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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Qatalum participates in ‘Invest in Qatar’ Forum
Aluminium plays a significant role in downstream industrial investment and Qatalum was present to show its support. ‘Invest in Qatar’ 2015 was inaugurated under the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Abdullah Bin Nasser Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior in the State of Qatar, in the presence of His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Bin Saleh Al-Sada, Minister of Energy and Industry and with the participation of Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry (QCCI) and the Federation of GCC Chambers (FGCCC). The Forum is held at the St. Regis Hotel in Doha on the 27th and 28th of April, 2015. In the keynote speech by HE Dr. Mohammed Bin Saleh Al-Sada, Minister of Energy and Industry reflected Qatar's great interest in downstream industries. He said that Qatar is indeed offering...
National Recycling curriculum pilots set to launch within schools in New York, Maryland, and Michigan
The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries Inc. (ISRI), the Voice of the Recycling Industry™, announced today the launch of three school recycling curriculum pilots in Staten Island, New York; Baltimore, Maryland; and Kalamazoo, Michigan. These pilots combine standards-based lessons that teach the science of recycling with local outreach through community recycling partners for students to receive hands-on learning on the recycling process. Over the last few years ISRI has worked closely with JASON Learning, a nonprofit organization and long-time partner of the National Geographic Society, to develop a recycling curriculum for teachers to use within STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) subjects in grades K-12. This comprehensive curriculum includes curricular...
Noranda announces ruling by missouri public service commission that reduces electricity rates for new Madrid Smelter
Noranda Aluminum Holding Corporation reported today that the Missouri Public Service Commission has established a new and reduced electricity rate structure for the Company's aluminum smelter in New Madrid, Missouri (New Madrid). "Securing a reduced rate for our single largest cost is an important milestone in our on-going journey to structurally improve our cost profile," said Layle K. "Kip" Smith, Noranda's President and CEO. "At full production, the new rate is expected to reduce New Madrid's annual power cost by approximately $17 to $25 million or $0.03 to $0.04 per pound of primary aluminum sold. As part of our comprehensive productivity program, we expect these structural savings to make a meaningful contribution to our near-term performance and cash flow, and to enhance our ability...
Century reports first quarter 2015 financial results
Century Aluminum Company reported net income of $73.8 million ($0.76 per common share) for the first quarter of 2015. Results include $6.5 million ($0.07 per common share) for an unrealized gain on fair value of contingent consideration related to the acquisition of the remaining 50.3% interest of Mt. Holly and were negatively impacted by $1.6 million ($0.02 per common share) for signing bonuses related to a new labor agreement in Iceland and $1.0 million ($0.01 per common share) related to the separation of a former senior executive. Sales for the first quarter of 2015 were $587.9 million compared with $420.8 million for the first quarter of 2014. Shipments of primary aluminum for the first quarter of 2015 were 245,258 tonnes compared with 206,785 tonnes shipped in the first quarter of...
Romanian aluminium producer Alro forecasts profit after loss
Romanian aluminum producer Alro Slatina posted last year a EUR 24.6 million loss, for a turnover of EUR 452 million. For 2015, the company estimates a profit of USD 63.6 million (EUR 57.8 million). It also forecasts revenues of USD 663.6 million (EUR 603 million) and has planned investments of USD 58.9 million (EUR 53.5 million). Last year, Alro had a total production of 263,000 tons of primary aluminium and 78,000 tons of processed aluminium.
U.S. aluminum premiums tumble to lowest in year as arb draws imports
U.S. aluminum premiums have plunged by as much as 20 percent in the past week, reaching their lowest in more than a year as imports flood into the last remaining bright spot in a worsening global market. Premiums paid for physical delivery on top of the London Metal Exchange benchmark have sunk to 14-15 cents per lb this week, the lowest since early 2014, from 18 cents last week as financing deals unravel and demand remains weak. The decline from record highs above 24 cents earlier this year will provide some relief to can- and car-makers such as MillerCoors and Coca Cola Co. For producers like Alcoa Inc and Rusal, it has removed a major prop to profits as LME prices tumble, increasing pressure to reduce high-cost capacity. Market participants had expected premiums to fall after the LME...
