Caustic soda plant setup in India: How aluminium growth is reshaping demand, costs and opportunities
Caustic soda may not be the most visible ingredient in aluminium production, but without it, the journey from bauxite to alumina would look very different. The chemical, also known as sodium hydroxide, is a crucial reagent in the Bayer process, where it helps dissolve alumina-bearing material in bauxite and separate it from impurities. The dissolved material is then processed to recover alumina, which ultimately feeds aluminium production. That makes caustic soda more than just another industrial chemical. Its availability, price and efficient use can influence the economics of alumina refining and, by extension, the wider aluminium value chain. As India expands its alumina and aluminium capacity, the requirement for this chemical is also becoming increasingly important. For companies...
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...
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Natixis predicts a positive future for aluminium
Nic Brown, the head of commodities research at Natixis announced at the LME Metals Seminar in London that aluminium prices will average above $2000 per tonne in 2015. Addressing the delegates, Brown said that the global shortage of bauxite coupled with the increase in demand worldwide, aluminium prices are likely to be pushed to an average of around $2,070 in 2015 and $2,240 in 2016. He further says, “We think aluminium markets will face a warming phase in the years ahead and we expect prices to rise.” Since Chinese producers were “very dependent” on Indonesian bauxite, the sudden cut off has hit them hard and he says “next year this will become an issue as smelters become short of bauxite”. As more automakers are seeking lighter alternative to steel, aluminium is soon becoming the...
800,000-tpy alumina project enters operations in China Shanxi
Shanxi Fusheng Aluminum Co. put phase one 800,000-tpy alumina project in Pinglu County, Shanxi Province, into service on October 19, cnal.com reported today. This marks the fourth alumina project of Hangzhou Jinjiang Group – parent company of Shanxi Fusheng Aluminum Co. – since its establishment.
China Zenix Auto is developing aluminum wheel for Yutong's new energy bus
China Zenix Auto International Limited (NYSE: ZX) ("Zenix Auto" or "the Company"), the largest commercial vehicle wheel manufacturer in China in both the aftermarket and OEM market by sales volume, announced today that it is developing a new model of aluminum wheel designed for the Yutong Bus Co., Ltd.'s ("Yutong") new energy bus. Zenix Auto constructed one of the first aluminum wheel production plants in China for commercial vehicles and began offering aluminum wheels at the end of 2013. As an industry leader in research and development, Zenix owns a total of 85 patents in China. Zenix Auto's aluminum wheels are expected to replace imported aluminum wheels and be an alternative to current steel wheel models. Current production capacity for aluminum wheels is 500,000 units. Yutong Bus...
Recycled aluminium innovation supports circular economy
Continuing its support of cutting edge technology, Innovate UK (the new name for the Technology Strategy Board), has played a key role in enabling Jaguar Land Rover to develop a new aluminium alloy, which means that up to 50% of the body of the new Jaguar XE is made from recycled aluminium. This new lightweight aluminium alloy, which is made from processed scrap, is not only better for the environment - the lighter car will also produce less CO2 emissions - but it also has the potential to be used by other producers in the transport sector. This came about as a result of a collaborative R&D competition launched by Innovate UK in 2007 that led to the support of the project REALCAR (Recycled Aluminium Car). Six other partner organisations were involved, ensuring that there was a fully...
Minneapolis recycling rate rises with single-sort service
Minneapolis’ switch to single-sort recycling has prompted residents to recycle nearly 29 percent more waste than a few years ago, when all recyclables had to be sorted into separate containers The shift has also prompted a sizable drop in the number of workers’ compensation claims related to recycling collection, a public works official told a City Council committee Tuesday. He said the citywide rollout of single-sort pickup, which began in July 2013 after launching in parts of Minneapolis several months earlier, has proved to be more efficient for both the people putting their plastic, glass, paper, cardboard and aluminum on the curb — and for the people who pick it up. Since the mid-1990s, the share of waste recycled by Minneapolis residents has been under 20 percent, dipping as low as...
Aluminum retreats as European factory output seen contracting
Aluminum fell for first time in five days before a gauge that may show euro-area factory output contracted for the first time in 15 months and after a similar manufacturing report on China beat estimates. The metal retreated as much as 0.7 percent in London after closing yesterday at the highest since Sept. 16. The flash Purchasing Managers’ Index from HSBC Holdings Plc and Markit Economics released today was 50.4, exceeding the median estimate of 50.2 in a Bloomberg News survey. Markit Economics will later report that factory output in the euro region fell to a reading of 49.9 this month, according to a separate survey. It would be the first time since June 2013 that the gauge dropped below 50, the level that indicates expansion. “People are more concerned about a slowdown in Europe,...
