In the final three trading days before the National Day holiday, the South China spot market stayed soft: aluminium prices continued to edge lower, the SHFE aluminium backwardation structure strengthened, and premiums over the next-month and far-month contracts were actually elevated. Ahead of the holiday, the willingness to cash out at the high basis was strong, and amid ongoing destocking, discount-priced cargoes still dominated spot circulation; demand was largely subdued, with only localized bargain-hunting replenishment and quite limited buying interest. On the whole, however, the high spot premium for aluminium ingots in South China remained largely intact. As of September 30, the SMM A00 aluminium (Foshan) spot premium over the 2610 contract stood at RMB 260 per tonne, still within...
Four days to go, and the aluminium world is getting ready to move to Düsseldorf. From October 6-8, the city will host ALUMINIUM 2026 , with more than 800 exhibitors and partners and over 21,000 trade visitors expected at Messe Düsseldorf. The event will bring together producers, recyclers, downstream manufacturers, technology providers, equipment suppliers, policymakers and end users from across the global aluminium value chain. The 2026 edition comes at an important point for the aluminium industry. European producers are facing pressure from energy costs, international competition and tighter climate requirements, while concerns around raw material security and resilient supply chains continue to grow. At the same time, demand for aluminium is expanding across electric mobility,...
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Energy saving is one of the prime concerns for an aluminium producing company and Vedanta has always laid an special emphasis on it as a result of which, Sesa Sterlite’s Aluminium Smelter Plant in Jharsuguda has been awarded the 1st prize in the prestigious “National Energy Conservation Awards 2014” in Aluminium sector of India. The Union Cabinet Minister of Power and Coal handed over the prestigious award to Mr. Abhijit Pati, the President and COO of Sesa Sterlite, during the “National Energy Conservation Day Celebrations” held in Delhi on !4th December and organized by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), Ministry of Power. The selection of the winner is processed after the energy consumption data is reviewed by the BEE and a number of companies are shortlisted. These shortlisted...
Chinese aluminium market players when contacted for information revealed that they expect the government will revoke the 15% provisional export duty imposed on aluminium non-alloy rods. This of course creates an opportunity for the exports to boom but removal of export duty alone cannot aid the surge in exports as the SHFE/LME aluminium price ratio also plays an important role. SMM analyst Liu Xiaolei says that the Chinese aluminium rod makers will not be willing to do any bulk export unless the SHFE/LME aluminium price ratio is overwhelmingly favorable. The current installed aluminium rod capacity now exceeds 1 million tonnes in China but most of that is sold domestically to cable and wire companies. Some of these companies are vertically integrated, that is, they buy ingots from primary...
Alsa engineering and construction is extending its reach in the UAE and is planning to invest over $100 million in an expansion strategy which will stretch over the next 18 months. The company, being an active oil and gas sector has contributed to the aluminium industry in the country by supplying gas to Emal’s aluminium smelter and Ruwais refinery. Gassan S Arbid, the CEO of the company says they are growing from strength to strength as it eyes new projects to target the offshore sector to create a better presence in the country. The company has already acquired two million square meters of land to start working on shallow pipe laying and fabrication.
Qatalum, producer of high-quality primary aluminium products, organised and hosted a day-long symposium on December 10th at the Qatar Science and Technology Park to address materials challenges in the 21st Century, with a focus on aluminium. The Symposium attracted 80 delegates from, Oil and Gas, Automotive, Industrial, Government and Academia. Co-hosed with Hydro Aluminium, Qatalum supported the Centre for Advanced Materials (CAM), within which the Qatalum/Hydro Chair was established in 2013. Qatar University presented the session, building on a long-standing collaboration to develop competence and international best practice in aluminium production, application and research – part of Qatar's National Vision 2030 objective of diversifying away from oil and gas toward a knowledge-based...
Aluminum rose on speculation that China will further stimulate the economy of the world’s biggest metals consumer and as inventories fell to near a four-year low. Aluminum gained as much as 0.6 percent after closing at the lowest in eight weeks on Dec. 12. A private manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index for China is forecast to slip below the 50 threshold that signals expansion for the first time in seven months, according to a Bloomberg News survey before the data tomorrow. Aluminum inventories tracked by the London Metal Exchange dropped to 4.29 million tons on Dec. 12, the lowest since January 2011, according to bourse data. China stimulus “is still what investors are expecting,” said Daniel Hynes, a senior commodity strategist at Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd. “On top...
