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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Alcoa named sustainability leader on Dow Jones Indices
For the fourteenth year in a row, lightweight metals leader Alcoa has been named as one of the world’s leading companies for sustainability on the prestigious Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI)—a globally recognized and reputable benchmark for corporate responsibility and sustainability. Alcoa was again recognized as the Aluminum Industry Leader on the Dow Jones World Index. “Sustainability guides everything we do, from creating innovative solutions that help de-carbonize our world and create value for customers, to improving the sustainability of our own manufacturing processes,” said Kevin McKnight, Alcoa’s Chief Sustainability Officer and Vice President of Environment, Health and Safety. “The progress we continue to make demonstrates that we live our sustainability value every...
Challenging market to affect Hindalco's performance: KM Birla
The challenging conditions in the commodities market, particularly the aluminium sector, will impact Hindalco's performance in the short term, said Hindalco Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla. Birla, also the Chairman of the Aditya Birla Group, said improved aluminium fundamentals and large-scale smelting curtailment by global majors have supported the recovery in aluminium price. "The commodity markets, in particular the aluminium industry, are going through a challenging phase at present because of the sharp slide in realisations. This would impact Hindalco's performance in the near term," said Birla at Hindalco's AGM. He, however, said the firm is all set to capitalise on the growth opportunities such as growing urbanisation, light weight of vehicles and growth in emerging markets. "2015-16...
Chinese aluminium smelters will cut output under rising pressure, observes Rusal
China will pare down its aluminium smelting capacity, should global prices of aluminum remain low over the long term, opined Rusal President Oleg Djeripaska. With stringent environmental protection laws in place, energy-intensive and high carbon footprint industrial activities like aluminium smelting will face a setback leading to cost escalation. As a result, primary aluminium makers might be forced to shut down the smelters, said Oleg Djeripaska. Global aluminum prices plummeted to hit a six-year low on global surplus.
HTA's new automated fibre laser cutter expedites aluminium sheet processing
Coventry-based HTA Group has invested over £2 million in automated laser profiling technology in an installation that is said to be unparalleled in the UK. The equipment comprises two 5kW TRUMPF TruLaser 5040 fibre laser cutting machines (4m by 2m format) with BrightLine fiber technology and SortMaster part sorting automation. Both machines are connected to an automated storage system via automated loading and unloading systems. The installation will help the company enhance its customer offer, namely the supply of laser cut parts and fabrications for industries that include construction, automotive, defence, rail, renewables and oil and gas. “We wanted to take our profiling capability to a whole new level, using the very latest technology available,” says the company’s managing director,...
Redwave to showcase its aluminium recycling expertise
Recycling technology specialist Redwave of Austria is to throw open the doors of its headquarters to customers and industry experts from around the globe on September 30 and October 1. The event is being described by Redwave as ‘the best opportunity to stay on top of new developments in the field of scrap metal and aluminium recycling’, and will feature the company’s latest innovations. There will also be presentations from experts representing different sectors of the scrap metal and aluminium recycling industry. In addition, visitors will have the opportunity to witness live demonstrations, including of the new-generation Redwave XRF sorting machine. The REDWAVE XRF-M analyses and evaluates materials including aluminium scrap according to chemical composition. Unwanted parts are...
Nalco decides not to shift smelter out of Odisha
After threatening to pull its proposed INR 30, 000 crore project for setting up an aluminium smelter and a power plant at Darlipali in Sundargarh district out of Odisha, public sector behemoth Nalco has now come back from the brink and agreed to have it at the place decided. The rapprochement came after a discussion between Odisha industries Minister Debi Prasad Mishra and Nalco Chief Managing Director Tapan Chand, sources in the state government said. The two discussed the Navaratna company’s investment plans in the state and the bottlenecks the company is facing while trying to implement them. The Minister assured Chand all possible assistance from the government in carrying out its investment plans in the state, which also includes the expansion of its Damanjodi facility, the sources...
