Century Aluminum’s proposed USD 4 billion primary aluminum smelter in Inola, Oklahoma, is “moving forward on all fronts” as the company prepares for construction, despite local opposition and legal challenges, CEO Jesse Gary said during the company’s third-quarter earnings call. Developed jointly by Century Aluminum and Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), the project is designed to produce 750,000 tonnes of primary aluminum annually, potentially doubling U.S. primary aluminum production. The facility is expected to create thousands of direct and indirect jobs and add USD 1.5 billion to Oklahoma’s gross domestic product, according to company estimates. The partners had targeted construction to begin by the end of 2026. However, local restrictions and permitting challenges have affected the...
LME aluminium stocks declined by more than half during the first nine months of 2026, falling by 267,875 tonnes from 509,250 tonnes on January 2 to 241,375 tonnes on September 30 (52.6 per cent). The decline continued throughout the period, with average warehouse inventories falling each month. Compared with the same period in 2025, monthly average stocks were lower across all nine months, with the gap widening in the third quarter. Q1 LME aluminium stocks fall 18.2 per cent LME aluminium inventories continued to decline during Q1 2026. Month-end stocks fell from 495,725 tonnes in January to 465,550 tonnes in February, before dropping further to 416,775 tonnes in March. Monthly average inventories stood at 498,670 tonnes in January, 481,801 tonnes in February and 440,710 tonnes in March....
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Euro zone Finance Ministers said overnight they were disappointed by Greece’s lack of determination to implement its austerity plan and decided to postpone voting for the second round of Greek bailout until next Monday, adding to investor worries towards the euro zone and pushing the US dollar index higher. LME three-month aluminum hit a low of USD 2,195/mt and pared losses with short covering before closing USD 17.8/mt or 0.8% lower at USD 2,201/mt but still above the USD 2,200/mt mark. SMM expects LME three-month aluminum to continue struggling at USD 2,200/mt and move between USD 2,180-2,230/mt during today’s trading as the US dollar index moves toward 80. The most active SHFE three-month aluminum contract is expected move between RMB 16,150-16,250/mt with weaker support at RMB...
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba)’s employees expressed their gratitude to the Kingdom of Bahrain’s leadership with celebrations held on Tuesday, February 14, 2012 to mark the 11th Anniversary of the National Action Charter. The National Action Charter - introduced under the guidance of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa in 2001 - led to substantial and far-reaching political, economic and social reforms for the people of Bahrain. It was approved in a referendum with 98.4% of voters in favour of the Charter. Commenting on the celebrations, Alba’s Chief Executive, Laurent Schmitt said: “It is our pleasure and privilege to join in the 11th anniversary celebrations of The National Action Charter. As a company with a forty-year presence in Bahrain, our success has been the result of the...
The imbroglio surrounding extension of red mud pond of Vedanta Aluminium Ltd. (VAL) in Lanjigarh seems to be getting murkier with each passing day. Even as 47 villagers of Rengopali who were arrested for protesting the work have been released, people of the village continue to protest. In the last monsoon, the red mud pond of VAL had breached due to excess water flowing into it following which, the company decided on expansion of the pond. Although the work was started on January 21, Rengopali villagers protested it stating that the road used by them will be damaged if the pond is extended. They further alleged that VAL had earlier acquired a lot of land in various parts of the village, but did not rehabilitate any of the affected villagers as per the norms. When the people obstructed the...
More than anything else, it is the cost of power that defines operational viability of an aluminium smelter. Depending on energy source and whether a smelter is backed by a captive power complex, electricity accounts for 30-50 per cent of aluminium making cost. Power is a relatively small cost component for other metals. Indian aluminium makers with linkages to coal mines but not ownership of coal blocks have time and again experienced irregular supplies, especially during monsoon months, forcing them to import and also buy the fuel through e-auction at a hefty premium. S K Roongta, now heading Vedanta group’s aluminium business after doing a turnaround at SAIL and launching its Rs 72,000-crore expansion programme, sees irony in the country’s smelters finding an issue with coal supply and...
Aluminium prices edged lower by 0.42% to Rs 107.85 per kg in the futures market after speculators reduced positions taking weak cues from overseas markets amid sluggish spot demand. At the Multi Commodity Exchange, aluminium for delivery in February shed 55 paise, or 0.42%, to Rs 107.85 per kg, with a business volume of 524 lots. March aluminium moved down by 60 paise, or 0.36%, to Rs 109.30 per kg, in a turnover of 68 lots. Aluminium was trading flat at $2,210 per tonne on the London Metal Exchange (LME) in early trade today. Market analysts said weak trend in base metals on the LME along with subdued spot demand, weighed down aluminium prices at futures trade.
