According to SMM statistics, as of September 17, aluminium billet inventory in major domestic consumption areas recorded 152,500 tonnes, down 500 tonnes from last Thursday (September 10) and down 5,000 tonnes from this Monday (September 14). The persistent upward trend in inventory since mid-August has shifted slightly, turning into a modest pullback from highs. On a Y-o-Y basis, inventory was approximately 17,500 tonnes higher than the same period in 2025, about 31,000 tonnes higher than 2024, and roughly 61,000 tonnes higher than 2023, with total inventory still at the highest level for the same period over the past four years. From the perspective of warehouse withdrawals, aluminium billet withdrawals during September 7–September 14 recorded 38,900 tonnes, up 2,800 tonnes W-o-W, ending...
Saudi Arabia’s aluminium consumption could climb to as much as 1.8 million tonnes a year by 2030, as the Kingdom ramps up infrastructure and industrial development ahead of the 2034 FIFA World Cup. Ahmad Al-Alshaikh, executive vice president of Maaden’s Aluminum Business Unit, said demand is expected to reach at least 1.6 million tonnes annually by 2030, up from around 1 million tonnes currently. Consumption could potentially double over the next five to seven years, he said. Speaking on the sidelines of the Fastmarkets International Aluminium Conference in Budapest, Al-Alshaikh said construction of 15 new stadiums for the football tournament is helping to support aluminium demand, Reuters reported. Major exhibitions and preparations for the World Cup are also expected to contribute to...
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The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 has popularised the use of Industry 4.0 across all manufacturing industries, including aluminium. Until then, it was only a buzzword to many, despite being a dominating topic of discussion in conferences, summits and seminars. Thanks to the Fourth Industrial Revolution or Industry 4.0 that has helped the aluminium industry mitigate the COVID-19 impact at large. The intelligent use of advanced technologies such as the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, and cyber-physical systems at aluminium smelters and plants has enabled them to augment their production capacity and conduct seamless operations during the pandemic. It is an undeniable fact now that Industry 4.0 has proved to be an inevitable solution in the aluminium industry for the...
India is gradually waking up to the potential of its minerals and metals industry. This was one of the few industry sectors that continued to be productive despite the ravages of the pandemic. In fact, India’s mining GDP increased from INR 739.90 billion in the fourth quarter of 2020 to INR 913.03 billion in the first quarter of 2021, as per data from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI). This industry has a critical role to play in fueling India’s ambitious journey towards a self-sufficient 5 trillion-dollar economy over the course of 5 years. Aluminium is a strategic metal and currently, the second most important metal in the world. Growing nearly 20x in the last sixty years, it has shown the most promise. Aluminium’s inherent properties like high...
A top-selling furnace weighing system from Aluminium Casthouse Technologies (ACT) is embracing the advance of Industry 4.0 with a major IT upgrade. The BatchPilot, an innovative technology used in casthouses worldwide to accurately measure furnace liquid metal weight and determine exactly what is wanted aluminium and unwanted dross, is now installed with the latest Siemens S7 central processing unit and software for an even more accurate online process data logging and more user-friendly smart screens. The upgrade of the Batchpilot system will, ultimately, allow customers to achieve greater gains in productivity, leading to even higher production levels at a time when the London Metal Exchange is rising sharply. Knowing the correct weight of metal in the furnace is crucial to ensure slabs...
Manufacturers are under continuous pressure to lower costs and improve quality. To assure optimum technical and financial performance of the Carbon Plants and anode block manufacturing, Aluminium manufacturers are moving forward in the adoption and integration of Industry 4.0 technologies as part of their roadmap to the aluminium plant of the future. One of the main ideas that separate Industry 4.0 from 3.0 is the notion that data coming from one part of the manufacturing process can help with upstream or downstream process optimization. In a typical modern anode manufacturing plant, all of the equipment and systems are tied together with an industrial network, a good foundation for the integration of technologies. Looking at an aluminium smelter on how Industry 4.0 technologies can be...
Since 2007 and the introduction of Amelios, Fives’ Aluminium division has developed a comprehensive range of digital solutions to enhance the productivity of smelters and achieve greener aluminium production. Being a worldwide leading solution provider for Green Anode Plant, Anode Baking Furnace equipment, Anode Rodding Shop, Fume & Gas Treatment plant, Potline cranes, Pot equipment, and thanks to the combined expertise of Fives Solios and Fives ECL, Fives sets-up a cross-organizational and transdisciplinary team to further develop digital solutions. As of today, Fives’ digital portfolio consists of more than 20 solutions that can be used independently or interconnected to act on Equipment Health Monitoring, Process Optimization and Emission Control. Equipment Health Monitoring – SMART...
