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...
Grow with
AL Circle
Poor market might dampen aluminum prices in Q2
Aluminum prices in China are expected to take a hit in Q2 as the supply/demand imbalance will deteriorate, Shanghai Metals Market foresees. On the supply side, operational aluminum capacity in China hit 30.95 million tonnes at the end of April, up some 900,000 tonnes from the end of last year, SMM data showed. The country might add over 1 million tonnes in new capacity this quarter, SMM predicts. However, demand will not keep up pace, since June marks the beginning of the off-season for aluminum consumption. HSBC’s flash China manufacturing PMI for May was 49.1, lower than 49.3 expected, highlighting sluggishness in the manufacturing sector. This figure is a bad sign for aluminum demand.
Alcoa Snags Metals Company of the year and industry leader-aluminum at Platts Global Metals Awards
U.S.- based Alcoa, a global leader in lightweight metals technology, engineering and manufacturing, walked away with two of the most prestigious titles at the third annual Platts Global Metals Awards, which recognize exemplary performance in a dozen categories across the steel, metals and mining complex. Snaring Metals Company of the Year and Industry Leadership Award: Aluminum, Alcoa was one of 12 honorees from four continents heralded at a black-tie gala in central London last night. The event, hosted by Platts, a leading global energy, metals and commodities information provider, was emceed by CNBC's Karen Tso and attended by nearly 200 industry executives. "We congratulate Alcoa, under the leadership of CEO Klaus Kleinfeld, for this impressive win," said Larry Neal, president of...
Hydro scientist to lead German Society for Material Science
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jürgen Hirsch, Senior Scientist at Hydro’s Rolled Products R&D center in Bonn, will become President of the German Society for Material Science DGM for 2015 and 2016. Jürgen Hirsch has been elected by the board and will enter office upon approval from the Member Assembly on September 16 , 2015 at the DGM Day during the Material Science Week. DGM´s Managing Board Member, Dr.-Ing. Frank O.R. Fischer, is looking forward to this cooperation and said he was sure that “Jürgen Hirsch, with his experience and standing in DGM, is an excellent choice for DGM presidency”. DGM honored Jürgen Hirsch with their prestigious Tammann Prize in 2007 and as “DGM Pioneer”– the first to get this title in the history of DGM, in 2014. Having become a student member 40 years back, he engaged in...
Qld Govt announces another review, this time into recycling
Queensland may be perfect one day and better then next but it is also Australia's worst litterer with a rubbish rate 40 per cent above the national average. To combat the problem, Environment Minister Dr Steven Miles has announced a review into the state's recycling system with a focus on introducing a cash for containers scheme. The scheme would see members of the public receive small amounts of money for collecting recyclable items and disposing of them at approved sites. South Australia and and the Northern Territory have already implemented similar schemes with New South Wales joining them in July 2017. Speaking to Clare Blake on 4BC Afternoons, Dr Miles said that despite other states already having functioning cash for containers schemes in place, a review was needed to find a system...
New study shows strong economic impact of the U.S. Scrap recycling industry
The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) today released a new Economic Impact Study revealing that the industry accounts for nearly half a million jobs in the U.S. and generates more than $105 billion annually in economic activity. The study was performed by the independent consulting firm of John Dunham and Associates to explore the size and scope of the scrap industry in the U.S., and measure its significant contribution to the economy in terms of employment, tax generation, and overall economic benefit. “Despite the challenging landscape of today’s global marketplace, scrap recycling has proven to be a resilient, job creating, and economy driving industry,” said Robin Wiener, president of ISRI. “As the first link in the manufacturing chain and as a major exporter, the scrap...
Scrap yards enduring falling aluminum prices
Central Wisconsin scrap yards are seeing a dramatic drop in aluminum prices. An oversupply in the market is forcing them to lower the amount they can pay people recycling cans. Yaeger Auto Salvage in Weston is now offering 41 cents a pound, down from its usual 50 or 55 cents. The owner Jeff Yaeger says there's not much he can do because there's no arguing with supply and demand. "One day you buy at a lower price and the next day you sell at a higher price, or it works the other way where you're buying at a higher price and all of a sudden the bottom drops out of it, and you got material that you cannot sell for what you bought it for," he said. Yaeger says the company buys and sells about 1,000 pounds of aluminum cans each week.