SMM aluminum market morning review (2015-9-16)
LME aluminum fell to USD 1,590/mt on Tuesday, but then bounced back to above USD 1,600/mt on exit of shorts. Finally, LME aluminum ended at USD 1,617.5/mt. Trading volumes were up 6,470 lots to 16,553 lots, and positions were down 4,375 to 828,000. It’s worth noting that LME aluminum inventories surged 87,500 mt to 3,263,375 mt. The growth was contributed by Singapore and Port Kelang Malaysia, where inventories increased 27,775 mt and 67,925 mt, respectively. SHFE 1511 aluminum tracked LME aluminum up during Tuesday’s night session, but met resistance at RMB 11,940/mt. The most active contract should range RMB 11,900-12,000/mt on Wednesday. In China’s spot market, SHFE 1510 aluminum has become the front-month contract today. Spot discounts might widen to RMB 80-40/mt over SHFE 1510...
Rexam releases 2015 Sustainability Report
Rexam published its 2015 Sustainability Report in concurrence with the publication of 2016 Dow Jones Sustainability Index; and Rexam has again been listed as an industry leader in sustainability. The index is published by RobecoSAM, an investment specialist focused exclusively on sustainability investing. Rexam has improved its score in 10 categories within the 2016 index, and is overall industry leader in Risk & Crisis Management, Human Capital Development and Labour Practice Indicators & Human Rights. Rexam’s Sustainability Report demonstrates how the business has embedded sustainability to achieve these results. The report also details the company’s progress against its 2020 commitments, including targets such as the reduction of each can’s carbon footprint by 25% and the reduction of...
Booming aerospace materials market will buoy demand for aluminium alloys
The aerospace materials market is expected to reach $23.8 billion in 2022, reveals data from a recently published report. The main drivers for the growth of the global aerospace market are change in technology, increased aircraft size, and high replacement rate. Buoyed by this steady growth, demand for materials such as aluminium alloys, titanium alloys and composite materials are used for building aircrafts will also increase in the next five year period. According to the report, aluminium alloys accounts for nearly 50.0% of the market in terms of volume; yet it corresponds to only around 25 per cent of the market in terms of value. The demand for aluminium alloys is likely to remain steady in between 2014 and 2019, but raise in usage of the composite materials and titanium alloys in the...
Alcoa to commercialize MicromillTM Technology in Worldwide Licensing Deal
Lightweight metals leader Alcoa today announced it will commercialize its breakthrough MicromillTM technology, working with the Danieli Group, a global supplier of plants and equipment to the metals industry. Danieli will license Alcoa’s intellectual property associated with manufacturing advanced Micromill® products. In a separate announcement made earlier today, Alcoa and Ford Motor Company said that the automaker has selected Micromill material to be used on its 2016 Ford F-150 truck. Under the letter of intent, Alcoa and Danieli will work toward an agreement to sell Micromill equipment and license the patented Micromill technology. As part of the collaboration, Alcoa will grant Danieli exclusive rights to sell Micromill equipment for a limited period of time. In addition, the...
Ball maintains leadership position for sustainability
Ball Corporation has been named the industry leader for container and packaging companies on the 2015 Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) for the third consecutive year. Ball Corporation maintained its best-in-class position on both the DJSI World Index, and the Dow Jones Sustainability Index North America. "Achieving placement on the prestigious Dow Jones indices for sustainability is significant and we're proud to be listed once again," said John A. Hayes, chairman, president and CEO. The DJSI World Index tracks the performance of the top 10 percent of the 2,500 largest companies on the S&P Global Broad Market IndexSM that lead the field in terms of sustainability; while the DJSI NA tracks the performance of the top 20 percent of the 600 largest Canadian and United States companies....
Metalico completes sale to Total Merchant
US scrap metal operator Metalico, Inc. has completed its acquisition by Total Merchant Ltd. In June this year, Metalico confirmed that it had accepted Total Merchant's all-cash offer of some US$ 102 million subject to the approval of shareholders. It will continue operating under its current management. Metalico, Inc. and its subsidiaries run ferrous and non-ferrous scrap operations, as well as platinum group metal and minor metal recycling facilities. Operating three car shredders, the company has locations in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, New Jersey and Mississippi. The company expects the relief from debt resulting from the sale and its strengthened balance sheet to 'reinvigorate Metalico as a prominent force in its markets and potential acquirer of other scrap...
