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...
Grow with
AL Circle
Aluminium down 0.26%, hurt by muted demand
Aluminium prices eased 0.26 per cent and were trading at INR 95.15 per kg in futures trade today as speculators reduced exposure, driven by sluggish demand from consuming industries at the spot market amid weak trend overseas. At the Multi Commodity Exchange, aluminium for delivery in October shed 25 paise, or 0.26 per cent to INR 95.15 per kg in business turnover of 620 lots. The November contract traded lower by 20 paise, or 0.21 per cent to INR 96.95 per kg in 144 lots. Analysts said offloading of positions by speculators amid sluggish demand in the spot market and a weak trend in base metals at the London Metal Exchange, mainly led to decline in aluminium prices at futures trade.
Vedanta wins the ‘Excellence in Corporate Governance’ Award by the IOD
Vedanta Limited, India’s only diversified natural resources company, with global assets has been awarded the ‘Excellence in Corporate Governance Award' instituted by the Institute of Directors(IOD), India. This Award recognizes Vedanta’s commitment as an organization to the high standards of corporate governance for which the company a Board of Directors are accountable to all the stake holders. “At Vedanta, we believe in conducting our company affairs with the highest levels of business ethics and personal integrity. With transparent and sound business processes, we continue to fulfill our commitments towards our stakeholders, instilling a sense of confidence in all our relationships. We are pleased to receive this award which reflects our commitment towards corporate governance,...
SHFE aluminum to lead declines in Shanghai market, SMM Says
Base metal prices on the SHFE are expected to continue their declines on October 27, with SHFE aluminum to lead price losses, Shanghai Metals Market foresees. “A considerable increase in short positions on the SHFE aluminum has sent its price to new record lows, and this will also weigh down other base metals on the SHFE,” SMM says. The US durable orders for September are due for release, and are not expected to improve significantly because of August’s poor PMIs. Aluminum price for the most actively-traded contracts will stand at 10,350-10,450 yuan per tonne, according to SMM forecast.
Rexam creates 990 designs for Baltika #3 Russian beer limited collection
Rexam has collaborated with Baltika #3, one of Russia’s most popular beer brands, to create 990 different can designs for a first of its kind limited collection. Using Rexam’s patent pending Editions™ technology, the design project, completed in just three days, is the largest undertaken by Rexam to date. The stand out 50cl cans display names of 990 different Russian cities printed on an identical urban skyline graphic. The efficient formatting of the designs onto cans was made possible by using new software installed as part of the recent investment in Rexam’s Moscow Design Centre. Rexam’s Editions™ technology allowed for 24 different Russian city names to be printed simultaneously on one pallet. The innovative campaign, running until December, aims to promote Russian patriotism and...
China A356 aluminum alloy operating rate falls in September
Operating rate at 15 Chinese A356 aluminum alloy producers dropped to 58.50% in September, Shanghai Metals Market survey found. Output at these producers also fell to 105,300 tonnes, SMM survey showed. Lower profit from tumbling aluminum prices discouraged SMEs from production. Large producers, on the other hand, maintained normal operation.
China aluminum FRP operating rate to fall more sharply in October
The average operating rate at Chinese aluminum plate, sheet, strip and foil producers will fall more sharply in October after a slight decline in September, SMM foresees. SMM bases its prediction on the fact that demand is not strong in October, the traditional high-demand period. The rate was 56.72% at those surveyed by SMM in in September, down slightly from 57.61% in August, due mainly to weakening domestic and overseas demand.
VJIKKS ENGG POWER bags alumina ceramic lining repeat order
Malaysia's Vjikks Engg Power (M) Sdn. Bhd. has successfully ventured into the alumina ceramic wear resistant lining industry by applying its years' of experience in the power sector. Equipped with a team of personnel with strong process knowledge about every system in a conventional fossil fuel fired power plants including combined cycle gas turbine power plants, Vjikks Engg Power had boldly and successfully implemented a project in the balloon manufacturing industry, back in 2013. Everts (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, the only balloon manufacturing industry in Malaysia, placed order on Vjikks Engg Power (M) Sdn. Bhd. to do alumina ceramic lining in one of the ball mills used to mix titanium dioxide. Vjikks Engg Power had successfully executed the job. After having experienced good performance for...