Novelis South America president honored with lifetime achievement award at Platts Global Metals Awards
Tadeu Nardocci, Senior Vice President, Novelis Inc. and President, Novelis South America, was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award today at the Platts 2015 Global Metals Awards ceremony in London. "Tadeu has played an important role in leading the aluminum industry and Novelis over the course of his career," said Steve Fisher, Interim President and CEO, Novelis. "He has strengthened global industry alignment and best practice sharing throughout key regions of the world, and we are honored to have him as a valued leader at Novelis." Nardocci was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions and dedication to advancing the aluminum industry globally over the past three decades. Prior to his current role, he served as President of Novelis Europe, Senior Vice...
New tubing course sharpens technical knowledge in China
Increased knowledge is driving the use of aluminium solutions, and Sapa is one of the educators. A new course on aluminium tubing is aimed at improving the company’s ability to provide tailored technical support for customers of heat transfer solutions. In 2014, Sapa provided more than 37,000 hours of technical training to external stakeholders worldwide. The company is working to increase the amount this year. The technical sessions cover all the business areas in Sapa. In addition to seminars related to general extrusions, which accounted for the largest single share of hours provided last year, Sapa hosted and educated another 1,900 external stakeholders in events related to its building systems, automotive tubing and industrial tubing businesses. Sapa’s Precision Tubing business area...
Near term challenges for Hindalco
Novelis, the American subsidiary of Hindalco Industries, which is a producer of value-added aluminium products, reported a weak performance for the quarter ending March. Operating earnings (before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation, or Ebitda) per tonne was around $265, about a fifth lower than in the March 2014 quarter and 15 per cent lower sequentially. The inability to pass on costs of earlier metal purchases, that Novelis bought at higher regional premiums, impacted the performance and is likely to cause stress in the coming quarters as well, believe analysts. The decline in aluminium premiums (additional price over and above the benchmark rate), especially in Asia, can benefit in the longer run, enabling Novelis to produce at competitive prices compared to Chinese...
Manaksia Aluminium Company Ltd to consider financial results on May 30, 2015
A Meeting of the Board of Directors of Manaksia Aluminium Company Ltd will be held on May 30, 2015, to consider, approve and take on record the audited Financial Statements of the Company tor the year ended March 31, 2015. Further, in terms of provisions of the Company's Code of Conduct to Regulate, Monitor and Report Trading by Insiders, the "Trading Window" for trading in the equity shares of the Company shall remain closed from May 20, 2015 and will open 48 hours after the announcement by the Company of the Results to the Stock Exchanges on May 30, 2015. Shares of MANAKSIA LTD. was last trading in BSE at INR 49.45 as compared to the previous close of INR 49.05. The total number of shares traded during the day was 753 in over 42 trades. The stock hit an intraday high of INR 50.4 and...
Press Metal to restart ops at smelter in a month
Press Metal Bhd said it will restart operations at its Samalaju smelting plant within a month, following a decision to cease operations after a fire incident that occurred last Sunday. The group halted trading in its shares for one hour yesterday, between 2.30pm and 3.30pm in view of the announcement. Its stock was down almost 4%, or 11 sen on the news, closing at RM2.69. Press Metal told Bursa Malaysia yesterday that it has yet to finalise the financial impact of the fire incident at the smelting plant belonging to its subsidiary, Press Metal Bintulu Sdn Bhd in Samalaju Industrial Park, Sarawak. However, the group, believes it is adequately insured pending the insurers assessment and loss survey. Press Metal said even though the fire disrupted the electricity supply to other smelting...
Michael Köhler appointed vice president of Reed Exhibitions USA
For seven years, he’s been one of the brains behind the materials trade fairs ALUMINIUM and COMPOSITES EUROPE. Now Michael Köhler (36) will move to Reed Exhibitions USA, where, as the new vice president, he’ll be responsible for developing and advancing the company’s portfolio of industrial shows. Among them are ALUMINUM USA and IEX USA, both of which will launch this year as spin-offs of their “German parent events”. “Michael Köhler has contributed a great deal to the global success of ALUMINIUM and COMPOSITES EUROPE, two events he’s been supporting since 2008, when he was the project manager”, says Hans-Joachim Erbel, CEO of Reed Exhibitions Deutschland GmbH. As the brand manager in charge of ALUMINIUM’s worldwide operations, he’s generated key impulses in the company’s strategy of...
