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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Cardinal Aluminum moving Jeffersonville operation to Borden
Cardinal Aluminum Co. plans to relocate its Jeffersonville operation to Borden, a news release said. Cardinal Aluminum offers extruding, fabricating, machining, anodizing, powder coating and finishing services for its clients. The Southern Indiana operation serves as warehousing space for its Designer Mouldings division, which makes picture frame molding, fireplace products, outdoor louvered roofing and outdoor kitchen products. The move is in process now, CFO Thomas A. Gividen said. The company has about 14 employees at its Southern Indiana operation, which is on Plank Road in the America Place business park in Jeffersonville. Borden and Jeffersonville both are in Clark County, about 20-25 minutes apart. According to the release, the Cardinal operation is moving to East Water Street in...
AMC boosts production
UK’s Aluminium Marine Consultants (AMC) celebrated its acquisition of ISO 9001 quality management certification in June by placing four High Speed Support Vessels (HSSV) under build simultaneously in its new Isle of Wight building hall. By mid-June, the hull of the first 21m vessel for wind farm industry service provider Cwind was up to the gunwales, plating was underway on a second 21m craft and work had just started on both 23m HSSVs in the four vessel order. Concurrent wheel house and cabin production was also underway. The newbuilds represent a departure from CWind’s previously exclusive use of composite hulled wind farm service vessels. The 21m symmetric hull catamarans, which are being built to MCA classification Category 2, first of which is due for launch in December and to be...
South32 appoints Dr Xolani Mkhwanazi as the new Director
South32 Limited has appointed Dr Xolani Mkhwanazi to seve as the Company’s new Non-Executive Director with effect from 02 July 2015. Dr Mkhwanazi has been serving as Chairman of BHP Billiton Limited’s South Africa operations since October 2008. He serves also, as the President and Chief Operations Officer of BHP Billiton’s aluminium smelters Hillside, Bayside and Mozal. South32 is a JSE, LSE and ASX listed metals and mining company with bauxite, alumina, aluminium, thermal and metallurgical coal, manganese, nickel, silver, lead and zinc operations in South Africa.
Imperial Innovations and Mercia Technologies invest in aluminium business
AIM listed firms Imperial Innovations and Mercia Technologies have together provided £4m to aluminium business Impression Technologies. The duo invested £2.5m and £1.5m respectively in the firm which makes aluminium components for the transport sector. The investment brings Imperial Innovation’s stake to 59.9% of issued share capital, while in a statement Mercia said it would control 26% of the company when its stake through third party funds is included. The funding would be used to acquire a press, continue development and keep up with customer demand, Impression Technologies said in a statement. Imperial Innovations chief executive Russ Cummings said Impression Technologies was doing demonstration pressings for a number of high profile car manufacturers, and a key challenge was access...
New aluminium smelter could be on the way
A partnership between a Chinese and an Icelandic company has been struck to build an aluminium smelter in north Iceland. Kjarninn reports that Klappir Development ehf. and China Nonferrous Metal Industry’s Foreign Engineering and Construction (NFC) have signed an agreement to build a smelter in Hafursstaðir, in Skagabyggð, north Iceland. The smelter will be capable of producing 120,000 tonnes of aluminium every year, if completed. Prime Minister Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson and Chinese ambassador to Iceland Zhang Weidong were present at the signing, which took place at the Ministerial House in Reykjavík. A statement from the two companies says that they plan to cooperate in both the funding and managing of the smelter. The total cost of construction is estimated to be about 100 billion...
Jaguar Land Rover to move production to Austria
Jaguar Land Rover has announced that it has teamed up with Austria-based manufacturer, Magna Steyr, to help relive pressure on its struggling UK plants. So far JLR hasn’t revealed what will be made at Magner Steyr’s plant at Graz in Austria, which makes the RCZ coupe for Peugeot, the E-Class Mercedes-Benz and the Mini Countryman, but it’s been reported that the Land Rover Discovery Sport and the forthcoming Range Rover Evoque Cabriolet, plus the rumoured Jaguar E-PACE SUV - a smaller SUV to slot beneath the upcoming F-PACE - were in the running to be outsourced. As we've reported, JLR is already considering several Eastern European bases to create a new facility to build its Defender replacement. The difficultly, according to industry insiders, is any new plant will have to be able to...
