Century Aluminum’s proposed USD 4 billion primary aluminum smelter in Inola, Oklahoma, is “moving forward on all fronts” as the company prepares for construction, despite local opposition and legal challenges, CEO Jesse Gary said during the company’s third-quarter earnings call. Developed jointly by Century Aluminum and Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), the project is designed to produce 750,000 tonnes of primary aluminum annually, potentially doubling U.S. primary aluminum production. The facility is expected to create thousands of direct and indirect jobs and add USD 1.5 billion to Oklahoma’s gross domestic product, according to company estimates. The partners had targeted construction to begin by the end of 2026. However, local restrictions and permitting challenges have affected the...
LME aluminium stocks declined by more than half during the first nine months of 2026, falling by 267,875 tonnes from 509,250 tonnes on January 2 to 241,375 tonnes on September 30 (52.6 per cent). The decline continued throughout the period, with average warehouse inventories falling each month. Compared with the same period in 2025, monthly average stocks were lower across all nine months, with the gap widening in the third quarter. Q1 LME aluminium stocks fall 18.2 per cent LME aluminium inventories continued to decline during Q1 2026. Month-end stocks fell from 495,725 tonnes in January to 465,550 tonnes in February, before dropping further to 416,775 tonnes in March. Monthly average inventories stood at 498,670 tonnes in January, 481,801 tonnes in February and 440,710 tonnes in March....
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LME aluminum previously climbed and hit an intraday high of USD 2,102/mt overnight after rating agencies successively confirmed their ratings for the U.S. However, a downward adjustment for the U.S. GDP during the third quarter added to the slightly bearish market sentiment, which trimmed gains of LME aluminum, with the metal closing 0.51% higher at USD 2,085/mt. SMM expects LME aluminum to test the 5-day moving average above, not excluding possibilities to slip, and fluctuate between USD 2,055-2,105/mt. The most active SHFE aluminum contract 1202 is expected to open above RMB 15,900/mt and fluctuate between RMB 15,900-16,050/mt as it tries to recover the RMB 16,000/mt mark. Spot aluminum is expected to trade at discounts of RMB 0-30/mt over the SHFE current-month aluminum price. The...
According to China Customs, China’s primary aluminium import in October fell by 38% from year ago to 9,650 tons. From January to October, China’s primary aluminium import totaled 152,264 tons which declines by 21% compared with last year.
UC Rusal has signed a five year contract with Gazprom Neft for the supply of up to 1Mt of electrode petroleum coke. The coke, used by the aluminium industry for anode manufacturing, will be supplied by the Omsk Refinery, a Gazprom Neft subsidiary. It is the first long-term supply contract between the parties, the previous contracts did not exceed two years. In the mid-term perspective Gazprom Neft plans to upgrade the Omsk refinery coke production facilities and increase its coke production efficiency. The coke will be supplied to Rusal’s Boguchansk and Taishet smelters.
Sohar Aluminum is expected to take a concrete decision on its proposed expansion to double the present capacity to 740,000 tonnes per annum by the year end. Mr Henk Pauw CEO of Sohar Aluminum said that the capital expenditure of the proposed expansion which includes a massive captive power plant is envisaged at slightly higher than USD 4 billion. Mr Pauw said that the Ministry of Oil and Gas is in negotiation with British energy giant BP for determining the natural gas price. Until that is concluded, it is very hard for me to speculate on what it means for us. The company is looking at different options or scenarios for the proposed expansion. We will have some kind of understanding before the end of the year. Sohar Aluminum which produces aluminum ingots and sows needs commitment from...
Total world aluminum output rose 3.6% on-month in October following production growth across all regions, the International Aluminum Institute said Monday. Primary aluminum production rose to 2.198 million metric tons from 2.122 million tons in September, the IAI said. Output was 4.6% higher compared with October 2010, when production stood at 2.100 million tons. Daily output during October averaged 70,900 tons, up from 70,700 tons in September.
