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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US produced 302,000 tons of secondary aluminum in July 2015
Total aluminum recovered from scrap in July 2015 was 302,000 tons, slightly less than that recovered in June and in July 2014. Of this, 162,000 tons of aluminum was recovered from new scrap, 7% less than the amount during the preceding month but slightly more than the amount recovered in July 2014. The amount of aluminum recovered from old scrap was 140,000 tons, 4% more than the amount recovered in the preceding month but 5% less than that in July 2014. Alcoa Inc. announced that it will restart secondary aluminum production at its Texarkana, TX, plant that was idled in 2009, citing increased demand for rolled sheet by the automobile industry. Two casting pits would produce rolling slab to be shipped to Alcoa’s rolling mills in Davenport, IA, and Lancaster, PA. Ramp up was expected to be...
US produced 134,000 tons of primary aluminum in July 2015
According to a USGS report, Domestic primary aluminum production in July 2015 was 134,000 metric tons. The average daily production was 4,320 tons, 3% less than the daily production during the preceding month and 6% less than that in July 2014. The monthly average U.S. market price of primary aluminum ingot decreased to $0.832 per pound in July from $0.854 per pound in June. The monthly average price decreased to $0.784 per pound in August. Inventories of primary aluminum in London Metal Exchange Ltd. approved warehouses in the United States continued their downward trend, decreasing to 658,000 tons at the end of August, their lowest level since October 2008.
Iran steps up aluminium shipment to China
Iran increased its primary aluminium shipment volumes to the world’s top consumer China after global premiums for the white metal along with the prices declined sharply hitting demand from its long time buyers Turkey and Middle East. Iran left behind Russia and other exporting nations in the race to become China’s top overseas supplier of primary aluminium in August. As per China trade data, Iran shipped 13,925 tonnes of primary aluminium last month becoming the largest seller of the metal to China in the first eight months period of 2015. The escalation in shipment volume is quite unusual given the fact the Chinese market is flooded with excess primary aluminium which the country is selling out to the global markets in the form of disguised aluminium products leading to a mammoth surplus...
Aluminium projects valued at around $490 million planned in Shandong
The government of Binzhou City in China recently inked three agreements pertaining to aluminium projects in various parts of Shandong Province. The three projects include a prebaked anode project with 1.2 million tonnes per year (tpy) capacity in Huimin Country, a 60,000-tpy aluminium wafer and other aluminium alloy flat-rolling project in Zouping County, and an advanced aluminium alloy wheel project in Binzhou Economic & Technological Development Zone. The total investment for the projects is valued at around 3.1 billion yuan ($490 million).
Sapa hosts Health & Safety Day in the Americas
Each of Sapa’s aluminium extrusion operations in North and South America stopped the presses on September 17 last week to celebrate their annual Health & Safety Day. Open to employees, their families and invited guests, Sapa’s Health & Safety Day is designed to celebrate and encourage a safe work environment by providing employees with training and information to improve on-the-job safety, as well as their own health and well-being. Sapa’s annual event – this year’s edition was the sixth – celebrates the standards that the company has set for the industry. The theme of this year’s day-long event was Start Safe. Work Safe. Leave Safe. “This annual event recognizes our commitment to the health and safety of our employees on an individual level. We understand the importance of education on...
LME aluminium to test support at $1,612
Aluminium on London Metal Exchange (LME) is expected to test a support at $1,612 per tonne, a break below which could cause a fall to $1,590. The support is provided by the 14.6 percent Fibonacci projection level of an upward wave c, the third wave of a presumed three-wave cycle that developed from the Aug. 24 low of $1,506. This wave failed to extend above a resistance at $1,647, the 38.2 percent level, signalling it may have completed its first leg. The current second leg could extend to $1,590. Resistance is at $1,625, the 23.6 percent level, a break above which could open the way towards $1,647.
Aluminium falls by 0.4% on global cues
Aluminium prices were down 0.38% to INR 106.15 per kg in futures trade today as investors offloaded positions amid weak global cues and muted demand at spot markets. At the Multi Commodity Exchange, aluminium for delivery in current month eased by 40 paise, or 0.38%, to INR 106.15 per kg in a business turnover of 62 lots. Similarly, the metal for delivery in October was trading lower by 30 paise, or 0.28%, at INR 106.70 per kg in seven lots. Marketmen said the fall in aluminium prices at futures trade was mostly in tune with a weak trend at London Metal Exchange (LME) as industrial metals retreated on investor concern about demand prospects amid the economic slowdown in China.