Rusal to keep aluminium output flat
Russian aluminium giant Rusal plans to keep output largely flat for three years because healthy stock levels will ensure the market is supplied despite market deficits, a top executive said on Wednesday. Robust aluminium prices have prompted some Chinese smelters to abandon production cutbacks and some investors fear restarts at other plants would chip away at what was expected to be the first global deficit after years of oversupply. "We still have enough stocks on the market, so we don't see any reason to restart production," Oleg Mukhamedshin, deputy chief executive, told Reuters in an interview. "I see production flat, stable for at least three years." Surpluses over the past several years have left the global market awash in inventories, including about 4.5 million tonnes at...
Aluminium prices fall echoing global market trends
Taking weak cues from global markets, aluminium prices fell 0.29% to INR 121.15 per kg in futures trade on Wednesday as speculators trimmed positions. Further, sluggish demand in the domestic spot markets also weighed on the metal prices. At the Multi Commodity Exchange, aluminium for delivery in October eased by 35 paise, or 0.29%, to INR 121.15 per kg in business turnover of 130 lots. Metal for delivery in November traded lower by a similar margin to INR 122.05 per kg in four lots. Market analysts said the weakness in aluminium at futures trade was mostly in tandem with a downtrend in metal at the London Metal Exchange and subdued spot demand.
Natixis predicts a positive future for aluminium
Nic Brown, the head of commodities research at Natixis announced at the LME Metals Seminar in London that aluminium prices will average above $2000 per tonne in 2015. Addressing the delegates, Brown said that the global shortage of bauxite coupled with the increase in demand worldwide, aluminium prices are likely to be pushed to an average of around $2,070 in 2015 and $2,240 in 2016. He further says, “We think aluminium markets will face a warming phase in the years ahead and we expect prices to rise.” Since Chinese producers were “very dependent” on Indonesian bauxite, the sudden cut off has hit them hard and he says “next year this will become an issue as smelters become short of bauxite”. As more automakers are seeking lighter alternative to steel, aluminium is soon becoming the...
Boyne Smelters to continue at full capacity
Business hasn't been easy in the world of manufacturing. Australia has been left with just four aluminium smelters after yet another one closed down in recent weeks. But Boyne Smelters Ltd has continued to work on ways to cut costs and keep its 1200 employees in a job. The biggest unknown is a percentage of its power costs, and the smelter in the past few weeks has managed to secure a 12-month contract for its variable supply. The other 85% is supplied by a long-term contract with Gladstone Power Station. Boyne Smelters Ltd general manager Joe Rea said the contract would enable them to work at full capacity. "As you may know, the first quarter this year we had to curtail our production by around 13 tonnes and that was always going to hurt us," he said. "We didn't put people off during...
ASX200 marks seventh straight gain, which bauxite stock kicked 14.3%?
Australian stocks have risen for a seventh straight session with miners and bankers pulling the ASX200 up 60.9 points, or 1.1%, to 5,385.9. Wall Street had rallied last night on upbeat earnings reports, sending the Dow Jones Industrial Average up 215 points to settle at 16,615, while the Nasdaq added 103 points to end at 4,419. While the market continued its positive momentum, one bauxite explorer drew investor attention. Queensland Bauxite (ASX:QBL) jumped 14.3% to $0.024 on very heavy volume of 22.8 million shares being traded. This is the most active for the company in five weeks. Earlier this month, it flagged that it would soon deliver a Scoping Study for its South Johnstone Bauxite Project in Queensland. This will assess the potential economic viability for the development of a...
Bauxite Resources looks to establish a new alumina refinery in Western Australia
Global demand for bauxite seems to be on the rise again according to the head of a West Australian exploration company. Bauxite Resources executive director and CEO Peter Canterbury said global demand for aluminium is a positive for the mining sector in the south west of the state, despite a recent lull in demand due to oversupply. Aluminium is made from alumina, which is a product of the mineral bauxite prevalent in deposits along the Darling Ranges. Mr Canterbury said Bauxite Resources is entering into a joint-venture with Chinese company Yankuang Resources to establish an alumina refinery in Western Australia. Bauxite Resources is also undertaking scoping study and a marketing study of its Fortuna depository. The studies will determine the feasibility of directly shipping bauxite out...
