Aluminum investment across North America and Asia: Who leads reshaping the next phase of growth?
Aluminum investment has been spreading across the entire value chain, from primary smelting and alumina refining to recycling, rolling, extrusion and battery foil, building more integrated and higher-value supply chains. During the past 5 years, the US and Canada in North America and China in Asia have been grabbing headlines pertaining to the aluminum industry. These updates have involved growth stories or have shed light on volatile market situations. How have these headlines contributed to a greater picture for the benefit of the aluminum industries of the two continents? Between 2021 and 2026, major projects across North America and Asia have targeted new primary capacity, lower-carbon production, recycled aluminum and higher-value downstream products. But the investment pattern is...
AL Circle Analysis: From 13% costlier cans to 317 GW solar, aluminium trade enters new territory
As aluminium continues to draw the spotlight as a strategic variable in global trade rather than a merely traded commodity. Tariffs imposed at the border are now showing up in the cost of cans, auto components and downstream products, while high copper prices are encouraging manufacturers to redesign products around aluminium. Meanwhile, India is tightening protection around selected aluminium products even as domestic downstream manufacturers question the cost of protecting primary metal. China’s extrusion industry is adjusting to weaker construction demand by moving towards solar, batteries and other clean-energy applications. In North America, deeply integrated supply chains are confronting the consequences of suddenly changing tariff economics. To know the global production, demand...
Grow with
AL Circle
Alba sets all-time production record in 2014
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba)’s metal production soared to 931,427 metric tonnes in 2014 – jumping 18,727 metric tonnes from 912,700 metric tonnes achieved in 2013. A ceremony to mark Alba’s all-time production record was held at HRH Princess Sabeeka Oasis on Monday, January 5, 2015. The event was attended by Alba’s Chief Executive, Tim Murray, Chief Operations Officer, Isa Al Ansari, Chief Financial Officer, Ali Al Baqali, Chief Marketing Officer, Jean Baptiste Lucas, Chairman of Alba Labour Union, Ali Al Binali as well as a large number of senior officials and employees. Commenting on the company’s production record, Alba’s Chief Executive, Tim Murray said: “Alba continues to push the limit on operational performance with our existing assets. In 2014 we were able to exceed the record...
Govt approves ordinance for mines allocation
The government on Monday approved amendments to the near six-decade-old mining and minerals development and regulation (MMDR) act through the ordinance route, paving the way for auction of minerals such as iron ore, bauxite and limestone. The auction route first introduced in coal mining does away with the traditional method of granting mineral licences on a case-to-case basis. While it maximises the revenue potential and is believed to be more transparent, the industry has been opposed to it since it is not a global practice. To fast-track over 60,000 pending applications with state governments, the ordinance also expanded the area for mineral leases from 10 sq kilometres to 100 sq kilometres to facilitate large-scale mining. Further, mines would be auctioned for 50 years with no further...
Constellium completes acquisition of Wise Metals
Constellium N.V. today announced that it has completed its previously announced acquisition of Wise Metals Intermediate Holdings LLC (“Wise”), a private aluminum sheet producer located in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. With the closing of the acquisition, Constellium now has access to 450,000 metric tons (kt) of hot mill capacity from the widest strip mill in North America, reinforcing its position on the can market and positioning Constellium to continue to grow in the North American Body-in-White (BiW) market. “This acquisition is a key milestone for Constellium that will allow our Company to provide greater sustainable value to our customers globally,” commented Pierre Vareille, Chief Executive Officer of Constellium. “It enhances Constellium’s global footprint and offering by increasing the...
Aluminium up 0.4% on spot demand, global cues
Aluminium futures were marginally up by 0.38% at INR 118 per kg today amid a rising demand at spot markets and a firming trend overseas. At the Multi Commodity Exchange, aluminium for delivery in February moved up by 45 paise, or 0.38%, to INR 118 per kg, with a business turnover of five lots. Similarly, the metal for delivery in January traded higher 15 paise, or 0.11%, at INR 117.40 per kg, with a business turnover of 143 lots. Marketmen said apart from rising demand at spot markets, a firming trend at global markets influenced aluminium futures here.
CNC machine-made aluminium helmet makes great advertising tool
A 3.6 kg aluminium motorcycle helmet may not be the most practical protective headgear you will find, but it is definitely one of the finest specimens of CNC machine craftsmanship you will ever see. A CNC machine has carved out a gorgeous, metal helmet out of a 120-kg-block of aluminium, displaying the creative and flawless execution of a fairly intricate design. The helmet is not created for a practical use so there is no point debating on the matter but it does make a great decorative item for motorcycle enthusiasts but more importantly it is a great example of what a CNC machine is capable of doing. There is a lot of debate about the superiority between 3D printing and CNC machines. While 3D printing gets an obvious edge as far as intricate designs are concerned, the dimensions of the...