Extended maintenance at Paragominas completed
The ball mill at Hydro’s bauxite mining operations in Paragominas in Para, Brazil, that was taken out for planned maintenance in the beginning of March is now back in operation. Paragominas has fully resumed its production. Paragominas normally operates with two ball mills, and with one ball mill out for maintenance, production at Paragominas has been running at 50% of capacity since the beginning of March. In preparation for this maintenance, Hydro’s Alunorte alumina refinery was operating with an inventory level sufficient to cover the planned maintenance period. With additional supply from the MRN bauxite mine, production at Alunorte has remained unaffected during the maintenance period. Paragominas has a nameplate capacity of 9.9 million tonnes. Alunorte has a nameplate capacity of...
Three-month aluminium on the London Metal Exchange improves
Aluminium has surged to a two-and-a-half-month high, pushed up by speculative buying, but some analysts doubt how long the rally can last given expectations of high Chinese exports. THREE-MONTH aluminium on the London Metal Exchange ended up 2.1 per cent at $US1,874 a tonne, its highest since early February. A trader said buying from speculators was triggered when prices broke through resistance at $US1,845. "We've seen some pretty strong CTA (commodity trading adviser) buying coming in to the market, but certainly the overall fundamental picture still remains relatively soft," said Nicholas Snowdon, analyst at Standard Chartered. "The risk of Chinese primary exports and signs of ongoing softness in the Western physical market are the two factors that suggest that the rally should be sold...
Rusal looks to make small acquisitions
The world’s largest aluminum producer, United Co. Rusal, is looking for some small acquisitions as it seeks to diversify and expand its business, the company’s chief executive, Vladislav Soloviev, said Monday. Mr. Soloviev said he’s looking at smaller deals, such as bauxite producers in Indonesia or heating-plant operators in Russia. “We do not see serious M&A transactions, but definitely we see some targets with the transactions in terms of diversification…Some targeted, small M&A transactions,” Mr. Soloviev said in an interview during a visit to London. Rusal and other aluminum producers have suffered as the price of the metal—which is used to make a range of products from soda cans to cars—has shed more than 10% of its value over the last six months, accompanying the broader selloff in...
Vedanta (former Sesa Sterlite) releases its Q4 2014 results
Vedanta, formerly known as Sesa Sterlite has released its consolidated results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2014 ending 31st March showing strong performance amidst a weak commodity price environment. The company changed its name from Sesa Sterite Limited to Vedanta Limitedon 21, April, 2015 to correlate the company’s identity with its parent company, Vedanta Resources Plc, and create a unified branding as a diversified natural resources group. Highlights: • Strong underlying results, on the back of a diversified portfolio, in a weak commodity price environment • Revenue at INR 73,364 crore • EBITDA at INR 22,226 crore; EBITDA margin of 41%1 • Attributable pre-exceptional PAT at INR 5,060 crore • Record full year Aluminium and Alumina production; started new Jharsuguda-II and...
CRU’s World Aluminium Conference to celebrate its 20th Anniversary in Dubai with industry’s leading CEOs as speakers
Held annually to coincide with the International Aluminium (IAI) General Meeting which attracts many of the top CEOs from the world’s largest aluminium producers, World Aluminium 2015 will welcome some of the industry’s leading CEOs to speak at the conference on 11-13 May in Dubai. CRU's World Aluminium Conference attracts a global audience of influential delegates involved in smelting, recycling, rolling, extruding, trade, raw materials, purchasing, technology and finance; attracting over 400 delegates from 30 countries last time the event was hosted in the U.A.E. The conference gives attendees first hand insights into CRU’s forecasts on the bauxite, alumina and primary markets and is widely acknowledged for the quality of the presentations from senior industry figures, high-level...
ISRI honors two scrap veterans
The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries Inc. (ISRI), Washington, D.C., has recognized two individuals who took over their family businesses and “ushered in an era of innovation and success for the entire recycling industry,” according to the association. During ISRI’s 2015 annual convention, held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, in April, Scott Newell, founder of The Shredder Company, Canutillo, Texas, and Toby Shine of Shine Brothers Corp., Spencer, Iowa, were each presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award. “This year’s Lifetime Achievement Award winners helped shape the industry as we know it today and how it operates. Furthermore, they each made significant contributions to ISRI and their communities through leadership roles and experiences,” said Robin Wiener, president...