Natixis predicts a positive future for aluminium
Nic Brown, the head of commodities research at Natixis announced at the LME Metals Seminar in London that aluminium prices will average above $2000 per tonne in 2015. Addressing the delegates, Brown said that the global shortage of bauxite coupled with the increase in demand worldwide, aluminium prices are likely to be pushed to an average of around $2,070 in 2015 and $2,240 in 2016. He further says, “We think aluminium markets will face a warming phase in the years ahead and we expect prices to rise.” Since Chinese producers were “very dependent” on Indonesian bauxite, the sudden cut off has hit them hard and he says “next year this will become an issue as smelters become short of bauxite”. As more automakers are seeking lighter alternative to steel, aluminium is soon becoming the...
Century Aluminum Company (CENX) jumps 6.14% on October 21
Century Aluminum Company ($CENX) was among the biggest gainers on the Russell 2000 for October 21 as the stock popped 6.14% to $26.11, representing a gain of $1.51 per share. Some 1,996,078 shares traded hands on 13,496 trades, compared with an average daily volume of 1,429,274 shares out of a total float of 88,809,928. The stock opened at $24.83 and traded with an intraday range of $24.72 to $27.05. After today's gains, Century Aluminum Company reached a market cap of $2,318,827,220. Century Aluminum Company has had a trading range between $29.54 and $8.28 over the last year, and it had a 50-day SMA of $24.56 and a 200-day SMA of $16.60. Century Aluminum Co produces primary aluminum, which is an internationally traded commodity. The Company's primary aluminum facilities produce...
Aluminum erased declines in London as equity markets rallied
According to a recent report, China’s economy has grown by 7.3 percent in the third quarter when compared to last year. This expansion, although beats Bloomberg’s survey of 7.2, is still the slowest growth pace since 2009. The U.S equity futures showed an advance of 0.6 percent while the Stoxx Europe Index rose by 1.4 percent. The aluminium price on London Metal Exchange as read on 11.26 am was $1,987.50 per metric ton rising by 0.8 percent.
Bowman Cycle launches aluminium race-friendly frames
Inspired by the Crystal Palace criterium series of London, Bowman Cycle a Kent-based bike brand has also launched Palace aluminium frames. The Palace, costs around £650 which includes the frame, fork and seat collar is the first among four Bowman frames fresh from the production line that is aluminium-based and named after favorite cycling haunts in and around London and Kent. This new generation frame is more race-centric focusing more on low weight, stiffness and toughness. Made up of 6069-T6 aluminium with triple butted walls, it not only keeps the weight low, claiming to be 1,200g for a size 56cm but is also more affordable than the carbon fiber versions. The 27.2mm seatpost and custom tube profiles will erase any foul memories of filling rattling memories of older aluminium frames...
Fourth straight year of growth in North America
Aluminium demand in North America has risen by 31 percent since 2009, reports the U.S. Aluminum Association. The increase includes growth in the key market segments, including transportation. All the figures are included in the Association’s latest Aluminum Statistical Review, which was released on October 15. The report includes information on “every cycle of the aluminum production process” in the United States and Canada, from primary aluminium to the recovery of aluminium scrap. The Association writes that “this year’s review shows continued growth in demand for the metal and positive trend lines in many key market sectors.” Its key findings include: • 4.6 percent higher shipments to the transportation segment, compared to 2012 • 0.9 percent higher shipments for building and...
Alumina Limited receives buy rating from Deutsche Bank (AWC)
Deutsche Bank reissued their buy rating on shares of Alumina Limited in a research report sent to investors on Tuesday morning. The firm currently has a $2.25 price target on the stock. Deutsche Bank has also updated their ratings on a number of other stocks in the last week. The firm reiterated its buy rating on shares of Smith & Nephew plc (ADR). Also, Deutsche Bank reiterated its buy rating on shares of Barclays. Finally, Deutsche Bank reiterated its hold rating on shares of CRH PLC (ADR). Separately, analysts at Morgan Stanley raised their price target on shares of Alumina Limited to $1.60 in a research note on Thursday, July 24th. They now have an overweight rating on the stock. Alumina Limited opened at 1.685 on Tuesday. Alumina Limited has a 52-week low of A$0.935 and a 52-week...