Transaction Enhances Product Suite in High-Growth Jet Engine Segment • Acquisition grows Alcoa’s portfolio of titanium structural cast parts for world’s bestselling jet engines and airframe structures • Expands product suite to meet growing demand; TITAL’s titanium revenues are expected to increase by 70 percent over the next five years • Adds expertise in engineering and manufacturing advanced, single-piece titanium and aluminum components that reduce jet engine weight and complexity • Establishes titanium casting capabilities in Europe, close to key customers; also expands aluminum casting capacity • Continues Alcoa’s expansion into advanced jet engine components Lightweight, high-performance metals leader Alcoa today announced plans to further expand its global aerospace business...
For years buyers of aluminium have put the metal in warehouses, borrowed against it, and waited for prices to rise. It was an obvious trade. Now the metal is finally starting to leave warehouses, but much is still held up in long queues. That has opened up space for large trading bets that have raised questions over how efficiently the market is functioning. Aluminium is one of the world’s most important metals, used in cars to cans and aeroplanes and valued for its lightweight properties. It is being used increasingly by US carmakers to meet fuel-efficiency standards. The London Metal Exchange acts as a source of metal at times when aluminium is in short supply elsewhere. Exchange data shows that at the end of November one entity had accumulated an aluminium holding of between 50-79 per...
Aluminium stocks held at three major Japanese ports rose for an eighth straight month to hit a record high at the end of November on rising imports and softer demand at home. Aluminium stocks held at Yokohama, Nagoya and Osaka rose 14 percent in November from a month earlier to 378,000 tonnes, the highest level in data going back to April 2000, trading house Marubeni Corp said on Friday. "An increased number of aluminium ingots are coming to Japan to look for buyers amid slowing demand elsewhere in Asia as China steps up exports of cheaper aluminium products to neighbouring countries," said a Tokyo-based trader, who declined to be named. Japan's import of aluminium ingot rose 16 percent to 1.43 million tonnes in the January-October period from the same period in 2013, according to the...
The first joint summer 'Beat the Heat and Be Safe'campaign conducted by Emirates Global Aluminium ("EGA") at both its smelter operations in Jebel Ali and Al Taweelah has resulted in the organisation achieving no lost working days as a result of either heat rash or heat stress during the punishing summer months of 2014. "This is the eighth and ninth consecutive years respectively that we have achieved and sustained these milestones,"said Abdulla Kalban (EGA: Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer). "It's a particularly remarkable achievement given that Ramadan fell in the peak of summer." EGA's annual campaign highlights the dangers of heat exposure and related summer-time health issues. This year's programme featured a number of initiatives, including training sessions for more than...
On 8th December, BHP Billiton, through Company charity BHP Billiton Sustainable Communities, announced a A$1.65 million contribution over three years to the Australian Science Olympiads, the flagship program of Australian Science Innovations. This support will help fund the addition of the Earth and Environmental Science Olympiad and see the development of a suite of online training programs that will improve equity of access for students and schools who are preparing for the Olympiad selection exams. Speaking at a launch event in Melbourne, BHP Billiton’s President - Corporate Affairs Tony Cudmore said the Company was delighted to help grow the Australian Science Olympiad. “As a global resources Company with 130 operations across 21 countries, scientists are vital members of our 123,000...
In a bid to provide cleaner energy, Jiangsu Tianwo-SES Clean Energy Technologies Ltd. (TSEC) China joint venture partner, Zhangjiagang Chemical Machinery Co., Ltd. (ZCM) has secured orders worth over RMB 650 million for three syngas supply plants which will create seven gasification systems using SES technology. On December 8, 2014, Aluminium Corporation of China and ZCM’s subsidiary, Innovative Coal Chemical Design Institute (ICCDI) signed an agreement in which the latter will serve as the general contractor providing the engineering and the physical constructions of the three projects. The new proposed gasification plants will provide approximately 175,000 normal cubic meters per hour of industrial syngas. This is a much cleaner energy fuel which can then be used to power the three...
