Fire crews responded to a molten aluminium spill at Bridgnorth Aluminium on September 14 afternoon after the incident caused several small fires at the facility. Crews from Bridgnorth and Much Wenlock arrived shortly before 4 pm on September 14. The incident was recorded as a building fire, and operations officers also attended. Firefighters dealt with the fires caused by the molten aluminium spill. The incident also shows the role fire crews can play when such an incident occurs at a production facility. Molten aluminium is handled at very high temperatures, so a quick response is important when a spill leads to fire. Firefighters are trained to deal with these situations and can provide industries with support when an unexpected incident takes place. Prompt actions play a key role in...
Futures: The most-traded SHFE aluminium 2610 contract closed at RMB 24,150 per tonne, up RMB 110 or 0.46 per cent from yesterday's settlement price. It opened at RMB 24,120 per tonne during the day and fluctuated in the range of RMB 24,075-24,195 per tonne. Prices traded below MA5 (24,205.00) and MA10 (24,312.50), and above MA30 (24,065.00) and MA60 (23,616.83). The short-term rebound structure has been partially repaired, while the consolidation pattern continues, with short-term moving averages above forming key resistance. The MACD DIF (123.0407) is below DEA (150.9039), and the MACD green bar stands at -55.7263, indicating bulls' momentum remains weak. The suggested core trading range for SHFE aluminium is RMB 23,800-24,600 per tonne. The LME aluminium 3M contract settled at USD 3,249...
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As the European Union developed its Green Deal industrial plan, European Commissioner Thierry Breton encouraged European bankers to provide finance to producers of minerals essential for the energy transition. On March 8, the EU will introduce its Critical Raw Materials Act, ensuring that the bloc has access to the lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese, and graphite needed for electric vehicles. Breton emphasised two crucial problems. The first is an overreliance on some nations, such as China, a significant manufacturer of commodities like magnesium used in machinery, automobiles, and electronics. The second is the "colossal" rise in demand that is anticipated. Energy-intensive sectors like aluminium, among others planning to move output outside the group due to rising power costs following...
The Brazilian aluminium industry is anticipated to depend less on imports and emphasise domestically produced metal in 2023 due to the demand for aluminium and the plans for significant extensive production capacity. Domestic producers were already raising premiums for deliveries in the first quarter of 2023, anticipating that imports would become less appealing and more challenging to enter the country. Since May 31, when it rose by 1.94 per cent to $520-530 a tonne, the import premium had stayed the same and kept falling. A trader trading in the Brazilian metal market said, "Now this is a time to hold back and watch. Duty increases the difficulty of bringing in foreign metals. Still, the new government's firm currency exchange policy can make imports much cheaper and breathe new life...
The LME aluminium benchmark price continued to grow for the third consecutive day this week, and that too at a higher rate than the two previous days. On Wednesday, January 25, both the LME aluminium cash bid price and the LME aluminium official settlement price grew by US$11.50 per tonne or 0.44 per cent to stand at US$2,605.50 per tonne and US$2,606 per tonne, respectively. The 3-month bid price and the 3-month offer price also recorded an increase of US$11.50 per tonne to rest at US$2,637.50 per tonne and US$2,638.50 per tonne. December 24 bid price and December 24 offer price gained US$10 per tonne to close at US$2,773 per tonne and US$2,778 per tonne. LME aluminium opening stock remained restrained at 381,550 tonnes on January 25, following a spike of 5,600 tonnes on the previous...
The year 2023 marked the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began that the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, was attended by attendees. The theme of the meeting was “co-operation in a fragmented world.” Coronavirus limitations, trade tensions between the US and China, and the Ukraine-Russia geopolitical crisis have all contributed to a greater deglobalization of the world. However, despite this fragmentation, there are still widespread issues with coordinated solutions, with climate change being the most urgent. Breaking trade ties with Russia has harmed the European Union the most, increasing EU spending on oil and natural gas. This has become yet another impetus for Europe's transition to renewable energy. The energy transition has its challenges. Due to inflation,...
On Tuesday, January 24, the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative announced the joining of Vedanta Limited (Aluminium Business) as a new Production and Transformation member. Vedanta Aluminium is one of the world’s leading aluminium producers and the largest in India, with operations in Odisha and Chhattisgarh. Vedanta’s aluminium business comprises an alumina refinery in Lanjigarh (Odisha), an aluminium smelter in Jharsuguda (Odisha), aluminium smelter Balco, Korba (Chhatishgarh) with associated utilities and infrastructure in all the locations. Vedanta Aluminium & Power Business abides by the same policies and sustainability standards set by the parent company Vedanta Resources Limited. Vedanta Aluminium has a robust sustainable development framework, which includes a suite of sustainability...