Sapa to discuss automotive aluminium solutions, alloys in Aluminium China 2015
Dr. Jin Hou of Sapa Technology is scheduled to speak next week at the Asia Automotive Lightweight Procurement Symposium in Shanghai. Right after, the trade fair Aluminium China 2015 gets underway, and Sapa will be present there, too. Hou’s presentation is entitled Aluminium solutions and high-performance alloys for automotive light-weighting. The delegates as well as the speakers at the automotive symposium represent international OEMs, tier suppliers and equipment producers. The three-day event, which starts July 6, is limited to 140 visitors. As soon as the symposium concludes, Aluminium China 2015 will get started. Sapa also will be one of the exhibitors at the trade fair, at booth 3D40. Aluminium China takes place July 8-10 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre. Sapa has...
Guinea eyes exporting 40 mln tons of bauxite by 2024
Guinea plans to increase its bauxite export from the current 17 million tons to 40 million tons per year by the year 2024, the country's Mines and Geology Minister Kerfalla Yansane said Wednesday. In this regard, the Guinean government and several mining companies operating in the country recently signed in Paris various agreements regarding joint utilization of mining infrastructures such as railway lines and ports, he said. The minister said the multilateral agreements will provide opportunities for new investments of up to 7.3 billion U.S. dollars in Guinea's mining sector. "With these agreements, the Guinean government under the leadership of President Alpha Conde will lay a strong foundation for the development of the country's mining sector," Yansane said. Guinea which is the...
Orbite Collaborates With NRC on HPA Benchmarking in Lithium-Ion Batteries
Orbite Technologies Inc. today announced that the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) will evaluate Orbite's High Purity Alumina (HPA) for use in lithium-ion battery separators. Orbite's Technology Development Center (TDC) will work with National Research Council experts to develop composite separator formulations containing Orbite's HPA. These substrates will then be applied to commercially available ceramic separators. NRC scientists will use their expertise and cutting-edge facilities to characterize various separator formulations, and benchmark the efficiency of batteries with separators containing Orbite's HPA against those with commercially available separators, containing no or competitors' alumina. "The advantage of collaborating with NRC on this benchmarking exercise, is...
NZAS 2014 Sustainable Development Report shows an increase in aluminium production despite volatile market
The power supply contract deadline that could see New Zealand Aluminium Smelters close is looming but a report from the smelter shows it was still investing capital and upping production. Despite this, industry analysts are still not confident of the outcome as aluminium prices had fallen from more than US$2000 a tonne late last year to about US$1700 this month, around one-year lows. The NZAS 2014 sustainable development report shows the Tiwai Pt smelter increased production of aluminium by 3500 tonnes since 2013. However, this still fell short of the 5000 extra tons smelter bosses had projected because fewer potlines had been operating. Under a contract with Meridian Energy, NZAS has the option to terminate its power deal on July 1 2015, with effect from January 1, 2017, or to reduce the...
Bonch Aluminum contributes to economy and environment through aluminium recyling
Ethiopia is striding in consistence economic growth by scoring a double digit for a decade. For this achievement, sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing and service played crucial role. The real state and housing development are developing in the capital city and other towns of Ethiopia. The rapid development of the sector has created value chain to integrate input suppliers. Bonch Aluminum Works Private Limited Company is one of the companies that produce input materials for the construction industry. It produces aluminum materials by recycling used products and supply to the local markets for using in buildings windows and doors. Ato Biruk Haile, an architect by profession, is the owner and the managing director of the company. According to him, he made a feasibility study and...
Altech Chemicals MD Iggy Tan to present at Proactive's Sydney, Melbourne Luncheons
Altech Chemicals is securing required equity and debt funding to advance its High Purity Alumina (HPA) project towards final design and development. This follows completion of the Bankable Feasibility Study that demonstrated that the project offers a real alternative to current Chinese and Japanese producers. Shares in the company have risen 45% since early June. Managing director Iggy Tan will present at Proactive's Sydney, Melbourne Investor Luncheons in August. Altech’s project seeks to produce alumina or aluminium oxide from kaolin. The company’s wholly-owned aluminous clay (‘kaolin’) deposit is located close to the town of Meckering, Western Australia, and is approximately 130 kilometres by road from Perth and about 153 kilometres from the port of Fremantle. Its land position covers...
