The London Metal Exchange (LME) aluminium price chart recovered on the November 9 trading session, wish cash reporting nearly 1 per cent gain compared to the November 6 close. Longer-dated contracts and inventories, however, edged lower. The LME aluminium cash bid as well as offer prices gained 0.96 per cent day-on-day on November 9. The bid recovered from USD 3,115 per tonne to USD 3,145 per tonne. The offer price surged from USD 3,117 per tonne to USD 3,147 per tonne . Explore- Most comprehensive and forward-looking industry-focused report — Global Bauxite & Alumina Market Forecast to 2036: Supply–Demand, Trade Flows & Price Outlook The LME aluminium three-month bid price reported a 0.33 per cent rise from USD 3,049 per tonne on November 6 to USD 3,059 per tonne on November 9. The offer...
Iran is expanding its domestic aluminium manufacturing capabilities through nanostructured anodising technology, developing specialised aluminium sheets and profiles for applications across aerospace, medical equipment, electronics and automotive industries. The initiative reflects a move towards higher-value aluminium products by improving the metal's surface properties and expanding its potential industrial applications. According to Pars Today, citing Mehr News Agency, an Iranian aluminium complex is using the technology to produce aluminium components with nanostructured ceramic coatings designed to improve resistance to corrosion and wear. The complex is also working on developing specialised aluminium standards and has so far established eight standards in this field. The...
Grow with
AL Circle
Prices for European 1050 aluminum saw the biggest increase on the weekly Construction MMI® this week, rising 3.5 percent. Chinese aluminum bar remained unchanged for the week. Closing out the third week of declining prices, the price of Chinese rebar dropped by 1.4 percent. The price of US shredded scrap declined 0.5 percent over the past week. The Chinese low price of 62% Australian iron ore fines stayed essentially flat, as did the price of Chinese H-beam steel. The weekly US Rocky Mountain bar fuel surcharge closed last week after a 2.4 percent drop. Following a 4.2 percent increase in the week prior, the weekly US Gulf Coast bar fuel surcharge fell 0.3 percent last week. The weekly US Midwest bar fuel surcharge remained essentially flat. The Construction MMI® collects and weights 9...
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region is estimated to have already invested around Dhs17.3bn into aluminium projects, with member states collectively producing around 3.6 million tones of the commodity a year to account for almost 10% of the world's total aluminium output. Production is expected to surge to 9 million tons per year to account for between 15 and 17% of global output, as regional investments into the aluminium sector steadily climb to a projected Dhs55bn in 2022. Leading the Gulf's aluminium activities is the UAE which has been the source of nearly 47% of the region's investments into the versatile metal. Given its top status in the Gulf's aluminium trade, the UAE will be the ideal setting for Aluminium Middle East 2013, the third edition of the leading exhibition for...
Alcoa Inc. on Tuesday confirmed plans to close its Auburn plant, putting 43 out of work. The news is the final chapter in a long, sad saga that has seen the factory’s employment dwindle in the past decade. Almost 400 worked at the auto and defense parts plant in 2005. Alcoa’s global footprint has also shrunk by more than half during that period. In 2006, the Pittsburgh-based aluminum company employed 129,000 in 44 countries. Today it has about 61,000 workers in 31 countries. The Auburn plant, which employs 25 hourly and 18 salaried workers, will wind down operations until March, when it will cease production. No plans have been made for the property. “While this was a difficult decision made necessary by market conditions, we wanted to give our employees as much notice as possible. We...
It is unclear if Rio Tinto‘s US$5 billion cost cuts globally will affect the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter near Bluff. This week Rio Tinto announced at an investor seminar that it would make the cuts to its operating and support costs by the end of 2014. The global miner said its coal and aluminium operations would be the focus of its targeted cuts. The company was focusing on its lucrative iron ore operations in Western Australia, where it now expects to ramp up production to 360 million tonnes a year. The global cuts would not be restricted to labour costs alone, with the company declaring it will look "absolutely everywhere" across its business for savings. The $US5b (NZ$6.1b) plan, which builds on $US500 million of savings already achieved during 2012, will be complemented by a "more...
The application range for aluminium products is steadily expanding. To address changing end-user needs and survive intense competition, manufacturers are modernising their production facilities and broadening their product portfolios. In Russia, manufacturers have the added challenge of dealing with the countrys accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO). New analysis from Frost & Sullivan finds that the market generated 858,000 tonnes in 2011 and estimates this to reach 1,144,000 tonnes in 2016. Two distinct categories standardised and customised comprise the Russian aluminium products market. The market for massive, standardised production is currently dominated by the three largest producers, Alcoa Inc., OJSC Kamensk-Uralsky Metallurgical Plant (KUMZ) and Krasnoyarsk Metallurgical...
