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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Xinren Holdings report positive results for FY14
China-based aluminium producer, Xinren Aluminium Holdings announced its results on Friday for the year 2014 ending in Dec 31, reporting net profits of 284.01 million Yuan rising from the previous year’s profits of 60.14 million Yuan. Contributions from the Xinjiang plant are being included in the group’s financial statements since July 2014 resulting in a 76.4% boost in the revenue to 14.8 billion Yuan. Another 228.97 million Yuan was added in terms of subsidies from the local government resulting in Xinjiang plant’s lower electricity costs. Compared to last year’s 1.68 billion, the cash and cash equivalents of the company rose to 313.91 million yuan. The company plans to increase the production at Xinjiang Plant from 800,000 tons in FY2014 to 1.1 million tons by the end of 2015. Xinren...
Carbon tax repeal raised energy prices: Alumina
Alcoa's Australian assets have faced higher energy costs since the carbon tax was repealed, in revelations that challenge one of the primary criticisms of the controversial scheme. The higher energy costs were revealed on Thursday by Alcoa's local joint venture partner, Alumina Limited, which said its energy costs had risen in the six months since the carbon tax was repealed, once currency fluctuations were put aside. "Excluding the currency impact, energy costs were higher than 2013 levels mainly due to increased prices and the loss of carbon tax credits in Australia," the company said. The outcome demonstrates the extraordinary level of compensation granted to big industrial companies under the carbon tax, in a bid to shield them from rising power prices. Alumina Limited owns 40 per...
Ford organizing training programs to aid manufacturing of the all-aluminium F-150
Ford is organizing an intensive training program for 8,000 of its workers, to facilitate the production of the new aluminium F-150 at the Kansas City Assembly Plant. The training will help workers make the transition from working on steel to an aluminium alloy body. The program will consist of more than 400 hours of training which includes in-class and hands-on courses covering every aspect of creating the F-150 like installing and configuring new equipment for the production line as well as learning how to construct the truck’s advanced electrical control system. The program also includes a unique train-the-trainer aspect where Ford employees learn and teach other coworkers. “Through this program, we have armed both our skilled trades and production workers with the skills necessary to...
Scientists develop ultra thin aluminium wires to help superconductors' function
Scientists at Johns Hopkins University have now developed extremely thin nano wires which can trap the electron vortices that develop in superconductors and facilitate the smooth flow of currents. When different materials are cooled to -460°F using liquid helium, they become superconductors. Their main advantage is that they can carry electric current without resistance. They are largely used in MRI machines, photon detectors, radio filters in cell phones and particle accelerators. They are also set to play a critical role in the quantum computers of the future. But the magnetic field which is created by the electricity causes some electrons to behave differently. They form tiny formations like tornado which are called electron vortices and they skitter across the smooth surface of the...
Uno Minda forms JV with Japan's Kosei Aluminum
Auto component maker Uno Minda has inked a joint venture pact with Japan's Kosei Aluminum Co to manufacture and sell alloy wheels in the country. The joint venture firm, Minda Kosei Aluminum Wheel, will be set up in Bawal (Haryana) with a total investment of Rs 200 crore for first phase of production and with an equity share of 70 per cent with Uno Minda and 30 per cent with Kosei Aluminum Co Ltd. The JV company would develop, manufacture and market aluminium alloy wheels for major car manufacturers, Uno Minda said in a statement. The start of production is planned from February 2016 with a capacity of 60,000 units per month in the first phase, it added. "We have been associated with Kosei since 2010 and with this new joint venture, we are confident that this would further strengthen our...
5,000kg of cans collected in a day across the UAE
Over 5,000kg of aluminium cans were collected on Thursday at the yearly nation-wide can collection drive organised by the Emirates Environmental Group (EEG). Participants included more than 200 entities from across the UAE. Government entities, private corporations, academic institutions, individuals and families came together to collect empty beverage cans. The day saw a total collection of 5,030kg of aluminium cans, and with an aim of 27,000kg for this year, EEG encourages residents of the UAE to keep collecting cans to recycle with EEG till the end of the year. Habiba Al Marashi, Chairperson of the Emirates Environmental Group, said the target of 27,000kg of aluminium cans will be a breakthrough for the UAE in terms community-based recycling. Marashi said aluminium cans are materials...
