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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Century announces third aluminium smelter curtailment in 2 months
Century aluminium Co, controlled by Glencore Plc, said it will curtail one of three potlines at its Sebree, Kentucky, aluminium smelter by December 31, the company's third capacity reduction in two months as weak prices bite. The curtailment will reduce the 210,000 tonne-per-year plant's capacity by around 70,000 tonnes and comes just one week after it announced plans to close its 224,000-tonne Mount Holly, South Carolina, smelter by Dec. 31 if it does not receive a favorable power deal. Century blamed the need to close the Sebree potline on low aluminium prices due to Chinese overcapacity and rising exports, resulting in a sharp drop in aluminium futures and the premiums paid for physical delivery of the metal have fallen sharply, harming producers. In late August, it announced plans to...
First Bauxite Corp announces Private Placement and rollover of existing debt
First Bauxite Corporation is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement to Resource Capital Fund VI L.P. of an aggregate of US$15 million principal amount secured convertible notes bearing 8% interest and maturing August 1, 2017 to close in two tranches, the first of which closed today with the issuance of a US$4 million Note. The principal amount of the Notes will be convertible at the option of RCF into common shares of the company at CAD$0.05698 per share for a period of one year from the date of issuance and CAD$0.10 per share thereafter, while interest outstanding on the converted amount may, at RCF's election, be settled by the issue of company shares at the Market Price. The company may prepay the principal amount of the Notes in shares valued at the Conversion Price if...
Malaysia overtakes Australia as China’s top bauxite supplier
Overwhelming price appeal made Malaysia overtake Australia as the top bauxite supplier to China during January-September period. Bauxite imports from Malaysia soared to 15.87 million tonnes (mt) during the first nine months 2015, surpassing 15.09 mt imported from Australia, showed customs data. China, the world's top aluminium producer, imported 6.81 mt of bauxite ore in September, up 138.62% year-on-year. Average CIF price of Malaysian bauxite in September was $45.97 per tonne, 13.83% lower than Australian ore and 27.53% lower than Indian ore, SMM data showed.
LME aluminium unlikely to rebound this week; to retest resistance at $1,488
Aluminium on London Metal Exchange (LME) will have little chance of a rally this week, SMM said last week, Friday. The US dollar will stay elevated on US Fed’s hawkish tone, and SHFE aluminium will remain in downward track, boding ill for LME aluminium. Also, LME aluminium has met strong resistance at the 5-day moving average. The metal on London exchange is expected to retest resistance at $1,488 per tonne, as it has completed a downtrend from the October 9 high of $1,646. The trend could be broken down into five small waves, signaling its completion. This explains why the metal could stabilise around support at $1,462, the 161.8 percent Fibonacci projection level of the trend. The consolidation above this support strongly suggests the formation of a bottom, which will be followed by a...
RUSAL invests up to $10 million in the casthouse modernisation project at Sayanogorsk
UC RUSAL, a leading global aluminium producer, has conducted the initial tests of new equipment within the project for melting furnace installation in the casthouse at Sayanogorsk smelter (RUSAL Sayanogorsk). The project investment will total up to USD 10 million. The project, scheduled to be implemented throughout 2015–2016, aims to boost efficiency by recycling the processed waste of value-added products. The company expects annual volumes of processed waste to exceed 27 thousand tonnes, including dross pressing. At the first stage of the project new equipment has been purchased: an automated hot dross pressing machine equipped with a gas filtering system. ‘Installation of a melting furnace will allow us to bring VAP production efficiency at the smelter to a fundamentally new level. As...
Showa Aluminum Can builds integrated production system in Vietnam
Showa Aluminum Can Corporation, a consolidated subsidiary of Showa Denko, completed construction of can end production lines in Vietnam, and went into quantity production of can ends this October. In May 2014, SAC acquired controlling stake of Hanacans Joint Stock Company (Hanacans), an aluminum beverage can manufacturer of Vietnam. Since then, by introducing SAC's advanced manufacturing technology and latest quality management system into Hanacans, SAC has successfully increased Hanacans' sales in Vietnamese market where demand for canned beer continues increasing. In the past, Hanacans did not have the line to produce can ends, and outsourced them. Therefore, Hanacans started to set up new can end production facilities in October 2014. Moreover, in August 2015, Hanacans was successfully...