IMO Sub-Committee on CCC updates on carriage of bauxite that may liquefy
At a recent meeting of the IMO Sub-Committee on the Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC), submissions from the lost bulk carrier’s flag state, the Bahamas, were considered. Although the cargo had been declared as a Group C cargo under the IMSBC Code, the vessel’s flag state advised that the loss of the vessel may have been caused by liquefaction of the cargo. In January 2015 the Club had alerted its members to concerns involving the carriage of bauxite cargoes from Malaysia following the loss of a 10 year old bulk carrier, where it was suspected that the cargo was the most likely cause of the casualty. Proposals made by Australia and co-sponsors in relation to the properties of bauxite cargoes, and the need for these to be examined further were also considered. Pending ongoing...
Update: South32 reports 10 percent increase in alumina output in Q1
South32 has reported a 10 percent jump in first quarter alumina output after maintenance work was completed in Australia. Production in the three months to September 30 was 1.36 million metric tons, from 1.24 million tons a year earlier, when the assets were operated by BHP, the Perth-based company said in a statement. South32 forecasts it will cut costs by 25 percent this fiscal year. Aluminum output from South Africa is forecast to decline marginally in fiscal 2016 should some temporary suspensions and current markets prevail, it said in the statement. “We continue to take decisive action to maximize financial performance, rather than volume,” Chief Executive Officer Graham Kerr said in the statement. Producers including Glencore Plc and Freeport-McMoRan Inc. are trimming output of...
Alba appoints a new Manager for regional sales office in United States
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba), one of the leading aluminium smelters in the world, announced the appointment of Patrick Hudson as the new Sales Manager for its regional sales office in United States - Alba Americas. Patrick will be responsible to oversee the growth and development of Alba’s product portfolio within the US markets. He will be based in Atlanta, Georgia, and report directly to Alba’s Chief Marketing Officer, Khalid Abdul Latif. Commenting on the appointment of Patrick Alba’s Chief Marketing Officer, Khalid Abdul Latif said: “Alba Americas represents our commitment to expand our presence in the US market. I congratulate Patrick on his new appointment, and I am confident that he will demonstrate same level of dedication and excellence he has shown in his previous...
Ma’aden "ARABAL 2015" attracts attention of global aluminium companies: 15 sponsors and 42 exhibitors on board
The Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden) announced the participation of 15 sponsors in the Arab International Aluminium Conference and Exhibition (ARABAL 2015), hosted by the company on November 15-17 in the Dhahran International Exhibition Center. Senior industry figures are scheduled to speak at this premier global aluminium event, the largest in the Gulf region. The conference will also include the participation of 35 exhibitors in the exhibition accompanying the conference which highlights the major developments in the global aluminium industry, with a review of the latest updates on regional aluminium sector investments. Ma’aden is currently doing intensive preparations to insure the success of this conference, which has broad interest to those involved in the aluminium industry,...
Hydro’s Recycling Head named to European Aluminium post
Roland Scharf-Bergmann, Head of Recycling in Hydro's Primary Metal business, has been elected chairman of the Recycling Division of European Aluminium by the organization’s General Assembly. European Aluminium represents the interests of the entire value chain of the aluminium industry in Europe. It works to promote aluminium, especially with European Union decision-makers and other important stakeholders. The Recycling Division is responsible for market and policy monitoring of recycling activities. “It is a great honor to be elected the third time to chair European Aluminium’s Recycling Division that comes with the dissolution of OEA – Organisation of the European Aluminium recycling industry – and its full integration into European Aluminium,” Scharf-Bergmann says. “The main focus for...