Dubai Aluminum Company headed in UAE posted YoY higher sales and profits in 2011 annual financial accounts. The sales increased by 15% to AED 9.9 billion while the operating profit to sales rate upped by one percentage point to 26%. Primary aluminum production was 1.015 million tonnes which slightly increased from the previous year while maintained above 1 million tonnes. Annual output of casted products was 1.05 million tonnes, slightly increasing YoY and representing above 1 million tonnes for three years in a row. The sales volume increased by 2% to 1.033 million tonnes and hit the record volume. An executive officer of DUBAL told Japan Metal Bulletin in Dubai, UAE. Emirates Alumin achieved 748,000 tonnes of output and sales volume in 2011, 2.5 times of the previous year. EMAL is a...
A combination of output cuts covering around 8% of global supply and an upturn in demand should leave the global aluminium market "almost balanced" in 2012, Russian aluminium producer Rusal said Monday. Global primary aluminium consumption is set to grow 7% in 2012 to 48.2 million mt, while total lost aluminium production from output cuts is set to be around 3.9 million mt, or about 8% of global production, the company said. China is expected to be the fastest-growing market, with 11% growth, followed by India (10% growth), Japan (5%), North America (5%) and Latin America (5%). Consumption growth in Europe in 2012 is expected to be be flat to 2011 levels, the company said.
The trading arm of Aluminum Corp of China expects China's production of primary aluminium to rise 10.5 percent this year as capacity grows, even as weak aluminium prices spurred some smelters to delay the start-up of new capacity in January, said a report on the company's website (www.chalco.com.cn) Chinalco is the country's top aluminium producer through its listed Chalco . The trading arm, China Aluminum International Trading Company, sees more new capacity coming on stream in the second half of this year, which would push up full-year production of primary aluminium to 21.5 million tonnes. "2012's output would rise at least 10.5 percent from 2011," Li Dongguang, president of the trading unit wrote in the report on a Chinalco newsletter published over the weekend. Global output,...
Kyle A. Crum, Technology Manager for Alcoa Defense, has presented a paper on the use of aluminum alloys in modern naval designs at the American Society of Naval Engineers (ASNE) show held in Arlington, Virginia. The paper describes that new aluminum alloys have the capability to offer enhanced survivability, protection, durability and strength along with improved fuel efficiency, maneuverability and speed. This makes the aluminum an ideal material for modern naval designs. The major feature required for any defense application is survivability. The presentation also included ballistic performance of the company’s newest defense alloys, including ArmX 7085 and ArmX 7039. The test results presented at the event revealed that ArmX 7085 has nearly 14% better performance than 7039 alloy and...
Power transmission utility Power Grid Corp. of India Ltd (PGCIL) is in talks with other state-controlled companies, including National Aluminium Co. Ltd (Nalco) and Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd (RINL), to form joint ventures (JVs) to make conductors and towers. PGCIL is also exploring the possibility of setting up JVs for important equipment such as transformers, reactors and insulators, R.N. Nayak, chairman and managing director, said in an interview on Friday on the sidelines of a press conference to report the company’s third-quarter earnings. “Many equipment manufacturers are entering the transmission line construction business, and on the basis oftheir inherent strength in manufacturing, they are bidding aggressively to bag projectsin a bid to remain competitive,” Nayak said. “In such a...
Manama, Feb. 12. (BNA) -- Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba)’s role in supporting strong commercial ties between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Republic of France was discussed during a visit of His Excellency the French Ambassador to Bahrain, Christian Testot on Thursday, February 9, 2012. Alba’s Chief Executive, Laurent Schmitt met His Excellency the newly appointed French Ambassador, and briefed him on the company’s growth in the past forty-years as well as the positive role many French companies have played in Alba’s success story. Commenting on the visit of His Excellency the French Ambassador, Alba’s Chief Executive, Laurent Schmitt said: “The economic, cultural and social ties between Bahrain and France have grown stronger over the years, and remain open for further growth. Alba has...
