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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Installation of improved pumps benefits aluminium coating facility
France Alu Color, an aluminium powder coating specialist has improved its operations reducing expenditure on chemicals and improving reliability and safety of its surface treatment by adopting a new technology; the Qdos dosig/metering pumps Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Group (WMFTG). The company’s plant in Marcilloles located 50 km south of Lyon has an annual aluminium coating capacity of 1,850,000 m square (5000 tonnes) but was suffering from a number of issues including clogging of the dosing pumps, inaccurate doses and large amounts of waste leading to higher maintenance cost and time. With the installation of Qdos pumps, there has been a marked change in operations. The Head of Chemicals Mr Crouzet says “We installed Qdos pumps on the vertical powder coating line to dose specific...
New aluminium casting technology revives Nissan parts manufacturing unit
Amidst an unsteady manufacturing industry in Australia, Nissan Australia surprised the automotive manufacturing world with claims that the future of its casting and parts factory is secure well beyond 2020. Nissan has adopted a new manufacturing technology is association with CSIRO that prevents blockage of valves that is common with molten aluminium. This has helped the company save $100,000 per component as machine stoppages are cut down. According to a recent announcement, the Dandenong South facility will receive a fresh lease of life thanks to a deal secured for the production of parts for the Nissan Leaf and 38 other models of the brand that are sold internationally. The manufactured goods from the facility is shipped to countries like Japan, US, UK, Thailand, Mexico and South...
Global Recycling leaders converge on Vancouver for industry’s largest gathering
The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI), the Voice of the Recycling Industry™, will host its 2015 Convention and Exposition April 21-25 at the Vancouver Convention Centre in British Columbia, Canada. This annual event has become the largest convention of its kind, bringing together thousands of scrap recycling professionals, industry experts and manufacturers from all 50 states and more than 40 countries to discuss the latest in the global scrap recycling business. Attendees at the 2015 ISRI Convention & Exposition will take part in workshops, sessions and interactive panels that will examine today’s recycling opportunities and challenges. Programming will focus on helping companies operate smarter, safer and more profitable businesses. In addition, the convention will...
Four Peaks launches five brews in Rexam 12 oz. cans
Kilt Lifter Scottish-Style Ale, the brewery’s award-winning flagship beer, is a full-bodied ale with strong caramel and roasted barley flavors, an amber color, malty sweetness and a hint of smokiness. Peach Ale is a light, fruity beer with a subtle, sweet peach flavor and aroma. Sunbru Kölsch-Style Ale has a malty, chardonnay-like aroma and dry, refreshing finish with a low but balanced bitterness and a light to medium body. Hop Knot India Pale Ale has the color of a golden ale, but carries the bitterness of a fine pale ale and the hop aroma of an IPA. Its logo represents the five different hops that are introduced at seven separate intervals during the brewing process. 8th Street Pale Ale features English bitters which are known for their balance of malt, hop flavors and aromas. It has...
Shiloh Industries announces planned aluminum casting plant in China
Shiloh Industries, Inc., a leading global supplier of lightweighting, noise and vibration solutions, today announced plans to open a new aluminum casting plant in Nantong, China in a joint venture with Suzhou Sanji Foundry Equipment Co., Ltd. (Sanji). Shiloh is the majority shareholder with 55 percent equity. The plant will manufacture the company's family of aluminum CastLight™ products, utilizing Shiloh's high-pressure die casting and proprietary squeeze casting expertise. This operation supports Shiloh's continued global expansion of its leading and proprietary lightweighting technologies, with an expected opening in mid-2016. "We continue to expand our global footprint to meet the growing lightweighting needs of the automotive industry," said Ramzi Hermiz, president and CEO of Shiloh....
AEC to hold new sales & marketing workshop in June
The Aluminum Extruders Council (AEC) will present a newly developed educational offering with the AEC Sales & Marketing Workshop, scheduled for June 8-10, 2015 at the Loews Chicago O’Hare Hotel in Rosemont, IL. The Sales & Marketing Workshop is intended to benefit managers and leaders in extrusion sales and marketing, as well as extrusion business leaders. The program is divided into three distinct sessions over two days that cover an array of topics important to better understanding the extrusion business and the unique markets served by aluminum extrusions. Session I: Extrusion Markets will cover the current aluminum extrusion market dynamics with speakers that will address extrusion supply and demand, forecasts for key extrusion end markets, extrusion billet supply issues, and more....