Sapa continues improvement in financial results
Sapa continued to improve its financial performance with a third quarter result that was significantly better than its result in the same quarter last year. Underlying EBIT in the third quarter was NOK 404 million, compared with NOK 201 million last year. The increase was driven by positive contributions from improvement programs and restructuring efforts, strong North American demand, and positive currency effects. Through the first nine months of 2015, underlying EBIT for Sapa was approximately 80 percent higher than in the same period last year. The improvement in underlying EBIT this year was influenced by the same factors, partly offset by negative effects from sharply falling metal premiums in North America. Operating revenues rose by 20 percent in the third quarter, compared with...
Greater awareness takes Alufoil container recycling to new high
New data released by EAFA, the European Aluminium Foil Association, confirms that recycling rates in Europe for alufoil trays and semi-rigid containers in 2013 reached about 55%. The previous reporting period (2010) saw that figure rise above 50% following concerted efforts by the industry to promote the benefits of resource efficient and sustainable packaging options. The Association says continued work by the industry to promote the value of collection and recycling; along with national campaigns are having significant effects. Increased awareness has seen consumers recognise all aluminium foil trays and containers, not only those used as primary packaging, can be recycled, as well as other kitchen products, such as disposable alufoil BBQ and oven trays. EAFA's Container Group Chairman...
Award-winning UK ‘treehouse’ features aluminium systems
Aluminium curtain walling from the Technal brand has helped turn a stunning “treehouse” suspended in the woodland canopy in Yorkshire into a multi-award winning conference venue recognized for architectural excellence. Designed by architects The Harris Partnership and built by Conlon Construction, the 2,060-squre foot aerofoil-shaped “treehouse” was commissioned by the Bayford Group at the former ancestral home of aviation pioneer Robert Blackburn, who inspired its aeronautical theme and its name, the Blackburn Wing. Accommodating up to 140 people, the stunning timber, copper and glass events center is the centrepiece of a £6m multi-phase restoration project across the historic, 19th-century Bowcliffe Estate in Yorkshire. It is one of only two structures ever to have been built in an area...
North American aluminum scrap prices declined on Index 28th Oct, 2015
The North American aluminum scrap prices declined on ScrapMonster Price Index as on October 28th, Wednesday. 1100 Scrap prices declined by $0.01 per Lb. The prices of 3003 Scrap too fell $0.01 per Lb. A down move of $0.01 per Lb was witnessed in 356 Aluminum Wheels and 6061 Extrusions. Meantime, 5052 Scrap prices, 6063 Extrusions and 6063 Extrusions/Fe too declined by $0.01 per Lb over the previous day. The prices of Al/Cu Radiators and Al/Cu Radiators/Fe remained flat over the previous day. Aluminum Radiators prices went down by $0.01 per Lb. Aluminum Radiators/Fe and Aluminum Transformer prices held steady on 28th Oct. Breakage 50% Recovery prices too remained unchanged. E.C Aluminum Wire prices too slipped by $0.01 per Lb. The prices of Litho Sheets and Old Cast witnessed decline of...
Metalface offers new communication option for recyclers
Metalface, an Internet and mobile communication network designed for metals recyclers, says it will go online in late October 2015. Sepp Hermelink of the Netherlands-based company describes Metalface as an “all-in-one business network [that] will enable metal recyclers to find, connect, communicate and share prices with people in the industry in real time.” Hermelink says Metalface is “backed by industry leading companies in the media, [trade] federations and recyclers.” Adds Hermelink, “This platform will revolutionize the way people in the metal recycling industry will communicate.” On its website, Metalface offers to provide access to a network of contacts who can be found by searching for “metal recyclers at over 15,000 companies worldwide.” Metalface says its chat app provides access...
Bauxite mining in Bua continues, two more sites being explored
Bauxite mining in Fji's Bua province has not ended and other prospective sites are being explored for possible deposits. This was confirmed to members of the Parliament Standing Committee on Natural Resources by Department of Mineral Resources director Malakai Finau. Mr Finau said although the company mining bauxite at Nawailevu had started exploration on Wainunu in Bua, there was no guarantee it would be given access to other sites. "In Nawailevu there are two sites, Nawailevu south and Nawailevu north, they haven't completed exporting," said Mr Finau. He said standing bauxite at the stockpile site at Naviqiri amounted to 70,000 wet metric tonnes, which was estimated during the last inspection visit by the department. Mr Finau also revealed the initial $US26 ($F55) per tonne had to be...
