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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Hudson reports robust Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for specialty alumina production from the White Mountain anorthosite deposit
HUDSON RESOURCES INC. is pleased to announce the results of the Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA" or "Study") for the primary production of specialty grade alumina using White Mountain anorthosite as feedstock. The study was managed by John Goode, P.Eng. and incorporated the work of Arithmetek (Mike Dry), Hains Engineering (Don Hains), TAK Industrial Mineral Consultancy (Ted Dickson), and the 43-101 resource filing dated January 30, 2013 (Ronald G. Simpson, P.Geo.). Note that all currencies are denominated in US dollars and tonnages are stated as metric tonnes. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the economics of producing specialty grade alumina utilizing the anorthosite rock from Hudson's White Mountain project. The deposit is a monomineralic calcium aluminum silicate feldspar...
Vietnam’s Ministry says bauxite project to face losses for 4-5 years
Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) revealed in a press release on 30th March that the two relatively new bauxite mines and processing units in Central Highland Province of Lam Dong will continue to incur losses for the next 4-5 years. Out of the two facilities, Tan Rai became operational in October 2013, while Nhan Co is awaiting its test run due next month. The Ministry studied Tan Rai’s production performance from its inception till April 2014. According to studies, the Tan Rai bauxite mine will report losses for another four years while Nhan Co will continue to report losses for another 5 years. Both companies have had to repay their loans and the initial period and the maximum time allotted for capital repayment is 12 years. The ministry claims that the companies will...
Queensland Bauxite directors increase shareholding
Queensland Bauxite directors have acquired further shares in the company worth $367,500 from the recent entitlement offer to shareholders. Executive chairperson Pnina Feldman and executive director Sholom Feldman acquired 26,250,000 shares at $0.014 in the offer through Volcan Australia as they took up their full allocation as the company. QBL is looking to develop the South Johnston bauxite project near Innisfail and 20 kilometres from the Port of Mourilyan. The company's coffers have been heartily filled with a raising of $910,000 in equity funding from a Chinese investment group, China Bauxite Trading & Investments Company, founded by a former China Non Ferrous Metal Corporation executive. CBTIC took the placement at $0.014 per share at the same share price as the entitlement offer....
Alcoa rolls out its most durable aluminum wheel
Alcoa rolled out its most durable commercial truck wheel, Dura-Bright EVO, to the North American market. Alcoa’s Dura-Bright EVO wheel maintains all the benefits of its predecessor, the Dura-Bright wheel with XBR technology, while taking the wheel’s performance to a new level. The Dura-Bright EVO wheel is 10 times more resistant to corrosion primarily caused by road salts and weather elements, and more resistant to chemicals found in the toughest truck cleaning agents, according to the company. This durability enables the use of a wider variety of cleaning solutions to simplify maintenance, while preserving the integrity and brightness of the wheel. “Since inventing the forged aluminum wheel, Alcoa has continuously innovated stronger, lighter and more durable wheels to increase payload...
Worsley Alumina might need to import coal as Griffin fails to provide
Worsley Alumina plant looking to import coal via Bunburry Port as their current coal provider, Griffin Coal grows increasingly more unreliable. Griffin Coal has been suffering for some time and Cockburn Cement is already a victim of the failing coal provider and has resorted to importing their fossil fuels. BHP’s Worsley site would most likely have to import 40,000 tons of coal to keep operations running. They even want to stockpile some of it in the South West town so it is available as and when needed. Where the coal will come from is not disclosed just yet although BHP’s coal fields in Queensland or NSW seem like the more probable candidates. Michael Rix did not deny that coal imports are being considered but emphasized that they are always looking for alternate fuel source. "While...
India containerized Shredded Scrap import prices up; Aluminium scrap prices remain flat
Indian containerized shredded scrap import prices advanced during last week, while Indian aluminium scrap prices remained flat. According to The Steel Index, containerized shredded scrap prices for Indian imports rose by $4 last week to $290 a ton CFR Nhava Sheva. The modest price rise can be attributed to both limited scrap supply to India and a feeling that unless Chinese mills lower their billet prices further then scrap has reached the bottom. Further price rises pushed for by suppliers have been resisted by the market this week, with buyers citing poor finished steel product demand in India and the inevitable slowdown in construction that will accompany the June monsoons. As per the Scrap Register Price Index, scrap prices for Aluminium Accessories, Aluminium ingots, Aluminium Rod...