Steep rise in UAE aluminium exports to Japan
The UAE’s exports of aluminium to Japan rose 41 per cent last year, making it the largest supplier of the metal from the Arabian Gulf last year, according to the latest trade figures from Jetro Dubai. Overall two-way trade between the two countries, however, rose a marginal 0.54 per cent to $51.29 billion last year from $51.01bn in 2013. Japan’s exports to the UAE gained 12 per cent in 2014 and imports fell slightly amid a price in the drop of crude. Japan bought $730.9 million worth of aluminium from the UAE in 2014, versus $517m the previous year. The metal has been at the forefront of the UAE’s efforts to diversify the economy from being overly reliant on hydrocarbons. That has become especially urgent after crude oil lost half its value last year amid an increase in supply from North...
Mike Davis of X2 Resources eyes South32 for purchase
BHP spin off company, South32 is weeks away from attaining an official listing and its valuation has already been reduced to almost half the original assessment at the time of conception. For Mike Davis, its current valuation of $7 billion (R84 billion) seems highly attractive as he is eyeing the company for a purchase. South32 will handle the non-core operations of BHP including manganese, alumina and nickel and owing to the dipping commodity prices the value of the company has also been steadily plummeting making it a good time to buy the company. Mike Davis and his X2 Resources fund are considering floating a bid for the company eventually according to people familiar with his plans. South32 is currently suffering the worst slump that has hit the commodity market in the past half...
AUDI executives Mlekusch & Venier to present Q7 Multimaterial BIW at Asia Automotive Lightweight Procurement Symposium July 2015 in Shanghai
AluMag is organizing the only international symposium [Shanghai 2015 - Detroit 2015 - Duesseldorf 2016], focused on automotive lightweighting, supply chain and procurement management. The Asia 2015 symposium will take place from the 6th – 8th of July 2015 at the Jumeirah Himalayas Hotel in Shanghai and will feature keynotes and speakers as well as exhibitors from Audi, Cosma, DGS Druckguss, Geely, Kobe Steel, Magna, Novelis, Voestalpine etc. The 2nd AluMag symposium is held in the days leading up to the "ALUMINIUM China" and "China Diecasting" shows, both taking place at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre which is located next to the Jumeirah Himalayas Hotel. For further information CLICK here.
Strict new Chinese environment protection law puts focus on green technology at Aluminium China 2015
Sustainability and transformation vital to support the development of Aluminium industry. The new Environment Protection Law (EPL) puts the focus on green technologies and equipment at Aluminium China 2015 in July, Asia’s leading industry showcase for the complete aluminium supply chain. The strict new environmental regulations force aluminium production and manufacturing companies to eliminate high-consumption and high-pollution, through investment in low-carbon development and energy conservation. The EPL came into effect on 1 January and is China’s first attempt to harmonise economic and social development with environmental protection and is seen as the most progressive and stringent law in the country’s history of environmental protection. It details harsh penalties for offences such...
UC RUSAL announces operating results for the first quarter 2015
UC Rusal, a leading global aluminium producer, announces its operating results for the first quarter 2015 (“1Q15”). Key highlights • 1Q2015 total aluminium output amounted to 900 thousand tons (-2% QoQ and +2% YoY). The company maintains production discipline in accordance with the previously provided guidance. • 1Q15 sales volumes amounted to 942 thousand tons (+7.7% QoQ). The company increased sales last quarter to compensate for shipment delays caused by port weather conditions in October-November 2014. • The average realized price went down 5.7% QoQ to $2,282/t driven by lower LME cash price and declining physical premium across key export markets. • RUSAL volume of alumina production remained flat at 1,808 thousand tons in 1Q15 (-1% QoQ). • RUSAL bauxite production amounted to 3,124...
Rio Tinto releases first quarter production performance: aluminium records decent growth
Rio Tinto releases solid first quarter production performance 21 April 2015 Rio Tinto chief executive Sam Walsh said “We continue to drive efficiency in all aspects of our business, which is reflected in our solid production performance during the first quarter. By making best use of our high quality assets, low cost base and operating and commercial capability our aim is to protect our margins in the face of declining prices and maximise returns for shareholders throughout the cycle.” Below are the highlights of Rio Tinto’s first quarter production performance for aluminum section: Bauxite Bauxite production set a new first quarter record and was four per cent higher than the first quarter of 2014, primarily due to a strong performance at Weipa which continued to ramp up. Production from...
