Canada and China have extended a bilateral trade arrangement that links Chinese market access for Canadian agricultural products with Canada's access for Chinese steel and aluminum. The decision provides greater certainty for exporters on both sides as Ottawa seeks to expand its trade relationships beyond the United States. The extension, announced on November 4, 2026, will keep the existing arrangement in place until the end of 2028. It comes amid renewed efforts by the two countries to strengthen economic ties and address outstanding trade issues. For the aluminum industry, the agreement offers a clearer timeline for market access, while its agricultural provisions provide Canadian producers with greater predictability in one of their key export markets. Canada-China trade agreement...
LME aluminium prices gained ground on November 4, with cash and futures contracts moving higher. The Asian Reference Price also edged up, while exchange inventories declined. Alumina Platts prices, however, moved slightly lower. The cash bid rose by USD 53.50 per tonne , or 1.74 per cent, to USD 3,134.50 per tonne from USD 3,081 per tonne. The cash offer increased 1.72 per cent to USD 3,135 per tonne from USD 3,082 per tonne. Three-month aluminium prices also advanced. The bid climbed 1.08 per cent to USD 3,073 per tonne on November 4 from USD 3,040 per tonne, while the offer gained 1.05 per cent to USD 3,074 per tonne. It was previously at USD 3,042 per tonne . Explore the production, demand and consumption forecasts of bauxite and alumina in our report: " Global Bauxite & Alumina Market...
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A large wildfire in Southland is threatening electricity supply to the country's aluminium smelter. The fire at Tiwai Peninsula near Bluff burned through the night after it began just after 7pm yesterday. The fire has now claimed 100ha of native scrub. Nearly a dozen fire crews have been battling the blaze as well as two aircraft using night vision googles because of the proximity of the smelter. Image Source: www.stuff.co.nz Fire and Emergency southern shift communications manager Brent Dunn said the fire was still posing problems for the smelter. "There is still a threat to the overhead transmission lines. The fire is still active but at this stage it is being well managed," he said. Last night the fire was 100m from the main powerlines that run to the smelter, and 400m from the smelter...
Nigeria signed Renewed Share Purchase Agreement with UC Rusal for the takeover of the Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON). The agreement was signed by the two parties in Abuja on Friday, January 19. The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, said that the Federal Government still retains 20 per cent equity in the Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON). The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Muazu Abdullahi; Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Mr. Abubakar Bawa Bwari; the CEO/Member of the Board of Directors UC Rusal, Mr. Vladislav Soloviev; the Managing Director of ALSCON, Mr. Dmitry Zavyaiov; and Head of Legal, UC Rusal, Mr. Piter Maxsimov, were present at the ceremony.
LME aluminium dropped marginally on the first trading day of the week. The light metal contract came down from its last week’s close at US$2,256 per tonne to close at US$2,235 per tonne on Monday, January 22. Shanghai Metals Market analysis suggests that LME aluminium will remain strong and trade at US$2,220-2,260 range on Tuesday, January 23. As on January 22, LME official cash buyer aluminium price (Bid Price) stands at US$2,234 per tonne, cash seller & settlement aluminium price (Offer price) is US$2,235 per tonne, 3M Bid Price is US$2,238 per tonne, 3M Offer Price is US$2,239 per tonne, Dec1 Bid Price is US$2,282 per tonne, and Dec1 Offer Price is US$2,287 per tonne. LME aluminium opening stock stands at 1088425 tonnes, total Live Warrants is 839225 tonnes and Cancelled Warrants...
LME aluminium managed to hold grounds as it registered a must awaited gain to stand at US$ 2,256 per tonne on Friday January 19 from 2,225 per tonne on Thursday January 18. Shanghai Metals Market analysis sees LME aluminium trading at $2,200-2,230 per tonne today, after the historical data showed a dip in LME aluminium prices following US government shutdowns from 1990. As on January 19, LME official cash buyer aluminium price (Bid Price) stands at US$ 2255per tonne, cash seller & settlement aluminium price (Offer price) is US$ 2256per tonne, 3M Bid Price is US$ 2253per tonne, 3M Offer Price is US$ 2254 per tonne, Dec1 Bid Price is US$ 2298 per tonne, and Dec1 Offer Price is US$ 2303 per tonne. LME aluminium opening stock stands at 1091850 tonnes, up from last closing. Total Live Warrants...
An additional hydro power unit is set to bring in more benefits to Ghana’s Volta Aluminium Company (VALCO). The 75 MW unit will help VALCO procure power at a competitive rate of $0.035/kwh in the first quarter of the next financial year. The cost advantage will expectedly allow the primary aluminium company to add one more pot-line to its current one pot line-equipped production facility, which churns out 40,500 tonnes of the metal. According to the Select Committee on Mines and Energy on the Annual Budget Estimates report of the Ministry of Energy for the year ending December 31, 2018, the expansion will result in increase in revenue and payment of Value Added Tax to government from $79 million to $150.75 million and $7.6 million to $16.1 million per annum respectively. The production...