Alba hosts delegation from ESSEC and FABS, Bahrain
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C (Alba), one of leading national companies in Bahrain received on September 17, 2015 a delegation comprising key members of ESSEC Business School and French Arabian Business School (FABS), Bahrain. The occasion was to honour Alba employees who recently graduated from the Alba sponsored 18-month MBA programme - offered by FABS, Bahrain in partnership with the ESSEC Business School, one of Europe’s leading business schools. ESSEC Business School was represented by its Dean, ESSEC Executive Education, Prof. Thomas Jean Jean, and Professor, Management Department, Dr. Cédomir Nestorovic, while FABS was represented by its Director Dr. Karim Said along with Samia Abdel Khalek, Coordinator for FABS. HE the Ambassador of France, M. Bernard Régnauld-Fabre and French Cultural...
OMC writes to environment ministry seeking guidance on Niyamgiri bauxite deposit
The Odisha government hasn't quite relinquished its right to mine the controversial Niyamgiri bauxite deposit, originally identified to supply ore to Vedanta Resources' nearby alumina refinery. State-owned Orissa Mining Corporation (OMC), which was granted mining rights for 30 years in 2004, has written to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF), seeking "guidance on how to proceed" with the matter. Two years ago, a dozen villages in southern Odisha invoked their right to worship the Niyamgiri hilltop, warding off government plans to open a bauxite mine in their neighbourhood. The historic and exceptional referendum ordered by the Supreme Court was cited in January of 2014 by the then union government to refuse final forest clearance to the proposed mine,...
India aluminum scrap prices decline in line with MCX aluminium
The major aluminium scrap commodities dropped on Scrap Register Price Index as on Friday, September 18. India's major scrap commodities like aluminium accessories scrap, aluminium rod company, aluminium rod local, aluminium sheet cutting, aluminium wire scrap traded down on Friday. The most active September aluminium contract on Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) settled down by 1.114% to INR 106.550 per kilogram on Friday from previous close of INR 107.75 per kilogram. The MCX aluminium prices touched an intra-day high of INR 108.25 per kilogram and an intra-day low of INR 106.40 per kilogram during Friday. The open interest of the contract stood at 2878 lots. Aluminium futures prices at MCX settled down after the Federal Reserve left U.S. rates unchanged stoking concerns over the strength...
Ford F-150 to shed more steel and use aluminium instead from Alcoa
Ford F-150, America’s top-selling vehicle for 33 straight years, will shed even more steel. Ford announced it would use aluminium from Alcoa’s new micromill in Texas to make more automotive parts for the best-selling F-150 truck, which is now about 25 percent aluminium after switching to the lighter metal. It plans to shed 700 pounds steel to improve mileage and comply with tougher federal emissions rules. Alcoa said its new next-generation aluminium alloys are more formable; so, they can be used for parts like fenders and inside door panels that have traditionally been made with steel. “Light-weighting enables us to design vehicles with great customer attributes – like the F-150, which can tow more, haul more, accelerate quicker and stop faster than the previous F-150, and is more...
Ball Corp's Rexam deal faces list of EU antitrust concerns
The European Commission issued a statement of objections expressing concerns over Ball Corp's 4.4 billion-pound ($6.9 billion) purchase of Rexam Plc. This comes months after the regulators said the deal may increase the price of aluminum cans and bottles. Ball is likely to be asked sooner or later this month to offer adequate remedies, but for which the deal might run the risk of getting blocked. Statements of objections are standard practice in complex merger cases where no concessions have yet been made. The Ball-Rexam tie-up is the biggest takeover in metal and glass packaging, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Both Ball and London-based Rexam supply aluminium beverage cans to Coca-Cola Co. and brewer Anheuser-Busch InBev NV. The combined company will have about 22,500 employees...