Jaguar Land Rover wins the Queen’s Award for Sustainable Development
Jaguar Land Rover, with its all-aluminium lightweight petrol and diesel engines capable of internal combustion, wins the Queens Award for Sustainable Development. The brand endorses sustainable development in various aspects of its operation, like being the first vehicle to be fitted with innovative motors that will enable CO2 ratings to be as low as 99gms per km, a close match to the European-Union target for 2020. They have a new engine plant that is powered by a rooftop solar panel array that is believed to be the largest in UK. Ralf Speth, the company’s German chief executive says, “Jaguar Land Rover takes a ‘whole lifecycle’ approach to developing vehicles and reducing their impact on the environment. This drives our product design — the use of lightweight materials such as...
OKW Gehäusesysteme received iF Design Award for SYNERGY
Like BLOB, the SYNERGY range of enclosures, which was only recently launched on the market, received a design award, namely the iF Product Design Award 2015 in the category "Industry”. The development focused on the unique combination of elegant design and functionality. A total of 36 enclosure sizes convinced the jury with high-quality sophistication. Through the basic shapes of square, rectangular, circular and oval, the enclosure range is suitable for a wide range of different application options, depending on usage and requirements. In particular the connections of the individual components by means of guides, as well as the absence of visible screwed connections, round off the aesthetic appearance. "The SYNERGY combines the advantages of plastic and aluminium in one single enclosure...
Update: CalRecycle awarded $1.74 million in settlement
The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) has reached a $1.74 million settlement agreement with San Leandro, California-based Alco Iron & Metal Co., following an investigation that revealed the scrap metal company claimed refunds on California Redemption Value (CRV) beverage containers it later sold to a company that redeemed them a second time. As a result, the state refunded CRV twice on the same beverage containers. “CalRecycle will remain vigilant in rooting out behavior that defrauds the state and the consumers who pay CRV,” says CalRecycle Director Carroll Mortensen. “The CRV program provides a proven incentive to maximize beverage container recycling in California. Companies that fail to follow requirements put in place to safeguard the integrity of...
Power tariff cuts to benefit Xinjiang aluminum smelters
Xinjiang decided to cut power tariffs by an average 0.093 yuan (1.5 cents)/Kwh for local industrial and commercial power users, starting on April 15, 2015, China Securities reported. The cut is more than five times sharper than the national average cut of 0.018 yuan/Kwh. Rich coal resources allow power tariffs in Xinjiang to be lower than the rest of the country. This, together with the recent power tariff cuts, will substantially cut power costs for aluminum smelters in Xinjiang, which drives nearly half of the growth in China’s new aluminum capacity, China Securities added.
Glencore reportedly frozen out of Aurukun bauxite rights negotiation
Reports are being heard that Glencore has been frozen out of negotiations with the traditional owners of the Aurukun bauxite developers and has been issued a legal letter informing them that there will be no negotiation regarding mining with anyone else other than Australian Bauxite Developers. Although Glencore had been announced the ‘preferred proponent’ by the government for the land, traditional owners that is the Wik and Wik Way people had preferred the local ABD for the task. According to the legal letter issued to Glencore, they are informed that under the Land Use Agreement the Ngan Aak Kunch (NAK) representing the native titleholders, ABD will be the sole candidates for negotiation for land rights. The government had granted Glencore access to disputed land but there has been a...
Ford trucks made with Alcoa aluminum get top safety ratings
The new Ford F-150, with an updated body made of aluminum from Alcoa, got a top safety rating from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. Ford previously committed to changing the F-150 from a steel body to a 97% aluminum body, and the aluminum is provided by the Alcoa works in Riverdale. Replacing the steel with aluminum improved the F-150’s fuel efficiency and reduced its weight by 700 pounds. The NHTSA gave its top five-star crash test safety rating to the newer version of the F-150 Super Crew 4×4 and 4×2 models, made with the Alcoa aluminum. “Starting with 2011 models, NHTXA has introduced tougher tests and rigorous new 5-Star Safety Ratings that provide more information about safety feature performance and crash avoidance technologies,” said information on the...
