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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Aluminium may trade 106.1-108.9 range, gains at 107.75
Aluminium settled up 0.28% at 107.75 rebounded as LME Aluminium gained to settled at USD 1,636/mt later as the US dollar index fell after the US Fed announced no rate hike in September. Adopting a relatively dovish stance, Fed chair Janet Yellen said the U.S. central bank will begin monetary policy normalization when it has seen "further improvement in the labor market," and it is "reasonably confident" that inflation is moving toward its targeted goal of 2%. Yellen also noted that large drags from falling energy and import prices should dissipate in the near future allowing long-term inflation to move back toward its long-term target. Still, the Fed downgraded its median inflation forecasts at the meeting to 0.3% for the end of 2015, while lowering inflation expectations for the end of...
Bauxite Residue Valorisation and Best Practices Conference sets the stage for next-level R&D
KU Leuven (University of Leuven) is organizing the “Bauxite Residue Valorisation and Best Practices Conference” in Leuven, Belgium from 5-7 October, 2015. The European Training Network for Zero-Waste Valorisation of Bauxite Residue (Redmud) will participate in the event. The organizing committee spokesperson at KU Leuven said, “We believe bauxite residue is a resource- a material that can be valorised, a missed opportunity. We are also aware that our current practice in some parts of the planet has to be revised. We need to change our modus operandi and become more aware and thoughtful about our environmental footprint.” KU Leuven sent out an invitation to this cause to the entire academia and the industry. Referring to the invitation they said, “This is a call to transform our concern...
Alba conducts ‘Market Downturn’ workshop for management
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C (Alba), one of the world’s leading aluminium smelters, held a special workshop - ‘Market Downturn’ for its Executives, Directors and Managers on Wednesday, September 16, 2015 at the Oasis Hall. The ‘Market Downturn’ workshop, led by Alba’s Chief Executive Officer, Tim Murray, aimed to discuss the challenges on the back of the significant drop in LME prices and physical premiums. This workshop has also focused on fast-action cost reduction roadmaps. Mr. Murray stressed on the importance of safety, cost control and productivity improvements. Throughout the workshop, individual departmental goals and roadmaps were reviewed by the CEO, who later opened the floor for discussion. Adding further on the ‘Market Downturn’, Mr. Murray said: “Alba is facing difficult LME...
Pre-holiday stocking to support China aluminium prices this week
Spot aluminum prices in China will draw support since buying will pick up before upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival and Chinese National Day holiday (Oct. 1-7), says Shanghai Metals Market (SMM). Spot discounts of 50 yuan per tonne are expected over Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) 1510 aluminum. Aluminum on London Metal Exchange (LME) might hold between $1,600-1,630 per tonne until market trend clears up. SHFE 1512 aluminum, the most active contract, could hover around 12,000 yuan per tonne.
Galaxy S7 likely to feature new aluminum alloy design
A recently published tech report claims Samsung could be experimenting with a new aluminum-magnesium alloy for the upcoming Galaxy S7. It is unclear why the company wants to try a new metal material, though it may have something to do with Apple. Samsung already uses high-strength 6013 series aluminum in its current flagship devices. That is the same material included in cars and airplanes, so clearly durability is not an issue. Instead, the Galaxy-maker is apparently focused on how the Galaxy S7 will feel to the touch. The goal, as it is understood, is to produce a smooth surface like the iPhone with aluminum. Recently, Apple also upped its own design to 7000-series aluminum for the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus. It could be so that Samsung wants to follow in the footsteps of the tech...
Krumbacher appointed as Group General Counsel for Sapa AS
Florian Krumbacher has been named Group General Counsel for Sapa AS. The appointment was effective September 1. Krumbacher had been serving as interim Group General Counsel since May 2015. He will report to President & CEO Egil Hogna and continue to be part of the Corporate Management Team. Florian Krumbacher"I am very pleased that Florian has agreed to take on the General Counsel role,” says Hogna. “With his broad international background and experience in both commercial and corporate law, he makes a valuable addition to the management team.” Krumbacher joined Sapa in January 2014 as General Counsel for the company’s Extrusion Europe business area. Prior to Sapa, he held similar positions both in Norway and Germany for Renewable Energy Corporation ASA, ADVA Optical Networking and...
