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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Marubeni says LME aluminium prices may rise towards $2,300 a tonne next year
London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium prices are forecast to rise gradually in the latter half of next year possibly to as high as $2,300 a tonne as smelter shutdowns and output cuts squeeze supply, Japanese trading house Marubeni Corp said. "We expect the LME prices to move higher next year as the market will remain tight," Norinobu Ozawa, general manager at Marubeni's light metals section, told reporters on Wednesday. Marubeni, a major aluminium trader in Japan, estimated the global aluminium market will see a deficit of 387,000 tonnes in 2015, against an estimated deficit of 125,000 tonnes this year. It sees the deficit to widen to 872,000 tonnes in 2016. Many aluminium producers have cut loss-making capacity or shut down completely in response to low LME prices, high energy costs and...
CCL to invest in new plant to produce aluminum slugs in Clinton, North Carolina
CCL Industries Inc., a world leader in specialty label and packaging solutions for global corporations, small businesses and consumers, announced today that it will invest in a new plant to produce aluminum slugs used in the impact extrusion process to make aerosol cans, tubes and bottles for consumer packaged goods companies. The facility in Clinton, North Carolina, will be jointly owned by CCL and Rheinfelden Semis GmbH, a leading European producer of aluminum slugs based in Germany. The partners will initially invest approximately $18 million financed by $4.5 million in equity between them and the balance in debt, to create the plant and to build up capacity to a planned 25,000 tons by 2018. The new business will trade as Rheinfelden Americas LLC and Mr. Bernard Ecker from Rheinfelden,...
Anti-dumping case on Hyundai cast aluminium alloy wheels
The Madras high court has declined to terminate the investigation against car major Hyundai Motors India Ltd in connection with imposition of anti-dumping duty on import of cast aluminium alloy wheels from China, Korea and Thailand. Justice V. Ramasubramanian dismissed four petitions from Hyundai Motors, challenging the orders of the Union government and designated authority, directorate general of anti-dumping and allied duties, which included imposition of provisional anti-dumping duty. Visakhapatnam-based Synergies Castings limited, involved in the manufacture of cast aluminium alloy wheels, lodged a complaint with the designated authority that some importers like Hyundai were importing into India cast aluminium alloy wheels at less than its normal value and that they incur a liability...
AISIN to receive Marion Business of the Year award
The Marion Chamber of Commerce announced Monday that AISIN Light Metals is the 2014 Business and Industry of the Year. AISIN is in the REDCO Industrial Park area in Marion. The company manufactures aluminum parts for the automotive industry. The company began construction in Marion in October 2003, and by the following year it was open for business. Since that time, AISIN has become part of the Marion community. “AISIN Light Metals is contributing to a better global environment through the manufacturing of light metal products for vehicles,” said Ryoju Tsuji, president of AISIN. “The goal of ALM is to become a leading manufacturer of aluminum extrusion automotive parts. We will meet the expectations of our team members, local community, and those with a shared interest in ALM by being...
Aluminum rises from six-month low before U.S. durable goods, GDP
Aluminum snapped three days of losses before U.S. data projected to show goods orders expanded and the world’s largest economy grew more than initially estimated in the third quarter. The metal gained as much as 0.5 percent after closing yesterday at the lowest since June. Orders for goods meant to last for at least three years expanded 3 percent in November on the month, compared with a revised 0.3 percent increase in October, according to a Bloomberg News survey before the data due today. Economists in a separate survey by Bloomberg predicted annualized growth in the U.S. economy will be revised up to 4.3 percent for last quarter. The U.S. is the second-largest metals consumer. “The aluminum price has gone quite low,” said Chae Un Soo, a metals trader at Korea Exchange Bank Futures Co....
Aluminium rises on global cues, spot demand
Buoyed by firming trend overseas and rising spot demand, aluminium futures prices rose by 0.25 per cent to INR 118.45 per kg today as traders created fresh positions. At the Multi Commodity Exchange, aluminium for delivery in current month moved up by 30 paise, or 0.25 per cent, to INR 118.45 per kg, with a business turnover of 19 lots. Metal for delivery in the far-month January 2015 contracts rose by 15 paise, or 0.13 per cent, to INR 119.30 per kg in business turnover of five lots. Market participants said besides rising demand at domestic spot markets, a firming trend in metal at the London Metal Exchange (LME) ahead of the US data projected to show expansion of goods orders and the world's largest economy growing more than initially estimated in the third quarter, helped aluminium...
