spent...
Aluminium Bahrain to begin process to issue bond in Q1 2016 - CEO
Aluminium Bahrain ( Alba ), owner of one of the world's largest smelters of the lightweight metal, will start the process for a potential bond sale in the first quarter of 2016, the company's chief executive said on Wednesday, November 12. In June, the state-backed company received government approval to raise its annual output by 514,000 tonnes to 1.45 million tones via a $3.5 billion plant expansion. Sources had told Reuters Alba was considering various options to fund this expansion including loans, export credit agency finance and a capital markets transaction. Alba hopes to issue a bond, CEO Tim Murray told a conference call to accompany its third-quarter results. "I don't think the (bond) offering will be in Q1 (2016) but in terms of getting the process going it will be in Q1," said...
Reynaers Aluminium participates in Invest in Bahrain 2015 forum
Reynaers Aluminium Company, Bahrain’s leading aluminium supply systems recently participated in the Invest in Bahrain 2015 Forum, organised by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism at the Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre (BECA). With the participation of over 1,200 global investors through over 100 pavilions and institutions, the forum was organized by Prime Minister HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and deputized by Deputy Premier Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa. “The event presented us with an opportunity to not just showcase our products but to also network with investors from across the world,” said MD of Reynaers Aluminium Company, Ali Khalaf. Reynaers have a strong presence in the MENA region. It operates in the GCC region through its...
Guinea bauxite unloaded at Yantai Port
A cargo ship from Guinea unloaded 170,000 tons of bauxite from Guinea at Yantai port on Monday, establishing China's first bauxite transportation line connecting Guinea mines with Chinese consumers. Kassory Fofana, minister of State at the President's office was at at the unloading ceremony at Yantai port. "The cooperation project not only created jobs for young people but brings business opportunities to Guineans," said Fofana. Zhou Bo, chairman of Yantai Port Group said, "The transportation line is a demonstration project of Yantai port developing overseas transportation lines along the Belt and Road. "Guinea boasts 30 percent of the world's premium bauxite. The transportation line provides a solid foundation for Yantai port building a complete transportation network for bauxite," said...
Mumtalakat to buy 49 percent stake in Spanish aluminium firm Aleastur
Bahrain' s Mumtalakat Holding Company plans to buy a 49 percent stake in Spanish aluminium products group Aleastur, an executive at the Bahraini sovereign fund said on Monday. "We are taking a minority stake and helping the company to expand into the Gulf," said Joseph Kirikian, head of industries and services at Mumtalakat, on the sidelines of an aluminium conference. Value for the investment was not disclosed but Kirikian said the deal would hopefully close soon. Mumtalakat is a government-owned investment organization that manages the sovereign wealth fund for the Kingdom of Bahrain.
GKN Sinter Metals plans $19.8 million expansion at its North Carolina aluminum plant
GKN Sinter Metals plans to invest $19.8 million to expand its state-of-the art aluminum manufacturing plant in Conover, North Carolina. Post expansion, the company expects to create 55 new manufacturing jobs during the next five years in Catawba County. Abdul Butt, President of GKN Sinter Metals, Americas, said, “At GKN Sinter Metals, we continue to grow our presence in North Carolina where we are delighted to be working in partnership with Governor McCrory and his team. In particular, we would like to thank the Catawba County Economic Development Corporation for their support in making this project work.” “The expanded Conover facility will build on GKN’s aluminum and lightweight technology capabilities that deliver lightweight and more energy-efficient designs and products to our...
NAPCO generates revenue of OMR 18.5 million in 2015
National Aluminium Products Company SAOG ( NAPCO ), one of the leading extruders of aluminium profiles in the GCC, has announced a robust performance for the third quarter of 2015, achieving a remarkable growth in volume in the domestic market as well as in exports. It has reported revenues of OMR 18.5 million during the first nine months of 2015, compared to OMR 13.5 million during the same period for 2014, representing an increase of 37 per cent. In addition, NAPCO has gained a net profit of OMR 0.582 million, an increase of 20 per cent, as of September 30, 2015 as compared to OMR 0.486 million during the same period of the previous year. The figures were revealed during the company's recent meeting of the Board of Directors held at the NAPCO headquarters. Despite challenging market...
