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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Queensland Bauxite requests trading halt, pending placement
Queensland Bauxite has requested a trading halt for its shares from the ASX pending an announcement of a placement. The company said the halt is requested until commencement of trading on Thursday 5th March 2015. Recently, QBL extended its one-for-four entitlement issue priced at $0.014 per share to raise up to $1,782,167 until 10th March 2015. The offer also had one free attaching option exercisable at $0.10 and expiring 31st July 2016 for every two shares subscribed. In February, an agreement was struck with Far North Queensland Ports Corporation Limited for a confirmed allocation of 800,000 tonnes per annum of bauxite through the Port of Mourilyan. The Heads of Agreement was signed with Ports North. There could be scope for additional tonnage over time. The Port of Mourilyan is located...
Outotec acquires Kempe Engineering's aluminum technology and service businesses in the Middle East and Africa
Outotec has completed the acquisition of Kempe Engineering's aluminum smelter technologies as well as service and spare parts businesses in the Middle East and Africa. The acquisition was announced on January 12, 2015. The parties have agreed not to disclose the acquisition price. The acquisition of Kempe will strengthen Outotec's technology and service business in the Middle East and Africa, doubling the installed base and providing new capabilities to expand the service business in the region. Kempe will also bring additional best cost country sourcing and a manufacturing facility in the United Arab Emirates. A large amount of Kempe's proprietary equipment will complement Outotec's aluminum product portfolio and enable further growth of Outotec's equipment and spare parts business...
Abu Dhabi-based Senaat plans to spend Dh5bn developing downstream industries
Senaat, the state-owned industrial holding company, plans to invest Dh5 billion over the next two years to develop downstream industries and is considering an initial public offering of one of its units this year, the chairman said. Abu Dhabi-based Senaat, which has invested more than Dh16bn developing the metals sector over the last five years, will finance the projects through 30 per cent equity and 70 per cent debt, said Hussain Al Nowais on the sidelines of a conference in Abu Dhabi. “Recently our trend is towards downstream, industries which will use the raw materials coming from our main industries. We will be investing in pipes which are used for the oil and gas [sector] and we are also investing in the downstream industry,” said Mr Al Nowais. “The fact that Emirates Global...
Felinfoel, Wales’ oldest brewer, innovates with Rexam cans for Double Dragon Craft Ale range
Rexam, a leading global beverage can maker and Felinfoel, Wales’ oldest brewer, have collaborated to launch the award-winning Double Dragon Craft Ale in Rexam 440ml cans. The partnership sees the alignment of two brands with a reputation for launching innovative products first to market. Whilst Rexam is recognised for evolving printing technologies, the first to launch patent pending Editions™ in 2013 and Super Premium Editions™ in 2014 (allowing printing of high definition detailed images onto cans), Felinfoel has a rich history dating back to 1878. Their first conical cans with screw cap tops have evolved to the two-piece cans with a ring pull we see today – introduced by Felinfoel in 1936 as the first brewer to do so. The new relationship between Felinfoel and Rexam was founded on a...
London Metal Exchange aims to double cuts to warehouse logjams
The London Metal Exchange (LME) announced new rules and proposals on Monday aimed at slashing delivery backlogs at its global network of warehouses twice as quickly as under current reforms. The move is part of a wide-ranging reform drive sparked by consumer complaints about long delays to obtain aluminium from storage and lawsuits accusing banks and commodity companies of conspiring to restrict supply through the warehouse network. The LME, the world's oldest and biggest market for industrial metals, also said in a statement it planned to launch new contracts for aluminium premiums and ferrous products on Oct. 26. The LME launched consultations last November on a second layer of rules governing physical delivery and on Monday it requested even more feedback on further measures. The...
Aleris completes the sale of its extrusions business
Aleris announced today that it has completed the sale of its aluminum extrusions business to Japanese building products and extrusions manufacturer Sankyo Tateyama, Inc. The sale, which was announced in December, includes four production facilities in Europe and one in China. Sankyo Tateyama paid a purchase price of €35.5 million for the business (less €6.4 million in net debt) and assumed approximately €60.9 million of pension liabilities. "With the sale of our extrusions business now complete, we can completely shift our focus to growing our aluminum rolled products business where we continue to invest in our capabilities to best serve industries including automotive, aerospace, and building and construction, " Steve Demetriou, Aleris Chairman and CEO said. "We wish our former...