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, AMETEK Land and AMETEK Surface Vision had identified the need for connectivity and moved into Industry 4.0. Industry as a whole depends on getting accurate data from systems and providing this to management within companies, enabling them to make data-driven decisions. Industry 4.0 facilitates this by allowing operators to access accurate data at any point in time and from anywhere, which is exactly what has been needed during the pandemic to ensure companies can make key decisions quickly and remotely. This has been emphasised by market sectors such as textiles and aluminium, which have experienced high demand during the pandemic – they are operating in a very fast turnaround situation, for example when producing personal protective equipment (PPE)....
Sohar Aluminium: Poised for the Future Overcoming the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic since early 2020, Sohar Aluminium (SA) recorded an excellent annual production of primary aluminium totaling 396,929 tonnes in 2020. Timely business continuity measures initiated by the company management have greatly contributed to this achievement. The year 2021 so far seems to be witnessing a similar trend in production and other overall key performance indicators (KPIs). The Company is jointly owned by OQ S.A.O.C representing the Omani government (40%), Abu Dhabi National Energy Company - TAQA (40%), and Rio Tinto Alcan (20%) that also provides efficient AP39 smelting technology and sales support. The company’s primary products include hot metal, primary aluminium Ingots, and primary...
Aldel, a Dutch aluminium maker based in Delfzijl, is halting its primary aluminium production because of the current rise in electricity prices, which usually account for 40 per cent of the total aluminium production cost. The news came after the Dutch firm’s chief executive officer Chris McNamee told Reuters that the smelter would remain idled from October 11 until at least early 2022. According to the company, the cost of electricity is currently about 4,500 euros per tonne of aluminium, while the aluminium selling price is around 2,500 euros per tonne. "We've got a squeeze on us now because we're not hedged, and we're not hedged because the Dutch government isn't giving us visibility on a level playing field," CEO Chris McNamee said. Aldel is calling on the Dutch government to...
1. Introduction: Industry 4.0 is a general concept of technological and organizational transformation of enterprises, which includes, among others digitization and automation of technological processes. One of the key branches for the development of the world economy is the production of aluminum, which consists of a number of stages, including heat treatment carried out with the use of industrial furnaces. SECO / WARWICK Company has developed modern tools dedicated for Vortex® furnace line, which fit into the Industry 4.0 concept and are aimed at increasing the efficiency and safety of production, as well as care for the quality of the processed product. In VORTEX® furnaces, intermediate or final heat treatment of load in the form of sheets or foil coils made of aluminum and its alloys...
Hindalco Industries Limited continued to expand its aluminium ingot and aluminium products prices for the third time in a row, with effect from Friday, October 8. Hindalco is presently selling its aluminium ingot at INR 253,750 per tonne, which is an increase of INR 3,000 per tonne or 1.20 per cent from INR 250,750 per tonne on October 6. Among aluminium products, Hindalco’s aluminium wire rod price has also seen a raise of INR 3,000 per tonne from INR 261,850 per tonne to INR 264,850 per tonne on October 8. But the company’s aluminium billets price has witnessed a jump of INR 6,500 per tonne to INR 264,350 per tonne. Hindalco Industries Limited links its aluminium ingot and aluminium products prices to the three-month futures of aluminium on the London Metal Exchange, which increased on...
According to the documents revealed under the Official Information Act, New Zealand, Rio Tinto and ministers’ discussion varied the global metal giant’s proposal to shut down the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter in 2024. In January 2021, Rio Tinto majority-owned aluminium smelter declared that it would functionalize NZAS until the end of 2024, following thumping down Meridian Energy on the price it pays for power supply. However, the documents disclosed under the OIA delivers a clear image that the date for shutting down New Zealand’s only aluminium smelter that accommodates around 800 staff and contractors is not yet ‘final’. On 6th May, Ivan Vella, Global of Aluminium for Rio Tinto met the Finance Minister of New Zealand Grant Robertson, Energy Minister Megan Woods and Environment Minister...
Scanty stockpiles of coal in India have reportedly put aluminium producers into a critical situation. As rightly described by India’s apex industry body, the Federation of Indian Mineral Industries (FIMI), the situation is like aluminium producers are “swimming in a rough ocean”. This has been one of the top news in the global primary aluminium industry this week. To know more: https://www.alcircle.com/news/coal-stockpiles-for-only-one-to-two-days-aluminium-production-to-slash-fimi-70573 Aside this, a key development in the industry has also gained our attention. The world's leading diversified natural resource company, Vedanta with its headquarters in Mumbai is desirous to explore business augmentation opportunities in the Middle East region, comprising establishing a regional base in...