Aluminum smelters in central China could cut production if domestic prices fall further as higher production costs squeeze profit margins at a time of slowing global demand for the light metal. Large-scale supply curbs in the world's largest aluminum producer could, however, lend support to global prices which have dropped amid persistent worries over the debt contagion in the euro-zone. Three-month aluminum is trading around $2,097/ton on the London Metal Exchange Friday, down 5.5% from a month ago, while benchmark January aluminum on the Shanghai Futures Exchange was around CNY16,020/ton, down 3.3% from last month. "At the current [domestic] price level, about 30% of aluminum smelters in China are producing slightly underwater," Galaxy Securities Futures analyst Sun Lei said, adding...
The Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (Score) has attracted 14 mega projects worth a total of RM28.55 billion from 2009 to August this year. Sarawak Industrial Development Minister, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, said the approved projects were predominantly in the energy intensive industries such as aluminium smelting plants, and ferro alloy projects among others. "Eleven of these projects are located at Samalaju Industrial Park, out of which four companies namely Press Metal Bintulu Sdn Bhd, Tokuyama Corporation Japan, Asia Mineral Ltd (Hong Kong) and OM holdings Ltd (Singapore) have already commenced construction works," he said at the winding-up speech for his ministry at the State Legislative Assembly sitting here today. The aluminium smelting plant in Mukah has been in...
Aluminium prices on the London Metal Exchange (LME) have fallen 23% from their April 2011 peak to around $2,140/tonne. The rally was triggered by the excess liquidity injected into the markets by the US Federal Reserve as part of its QE2 (quantitative easing) programme in November 2011. But as the programme ended and concerns mounted about the rising debt in the euro zone the upward trend in prices was reversed. Fears about a global slowdown in demand prompted investors to dump commodities and aluminium was no exception. Despite the sharp correction, there is little scope for a major rise given the uncertainty in markets across the globe. Unless the sovereign debt crisis in Europe is resolved and there are clear signs of economic stability in the region as well as in the US, aluminium is...
The European debt crisis has shown signs of spreading to France and Germany. Meanwhile, the US super committee said they failed to reach a deficit-cutting agreement for at least USD 1.2 trillion. Though major credit rating agencies said this will not affect their ratings for the US, investor worries towards U.S. debt nevertheless brought a new blow for global markets. A selling wave extended across commodity and stock markets as investors sought asset protection and the U.S. dollar index consolidated at 78 as a result. LME hit a new yearly low of USD 2,055/mt overnight, and closed at USD 2,074.5/mt, down USD 55.5/mt or 2.61%. Total positions increased 9,013 lots to 929,908 lots. The latest LME aluminum stock decreased 2,950/mt to 4,557,325 mt. SMM expects LME aluminum to fluctuate between...
Compared with the second quarter of 2011, aluminium production also rose by 1.6%. Kazakhstan’s Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation increased aluminium production in the third quarter of 2011 by 1.6% to 63 thousand tonnes compared with the same time last year, the company reports. Ferrous-alloy production totaled 446 thousand tonnes, 2.4% down on the third quarter of 2010. The ENRC is an integrated group engaged in mineral production and processing. The company’s business assets are based predominantly in Kazakhstan and include the trans-national company «Kazchrome», «Kazakhstan Aluminium», «Kazakhstan electrolysis plant», «Zhairem ore-mining and processing enterprise», «Sokolovsko-Sarbai ore-dressing and production union» and the «Eurasian Energy Corporation».
The domestic aluminium consumption is poised to take off in a big way over the next few years. But the industry is having sleepless nights over cheaper Chinese imports, which are hurting its chances to tap the growing demand. There is clearly an attempt on its part to protect its turf, and the wish-list includes imposition of “safeguard duties” on the imports and prohibiting exports of bauxite ore. Industry representatives said the domestic aluminium sector is going that extra mile by gearing up to add capacities to meet future demand. “We have requested the government to see to it that the landed cost of the Chinese aluminium products is not less than the products made in the domestic market,” K S S Murthy, general secretary of the Aluminium Association of India (AAI), said. China...
The UK’s Aluminium Federation has called on the government to give more help to the manufacturing industry in the country. Colin Davies, Alfed President, said the government seemed intent on driving through an unachievable 'Green Agenda', aiming for 80% energy savings by 2050. Speaking at Alfed's annual dinner in London, UK, Mr Davies said this would lead to further lack of investment, company closures and carbon leakage. “We need energy reduction targets which are achievable, within a Climate Change Agreement which is structured to reward those who meet sensible and reasonable energy reduction targets.” He welcomed planned government investment in the manufacturing skills base through apprenticeship schemes, as was the easing of the cumulative effect of the mountains of legislation...