Hind and Universal Prime Aluminium appoint Women Directors as per Section 149(1) mandate
Two companies, Hind Aluminium Industries and Universal Prime Aluminium Ltd. have appointed women directors to their board, to fulfill the mandatory requirement under Section 149 (1) of the Companies Act, 2013. The Act states, “Every listed company and every public company having a paid up share capital of Rs.100 crores or more OR turnover of Rs.300 crores or more shall mandatorily appoint one Woman Director.” Mrs. Renu Somnai has been appointed director in Hind Aluminium, effective from March 23, 2015 while Ms. Jayantika Jatia is a new director in Universal Prime Aluminium as decided in a company meeting held on March 26, 2015.
Aluminum Association reports aluminium contributes $65 billion per year to US economy
According to a recent report from Aluminum Association, the aluminium industry in the United States generates more than $65 billion per annum in direct economic impact. The aluminium industry in its entirety, incorporating players from all sectors including suppliers and related functions, contributes nearly 1 percent of the country’s GDP driving $152 billion in economic impact. Aluminum Association measured the aluminium demand in US and Canada based on domestic producer shipments and imports and found that there has been a rise by 0.1% compared to last year with total aluminium recorded at 2.124 billion lb in January. Aluminium industry employs nearly 155,000 workers directly in the US but that does not provide an accurate measure of the employment opportunities created by the industry....
Alcoa to curtail smelting capacity in Brazil as reshaping of upstream portfolio continues
Lightweight metals leader Alcoa announced on March 30, 2015 that it will curtail the remaining 74,000 metric tons of smelting capacity at its São Luís (Alumar) facility in Brazil. The decision is aligned with the Company’s recent announcement to evaluate upstream capacity for possible curtailment, closure or sale as Alcoa further optimizes its commodity portfolio. The curtailment is expected to be complete by April 15, 2015. “We continue to take decisive steps to create a globally competitive commodity business and are executing against our upstream capacity review,” said Bob Wilt, President of Alcoa’s Global Primary Products. “These are difficult but necessary actions in support of Alcoa’s strategy to lower the cost base of our upstream businesses.” This curtailment adds to the 85,000...
French Can-Dom launches lid for aluminum cans in US and Europe
French Can-Dom has released its range of silicone lid for aluminum cans in the US and European market. The new lids are claimed to prevent beverage spillage from the cans and also address the problem of leakage. Created by a French investor, the device can also help in retaining the freshness of the beverages and prevent insects from falling into the liquid during outdoor activities. Initially, the device was created for an advertising campaign as it can be made available in any colour and can be decorated with any logo. The lids are designed to survive extremes of temperatures and can be washed over and over up to 1,000 times in a washing machine. They are also resistant to weather, ozone, radiation and moisture. The lids have applications in packaging food and medical products. French...
Holsether leaves Sapa for position in Yara
Sapa's President & CEO Svein Tore Holsether has informed the Board of Directors that he will leave Sapa to take over as President & CEO for the Norwegian fertilizers group Yara International ASA. He will begin no later than October 1, 2015. The process to find a replacement for Holsether has started, and a new President & CEO for Sapa will be announced in due time. He will continue as Sapa's top executive until further notice. Svein Tore Holsether"The Board of Directors regrets Holsether's decision to leave the company. Holsether has done a solid job for Sapa throughout his time in the company, especially as CEO for the joint venture since 2013. Sapa is ahead of plan on delivering the NOK 1 billion synergy target set out for the joint venture, and the company has a capable management team...
Sesa Sterlite receives Shareholders' approval for name change to Vedanta
Sesa Sterlite Limited (‘Sesa Sterlite’ or ‘the Company’) hereby announces that the Shareholders of the Company, inter-alia have approved by requisite majority, the name change of the Company from its present name – Sesa Sterlite Limited to “Vedanta Limited”, through Postal Ballot Results announced today on March 30, 2015. "The name change will enable us to position ourselves strategically, create much greater value and align our businesses to a unified messaging. We want to strengthen the linkage between the global business and global stakeholders, which reflects the company’s commitment to creating value through a growing portfolio of global operations,” said Tom Albanese, Group CEO, Vedanta, adding that this is a landmark decision. “Our brand Vedanta, which is globally recognized as one...