According to India’s apex industry body, the Federation of Indian Mineral Industries (FIMI), the drastic coal crisis in India has developed a situation like “swimming in a rough ocean” for the aluminium producers as the reserve of the fossil fuel sink to a scathing level. B.K. Bhatia, Additional Secretary General, FIMI said: “Most aluminium factories, which have their power generation plants, have stockpiles for only one to two days. While aluminium output hasn’t been affected so far, there may be production cuts by the end of the month if coal supplies don’t recover.” The Aluminium Association of India stated that the stiffening supplies of coal have tripped a power emergency in India as around 70% of the country’s electricity is fossil-fuel-fired. A load-shedding for more than two hours...
Vedanta Aluminium, one of the largest producers of aluminium and value added products in India grabbed the “Best in Future of Digital Infrastructure,” award at the IDC Digital Transformation (DX) Summit India and Future Enterprise Awards 2021. The esteemed IDC Future Enterprise Awards celebrate the tech-enabled resilience of enterprises as they march themselves through the challenges and disruptions involved in the ever-changing digital world. Vedanta Aluminium won the award in the ‘Best in Future of Digital Infrastructure’ category for their Wi-Fi 6 and Digital Smelter project. Vedanta Aluminium is India’s first and world’s third aluminium smelter to start the digital-twin based Digital Smelter technology at Jharsuguda plant. The Jharsuguda plant is the largest single location aluminium...
National Aluminium Company Limited has increased its aluminium ingot and aluminium products prices with effect from Thursday, October 7, following a decline of INR 1,400 per tonne on October 1. NALCO’s aluminium ingot price is now standing at INR 247,550- 251,050 per tonne, up by INR 2,600 per tonne from INR 244,950-248,450 per tonne on the previous day. NALCO’s aluminium wire rod price has also witnessed a hike of INR 2,600 per tonne from INR 247,450-251,800 on October 1 to INR 250,050- 254,400 per tonne on October 7. Aluminium billets price is settled at INR 251,000- 253,650 per tonne, compared to INR 248,400-251,050 per tonne a week ago. NALCO links its aluminium ingot and aluminium products prices to the three-month futures of aluminium on the London Metal Exchange, which grew by...
Three-month LME aluminium opened at US$2,900 per tonne yesterday and closed at US$2,942 per tonne, up US$45 per tonne or 1.55 percent. LME aluminium cash (bid) price increased by US$36.5 or by 1.26 percent to score at US$2,915.50 per tonne. LME aluminium official settlement price surged by US$36 or by 1.25 percent to settle at US$2,916 per tonne. 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price was recorded at US$2,928 per tonne and US$2,929 per tonne. December 22 bid price scored at US$2,815 per tonne and the offer price was recorded at US$2,820 per tonne. LME aluminium opening stock for October 7 closed at 1188575 tonnes. Live warrants for the same day were recorded at 638425 and cancelled warrant stood at 550150. LME aluminium 3-month Asian Reference Price for Thursday, October 7 settled at...
Hindalco Industries Limited further increased its aluminium ingot and aluminium products prices on the immediate next day, on October 6, 2021. That brought the company’s aluminium ingot price to INR 250,750 per tonne, up by INR 3,250 per tonne or 1.31 per cent from INR 247,500 per tonne on October 5. Hindalco’s aluminium wire rod price also witnessed a hike of INR 3,250 per tonne from INR 258,650 per tonne to INR 261,850 per tonne on October 6. Aluminium billets selling price is now settled at INR 257,850 per tonne, compared to INR 254,600 per tonne on the previous day. Hindalco Industries Limited links its aluminium ingot and aluminium products prices to the three-month futures of aluminium on the London Metal Exchange, which further grew on October 5 by US$5.50 per tonne to US$2,894.50...
LME aluminium benchmark price surged 0.51 percent on Wednesday, October 6. LME aluminium cash (bid) price reduced by US$15 to settle at US$2,879 per tonne. LME aluminium official settlement price lowered by US$14.5 or by 0.50 percent to close at US$2,880 per tonne. 3-month bid price and 3-month offer price stood at US$2,887 per tonne and US$2,888 per tonne. December 22 bid price was recorded at US$2,780 per tonne and the offer price for the same day closed at US$2,785 per tonne. LME aluminium opening stock for October 6 stood at 1198425 tonnes. Live warrants for the same day settled at 644550 and cancelled warrant was found out to be 553875. LME aluminium 3-month Asian Reference Price for Wednesday, October 6 closed at 2920.65. SHFE Aluminium Price Trend The Shanghai Metal Market will be...
