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...
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Latest leaks suggest a 5.5 inch aluminum unibody for Samsung Galaxy S6
With an expected announcement in the first quarter of 2015, the Samsung Galaxy S6, according to the latest leaks, has gone through a complete overhaul as far as the design is concerned. The latest leaks shows the assembled version of the upcoming Galaxy flagship with a vivid, colored, plastic front and an aluminum unibody. The flagship has therefore changed, as all previous iterations were inclined more towards a plastic body. After enduring criticisms for using a plastic body and suffering poor sales of the Samsung Galaxy S5, this time Samsung has gone all out with a brand new design language for the upcoming Galaxy S6. One thing that we can notice is the bright and bold tone of the front, suggesting that Samsung must be considering new color options for the upcoming flagship. Earlier...
Reopening of Alpart refinery brings cheer to the community
The recent announcement by the Jamaican mining minister, Phillip Paulwell that the Alpart refinery will be reopened after five years of closure, has brought cheer to the community. According to the plan, the refinery is due to open on December 1, 2016 while the mining work will begin in January 2015. This is good news for the community that had been facing tight economic conditions ever since the plant closed. The restart of the refinery as well as the mining will bring jobs to the local people, more business and overall better economic conditions in a place that has been suffering from unemployment or overcrowded conditions as people who were working at the plant had migrated to farming or operating taxis. This has even given rise to increased crimes in the area. People do not mind that...
Metallic bubble wraps revolunise packaging to automobile body casting
A metallic bubble wrap developed by engineers at North Carolina State University has revolutionised everything from packaging of delicate things to manufacture of protective covers for a variety of uses from computer cases to automobile body parts. The aluminium cushioning material, first developed by the researchers in 2013, is lighter, stronger and more flexible than sheet metal and more heat- and chemical-resistant than plastic or other polymer-based cushioning materials. The bubble wrap metal sheets can now find wide applications in automobile body panels, the wing edges of airplanes, suitcases, helmets and cases for computers and other electronic devices. The metallic bubble wrap was developed to offer protection in areas that are only a few millimeters thick as it is not quite as...
Columbia Falls Aluminum Company opposes Superfund designation
Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. said Friday it opposes a Superfund designation for the aluminum plant site. Owned by Swiss-based parent company Glencore, CFAC supports expediting a thorough investigation of the plant site and has retained environmental consulting firm Roux Associates to develop a remedial investigation work plan, according to a press release issued by CFAC. The company does not want the plant site listed on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Priorities List for federal Superfund cleanup. “First we have to do the assessment,” CFAC spokesman Haley Beaudry said in a phone interview with the Inter Lake. “Right now everybody is assuming there is some cleanup to do, but we don’t know that. I’m reluctant to put the cart before the horse.” Beaudry said the press...
Inalum profits more than triple after govt’s takeover
North Sumatra-based aluminum producer Indonesia Asahan Aluminium (Inalum) reported that it had more than tripled profits since the government took over the company from Japanese companies in April 2014. President director Winardi Sunoto said the company’s net profits nearly tripled to US$117 million during the April-December period from $34 million in the same period, last year. He attributed the sharp increase in the profits to an improvement in the operation since the change in the management following the government’s takeover. The growth in net profits, he said, was also supported by the stable water levels at Lake Toba, North Sumatra, which were currently 904.22 meters above sea level. Lake Toba is considered the heart of the company’s operation, from where it sourced water for its...
Japanese Q1 premium negotiations to continue till late next month
The coming year’s quarterly prices negotiations between the Japanese aluminium buyers and the global aluminium miners have not yet reached a final premium price for the January-March shipments as the buyers are refusing to pay high rates. The discussions are expected to continue till the next month as no decision can be reached between the two parties and a wide gap remains between the producers’ offers and the buyers’ bids. The Japanese, who are the benchmark setters for aluminium premiums being the biggest importer of the metal, have already paid record high premiums of $420 for the October-December quarter up by 3-5% from the previous quarter. Even earlier this month, there was news of premiums worth $435-$440 per tonne being paid by the Japanese creating a new record. The U.S....