United Co. Rusal (486), the world’s largest aluminum producer, expects global demand growth for the metal will slow this year as consumption in Europe remains flat, prompting producers to idle capacity. Global aluminum demand may gain 7 percent to 48.2 million metric tons this year, down from last year’s increase of 10 percent to 45.1 million metric tons, Rusal said today in a statement to the Hong Kong stock exchange. Aluminum, used in cars, packaging and houses, has declined 10 percent in the past year, hurting producers such as Rusal and Alcoa Inc., which last month booked its first loss in two years. Global capacity may be curbed by between 6 and 8 percent in the first half of this year, Rusal said today. “2012 is forecast to be a very challenging year for Europe,” the Moscow-based...
In the mid-1800s, French emperor Napoleon III was known to provide gold or silver dinnerware for most guests at state banquets, but the emperor and his really important guests used the good stuff — aluminum dinnerware. Aluminum was a rare commodity then — more valuable than gold — and something only royalty could afford, long before advancements in mining and metallurgy turned this now common metal into an economic bedrock for communities like Blount County. But a global plunge in aluminum prices has taken some of the luster off the metal as Alcoa Inc., a major Tennessee employer since the mid-20th century, announced last month it will permanently close its Blount County aluminum smelting operation. It was a jolt to the community, but not entirely unexpected. "Anybody who keeps up with...
Stocks of primary aluminum stored at Japan's three main international ports at the end of January totaled 277,800-280,000 mt, the highest level in 32 months, due to a flurry of ships arriving amid a slowdown in domestic demand, local traders said Monday. Stocks of primary ingot, billet, slab and alloy products at the three ports stood at 277,800 mt at the end of January, up from 247,300 mt a month earlier, according to Tokyo trading house Marubeni. The level was the highest since Marubeni recorded 295,600 mt in April 2009. Another Tokyo trading house put the stocks at 280,000 mt, up from 253,300 mt a month earlier, and also at 32-month high since 292,000 mt in April 2009. Stocks were also at 32-month high at end December. The typical stock level is around 200,000 mt, local industry...
The Australian Workers' Union (AWU) has appealed to the federal government to help support Alcoa's struggling aluminium plant in Victoria until the Australian dollar returns to more normal levels of exchange. The aluminium giant is reviewing the viability of the Point Henry smelter in Geelong in the face of falling aluminium prices, a high Australian dollar and rising input costs. AWU officials and Alcoa workers met with Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Industry Minister Greg Combet on Monday to discuss their concerns about the future of the smelter, the aluminium industry and jobs. AWU national secretary Paul Howes said the group, which included Labor MPs, did not come to Canberra with a 'shopping list'. But there was a role for government to play in backing up troubled industries, as...
Workers of Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON) in Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State have started a strike action demanding for the implementation of a 25 percent salary increase. The workers have been on strike for about a week but wont return to work until the 25 percent "collective agreement reached between the workers and management is signed and implemented." The striking workers claimed the management had earlier accepted to implement the salary increment but backed down at the last minute citing lack of budgetary provisions. The chairman of ALSCON joint labour movement, Kelechi Otuh, said that while the management had agreed to implement the 25 per cent salary increment on the basic salary, workers were insisting that it should be across the board, adding that what the workers...
Rio Tinto's $8.9 billion write-down on its Alcan aluminum division casts a pall over the struggling aluminum sector and offers a cautionary tale to mining companies contemplating big buys, the most significant being Glencore International AG and Xstrata PLC's current plans to combine into an $80 billion mining giant. Rio Tinto has now written down $18.2 billion—nearly half of the $38 billion purchase price—since it bought Alcan Inc. in 2007, illustrating the risks of big acquisitions in such a cyclical industry. If the Glencore-Xstrata deal works out, it would be the biggest mining deal since the Alcan purchase. Rio Tinto Chief Executive Tom Albanese told reporters Thursday that the write-down "reflects the heavy price of acquiring Alcan for what we now know was the top of the market." As...
DUBAI — Emirates Aluminium, popularly known as Emal, is very well-placed to meet the rising global demand for aluminium and its expansion plan will not get hit by the debt crisis in Europe and the United States, its top official said. Emal, a joint venture between Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Development Company and Dubai Aluminium, or Dubal, plans to increase its customer base in the wake of the second phase of its $4.5 billion development that will almost double its production capacity to 1.3 metric million tonnes by 2014. “Emal is a global business attracting customers around the world, with focus on local, Middle East, European, Asia and North American markets,” Saeed Fadhel Al Mazrooei, president and chief executive officer of Emal, told Khaleej Times during an interview. He said the company...