Sapa teams with Ford F-150 to create new aluminium solution
Sapa, the world leader in aluminum extrusions, has announced its partnership with Ford to supply the all-new F-150 with structural aluminum tubing, and provide ongoing development support for future aluminum extrusion applications. The 2015 Ford F-150, which Ford calls its “toughest, smartest, most capable F-150 ever,” features a high-strength, military grade, aluminum-alloy body, and is about 700 pounds lighter than the 2014 model. Despite lighter weight, engineers indicate that a truck body using aluminum can equal or outperform steel in overall strength and dent resistance, depending on the type of material used, its thickness and how the structure is designed and assembled. For the F-150, a global team of Sapa engineers and metallurgists rigorously tested and analyzed the extruded...
Hydro investing in sorting technology for recycling
To further strengthen its activities in aluminium recycling, Hydro have acquired WMR Recycling GmbH (WMR) in Dormagen, Germany, from Kural GmbH and Kurth Grundstücksverwaltungs UG. Following the transaction, Hydro will own the most advanced aluminium scrap sorting technology in the world. The agreement was signed on Friday, February 27. Subject to regulatory approval from competition authorities, the deal is expected to close by the beginning of April this year. Patented technology “The scrap-sorting technology in the WMR plant is the most advanced in the world, and we will now hold the patented rights to this technology,” says Roland Scharf-Bergmann, head of Recycling in Hydro’s Primary Metal business area. Utilizing x-ray transmission and several other sorting technology elements, the...
IMIDRO announces the construction new Jonoob Aluminium Plant
Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development & Renovation (IMIDRO) announced on Feb 28 that the Jonoob Aluminium Plant will be established in the southern province of Fars with a production capacity of 300,000 metric tons, funded by Iranian investment companies. In the first seven months of the current Iranian year, starting March ’14, the company had reported an export of 88.4% of aluminium worth $155.1 million. Aluminium ingots production in Iran exceeded the projected output for the period by 2000 metric tons to 262,900 metric tons, in the first nine months of the current Iranian financial year (March 21 – Dec 22, 2014). The three top aluminium producers in Iran were Arak Aluminium company, Almahdi Aluminium Company and Hormozal Aluminium producing 135,413 mt, 72,996 mt and 54,565...
Vietnam has big plans for aluminum industry
The Prime Minister’s recent working visit to the Central Highlands bauxite complex confirmed the great potential of bauxite exploitation there and aluminum industry development. Analysts once looked at Tan Rai and Nhan Co alumina projects with dubious eyes. However, it is obvious that domestic demand for alumina to make aluminum has become far higher than the output Tan Rai and Nhan Co can provide. The alumina output at the Central Highlands complex will not be enough for domestic use in the next three years. A report of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) showed that Vietnam has to import 100 percent of aluminum it needs, about 500,000 tons a year, worth $1.2 billion. The demand will increase rapidly as a result of the government’s policy on speeding up the development of support...
National Aluminium plans RO7mn capacity expansion
National Aluminium Products Co (Napco) is planning a RO7mn capacity expansion to substantially increase volumes and increase market share. The company will install two additional extrusions presses in a phased manner this year and also set up a power coating plant. The company board has approved the capacity expansion in line with its business strategy. “The estimated cost of the expansion will be approximately RO7mn, including related civil construction. With the strategy devised, upon achievement, the company expects a substantial increase in volume and profitability post expansion,” Napco said in yearly financial report submitted to the Muscat Securities Market on Sunday. The company said it will focus on broadening local market share as well as more exports to GCC, African and Asian...
Ontario-based manufacturer of aluminum metal parts opens new plant
Construction just wrapped up on a 275,560-square foot automotive manufacturing facility in the Riverside Horizons Industrial Park. Martinrea International, the owner of the recently constructed $19 million facility, is an Ontario-based manufacturer of quality steel and aluminum metal parts for the automotive and industrial sector. Their production of automotive parts is supplied to vehicle manufacturers and automotive suppliers around the world. Their newest plant in the Riverside Horizons Industrial Park will begin full-fledged production later this year. Martinrea will spend an additional $30 million on specialized robotics, necessary equipment, and furnishings in the plant. Martinrea International is expected to bring an estimated 300 new jobs to the area. Employees at the new facility...