Aluminum’s replacement for copper in air conditioning and refrigeration sectors becomes popular in China
Applications of aluminum -made automobile air conditioning and refrigerators are gaining popular in China along with mature technologies, local media reported. The new technology, using aluminum in replacement for copper , has made great improvement in its performance, and cost-saving is one of the most competitive factors compared with copper-made products. China is still at its early stage of developing use of aluminum in domestic air conditioning industry, to replace copper, however.
Puritalia 427 Roadster with aluminium chassis Launched in Italy
Over two years has passed since the Puritalia 427 first came to the world’s attention, but the Italian sports car has finally arrived. Launched in Italy, the 427 is a two-seat roadster with styling reportedly inspired by the Shelby Cobra, and a 5.0 litre Ford V8 under the bonnet to firm the connection. Drive is sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual transmission, a limited-slip differential and an aluminium driveshaft. The chassis is also aluminium sitting beneath a body made from carbon-fibre, which helps to keep weight down to 1150kg. No mention on price at this stage or how many 427s will be built, nor the car’s 0-100km/h time, fuel consumption or option packages. Puriatlia says “if you can dream it, we can build it”, and is usually kept busy hand-crafting cars for customers...
SMM Aluminum Market daily review (2014-12-25)
On Wednesday night, SHFE 1503 aluminum contract rose to RMB 13,120/mt after starting at RMB 13,100/mt, and finished the night session at RMB 13,110/mt. Trading volumes totaled 10,400 lots, with positions up 1,210 lots to 134,824 lots. On Thursday, the most active contract was range-bound without guidance from the LME, and ended at RMB 13,120/mt. Spot aluminum largely traded between RMB 13,010-13,020/mt in Shanghai on Thursday, premiums of RMB 0-10/mt over SHFE 1501 aluminum contract, versus RMB 13,000-13,020/mt in Wuxi, and RMB 13,020-13,030/mt in Hangzhou. SHFE 1501 aluminum contract lost support at RMB 13,000/mt, dampening buying in physical market. In the afternoon, offers held stable, with trading subdued.
Aluminium weakness, market under long liquidation: Kedia
Aluminium settled down -0.21% at 117.25 due to rise in dollar as major economic indicators from the US were mixed. US final GDP growth for Q3, published on Tuesday, came in at 5.0%, well above expectations and the biggest rise in 11 years. This demonstrates rapid growth in the US economy and has soothed concerns over the world’s largest economy. The resulting stronger expectation for the US Federal Reserve to raise interest rates earlier than anticipated sent the US dollar index up sharply above 90, a high not seen since 2006. The latest report published by the World Bureau of Metal Statistics (WBMS) indicates that global primary aluminum market has recorded a deficit during the initial ten months of the year. As per the report, the market turned into a deficit of 542,000 tons when...
West Virginia plant provides metal for Orion spacecraft
A West Virginia plant is playing a role in NASA's experimental Orion spacecraft. Metals used in the inner structure of the Orion crew capsule were produced at Constellium Rolled Products Ravenswood in Jackson County. The Charleston Gazette reports that the metals used in the capsule's backbone, window frames and dome plate were made at the facility. Officials say a new lithium-infused aluminum alloy was made specifically for the project. In 2009, the company began shipping the alloys for Orion to Lockheed Martin, which won a $6.4 billion NASA contract in 2006 to build the Orion space capsule. The spacecraft rocketed into orbit Dec. 5, traveling 3,600 miles into space on an unmanned test flight. NASA plans to use future models to help get astronauts to Mars in coming decades.
Odisha's Steel and Mines ministry draws on the issue of raw material shortage for end-use plants
With mega industries like steel and aluminium units facing acute shortage of raw materials, the Odisha government has taken steps to tackle the problem by augmenting mineral production. "We are taking necessary steps to ensure availability of adequate raw materials for the industries and meet the target of Rs 6,500 crore revenue from mining set for the current fiscal which at present shows a shortfall of around Rs 1,200 crore," Odisha's Steel and Mines Minister Prafulla Kumar Mallick said in a meeting organized this week as part of efforts to solve the problem pertaining to raw material. The meeting also brought into focus the shut down of Vedanta group's alumina refinery at Lanjigarh in Kalahandi district due to lack of bauxite. A company official from Vedanta said that the company’s...