South Derbyshire adopts ‘leave your cap on’ scheme for better aluminium recycling
In South Derbyshire District the Council has introduced a new campaign called ‘leave your cap on’ to better facilitate recycling in the region. As per the new scheme, the public is urged to leave the cap on for glass bottles like that of wine, spirits and cooking ingredients so that the cap goes for recycling along with its bottles. It also applies for aluminium screw tops for jars. The chairman of environmental and development services at South Derbyshire District Council, Councillor Peter Watson says that when the caps are attached with their original bottles, they are easier to recover thanks to the modern recycling methods. This means that the countless metal bottle caps that get lost in the trash can now be reused over and over again through recycling. The new scheme just requires...
Brazil’s primary aluminium output falls by 31.4%
The primary aluminium output in Brazil in November has fallen by 31.4% year-on-year once again proving that the major players in the industry are taking deliberate steps to curtail production. Compared to the 101,000 tonnes of the metal produced in November, 2013, last month the production was a total of 69,300 tonnes according to the figures released by Abal, the aluminium association showed. From the beginning of the year till November this year, the Brazilian production was 891,200 tonnes dipping 25.7% from last year’s production of 1.2 million tonnes across the same period. By the end of the year the total output is likely to be 978,000 tonnes, falling 25%, according to latest Abal estimate. The difference between 2013 and 2014 total aluminium out put is 326,000 tonnes making the...
Paulwell announces Rusal can restart mining at Alpart Jamaica
The Mining and Energy Minister, Phillip Paulwell announced on Monday that the Alpart refinery at Nain, St. Elizabeth is scheduled to be re-opened on December 1, 2016 after being closed for the last five years. The Minister said that the Cabinet has approved the submission that will allow Rusal to resume mining at the Alpart Jamaica starting next month such that they are able to export up to two million crude wet tonnes of monohydrate bauxite over an 18-month period. With the mining starting in January 2015, the exporting will commence from July 2015. At full mining capacity the deal will employ 250 Jamaican contractors. This deal has also triggered the need for port development which will start next February, the repairs of affected roads and other related activities that will be needed...
China alumina output hits record high of 4.4 Mln tonnes in Nov. 2014
China’s alumina production hit record high of 4.4 million tonnes in November, SMM data showed. Strong alumina prices, high profit and strong demand from northeast China gave alumina refineries incentive to produce. Operating rates at Chinese alumina refineries rose 5 percentage points month-on-month to 86.4% in November, SMM survey showed. Shandong Xinfa Group, Bosai Minerals Group, among others, restarted idled capacity, while others, such as Shanxi Fusheng Aluminum Co. and Shandong Weiqiao Aluminum Co. put new capacity online. Prices for domestic alumina stayed high between 2,700-2,850 yuan ($439-463) per tonne, and profits in the industry ranged 200-600 yuan per tonne.
Aluminum Association hits record membership with 100th member company
The Aluminum Association announced its 99th and 100th member companies today – The Schaefer Group, Inc. and Aluminum Shapes, LLC. One hundred members is a record for the 80-year trade Association, which represents the North American aluminum industry. The additions come at a time when the broader industry continues to thrive – in the United States alone, aluminum companies have committed to more than $2.3 billion in domestic plant expansion since 2013 to capture anticipated demand growth. "This is an exciting time for aluminum, as the industry continues to see sustained expansion and transformative growth," said Aluminum Association Chairman Layle "Kip" Smith, President of Noranda Aluminum. "Customers as diverse as automakers, high-tech firms and the U.S. military recognize the potential...
Qiya Aluminium Electricity Co. to increase production
The administrative chief of Xinjiang Qiya Aluminium Electricity Co. announced on Sunday that they will be ramping up their production in 2015 doubling its current annual capacity to 800,000 tonnes. Located in the Jimusaer County in Xinjiang, the company can take advantage of the abundant coal resources in the region for a profitable coal-electricity-aluminium integration. Meanwhile the Customs Tariff Commission in China announced on December 16 to maintain its 15% export duty on aluminium products including primary, alloy, shredded scrap and aluminium bars and rods in 2015 as well, dashing hopes of the auminium producers.