Escalating China aluminum glut to weigh heavily on prices in Q1 2015
Oversupply in China’s aluminum market is expected to escalate in Q1 2015 on massive new capacities and falling demand, CNMN reported on January 2. Most new capacities came on stream in H2 2014. Nearly 3 million-tpy aluminum capacities in Xinjiang and at Shandong Weiqiao Group began to enter operations in September 2014, which will gradually reach full capacity in Q1 2015. On the demand side, many aluminum processors will not return to production immediately after the Chinese New Year holiday – February 19 this year – due to cash crunch and poor orders. Moreover, power costs at aluminum smelters have fallen sharply, due to the flooding of new capacities in Xinjiang, growing use of captive power in major producing regions, such as Shandong and Henan, as well as falling thermal coal prices....
IDCO allots 8,066 acres of land for Vedanta, Hindalco projects
The Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO), which is the nodal agency for land acquisition for various projects in the state, has already allotted 8,066 acres of land for proposed aluminium projects in the state. “We have allotted 8,066 acres of land for the proposed projects in aluminium sector in the state. Total land requirement for all MoU projects in this segment is pegged at 13,924.5 acres,” an official of IDCO said. As per documents of the state agency, IDCO had acquired and allotted 2,053.2 acres of government land and 6,012.77 acres of private land for these projects. In the aluminium sector, the state government had signed memorandum of understanding with Vedanta Aluminium (now Sesa Sterlite), Aditya Aluminium and home grown RSB Metaltech Ltd. In case of...
Aluminium prices are likely to increase in 2015 say analysts
Market analysts are assuming, in 2015 the aluminium prices will build on the gains made in the past 12 months with the large-scale production cuts worldwide and the growing demand for the metal, pushing the market into a deficit after many years. The aluminium prices have been on a roller-coaster ride with the LME cash prices hovering around $1,635 per tonne in February and shooting up to $2,100 per tonne in August. By November 17, the price stood at $2,050 per tonne. With the supply tightening across the world outside China, and the demand at an all time high, experts believe that in 2015, the average price would be around $2,063. There are threats of course that threaten the growth of aluminium prices. The first and obvious threat is the universal slowdown in global demand which is...
New bauxite lease to XINFA Aurum Exploration to benefit villagers in Bua
A new mining lease has been granted to the XINFA Aurum Exploration Fiji Limited for the bauxite mining site in Lekutu, Bua. XINFA Managing Director, Sireli Dagaga confirmed the news further saying that 20 landowners would be employed by the company from the Mataqali Naita in Votua Village and the Mataqali Naicobo in Nawailevu. The work is due to commence next month and more youths from these two villages would be employed said Dagaga. Some of these people had also been hired as a part of a rehabilitation programme at Nawailevu after the first bauxite project was completed two months ago, where 35,000 pine trees were planted at the mining site post completion of mining. Mereseini Vuniwaqa, the Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources said that the villagers will gain from the new...
Fresh selling seen in Aluminium, open interest up 18.38%
Aluminium settled down -0.43% at 116.85 as pressure seen amid signs of an economic slowdown in China, the world’s largest metals consumer. The final reading this month for the manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index for China from HSBC Holdings Plc and Markit Economics came in at 49.6, the lowest in seven months. A figure below 50 signifies contraction. China is on course for the slowest year of economic growth since 1990, according to a survey. Prices seen under pressuree this year amid prospects for fading demand from the Asian nation. Warehouses registered by the LME will raise average rental rates for aluminium by 3.6 percent in 2015, more than double the increase for the previous year, partly offsetting the impact of falling load-out queues. The S&P/CS index of 20 large cities in...
Upstate Shredding to build heavy media plant in New York
Upstate Shredding – Weitsman Recycling, Owego, New York, has announced plans to build a heavy media plant at its Owego facility. The company says it initially looked at locating the media plant in western Pennsylvania but opted to build it at its shredder facility in Owego. Adam Weitsman, CEO of Upstate Shredding – Weitsman Recycling, says that while the company was strongly considering building the $15 million state-of-the-art heavy media plant in western Pennsylvania “as the state and local municipalities rolled out the red carpet to us to have the project located there,” recent economic bad news in the Southern Tier region of New York resulted in Upstate Shredding deciding to locate the plant in Owego. “We could not in good faith create jobs outside of the region instead of building...