EAA Director General supports the need for an urgent ETS reform
In response to today’s vote in the European Parliament’s ENVI Committee on the ETS Market Stability Reserve, Director-General of the European Aluminium Association Gerd Götz issues the following statement: “We strongly support today’s acknowledgement from a wide spectrum of political groups and MEPs of the urgent need to address indirect carbon costs at European level under an urgent ETS reform. These costs are embedded in electricity prices and cannot be passed on due to aluminium’s global pricing, thereby placing European aluminium producers at a unique competitive disadvantage. Following the October Council Conclusions in which the Member States called on the Commission to take concrete action, today’s vote represents yet another strong call for concrete actions in support of the...
612Brew introduces beers in Rexam cans
US-based brewing establishment 612Brew has introduced three of its beers in cans supplied by British beverage can maker Rexam. 612Brew's SIX, Unrated Rye IPA and Gateway Park Lager will be available in Rexam 12oz cans, which are light-weight and provide complete protection from light and oxygen, preserving the beer's freshness, the company claimed. The new 612Brew cans were designed by Adam Turman. 612Brew president/co-founder Adit Kalra said: "Moving to cans was a logical next step for us as we look to increase our customer base and get our beers out to more consumers. "Working with Rexam, we were able to bring Adam's unique designs to life on a great looking package that is perfect for our brews. We look forward to continuing this partnership and reaching even more people with our...
Orbite to host booth at PDAC 2015 & CEO to Present at the ROTH Conference
Orbite Aluminae Inc. is pleased to announce today that the Company will be hosting a booth at the PDAC International Convention, March 1st - 4th, 2015. Additionally, Glenn Kelly , the Company's CEO will be presenting at the 27th ROTH Capital Partners Annual Conference on March 9th. The PDAC Convention is the largest annual gathering of prospectors and miners in the world. It's an opportunity to see and learn about the latest technology and mine developments in Canada and around the world. Orbite will have a booth located at Exhibit Halls F & G - South Building (#3046) of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC), and will be represented by Yves Noel , VP Business Development (March 2nd - 4th) and Antoine Charbonneau , Director, Sales & Marketing (March 1st - 4th). ROTH Annual Conference...
National Museum of Science and Technology to open a permanent aluminium exhibition
A new permanent interactive exhibition dedicated to aluminium – a light and infinitely recyclable metal valued in packaging, mechanics, design – is opening on March 7 and 8, Saturday and Sunday, with two special guests: artist Michelangelo Pistoletto and chef Niko Romito. Artist Michelangelo Pistoletto and Michelin-three-star chef Niko Romito will introduce the new area of the National Museum of Science and Technology, Milan dedicated to aluminium. A permanent exhibition designed and produced by the National Museum of Science and Technology, with CiAl - Aluminium Packaging Consortium as the main partner. The exhibition turns the spotlight on a light and energetic material: aluminium. On Thursday, March 5 at 6:30pm there will be a meeting open to the public where Pistoletto and Romito tell...
Daily output of global primary aluminum remains flat during Jan 2015
The data released by the International Aluminum Institute (IAI) for the month of January this year indicates that the daily output of global primary aluminum output remained flat. The output averaged at 67,800 mt per day during the month, remaining unchanged from the previous month. However, Jan ’15 daily output declined marginally when compared with the average daily output of 66,200 mt per day during January last year. The global primary aluminum output totaled 2.103 million mt during the entire month of January this year, remaining flat when compared with the output a month ago. It must be noted that the Association had earlier revised the primary aluminum output for the month of December 2014 to 2.103 million mt. The output climbed higher when compared with a year before. The global...
Rio Tinto streamlines organisational structure to drive greater value
Rio Tinto is streamlining its product groups and corporate functions as part of the continued focus on efficiency and costs. Under the new arrangements, Rio Tinto’s world-class portfolio of assets will be condensed into four product groups: Aluminium, Copper and Coal, Diamonds and Minerals, and Iron Ore. The new Copper and Coal product group will bring Rio Tinto’s coal operations alongside the existing Copper portfolio. Copper chief executive Jean-Sébastien Jacques will lead the combined product group. Uranium will be added to the Diamonds and Minerals product group, under the leadership of product group chief executive Alan Davies. As a consequence of the restructuring, Energy chief executive Harry Kenyon-Slaney will leave the business. The Aluminium and Iron Ore product groups remain...