China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) asked Chinese aluminium firms to have replacement capacity ready by end-2018. This notice was directed to firms having permits to replace capacity closed over the past seven years. According to the MIIT statement on its website, the ruling is applicable to companies producing molten aluminium or aluminium ingots. It is also applicable if they are replacing capacity internally or via mergers and acquisitions. As a part of Beijing's supply side reforms and environmental shutdowns, China closed 3 million tonnes to 4 million tonnes of illegal smelting capacity in 2017. Government has allowed companies with legal but outdated production are entitled to replace their capacity with more modern facilities, on condition that they...
After three consecutive drops, A00 ingot price graph is registering some upward movement. According to Shanghai Metals Market, average A00 ingot price registered some gain today to stand at RMB 14450 per tonne. The prices are expected to move within a range of RMB 14,430-14,470. Spot discount will range within RMB 220-180 per tonne today. Aluminium ingot prices registered gain in all individual markets in China. In the North China market A00 ingot prices dropped to RMB 14,465 per tonne today. It is noteworthy that, according to data from the state statistics bureau of China, published on Thursday January 18, the country produced 2.71 million tonnes of aluminium last month, down 1.8% YoY. Full-year output in 2017 was 32.27 million tonnes, up 1.6% from 2016. This has generated moderately...
Triple-listed diversified miner South32 on Wednesday reported that, the company had achieved its guidance for all its operations during the December quarter. Its manganese and aluminium operations, in particular, exceeded expectations, owing to strong market demand. South32 also managed to deliver another production record at its Mozal Aluminium operation in the second half of 2017. Despite a power fault in November 2017, which impacted 36 pots; South Africa Aluminium remained on track to increase production in 2018. Mozal Aluminium’s shipment increased by 1% to a record 137,000 tonne in the second half of 2017, as the smelter continued to operate at its maximum technical capability. Total sales volume increased by 10% as the inventory position returned to normal levels. The aluminium...
LME aluminium managed to hold grounds as it registered a moderate gain to stand at US$ 2,225 per tonne on Thursday January 19 from 2,187 per tonne on, Wednesday January 18. Shanghai Metals Market analysis suggests that LME aluminium will stay range-bound at US$2,220-2,250 per tonne on Friday, January 19. As on January 18, LME official cash buyer aluminium price (Bid Price) stands at US$ 2,224per tonne, cash seller & settlement aluminium price (Offer price) is US$ 2,225per tonne, 3M Bid Price is US$ 2218per tonne, 3M Offer Price is US$ 2218.50 per tonne, Dec1 Bid Price is US$ 2,263 per tonne, and Dec1 Offer Price is US$ 2268 per tonne. LME aluminium opening stock stands at 1090875 tonnes, down from last closing. Total Live Warrants is 842625 tonnes and Cancelled Warrants 248250 tonnes. The...
According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), China churned out 2.71 million tonnes of primary aluminium in December, down 1.8 per cent on a yearly basis. Full year production in 2017, the country produced 32.27 million tonnes of aluminium, up 1.6 per cent on a yearly basis. China’s aluminium production increased despite capacity cuts in the country during winter. In December, the production volume of non-ferrous metals, including copper, aluminium, lead, zinc and nickel, increased 2.8 per cent to 4.72 million tonnes. Full-year nonferrous production came in at 53.78 million tonnes, an increase of 3 per cent on a yearly basis.
Alcoa Corporation the leading global conglomerate in bauxite, alumina and aluminium reported fourth quarter and full-year 2017 results yesterday. The results were positively impacted by strong alumina and aluminium pricing and management’s focus on reducing complexity, driving returns and strengthening the balance sheet. The Company closed the year with $1.36 billion cash, up $239 million sequentially and $505 million year-over-year. Based on January 2018 market assumptions2, Alcoa is projecting its full-year 2018 adjusted EBITDA to range between $2.6 billion and $2.8 billion. For Q4 2017, the company reported net loss of $196 million and excluding special items, adjusted net income of $195 million. EBITDA excluding special items was up 38 per cent sequentially, on higher alumina pricing....
The zigzag movement of the A00 ingot price graph is continuing and it is still struggling with climbing inventory and slow consumption. According to Shanghai Metals Market, average A00 ingot price saw another drop today to stand at RMB 14420 per tonne and expected to move within a range of RMB 14,400-14,440. Spot discount will range within RMB 170-130 per tonne today. Aluminium ingot prices registered a drop in all individual markets in China except the South China and North China market. Average spot alumina prices have registered a slight drop to stand at RMB 2864 per tonne today. In East China Market alumina prices registered a rise and in Central China it saw a fall. Chalco and imported alumina prices remain unchanged and so are other domestic spot markets. Bauxite (4.5≤Al/Si＜5.5) and...