The LME aluminium benchmark price started the week on Monday with a marginal rise and continued to do so the next day. On Tuesday, January 24, both the LME aluminium cash bid price and the LME aluminium official settlement price climbed only US$1.50 per tonne to settle at US$2,594 per tonne and US$2,594.50 per tonne, respectively. The 3-month bid price recorded a growth of US$7 per tonne or 0.27per cent to stand at US$2,626 per tonne, while the 3-month offer price edged an increase of US$7.5 per tonne or 0.29 per cent to peg at US$2,627 per tonne. December 24 bid price and December 24 offer price moved up by US$3 per tonne to close at US$2,763 per tonne and US$2,768 per tonne, respectively, as of Jauary 24. LME aluminium opening stock built up 5,600 tonnes on Tuesday to amount to 381,550...
According to a recent report, New Zealand’s Aluminium Smelter at Tiwai Point is independently monitoring Seawater in Bluff Harbour, Awura Bay and Foveaux Strait for signs of contamination. The initiative started last week, conducted by EHS Support on behalf of Environment Southland. The chief executive of Environment Southland said the independent monitoring commenced aiming at determining contamination issues if any in the adjacent coastal environment and the 50-year old landfill on the Tiwai site. In August last year, a review of the report by NZAS indicated a significant amount of contamination was discharged into the environment from the smelter. New Zealand’s Aluminium Smelter has reserved $687 million in its accounts for the closure and rehabilitation of the Tiwai Point site....
On January 23, Monday, the LME aluminium cash bid price and the LME aluminium official settlement price had a meagre elevation of US$7.50 per tonne or 0.29 per cent, closing at US$2,592.50 per tonne and US$2,593 per tonne, respectively. Though the previous week was completely in turmoil as the aluminium prices were fluctuating, since last Friday, despite the energy crisis in European countries, the trend has been hawkish. The 3-month bid price marked a rise of US$6 per tonne or 0.23 per cent, officially resting at US$2,619 per tonne, and the 3-month offer price saw an increase of US$5.50 per tonne or 0.21 per cent to halt at US$2,619.50 per tonne. December 24 bid price and December 24 offer price anchored at US$2,760 per tonne and US$2,765 per tonne on Monday, with a similar price hike of...
As the New Year 2023 sets in, the AlCircle team is again on the toe to release a fresh edition of its flagship e-Magazine. Yes, you guessed it right. We are prepping to launch the " Aluminium LeaderSpeak 2023 ". It is the fifth edition of the magazine this year, and so we aim to bring to you more opinions and insights from our leadership into the aluminium value chain. Like you all, we too are eager to know the anticipation of the industry leaders about the future of the aluminium market and what initiatives they are taking to resolve the issues, some passed down from the previous year and many more alike looming large in the present year. The aluminium industry in 2022 bore a plethora of challenges, like a demand drop and supply disruption caused by the geo-political conflict between...
Hindalco Industries Limited elevated its aluminium products prices on Saturday, January 21, following a significant slash on the previous day. Both the actions were in line with the LME aluminium price movement. On January 21, Hindalco’s aluminium billets price was lifted by INR 3,500 per tonne to INR 254,600 per tonne, after being slashed by INR 9,250 per tonne on January 20 from INR 260,350 per tonne to INR 251,100 per tonne. Hindalco’s aluminium wire rod price also saw an increase of INR 3,500 per tonne on Saturday, reaching INR 251,600 per tonne. On Friday, January 20, the price fell by INR 9,250 per tonne from INR 257,350 per tonne to INR 248,100 per tonne. Aluminium ingot price was no exception but also experienced a raise of INR 3,500 per tonne on Saturday, January 21, to stand at...
South32 has been facing an accumulation of inventory and working capital at the firm’s South African operations due to the prevailing shipment problems laid by the country’s port, which is controlled by the state-owned corporation Transnet. The Perth and Johannesburg enlisted mining company posted its second quarter and half-yearly production rate on January 23, wherein it declared a US$100 million build in working capital because of the augmented inventories primarily at the firm’s South African activities. South32, in a statement, tried to dissect the occurring: “This impact is most acute in our aluminium value chain in southern Africa due to ongoing shipping delays.” South32’s Hillside aluminium smelter residing in KwaZulu-Natal has announced an 8% surge in aluminium sales during the...
Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL), one of the eight subsidiaries of Coal India Limited and India’s major coal-producing companies, is mulling to make a debut in aluminium business and soon setting up a greenfield project. Sources say the mini ratna company is looking to secure a bauxite mine for the purpose. In late 2021, Coal India’s board approved a pre-feasibility study for establishing an integrated aluminium project in Odisha. Earlier, the Coal Ministry suggested CIL venture into the aluminium and solar sectors and special purpose vehicles. Abiding by that, MCL is also reportedly aiming to build an INR 12,000 crore worth of power plant in Odisha to mark a start in power generation. Coal India, in a regulatory filing in 2021, had already said its greenfield aluminium project would...
On January 23, 2023, the global resources company, South32 Ltd., downgraded the annual production forecast for its Brazil Aluminium operations, but the group remains optimistic in the days ahead. South32 said, "Due to a slower-than-anticipated ramp-up to nameplate capacity, its guidance for the Brazil aluminium business, which it owns in a joint venture with Alcoa Corp., has been decreased by 25 per cent.” "After obtaining renewable energy under long-term contracts, South32 declared a year ago that it would reactivate the Alumar aluminium smelter in Brazil, which had been shut down since 2015." “The smelter encountered brief issues with its alumina feeding systems during the December 2022 quarter and higher than anticipated pot failure rates. Therefore, fewer pots are operating than...
According to the International Aluminium Institute, world primary aluminium production in December 2022 amounted to 5.859 million tonnes, bringing the total output of 2022 to 68.417 million tonnes. The worldwide annual production in 2022 edged 1.97 per cent higher than 67.092 million tonnes a year ago, despite production cut at many smelters across the globe due to the energy crisis. The output in December built up by 3.55 per cent month-on-month from 5.658 million tonnes and increased by 6.12 per cent year-on-year from 5.521 million tonnes, found IAI. The world total primary aluminium production during the fourth quarter of 2022 reflected a year-on-year climb of 4.54 per cent from 16.60 million tonnes to 17.353 million tonnes. But on a quarter-on-year calculation, the output dropped by...
On January 20, Friday, the LME aluminium cash bid price spiked by US$46 per tonne or 1.81 per cent, and the LME aluminium official settlement price went upward by US$44.50 per tonne or 1.75 per cent, closing at US$2,585 per tonne and US$2,585.50 per tonne, respectively. The 3-month bid price marked a rise of US$42.50 per tonne or 1.65 per cent, officially resting at US$2,613 per tonne, and the 3-month offer price saw an increase of US$43 per tonne or 1.67 per cent to halt at US$2,614 per tonne. December 24 bid price and December 24 offer price stood at US$2,753 per tonne and US$2,758 per tonne on Friday, with a similar price hike of US$46 per tonne or 1.7 per cent. LME aluminium opening stock recorded a sudden outflow of 4,675 tonnes or 1.21 per cent to settle at 381,175 tonnes. Live...
The primary aluminium sector has witnessed progressive initiatives this week, with Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) hosting a drive to commission the Forced Cooling Network (F.C.N.) Project at Potlines 4 and 5, allowing the first aluminium smelter in the Middle East to augment production capacity by approximately 17,000 tonnes per annum. Technology is inspiring each and every aluminium industry lead, as this week we have found BALCO installing various high-end digital solutions to guarantee business excellence, from smart analytics for decision-making at the strategic business unit (SBU) level to real-time equipment monitoring at shop floors. Alcoa Corporation has published its full-year 2022 growth index, where they’ve pointed out that the company has achieved a 2.5% Y-o-Y revenue...
On Wednesday, January 18, Alcoa Corporation announced its fourth quarter and full-year 2022 results, reporting a strong balance sheet. The organization worked hard to combat challenging market conditions throughout the year, like volatile alumina and aluminium prices and energy supply shortage. In 2022, Alcoa generated revenue of $12,451 million, up by 2.46 per cent from $12,152 million in 2021, driven by higher alumina and aluminium prices and higher premiums for value-added products. However, the revenue in Q4 stood 6.59 per cent lower at $2,663 million than $2,851 million during the same period last year. Alcoa’s adjusted net income was just a reverse case. In the entire year, it decreased by 31.38 per cent Y-o-Y from $1,297 million or $6.83 per share to $890 million or 4.83 per share;...
China’s aluminium billet inventories recorded a hike on Thursday, January 19, marking the fourth consecutive week of rise. According to the Shanghai Metals Market data, the inventories accumulated 37,200 tonnes from the previous week to reach 131,900 tonnes across five major consumption areas. Foshan saw the highest growth over a week, driven by high shipments from southwest China. Inventory in east China also maintained seasonal accumulation. Slow consumption among extruders due to the shutdown of small and medium-sized plants for the CNY holiday also contributed to the billet inventory hike, stated SMM. Going ahead, aluminium billet inventories in east and south China are estimated to climb further. To know the current status of aluminium billet inventories in more details, refer to the...
