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
U.S. aluminium demand up in the beginning of 2015
Preliminary estimates indicate that aluminum demand in the United States and Canada (shipments by domestic producers plus imports) totaled an estimated 4,133 million pounds during the first two months of 2015, up 2.9 percent over a year ago. Demand for semi-fabricated (mill) products totaled 2,900 million pounds, up 11.8 percent. Apparent consumption (demand less exports) in domestic markets totaled an estimated 3,693 million pounds, increasing 8.1 percent year-to-date. Shipments of Aluminum Extruded Products (extruded shapes, pipe & tube, and rod & bar) by U.S. and Canadian producers totaled an estimated 420.3 million pounds during March 2015, a rise of 8.5 percent over the March 2014 total of 387.2 million pounds. Compared to the previous month, shipments increased 12.2 percent over the...
Noranda CEO predicts rise in LME aluminium price
Noranda, along with its results, also declared that its Board of Directors has declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.01 per share which will be paid on June 10, 2015 to shareholders of record as of May 18, 2015. The Board intends to maintain this dividend in all the future quarters on a regular basis however, it will obviously depend on the financial condition of the company. The ups and downs of the company will be directly reflected in the dividends which may vary in amounts or not be declared at all. The CEO of Noranda, Kip Smith also mentioned during the company’s first quarter 2015 earnings call that aluminium prices are likely to rise “appropriately” as the U.S. aluminium premiums continues to fall.
South32 gets official nod of approval from BHP shareholders
South32, BHP’s non-core spin off company, finally gets an official nod from BHP Billiton shareholders on Wednesday. 98.05% of the shareholders were in favour of the spin off company that will now get a separate listed entity. The much talked about company will handle BHP’s erstwhile assets in lead, zinc, silver, thermal coal, nickel, manganese and aluminium across Southern Africa, Australia and Columbia. The current valuation of the company is pegged at $7.6 billion based on average midcap multiples. With the demerger complete, every Billiton shareholder will receive a new South32 share for each Billiton share they hold. The company will proceed towards UK, Australia and SA listings on May 18. The move was spurred by BHP’s need to shed off the excess weight so that they can focus on their...
Sapa releases its financial results for 2014 in its Annual Report
Sapa reported EBIT of NOK -317 million in 2014, compared with NOK -4,017 million in 2013. To provide a better understanding of the underlying performance, Sapa focuses on underlying EBIT. Underlying EBIT is defined as EBIT, adding back, impairment charges, restructuring cost and unrealized hedge results which was recorded at NOK 652 million in 2014, compared with NOK -89 million in 2013. In 2014, the amount of shipped volumes for general extrusions was 1,243,000 metric tonnes, compared with 1,212,000 mt in 2013. The amount of shipped volumes in 2014 included 28,000 mt related to Asia. Results remained weak in Asia, mainly in China. Results for 2014 includes write down of assets in China in the range of NOK 500 million. The Americas business area had good performance and improved profits...
EGA named top importer and exporter at ADPC 2014 Customer Awards
Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) is delighted to have received the 'Best Importer and Exporter' award in the 2014 Abu Dhabi Ports Company (ADPC) Customer Awards. Abdulla Kalban (Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of EGA) and Saeed Al Mazrooei (CEO: UAE Operations at EGA) received the award on behalf of the business during a gala dinner on 29 April 2015. Having exported approximately 88.5 per cent of the 2.3 million tonnes sold by the business in 2014, EGA achieved a growth rate in exports of 23 per cent in 2014 compared with the previous year. With an annual production capacity of 2.4 million tonnes per year, EGA ranks among the world's top five primary aluminium producers and places the UAE as the world's fourth largest aluminium producer. EGA's high quality, high performance...
Press Metal profit rises 54% in Q1 on higher output, price
Press Metal Bhd, whose shares came under selling pressure in the second half of last month due to concerns of an aluminium glut, posted commendable results for the first quarter (Q1) ended March 31. The aluminium smelter announced to Bursa Malaysia a 53.9% year-on-year rise in Q1 net profit of RM43.14mil. Revenue increased 17.7% to RM1.056bil from a year earlier. The higher revenue achieved was due to higher production output from the resumption of its Mukah smelting plant’s operation and higher metal selling price during the quarter. (The Mukah plant resumed full operation in April 2014 after being shut down in June 2013 due to power outage.) The group’s operating profit rose in tandem with the higher revenue. “However, due to mark-to-market foreign exchange (forex) loss provision,...