LME aluminium managed to hold grounds as it showed modest gain to US$2,197.50 per tonne during morning trading hours on Wednesday, January 17. However, the light metal contract fell marginally to close at US$2,187 per tonne, still up from US$2,172 per tonne on Tuesday, January 16. Shanghai Metals Market analysis suggests that LME aluminium will stay range-bound at US$2,175-2,200 per tonne on Thursday, January 18, with resistance at US$2,000 per tonne. As on January 17, LME official cash buyer aluminium price (Bid Price) stands at US$2,186.50 per tonne, cash seller & settlement aluminium price (Offer price) is US$2,187 per tonne, 3M Bid Price is US$2,193.50 per tonne, 3M Offer Price is US$2,194 per tonne, Dec1 Bid Price is US$2,248 per tonne, and Dec1 Offer Price is US$2,253 per tonne. LME...
Concurring with Bengal Global Business Summit, AlCircle; the Global Aluminium Ecosystem organised a Global Aluminium Roundtable Conference at its Ecospace office in Kolkata today. A roundtable meeting covering the topic of global aluminium industry with a special focus on the demand supply dynamics, price trends, downstream expansions, new business opportunities and an outlook for 2018 was hosted with delegates from Gulf Aluminium Council, Danieli, A&L aluminium magazine & Metef Group and JS Group. <iframe width="100%" height="350" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BWVRwuUypt0?ecver=1" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe> Gulf Aluminium Council was represented by its Secretary General Mahmood Daylami. Mr Alberto Pomari, the Marketing Director of A&L...
UC RUSAL, a leading global aluminium producer, is pleased to announce the launch of pilot operation of eight new generation RA-550 pots at Sayanogorsk Aluminium Smelter. The total amount of investment in the project amounted to USD 30 mln. The project to develop the technology and launch the RA-550 site at SAZ was implemented within three years. The key advantage of this new development made by the Technical Directorate of RUSAL is its high energy efficiency. RA-550 consumes 10-15% less electricity versus pots of previous generations. Due to design and technological solutions, RA-550 became lighter, more compact, and more environmentally efficient. The RA-550 technology applies a number of innovative engineering solutions that define the new standard of the industry: · Fundamentally new...
Aluminium prices in China are under pressure as Chinese inventory grows on slow consumption. As reported by Shanghai Metals Market, Average A00 ingot price dropped further to stand at RMB 14,440 per tonne today from RMB 14,700 and expected to move within a range of RMB 14,420-14,460. Spot discount will range within RMB 120-80 per tonne today. Aluminium ingot prices registered a drop in all individual markets in China. As of January 12, domestic primary aluminium inventory stood at 1.76 million tonnes. The record high inventory is also due to the transportation hurdles caused by the bad weather conditions in northwest China. According to Huatai Futures analyst Wu Xiangfeng, profits are expected for aluminium producers after losses since November 2017 due to capacity cut drives. This...
LME aluminium price dropped as ingot flow increased and US dollar index regained strength on Tuesday, January 16. The light metal contract which started the week at around US$2,233 per tonne, slipped to US$2,172 per tonne after night trading yesterday. Shanghai Metals Market analysis suggests that LME aluminium will trade at US$2,180-2,200 per tonne with support at the 20-day moving average on Wednesday, January 17. As on January 16, LME official cash buyer aluminium price (Bid Price) stands at US$2,171.50 per tonne, cash seller & settlement aluminium price (Offer price) is US$2,172 per tonne, 3M Bid Price is US$2,181 per tonne, 3M Offer Price is US$2,181.50 per tonne, Dec1 Bid Price is US$2,242 per tonne, and Dec1 Offer Price is US$2,247 per tonne. LME aluminium opening stock stands at...
RUSA announced today that it has entered into a five year agreement with ENERGOPROM Group (EPM) for the supply of 21,500 tonnes of cathode blocks per year. Cathode blocks are critical materials for production of primary aluminium. In the period from 2018 through 2022 ENERGOPROM will cover up to 70 per cent of the total demand for coal-graphite raw materials of company's smelters. The company will supply the products from its Novosibirsk Electrode Plant- the largest of its kind in Russia. Vladislav Soloviev, CEO of RUSAL, commented: “The security of raw materials supply is one of RUSAL’s long term priorities that ensures stable operation of our production facilities. A fixed price, which is a condition of the five-year contract, will help to mitigate risks related to imports, as prior to...