S. Korea aluminium premium drops, could help buyers in Japan benchmark talks
South Korea's state commodity buyer has paid a lower premium for aluminium in its latest tender, signalling a turning point for costs to obtain the metal in Asia as regional supply climbs. The drop in premiums is likely to boost headwinds for aluminium producers, who receive the delivery surcharge on top of London Metal Exchange (LME) cash prices. It comes just as quarterly talks between producers and consumers kick off in Japan, which typically set the benchmark for the region. Premiums have nearly doubled in the past two years outside China after Western producers cut supply due to years of low prices. But they have been expected to come under pressure as China steps up exports of its surplus metal, a view this week echoed by top aluminium producer UC Rusal. South Korea's public...
Producers seek Q2 aluminium premium of $415-425/T from Japan buyers
Some big aluminium producers have offered Japanese buyers a premium of $415-$425 per tonne for April-June primary metal shipments, flat to down around 2 percent from the prior quarter, three sources involved in pricing talks said on Thursday. Japan is Asia's biggest importer of the metal and the premiums for primary metal shipments it agrees to pay each quarter over the London Metal Exchange (LME) cash price set the benchmark for the region. For the January-March quarter, Japanese buyers mostly agreed to pay a record premium of $425 per tonne , up 1.2 percent from the prior quarter. The latest quarterly pricing negotiations began this week between Japanese buyers and miners including Rio Tinto and Alcoa Inc , and are expected to continue to next month.
Alumina Limited reports net loss for the year 2014
Australia’s Alumina Limited reported a net loss of $US 98.3 million for the year 2014 ending in December while in 2013, the company had reported a profit of $US 500,000. Two major changes for the company in 2014 have been the sale of stakes in Jamaica’s Jamalco refinery and the closure of Point Henry smelter in Victoria, Australia. The costs incurred in the activities have titled the company’s report towards loss otherwise there were reports of underlying earnings reported by the company encouraging them to reinstate their dividend. Without the extra costs there would have been a profit of $US 91.9m to $US 61.5m higher than the previous year. The shuttering of the Point Henry smelter, a key asset for Alumina, has been a setback for the company. Alcoa said that the decision to close the...
Red Brick Brewing Company adopts Novelis evercan™ packaging
Novelis, the world leader in aluminum rolling and recycling, and Red Brick Brewing Company, Georgia's oldest operating craft brewery, today announced that Red Brick will now offer its beer in aluminum cans made from Novelis' evercan™ – the world's first certified high-recycled content aluminum can sheet. Red Brick will expand its beverage packaging options to include evercan aluminum cans for all of its year-round offerings, beginning with Laughing Skull Amber Ale, and followed by its signature Hoplanta India Pale Ale in March 2015. Red Brick plans to expand its use of the new packaging line, introducing several new styles available exclusively in evercan in the coming year, starting with its new spring seasonal Hibiscuwit, a Belgian Wheat Ale. "Our decision to expand from glass bottles...
Orbite confirms arrival of specialized refractory materials
Orbite Aluminae Inc. today announced that, further to its press release of December 12, 2014, the Europe-sourced components of the new castable material for the refractory system at the Company's HPA plant in Cap-Chat have arrived in the port of Montreal. In addition, the new mortar formulation was previously received, as planned. Glenn Kelly , CEO of Orbite, stated, "With the arrival of these materials, we are on track for commencement of refractory system installation at the end of March 2015, in line with the revised schedule as announced previously. This installation is a key step towards the completion of our plant, and we are looking forward to updating stakeholders on our progress."
Noranda to save US$5m annually via improved port
United States-based Noranda Aluminum Holding Corporation expects to save more than US$5 million ($550 m) annually in shipping costs with its newly deepened and expanded port in St Ann, Jamaica. The port, completed this month, allows bauxite ships to depart with 10 per cent heavier loads without fear of hitting the sea floor. The saving will recoup the capital costs to expand the port at US$11 million ($1.2 b), in roughly two years.