ALFED members visit London Metal Exchange
Distinguished members of the Aluminium Federation (ALFED), the trade association representing the UK aluminium industry recently paid a visit to the London Metal Exchange (LME). The visit was hosted by Oscar Wehtje, LME's Head of Product Development, and guests were able to see the trading ring - the only such physical ring still active - in action for kerb trading at the end of the trading day. Oscar's presentation about the LME’s aluminium contract and the changes that have been, and are being made at the LME to create more liquidity and transparency in the aluminium market may be found here. ALFED is planning a second members’ visit to the LME in early 2016. A date for the visit will be announced soon.
IMO warns on bauxite liquefaction dangers
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has taken action to warn ship Masters of the possible dangers of liquefaction associated with carriage of bauxite, following consideration of findings from the investigation into the loss of the 10-year-old Bahamas flag bulk carrier Bulk Jupiter, which was carrying 46,400 tonnes of bauxite when it sank rapidly with 18 fatalities in January 2015. A circular approved by IMO’s Sub-Committee on Carriage of Containers and Cargoes (CCC), meeting at IMO Headquarters, warns ship Masters not to accept bauxite for carriage unless: • the moisture limit for the specific cargo is certified as less than the indicative moisture limit of 10% and the particle size distribution as is detailed in the individual schedule for bauxite in the IMSBC Code; or • the...
Rusal plans more JVs with Chinese companies
United Company Rusal Plc, a leading aluminum producer, is setting up more joint venture with its Chinese partners in Russia to make high value-added, greener aluminum products. "Rusal has a clear advantage in aluminum technologies, and hydropower resources are abundant in Russia," Oleg Mukhamedshin, deputy chief executive officer of UC Rusal, said during the ongoing Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2015, or the Summer Davos, inDalian. "Chinese companies' strong edge in engineering and design and in other areas will help us develop high-end aluminum alloys at lower costs and less emissions," he said. The company, listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2010, has been dedicated to developing key value-added products, such as aluminum sheet and foundry aluminum alloy,for modernization...
Aluminum makers call for `green' trademark to sell at a premium
The biggest aluminum producers are discussing the introduction of a “green” trademark for the lightweight metal that could be sold at a premium and encourage carbon footprint reductions among rivals, United Co. Rusal’s deputy chief executive officer said. “Since many of consumers, such as the car industry, are working on becoming more nature-friendly, the issue of clean aluminum output becomes important," Oleg Mukhamedshin said in an interview last week. As an example, "even if a car with an aluminum body enables lower CO2 emissions, more pollution could have been caused by the company producing that metal, which damages the idea of clean vehicles." Energy comprises most of the aluminum industry’s costs, and carbon dioxide generated by fossil fuels such as coal makes up almost 60 percent...
Guinea banks on top-quality bauxite to spur economic growth
Bauxite mined by Guinea’s biggest producer Compagnie des Bauxites de Guinee- a company owned by io Tinto Plc, Alcoa Inc., Dadco Alumina & Chemicals Ltd. and the government, has been the country’s steadiest source of income since it first produced the ore forty years ago. The company is all set to lead a new wave of investment that may spur the West African nation’s economy and more than double bauxite output. Its $1 billion plan will almost double its annual production to 28.5 million metric tons within five years, Chief Executive Officer Namory Conde said. Four other developments would add a further 20 million tons to Guinea’s annual exports. “There’s going to be a lot more bauxite coming out of Guinea,” Conde said at CBG’s headquarters in the town of Kamsar. “Our quality is much better...
China's rising output, price rout deepen aluminum industry gloom
Sinking aluminum prices and a ballooning surplus of the metal have deepened the industry's worst crisis in years, intensifying pressure on high-cost smelters to embark on another round of production cuts to revive prices from their malaise. The 25 percent drop since last September has pushed benchmark London Metal Exchange (LME) prices to six-year lows, and the unprecedented plunge this year in premiums, surcharges paid for physical delivery, to their lowest in 3-1/2 years are the biggest test for producers' margins since the 2008 financial crisis. More than 10 percent of smelting capacity outside of China, or 3.5 million tonnes of production, is running in the red with a combined LME and U.S. premium of $1,800 per tonne, according to Wood Mackenzie data from second-quarter results. On...