V. Balasubramanyam taken over as NALCO's new Director (Production)
Shri V. Balasubramanyam, Executive Director (Production), NALCO, Bhubaneswar has taken over as the new Director (Production) of National Aluminium Company Limited, a Navratna PSU of Govt. of India from 1st January 2015 on superannuation of Shri S.S. Mahapatra, on 31st December 2014. After completing his B.Tech in Chemical Engineering from ANNA UNIVERSITY, Chennai in 1984, Shri Balasubramanyam started his career with National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) in December 1984 as Graduate Engineer Trainee. During his long service association of three decades with NALCO, Shri Balasubramanyam has contributed significantly from Technology adoption to absorption in the field of Aluminium Technology. With his vast professional experience, which nested from project execution to plant operation at...
Inner Mongolia plans to restrict aluminium expansion in the region
A statement released by the Inner Mongolia’s local government reveals that they are not approving any new aluminium or steel plants in the region. This decision is taken by the government in a bid to improve the air quality in the region, for the same reason, the government is also putting a restriction on the expansion of any capacity in the cement and plate glass industry. The same rules are being imposed on the coke, calcium carbide and ferro-alloys in its counties close to the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area. The region currently has nearly 3.1 million tpy of total aluminium capacity, according to SMM data and by 2017, the government plans to shut downs outdated aluminium smelting capacity worth of 58,000 tonnes along with plans to curb aluminium capacity growth in the region which has...
China’s dubious economic conditions likely to affect the aluminium market
China’s uncertain economic situation is likely to hang heavy over the non-ferrous metals sector in 2015. The country is one of the largest consumers and producers of non-ferrous metals and its decision to re-balance economic growth from an investment-focused one to a consumption-oriented one has upset demand-supply balances. It has not helped that the other emerging markets, too, are seeing slower growth, while Europe’s growth continues to disappoint. Moreover, capacities that were planned in the years when the prices were high are coming on line at a time when demand is flagging. Despite all these factors, non-ferrous metals such as zinc and aluminium were better off in 2014. Copper has had a bad year, in comparison, aluminium and zinc prices did better with their prices rising by around...
Shelby Cobra’s 50th Anniversary limited-edition aluminium cars launched
In celebration of the 50th year anniversary of the timeless Shelby Cobra, Shelby American is releasing a limited edition of the car named Shelby Cobra 50th Anniversary 427 S/C in two variants of aluminium and fiberglass. The car had been extremely popular when it was released 50 years ago and even today, it still holds a special charm for those in love with vintage cars. The new versions will come in two variants – one in fiberglass, one in hand-formed aluminium. Shelby Cobra will retain is trademark silhouette with two varieties of color available with the aluminium version – a polished finish with or without the stripes or the traditional Guardsman Blue with Wimbledon White stripes. Only 50 units of this limited edition model will be launched in the market and will come with special...
Bauxite mining license for Rennell deposits granted to APID
Asia Pacific Investment Development (APID) Ltd has been granted the mining lease for the Rennell bauxite deposit, which was very much in demand, while Indonesian company Bingtang Borneo Ltd’s license was cancelled by the Solomon Islands government. The permanent secretary of the Ministry of Mines, Jeffrey Kauha revealed in a letter to APID that it is the only company in the Solomon Islands that has been granted a mining lease in the country. The company has also been awarded an Export Permit recently by the Mines and Mineral board in the meeting held on the 26th of November. While for APID, this is great news, Bingtang Ltd however might be shocked that the government rejected its prospecting license as it was also in the running for the bauxite deposits in Rennell. Minister Maneka told...
Kaiser Aluminum Corp. rating increased to neutral at Zacks
Kaiser Aluminum Corp. was upgraded by Zacks from an “underperform” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research note issued on Friday. The firm currently has a $72.20 price target on the stock. Zacks‘s target price would suggest a potential upside of 0.52% from the company’s current price. Shares of Kaiser Aluminum Corp. opened at 71.83 on Friday. Kaiser Aluminum Corp. has a 52 week low of $66.43 and a 52 week high of $81.62. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $72. and its 200-day moving average is $74.48. The company has a market cap of $1.269 billion and a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.00. Kaiser Aluminum Corp. last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, October 20th. The company reported $0.79 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.02 by...
Mann Aluminium reports alterations in the company board
The Board of Directors of Maan Aluminium Ltd at its meeting held on December 27, 2014, has approved proposal for change in designation of Mr. Ravinder Nath Jain, from whole time Director to Chairman & Managing Director of the Company. The Board accepted the resignation of Mr. Mohinder Jain from the post of Managing Director of the Company and also the resignation of Mr. Adish Jain, Director of the Company. The Board has noted the withdrawal the name of Mr. Mohinder Jain, Mrs. Anita Jain, Mr. Adish Jain & Mrs. Manisha Jain form promoter group. Mr. Yongendra Jain, a qualified Chartered Accountant has appointed as Chief Finance Officer of the Company w.e.f. December 27, 2014. The Board approved the proposal to reconstitute the Remuneration committee of the Company and appoint Mr. Rajesh Jain...