The US ISM non-manufacturing PMI rose slightly in November, but the growth of ADP’s employment data fell short of forecasts, weakening expectations for non-farm payrolls on Friday. The US dollar index staged a rally due to market risk aversion, curtailing gains of commodities. LME aluminum continued to test support at the 5-day moving average, hovering near USD 2,100/mt. Trading volumes increased, but positions decreased 3,596 lots. Finally, LME aluminum advanced USD 15/mt or 0.72% at USD 2,105/mt. Latest LME aluminum inventories decreased 1,225 mt to 5,189,950 mt. Markets are eyeing the upcoming economic data in the US and Europe for direction. LME aluminum should hover around USD 2,100/mt and fluctuate in the band of USD 2,080-2,120/mt on Thursday. The SHFE 1301 aluminum contract is...
Students and professors at the Qatar University and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology meet with representatives from the industrial companies Qatar Petroleum and Hydro, which together own the Qatalum aluminium company. All take an interest in aluminium, and are eager to develop more knowledge about the properties and potential applications of the multi-faceted metal. Hydro and NTNU have been working with aluminium alloys for several decades, while their Qatar-based counterparts are eager to build competence in aluminium and can contribute new knowledge about how aluminium alloys are affected by the Middle East climate, especially in hot and humid conditions. As a part of this collaboration, the oil and gas company Qatar Petroleum is setting up test rigs to field-test...
The Chinese domestic price of aluminum alloy ADC12 was assessed marginally higher at Yuan 16,000-16,300 ($2,544-2,592)/mt ex-works Tuesday, compared with Yuan 16,000-16,200/mt a week ago, amid higher offers heard in the market. Traders said the higher prices were due to a recent increase in aluminum scrap prices, which led to higher production costs. Leading China producer Sigma Metals raised its offer price to Yuan 17,200/mt on November 30, compared with Yuan 17,100/mt previously, while most non-Sigma offers were at Yuan 16,000-16,400/mt ex-works this week, up from Yuan 15,900-16,200/mt a week ago. A North China-based trader said he sold ADC12 in the domestic market at Yuan 16,200-16,300/mt ex-works this week. "Aluminum scrap prices are going up in the US and there have been reduced...
The White House rejected the GOP’s proposal aimed at averting the looming fiscal cliff, combined with weak manufacturing PMI in the US, triggering worries over the US economic growth. Despite the decline in the US dollar index, LME aluminum retreated below USD 2,100/mt as shorts took profits at higher prices. Finally, LME aluminum closed at an intraday low of USD 2,090/mt, down USD 24/mt or 1.14%. Latest LME aluminum inventories decreased 8,350 mt to 5,191,175 mt. Aluminum markets will be exposed to selling pressure. LME aluminum should meet resistance at USD 2,100/mt and fluctuate in the band of USD 2,070-2,100/mt on Wednesday. The SHFE 1301 aluminum contract is expected to open lower at RMB 15,300/mt, with prices at RMB 15,250-15,340/mt. Spot discounts are expected to narrow to RMB...
Harbor Intelligence looks for North American aluminum premiums to hit record highs in the first quarter and for the market to be in a supply deficit in 2013. The aluminum-analysis firm says there is the risk of potential primary aluminum output disruptions in Canada since no agreement has been reached yet between management and the union at the Aluminerie de Becancour (ABI) smelter in Quebec. "Even without any disruptions in the region, we have expected premiums in North America to reach fresh highs as soon as Q1 2013," Harbor says. "An eventual strike or lockout at ABI would only accelerate this process as it could represent a serious hit to aluminum billet supply in North America." Meanwhile, Harbor cites news that Ma'aden confirmed that delays with its electricity plant project in Ras...
Aluminium prices edged up by 0.13 per cent to Rs 115.75 per kg at futures market as speculators created fresh positions, supported by rising demand at spot markets even as metal weakened overseas. At the Multi Commodity Exchange, Aluminium for delivery in January gained 15 paise, or 0.13 per cent, to Rs 115.75 per kg, with a business turnover of 26 lots. The metal for delivery in December traded higher by 5 paise, or 0.04 per cent, to Rs 114.90 per kg, with a business turnover of 1,040 lots. Marketmen said the rise in aluminium prices at futures trade was mostly supported by a pick up in demand at spot markets but metal's weakness at the London Metal Exchange capped the gains.