NorthStar Ford: The all-aluminum body truck is the future of auto industry
Out with the old and in with the new, that was the message at the NorthStar Ford office on Tuesday in Duluth. The new 2015 Aluminum Ford F150 Trucks arrived, and Ford believes they are the future of the auto industry. That is because the trucks have the very first all-aluminum bodies, meaning no rust ever, and because they are lighter, Ford says they get better mileage. The company will be addressing just how much fuel the truck uses later this month, but it is expected to be between 5-20% better than the 2014 version of the truck. "It's been great. there has been a ton of people here looking to get the truck. We have had several trucks in and have sold pretty quick. We have a great inventory of trucks coming in, so it's been very good it's been very positive," NortherStar Ford Sales...
Nokia N1 Android Tablet with aluminium construction set for January 2015 release
In November, Nokia showcased the upcoming Android tablet called N1. During that time, the Nokia N1 was expected to hit the store shelves of China on the Chinese New Year, Feb. 19. However, new reports now point to a January launch date. Based on the report from a Chinese website named Sina, Nokia is gearing up for a press conference scheduled for Jan. 7. Notably, this is the day the tech giant will reportedly launch the Nokia N1 tablet. If reports are true, the Nokia N1 release date will also be on the same day after launch. In terms of pricing details, the budget-friendly N1 tablet will set the buyers back by only $249, according to Phone Arena. As far as the key specifications go, the Nokia N1 features a 7.9-inch IPS LCD display, complemented by 1,536 x 2,048 pixels screen resolution....
Cadillac CT6 might use an aluminum body
Cadillac’s latest attack against the German competition will come in the form of another rear-wheel-drive luxury sedan known as the CT6. Cadillac has remained tight-lipped on the details so far, but a new report from Automobile says the CT6 will sport an aluminum body to keep the weight down. While we don’t yet know a specific curb weight, Automobile suggests the CT6 will tip the scales close to the CT6 — somewhere between 3,700 to 4,100 lbs, to be exact. Rather than a BMW 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class competitor, this would make the CT6 a closer competitor to the Audi A7, BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe and Mercedes CLS-Class, even if it won’t be styled as a “four-door coupe.” In addition to the weight savings, the CT6 will be powered by a new family of engines Cadillac is working on,...
Capital floods into China’s flat-rolling aluminum sector
Investments have been declining in China’s loss-making aluminum smelting industry, while profitable aluminum flat-rolling sector has been attracting a flood of capital, money.163.com reported yesterday. Losses in the country’s aluminum smelting industry widened 4.2 billion yuan ($680 million) to 8.5 billion yuan during January-October 2014. This led to a 26% year-on-year slump in fixed asset investments in the industry to 50.7 billion yuan for the same period, it added. Aluminum flat-rolling sector, by contrast, reported an 11.4% year-on-year increase in profits to 36.8 billion yuan in the same period, attracting 165.4 billion yuan in fixed asset investments, up 26% from a year ago, it reported.
Rico Auto Industries divests 50% stake in FCC RICO
Rico Auto Industries has divested its entire 50% stake in FCC RICO, its erstwhile joint venture with FCC Company, Japan, on December 23, 2014, by way of sale of its entire stake to affiliates of FCC Company, Japan which are FCC Group Companies. FCC RICO is now entirely a FCC Group held company. Rico Auto Industries is a world-class engineering company supplying a wide range of high precision fully machined aluminum and ferrous components and assemblies to automotive OEMs across the globe.
Primary Aluminum market turns into deficit during January - October
The latest report published by the World Bureau of Metal Statistics (WBMS) indicates that global primary aluminum market has recorded a deficit during the initial ten months of the year. As per the report, the market turned into a deficit of 542,000 tons when matched with the surplus of 570,000 reported during entire year 2013. The production of primary aluminum was up by 1,398 kt during the ten-month period from January to October this year. The reported stock of produced metal has declined by 173,000 tonnes during the month of October. The stocks at the end of the ten-month period stood at 6,564 kt. It must be noted that the stock levels at the end of 2013 had stood at 7,171 kt. The combined stocks held in London, Shanghai, USA and Tokyo exchanges totaled 4,669 kt at the end of October....