Aluminium futures weaken on global cues
Aluminium prices were down 0.78 per cent to INR 95.30 per kg in futures trade today as investors reduced exposures amid weak global cues and sluggish demand in the domestic spot markets. At the Multi Commodity Exchange, aluminium for delivery in November eased by 75 paise, or 0.78 per cent, to INR 95.30 per kg, in a business turnover of 416 lots. Similarly, the metal for delivery in October was trading lower by 70 paise, or 0.74 per cent, at INR 93.90 per kg in 513 lots. Marketmen said the weakness in aluminium at futures trade was mostly in tune with a weak trend at London Metal Exchange (LME) as industrial metals weakened after hints of an interest rate hike in December by the US Federal Reserve boosted the dollar and diminishing commodities appeal.
Ford's Q3 results show investment in aluminum F-150 was paying off
Ford Motor posted third quarter results which narrowly missed expectations but showed the automaker is doing extremely well in the United States. Ford was the number one selling brand in the U.S. and its aluminium F-150 sales hit a nine-year high. The automaker posted third quarter profits of $0.45 a share, excluding one-time items, that was a penny short of forecasts. The shortfall was due to the company paying a 33 percent rate versus 32 percent. On the top line, auto sales came in at $35.8 billion, slightly higher than forecasts and about nine percent above the same period last year. Ford CFO Bob Shanks said over the next 12 months, emerging markets will continue to be a challenge and he believes South America has not hit bottom yet. In China, the automakers market share was unchanged...
Governor announces Kobe Aluminum Automotive Products expansion
Kobe Aluminum Automotive Products announced a $57 million worth investment in its Bowling Green plant, which will add 112 jobs. The116,000-square-foot plus addition will provide KAAP with capacity for substantial aluminium automotive equipment upgrades. The company anticipates growing its business in the coming years, and the expansion is planned in line with those changes. Construction of the project will begin in December 2015 and is expected to be finished by October 2016. KAAP began production in Bowling Green in 2005 and currently employs 368 Kentuckians. The company invested in five previous expansions totaling $236 million.
Alcoa opens advanced jet engine parts facility in Indiana
Lightweight metals leader Alcoa today officially opened its state-of-the-art jet engine parts facility in La Porte, Indiana. The facility doubles Alcoa’s capacity in La Porte and provides new capabilities that broaden its reach in engines for large commercial aircraft. The new plant will meet increasing demand from makers of best-selling jet engines, growing Alcoa’s value-add business in aerospace. “Innovation is at the heart of the La Porte expansion,” said Alcoa Chairman and CEO Klaus Kleinfeld. “We combined some of the world’s best metallurgists, product engineers and manufacturing experts to broaden our capabilities and deliver the highly advanced components our customers need to build jet engines at high volumes.” The approximately $100 million, 320,000-square-foot expansion,...
Manufacturing vital to UK economy, says Aluminium Federation
The Strategy, produced by the UK Metals Forum, aims to revitalise Britain’s metals industry by boosting innovation, encouraging greater cross-sector collaboration, creating 150,000 new jobs and building a sustainable future for the industry. This will drive increased productivity and added value in the sector, which will translate into more corporate and personal tax take for the UK government. Responding to Small Business, Industry and Enterprise Minister Anna Soubry MP at the launch of the Strategy, Aluminium Federation Board member Henry Dickinson reflected that recent developments in the UK steel sector echoed what has happened in recent years with aluminium. “The clear lessons from the past are that once strategic plants like these close, it is highly unlikely that they will ever be...
China power price cut may end up hurting aluminium prices
A helping hand from the Chinese goverment to the slowing economy in the form of cheaper power tariffs may result in further plummeting of aluminum prices, worsening a glut that is already threatening aluminium producers worldwide. On-grid power tariffs in China may be reduced as soon as next month to benefit industrial users and bolster growth. The cut to the price the state grid pays to power generators for electricity would likely be passed on to consumers, according to the analysts. For smelters hooked up to state supplies, which account for a quarter of capacity, that could cut costs by 375 yuan ($59) a metric ton, they observed. Aluminum is the second-worst base-metal performer over the past year as supplies top demand and investors desert commodities, with benchmark prices in London...