EGA promotes the UAE aluminium industry as sponsor and host of international trade conference
Aiming to raise the profile of the UAE aluminium industry in the global market, Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) is the platinum sponsor and host of the 20th CRU World Aluminium Conference, which takes place from 11 to 13 May 2015 in Dubai. Attracting delegates from around the globe, the annual CRU event is highly respected by the global aluminium industry for its networking and knowledge-sharing opportunities as well as the market-leading aluminium research that is shared by experts at the conference. EGA has been an active participant in the CRU World Aluminium Conferences for many years; and has previously sponsored and hosted the event in the UAE. EGA 's operating subsidiaries Dubai Aluminium (DUBAL, also known as EGA Jebel Ali) and Emirates Aluminium (EMAL, also known as EGA Al...
Gulfex to highlight latest trends in aluminium extrusions at 20th CRU World Aluminium Conference
Gulf Extrusions (Gulfex), a leading global manufacturer of extruded aluminium products, has revealed its participation at the 20th edition of the CRU World Aluminium Conference, which will be held from May 11 to May 13, 2015 at the Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai. During their participation, the company is set to highlight the latest trends in aluminium extrusions for the Middle East and North African (MENA) region, with Modar AlMekdad, General Manager, Gulfexbeing presented as one of the special panelists in the roundtable discussion focused on the topic of recycling. One of the highlights of the event will be a workshop on Price Risk Management for CFO's in the aluminium industry. The workshop, which is organized by Gulfex in cooperation with CRU and the London Metal Exchange, will be held on...
JNARDDC helps OFAJ overcome tech hurdles
Nagpur based Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development and Design Centre (JNARDDC) is known for helping the Indian aluminium industry in solving their problems. The centre is now set to play an important role in country's defence as well. It will not only be designing a critical component for a shoulder fired ammunition which the country was importing till now but also help in designing special aluminium alloy to make temporary bridges for helping the Indian army move smoothly. The Ordnance Factory Ambajhari (OFAJ) has asked the JNARDDC to design the die cast components for the two products to facilitate their indigenous manufacture. The Centre has already completed the first step towards designing the die for what is called as 'tail blank', a high strength aluminium component used...
‘Silent giant’ Alunorf aluminium plant turns 50 with revamp
Alunorf, the world’s largest aluminium plant for hot rolling and remelting, is celebrating the 50th anniversary of operation with an extensive revamp. Alunorf, in Neuss, Germany, is a 50/50 joint venture owned by Hydro and Novelis. Rolled aluminium processed by Alunorf is used throughout Europe and far beyond as printing plates for newspapers, as hoods, doors and other components in automobiles and elsewhere in transportation, as yoghurt lids, beverage cans and in many more applications … but there is no Alunorf brand marketed or visible on the products. This makes Alunorf a “silent giant” of the aluminium industry. The current investment of about €80 million into Hot Mill 1 will increase capacity by 150,000 tonnes per year and is in addition to other recent projects totaling about €50...
Noranda Aluminum Holding Corporation reported results for first quarter 2015.
"We are pleased to report the successful completion of two important initiatives to improve our cost structure," Layle K. Smith, Noranda's President and Chief Executive Officer. "Specifically, we established a new and reduced electricity rate structure at our aluminum smelter and we completed our port expansion project in Jamaica. Collectively, we expect these initiatives will structurally reduce our cash costs, independent of fluctuations in aluminum prices, by $22 to $30 million per annum or $0.04 to $0.05 per pound of primary aluminum sold." "The achievement of these key initiatives is part of our ongoing CORE (Cost-Out, Reliability and Effectiveness) program which provides Noranda a solid foundation from which to operate sustainably and grow through the aluminum cycle. Despite...
EGA’s new alumina refinery due to begin construction this year
The mega alumina refinery project at Abu Dhabi is all set to begin construction this year according to top officials. EGA’s planned mega refinery project has almost completed the engineering study according to Saeed Fadhal Al Mazrooei, CEO of UAE Operations at EGA. At the inaugural site of Gulf Fluor, he told reporters that a detailed engineering study will commence soon. An estimated cost for the mega project can only be determined after the full engineering study is completed said Al Mazrooei. The project will have an estimated capacity of 4 million tons per annum of alumina and will be built in two phases. It will be located adjacent to Emal smelter in Khalifa Industrial Zone due to which it is estimated to require “very low capez” the CEO said. EGA, founded in 2013 has seen...