German aluminium producers and processors reported slight declines during the period January to September 2012. Almost all areas were affected by this development. The weak general economic situation and the high level of production in the previous year were again the reasons for the downturn. The sector is not expecting any improvement in the final quarter of the year. In Germany, 790,854 tonnes of raw aluminium were produced during the period January to September 2012. Production thus fell 1.5 per cent compared with the corresponding period a year earlier. It comprised 305,992 tonnes of primary aluminium and 484,862 tonnes of secondary aluminium. Year-on-year, production of primary aluminium fell 5.6 per cent, while production of secondary aluminium rose 1.6 per cent. “In the third...
The production site of the company Trimet Aluminium AG in Gelsenkirchen has been certified by the German Technical Inspection Association organisation TÜV Nord Cert GmbH in accordance with the technical specification ISO/TS 16949:2009. This quality management standard is oriented towards the technical specification of the automotive industry. In order to receive this certification, the company's production plant underwent an inspection that lasted two days and involved the examination of all shifts and interfaces. "The certification shows that our site in Gelsenkirchen is excellently equipped to also meet our future standards for high-quality products for the automotive industry, declares the Board Member Thomas Reuther, who is delighted about the company's achievement. The technical...
Aluminium prices edged up by 0.66 per cent to Rs 114.35 per kg at futures market on the back of strong domestic demand and firm global cues. At the Multi Commodity Exchange, aluminium for delivery in January gained 75 paise, or 0.66 per cent, to Rs 114.35 per kg, with a business turnover of 58 lots. Similarly, the metal for delivery in December traded higher by 70 paise, or 0.62 per cent, to Rs 113.75 per kg, with a business turnover of 843 lots. Marketmen said the rise in aluminium prices at futures trade was in line with a firming trend in base metals at the London Metal Exchange boosted by China manufacturing data for November month amid increasing demand from domestic consuming industries.
Rising 2.7 percent, the cash price of primary aluminum experienced the biggest change on the LME for Nov. 30, 2012. After a 2.6 percent increase, the aluminum 3-month price finished the day. The Indian aluminum cash price increased 0.4 percent. Chinese aluminum prices closed flat for the day. The Chinese aluminum cash price showed little movement last Friday. The price of Chinese aluminum scrap saw little movement, and the price of Chinese aluminum billet remained essentially flat. For the fifth day in a row, the price of Chinese aluminum bar remained essentially flat.
China’s manufacturing PMI rose to a 7-month high in November. Risk appetite grew during the European session, pushing commodity prices up. The US November manufacturing PMI declined more than expected, increasing expectations for additional monetary policy easing, sending the US dollar index below 80. As a result, LME aluminum staged a strong rally overnight by jumping to a high of USD 2,125/mt. Positions surged by more than 10,000 lots. LME aluminum pared some gains at the tail of trading before finally ending the day up USD 26/mt or 1.25% at USD 2,114/mt. Latest LME aluminum inventories decreased 7,700 mt to 5,199,525 mt. The US dollar index should be capped below 80, and this will help aluminum prices stabilize. LME aluminum should struggle at USD 2,100/mt and move between USD...
The European Union's competition watchdog has received a complaint against owners of metal warehouses for being so slow to release aluminium that it is forcing up prices for manufacturers, a consumer body said. FACE and other consumer sources did not name the warehouse companies concerned in the complaint to the European Commission Directorate General for Competition. Any delays at warehouses mean buyers pay more in storage costs before they take delivery of the metal. Glencore and Trafigura are among commodity trade houses that own warehouses in Europe registered by the London Metal Exchange (LME), the world's biggest metals marketplace. Both Glencore and Trafigura, contacted by Reuters, declined to comment on the complaint. Some metal market participants say trading companies are acting...
Further cuts to costs are to be made at the cash-strapped Tiwai Pt aluminium smelter. The cuts are on top of the $70 million announced in October. New Zealand Aluminium Smelters this week confirmed it completed its plan to cut 100 jobs at the smelter, but it was still losing money and further cuts were expected. NZAS general manager Ryan Cavanagh confirmed yesterday that in addition to Tiwai's planned $70m cut in capital expenditure, further cost-saving initiatives would be pursued next year. Ongoing programmes to reduce costs would include a review of maintenance services during the first quarter of next year, Mr. Cavanagh said. NZAS continued to face increasingly difficult economic conditions. It would continue to try to work with "key suppliers and stakeholders to reduce costs and grow...
