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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Altech Chemicals makes key appointment for HPA Project
Altech Chemicals is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Jingyuan Liu as General Manager Operations for its high purity alumina (HPA) project. This key executive appointment marks an important step as the Company progresses its HPA project to detailed plant design and subject to funding preparations for construction. Initially based in Perth, Western Australia it is envisaged that Dr Liu will spend significant time at the Company's Malaysian HPA plant site during construction, commissioning and the transition to steady state operations. Dr. Liu has over 20 years experience in project management, process and equipment design for minerals processing and in the chemicals, non-ferrous metals, iron & steel and energy industries, both in Australian and internationally. He was awarded a PhD...
Investment slows down in Chinese aluminum processing industry
The investment peak in China’s aluminum processing industry might have come to an end. Fixed asset investment in China’s aluminum processing industry totaled 87.5 billion yuan in January-July period, up 4.5% from a year ago. The growth slowed down markedly from over 20% average growth over the past two years. The 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020) will see gradual release of the country’s new capacity, accompanied by industry restructuring and upgrading, opines industry insiders.
North American aluminum scrap prices edged up
The North American aluminum scrap prices ended marginally higher on ScrapMonster Price Index as on Thursday, September 10th, 2015. 1100 Scrap prices moved higher by $0.01 per Lb. The prices of 3003 Scrap too increased $0.01 per Lb. An up move of $0.02 per Lb was witnessed in 356 Aluminum Wheels. Meantime, 5052 Scrap and 6061 Extrusions price saw marginal increase of $0.01 per Lb over the day. 6063 Extrusions and 6063 Extrusions/Fe prices too were up by $0.02 per Lb. The prices of Al/Cu Radiators and Al/Cu Radiators/Fe held steady over the previous day. The prices of Aluminum Radiators increased by $0.01 per Lb. Meantime, Aluminum Radiators /Fe and Aluminum Transformer prices appreciated by $0.01 per Lb. Breakage 50% Recovery prices held steady on 10th Sep. Chrome Wheels, E.C Aluminum Wire...
Novelis aluminium plant, the erstwhile Alcan's Kingston Works, marks 75 years in the city
From Alcan's Kingston Works to Novelis Inc., the aluminum manufacturing plant is celebrating 75 years in the Limestone City. "I think in the heyday there was 4,100 to 4,200 employees, three plants," recounted Jake Czyz, Novelis plant manager. "We pretty much say everybody in Kingston knows somebody who has retired or worked here at the plants." The Aluminum Company of Canada plant was built in 1940 to support the Allied effort during the Second World War. The plant -- referred to as "the annex" -- housed manufacturing and research facilities. During the 1960s and 1970s, the plant was responsible for the research and manufacturing of aluminum sheet metal, cans and supplies for major industries such as automotive, transportation, beverage and packaging. Today, Novelis, a subsidiary of the...
Lanka Aluminium opens Gampaha showroom
Lanka Aluminium Industries PLC – the pioneers in the manufacture of high zquality powder coated aluminium extrusions opened its newest showroom in the fast expanding city of Gampaha recently. The showroom is strategically located in Asigiriya, Gampaha. The expansion of the showroom network was planned in Gampaha in order to provide this fast expanding town with access to state of the art aluminium extrusions. The opening ceremony took place on the 23rd of July 2015 with the participation of the chief guest Eranga Senanayaka, the Mayor of Gampaha and special invitees. “We are pleased to have opened our newest showroom in Gampaha town which is one of the most fast expanding towns in Sri Lanka. Being physically close to the customer will enable us to provide much needed advise while...
Garmco gets EU export certificate
Bahrain-based Gulf Aluminium Rolling Mill Company (Garmco) said its locally-manufactured products have received the CE (European Conformity) mark thus paving for their exports to European Union. The CE (Conformité Européene- which literally means European Conformity) is a mandatory conformity marking for certain products sold within the European Economic Area (EEA) since 1985. The CE Marking on a product is a manufacturer's declaration that it complies with the essential requirements of the relevant European health, safety and environmental protection legislation, in practice by many of the so-called product directives. These are also found on products sold outside the EEA that are manufactured in, or designed to be sold in, the EEA. It is, in that sense, similar to the FCC Declaration of...