Orbite receives $2 million installment of Quebec investment tax credits
Orbite Aluminae Inc. announced today that it has received from the Government of Quebec, a $2 million installment towards its 2012 and 2013 Quebec Investment Tax Credits, related to equipment purchased for manufacturing and processing in the Gaspe region during the 2012 and 2013 financial years. The Company has to this date received an aggregate of $22.4 million of the $25.7 million of tax credits due to the Company related to the 2012 and 2013 financial years. These funds have been deposited in a segregated account and serve as security for the convertible debentures issued in 2012. The Company anticipates receiving the balance of its 2012 and 2013 investment tax credits during 2015.
Alcoa to present at Bank of America Merrill Lynch Global Metals, Mining & Steel Conference
Alcoa Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer William F. Oplinger will present at the 2015 Bank of America Merrill Lynch Global Metals, Mining & Steel Conference being held May 12-14 in Barcelona, Spain. Oplinger will speak at 11:00 a.m. EDT (5:00 p.m. CET) on Tuesday, May 12. He will discuss Alcoa's strategy for building its multi-material, value-add portfolio and creating a globally competitive commodity business. Oplinger's presentation will be available through a live audio webcast at Alcoa website. Following the conference, the archived webcast will be available for replay on the same website.
ISRI releases new additions to video campaign promoting value of recycled commodities
At its Annual Convention and Exposition held last month in Vancouver, the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) released two new videos aimed at providing the public more information on the value and impact of the recycling industry. The videos, focused on plastics and tire recycling, represent the fourth and fifth in a series of educational videos highlighting different commodities. “These videos showcase many of the great accomplishments of the plastics and tire segments of the recycling industry,” said Robin Wiener, president of ISRI. “These videos, along with the entire series, draw attention to and help educate the public on the many environmental, economic, and energy-saving benefits recycling offers. As the Voice of the Recycling Industry, ISRI will continue to make a...
Bespoke cans celebrate Pilsner Urquell’s sponsorship of Czech Republic´s national ice hockey team
Rexam has collaborated with Czech beer brand Pilsner Urquell, to create a range of limited edition eye-catching can designs. The cans celebrate Pilsner’s sponsorship of the Czech Republic´s national ice hockey team, due to take part in the World Championships in Prague later this year. The cans are designed using Rexam’s innovative, patent pending, Super Premium Editions™ technology and high definition printing, showing stand-out illustrations of the Czech national team’s popular ice hockey players. Finished with a matt over varnish to offer a premium feel, the cans appeal to Pilsner’s audience of hockey fans who enjoy watching sporting events with a premium beverage. Lukás Novotny, Brand Manager for Pilsner Urquell, says, “Rexam is renowned for its innovative design capabilities and for...
ContiTech, Stihl select Sapa as supplier of the year
ContiTech Vibration Control has awarded Sapa’s aluminium extrusion plant in Slovakia, and Stihl has presented its top award to Sapa’s aluminium tubing plant in Belgium. The awards demonstrate Sapa’s focus on exceeding customer expectations through quality, value creation and supply performance. Over the last six years, Sapa in Slovakia has supplied 13.5 million pieces to ContiTech in Europe and Mexico. These include aluminium parts for engine-transmission brackets and internal aluminium cores for dampening blocks. Close collaboration and a commitment to quality and on-time delivery resulted in Sapa being selected as one of ContiTech’s top suppliers. “Delivering great quality parts and innovative technologies to our customers are hugely important to us, and we continue to strive to do our...
China aluminum alloy wheel exports fell 9.5% in March 2015
China exported 57,400 tonnes of aluminum alloy wheels in March 2015, valued at $286 million, down 9.5% and 9.3%, respectively, from a year ago, data from the China Association of Automobile manufacturers (CAAM) showed. The average export price was $4.98/kg in March. Export volumes and value totaled 188,200 tonnes and $945 million, respectively, up 6.9% and 5.6%, year-on-year.