Collect-a-Can helps realise recycling dreams
With the help of Collect-a-Can, Bisant Matsi has gone from waste collector to a prominent and successful recycling business owner in Burgersfort, Mpumalanga, inspiring his local community by showing them the value that exists in waste. Nineteen years ago, Matsi, started his recycling operation with only seven employees. Two years later, he started collecting cans and working closely with the Collect-a-Can, Southern African recovery and recycling organisation. Collect-a-Can works within various communities, encouraging citizens from all walks of life to assist in their can-collecting efforts. “We teach informal collectors that they can make a living or even start their own ventures by recycling cans,” says Zimasa Velaphi, public relations and marketing manager of Collect-a-Can. Burgersfort...
Osawa intoduces new technology in milling
Osawa introduces the HF ALU, the new 4 flutes, unequal pitch solid carbide end mill for aluminium, die-cast aluminium, copper and brass machining. Although still relatively new in aluminium machining applications, the 4 flutes geometry enables high feed rates and high stock removal. Osawa introduces the HF ALU, the new 4 flutes, unequal pitch solid carbide end mill for aluminium, die-cast aluminium, copper and brass machining. Although still relatively new in aluminium machining applications, the 4 flutes geometry enables high feed rates and high stock removal. Completely lapped flutes and cutting edge combined with the unequal pitch geometry allow in fact the drastic reduction of frictions and vibrations, optimizing swarf ejection even in case of heavy DxD removal. The positive cutting...
JNARDDC holds meet on ‘Extrusion'
The city-based Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development and Design Centre (JNARDDC) organized a one-day national meet on "Extrusion' on Wednesday. Extrusion is a process used to create objects of a fixed cross-sectional profile. A material is pushed or pulled through a die of the desired cross-section. Speaking on the occasion, Saurabh Kumar, general manager, Ordnance Factory, Ambajhari, appreciated the efforts of JNARDDC to bring 'extruders', die designers, equipment and technology suppliers under a common platform. He stressed on the need for a scientific method for making extrusions to bring uniformity and standardization instead of the existing procedures that every manufacture makes it using different and approximate sizes. JNARDDC director Anupam Agnihotri said the meet was...
Kaiser Aluminium releases a mixed Q1, 2015 results
Kaiser Aluminium released its first quarter results showing mixed outcomes. Although it beat the Wall Street’s revenue outlook, it fell short of the earnings projections. The company posted a net loss of $292 million or $16.85 per diluted share with a net income of $18 million. The revenues exceeded expectations rising 6% or $12 million to set a record of $197 million while net sales totalled at $372 million. The company’s automotive revenue was seen at $95 million while the sale of aluminium products to aerospace industry saw a growth of 6-8 percent. Kaiser Chief Executive and President Jack Hockema said in a statement the company had record shipments in several categories. “We look forward to strong demand growth for our aerospace and automotive applications and further improvement in...
Gulf Extrusions unveils Middle East's first fully tested fire rated aluminum door
Gulf Extrusions (Gulfex), a leading global manufacturer of extruded aluminium products, has announced the launching of the Middle East's first fully tested fire rated aluminium door, Fire-X87. With a fire rating integrity of 90 minutes, the company's fire-resistant door has been proven to significantly reduce fire risk and promote higher level of safety and security. The fire test signifies Gulfex's firm goal to provide high quality products to keep its customers safe and protected. During the test held at Thomas Bell Wright Fire Testing facilities in Dubai, the fire-resistant door was subjected to and successfully withstood a temperature of over 900 degree Celsius for 90 minutes. In conducting the test, Gulfex complied with the international fire regulations and standards. This is in...
Rexam sees volume growth in Europe, with energy drinks boosting beverage cans
Beverage can manufacturer Rexam has seen strong volume growth in Europe, including Russia, it said in a trading update this morning. Rexam is enjoying ‘pretty good’ growth in its Russian business – unlike other companies - but chief executive Graham Chipchase remains cautious about the ‘very, very volatile’ environment in the country. Alongside the UK, Germany and Italy, the country contributed to growth in European volumes over the beverage can maker’s Q1 results. The increasing popularity of energy drinks has been boosting the market for cans across the region, said Chipchase, in the company’s earnings call. Overall, global beverage can volumes were up 5% in the quarter, in line with the company’s plans. “In Europe, I think we were ahead of the market and that's largely driven by energy...