Jamaican economy suffers; growing bauxite industry provides a little relief
The continued lagged impact of the drought which prevailed last summer has been blamed for the poor performance of the Jamaican economy during fiscal year 2014-15, with the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) estimating expansion of a mere 0.1 per cent. The performance was largely driven by a decline in agriculture, which contracted by 0.4 per cent for the full year and fell by 0.5 per cent during the period January to March 2015. In the half-year period before the drought in June and July, agriculture had expanded by 17 per cent. PIOJ Director General Colin Bullock suggested that major infrastructure projects have to be advanced both to enhance growth and to ensure that adverse shocks do not as easily make growth approximate zero per cent. Bullock reported that for the period January to...
Taiwan’s first metal industry exhibition “International Metal Technology Taiwan” to take place in Kaohsiung in December
As metal has become the preferred choice of material for structures and manufacturing, advanced metal manufacturing technology has found its way into an increasing number of applications, such as IT products, medical equipment, and other industries. Acknowledging the importance of the metal industry and its technology, the Kaohsiung City Government is actively promoting the upgrade and reform of the industry. By encouraging exhibitions and conferences in Kaohsiung, it aims to start communication between domestic and international industry players. Kaohsiung City Government officially supports Taiwan’s first and only industry specific exhibition “International Metal Technology Taiwan” which will be held on December 2-4, 2015 at the Kaohsiung Exhibition Center. On January 24, 2015, the...
Bridgnorth receives permission for £41 million extension plans
Shropshire Council’s south planning committee has given Bridgnorth Aluminium the go-ahead for their £41 million extension despite objections from neighbours. Plans are set for a new rolling mill to be added to the complex which will include an air purification building, exhaust stack, oil filter plant and transformer closure. However it is the 26 metres heigh air purification stack that has become the point of displeasure among residents. Bridgnorth Town Council argued that the stack should be painted in a colour that is agreeable with the neighbours while the Bridgnorth Civic Society believes the unnecessarily high stack will be “visually obtrusive” although they back the company’s plans. Richard Fortune, the principal planning officer explains that the high stack was to prevent rolling...
Novelis sees 4 pct rise in European aluminium product demand
Rolled aluminium products maker Novelis expects a 4 percent rise in demand in Europe this year and is considering further expansion of its European recycling, the European head of the U.S.-based company said on Wednesday. "Demand for rolled aluminium plate is good to very good," Novelis Europe president Erwin Mayr told Reuters. "We expect growth of about 4 percent this year in Europe with the main growth coming from strong demand from the automotive sector and beverage cans sector." Low oil prices are not seen as reducing pressure on vehicle manufacturers to use more aluminium to cut fuel consumption through making vehicles lighter, he said. "CO2 emissions do not depend on the oil price and the pressure to reduce the CO2 footprint will remain unchanged in the short, medium and long term,"...
Scottish Government proposes deposit scheme for beverage cans to increase recycling
The Scottish Government is planning to initiate a deposit scheme alongside packaging recovery note system in a bid to reduce waste and increase recycling. Research published by the Zero Waste Scotland carried out by waste consultancy Eunomia, suggests the scheme could be a beneficial one. Minister Richard Lochhead first came across the deposit scheme during a visit to Sweden in 2013 which required customers to pay small cash deposit when buying a beverage can. When the customer returns the can or bottle at a collection point, they get back their deposited money. While launching the research report last week, CEO of Zero Waste Scotland Iain Gulland said, “Deposit return systems have been used in many other parts of the world to prevent waste and increase recycling. So this new report,...
Noranda clarifies they have not been mining in disputed Cockpit Country
After the uproar about supposed illegal mining in the Cockpit Country, a source in Noranda Jamaica Bauxite Partnership clarifies that they were not mining. However, they were drilling in the area to check feasibility of mining in future. Noranda has a Special Exclusive Prospecting License (SEPL) which allows it to "enter and prospect on any land for any minerals". Exercising that right, the company has been drilling to depths of five metres to test the quantity and quality of ore present in the area. Based on the findings of the initial survey, the company will decide whether to approach the Jamaican Government for mining license. It is rumored that Noranda was caught building a road at the disputed site near the Cockpit Country outer boundary. The road is expected to be some 700-feet...