Indian aluminium makers need to be cost competitive, say analysts
Hurt by spate of cheaper imports and plummeting LME (London Metal Exchange) prices, Indian aluminium makers need to focus on cost competitiveness in the long run to compete against their global counterparts, observe analysts. Aluminium producers like National Aluminium Company (Nalco), Hindalco Industries and Vedanta have been pressing for hike in import duty to 10 per cent (from five per cent now) to counter the threat from rising imports from China and West Asia. Also, falling metal prices have eroded their competitive edge, forcing them to keep half of their capacities idle. "Increase in import duty can provide an immediate relief to Indian aluminium producers but in the longer run, cost competitiveness is important. Two key input costs are energy cost and bauxite cost. With all key...
ARABAL to look at the integration of the Gulf aluminium industry
The Arab International Aluminium Conference "ARABAL" organized by the Saudi Arabian Mining Company from 15 - 17 November in Dhahran International Exhibitions Center, Eastern Province, will discuss the integration of the aluminium upstream and downstream sectors throughout the GCC. On the first day of the conference the CEOs of the Gulf companies will examine the current situation of aluminium markets and investment opportunities in the Gulf region as well as market analysis, research the sustainability of the industry and discuss the challenges facing investors. The second day of the conference will focus on the aluminium industry’s best practices in environment, health and safety, as well as operational excellence, productivity, innovation and technology. Day three will provide a...
ISRI Scrap Yearbook 2015 provides insight into the recycling industry
The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) recently released its fourth annual ISRI Scrap Yearbook, providing the most comprehensive information and statistical look at U.S. scrap recycling, as well as a detailed look at the global nature of recycling, how it has evolved and operates, and the scope of economic and environmental benefits recycling provides. “Looking back, 2014 was a year of uncertainty in the recycling industry, with extremely challenging conditions both at home and abroad,” said Joe Pickard, ISRI’s chief economist. “The ISRI Scrap Yearbook 2015 shows in detail how the industry continues to evolve in the face of disconnected markets and global imbalances. It contains a wealth of information and provides a larger context that stands to benefit both industry veterans...
Vedanta Limited updates on its merger with Cairn India
Vedanta Limited, subsidiary of Vedanta Resources Plc, and Cairn India Limited have received No Objection from BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited vide their Observation letters dated September 10, 2015 in relation to their proposed merger. No Objection letters have been issued by the stock exchanges after receiving comments from Securities and Exchange Board of India. In an earlier announcement dated June 14, 2015, India’s leading diversified natural resources company, Vedanta Ltd had announced that it is merging with Cairn India. Mr Anil Agarwal, Chairman of Vedanta plc, had said on the occasion: “The merger of Cairn India and Vedanta Limited consolidates our position as India’s leading diversified natural resources champion, uniquely positioned to support...
Alba supports MEPEC2015 to be held on Sept 15-17 in Bahrain
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C (Alba), one of the world’s leading aluminium smelters, is the gold sponsor for the third Middle East Process Engineering Conference & Exhibition (MEPEC), on September 15-17 at the Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre (BIECC) under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa the Prime Minister, MEPEC's theme is ‘Delivering Process Efficiency through Innovation and Value Creation’. Alba, through its sponsorship and participation in MEPEC, aims to support innovations and developments in the field of process engineering, as well as meet and interact with potential trade partners in the field of chemical and process engineering. Speaking about Alba’s support for MEPEC 2015, Alba’s Chief Executive Officer, Tim Murray said:...
Centre allots Utkal D&E Coal Blocks to NALCO
National Aluminium Company (NALCO) has been allocated Utkal D and E Coal Blocks, in Angul district of Odisha, where the company's 4.6 lakh tonne aluminium smelter and 1200 MW captive power plant are located. The company's smooth operation and expansion plans hinged on the allocation of these blocks by the government of India. With this, NALCO's captive resources add 200 million tonnes of coal, which will see the company through the next three decades and more. Utkal E Coal Block was allotted to NALCO by Government of India in 2004. The company had spent INR 126.34 crore for this block, including INR 98 crore towards compensation against land acquisition. The company had also spent considerably on infrastructural facilities and various CSR activities in the area. However, the cancellation...