Australian Bauxite finally gets EFIC finance facility
Australian Bauxite Ltd has concluded a finance facility with EFIC, Australias export credit agency. The facility will provide Australian Bauxite financial assistance to meet transport costs associated with its initial bauxite shipments. Ian Levy, CEO at Australian Bauxite, said: "Efics facility will enable Australian Bauxite to apply its cash reserves toward accelerated production following the unseasonal harsh winter. Warmer spring weather conditions are allowing our team to catch up lost winter production." "Shipping tenders have been received and the contract is about to be placed," he added. With this advancement, Australian Bauxite is now in a position to commence production at their first mine site. The company has a pipeline for development of bauxite deposits in Tasmania,...
The Automotive Lightweight Procurement Symposium to open its doors soon in Detroit
At this year North America Automotive Lightweight Procurement Symposium you have the chance to listen and interchange with executive speakers and delegates from the aluminum, magnesium, steel & composite industry. Lightweighting, supply chain and procurement management will be the main theme and localization, best buy country and make or buy are some of the topics to be presented. OEMs will express their needs & expectations from the supplier and technology as well as lightweighting side while Tiers will showcase their leading weight reduction solutions, joining technologies, material and process hybrid components. "Lightweight Transmissions & Driveline Components - Practical Challenges" is the subject of Mr Renneker`s (Chief Engineer, New A/T Programs & Component – Transmission &...
AEC Files Scope Clarification and Circumvention Case against China Zhongwang Holdings Ltd
The Aluminum Extruders Council (AEC) filed a petition against China Zhongwang Holdings Ltd. alleging the company has systematically and illegally evaded duties on aluminum extrusions imported into the United States. The alleged scheme involves hundreds of millions of pounds of aluminum extrusions that are simply cut and welded into aluminum slabs. Upon entering the U.S. these extrusions are being identified as ‘pallets’ even though the testimony the Council has gathered makes it clear the sole purpose of these extrusions is to re-melt them back into billets. “In late July, the AEC released a statement to the press calling on the United States Government, as well as others identified in the Dupre Analytics report, to investigate issues of transshipment and circumvention by Zhongwang. We...
Montupet Bulgarian unit hopes to resume output at halted line
French producer of cast aluminium parts for the automotive industry Montupet hopes that the Bulgarian authorities will reconsider their decision to stop one of its production lines in the Balkan country, Bloomberg has reported. The regional environment inspectorate in the Bulgarian city of Ruse, on the Danube river, ordered Montupet EOOD last month to halt immediately the operation of its Carousel 1 aluminium casting installation suspected as a source of excessive air pollution. Montupet EOOD, part of Montupet SA group, has lost the appeal of the decision for an immediate production halt. The stoppage, in force since September 25, has cut the plant’s output by as much as 15% percent and caused delivery delays to clients, Didier Crozet, co-executive managing director at Montupet EOOD, has...
AMI Metals to provide aluminium flat rolled material for F-35
Tennessee-based AMI Metals, a subsidiary of Reliance Steel & Aluminum, has secured a contract worth around $300m from Lockheed Martin to provide aluminium flat rolled material for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. The multi-year deal covers the value-added, just-in-time, cut-to-size and cut-to-shape processing of aluminium plate to meet all F-35 aluminium flat rolled requirements. AMI Metals president Scott A. Smith said: "We are proud of our long-term relationship with Lockheed Martin and of our ability to assist them going forward with the aluminium products and services needed for the manufacture of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter military aircraft. "AMI Metals and Lockheed Martin have worked together for the past 30 years on numerous programs that have resulted in on-time delivery of high...
Packaging recovery data shows improvement for aluminium
Packaging waste recovery data for the third quarter of 2015 shows that reported aluminium packaging recycling has recorded its highest ever quarterly performance at 23,330 tonnes, according to figures released by the Environment Agency. According to the Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation (Alupro), the Q3 figures are the direct result of adjustments made to the accreditation process, following lower than expected tonnages in Q1 and Q2, and increasing volumes of aluminium packaging recovered from incinerator bottom ash (IBA) being reported through the system. An estimated 18,800 tonnes is required in the final quarter to achieve the 2015 recycling target. Rick Hindley, executive director of Alupro said: “Alupro has consistently advocated streamlining the reprocessor/exporter...