Aleris completes the sale of its recycling and specification alloys businesses
Aleris announced today that it has completed the sale of its Recycling and Specification Alloys businesses to an affiliate of Signature Group Holdings for an aggregate of $500 million in cash and $25 million in Signature preferred stock. The sale, which was announced in October, includes 18 production facilities in North America and six in Europe that offer a wide range of metal recycling services and specification alloy products. "The sale of the recycling and specification alloys businesses will allow us to place a stronger focus on aluminum rolled products, ensuring that we are poised to capture the benefit of strong projected growth in a variety of industries including automotive, aerospace, and U.S. building and construction," Steve Demetriou, Aleris chairman and CEO said. "The...
Orissa red flags Centre’s plan to give gram sabhas mineral rights
The Orissa steel and mines department has said no to the Union Panchayatiraj Ministry’s proposal to give gram sabhas rights over major minerals. In 2013, the ministry had sent a draft Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas Bill, 2013 to the states, seeking their views on it. The draft bill suggested that gram sabhas in scheduled areas be given rights on major minerals such as iron ore, manganese, bauxite and chromite. Opposing section 4(k) of the proposed amendment bill which says recommendation of gram sabha should be a pre-requisite for grant of prospecting lease or mining lease for major minerals in scheduled areas, the steel and mines department has said major minerals occur under the the earth and thus are properties of the state government and not local bodies. “Besides, the...
Angul aluminium park gets the final nod from the Indian Union government
The long awaited Angul aluminium park, a joint venture between Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco) and National Aluminium Company Ltd (Nalco) finally gets a nod of approval from the Union Government. A special purpose vehicle (SPV) named Angul Aluminium Park Private Ltd (AAPPL), will be developing the park across 450 acres of land, with the first phase taking up 160 acres of the land. Idco’s contribution is slightly higher, 50.50 percent while Nalco will be contributing 49.50 percent of the cost. "The department of industrial policy and promotion (DIPP) under the Union ministry of commerce and industry has given final nod for the aluminium park under the modified industrial infrastructure upgradation scheme (MIIUS). A sum of Rs 46 crore will be provided in four...
Keels laid for two aluminum OSVs
Triangle Marine Services and Marine Core & Charter host keel laying ceremony for two Aluminum Fast Offshore Support Vessels UAE-based shipbuilder Triangle Marine Services has laid the keels of two new 45-meter Aluminum Fast Offshore Support Vessels, awarded in November 2014 by UAE-based client Marine Core & Charter LLC. The new builds mark the company’s first shipbuilding project to signify their entry into the offshore market. The ceremony took place at Triangle Marine’s facility in Dubai Maritime City, and was attended by representatives from Triangle Marine, Marine Core & Charter LLC and Camarc Design as well as many representatives from a variety of marine organizations and service providers. The new 45-meter Aluminum Fast Offshore Support Vessels by U.K. designers Camarc feature a...
Aluminum Premiums in Europe Decline by Most in at Least 17 Years
The premium aluminum buyers in Europe pay to obtain the metal had the sharpest three-month drop in at least 17 years, according to researcher Harbor Aluminum. The fee added to London Metal Exchange prices dropped to $300 a metric ton as of Thursday, with some “distressed” selling at as low as $250 a ton, according to Jorge Vazquez, managing director at Harbor Aluminum in Austin, Texas. That’s down from $425 to $445 on Nov. 25, and the sharpest three-month drop since the data begins in 1998, Vazquez said. Falling demand in the region and an increase in the availability of aluminum scrap and primary metal have pushed premiums lower, Vazquez said. “Europe is where the eye of the storm is, and one of the reasons is because it has the biggest stealth stock in the entire world,” Vazquez said,...
Rio Tinto slashes job in a cost-cutting drive
Rio Tinto Plc said on Friday that in its latest moves to slash costs in response to weak commodity prices it was letting go its energy chief, rolling its coal and uranium businesses into two other units and cutting some other corporate jobs. Rio's coal mines in Australia will be folded into the copper division while its uranium business will be added to the diamonds and minerals group, leaving the company with four product groups, including iron ore and aluminium. "These changes are part of our continuing business transformation to reduce costs, simplify and strengthen our company and deliver sustainable value for shareholders," Rio Tinto Chief Executive Sam Walsh said in a statement. The changes support the company's commitment to deliver $750 million (486 million pounds) in savings this...