Emirates Global Aluminium sees Guinea feasibility study ready by Q1 2016
Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) expects to complete a feasibility study for its bauxite mine and alumina refinery project in Guinea by the first quarter of next year, its chief executive said on Sunday, November 15. "We are already in, we just need (to know) how much we are going to budget, how much it is going to cost us," Abdulla Kalban said on the sidelines of an aluminium conference. Kalban told the conference the project will have two phases. "We are already in feasibility study number three and (it) will be completed by the first quarter of 2016," he told the conference. Phase 1 of the project is the mining of 8 to 12 million tonnes of bauxite for export and for Phase 2, "we are talking about a 2 million-tonne alumina refinery," he said. In 2013 the state owners of EGA signed a $5...
Rusal elaborates on aluminium industry trends for the first nine months of 2015
Global aluminium market trends in the first nine months of 2015 • Global aluminium demand grew by 5.6% in the first nine months (“9m”) 2015 year-on-year (“YoY”). Demand growth in North America, India, Middle East and the EU compensated for a contraction in demand from Japan, Russia and South America. • With the commissioning of new capacity in the Middle East and India, production outside of China grew by 2.2% in YoY in 9m 2015. • China continues to increase new operating capacity whilst subsidizing existing loss making smelters. While 2.5 million tonnes of capacity has been cut year-to-date (“YTD”), 3.0 million tonnes of new capacity has been commissioned and 616 ktpy of operating capacities were resumed. • Chinese net exports of semis rose by 29.4% YoY in 9m 2015 but fell to a lower YTD...
SMM sees LME aluminium mired around $1,500 per tonne this week
LME aluminium will be stuck around $1,500 per tonne next week, SMM says. Weak SHFE aluminium , a firm US dollar and concerns over demand in China will keep LME aluminium in check. SHFE aluminium should range 10,100-10,350 yuan per tonne, as market fundamentals remain poor. In China’s spot market, year-end cash crunch will leave some smelters anxious to sell and curtail buying activity. So, spot discounts will widen to 120-160 yuan per tonne over SHFE front-month contract.
India can become engine of global economic growth, says Vedanta Chairman
Pinning hopes on the Narendra Modi government for policy reforms to attract investment, mining baron Anil Agarwal on Friday said India has the potential to become the "engine of global economic growth". "As the world is changing, the Indian government... should move towards faster decision-making, creating level playing field for the investment... If anyone can help India realise the great potential it is our Prime Minister Modi and his government," Vedanta Resources chief Anil Agarwal said on the sidelines of the global CEOs' meet here. Stressing that India needs at least 10 more companies on par with natural resources giant Vedanta, Mr Agarwal said companies that want to invest in India can raise capital in the UK to invest in India's growth story. "India has all the potential resources...
Ma’aden aspiring to be world’s largest integrated aluminum industry in 5 years
Eastern Province Emir Prince Saud Bin Naif inaugurated the Arab International Aluminum Conference (ARABAL) at Dhahran Exhibition Center in Dammam Sunday in the presence of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Minister Ali Al-Naimi, CEO of Ma’aden Khaled Bin Saleh Al-Mudaifer, leading businessmen, top ranking officials and prospective investors. The three-day conference is organized and hosted by Ma’aden. In his inaugural remark, Prince Saud Bin Naif congratulated Ma’aden for making big stride in mining and aluminum sector he said Ma’aden symbolizes unprecedented growth of the industrial sector in the Kingdom and also the wise policies of the architects of the country to diversify from the oil sector. He welcomed the delegates of the conference and hoped that their deliberations will further...