Aluminum Association completes 104 members with the addition of six new companies
The Aluminum Association announced the addition of six new members, completing a total membership of 104 member companies, a record for the 82-year-old trade association, which represents the North American aluminum industry. These additions come amidst continued demand improvement for the broader industry. According to recent preliminary Aluminum Association data, the North American aluminum industry shipped an estimated 25.5 billion pounds of aluminum in 2014, the most since 2006 and reflecting 5 percent year-over-year demand growth. From the 2009 baseline, demand in the U.S. and Canada has risen nearly 40 percent. The new member companies reflect the scope and breadth of today’s global aluminum industry. Two of the new companies join the Association as producer members – firms that...
Nanshan Aluminium net profit up 15.04% in 2014 on product portfolio adjustment
Shandong Nanshan Aluminium Co. reported 912.96 million yuan ($149 million) in net profit attributable to shareholders of its listed company in 2014, up 15.04% from 2013, it said in its earnings report filed to the Shanghai Stock Exchange. The vertically integrated company attributes the rise in profit largely to product portfolio adjustment, namely increasing production of higher-value added cold-rolled and extruded products. However, its revenues dropped 3.23% year-on-year to 14.06 billion yuan, due mainly to falling aluminum prices. Its 200,000-tpy large-size, high-performance special aluminum alloy project has entered trial, and is scheduled to come online fully in 2015. Its 14,000-tpy large, precision forging project has also started trials. Its 40,000-tpy precision, multi-functional...
Kenya’s new Aluminium Can Manufacturing plant construction to be completed by August
The Aluminium Can Manufacturing plant owned by Nigerian-based GZ Industries is nearing completion and construction is due to be completed by August, 2015. Undertaken by Civicon Limited, Transcentury Group’s subsidiary, the Sh2 billion project was commissioned last year in May to be built in Emali, Makueni County region. Transcentury Group CEO Dr Gachao who was on a media tour, said on Friday that once completed the plant will be the largest in Kenya and the surrounding region and they are happy to be associated with the project. They said the project should be completed by July/August this year, taking roughly one year. The facility is being built on a 50 acre piece of land with a capacity of 1.2 billion cans per annum when completed. Cans are at present being imported into Kenya for...
China Hongqiao expects 1st cargo from Guinea bauxite mine in Sept
China Hongqiao Group Limited , the country's second-largest aluminium producer, expects to receive the first shipment of bauxite ore from a joint venture mine in Guinea in September, its Chief Executive Officer Zhang Bo said on Monday. Bauxite is used to produce alumina, the base material for the production of aluminium. China Hongqiao and a Singapore-based dry-bulk shipper each hold a minority stake in the bauxite project, with a Guinean company as the majority shareholder, Zhang told reporters in a results briefing in Hong Kong on Monday. Total investment in the project will run less than $200 million, with the capacity expected to be about 10 million tonnes a year. The project will increase bauxite supply to China Hongqiao after Indonesia halted export of the ore early in 2014. "The...
Montreal-based artist creates aluminium sculpture for McGill University
Canadian artist named Linda Covit, has recently completed her aluminium sculpture gracing the grounds of the new campus for McGill University health centre in Montreal. The piece created by the Montreal-based artist is the largest among the 11 sculptors scattered across the campus and possibly the most striking. The modern sculpture has been created using lightweight aluminium bands forming tendrils that weave together to create a bulbous, cave-like structure. The structure has three openings at the ground-level allowing visitors to step inside it. The thin gaps between the aluminium bands catches the sun as it crosses across the sky, throwing dynamic shadows across its circular foundation. At night, the sculpture is lit up with vibrant blue and green peripheral lighting, representing two...
Altech receives $815,000 from R&D advance loan facility
Altech Chemicals Limited is pleased to announce that it has entered into a short-term debt-based instrument that provides the Company with immediate funds equivalent to its forecast research and development (R&D) tax incentive offset (R&D Scheme) for the year ended 30 June 2015. The advance of $815,000 from Platinum Road was based on the estimated R&D Scheme (relating to the Company's completed and remaining eligible R&D activities) being received in October 2015. The upfront funds will allow Altech to accelerate its bankable feasibility study (BFS) and ongoing R&D activities for its proposed high purity alumina (HPA) processing operation. The Company reported a cash position of $1,174,000 as at 31 December 2014.