Rexam offers customers two new Sleek® aluminium can sizes
Rexam has added two new can sizes to its Sleek® family, reaffirming its position as a leading global can maker with the largest range of can sizes in the industry. The new 400ml and the 473ml super sleek cans, both with 202 ends, are manufactured in Ejpovice, Czech Republic, and are available to customers across Europe. Providing a sophisticated and modern packaging solution, the 400ml can is an ideal shape and size for on-the-go consumption. The new 202 end on the 473ml offers Rexam’s customers a more convenient filling format and is available in addition to the existing 206 end. Speaking about Rexam's range extension, Marianne Freund, Marketing Programme Manager at Rexam says, “The new, tall and modern Sleek® can sizes were created in response to a developing beverage landscape – a...
Chinese aluminum scrap prices edged higher 16th Sep, 2015
The Chinese scrap aluminum market rebounded on Wednesday, September 16th. The Chinese aluminum scrap prices increased marginally on the Scrap Monster Price Index on Sep 16th, Wednesday. 6063 Extrusions witnessed a rise of CNY 100 per MT over the previous day. Aluminum Radiators and Transformers prices increased by CNY 100 per MT each. E.C Aluminum Wire prices jumped higher by CNY 100 per MT to touch CNY 11,850 per MT. Old Cast prices too appreciated by CNY 100 per MT. The prices of Aluminum Radiators and Old Sheet saw marginal rise of CNY 100 per MT each. UBC and Zorba 90% INF prices went higher by CNY 100 per MT each.
More innovation needed to bridge the packaging-recycling gap in Romania
European Aluminium’s packaging group chairman Mr Raphael Thevenin (Constellium) calls upon local authorities and waste management operators to invest in innovative packaging collection and recycling systems, on the occasion of the annual packaging recycling seminar of European Aluminium in Bucharest. Romania, like some other European countries, has to catch up with the more advanced EU Member States. Towards the end of this year, the European Commission will publish a revised proposal for a ‘Circular Economy’, with more ambitious recycling and recovery targets. European Aluminium supports the proposal but stresses the need for realistic targets which take into account the differences between collection infrastructures in Member States. Countries with less advanced recycling...
Buoyant doors and windows market to drive demand for aluminium fenestration products
According to a recently published market research report, the demand for doors and windows in the global housing market will increase at the rate of six percent approximately through 2019- a deceleration from the growth rate recorded in the 2009-2014 period. Value-wise the market size will cross $230 billion. Piggybacking this buoyancy the demand for downstream aluminium and aluminium products will increase providing traction to the entire aluminium value chain. In the report, reduced spending on building and construction in the Asia /Pacific region- the largest market for doors and windows, has been identified as the reason behind the declining demand for doors and windows. However, further recoveries in the housing markets of the US and Europe, the higher income areas, are expected to...
Debt deal helps Bosnia's Aluminij return to profit in first-half
Bosnian aluminium smelter Aluminij Mostar returned to profit in the first half after a deal to settle debts helped it stabilise production. The smelter, which is due to be privatised, reported first-half profit of 7.5 million Bosnian marka ($4.3 million) compared with a loss of 49.1 million marka for the whole of 2014. It did not provide figures for the first half of last year. Aluminij, which is among Bosnia's top exporters, has narrowly avoided closure several times over debt that hit 230 million marka last year. But a debt settling deal arranged last September by the government of Bosnia's autonomous Bosniak-Croat Federation with state-owned power board EPHZHB has enabled it to stop accumulating new debt and stabilise production. Like other smelters across the world, Aluminij has been...