Bauxite mining crucial for the State: AP Govt readies to convince the locals
Bauxite mining in Andhra Pradesh Vishakha Agency area remains a jinxed issue as tribals continue with their protests against State government’s initiative to unlock the state’s mineral development potential. However, N Chandrababu Naidu’s government seems to be doubly determined on this issue and rules out any possibility of backing out from it. In fact, it has lined up a series of actions to convince the protesting tribal organizations with the hope that they would eventually give their consent to the project expected to fill the State coffers. According to the sources, Chief Minister had already given the task of convincing the local tribal people to allow mining of Bauxite in the agency area to HRD minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao and panchayat raj minister Ch Ayyanapatrudu, who belong to...
Mike Hess Brewery premiers 'pint can' with removable top end
Mike Hess Brewing (MHB) has introduced its Open Mike™ beer can, becoming the only brewery in California to use Philadelphia-based Crown Holdings Inc.’s patented 360 End® technology. A simple pull tab removes the entire top end of the can, effectively turning the can into an instant pint glass. “We could not be more excited to debut this breakthrough can design,” says Mike Hess, the brewery’s founder. “For outdoor enthusiasts like me, Open Mike lets us experience the beer wherever we go, whether that’s at the beach or pool deck, stadium parking lot or anywhere in the great outdoors and without the disadvantage of a standard can’s small opening. Craft beer, technology and the active lifestyle come together quite nicely here,” he adds. The new cans and ends are fully recyclable, and the ends...
Rexam issues Q3 2015 trading update
Rexam, a leading global beverage can maker, issued the following trading update for the period from 1 July 2015. Results for the Group are in line with the plans. Overall global beverage can volumes were up 3% (1% excluding the acquisition of UAC) in the third quarter. Volume growth in Europe slowed down as expected with good growth in Germany, Spain and Austria partially offset by softness in Russia, Scandinavia, Belgium and the Netherlands. Volumes were subdued in the Middle East as some borders remained closed. In North America, standard volumes continued to be impacted by the decline in the carbonated soft drink market whilst specialty volumes continued to perform well. Volumes in South America returned to growth in the quarter with a decline in standard cans outweighed by strong...
Denmark's Multicut A/S to produce aluminum parts for F-35
Multicut A/S, a precision component manufacturer located in Vildjberg, Denmark, has been notified by Lockheed Martin that it would be awarded the contract for making aluminum machined parts for F-35 fighters. Under the contract to be issued, the Danish company will produce items such as brackets and fittings for the F-35 for an initial period of three years. "Denmark continues to benefit from participating in the F-35 program, and this contract award with Multicut reaffirms Lockheed Martin's commitment to grow the industrial participation program with Danish companies of all sizes," said Jack Crisler, Lockheed Martin F-35 vice president, at Multicut in Vildbjerg. "Multicut and other Danish companies are participating in a truly international, highly innovative 'next generation' program,...
Sapa granted modular heat sink methodology patent
Sapa has been granted a key patent related to its modular heat sink manufacturing method. This method can create aluminium heat sinks that are approximately eight percent more thermally efficient than the industry standard. United States Patent 13/465431, entitled Heat sink and method of manufacturing, utilizes a modular concept that enables maximum flexibility with fin geometry, fin ratio and heat sink footprint, yielding heat sink ratios in excess of 40:1. “This patent recognizes Sapa’s breakthrough work in aluminium extrusion manufacturing and friction stir welding technology,” says Mike Tozier, application engineering manager for the company in North America. “Not only does this method allow for the production of large-scale heat sinks with very high fin ratios, it is also well-suited...
2015 CMRA Convention: Secondary metals production capacity to be capped
Representatives of the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association Recycling Metals Branch (CMRA), which held its 2015 Annual Convention in Ningbo, China, in early November, warned that the “new normal” economy of China means an end to rapidly growing metals production capacity. Ren Xudong, executive vice president of the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association (CNIA), portrayed a mixture of good and bad conditions for nonferrous metals producers. Many base metal sectors, he said, have an excess capacity issue and “prices are in a downturn both at home and abroad.” Figures for secondary metals production in China for the first nine months in 2015 show aluminum output up 5.5 percent and lead up by 15 percent, but secondary copper production has dropped by 7.1 percent, according to...