Goldman Sachs sells aluminum business to Swiss firm
Goldman Sachs Group Inc. on Monday ended its four-year ownership of its metal-warehousing unit, unloading it to an investment firm run by two British brothers. Just last month, Goldman executives were grilled before a U.S. Senate panel about accusations that the warehousing unit, Metro International Trade Services, withheld metal supplies and drove up aluminum prices in the U.S. Terms of the sale to Reuben Brothers, an investment firm based in Switzerland and founded by brothers David and Simon Reuben, weren't disclosed. The two brothers made much of their fortune in the aluminum industry, most prominently in Russia in the 1990s. Their eponymous firm has also been an active property investor of late and was mentioned earlier this year as a contender to buy the Plaza Hotel in New York....
Aluminium producer China Hongqiao in 1.9 billion yuan deal to boost capacity
China Hongqiao Group, one of the mainland’s largest aluminium producers, has announced a 1.9 billion yuan acquisition that would expand its production capacity by around 21 per cent and allow it to generate more of its own power. The Shandong province-based and main-board listed firm said it had entered into a deal to buy all of Binzhou Municipal Binbei New Material, which trades bauxite, aluminium ingots, plates, foils, strips and makes processed aluminium products. Binzhou recorded a net profit of 469.12 million yuan in the first nine months of this year, a net profit of 314.23 million yuan last year and a net profit of 91.35 million yuan in 2012, China Hongqiao said in a filing to Hong Kong’s stock exchange. It owns facilities that have an annual capacity to produce 660,000 tonnes of...
Guinea Minister of Mines and Geology visits EGA subsidiary
His Excellency Kerfalla Yansane (Minister of Mines and Geology of the Republic of Guinea), accompanied by His Excellency Hassan Souare (Guinean Ambassador to the UAE), visited Emirates Aluminium Company Limited PJSC (" EMAL ", an operating subsidiary of Emirates Global Aluminium PJSC) on 13 December 2014. The delegation was received by Abdulla Kalban (MD & CEO: EGA) and William Morrell (CEO: GAC) and taken on a VIP tour of the EMAL smelter complex. The minister also had an opportunity to meet 17 trainees from Guinea Alumina Corporation ("GAC", a wholly EGA-owned strategic bauxite mine and alumina refinery development project) who are currently in the UAE as participants in a Skills Development Programme at EGA. The trainees, who will ultimately apply the skills acquired in the UAE to the...
Chinese alumina imports dip by 40.9% in November year-on-year
The latest Chinese custom data reveals that the country’s month-on-month alumina imports in November have gone up by 63% to 443,326 tonnes although when compared to November 2013, the imports have fallen 40.9%. Brazil is one of the major suppliers, exporting 98,400 tonnes of alumina which is twice the amount that was imported from Brazil over the same period last year. Australia, with 217,350 tonnes is the leading supplier of alumina for China although this amount has also dipped by 52.5% when compared to last year. The overall Chinese bauxite import has also dipped this year November when compared to the last by 51.6% to 2.57 million tonnes but last year’s exaggerated importing was mostly triggered by Indonesian ban scare and a desperate attempt to build stockpiles. The Chinese aluminium...
ISRI appoints new members to metals theft Law Enforcement Advisory Council
Conner Samuels, senior director of security operations investigations, policy and threat management at Time Warner Cable, and Sergeant Todd Powell of the Anne Arundel County Police Department’s Metal Theft Unit in Maryland, have recently been named to the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries’ (ISRI) Law Enforcement Advisory Council (LEAC). The Council is a select group of experienced law enforcement officers, prosecutors and security personnel with an understanding of the metals theft issue. Based on its expertise, LEAC advises ISRI on ways to assist law enforcement and the resources it can provide to address the problem of metals theft. “Since it was formed nearly a year ago, the members of ISRI’s Law Enforcement Advisory Council have provided the industry with useful, valuable...
GARMCO opts for Cloud delivery of Brady’s trading and risk management solution for metals
Brady plc (BRY.L), the leading supplier of trading and risk management solutions for metals, recycling, energy and soft commodities, announced today that it will deliver its new Hedge Manager solution to Gulf Aluminium Rolling Mill Co. (GARMCO). The new software has been designed to meet the risk management objectives of metal fabricators, rolling mills, cable manufacturers and extruders. It is delivered via a dedicated Cloud environment, guaranteeing the highest level of auditability and security and can be deployed in less than two months. The Hedge Manager solution provides an up-to-date picture of physical and hedge positions, including accurate mark-to-market, risk and margin figures to ensure that risk managers can implement the organisation’s hedging policy and measure and control...