UC RUSAL, a leading global aluminium producer, announces the start of its powder business modernisation programme. The programme, with a total investment set to reach USD52 million, will renovate the powder metallurgy plants in Volgograd and Shelehov. The programme aims to increase production of aluminum powder from 20k to 25.5k tonnes per year and expand the Company’s market share in the Russia and CIS market from 54% to 76%. The program will be implemented from 2014 through to 2022. RUSAL is investing in the development of modern dry and wet grinding technology that will allow the Company to penetrate the aluminum paste segment. Alongside this, the Company will also invest in the development of new technology to reduce powder production costs, to produce new types of gas developing...
Aluminium prices traded marginally down by 0.08% to INR 121.25 per kg in futures trading today as speculators reduced exposure amid sluggish demand from consuming industries in the spot market. At the Multi Commodity Exchange, aluminium for delivery in December shed 10 paise, or 0.08% to INR 121.25 per kg in business turnover of 548 lots. Similarly, the metal for delivery in January next year traded lower by 5 paise, or 0.04% to INR 122.15 per kg in 14 lots. Analysts said off-loading of positions by speculators due to subdued demand in the spot markets from consuming industries and weakness in copper and other base metals at the London Metal Exchange, mainly put pressure on aluminium prices at futures trade.
Global aluminium premiums are expected to reach fresh record highs by mid-2015 on a supply deficit in the United States and Europe, a Reuters survey showed. Premiums have surged this year, more than doubling in the United States, as a revival in auto demand spurred aluminium consumption, while smelter shutdowns and use of the metal in financing deals squeezed supply. But premiums next year will rise at a slower pace as new rules reduce queues at warehouses and as higher all-in prices encourage smelters to ramp up production. According to the survey of 11 sources from aluminium consumers, producers and trade houses - who declined to be named as they were involved in 2015 term deal talks - global premiums are most likely to hit records in the second quarter. "The world, excluding China,...
Emirates Global Aluminium ("EGA") has won two gold awards at the 6th Continual Improvement & Innovation ("CII") Symposium, one of the most prestigious annual events organised by Dubai Quality Group ("DQG") which this year took place on 26 November. Three EGA case studies were short-listed for the Live Competition during the symposium and all projected a strong brand image. Two of the EGA entries went on to take top honours in their respective categories, namely: KAIZEN category - "GT23 Tripping Logic Circuit Breaker Operation" from Power Plant, EGA Jebel Ali; and Lean Six Sigma Category - in "Reducing Anode Problem in Potlines" from Carbon and Port Operations, EGA Al Taweelah. This year's wins bring to fourteen the number of CII awards won by EGA in the four years it has been involved...
A major revamp of Sohar Aluminium’s 1.2km long potline, which forms the centerpiece of the $2.4 billion smelter project, concluded be end of November 2014 weekend marking the culmination of a multimillion dollar initiative that is already contributing to productivity optimization, energy efficiency, and enhanced safety. The overhaul represents the first significant upgrade of the country’s largest industrial project since it came on stream in June 2008. As a result, all 360 cells – the individual production generation units that make up the giant potline – have now been replaced in a move that effectively revitalizes smelting operations at Sohar Aluminium and delivers all round benefits. According to Serge Gosselin, Chief Operations Officer at Sohar Aluminium, pots typically have a...
At the China International Aluminium Industry Exhibition, some of the Chinese aluminium smelters have approached the government to revoke the 15% export duty that is imposed on primary aluminium, as reported on Tuesday. However, traders in the aluminium business believe that the abolition will not be revoked as that would again raise the Chinese aluminium production leading to yet another situation of oversupply which hurts the industry as a whole. The removal of the export duty will lead to a renewed spur to produce the metal with small, cost-effective smelters springing up everywhere and this will foil the government’s resolve to tackle the overcapacity in the aluminium industry which has prevailed for years. The renewed production will also put a pressure on the environment with...
The premiums have gone up considerably as there are reports suggesting two top aluminium producers are demanding record premiums of $435-$440 per tonne for deliveries due in January-March, which is 4.8 percent higher than the previous quarter, said two sources involved in the quarterly pricing talks. Since Japan is the biggest importer of aluminium in Asia, the kind of premium they pay over the LME cash price for the metal sets the benchmark in the region. The last time the Japanese paid a record premium was in the October-December quarter paying $420 per tonne PREM-ALUM-JP, 3-5 percent higher than the previous quarter. The discussions for the latest quarterly pricing started earlier this month between the Japanese buyers and the top aluminium producers like Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton and...