Aluminium futures slide on weak demand
Aluminium prices eased by 0.32 per cent to INR 108.90 per kg in futures trade today as speculators reduced positions amid weak demand at the spot market. At the Multi Commodity Exchange, aluminium for delivery in July traded lower by 35 paise, or 0.32 per cent, to INR 108.90 per kg in a business turnover of 260 lots. Likewise, the metal for delivery in August month shed 25 paise, or 0.23 per cent, to INR 110.45 per kg in 34 lots. Analysts said offloading of positions by speculators due to sluggish demand at spot market mainly weighed on aluminium prices but a higher trend in base metals overseas, limited the losses. INR 63.54 = 1 $ (Dollar)
North American Aluminum scrap prices declined on Index, 30th Jun, 2015
The North American Aluminum scrap prices declined on ScrapMonster Price Index as on June 30th, Tuesday. 1100 Scrap prices declined by $0.01 per Lb. The prices of 3003 Scrap too fell $0.01 per Lb. A down move of $0.01 per Lb was witnessed in 356 Aluminum Wheels, 5052 Scrap, 6061 Extrusions, 6063 Extrusions and 6063 Extrusions/Fe. The prices of Al/Cu Radiators and Al/Cu Radiators/Fe declined by $0.03 per Lb over the previous day. Aluminum Radiators and Aluminum Radiators/Fe prices went down by $0.01 per Lb each. Aluminum Transformers and Breakage 50% Recovery prices edged lower by $0.01 per Lb on 30th June. ALSO SEE Brass/Bronze Scrap Price List, Copper Scrap Price List Chrome Wheels, E.C Aluminum Wire, Litho Sheets and Mixed Aluminum Turnings prices dropped by $0.01 per Lb. The prices of...
Sydney firm launches wallet crafted from aircraft-grade aluminium
Today, Sydney based designer wallet company dosh launches Alloy, a premium precision-machined aluminium wallet that will enthral lovers of refined design. The Alloy money clip wallet is made from the finest materials including anodised aircraft-grade aluminium, stainless steel and high end polymers. These premium materials have been fastidiously united to create a beautiful, visually-stunning yet highly-durable wallet which also provides water resistance and complete RFID protection. This unique compact wallet carries up to 6 credit cards and features an integrated money clip to securely hold banknotes and receipts. Its slim profile enables it to be slipped just as easily into the breast pocket of a jacket or a pair of jeans. Co-founder and creative director of dosh, Henri Spaile states...
Expansion complete for U.S. Aluminum
C.R. Laurence - the leading architectural hardware manufacturer and supplier to the glass and glazing industry - has announced the completed expansion of its U.S. Aluminum Division headquarters in Waxahachie. The renovated facility will enhance production and distribution processes resulting in greater stock inventories, reduced lead times, and improved customer support. At 350,000 square feet, the large-scale expansion doubled the size of the previous building. The result is a new, state-of-the-art facility that serves as the principal North American hub for U.S. Aluminum product manufacturing, fabrication and distribution. Most importantly, the facility significantly increases inventory space to provide shorter lead times to project stakeholders. “Waxahachie is very pleased that U.S....
South32 shares take a beating as commodity prices drop
Shares in South32, the diversified miner spun out of BHP Billiton, have dropped 17.3% in the past six weeks as the prices of its key commodities have weakened. The shares were trading at R16.74 on Wednesday compared with their close of R20.24 on the first day that South32 became a separate entity. In the same period, BHP Billiton’s shares have shed 11% to around R243. BHP Billiton shareholders received South32 shares on a one-for-one basis and it was expected that some shareholders would sell South32 to rebalance their portfolios. The share price drops show that continued weakness in commodity prices has also played a role in selling. South32 took over all BHP Billiton’s South African assets, including thermal coal mines, aluminium smelters, manganese mines and ferromanganese processing....
Aluminium edges higher on hopes for China demand, Greek deal
Base metals edged higher on Wednesday on hopes that demand would recover in China and that Greece would eventually agree a bailout with creditors. There was also some buying by investors who took profits from short positions over the past two days when some metals hit multi-year lows and others who saw the low prices as good value. Metals joined euro zone stocks and peripheral bonds in climbing after a report that Greece was ready to accept most conditions from its international creditors. "There's a recognition that even in the worst scenario, if Greece leaves the euro zone, it's not necessarily going to have a deep negative impact on global growth, which is ultimately what commodities are interested in," said Caroline Bain, senior commodities economist at Capital Economics. Three-month...