Aludium appointed Empire Resources, Inc. as its exclusive distributor for the US and Canada
Aludium, a producer of high value-added, semi-finished aluminium products made an announced that it has appointed Empire Resources, Inc. as its exclusive importer and distributor for the United States and Canada. This appointment, which is effective immediately, essentially covers all products from Aludium’s Alicante, Amorebieta and Castelsarrasin mills, with specific focus on Aludium’s extensive value-added output. Christiane Huber, Sales Director of Specialty Products commented: "Aludium is delighted to partner with Empire Resources to introduce our products into North American markets. We are confident that together, we will establish and maintain a leading position in the market, serving an extensive customer base.” Aludium was formed in January 2015 when Atlas Holdings acquired the...
Hydro creates additional apprenticeships for refugees
European countries are receiving an increasing number of refugees. German authorities are working with the industry to facilitate jobs for some of the refugees, where Hydro is contributing with additional apprenticeships. Hydro will establish eight apprenticeship positions in Grevenbroich, Neuss and Hamburg. “We are making our contribution in providing a job opoportunity in our industry for refugees who have fled to Germany,” says Joachim Deppe, Head of HR & Organization in Hydro's Rolled Products business area. Germany expects 800,000 new applications for asylum in 2015, and its government and national business associations have asked companies to help. In Hydro, the rolled products plant in Hamburg stepped forward by hosting an intern from Syria in July and August. The refugee is an...
Metro Mining updates on Bauxite Hills environmental approval process
Metro Mining may be required to submit a full Environment Impact Statement for its Bauxite Hills project at Cape York, Queensland. On 10th August, the company lodged its Site Specific Environment Authority Application for the project with the Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage Protection (DEHP). After some discussion and minor modifications, it was formally received on 17th August 2015. The company has now being verbally advised by DEHP officers that they considered a full EIS would now be required for the project. While no formal advice has being received from the department that this is in fact its final position, Metro will now seek a formal inter-departmental review through the established process. It is seeking specific justification for the heightened level of...
Aluminum prices react now to idiosyncratic drivers: BofA Merrill Lynch
Correlations between metals prices were high ahead of the Great Financial Crisis (GFC) and in the immediate aftermath of it. Prior to the GFC, this was heavily influenced by exceptionally strong global economic growth and Chinese demand, which swept the quotations of most commodities higher, said Bank of America Merrill Lynch in a research note. Meanwhile, immediately after the Global Financial Crisis, cross-asset correlations remained high partially because several governments implemented large fiscal stimulus packages and many central banks flooded the markets with liquidity. Yet, more recently, individual metals have increasingly traded on their idiosyncratic fundamentals. This has been reflected in a sharp drop in correlations. According to BofA Merrill Lynch, the decline in...
Indian aluminium industry asks government to hike import duty
India's aluminium industry on September 12 called on the government to raise duties on import of the metal to stem the flow of cheap imports from China. An Aluminium Association of India delegation, led by Vedanta Group chief executive Tom Albanese, Hindalco deputy managing director D Satish Pai and Nalco chairman TK Chand, met finance minister Arun Jaitley here to impress upon him the need to hike duties to prevent imports from impacting industry investments of over INR 100,000 crore. "We are here to present aluminium industry's case and the difficulty we are facing. Finance minister gave us a patient hearing. He is aware of our situation and we are quite sure that he will take the right decision," Pai told reporters here after the meeting. Imports accounted for 56 per cent of aluminium...
AlCircle stands out with its unique range of exhibits at Aluminium India 2015
Aluminium India 2015 concluded successfully after playing host to a congregation of global aluminium industry players from 7 to 9 September in Mumbai. Given the fact that aluminium industry is currently going through a challenging phase, this international exhibition-cum-conference held at Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai served as an apt platform for domestic and international industry players to network, brainstorm ideas and opportunities and showcase their cutting-edge technologies and applications in front of a global audience. The three day event, which covered every part of the aluminium industry value chain right from Raw Materials and Aluminium Processing Machinery to Aluminium Extrusions and End User segments, saw leading industry figures coming under one roof. There were over...