Nalco to spend INR 1,000 cr on developing coal blocks
Indian aluminium major National Aluminium Company Ltd (Nalco) will spend around INR 1,000 crore for developing Utkal D and E coal blocks allocated to it recently. Both the coal blocks are located in the vicinity of Nalco's 0.46 million tonne aluminium smelting facility at Angul. "The company will spend about INR 1,000 crore in next two to three years for the development of two coal blocks. The amount includes INR 128 crore already spent on the development of the Utkal E block", T K Chand, chairman cum managing director, Nalco told media persons on the sidelines of an event here. The Utkal E block was allotted to the navratna PSU ( public sector undertaking) by the Centre in 2004. But the block stood de-allocated after the Supreme Court order that cancelled allocation of 204 coal blocks....
iMT Taiwan 2015 to present latest metal manufacturing technology advancements
The first edition of the International Metal Technology (iMT) Taiwan- the only international exhibition in Taiwan dedicated to metal technology- will be presenting latest manufacturing technologies and high function products from 2-4 December, 2015 at Kaohsiung Exhibition Center. The Future of Manufacturing Driven by highly competitive manufacturers in other countries and mainland China, Taiwan’s metal product industry hopes to enhance the local sector’s innovative capabilities and create new advantages for its products in the global supply chain with the help of smart and fully networked manufacturing. Germany’s Industry 4.0 strategy has become a hot topic around the world, also in Taiwan where businesses are strongly focused on skills, innovation, and customization. Taiwan’s...
Nalco to see limited impact on Odisha coal block: Goldman
Goldman Sachs sees limited impact on National Aluminium Company 's (Nalco) costs and utilisation after the government has allocated two coal blocks in Odisha to it. The Centre has allocated Utkal D and E coal blocks to the aluminium major, which had already set up a 4.6 lakh tonne smelter and 1,200 MW Captive Power Plant in Odisha's Angul district. "Nalco will use coal from these blocks for its captive power plant and will have to surrender an equal amount of linkage coal in lieu of this. Hence, we see limited impact on costs and utilisation," Goldman Sachs says in a note. However, the brokerage expects cost savings of about INR 527 per tonnes of coal, around INR 210 crore annually. According to Goldman's estimates there is a limited potential valuation upside with a further capex of INR...
ISRI launches video promoting the value of recycled electronics
A new video aimed at providing the public with more information on the value and impact of the electronics recycling industry was introduced at the E-Scrap Conference in Orlando by the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI). As part of a series focusing on recyclable commodities, the electronics recycling video details the overall impact of the industry, and brings to life the commodity's environmental and economic impact citing numerous statistics and industry facts. “The electronics recycling video showcases many of the great accomplishments of the electronics recycling industry,” said Robin Wiener, president of ISRI. “The recycling commodity video series as a whole draws attention to and helps educate the public on the many environmental, economic, and energy-saving benefits...
Orbite Technologies updates on HPA construction
Orbite Technologies Inc. today provided an update on the construction of its High Purity Alumina (HPA) Plant located in Cap-Chat Quebec. The company said since commencement in Q3 the commissioning of the project is right on schedule and will be ready for commercial production in Q4. Below are a few highlights from the project update: • Installation of refractory materials in the calciner and decomposer, by RHI Canada Inc., under technical oversight from Outotec, was completed on August 1. • A four-week curing process, whereby the refractory material in both ovens was heated to 900 degrees C, commenced the first week of August and was completed by August 30, as planned. • CNC Mechanical Inc. is now proceeding with the integration of the calcination system into the plant through...
Centre to hold mines auction on behalf of Indian states from November
In a bid to fast-track mineral extraction, the centre will conduct auction of mines bearing minerals such as iron ore, bauxite and limestone on behalf of states for the first phase starting November this year. In phase I, the 12 mineral-producing states have identified 80-90 blocks that will go under the hammer by November. This was made possible after the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2015, was passed in March this year, which stipulates auction as the only means to allow extraction of iron ore and other minerals. “The centre in consultation with the states has decided to hand-hold the mineral-bearing states to conduct the mines auction, latest by November this year for 80-90 mines. This will be phase I. The centre will auction the blocks on behalf of the...
EU lifts sanctions on Iranian mining firm Iralco
The General Court of the European Union has annulled the sanctions listing of the Iranian Aluminum Company (Iralco), Iran’s top state-owned holding company in the mining sector says. The Luxembourg-based court voted to remove Iralco from the list of entities subject to asset freeze, the public relations office of the Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation (IMIDRO) said in a statement. The ruling by the second-highest court in the EU, however, is typically suspended for two months pending appeals by the European Council. Several Iranian companies have successfully had sanctions against them annulled recently after EU's failure to appeal against the General Court ruling ordering the measures to be lifted. The latest were two Iranian companies operating in the oil,...