Rio Tinto Alcan CEO Jacynthe Côté, told delegates at the Arabal 2011 conference that aluminium production will be a key to sustainable economic growth in the Middle East. In her keynote address to the conference, Mrs. Côté told delegates from more than 30 countries that industrial diversification and job creation are areas where the aluminium industry can help make a difference. “The Middle East clearly possesses an enviable platform upon which to build a world-class aluminium industry. But going forward we must demonstrate that we also have the vision and the will to capitalise on these strengths by creating the conditions necessary to sustain growth. “Judging by the success to date, of Sohar Aluminium and the other regional aluminium producers represented here and the determination of...
Global miner Rio Tinto's decision this week to close its Lynemouth aluminum smelter in Britain has highlighted the poor health of an industry pinched by lower metals prices and high costs. "We have been arguing for some time that aluminum prices are well into the cost curve and that eventually this will result in production cutbacks and closures," RBS analyst Nikos Kavalis said. Citing data from consultancy Brook Hunt, the metals arm of Wood Mackenzie, he said current price levels made more than 40 percent of aluminum producers unprofitable. Benchmark aluminum prices were around $2,111 on Friday, down almost 25 percent from $2,803 hit in March, its highest since August 2008. "As such,it comes as no surprise that a relatively high (and potentially rising) cost operation like Lynemouth is...
Spanish and Italian debt yields dropped last Friday, which was believed to be caused by bond purchases by the European Central Bank. The Conference Board Leading Economic Index released later grew 0.9%, which was more market expected, thereby alleviating worries towards the European debt crisis. LME aluminum closed USD 45/mt or 2.16% higher at USD 2,130/mt during the day. Support at this level is weak, however, due to strong resistance at the moving averages and given several slips during the recent period. The latest LME aluminum stock decreased 775 mt to 4,560,275 mt. SMM expects LME aluminum to fluctuate narrowly between USD 2,100-2,140/mt today. The most active SHFE aluminum contract 1201 is expected to open slightly higher near RMB 16,000/mt and fluctuate between RMB...
“Aluminium supplies will struggle to meet surging global demand over the next decade, leading to price rises, according to the head of Alcoa, the world’s largest producer of the metal. Over the past 20 years, aluminium demand grew an average 3.4 per cent a year, made up of 15 per cent annual growth in China and 1 per cent in the rest of the world. Alcoa believes that over the next decade, even with slower demand in China, global demand can grow 6.5 per cent per year, doubling total use by 2020. Later in the decade, he adds, it is likely to be increasingly difficult to find new high-quality mines to produce bauxite – aluminium ore – and sites for new refineries and smelters. ‘The constraint will not be capital – the money will be there – but the availability of these high-quality assets’...
State-run Nalco's per share earnings for the July-September quarter reduced by a third compared to a year ago as the company's operating expenses rose almost 30% and the lack of availability of coal compelled the aluminium producer to cut down production at its Angul unit in Orissa, thereby curtailing its sales volume for the quarter. Moreover, Nalco was forced to import coal to meet its requirements due to the shortage of coal. With flooding at some sites and logistical issues during the monsoon, Coal India was unable to meet the demand of its buyers. That meant Nalco had to buy power from the Orissa state grid and import coal to meet the rest of its requirement and ended up paying 32% more for raw materials than it did in the year ago period. This hurt its operating profit margin by...
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C (Alba) welcomed the opportunity to share its experience in occupational health and safety with a visiting 19-member delegation from the Ministry of Health's Family Residency Programme. Alba's Head of Protocol and Corporate Events, Jamal Al Areifi, received the delegation headed by the Consultant Family Physician, Dr. Samia Bahram. The delegation was given an insight into Alba's experience in minimising environmental hazards, in promoting a culture of safety across the organisation, and in placing a high premium on occupational health initiatives for the benefit of Alba's employees. Commenting on the visit of the Ministry of Health delegation to Alba, the company's Chief Executive, Laurent Schmitt, said, "Alba is well recognised in the industry for its record in...