Apple unveils new aluminum Apple Watch Sport models
Apple announced the launch of its new watch cases and bands, including new Apple Watch Sport models. Apple Watch Sport’s lightweight anodized aluminum case now comes in two new beautiful colors, gold aluminum and rose gold aluminum paired with high-performance fluoroelastomer Sport Bands in lavender, antique white, stone and midnight blue. Apple Watch Sport silver aluminum is now available with new orange or blue Sport Bands. The company also announed that WatchOS 2 will be made available on September 16 as a free update, which will pack in a host of new features and enable native running of third-party apps. The software watchOS 2, according to Apple, makes apps faster and more fluid by running natively on Apple Watch. It also introduces new watch faces, the ability for third-party apps...
China's automotive aluminium alloy market size slated for 20% per annum growth
In a recently published report, aluminium and aluminium alloy has been together termed as the future of China automotive lightweight material (metals) industry. The key findings of the report are: - China's consumption of automotive aluminium alloy hit 300,000 tons in 2014. The supply and demand of aluminium alloy automotive sheet, on the other side, stayed at a low level. - The high-end mainstream market was dominated by Novelis, Kobelco, Aleris and other foreign brands. In October 2014, Novelis (Changzhou) put its 120,000 tons per annum automotive aluminium sheet/strip project into operation, making China's automotive aluminium alloy sheet capacity reach 185,000 tons. - Kobelco Aleris, Zhongwang Group and other companies will put automotive aluminium sheet projects involving over...
Sapa, PPG Industries enter into exclusive coatings warranty agreement
Sapa announced an 18-month exclusive agreement with PPG Industries, providing Sapa with exclusive rights to administer PPG’s coatings warranty on completed aluminum products. “This exclusive partnership gives Sapa the ability to offer its customers our full coatings warranty along with the benefits and assurance that we will stand behind our warranty to meet customers’ needs,” says Brian Knapp, Coil & Building Products Director at PPG Industries. “Given our work with Sapa in the past, we have confidence in the quality of the aluminum extrusions and paint application process they produce for their customers.” As part of this exclusive agreement, starting September 10, 2015, Sapa can now transfer PPG’s coatings warranty along with Sapa’s applicator warranty directly to its customers that...
GME ups the safety quotient with its latest Lite Aluminium Sheeting System
GME, the producers of the world’s most complete line of Trench Shields and Trench Shoring Equipment, announced the launch of its latest Lite Aluminum Sheeting system is built to be used by rubber tired backhoes and lightweight excavators. Constructed from lightweight, aircraft grade aluminum, the system is designed to solve the problem of how to safely shore around existing utilities on job sites, according to the manufacturer. Used in conjunction with the GME interlocking aluminum sheet pile, the system can be used at depths of 10 to 12 ft. (3 to 3.6 m) in a 2-, 3- or 4-sided configuration, while providing up to 84 in. (213 cm) of vertical pipe clearance (contingent upon soil conditions). The system’s panels, measuring up to 10 ft. in length, can provide up to a 10 ft. 6 in. (3.2 m)...
ISRI Operations Forum 2015 to focus on safe and efficient scrap recycling
The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc. (ISRI) announced the opening of registration for its 2015 Operations Forum, to be held September 30- October 3, at the JW Marriott in Houston, Texas. The forum, according to ISRI, is a must attend event for those responsible for the safe and efficient operation of scrap recycling facilities. “Under difficult market conditions, it is even more important to make sure you are operating your facility in an efficient and effective manner,” said Chuck Carr, ISRI’s vice president of member services. “That is why this year’s Operations Forum is providing one of the strongest programs in a decade with workshops focused on improving efficiencies, cost-saving maintenance, and safe operations at a reduced cost.” The Operations Forum serves as a...
Vedanta to invest INR 6,000cr, restart Mettur aluminium plant
Vedanta Group is getting aggressive with capacity expansion in Tamil Nadu. The company, which has its copper smelter in Tuticorin and an aluminium factory in Mettur, has drawn up a INR 6,000-crore investment programme to be spent over the next 12 to 24 months. It is also planning a foray into solar in the state. P Ramnath, CEO of Sesa Sterlite said, the group was planning to restart Malco, the aluminum plant in Mettur, by bringing in aluminium ingots, and make wires and end products. "Basically, we want to restart the plant for downstream products in the short term and see how we can make the entire plant work in the long term," he said. On plans to set up 50MW solar power plants near Mettur, he said, "We have lands for solar project. To begin with we will have 5MW plant and feasibility...
